Chapter Text
“Rhysand!!” I shouted, running to where he was slung between two of my fathers soldiers.
His undershirt was shredded, armour nowhere to be seen and his wings, mother help us his wings. Ash bolts were pierced through them and they hung limp down his back.
I was before him in a moment, peeling the remnants of his shirt off to asses the damage. Days old blood crusted on his skin, bruises of blue, purple and black ran across his chest interrupted often by cuts, some worryingly deep.
My skin prickled and I felt a shadow behind me, “Where are the rest of them?” I asked Azriel. My brother had left with a whole legion, there was barley a half dozen males brought back by my fathers soldiers.
“This is all that survived.”
War is brutal, and a war between fae holds no room for mercy. My father warned me of this when I had begged to join him at his camp.
“Set him down here,” Az commanded, pointing to a grassy spot, “We need to get that wood out of his wings.”
It took four soldiers to hold him down as Az rounded his body, hand reaching for the ash when a cold voice commanded, “Hold.”
Azriel looked between his high lord and Rhysand groaning in pain on the ground, “Sir?”
“I said hold shadowsinger, this soldier got caught, he can suffer the consequences a few days more.”
His word was law. No soldier would dare question his orders. I was not a soldier. “His wings might not last a few more days.”
Fury coated his face, “What did you say to me girl?”
This wasn’t him I tried to remind myself, just a general who had lost an entire legion. “An Illyrian’s wings are extremely sensitive, father- my lord.” I corrected myself quickly, “They may not survive the night.”
He studied my face, saw the pure defiance written across it, “Take her home.” He ordered one of his darkbringers.
“What? Father no-”
A flash of shock more than pain hit me as his hand connected with my face, “You will return to the moonstone palace in the Hewn city and you will not question your high lord further, is that clear?”
He didn’t want an answer, I knew that, only obedience. I curtsied my wings spreading as I sank and shot into sky, a moment later the leathery flap of wings sounded behind me, Azriel’s wings, presumably sent so I wouldn’t be sidetracked.