A Court of Lost Stars-Chapter 41: Rage Against Pernicious Entities

Sweat rolled down Hollis's back as he walked Leon back to his stall for the evening. He'd traveled to and from the stables and the barracks multiple times that day, dividing his time evenly between his training and his Court. The constant movement left him little time to think of other, more daunting issues.

Leon snorted as Hollis held out a handful of oats in front of his snout.

"Oh, you've had plenty of treats today. It's oats or nothing."

Begrudgingly, Leon nuzzled his hand and took the offering.

"I wondered when you'd find this place."

Hollis turned to see Rhysand. He was leaning against the opening of the stable, watching with his hands stuffed into his pockets.

Smiling politely, Hollis nodded, "I wouldn't have if not for Bran. He showed me yesterday..." He paused and frowned. "I hope that's alright."

"Yes, of course," he nodded, "I meant to show you myself, but I've been preoccupied."

With Nova, Hollis thought, but didn't say. Still, it seemed Rhysand knew precisely what was on his mind. Perhaps he did- he was a daemati, after all.

"Cassian told me what happened the other night..." Rhysand trailed off and pursed his lips into a thin line. "I came to talk to you about it."

Hollis closed and locked the stall door, shaking his head. "I knew your rules before arriving. I should have considered she'd be there."

"Still," Rhysand frowned, studying him carefully, "I never intended it to lead to that outcome. You are more than welcome to be in the other camps."

"Just not when Nova is there?"

"You may call me selfish. I am," Rhysand clenched his jaw and rolled his shoulders. "The High Lord meeting is tomorrow. This is the last day I have with my daughter before everything changes ... In what way, I don't know, but things will not be as they were."

Hollis slowly shook his head, "I don't think you're selfish. I think you'd do anything to see her happy. There's nothing to apologize for. I truly do understand. I'd rather we get past it, honestly."

Nodding, Rhys managed a slight smirk before tilting his head to the side as the expression dropped away to something serious. Something cold. The look in his eyes sent an involuntary shiver down Hollis' spine.

"Nova took a spill yesterday in the ocean," Hollis started in a panic, and Rhysand held a hand up to still him. "She's alright. She's resilient. Though, while her friends were staying the night to keep her company, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation about your...friend? Reign."

A taste of iron hit the back of Hollis' throat as he breathed a slow sigh of relief. Nova was okay. It was just a little accident, and she was fine. Still, Reign's name on Rhysand's lips sent his stomach plummeting to his feet.

Had she done something?

"What about her?" Hollis asked, unable to keep the shake from his voice.

Rhys narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "You tell me."

Oh, Mother above... who had she interacted with?

"Kyra wasn't specific in what she said," Rhys continued when Hollis remained silent, "It didn't take much to hear the truth between her words. So, let me ask you another question."

Hollis paled.

"Do you think she's a safe person to be around? Do you believe that if she walked through Velaris, my home, that everyone around her would have nothing to fear?"

Hollis frowned and furrowed his brows, "She's never hurt anyone."

"No?"

"No."

With a slow nod of his head, Rhys rubbed his jaw. "I don't have any information to prove or disprove what I believe," he settled a heavy gaze on him, and Hollis's heart skipped a beat. Then, Rhysand asked, "Did your father ever tell you about Under The Mountain?"

Hollis frowned. What did that have to do with Reign? "He told me vague stories growing up. Nothing detailed."

Nodding, Rhysand continued, "Amarantha ruled Under The Mountain. And I was her whore."

Raising his brows, Hollis blinked rapidly and shook his head, but before he could say anything, Rhysand continued.

"I played into her facade to keep those I care about safe and in that time she took me to her bed and I did things that I still have nightmares about."

Hollis swallowed.

"I began to believe..." Rhysand paused, took a breath, and said, "That the things she did to me weren't terrible. It could be worse. I must like it if my body reacts the way that it does..."

Hollis's vision began to darken around the edges. He leaned against the stall for support.

"And every time I did what she wanted me to...it wasn't a crime because I didn't fight it. Right?"

Tears welled in Hollis' eyes, unable to look Rhysand's way.

"Wrong."

Flashing his red gaze to Rhysand, he found he too had a quivering jaw.

Rhysand lowered his voice. "You do not owe anyone parts of yourself, do you understand? I don't give a fuck what's between someone's legs. If it wasn't welcomed, then it wasn't right."

Hollis clenched his jaw and ground his teeth together, desperate to keep his composure as a sudden rage of emotion swirled through his entire body. It was like drowning in cotton- he wanted to scratch away the sticky heat that clung to his skin.

Rhysand's was softer now, gentle. "I know how it feels. As if you're alone, but you're not. Tell me the word, and she will be returned to the Winter Court without question."

There, Kallias and Viviane could deal with her.

Hollis breathed in slowly, letting his chest fill, before releasing it. Wiping the stray tears he hadn't realized had fallen, he shook his head. "I'll handle it myself..."

How he would 'handle it', he wasn't sure, yet. It indeed would be easier to ignore it. To pretend that what he'd let himself believe these years was the truth. That he liked her treatment.

What kind of man turned down sex?

One who knew his worth.

"I'll handle it..." He whispered.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, each step Hollis took was one of purpose. He entered the barracks and scanned the beds. Many members were already under their covers, some asleep, while others were not. At the back, in front of the open door of clean linens, stood Reign.

Locking his jaw into place, Hollis released a shaky breath and continued further. He stopped just before Reign, who spoke with gentle eagerness to a mother who rocked her child against her chest.

"Excuse me," Hollis smiled politely, though his eyes did not stray from Reign. "Reign, I'd like to speak with you. Privately."

He could practically taste his heartbeat.

Raising a sculpted brow, Reign's smile slowly morphed into a wicked smirk, "Of course, my prince..." With a subtle bow of her head, she walked toward the exit.

Hollis, right behind her, kept his eyes on the back of her head. Her gait remained graceful as they went outside and walked the path toward the forest. Then, hidden by the cover of trees, she turned and tilted her head.

"Craving more of me from last night?" Reign purred. "I'd imagined you would."

Expression frigid, Hollis stared at her. The usual tremble of his fingers was gone as the words from Rhysand filtered through his mind.

I don't owe her parts of myself.

"Well, let's get it over with then," Reign smirked as she stalked forward and placed her hands on his chest.

Hollis swallowed the words of submission that wanted to surface. "No, Reign. That isn't what's happening."

"Oh?" Reign laughed. "Hm, what a fun game, Hollis...a bit annoying though. We don't have much time and..."

Hollis took hold of her wrists and pushed them down firmly. "You and I will no longer have any connection to each other. None."

She leaned her head back and laughed.

Frowning, Hollis watched her. Steeling himself, he set his jaw. "I'm completely serious, Reign."

Her laughter slowly faded, ebbing away until they were staring at each other in silence. "Oh, my dear, Hollis. It seems you didn't learn your lesson from yesterday." She reached her hand down, but before she could touch his crotch, he grabbed her wrist again.

This time, he held tighter.

"You can either stay here and be alone, or you can return home."

Had he just said that?

Hollis had never been one to give someone an ultimatum, but as soon as the words were off his tongue, he relished the sudden feeling of control he had.

"You're bluffing..." Reign started to laugh again, but it faltered as Hollis kept his stare. Looking him up and down, she smirked. "Fine. I suppose you'll be taking it in the ass now? I'm sure those winged freaks would love to fold you in half."

Swallowing, Hollis kept the disdain off his face. It wasn't easy. He'd always worn his feelings on his shoulders, but this...now...he couldn't crack. He couldn't let her see the words affect him.

"Goodbye, Reign," Hollis said before he turned and began walking back to the barracks. There was a part of him that felt lighter, but another part that wanted to throw up.

Reign blinked rapidly, watching Hollis leave. "You-you don't know what you're doing!" She stammered as she shouted after him. "Nobody will want to..." She trailed off as he left her sight.

Curling her lip, she simmered as her face shifted into a deep shade of rouge. Hollis wanted to play games? Fine. So be it.

Reign took a moment to take control of herself. She slipped her smile back into place and emerged from the forest. The familiar head of white hair was gone, but across the way, crouched on the ground at the water spicket, was a broad-shouldered Illyrian.

He would do.

How long would it take for Hollis to come out from his hiding spot?

To realize the mistake he'd made?

Crossing the distance with confidence, Reign smiled as she approached Bran. "Is something wrong?" She asked, her voice a soft, sing-song.

Glancing up, Bran looked her over, then returned his attention to the spicket. "There's no water for now until I can find the clog in the system. You'll have to share someone's canteen."

"Oh," Reign smiled. "I'm not thirsty...for water."

"Hm," Bran grumbled and stood before turning to his little tool chest. He reached inside to pull out a wrench, but as he turned back to the spicket, Reign stood right in his way.

"I wondered if you'd like to go for a walk with me. It'll be dark soon, and I wanted to enjoy the moonlight, but I don't feel safe by myself."

"No," Bran replied dryly.

"No?" Reign asked, blinking. She recovered with a quick smile, "I've known you for years, Bran. You and I are the same. We don't take nonsense- we find pleasure in where others wouldn't imagine..." Her hand rested against his bicep before slowly sliding down until she was at his waistline, subtly glancing over her shoulder to see that the barracks door remained closed.

Bran looked down and watched her hand travel further down and stroked his inner thigh. Snatching her wrist, Reign let out a startled gasp as Bran let go of her with a quick release.

"What are you doing?" Reign gasped. "You've hurt me!"

Bran narrowed his eyes at her.

Hollis couldn't stop the slight smile that curved his lips as he stared up at the ceiling. It was late, much later than he should be awake, but the longer he lay there, the more exhilarated he was. Why hadn't he cut things with Reign sooner?

Because she was your only sexual outlet that wasn't your hand.

Hollis cringed. Still, as disorienting as it all was, he felt good. At least, better than how he usually felt. Should he tell Rhysand?

Would he care to know?

Amid his internal debate, the barracks door opened, and Hollis turned to look, expecting Reign to come in, but watching Ansel quietly enter and close the door behind him, he frowned and sat up. Glancing around the room, he ensured everyone else was accounted for before inching himself off the bed.

Padding toward him, they kept their voices low.

"Is everything alright?" Hollis asked.

Ansel nodded. "Yes, but I've come to inform you that your numbers have changed. Effective immediately, Reign Brofelon has been returned to the Winter Court."

Blinking in surprise, Hollis glanced around. Everyone was still asleep, so he returned his gaze to Ansel. "What happened? Is she hurt?"

"She didn't leave here marred," Ansel pursed his lips into a thin line. "Bran brought her to me a couple of hours ago and reported sexual misconduct." Ansel looked Hollis up and down, as if he wanted to say more, but didn't. "She was personally escorted to the Winter Court by Rhysand."

Hollis' eyes widened. "I-" He stared before slowly nodding. "Thank you for informing me. We still have mothers who may go into labor before we return. Are there any other midwives who could be here to assist?"

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"Yes, I don't know if you've met her, but the Night Court trusts Ana and has experience in birthing. Azriel is bringing her as we speak."

"I'll wait for them...thank you."

Ansel gave a nod and retreated as quietly as he'd come, and for the first time in so long, Hollis smiled behind closed doors.