Rhaemarys

We ate in silence. Not surprising after my rather arrogant entrance. I probably should have gone for something more subtle, political even but... but I was about to be enslaved. No doubt locked away in a cage for crimes I had long since suffered for.

Can they blame me for letting a little bit of the wildness back into my heart.

Besides, it doesn't particularly matter since the end result shall be the same. Amarantha's head on a platter and free reign to fly wherever I please. Though I will most likely nest in the Night Court. The colder climate was always a particular favourite of my family tree.

Not that there's any of us left to follow me.

Perhaps my daughters would join me but their lives are in the human realm. Their children would be human. I could not take the chance to have a family of their own from them.

But Amarantha had gone on for too long. She had taken too many and crippled the courts. Balance had to be maintained. It was what the dragons were made for, shepherds there to guide their flock and protect from... other creatures that crawled between the worlds.

"Hybern is growing restless," Rhae drawls, focusing on cutting up the steak before her. "Amarantha might be enjoying herself with this little game but her King is displeased and he can't have a general stepping out of line."

"How exactly does he keep her in line?" Lucien is still pale, clearly horrified by the tail that curls on the arm of my chair. I left the eyes the same as well, along with slightly longer dark nails and a few skin coloured spines that trailed along the back of my forearm.

It could barely be considered a hallows-eve ghoul yet he is still terrified.

Which makes him the most intelligent out of him and Tamlin. At least he understands what I am, what I'm capable of.

"I'm sure there are numerous ways. Loyalty for one, it's hard to find a ruler that would approve of your own ambitious cruelty I imagine." The steak would be delicious if she weren't so hungry. The pink texture of the blood was clearly not enough to sate her desire. "Perhaps spells, bargains or bindings to confirm that she does what he says but I'm sure the threat of a slow and painful death is also involved."

"If Hybern comes here–"

"But he won't." Rhae interrupts Tamlin, enjoying the way his jaw ticks in annoyance. "He won't risk leaving his guarded fortress. Not when he would be weaker over here with the limits on his power."

"Limits?" Lucien's eyes whirls and for a second Rhae wonders if he's seeing more than she thinks with the way he scans her body. "He retreated after the first war with injuries but there were rumours of his growing power... not declining."

"A growing power limited to thievery, spells, talismans and magical objects." She counters, sounding every bit the magic professor. "He's using dark objects that have to be looked after and stored in precise and careful conditions lest they explode."

"And how do you know all this?" Tamlin demands a snarl curling at the end of his words. "Why should we believe a single word you sprout out, and if we did, why should we trust any of this detailed knowledge."

"Because it's not just the words of informats and spies," She spells it out as if talking to a child. "But it's the logical thing to do."

She pauses, he blinks in confusion.

"It's certainly what I would advise my 'oh so valiant leader' to do should he aim to acquire more dark power."

"How can you think that is a reassuring thing to say?" Lucien murmurs, a defeated look in his eyes– eye as he stares her down, clearly bemused by her character. Perhaps he's getting hysterical with fear. "That was not a comforting explanation."

"The truth rarely is."

The pair continue to stare at her so she goes back to her food. It's good enough, a fancy, overpriced meal that could certainly feed tens more than just three of them. Obscene is what she's trying to politely say.

Eventually the High Fae next to her begins to dig in. The sound of their cutlery echoes in the new silence but it's progress.

She really should have just gone for the political approach and not the ball-busting one.

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"Your room is on the end," Lucien gestures ahead of them, down the dark hallway. "Best view of the tulip hills. It looks stunning with the sunrise behind it."

He's certainly a better host than Tamlin. Though it is quite amusing that the Autumn court child of Day blood is playing housewife to the Spring Lordling. Lucien is doing a marvellous job of filling in the role of Tamlin's mate.

Though he doesn't seem to be getting the benefits of mating with a High Lord, so their relationship must be just platonic.

"Farthest away from Tamlin I take it."

"A necessary precaution that I'm sure you understand."

"I'm beginning to see why you are the Emissary." She tilts her head to the side, a predatory movement that has the little fae before her tensing. "Or maybe I'm understanding why you wear a fox's face."

"A cruel joke is why."

"Yet it suits you so well." She arches a brow but he doesn't refute her statement. Turning on her heel, Rhaemays begins a leisurely walk down the badly lit hallway, her footsteps echo off the marble floor but she focuses on the various painting's hung on the green wallpaper. "Foxes are typically associated with Autumn."

"I'm a child of Autumn my Lady." He graciously answers, "In fact my father–"

"Would have made me think your skin would be darker. Though I suppose you're the only child of Autumn to have a bronze glow to your skin." Lucien misses a step. "Your mother's Autumn blood runs strong."

His throat bobs.

"Though your willingness and proclivity to cross borders and dance between courts betrays your unsettled nature. You were not content in Autumn." She glances at him from the corner of her eye but he's listening to her rapt attention riddled with fear. "Trauma of course makes us want to run away but those with bloodties, especially ones so powerful tend to be drawn to our homeland no matter what."

"My home is here."

"The family you made for yourself is here." She counters, thinking of her own children. "You can find a home in people as well as places. Unfortunately, they do not always align."

"Is that why your here? To protect your home."

"Yes."

He nods to himself, "People or place."

"Both. Duty or honour."

He sighs, glancing over his shoulder to where Tamlin no doubt resides. "Honour."

"You have a duty to your people."

"I have many people."

"A responsibility I share."

She smirks at him, slowing as they reach the end of the hallway. There a large window towering before them. He's right. It's a stunning view of the tulip fields though they are alight with the silvery glow of the moon rather than the warmth of the sun.

"Do they still tell children the legend of dragons?"

"A watered down version I presume."

She hums in acknowledgement.

"The Mother brought us to this world to be shepherds, to protect the masses and maintain the balance of the world."

"A rather destructive creature to maintain peace."

"There are worse creatures than dragons, Lucien." She corrects with a voice that was usually reserved for her children. "Hoards of demons lurk worlds away, festering gods hungry for power watch your downfall in delight. There are tears between the realms my dear, someone has to keep the denizens of the planets in their places."

"More bedtime stories?"

"All stories have their origins, Lucien." She angles herself, turning away from the window to watch him as he watches her. "Most have a lesson or truth in them. A warning that's best to be heeded."

He holds her gaze and she lets him see the truth in her eyes. For a moment she thinks he will say something but his mouth closes before it was ever really open. A smooth step back has her facing him head on.

Lucien swiftly nods in goodbye and she curls her head down in a slow mimic of a gracious bow. Well, the connotation of an elegant bow, an inclination of the head is that she would offer him.

He turns on his heel and she enters her room. It was going to be an interesting breakfast tomorrow.

A/N: Whooop whooop!!!!! I'm posting here again. I'm not dead, just wanting a little change of pace from Mrs Mandray. Any suggestions for this book???