#yes - nyx definitely ratted Azyz out to rhys

[siderealxmelody]

He turned kissing her fingers, he was delirious, this was some horrible dream. Maybe Rhysand was doing this to torment him. He didn't care, he was happy to stay in this a little while longer.

He looked back to her, his fingers curling in her hair, in her chin.

"My life isn't worth much Feyre. I won't inherent anything here, but at least I know what your lips would have tasted like. It's not a life worth living without you in it."

------

Nyx hissed, turning down the hallway. A blade flashing into his hand.

"Why are you loitering outside of my little brother's workshop Azriel? Scoping for places to hide that infatuation you have for Gwyneth?"

Nyx looked to the sky, feeling the currents for the Wyrd in the air. Something was coming.

"Where's Rhysand?"

------

Seraphine had insisted on getting out of the house. She didn't feel like it, but she couldn't stare at the ceiling, hear her sister have the joy - feel them tampering it down for her.

Thane greeted her warmly, she barely heard what it was he was saying. He was showing more pretty things. Bracelets now that could absorb shock or pain..she wasn't sure.

"Seraphine? You okay?"

She let him touch her chin, let him pull her closer. Her eyes stared at the distance behind him.

"I'm getting married in a week."

Thane blinked, tilting his head.

"Do I need to kill this Dimitri now? Is he forcing you to -"

"Rhysand won't stop it...he didn't even seem to care. I -"

Thane's grip on her chin tightened.

"Why do you keep talking about him? Why do you act like he owes you shit? What the fuck is about him that has you females throwing yourselves at him?"

She struggled, but Thane shoved her back, knocking the breath from her lungs. He grinned, showing the blood mark on his own necklace.

"Did I forgot to mention the bracelets and necklace not only take the blows of the person, but will take the hits for their master?"

She slid to her knees, trying to get them off, trying to find her magic. Thane knelt before her, gripping her throat as he ripped at her dress.

"Don't worry I won't sell you yet. Daemon's money can wait. My brother is dead did you know that? I raised that fucker and he goes and dies in some vanity torment. There wasn't anything left of Cain to salvage - but bones."

He leaned in, pinning her back to the wall.

"I know where the Cauldron is. Drakon will pay handsomely for this magic, as will Adarlan. Daemon owes me that, they owe me that for letting Cain die."

He slid his eyes down her body, looking back to her as he stood and turned to lock the shop. He came back, the doors and windows now dark.

"You'll be gone by the week, that's what Daemon asked for. No idea why, clearly Rhysand doesn't give a shit now that he has something younger to fuck. I wonder if he's growing bored of Alicent."

Thane shrugged, sitting down next to her. He took her hands, kissing them as she shook. Too in shock to speak.

"Don't cry Seraphine I'll make sure you enjoy this."

He leaned toward her, licking at her neck. Smiling against her skin.

"I've spent years spinning fanasties about you, wondering why you'd choose a male who would never want you. I'll make sure you enjoy the rest of this week of freedom."

Seraphine felt nothing, so beyond terror she was calm. She still wore the stupid bracelet Rhysand had given her - "touch it and I'll always come."

She doubt it would work in time. She doubted that he'd even care.

Still she flicked the dark bead, pushing as much of her will as she could into it.

Please, please. Please come.

Her grip loosened and fell. She stared at the hand on her lap, all those memories - all those promises. Maybe he was right, maybe Rhaenyra would have killed him.

"Dimitri asked me to marry him before I left...I don't know what I expected delaying that response."

She swallowed, she felt hollow, so past tired that she was just...fine.

"I'm going to marry him Rhysand. He'll come by the end of the week to marry me in front my sister and her family."

She closed her eyes, biting her lip, her nails clenching tightly in her lap. Once she hadn't had to be so distinct with her words. Once family has included Rhysand's family and hers.

Once they'd all gotten along, and now Azriel was just looking for a reason to kill her. She exhaled, her breath coming out shaky, she wouldn't cry again - she couldn't.

"Morrigan offered me a position in Hewn, I'm taking it. I'll work till the end of the week and leave with him."

She stood, stepping toward the railing looking down at the Sidar. She turned to Rhysand, her heart twisting and shattering.

"Maybe you're right and we all died in that war. But I want to live Rhysand. Maybe she'd have been as bad as you and killed you...but I would have died with you. I don't know how to do this without you..but I'm willing to try."

She wondered if Eldora spoke true, that they'd sell their holdings and leave with her to Hybern. She winnowed away before she could tell him that. Lucerys turned from helping his son tie his shoes.

"Seraphine?"

She shook her head, collapsing to her knees. Her shoulders shaking as she let herself finally, finally mourn.

Lucerys quietly cursed, gently coaxing his son to go find his mother. He moved to kneel before Seraphine. He'd been loyal to Rhaenyra, he'd believed in the vision she held.

He missed her, he did. But Eldara, their children had been worth the sacrifice. And he'd kept telling himself he could still make a difference - that there was a Night worth saving.

He wasn't so sure anymore. He knelt before her, pulling her to her feet.

"Let's get you inside and get you something to eat alright? Come on love, that's it, one foot in front of the other."

------

Remus whined, moving with her. His hands gripped either side of her armchair.

"I don't care, I'll run to Adarlan or Wendlyn or whenever it is I can get. At least let me kiss you once before I do."

He slid to his knees, the motion easy even with Rhysand and his father's words in his ear.

"Bow to no one. Ever."

Did they bow to their mates? Because surely Rhysand had once to Seraphine, and Feyre wasn't his mate.

He reached for her hands pressing them to his lips.

"I want to do everything with you but I'll settle for a kiss Feyre...I'll say I coerced you."

He looked to her, flashing a confident smile he didn't feel.

"I can be charming too. Please?"