Throne of Roses

Chapter 24

The two weeks have passed with Kaden and Nehemiah meeting almost everyday, alternating between the kingdoms they were in. Resulting in the friendship between the Night Court and Terassen to constantly grow, even Mor had somewhat warmed up to the queen though they were nowhere near being friends.

On the morning of the meeting with the High Lords Feyre and Rhys, with Kaden being carried down stairs on his father's hip, came to the foyer to see their inner circle already waiting for them. This time only Kaden, Amren and Cassian were coming with them to the meeting. Azriel and his spies were to go to the other courts and asses their armies as well as which High Lords could be persuaded to ally with Aelin instead of rebelling against her.
'Everyone knows what they are going to say?' Rhys asked. They all nodded but kept silent.
'I thought we were supposed to stop with all the lies.' Mor said.
'We are not going to lie. We will just tell the truths that will keep Aelin and her court safe.' Rhys said and winnowed them to the Summer Court.

Tarquin and a few of the other High Lords gave the Night Court half smiles upon seeing Kaden but all of them were strained some like Viviane's even laced with worry. The Night Court sat in their seats Kaden sitting in his father's lap.
'Shall we start the meeting then?' Tarquin asked his voice calm.
'Did you learn anything else about that bitch?' Tamlin asked looking board. He got many death glares from the other High Lord.
'Kaden when you were in Terassen did Nehemiah tell you anything about her parents or about Terassen? Did you see anything?' Viviane asked Kaden gently in a voice most used while talking to scared children.
'We played in her chambers. There were a lot of guards outside her rooms.' Kaden said avoiding eye contact with everyone, not liking the attention.
'Her chambers?' Viviane asked in the same voice she used before.
'She had a lot of rooms. Her bedroom where she sleeps, her bathing room, her closet is almost as big as her bathing room and a play room.' Kaden listed.
'She must have a very big house then?' Viviane prompted.
'Yes the castle of Orynth is very very very big.' Kaden said.
'What about the guards did you see if they were human or fae?' She asked. Kaden shrugged.
'I didn't see them much they were outside of her rooms.' Kaden said.
'You don't seem like they hurt you there.' Tamlin said distaste clear in his features.
'We were playying.' Kaden said a little scared, wrapping his father's arms tighter around himself. Feyre took Kaden's hand and held it tight.
'That's enough.' Feyre said.
'Why? Are you hiding something?' Tamlin asked a smug smile on his face though Feyre heard the hatred.
'No but my son is only a little boy, whom you are scaring.' Feyre snapped and Rhys pushed a wave of love and approval down their bond.
'And how come your son came back from Terassen alive and obviously unharmed?' Tamlin asked his words laced with venom.
'The princess likes to play with Kaden. We don't know what will happen when that stops.' Rhys said irritation and fear making its way into his voice. Feyre's eyes were slightly lined with silver and her and Rhysand's sent was clearly laced with fear. Cassian looked at Kaden and then at his High Lord and High Lady, sadness clear in his features. Even Amren looked sad.
'Any ideas how we can stand against her? Was Amren able to find a way for us to get out of the blood oath?' Tarquin asked softly at first but desperation was clear by the end.
'Like I said before the only way to get out of any blood oath is if you died or the one you were blood sworn to died but in this case she manipulated the magic so that even when she dies you will be blood sworn to her bloodline and her people.' Amren said.
'Helion do you have anything?' Tamlin asked as if Amren hasn't said a word.
'No, we have nothing. The books that we thought could have anything on it haven't been translated yet. They are in that strange language Lillian knows.' Helion said looking at Amren apologetically before speaking.
'Amren, can you translate them?' Kallias asked.
'I think I will but there is a language or two that Lilian knew that I don't.' Amren admitted.
'How can a young human woman know so many languages?' Viviane mused out loud.
'Maybe she is not a human?' Tarquin suggested.
'Then what is she?' Tamlin demanded. 'She clearly looks and acts human with her lies and schemes to gain power.' The last part was pointed at Feyre. 'Thinking about it she would fit right into the Night Court.'
'You done being petty yet Tamlin?' Rhys asked his voice calm and steady but his eyes gave away the fury he felt at the insults thrown at his mate and his court. Feyre kept silent and didn't so much as glance in Tamlin's direction for the rest of the meeting.
'Fighting between ourselves won't solve anything.' Tarquin said irritated.
'What are we going to do? We can't break the blood oath and we can't kill her.' Kallias said.
'If Kaden goes to Terassen again... he could tell us about their defence systems and how they operate there.' Thesan suggested. Feyre and Rhys looked at each other for a few moments before Rhys nodded.
'We will tell him what things to look out for but I won't risk his life having him play spy.' Rhys said.
'Anyone else has any comments or questions?' Tarquin asked but no one answered. 'If not then that should be all for this meeting. We will meet again if Amren or Helion find something or if Kaden manages to gather any information.'
Barron and his court were the first to winnow out. Followed by Day, Dawn, and Winter. Tamlin lingered a while looking at feyre who was looking at her son, there was hatred and disgust in his eyes as he watched her but also something like desire. He winnowed a moment later.
'Do you really think she is a threat?' Feyre asked when it was only her court and Tarquin in the meeting room. 'Lillian I mean.'
'I don't know, is there something you are not telling us?' Tarquin asked a little suspicious.
'No, she was in our court for a while and... I don't know... we saw her scars. There isn't an inch of unharmed flesh on her back and the words of the blood oath. I don't know I guess it seems to me more like she is trying to protect her people than anything else.' Feyre said with a sad expression looking at her mate. They winnowed back to the Night Court before Tarquin could reply.