Aurora didn't join the rest of the group for meals in the next few days. She had yet to leave her room, despite the numerous knocks or calls of her name. She didn't go for training, but would stretch and do abdomen and leg workouts to her best ability in her room. When Aurora would wake in the mornings, a jug of water and a plate of breads and cheeses were on her nightstand. She guessed it was from the kindness of Feyre.
The night was falling quickly, and Aurora was sat on a bench along the large window, a book in her lap and the sun already hidden behind the mountains. The view wasn't the same, she liked to see the city from above. A knock came from the door, and Aurora only looked towards it, she made no effort to allow whomever it was in. A second knock, a loud sigh. Her body felt too heavy to walk over to the door, to even move from the bench to her bed.
"Aurora?" It was Cassian. She didn't speak, she hadn't in three days. Her gut twisted with the fear that Nesta loomed with him. When the door handle began to twist, Aurora closed her book and straightened. Cassian's massive frame slipped between the door and the frame before shutting it behind him, his eyes trailing over her. She didn't say anything, just tucked her knees closer and stared. "Have you eaten?"
She gave him a nod. His eyes fell over the empty plate beside her bed, the half empty jug of water. "Aurora, I hope you understand that Nesta didn't mean what she said. She considers Gwyn a sister and feels protective over her, that's why she reacted that way. She knows it was wrong," Cassian spoke softly, stepping towards her. Aurora turned back to the window, hoping he would leave her alone. Solidarity was bliss in these days.
"Damn it, Aurora. Rhysand did not bring you here to punish you, so stop acting like this is a prison," Cassian snapped, drawing her attention back to him. Her back stiffened, eyes falling into a glare.
"I am being placed in a different house as a consequence to my actions. I am in a house with a High Lord that scolds me like a child, a female that calls me a whore for the one and first sexual act done to my body as my choice. Feyre is the only one that doesn't treat me like some kind of burden. If it is such a risk having me in this Court, then let me go to the Autumn Court and fight for my life. Let me die with the knowledge that I was something more than a punching bag and fuck toy for bored and gruesome soldiers!" Aurora shouted, her feet now planting onto the floor as she stood. Cassian stared at her, his throat bobbing and eyes darting between hers in search for a response.
"I don't know what to say. I cannot excuse the actions of others, but I can tell you that as soon as you step foot across the Autumn Court borders, Eris and his brothers will kill you. They're far more advanced with their magic and training," Cassian explained, crossing his arms. Aurora's nostrils flared, her glare sharpening.
"If my true brothers choose to kill me, then I will die in the glory of my own choices. That's all I ever wanted, I want to choose things for myself, but I still have yet to be allowed that luxury by the High Lord that claims to want to help!"
Cassian stepped forward, his jaw tight. "Do not speak against my High Lord. He is helping you, he is allowing you to live happily in his Court even if it risks his family and people! You want to fight for your life in the Autumn Court? Stop fucking wasting away in this room and actually do something!" His voice rose with a vicious tone, but Aurora did not back down. She stepped closer to him.
"You want me to do something? Will it be my choice?" Aurora snapped. Cassian rose a brow, lifting his chin.
"It will."
"Then I'd like to speak to Lucien. Is he still in the Hewn City?" Aurora asked with confidence, her head raised to meet his gaze. Cassian snorted.
"With a promise of free will, you want to speak to the traitor? He's going to die, you know? Azriel plans to kill him as soon as Tamlin voices his disinterest," Cassian mused, his brow lifting with half of his mouth. She wanted to smack the smirk from his face.
"He is a brother, isn't he? Well, maybe not by blood, from what I hear, but he knows the Autumn Court well. I can learn about Eris, Beron, and anyone else. I can learn about Tamlin, and if he has spoken to anyone else about me," Aurora snapped. Cassian chuckled, rolling his eyes.
"With your frustration with Rhysand, I bet you plan to either free Lucien, or learn how you can take down my Court. You really think I'm going to let you see him after what you did? Going against my High Lord's orders just to get a mouth on your cunt?" Aurora didn't know Cassian held such disdain for her, but his words cut her like a knife. She couldn't think before her body was moving.
Aurora leapt at Cassian, her arm looping around his neck and heel going to the back of his knees. In surprise, he stumbled back and hit the floor. Before he could open his mouth to say anything, Aurora's knees were pinning his forearms down and her fists were crashing into his jaw and cheeks. She knew it hurt him, but not enough to hold him down. Aurora just wanted to get her frustration out, and Cassian was the one to set her off. Her ears roared with blood rush and her pulse, and she didn't know someone else had entered the room until hands went beneath her arms and lifted her. She kicked and screamed, slamming her feet against the thighs of whoever held her as she tried to launch towards Cassian again.
"Stop it!" Rhysand boomed, his arm now looped around her stomach. Cassian scrambled to his feet with a smile, small cuts and swelling on his cheekbone and jaw. Aurora growled as her nails dug into Rhysand's forearm, desperate to get out of his hold and kill Cassian. When he didn't release, just continued to shout at her, she swung her head back and grinned at the crack that came from his nose. "Fuck!" He shouted, arm dropping her. Aurora fell to her knees but when her eyes met Cassian's his smile fell and he began to walk backward. She jumped to her feet and ran for him.
"Oh fuck," Cassian cursed, turning around and running from her. He tried to shut the door as he made it to the corridor, but Aurora threw it open and sprinted after him. He could've flown, he could've jumped through a window, but instead he continued to run down the stairs and through the halls with a cackling laugh. It only infuriated her more.
Footsteps were heard behind her and she knew Rhysand was on his way to grab her again, but she couldn't help but feel this was a game to them. They were both far more powerful than her, but here they were: Cassian looking over his shoulder as he ran from her, and Rhysand chasing the both of them. Feyre stepped out of the sitting room as soon as they rushed past.
"What is going on?" She shouted after them, but Cassian burst through the doors to the back garden, the blow slowing him a bit. Aurora gained on him, and she felt herself launch into a jump, aiming for his back. The air punched out of her lungs as an arm looped around her stomach to catch her. Cassian skidded to a stop and turned, laughing and panting.
"Let me go!" Aurora screamed, her elbows slamming repeatedly into the chest of whoever held her now. She felt a caress on her cheeks, a lull in her mind. Her blows slowed, body suddenly loosing the adrenaline and exhaustion taking over.
"At least we know she has some fight in her," Rhysand breathed out, his chest rumbling against her back. Her glare stayed on Cassian even as she blinked slowly with sleep. "What the fuck did you say to set her off?" That's when Cassian's smile dropped and his eyes shifted to somewhere behind Rhys. Aurora's legs hung beneath her, her body slung over Rhysand's forearm. She tried to turn to see what he saw, but she felt a press against her mind, Cassian's words repeating in her head. Rhysand's body tensed.
"Rhys, I just wanted-."
"I don't give a fuck what you wanted! How dare you speak to a female like that, especially Auror after what had been done to her!" Rhysand boomed, and she felt the tingle of cold night fill her body. Her hands pushed against his arm with no luck, her body slumping again. She fought to keep her eyes open, wanting to see Cassian's reaction to his scolding.
"What did he say to her?" Azriel's voice sounded behind them, and her back straightened, head lifting and trying to turn. Rhysand turned both of them, and her tired eyes met Azriel's. He looked down at her, his hands in his pockets and jaw tight. Rhysand didn't say anything, but Azriel's eyes widened, and then squinted into a deadly glare when he looked at Cassian.
"Fuck, Rhys, why'd you tell him?" Cassian whimpered. Whimpered. Aurora couldn't believe her ears, the big bad warrior was afraid.
"Because I'm taking Aurora back to her room and someone needs to teach you a fucking lesson," Rhysand snapped, nodding at Azriel before he began to walk. Aurora's head turned, watching Azriel pull his fists from his pockets and shadows rise above him before he was gone. Rhysand had carried her into the house, his boots echoing amongst the walls. Aurora's hand slipped from his arm and her body fell forward, eyes blinking slowly. Rhysand tightened his arm around her.
"What did you do to me," Aurora whispered slowly, fighting the sleep that tried to overcome her.
"Just a little magic. It encourages you to sleep. I knew you were about to rip Cassian's heart out and I still need my general, so I thought it'd be the best way to make you lose the momentum. You'll just sleep through the night like any other day, you'll be fine in the morning," Rhysand hummed, the vibration in his chest nearly lulling her to sleep.
"Won't Azriel kill him?" She asked softly, not even sure he could hear her. Rhysand chuckled.
"No, they'll fight and Azriel will win, like always. He knows not to kill Cassian, but he knows how to win. I'm sorry for what he said. He was trying to get a rise out of you, but he went too far," Rhysand explained as they climbed the stairs. Aurora yawned, her head now hanging as well.
"Nesta said worse, Cassian just pisses me off," she murmured, eyes falling shut. She still felt and heard everything, but sleep was taking over.
"Well, Nesta is a bitch. Don't tell her or Cassian that I said that," Rhysand mused, his laugh rumbling in his chest. Aurora nodded slowly.
"She could be a good friend, she's just protective. She called me a whore, but it's only because Azriel is with Gwyn," Aurora spoke, her voice low and words mumbled. Rhysand slowed his steps slightly, a rumble in his throat.
"If Cassian deserves to be punched for his words, Nesta at least deserves a scolding. I'll have Feyre speak to her." Aurora just hummed in response, the numbing of sleep almost taking over. She felt herself be placed on her bed, the blanket covering her shoulders. When the door shutting sounded in the room, Aurora fell into the bliss of oblivion.