gccdstories

[gccdstories]

I love a good enemies to lovers trope, but why doesn’t anyone talk about lovers to enemies?? The betrayal, the deceit, the unbearable sexual tension. Never knowing if it was real or if it was all manipulation. That shit shatters my soul. 

#wishlist ;; plot ideas to think about #// so many ships so little time #// the back and forth is ultimately the best #// but even if it's just the one time lovers to enemies it's still top tier

[gccdstories]

She wants to say yes. That here, in this place, it can be just them. That she can give into the flood of desire, the wants and wishes inside of her, and not have to care about anything else but him.

She wants to say yes.

But she doesn't.

Imogen is silent as Garrick speaks, because what is there she can possibly say? She knows that if she gives in--just once, even here--she'll never be able to stop. To pull away.

Like she knows she has to.

❝ If I-- If we give into this, Garrick... I don't think we'll be able to stop. ❞

He sank down next to her, his knees hitting the soft grass. He stared at the lake, back to her. He wasn't to reassure her, pretend it didn't matter.

"Not even here?"

He wanted to kiss her at least once. To least calm his soul that he knew what she tasted like. he rubbed at his face, bitting back a scream.

"I wish I could do more, be enough for this. Be enough that I was a better option. I wish I was ruthless and selfish enough to mate and ignore the damn consequences."

He wished he wasn't terrified having her in secret would be enough.

#siderealxmelody #muse ;; imogen

[gccdstories]

R H Y S A N D + F E Y R E | High Lord and Lady of the Night Court

For @officialfeysandweek2023

#image ;; rhysand #image ;; feyre #muse ;; rhysand #muse ;; feyre #relationship ;; feysand

[gccdstories]

// sure okay, not only does MY car need to be in the shop for over a week, apparently, but my dad's jeep that I'm using in the meantime won't let the key get out and just-- ugh.

but that's not all!

What I think will be a nice and easy, relaxing weekend starts out with me waking up to water all over the kitchen floor. So now I have to have fans and dehumidifiers running for the course of the weekend (which, let's be honest, neither little Sasha OR Xaden like at all and it's freaking them out) but I typically keep both cats out of the closet because I don't want them getting "caught" in some of the tight spaces. (More so little Sasha 'cause he's so freaking TINY still but yeah...)

So my "nice and easy, quiet and relaxing weekend" has apparently turned into anything BUT.

Can I stop being an adult now?

#ooc stuff ;; shut up megan

[gccdstories]

A woman in power goes against nature itself. Men will never willingly bower to the weaker sex. And they will suffer greatly for it. REIGN — 04x16: All It Cost Her

#image ;; laela #muse ;; laela

[gccdstories]

She hadn't slept very well, the thoughts turning in her head. It's what led Imogen out to the lake's edge, her mind adrift as thoughts swirled in her head, as her fingers picked up the occasional rock to toss into the water...

Imogen palmed just such a rock as Garrick walked up behind her, her shoulders tensing briefly before she exhaled, skipping the rock across the water.

❝ No. Garrick, you-- ❞ She turned then, facing him. ❝ I know. I know you wouldn't. And you didn't. I don't think you ever could, not when I-- But we can't. We can't-- ❞

No matter how much I want to...

He exhaled, his eyes closing. He tipped his head back before he looked down at her hands. He nodded roughly turning away.

"Good night Imogen, may your dreams be sweet."

------

He slept late that night, as if that would make it not happen. As if there was anything he could do to stop this.

Well, he could. But the ingredients to make such a spell were expensive. His father or the palace healers would surely notice and start asking questions.

Questions neither of them could afford.

So he walked through the little garden, standing behind her. He looked from her to the lake behind.

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. That was never my -"

#siderealxmelody #muse ;; imogen

[gccdstories]

He thinks back to those moments when he'd stayed away, how every part of him had ached to do the exact opposite. That innate part of him that tells Lucien that she is his, it constantly reaches for Elain. Constantly wishes to feel the connection solidified.

Bound.

And yet, he does not--will not--push things. Lucien exhales a breath, the quirk of his lips upwards as he smiles when he nods.

❝ I think I would very much like to be your friend, Elain. ❞

After all, he has found a strange sort of connection here, with others he'd always thought enemies. His world has turned upside down in its own way, and so Lucien did not want to inflict any more heartache on Elain, having a familiarity with such turmoil.

Every part of him wishes to never part from her, and yet-- She needs to find herself. She needs to choose for herself, when everything else has been so utterly stripped away.

And it is that which had kept him quiet. Away.

❝ I know things have not been the easiest for you, but... I am here. To talk. To listen. Whatever you might need. From a friend. ❞

brown orbs capture the way he stills, the way he doesn't move a single inch, even though she was nearly begging. no, she would not send anything down the bond; it wasn't time, nor had she fully accepted what was going on between them, simply because they haven't fully bloomed. gods, she hoped they did. as each day passes, elain feels more herself, able to accept her own emotions. when he refused to show for dinners, she hadn't really allowed herself to feel anything in that moment. now? when she feels her heart race the moment she set her own eyes upon the male.

her male.

mate.

when he steps closer, elain takes this moment to fully allow herself to step towards him, closing the remainder of their distance between the two. her insides her trembling, talking about this. her hands shook at her sides as her expression softs on her cheeks, her orbs still taking him in.

"you are so kind lucien. i am certain it wasn't easy." -- it wasn't easy for her either. being pulled in several directions, not having a moment for herself. as his voice fills her ears she delicately shakes her head no, he needn't need to apologize. "you did nothing wrong, i would like us to be friends.. if you so wish it. " friends, it was a start."

#rootedpetals #muse ;; lucien

[gccdstories]

Every brush of his fingers as they curl against her hip, as they pull her closer, has Feyre's heart racing. Has that fire within her feeling as if it burns up every part of her, as if even if her very soul merged with his, it wouldn't be close enough.

Everything about her, in that moment, wants Rhys. Wants all that he is, and his words drift like whispered music over her as his breath, hot against her skin, brushes and sends its own shivers down Feyre's spine.

She meets his eyes, not looking away. How can she ever look away from him? When every single part of her entire being feels more at home right now, with him, than she ever has before? He has centered her, grounded her; the male she'd met that night in the Spring Court so long ago--

Did Feyre think, then, that she'd feel this towards him?

But how could she have ever not?

Rhys's question lingers, hangs between them, and it's echoing in Feyre's mind.

Do you love me...?

And really, at this point, does Feyre even need to think about it? While her experience with love isn't much, she has never felt this before. What she feels with every inch of her that his fingers touch.

❝ Yes. ❞

That single word, a breath of whispered air, leaves her, Feyre's hands near Rhysand's shoulders now. One lifts a bit more, traces over the lines of his jaw as she nods.

❝ I think I do. ❞

Oh, she is the stars incarnate. Her touch feeds the depths of his soul and if that is all she'd give him he'd get on his knees and thank the cauldron. His gaze smothers her, every intricate detail of her face, her lips, her eyes. Rhysand does not dare to breathe, until those words drip off her lips. 'I think I cannot imagine a life without you.'

His head dips towards her, fingers flexing at his side. His gaze is burning. She meets him with her own, and Rhysand swears their hearts are in sync. Was he allowed to touch her? Would she give him that pleasure? He risks it, fingers roaming upwards from her thigh until they curl around her hips. Closer. He tugs her closer until the space between them is so miniscule that a single breath would brush her against him.

"Then don't" It ghosts over his lips, ever patient, ever willing to take whatever she will give. "Stay with me, Feyre" He would burn the world if she so asked it of him. He is aware of her hand on his chest, of everywhere their bodies brush one another. His fingers curl into her deeper, eager to please but restrained.

"Do you love me?"

#wickedpeachie #muse ;; feyre

[gccdstories]

@siderealxmelody / *

Imogen wants to kill him. She wants to kiss him, too, and she isn't quite sure which she will do. If either. Her heart races, looking at Garrick, knowing that he's more free now with his words only because of the pain medicine.

She shakes her head.

❝ You should have told me what you did, Garrick, ❞ she finds herself whispering in response, avoiding his eyes even as Imogen sits next to him. Her fingers still curl around the necklace chain, running over it absentmindedly.

❝ You're not supposed to-- It could've killed you. ❞

#siderealxmelody #muse ;; imogen #// to be tracked

[gccdstories]

@siderealxmelody / *

She leans closer, almost finding herself falling deeper into his spell, and Alana's on the verge of teasing him again when Sive's voice rings out.

Is she frustrated that they'd been interrupted? Maybe.

But her dark eyes turn mischievously to Vincent as she swats Sive's arm.

❝ I am perfectly capable of taking what I want, Sive. ❞ She shoots the other female a glare. ❝ I think the drink is affecting you more tonight. ❞

#siderealxmelody #muse ;; alana #// to be tracked

[gccdstories]

// so little Sasha nearly scared me because I thought Xaden was hurting him, since Xaden was right there and little Sasha kept crying/howling/screaming. They've gotten along almost perfectly I thought something bad had happened between them-- Since he's never made such a sound before and so I go over to see what's going on, but it turns out...

little Sasha has gotten his paw caught in one of the toys, and the string it dangles from. The string had somehow (I don't know HOW he managed it and couldn't reverse it but whatever) wrapped around his paw and he couldn't get it loose.

And Xaden wasn't attacking so much as being "come help my little brother!" about it.

Needless to say, both kitty cats got lots and lots of cuddles.

And little Sasha's paw is all okay now.

#ooc stuff ;; shut up megan #// little sasha #// kitty updates #// also that whole “powerful things in small packages” or whatever sums up Sasha PERFECTLY #// just watching him now -- one would think he's as big as Xaden (instead of being like... a third of his size)

[gccdstories]

Cassian almost laughs, but he keeps (mostly) quiet. ❝ But bragging that I'm the best just comes so naturally. ❞ He nods towards the other room. ❝ Though if I were you, I'd check the mirror before you go down. ❞ After all, Amaya's hair is clearly a mess, even as her fingers comb through it. Cassian isn't sure if she's making it better or worse, however.

__________✨             SHE     RETURNS     A     TOOTHY     GRIN,     FINGERS     ATTEMPTING     TO     BRING     SOME     ORDER     TO     THE     CHAOS     THAT     IS     HER     HAIR.     if   she   times   it   right,     she   can   take   advantage   of   the   reprieve   her   mother   has   given   her     (     a   part   of   her   believes   her   mother   may   suspect   it   is   not   sleep   that   has   kept   her   door   closed   all   morning,     but   she   appreciates   it   nonetheless.     her    father    would    be    less    understanding     )     ❛    this   is   why   you're   my   favorite,     you   know.     but   don't   tell   rhys   or   az   that.     their   egos   may   not   be   able   to   handle   such   a   truth.    ❜

#ircnwrought #muse ;; cassian #// I love her so much!

[gccdstories]

"[Viserys] knew the realm would never accept a Queen... …Rhaenyra's supporters will believe what they wish." ❈ EMMA D'ARCY as RHAENYRA TARGARYEN ❈ HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, SEASON 2

#image ;; rhaenyra #muse ;; rhaenyra

[gccdstories]

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒

All sentences on this meme have been taken from Fourth' Wing Novel by Rebecca Yarros. You can change names, locations, pronouns and anything else you see fit. Fourth Wing is a YA Fantasy novel and includes suggestive topics as well the staple of fantasy these days; dragons.

A dragon without its rider is a tragedy.  A rider without their dragon is dead.

There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.

I would rather lose this entire war than live without you, and if that means I have to prove myself over and over, then I'll do it.

You gave me your heart, and I'm keeping it-

Hope is a fickle, dangerous thing. It steals your focus and aims it toward the possibilities instead of keeping it where it belongs—on the probabilities.

Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?

I’m going to keep you. You’re mine, Violet.

I’ve been yours for longer than you could ever imagine.

Lies are comforting. Truth is painful.

I am the sky and the power of every storm that has ever been. I am infinite.

Oh, Gods.

Which one are you calling out for? Because it’s just you and me in this room, Vi, and I don’t share.

There is nothing more sacred than the Archives. Even temples can be rebuilt, but books cannot be rewritten.

The right way isn’t the only way.

One generation to change the text. One generation chooses to teach that text. The next grows, and the lie becomes history.

I will not die today.

None of this is worth it without you.

You can't make me fall for you and then die.

You’re making us look bad. Stop it.

He cares for you. That’s already hard enough for him.

He cares about keeping me alive. There’s a difference.

You never considered that it was you I couldn’t stay away from?

You’re not going to handle me?

You still love me. It's possible.

I’m just… not as strong as other riders.

It’s hard to love a second home as much as the first.

I fucking love your hair. If you ever want to bring me to my knees or win an argument, just let it down. I’ll get the point.

Dragon relationships are absolutely incomprehensible.

You should try a human one sometime. Just as vicious, but less fire.

I appreciate the elevation to deity, but my name will do.

We can live as cowards or die as riders.

Dragons always know.

I'm over here keeping my hands and memories to myself because you asked me to, and you're fucking me with your eyes. That's not playing fair.

Told you to stop staring.

If you'd just man up and admit there's something between us, I would strip down to my skin so you could see every single inch of me. 

You will not fall. I will not allow it.

When did I ever give you the impression that I give a fuck what people think about me?

I thought you said kissing me was a mistake.

Have you always been this tall?

I told you that I was the one who would decide when I'm ready to risk my heart, and I'm saying it.

You want me. And no, I'm not just talking about in bed. You. Want. Me, Xaden Riorson. 

Remember that folklore is passed from one generation to the next to teach us about our past. If we lose it, we lose the links to our past.

Gods, yes. This is exactly what I need.

They’re a mated pair, Tairn and Sgaeyl. The strongest bonded pair in centuries.

Dragons value strength and cunning and... ferocity in their riders.

And this mouth. All I ever want to do is kiss you, even when you piss me off.

Aren't you a little small for a dragon rider?

If I get my hands on you, really, honestly get my hands on you, I don't know if I'll be able to stop.

They choose for reasons they don’t see fit to share with us. And not all strength is physical, Violet.

Even the most effective poisons come in pretty package.

There is no stronger bond than that between two mated dragons.

Now I take care of you.

We will feast on their bones, Silver One.

I'd have to be a masochist to sleep with you, and I can assure you, I'm not.

The scars are a reminder.

And now I’m a rider. Riders fight.

Dragons pay no heed to your puny gods.

His father was the Great Betrayer. He led the rebellion.

We both know this is a bad idea.

The pursuit of knowledge is the key to unlocking the door to wisdom.

Nature likes all things in balance.

In war, people die. It’s not glorious like the bards sing about.

Your mother has never understood that while riders may be the weapons of our kingdom, it’s the scribes who have all the real power in this world.

At some point, you and I are going to have to start trusting each other.

Do you boys just want to whip it out and measure? It would be faster.

Holy shit. I’m on the back of a dragon.

I can't think when you look at me like that.

Guess everyone wants to be a dragon rider until they’re actually twenty feet away from one.

...power can quickly turn and control you.

If you're looking for a little fun, I'm happy to oblige-

I'm not a damned liability.

When exactly did you decide not to ruin me?

You could command the sky to surrender all its power.

You're overstepping.

He is not sleeping in my room.

Fuck, I'm never going to get enough of you, am I?

Humans have no say in the laws of dragons.

His rider died in the Tyrrish rebellion.

Don't you look handsome.

I've heard healer cadets have a thing for riders.

If I get my hands on you, really, honestly get my hands on you, I don't know if I'll be able to stop.

Stop being so fucking honorable.

I'm not dignifying that with a response. This is an order.

For there, in the land beyond the shadows, were monsters that dwelled in the night and dined on the souls of children who wandered too close to the woods.

But keeping me safe is keeping me from growing, too.

Too heavy. I’m pretty quick with daggers, though.

#memes ;; please specify muse #// I'll love you forever

[gccdstories]

𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐋, 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒.

All quotes are taken from different media about betrayal, heartbreak and future betrayal or the art of it. Some quotes include some foul language so please beware. Change names, pronouns, locations as you see fit for your muses.

It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.

The mistake was mine, for trusting you.

For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first.

I used to advertise my loyalty and I suffered the consequences of it.

I used to open my heart easily, until you broke it.

Why did you despise me?

 You loved me - what right had you to leave me?

He would have killed me.

Then you should’ve died. Died rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you.

I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you.

Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.

It's hard to tell who has your back, from who has it long enough just to stab you in it.

What was it that you wanted and why didn't you fight for it?

But... do you stop loving someone just because they betray you? 

That's what makes the betrayal hurt so much - pain, frustration, anger... and I still loved her. I still do.

 Maybe I was safe to you, and you needed to feel that.

I could never hurt him enough to make his betrayal stop hurting.

You are going to break your promise. I understand. 

When someone stabs you in the back and then apologizes, accept the apology, but don't give him the knife back to do it again.

I will forget you as soon as my head lays on someone else's arms. 

I would have taken a bullet for you. It just never crossed my mind that you would be the one to shoot.

Don't be nice. Be loyal. Nice can be faked. Loyalty can not.

You got betrayed because love turned you blind.

Don't punish yourself for trusting people and getting betrayed. It's not your fault.

What is more important, that Caesar is assassinated or that he is assassinated by his intimate friends?

It hurts to breathe. It hurts to live. I hate her, yet I do not think I can exist without her.

Was it all in my head?

You are enough to drive a saint to madness or a king to his knees.

Some people are in such utter darkness that they will burn you just to see a light. 

Her only way home was to betray her friend.

I risked, and I lost, but the risk was still worth it.

Could a marriage be happy, standing on a shaky ground of adultery and a disregard for the wife’s feelings? 

When dealing with love and relationship. Hurting and betraying a great woman can lead you to a painful life of regret.

I once met a man who didn't have a heart. He told me he didn't have one.

Do not give your ears to snake they are legless to stand on their own.

Even as your body betrays you, your mind denies it.

When you care about someone, you can’t just turn that off because you learn they betrayed you.

You believed me incapable of hurting you, and yet I did.

I would rather my enemy's sword pierce my heart then my friend's dagger stab me in the back.

Do you ever wonder, do you, why I loved you for such a long time, and still didn’t really know you?

False friends, like weeds, try very hard to appear genuine.

Some scars don't hurt. Some scars are numb. Some scars rid you of the capacity to feel anything ever again.

Whoever controls the king, controls the kingdom.

A man sleeps with another woman, he is praised for it, a woman does the same, she is labeled as a whore.

Innocence like yours attracts snakes, and all they want is a piece of you.

I didn’t know that you were ashamed of me.

My past. My mistake. My regret. My love.

The easiest way to steal something is for it to be given willingly.

I don't want to fall in love with you, because you will use it against me.

Cal betrayed me, and I betrayed him. And you betrayed both of us, in a thousand different ways.

Betrayal isn't ridiculous. It's the reason empires fall.

She is an able negotiator and a strong ally.

That is for what you did to me.

Not as the faceless lover. Not even for today when you made love to me... or perhaps we should call it 'fucking', since there was nothing loving about it, only manipulation

Do you know why he did what he did to you? Because he could.

You’re my prey tonight.

You should’ve paid attention. Princesses don’t trust the dragons, they fall pray of it.

A son for a son, heh. But that's a grandson...and he never was much use.

I can love what is broken.

She is intent on pleasing the men that frighten her.

I’ve given my loyalty before. Too many times now. Always works out the same.

You’ve been moving your lips, but I’ve not heard a word.

I would betray you a thousandfold for her.

A woman should not be trusted. Specially one with such beauty and doesn’t even realize they have.

Because you needed to know that not everything was a lie.

Did he touch you like this?

Yes, but that's how he always touches me. He would n-never…

Maven is his mother's son.

I gave him so much-parts of myself I didn't even know were there.

The only betrayal I ever did was being my mother’s child.

We made a bargain. I give you over, and he agrees to let my forces enter Prythian through his territory.

Having faith in your spouse does not lead to trust, truth does.

You may not have loved me,but I loved you, and my love was never a lie.

I hope I never meet the guy that did this to you.

If there is a marriage and your husband loves you, there is no other woman. 

From his vantage point on the deck, the commoners were ants.

I will never make the mistake of loving you ever again.

Why the hell would you save that motherfucker’s life?

The only one you protected was yourself.

Yes. I did protect myself. It was about damn time I learned to do that.

Betraying someone once can be a mistake. Betraying someone twice is a choice.

My brother needs to watch where he steps while doing so. And on whom he steps.

You ended one life, but I got another in me.

You think I betrayed you.

You're nothing but a bad habit.

Can’t have love without lust.

Be careful who you follow and treat everyone who come to you as if the have an agenda towards you.

Break his crown, break his throne, rip his monarchy apart.

#memes ;; please specify muse

[gccdstories]

Xaden’s “Welcome” Speech

One thing I genuinely love about Xaden is his nonchalant audacity at times. No other character in this series quite matches him in this department, some are definitely close, but he really takes the (chocolate) cake.

Consider his ‘welcome’ speech to the new cadets -

He tells them it doesn’t matter who their parents are because it’s not going to help them in the Riders Quadrant; his example is of course how Alic Tauri didn’t survive his first year, despite being the second prince.

But the reason he didn’t survive, is because

XADEN FUCKING MURDERED HIM DURING THRESHING!!!

Don’t get me wrong – Garrick being alive is far better than some bully we never met. But still… I mean, come on. Seriously, Xaden?! Seriously?!

I just…

I love him. He's such a fucking delight with how much he doesn't give a fuck. It’s also fun to imagine that during his little speech Garrick was thinking –

Dude, what the actual fuck? Sure, people don’t know we’re the ones responsible, but maybe let’s not tempt fate by bringing him up. We're so close to graduating.

What more can I say? I just adore the sheer amount of audacity Xaden has so goddamn much.

#about ;; xaden #quotes ;; musings & other inspiration #muse ;; xaden

[gccdstories]

Nephry had stopped listening to whatever orders Unir were giving, focusing on the female speaking with Imogen. He didn't think he'd ever seen someone so beautiful.

Unir huffed in amusement, tapping his shoulder to make him look at him.

"I see you've spotted the newest member of Samkiel's Cadre. That's Neverra, she's meant to protect Imogen as you do Samkiel."

------

Garrick sighed and looked to Nephry.

"Just talk to her Neph. What is she going to do but turn you down?"

Nephry bit back a whine and looked to Garrick.

"It's not that easy, she's terrifying."

Garrick watched her and Imogen talk, his heart swelled seeing Imogen laugh and shake her head at something she said.

The bond had snapped a few weeks and he was glad she had at least someone here for her and not Samkiel. He looked back to Nephry.

"I think she likes you, you should approach her."

Nephry focused on his food, gripping his fork.

"I've never asked to court someone Garrick, this isn't - I don't want to just bed her."

Garrick forced himself to swallow his food and not choke. He would have asked how he was certain with no Calling. But hadn't he known at 16 with Imogen?

------

Imogen twirled her blade, watching Neverra as they circled each other on the mat. She tried to focus on her movements and not the fresh mating mark on her ring finger and running up from her heart and around her neck. It was about time, she and Nephry had been courting for a year and a half.

She and Nephry were nauseatingly in love, he hung on her every word she said.

Imogen wasn't feeling particularly happy for them. Garrick's words played again and again in her head.

"I should give you more...ask me what your second gift was."

She could guess by the way he'd been silently begging her to let him kiss her. To probably do more than that - but there was no reason a mating would have saved either them.

She had heard enough stories of mates being killed - Samkiel wouldn't have cared but their families would have. She couldn't put him in danger like that.

Maybe that's why she went harder than she should with Neverra. Her friend would give as good as she got back.

Her anger only rose, pushing forward again and again. Neverra went on the defensive not wanting to hurt her.

"Imogen! What's wrong? Is -"

"It should have been me! The mating marks should have been mine!"

She knew she made no sense, she knew how she it sounded. But she was breaking and she was tired of trying to keep it all together.

Neverra snarled, fangs slipping free as she pushed back, this time aiming to kill.

"This is about Nephry? You had your chance, he's mine. I don't -"

Her sword came down slamming into her shoulder. Only it didn't, her necklace glowed, the blow glancing off her shoulder.

They both stilled, Imogen dropped her blade touching the necklace. Her fingers shaking, what had he done? She looked to Neverra, maybe it was stupid to tell her. What could she do? What could any of them do?

"It - it's not Nephry Neverra. It was - it was never about him."

Neverra's lips thinned and she tossed her blade away. She stepped closer reaching for her friend's wrist.

"Garrick gave you that necklace."

Her grip tightened and she pulled Imogen closer.

"Tell me everything, now. Because if he's giving you gifts like that and isn't fighting for you I swear I'll kill him."

She had never liked this arranged marriage nonsense. Sure Samkiel didn't have a mate supposedly, but what about Imogen? What if she did! Did that not matter to any of them? To the stupid council that dicatated all of this?

*Love how is Garrick, you're working with him now right?*

Nephry seemed surprised to hear her question but answered anyway.

*Funny youre asking, I'm at the healers wing with him. He was fine and now his shoulder is shredded. They got on him some sedatives but I think he's going to pull through. It was so odd, one moment he was fine and the next he was on the ground blood everywhere. Everything alright with you? I'll be here awhile with him.*

Neverra sent him a wave of contentment, focusing back on that necklace. She bit her lip and looked at her friend's face.

"He - I think he did something to take any hits meant for you. Nephry is in the healer's wing with him. Garrick is -"

The shock of what had just happened didn't fade, even as Imogen stared at Neverra. Like a part of her wasn't even seeing the other, like she was still trying to discover why that had just happened-- Why Garrick wouldn't have told her--

When Neverra's words broke through that shock, Imogen's skin paled and she turned to race off, barely hearing the rest of what was said.

I swear I'll kill him if he's not hurt--

Everything else was forgotten as Imogen raced towards the healer's wing.

❝ What the hell did you do?! ❞

@siderealxmelody

#asks ;; leave a message for the muses #siderealxmelody #muse ;; imogen