Chapter 16

The door opened and shut and his footsteps ensued. Lucien stood, turning toward the entryway to the parlour as Tamlin appeared, his hair ragged, blood splattered on torn sleeves that were no longer gold.    "Your study has been set with tea and food, the fire good and going. There's a bath waiting in your chambers," Lucien said, nodding toward the stairs as a greeting.    My stomach squeezed unbearably when his eyes moved past Lucien, and came to find me. He stepped into the room, his hands in fists, fingers playing with the frayed hems of his frock-coat.    "May we have a moment, Lucien?"    Lucien turned, glancing between us. "Y-yes, of course," He bowed, reaching for Elain's hand before rushing out the room. She glanced back at me, and I was once again glad for her worry. She mouthed that she would be nearby, and I gave her a gentle smile, however unsure it felt.    I still remembered the way he had ignored me, his eyes losing all warmth and life.    "No choice I ever make will be the right one; nothing I do will ever be as lovely, or as honourable as the others."    I swallowed as he sat in the chair across from me, resting his arms on his knees. Then with a deep breath, he pulled himself up, back pressing into the chair. His eyes finally found mine. He had the same somberous look as when I had first met him.    I heard the click of a nervous swallow before he spoke. "One word, and I will have the sentry killed, or banished, or imprisoned for forever—whatever you please."    The breath escaped me, a gush of hot hair, and with it, my tears came again. I hurriedly turned my face from him, gazing out the window and swallowing down the pain any memory of that sentry immediately brought.    "I have no say over your sentries, High Lord. I belong with my father, as his daughter—locked away."    In the corner of my eye I saw him flinch, and I looked toward him again.    "I learned long ago," He said slowly, his voice thick with thought. "How despicable a cage can be, especially for such a beautiful creature."    I stared at him and the waves of his hair, a crumbled leaf still tangled in one of the locks. How I wished to stand and pick out the forest from his mane; how worried, I realised, I had been of him. And how utterly perplexed I was that he of all creatures thought of me as beautiful.    "I would never cage you. I caged Feyre, once, from my fear. I did not listen to her."    I swallowed, remembering the way he had shut down when I found out the release of his sentry.    "Nothing I did would ever be good again—not to the others. I ruined every opinion of myself when I sat beside Amarntha, in her power, unmoving while they tortured and killed her."    "Could you do anything?"    He blinked, his eyes full of sorrow before he finally spoke. "I never tried. And I don't know why. I don't—" He broke off, glancing out of the window. "I am destined, Ellaena, to forever be alone. I will destroy everything in the end, no matter how well-meant my choices are."    "Are your choices made all on your own?"    He cocked his head, and I elaborated.    "Do you listen to those you love when in need of a decision?"    His shoulders broadened with a breath. "I am learning."    I smiled, then, and with my smile, a light seemed to return to his eyes. "Then learn, High Lord. I wish you well," I swallowed. "You need not speak of caging me as you caged Feyre, because I am not her."    "No," He said gruffly, "You are not," He sat forward on the chair. "Ellaena, stay here."    I blinked, wondering if I misunderstood. "What?"    "Stay here," There was a terrible pleading in his eyes. "Give me a chance—"    "What are you talking about?"    His gaze flashed over me. "I would... I would like to know you."    I had no come-back like I had with Lucien when he'd said the same thing; I merely shifted in my seat. "W-why?"    "Because," He said simply; then, his lips twitched upwards. "I quite like you."    I scoffed at that, standing from my chair, readying to curtsey. "There's not much to me that you can like."    He stood as well, towering above. "There is more than plenty to like."    I searched his gaze, his face, my eyes flickering over the rips and tears in his clothes and the blood spattering the once silken fabric. "Are you okay?" I asked, wanting to reach out and touch the frayed ends of his jacket.    "I'm okay," He sighed, his eyes watching me closely, pinned to me, and I squirmed.    Why did he stare? What was it in his look that made me squirm? I didn't want to misjudge. I wanted to be terrified of him, his size, his beauty, the stories about him—but I also wanted to see his horrors for myself. I wanted him to stand by a queen, watching on as I was tortured—    I stopped that thought. He was not in love with me as he'd been with Feyre. But I wish I could have understood. What were his great faults, his sins, his vices? Why did everyone rage at him so?    Why did everyone abandon him, and why had Feyre come in, seeking revenge, tearing his court apart, tearing everyone from him who ever cared for him? What was the source of her anger?    "What was that thing in the woods?"    He pursed his lips, as if he wanted to dismiss it. His gaze flickered away for a moment at the mention of the time in the forest. I wondered if he would tell me not to worry, that he had it under control.    He backed away, and turned toward the window, playing with his coat once again. "A wraith. They are shadow and mist, but they have claws that sting. It makes it very hard to fight them."    "Is that your blood, then?" I glanced at the splotches of red on his clothes.    "Only a little," He sighed, then turned back to the window. "They were sent from someone."    "Hybern?"    He glanced over his shoulder at me. "Maybe."    "Well," I breathed. "It would only make sense. They set up camp right at the borders of your court by taking over my fathers fortress."    He nodded, his gaze turning dark once again. "Someone is rallying them. Someone must be leading them."    "Who?"    "I don't know," He stated simply, turning from the window and pacing toward me. "But I've known of two leaders that have come from Hybern, and if this one is anything like them—then your father is in grave danger, if he isn't already. And this is Hybern—they like to torture, Ellaena, and I think... I think they're trying to track down your mother."