A Court of Shadows and Lies / ACOTAR FF

Chapter 88

I casually looked up to find Thanatos, who was indeed stood in the room, with Els by his side. His face was still gaunt, but slightly fuller, as if the male had eaten food that wasn't just the souls of the passing dead. He looked relaxed, more at ease. The male was dressed in fine linens, loose around his tall, thin frame.

My heart was thundering in my chest and he seemingly raised an eyebrow at me, as if he could hear the imposter syndrome currently running through my veins.

"Jez, Etta," Thanatos greeted. "It's good to see you. Feyre, lovely to meet an addition to the family as well."

The room was dead silent, except for Keir's whimpers and the shuffle of my dress as I stood up. "Thanatos," I greeted, bowing my head ever so slightly.

Thanatos chuckled, clapping his hands. "Come now, we are celebrating the return of Mother's Daughters. It is a joyous occasion! Maestros, please, return back to the music!" he suddenly exclaimed, taking myself, Els and Etta by surprise. We watched cautiously as the music began to rise quickly, conversations returned, and High Fae moved onto the floor.

It was as if Keir wasn't close to death, and I hadn't charred to the female moments earlier.

The God floated through the darkness, Elspeth in tow, and stopped in front of me. His cold gaze burning into my own as he said, "Etta, would you be so kind and let Keir be tended to-"

"Not unless I say so," Rhysand interrupted, looking at the male up and down.

Thanatos raised both his hands in agreement, the move jarring to watch. "Of course, my Lord," he apologised. "However, Jez, I would appreciate if you could bring the female back? She's a favourite of mine."

I stared at him, the male who was the complete opposite of the one I had looked up to, and seen in my dreams. He was livelier, excited for life, bending to the ways of the High Fae he was stood in front of. There was a gleam in his eye, one that I saw in myself whenever I was fired up and raring to go. He looked like how my sisters and I did whenever we would visit Prythian. It was as if he had found his home, a family, away from the underworld.

Family.

It had just occurred to me that Thanatos may not actually be a blood relative, if he was indeed a child to Erebus.

Quietly, I moved through the dancing bodies to where the charred ashes of the female lay scattered. A handful of the High Fae were sobbing gently, while Azriel, Cassian and Mor stared at the dust.

The box deep within me was still open and its coolness had managed to wrangle the fire that pumped through my veins. With a soft intake of breath, I knelt by the ashes and waved my hand. Its unsympathetic, quiet demand flowed out of me and into the female.

The crowd around me watched in awe and horror as the Hewn City inhabitant turned from ashes into a fae, lying on the ground with her eyes wide, glued onto me. I held out a hand for the female to take but she scrambled backwards, jumping to her feet. She gave me a frightened, disgusted look, and barged her way through the crowd, out the door.

I dug my tongue inside my cheek and stood.

That stung.

A monster. The Destroyer.

I sneered at the sudden thoughts that snuck itself into my brain and stood, managing to keep the coolness contained within me. The fire returned, arguing with Death that ran inside of me, as I made eye contact with Az. He was watching me steadily, no fear but a flash of concern. I softly shook my head at him, now wasn't the time or place, and he knew that.

"Come, Thanatos is here," I said, turning from the fae before snapping my gaze to the whispering High Fae. "Leave, or you'll turn to ashes."

The High Fae scrambled away, quickly chasing after the female who had run out moments before.