Chapter 7

There was a bounce in her steps when my sister met me the next morning. She engulfed me in a bone crushing hug and excitement radiated off of her when she spoke, " Everything is so much more beautiful from up there! This place is so....full of colour!"

"I know." I greeted Morrigan who was right behind Alcina.

She returned my gesture, "Where are the others?" She craned her neck around.

"They are training." I told her. I had seen Feyre, Cassian, Azriel and Rhysand outside just a while ago.

"Did you eat today?" Alcina narrowed her eyes at me.

"Yes, ma'am." I bowed and gestured for her to follow Morrigan who was already heading towards where everyone was.

She smacked me on the arm but dragged me with herself. Outside, Rhysand and Azriel were sparring and Cassain was training with Feyre who was busy throwing punches at him. He swerved and dodged them rapidly.

No-one payed us any mind as we sat on the side. The grass under Alcina's feet became greener and started growing but she would stop it after a few moments. Morrigan watched in fascination as the tree behind us began radiating with life and the small flowers near the base of the tree bloomed.

Alcina hummed to herself while watching the beautiful dance of death in front of her, completely oblivious to the butterflies and grasshoppers that I had to swat away. Luckily, having grown up with her, it was not difficult for me. Most of them were scared of my shadows and scattered away.

Soon after, Feyre and Cassian stopped and walked over to us. Feyre wiped the sweat on her forehead and smiled at all three of us while Cassian decided to start a conversation with my sister.

"Hello, Witch."

"Hello."Alcina replied.

"Do you two-" he thrust his chin towards me. "-have any experience in hand to hand combat?"

"I don't have a lot of personal experience.We lived in secluded areas. Lillith here has been in quite a lot of mortal danger though."

Cassian picked up a sword that was resting on the ground near us. "Let's test it, shall we?"

He was talking about me but as soon as he tilted the sword in his hands, a gust of wind rammed into his body and he lost his balance due to the suddenness of it. He stumbled backwards and Alcina threw her head back and laughed.

Morrigan and Feyre looked from us to Cassian who was slowly understanding what had happened.

Alcina rested her chin in the palm of her hand, "It's not so easy to face off a witch, Warrior heart."

Cassian smiled and like lightning, striked. My hands moved with rehearsed precision and two daggers flew out from under my cloak.

Behind me, my sister leaned back and watched.

"You're fast." Cassian said, almost impressed.

"I've had my fair share of enemies to fight." I smiled.

" Let's see if your enemies were worth it or not." With these words, he swung the blade again.

He had the advantage of having a larger weapon and hence, I had to get closer of I wanted to attack but I also had the advantage of two weapons. Steel collided with steel as I tried to find a way to reach so close that I could attack.

Another advantage on my part was that Cassian had been training for hours. He was worn out.

Soon enough, he striked me from my left side. I cought the sword in between my daggers and twisted it, giving me just enough time to slice through his leathers near his shoulder.

He returned my injury by elbowing me in the back and knocking me off my feet.

"Ow." I turned on my back. Cassian was a black figure with the sun shining behind his head. "That hurt."

"You fight well." I was surprised by the smile on Cassain face when he held out his hand for me.

"Thank you."I dusted off my clothes. "Sorry for that." I pointed to his shoulder.

"That'll heal. It doesn't bother me."

"I know." I was not foolish enough to think that the commander of the armies of Night Court would be bothered by a small cut.

"You are better than what I expected." He threw the sword under the tree and sat down on the ground.

I sat beside him. "I had no option but to learn." I held his gaze. You know. You know what it feels like to have no option but to fight to survive.

He didn't speak anything but something shifted in his eyes before Rhysand joined us and diverted his attention.

I strapped my daggers back and leaned back. My eyes fell on Alcina laughing with Feyre and Morrigan. Feyre was telling them something and Alcina laughed at Morrigan's remark.

Of course, I wasn't completely unaware of a set of hazel eyes on me. I just decided to not look his way.

I had felt them burning through my skin when Cassian and I were training and I could feel them now.

Last night felt like a lifetime away but at the same time I felt like if I closed my eyes I could still see his bright eyes and carefree smiles.

Azriel lingered under the shade of another tree drinking water and, as usual, keeping his distance from everyone else.

I instinctively fiddled with my fingers, remembering all the drawing I tucked under the blanket this morning. My fingers tingled with the sensation of charcoal from when I drew stars to show him the constellations he could not see from my window.

We had sat on the edge of the window till midnight, pointing out stars and occasionally, Azriel would ask me about Repearsbrook or the Ideosy.

Lost in thoughts, I picked on the grass until someone tapped me on the shoulder.

"Yes?" I raised my eyebrows at Rhysand.

"If we can not face down the Ideosy with force, I believe it's time we start thinking of other ways to stop them." He wiped the sheen on his forehead.

Feyre, Morrigan and Alcina turned towards us and Cassian called Azriel over.

"Is there absolutely no way to stop them besides killing them?" Feyre asked.

"There is." Alcina said gravely.

"Alcina." I warned her.

That was not an option. No one could survive that.

"What is it?" Rhysand looked from me to my sister.

"It's nothing. It won't work." I said, keeping my eyes at the ground.

"We can still try." Morrigan spoke. I have never wanted the ground to swallow me more than I did in that moment. My nails dug into the my palms and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"It's too dangerously. " I tried to argue.

"I'm sure we have been through worse." Cassian shifted and stole a glance at Azriel.

He was probably worried it will put his brother in danger and didn't want that. Good. I didn't want that either.

"If we just try-" Alcina whispered.

"No." I said firmly this time. We are not taking that chance.

"Why?" Rhysand interjected.

"Because if we have to resort to that, nobody would like the consequences." I almost snap.

"You can come back. I know you will." My sister presses.

"Tell me." Azriel spoke for the first time. I almost flinched at his word. No. Don't agree to this.

"It's not-"I shake my head in frustration.

"At least tell us what it."Feyre sat down in front of me.

"It's not just about you." Azriel mumbled.

"It is!" I finally lost my temper. "It is about me! You don't know what I have to do! You don't know what it's like growing up knowing that you're destined to doom!" I was on my feet in seconds and even Alcina flinched at my movement.

I poked his chest with my finger. "You will not be the one losing everything even after we defeat the Ideosy! You are not the one who is destined to end up in hell for eternity! So yes! It is about me!"

Azriel stared down at me, calm as ever. I wanted to punch his stupid face until he couldn't look at me like this again, but I curled my hands into fists and stormed off.

Inside the house, everything was quite. I ran up the stairs before I lost myself and ended up hurting someone.

"It isn't about you. It isn't about you. It isn't about you.It isn't about you.It isn't about you. It isn't ab-"

I almost closed my door and broke his nose but Azriel slipped inside before that. I wish it had hit him right in his stupid, handsome face.

"Get out." I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

"Tell me what it is and I'll gladly leave." He said. Every calm movement and word made me want to kill him.

"No. Now, get out and leave me alone." I reached out to open the door but he grabbed my wrist.

"What is it, Lillith?" This time there was an emotion in his voice that I couldn't put my finger on, but he sounded softer, not his icy cold self. Of course, I had heard that tone before. I had heard it just last night but right now, it made my blood boil.

" Why do you care? I said it doesn't concern you." I yanked my hand out of his. "What happens to me is none of your concerns. Worry about yourself, spymaster." I glared at him. "Even if the Ideosy don't sacrifice me, I'm destined to doom. You have a chance. One shot at life. Make sure you don't miss it."

"What of I tell you that I don't want a shot at life? What if a tell you I would let them sacrifice me? Would that earn you a chance at life?" He sounded frustrated. Desperate.

"No." I kept my voice low. "I don't have that luxury. You do. Don't disappointed me, Azriel." My eyes burned as I gulped down my tears. It briefly crossed my mind that this was the first time we had called each other by our names.

His eyes hardened and he clenched his jaw before taking a step back.

I didn't move from my place as I felt darkness take over me. "Do me a favor?" I smiled faintly.

He stiffly nodded his head.

"Put me on the bed and leave quickly." I told him.

He frowned but before he could ask any questions a familiar silence filled my mind as I felt my legs give out.

"There she is- My bride. How is earth, my darling?"