𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚃𝚘 𝙳𝚒𝚜𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚛(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶-𝔱𝔴𝔬

By the time the other's had arrived, I'd already had a plate of fruit and a glass of juice from the refreshment table. Feyre claimed they were running late. Nesta had hissed a reminder to mind my manners as I ate.

"Tarquin is here," Thesan announced after an hour.

Feyre tensed beside me. I didn't have all of the details, but I knew my sister and her mate were not on the best terms with the Summer Court.

"Heard about the blood rubies." Helion smirked at Rhys. "That is a story I want you to tell."

I quirked a brow at Feyre curiously, wanting to know what the hell 'blood rubies' were.

"All in good time," Rhys assured.

The male that must've been Tarquin stepped into the chamber, a male and a female at his side. They were all dark of skin and eyes, but their hair was turquoise. I could've guessed they were Summer Court without even being told.

Tarquin ignored all of us, making an excuse for his tardiness. I noticed a tension between him and Helion as well. And Kallias had become colder since he walked in.

An attendant whispered to Thesan that Beron and all of his sons had arrived. The smile instantly vanished from Mor's mouth, her eyes.

Anger tugged at my chest at the way the light had left her face. I wanted to scream at everyone who had ever hurt her. I wished I could reach for her hand, tell her it would be okay. Later, I would. When we were alone.

I only recognized Eris as they filed through the archway. But the High Lord, he looked much crueler than his eldest son.

The Lady was the only one who didn't seem like a monster. She was much too thin, delicate. Her face was gaunt, her eyes empty and joyless. No life in them at all.

The youngest three sons were sneering at everyone as they entered. Eris sighed at them, murmuring, "Enough." They fell into line, listening to their eldest brother. I wondered if they feared him.

"It's no surprise that you're tardy, given that your own sons were too slow to catch my mate. I suppose it runs in the family," Rhys remarked snidely.

"Mate—and High Lady," Beron greeted, his lip curled.

I tried not to glare at Eris too hard. He had given me a look the last time we'd met. When Mor had defended me, and when I had placed a hand over hers. If he suspected anything--

I tensed when Eris's attention shifted to Mor, sweeping over her with a disdain that made me see red. Mor only stared blankly at him. Bored.

"Rhysand, you have called this meeting. Pushed us to gather sooner than we intended. Now would be the time to explain what is so urgent," Thesan spoke up.

"Surely the invading armies landing on our shores explain enough," Rhys said.

"So you have called us to do what, exactly?" Helion challenged. "Raise a unified army?"

"Among other things," Rhys said. "We—"

It was almost the same—the entrance.

Like a crack of lightning, a new figure winnowed into the chamber itself. A male appeared, smiling like a wolf. And while I'd never seen him in this form, I recognized him immediately from that night.

He was the beast that had torn our cottage door down and taken my sister. It was Tamlin. I tensed, and Nesta, to my utter surprise, placed a hand on my arm.

"We were not expecting you, Tamlin." Thesan gestured with a slender hand toward his cringing attendants. "Fetch the High Lord a chair."

Tamlin did not tear his gaze from my sister. His smile turned subdued—yet somehow more unnerving. More vicious.