A Court of Shadows and Lies / ACOTAR FF

Chapter 71

"I'm going to fucking kill you," I screeched, and threw myself towards the male with horns. He smiled deeply, leaning back and watching me, while the fae and my friends attempted to hold me back. I thrashed against them, screaming and cursing at Ahri. My magic poured out of me uncontrollably as I began to glow, my body shaking with the immense energy and adrenalin that was pumping through me.

It wasn't until a pair of familiar arms wrapped around my waist did I calm down slightly. "Now isn't the time, Jez," Azriel murmured into my ear. I awkwardly paused in his arms, my body locked into place, my glow no longer blinding but bearable. Az kept his hold on me.

My eyes wide with fury and hatred as I stared at the ram-horned male.

He thought this was funny.

His own gaze bouncing with glee, jumping from me to the Shadowsinger to my friends, then back to me. Ahri's smile deepened, showcasing his fucking perfect teeth. Gods, I wanted to punch them back into his mouth.

Ahri groaned and leaned his head back abruptly, his chest rising and falling heavily.

"What the fuck is he doing?" Cassian asked.

Ahri's eyes rolled to me, glee-ridden, as he moved his chair back. "Come on up, love."

My magic went crazy, flooding out of me and making Azriel let go of me. The fae stumbled backwards, blinded, while my friends were screaming at who rose from under the desk.

Alra.

Cum dripping down her chin, wearing a fucking collar, she stood by Ahri, her fingers intertwining with his hair. With her free hand, she wiped her face with her fingers, sucking them clean after.

"Gods, you two weren't wrong," Crystal gasped towards the twins.

"We didn't think..." Maiky murmured, trailing off.

"I think I'm going to kill her," Khaler hissed.

"Oh, you're going to get it, you stupid bitch," I screamed and lurched over the table, tackling Alra in one swoop. She landed with a thud, while Ahri stood, taking several steps back, chuckling. Straddling her, I stared at the green female whose eyes had widened to the sizes of plates. "With everything we did together? This is how I find out? This is what you do to us?"

"You wouldn't understand," Alra hissed, her wide eyes now squinting through the glow.

"Try me," I sneered.

"He's my mate-"

My magic exploded out of me as I threw my arm back and hit the female square on the face, repeatedly. Every punch growing hotter, brighter, and stronger. Alra screamed under me, doing her best to extend her grass around my body only for me to scorch and burn each tendril off.

All I could think of, as the female tried her best to throw me off, was every time I had welcomed her into my home, or when I'd go to her and cry about Vel, or confided in her. Every laugh, tear, and fight. Nothing could have prepared me for this.

My friend of thousands of years, a mate to the male who had killed Vel, someone who I had trusted with my entire life, was under me, telling me that I couldn't understand. I understood completely well – better than well. It was crystal clear, perfect, not a single misheard, unspoken word had been missed.

She was not my friend.

Arms finally wrapped around me and pulled me off the female. I fought against their grip as Crystal manoeuvred towards Alra and picked her up, hatred and disgust plastered on her face. "You lying little bitch," Cry hissed and choked her long-time friend.