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Chapter Text

Feyre

It was Fire Night, or Calanmai, as Tamlin had called it, and here I was stuck inside my room listening to an incessant drumming and gazing at dozens of bonfires from the window of my room, my stomach rumbling from hunger.

Stay in your chamber, Tamlin had ordered. Lock your doors, set up a snare… Don’t come out until morning.

Yet he had failed to explain why. And that was always the way with him.

One day, Feyre, one day you will get the answers to everything, he had said.

I didn’t want to wait until that one day. I wanted to know now! I wanted to know what happened at Calanmai. I wanted to know what the Great Rite was and why it was so dangerous for me to participate. Was it as brutal and violent as I imagined it to be? Certainly, Tamlin had been armed for it. He had looked like the warrior incarnate when I had seen him earlier. It had made my heart race as he stood semi-naked in front of me, his power seeming to ripple through the muscles on his chest. It was pointless to deny that I was attracted to him. It was an attraction which was growing more and more each day. But he was also so frustrating. Even if I had to stay in my room for my safety, why couldn’t he tell me what was going on?

It was no good. The drums were calling to me, and after much pacing, curiosity got the better of me. So, I threw on a cloak to follow them.

After stopping at the stables to collect my favourite white mare, she carried me without needing any direction, lured as I was by the drums towards the bonfires. The air was heavy with magic and smoke and there were hundreds of High Fae around, wearing masks. Having barely strayed far from the manor, it made me wonder just how vast the Spring Court was, and to realise just how little I’d seen of it. Nearly six months I had lived here, and I was still considered too fragile too… human, to stray outside Tamlin’s protection. Would he take me to visit the rest of his court one day? Perhaps I would ask him about it, though I suspected what the answer may be. The presence of the Bogge and the Naga made roaming around on my own impossible and there were too many calls on Tamlin’s time for him to accompany me. No doubt he couldn’t afford to have one of his sentries accompany me either. And Lucien would humour me with our rides here and there, but his emissary role kept him occupied. No, for now, I would just have to embrace life at the manor, which I probably should be grateful for given the alternative Tamlin had offered when he had first brought me here. Surely life at the manor with an attractive male fae, and High Lord come to that, was infinitely better than being ripped to shreds?

As I trotted past the crowds on my mare, I couldn’t make out any of the High Fae’s features due to the magic at play… and probably because there was some glamour on me. Another reminder of just how much I did not fit in here and a wave of irritation coursed in my veins, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come, as the power of the beat of the drums pulsed through me, beckoning me to come and see. Dismounting my mare, I made my way through the throngs of High Fae and other faeries which milled about, hoping that the smoke would mask my human scent, as I nervously checked the knives at my side. I left the mare tied to a sycamore tree and followed the faeries through a hollow where my eyes fell upon the mouth of a cave adorned with flowers. Everyone was focused on the cave, faeries lining either side of a long path leading to it, swaying in time to the drums.

It was… strange. Fae kept appearing to join the line, obviously waiting for something to happen: The Great Rite, whatever it was. Some sort of ritual which was obviously going to happen in the cave. Deciding to stand back by the edge of the trees, I watched and waited for something to happen, frustration at my ignorance building. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I would ask the next faerie that came my way what was about to happen. But just as I was about to approach someone, a hand grabbed my arm, its grip strong and fast.

At first I thought it must be Tamlin, or Lucien, come to scold me for not doing as I was told. But when I whirled around, my eyes took in three strangers, free of masks, their eyes cruel and black. These were not High Fae. These were some other type of faerie I had not encountered before.

The faerie holding me looked delighted, as if he’d won a great prize. His pointed teeth were exposed in a sinister smile. “Human woman. We’ve not seen one of you for a while.”

I tried to pull my arm out of his tight grip, but he held me fast. “What do you want?” I spat, my free hand trying to grab my knife. Unfortunately, one of the faerie’s two companions grabbed my other arm before I could get to it.

“Just some Fire Night fun,” one of them sneered, using his pale long hand to brush back a lock of my hair, making me tremor with revulsion.

Again, I tried to escape their clutches, but the faeries held me firm. I was in trouble, and I doubted whether there was anyone around to save me. So, I thrashed my arms, trying to get to my knives, but the faeries held on tight, so tight that it hurt.

“Leave me alone,” I said loudly, but I was too near the forest’s edge for anyone to hear me.

“Bold statement from a human on Calanmai. Once the Rite’s performed, we’ll have some fun, won’t me? A treat – such a treat – to find a human woman here.”

I was not going to go with them without a fight, for Mother knew what was waiting for me in the forest. Panic started to overwhelm me. “Get your hands off me,” I shouted. Please hear. Please, someone hear me.

I felt a hand run down my side, along my ribs and my hips, making me jerk in disgust as another faerie ran his fingers through my hair. I was their prey. And this was them playing with their dinner before they struck.

“Stop it!” I could barely get the words out as they began pulling me towards the forest. I fought them. I fought them as hard as I could. My puny human strength against three supernatural beings. I was shoved forwards, but before I hit the ground, I was caught by sturdy hands. Not cold and bony. But warm and gentle… and yet strong and powerful. These were not the hands of the faeries who had grabbed me. This was someone else. And I hoped that the warmth coming from their hands was because they meant me no harm.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” said a deep sensual male voice I did not recognise. My eyes were fixed on the three faeries as I prepared to run, but the male behind me stepped to my side and flung his arm around my shoulders, as if he was an old friend. Whether he was actually friend or foe, I didn’t know. The three faeries were no longer smiling. In fact, they looked afraid. My stomach tightened. Who was this faerie beside me? Had I actually moved into the company of a more dangerous predator?

“Thank you for finding her for me,” the male said. “Enjoy the Rite.” There was a bite in his voice which made me quiver. This was a powerful faerie beside me, and one that I immediately knew from the faces of the other faeries I ought to be frightened of. His arm on my shoulders started to feel heavy… suffocating… So as soon as the faeries sculked away back to the bonfires, I shrugged off his arm, took a few paces away and turned towards him. But who I saw was not at all what I was expecting. For standing before me was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.

Time stood still as I gazed at this man… no not a man, a High Fae, in awe. Unlike the other High Fae, he wore no mask, which meant I could take in all of his facial features in detail. My eyes roved over his short dark hair, his pale, yet flawless face and blue… no, not blue, violet eyes which sparkled alluringly in the fire light. The darkness seemed to flicker around him as he stood tall, slim and so very still, dressed all in black. I tried to speak, but nothing came out as my eyes locked with his...

Something snapped and all the breath seemed to leave my lungs.

I took a step back, clutching my chest, as I gasped for air. I watched the High Fae mirror my movements. What was happening? A hot rush of something swept through me, whipping through the blood in my veins, setting me on fire. I couldn’t break eye contact with the faerie as he stepped closer, his eyes widening, and I knew he was feeling it too. This… magic… Is that what it was? Was this all part of the Great Rite? No… it couldn’t be… this was something different something…

Mate.

“It’s alright,” the faerie said, no doubt seeing the confusion on my face as he stepped even closer.

No… not just a faerie.

Mate.

My Mate.

“You’re… you’re…” I said, starting to hyperventilate.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

“Yes,” he answered softly.

The fire was still burning inside me. My body longed for him. It was throbbing with need and want, aching for him to touch me and so much more, but in my mind was a million questions.

“What… what is happening?”

The male fae looked around him, but I couldn’t focus because the sensations coursing through my veins were overwhelming. Could anyone else sense what was happening between us?

Mate. Mate. Mate. The words of my soul continued to echo in my ears.

“Not here,” he whispered.

Before I knew what was happening, his hand had taken mine and darkness roared around us as a wind tore me this way and that, the ground disappearing beneath my feet. But it was over in a second as my feet found ground again; landing on the top of a hill miles away from where were just were, the bonfires so far in the distance, they looked like stars. I wrenched my hand out of his in shock. I could barely see him in the darkness, but I could feel him next to me, the heat radiating off his body, practically begging me to wrap my own body in him.

“What did you do? Where are we? What’s going on?” I asked in quick succession.

Mate. Mate. Mate. My soul answered.

“So many questions,” he said quietly, as he summoned starlight out of thin air, once more making me stumble back in shock.

Regaining my footing, I stared at him and felt my temper flare once more. Why would no-one ever answer my questions? As if he could read my mind and understand my frustration, the male fae responded, “I winnowed us here. We are still in the Spring Court, as you can see, and… and you’ve just felt the mating bond snap into place.” He answered the last question fretfully.

I looked into his beautiful face again with its well chiselled masculine features which I was desperate to reach out and caress.

My mate. He was my mate.

And he was nervous. Why was he nervous? And by the Mother, he was so captivating. I had never felt such a magnetism like it. It was as though I needed him like the oxygen I needed to breathe, and if I didn’t have him I would suffocate.

Trying not to get overwhelmed by these feelings, I stated. “That’s impossible.”

“Why would it be impossible?” he asked, his fists clenched beside him as if he too was struggling to control himself.

“Because I’m human, and you are High Fae.”

The male fae scowled a little. “It’s unusual, but not impossible.”

I shook my head, my fingers tingling from the mating bond, itching to reach out and touch him, but I was trying to process what was happening, and I had so many questions.

“Why did you bring me here?” I asked, the wind blowing through my hair. I shivered, but not from the cold.

Without hesitation he answered, “When the mating bond snaps, other faeries can sense it. Our bond makes things… complicated.”

“Complicated? Because I’m human?”

He didn’t answer my question, but instead mused, “Hopefully the magic of Calanmai masked it and it went unnoticed.”

A frown grew on his brow, and then I knew. I knew that he didn’t want this. Why would he? I was human. I was weak. I would grow old while he stayed the same. My mortality against his immortality. He was so beautiful, and I was so… not. How could he possibly want me? This couldn’t be right. Something had gone horribly wrong! A sense of rejection washed over me. More than that. It was grief. My mate didn’t want me, and who could blame him?

“You’re wrong,” he said earnestly.

You are the most exquisite creature I’ve ever seen. Can’t you sense how much I want you?  came a deep purr inside my mind like a sweet caress.

I gasped at the sensation, my gaze darting to his violet eyes which quite literally took my breath away. He was stood a respectable distance from me, but the pull of him was so strong. He was too far away, and yet I needed the space. I needed to think. I needed to understand.

“How did you do that? You can read my mind?”

Yes.

“I would rather you didn’t,” I retorted. The fact he could read my mind unnerved me.

 “I can’t help it when your mind is so wide open. You are practically shouting your thoughts down the bond.” He smirked at me. Cocky git! But the look also did other things to me I didn’t want to admit out loud. Clearly the male fae was aware of how my body was reacting as he omitted a rich chuckle. It made me blush.

“This… bond between us allows you to do that?”

Again, he smiled at my ignorance which riled me. “I can read anyone’s mind if I want to, but human minds are less guarded; more open.” Great. Another one of my shortcomings. “Fae can be taught to shield their minds, although not even those with the best shields are likely to keep me out.”

What did that mean? And why did I get the feeling that I had bonded with very powerful faerie.

“Who are you?” I whispered, a little afraid of the answer.

Someone who has been looking for you for his entire life. He said inside my head.

He had been looking for me? That didn’t make sense. He didn’t even know I existed! His words released another million questions.

“You do not belong to the Spring Court.” It was not a question, but I wanted confirmation, seeing as I had deduced as much seeing as he wasn’t wearing a mask.

“No. I am from another Court,” he said, not giving anything away.

“Are you planning on taking me there?” I asked, again afraid of the answer. This male fae may be my mate, but I had no idea who he was or what he was capable of. The Spring Court had become my home. I was happy here. I was painting. Tamlin was looking after me. I still longed for home and perhaps a bit more freedom, but I had found an acceptance with the situation. Was all that about to change now I had found my mate?

“No.” Although he answered certainly, there was a flash of rage behind his eyes. I was not expecting the wave of disappointment which followed.

“Why not?”

“Many reasons,” he replied. I stared at him, waiting for him to explain further. He had answered more questions for me tonight than Tamlin ever had, but whenever he failed to elaborate it annoyed me. “I am not free to live in my court as I wish. And being here with you is almost certainly a mistake which is going to cost us both. I didn’t expect the bond to snap… Perhaps I should have, but I needed to see you.” He looked at me guiltily, but what he was guilty about, I wasn’t quite sure.

“You knew I was here? How?”

“I’ve seen bits of you in my dreams – flashes of you living your human life at first, but more recently, sharing in your nightmares. You can imagine my surprise when last night, you dreamed of standing among these very hills, seeing unlit bonfires for Calanmai. I knew you would probably be here. And here you are. What is a human female doing in the Spring Court?”

The answer ran off my tongue easily, even if my instincts had always been to keep my presence here secret. “I killed a faerie beyond the wall in the human realm. Andras. I didn’t know he was faerie. He appeared as a wolf, but he was actually one of Tamin’s sentries. Tamlin told me that the Treaty demanded a life for a life, but then he gave me a choice. Be killed or come and live with him in the Spring Court. So, you can guess the choice I made.”

I didn’t see the male fae curse in his head. “You’re… you’re Tamlin’s pet.”

I bared my teeth at his words. “I am no pet!”

“No? Then why has he brought you to Fire Night?” he growled, anger flowing off him.

Surprisingly, his anger also pulsed through me too. “He didn’t. He told me to stay in my room.”

This male fae, my mate, was enraged. Darkness began to swirl all around him. Then something quite extraordinary happened. Wings, powerful and strong erupted from his back, black and membranous like a bat with single claw at the apex. The starlight he had magicked around us shone through the wings illuminating the veins. My eyes hungrily inspected him. Along with his magnificent wings, black razor-sharp talons replaced his fingers and toes. He was the darkness itself. It was terrifying, and yet, he was glorious.

As soon as he read my thoughts, he stilled and the talons started retracting, but before his wings disappeared, I yelled. “Wait! Wait! May I… May I see?”

Looking at me curiously, he nodded.

Cautiously I walked around him to examine the wings more closely. Even in the dark they were stunning. Unable to resist, I reached out to softly run my hands over the membrane. As soon as my hands touched him, he let out a primal sound that made my stomach swoop. Hastily I removed my hand.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

He whizzed round to face me, a ravenous hunger in his eyes. “My wings are… sensitive.”

Despite the situation, I found the corners of my mouth twitch, and I bit my lip naughtily like a scolded schoolgirl. “Noted.”

A delighted look passed over his face at my reaction. You are playing a dangerous game, human.

I didn’t answer. The air was thick with tension, and it took all my effort not to launch myself at him.

Mate. Mate. Mate. My soul started singing again, as the pull of the bond tugged stronger than ever.

Keeping my eyes trained on him, I watched as my mate took a step back and retracted his wings, much more in control of himself than I was. As soon as he did, his demeanour changed instantly.

“I need to take you back,” he hissed as though he hated the idea as much as me.

“No!” I didn’t want this. I wanted more time with him. I wanted more time with my mate.

“It is not safe for you to be with me. It is not safe for you to be my mate. You would spend your whole life with a target on your back.”

“But the bond…”

“You do not have to accept it. You have a choice.” His voiced implored. I didn’t know what I wanted. How could I? I had only just met him. “You need to go back home; to your family,” he insisted.

“No!” I said more firmly. “The Suriel told me to stay with Tamlin.”

Whatever he was expecting me to say, it wasn’t that. “You caught a Suriel?” he clarified, his voice laced with surprise and a hint of admiration.

The tone of his voice made me smirk with pride. “Is it supposed to be difficult?”

He offered me a smile. A real smile which lit up his bewitching violet eyes. It was so beautiful it brought tears to my own.

You are full of surprises, human woman. I could feel the tendrils of his power stroking the inside of my mind. It was a feeling of affirmation and pride. “What did the Suriel say, exactly?”

I tried to recall the Suriel’s exact words, as I answered, “I asked him what can be done about the blight, and he said that I must stay with the High Lord to see everything righted.”

“The High Lord?” the male fae repeated.

“Yes. The blight… the blight has something to do with the King of Hybern. He is unhappy with the Treaty. And… and there is a deceiver.” I shook my head. “I didn’t understand what he meant, but his instructions to me were clear. I need to stay here, with Tamlin.”

He regarded me closely, pondering my words as though they were significant. Perhaps he understood the Suriel’s message more than me. Then asked me something I was not prepared for.

“Do you love him?”

My eyes widened. Was I in love with Tamlin? Certainly, there had been moments between us where there was attraction. Affection even. But standing here, looking at my mate, I found myself conflicted. “I… I don’t know,” I answered honestly, but as soon as I said it I had an overwhelming feeling of betrayal. My answer was a betrayal to him. To our mating bond.

Mate.

I couldn’t tell what my mate was feeling. He was stood so still and silent. Staring at me with an unreadable expression.

He seemed to stare at me for an age until he eventually said, “We need to go.” Taking a step closer, readying himself to winnow us back, he added, “If you see me again, you must pretend you do not know me. I will seem… different. You may see me do horrible, monstrous things, because that is what I am. A monster. You will hate me for it, just like everyone else. You must resist the bond. You must… forget about me. Forget that this ever happened. If anyone found out you were my mate…” He stopped, closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “Please, promise me.”

I shook my head. I didn’t want to forget. Even though I didn’t know him, there was not a doubt in my mind that he was not the monster he professed to be. He was my mate. How was it even possible for me to forget that?

“Please,” he whispered. It was the desperation in his voice that moved me, and I knew he wouldn’t leave unless I gave him the answer he was looking for.

“I promise,” I whispered, tears coming to my eyes, knowing that I was lying to him because I couldn’t forget.

Mate. My mate.

I probably wasn’t very convincing, but it was the best I could do. He took my hand. It was warm in mine despite the cold; stoking the fire in me that threatened to rage once more. Then he winnowed us back to the spot by the edge of the forest.

“Enjoy the Rite,” he said over the loud beating of the drums.

He released my hand and gave me a long look with his violet eyes which I knew would be imprinted on my mind forever.

Then he winnowed away, and despite the sounds all around me, all I could hear was the thumping of my heartbeat ringing in my ears.

And that’s when I realised: I didn’t even know his name.

Chapter Text

My heart was still pounding from the encounter with my mate as I wandered back in a daze through the crowds towards the hollow and my mare which would take me back to the manor.

My Mate.

It was a ridiculous notion. A human mated with a High Fae. Not that we were fully mated. The bond may have snapped, but neither of us had accepted it. Not yet anyhow. My mate had pleaded with me to forget about the bond. He wanted me to pretend it had never happened to keep me safe. The fervour of his plea was enough to convince me of the seriousness of the situation, and I would be a fool not to pay heed to it. But having just watched him leave, I felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness. An emptiness that only he; my nameless mate, could fill.

It was the bond, of course, that was making me feel these things. Perhaps in time, these feelings would fade, but for now, I would need to learn to live with them, and to hide them. And if our paths happened to cross again, I would do as he asked and pretend we hadn’t met, seeing as he had inferred it was imperative for me to do so.

As my head was so fuzzy from the aftermath of the encounter, I wasn’t really looking where I was going, and I kept bumping into faeries as I walked past. One such faerie seemed particularly displeased, as they yanked my elbow, whirling me round to look at them.

“Have you lost your senses?” It was Lucien, and the angry tone of his voice made me flinch. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” I started to explain, but words failed me. I thought that I was being called out here because of the magic of Calanmai, but now I wondered if I had been called by him: My mate.

Mate.

“Idiot!” Lucien yelled at me. Why was he so angry? “Useless human fool.” Then, without warning, he picked me up and slung me over his shoulder in a most undignified manner, making me curse aloud. I screamed at him to release me; to allow me to collect my horse, but he didn’t listen. Instead, he ran like the wind back to the manor, so fast that I had to close my eyes as it made me nauseous. Winnowing was a much more pleasant experience.

When we were back at the manor, Lucien dumped me in the hallway. I had never seen him this angry before, nor panicked. There were beads of sweat appearing on his brow. “You stupid mortal. Didn’t he tell you to stay in your room?” The drumming suddenly became much louder on his words, and it snapped our attention for a moment. It was nearly time for the ritual.

“Yes, but nothing happened…” I lied.

“By the Cauldron, if Tam found you there…”

“I am not Tamlin’s pet!” I fumed, my mate’s words coming back to me. “And I am not a child; expected to obey orders without question.”

“Not even for your own safety? It is the Great Rite, Cauldron boil me! Didn’t anyone tell you what it is?”

“That’s the point, Lucien. No-one tells me anything!”

He stared at me as the drums echoed on, calling him to rejoin the crowd. I wondered if he would just go to them, but he didn’t. Finally, he explained what was going on. “Fire Night signals the official start of spring. Here, our crops depend upon the magic we regenerate on Calanmai – tonight. We do this by conducting the Great Rite. Each of the seven High Lords of Prythian performs this every year, since their magic comes from the earth and returns it to it at the end…”

“But what is it?” I interrupted, still boiling with frustration.

He clicked his tongue at my impatience. “Tonight, Tam will allow… great and terrible magic to enter his body. The magic will seize control of his mind, his body, his soul and turn him into the Hunter. It will fill him with a sole purpose; to find the Maiden. From their coupling magic will be released and spread to the earth where it will regenerate life for the year to come.”

Oh Mother! The Great Rite was a sexual ritual, not at all the violent one I had imagined.

“Who’s the maiden?” I asked, finding myself curious where I once may have been envious.

“No-one knows until it’s time. After Tam hunts down the white stag and kills it for the sacrificial offering, he’ll make his way to that sacred cave, where he’ll find the path lined with faerie females waiting to be chosen as his mate for tonight.”

Mate.

There was that word again that was still being whispered in my soul.

“They line up for him to choose?” I repeated wide-eyed, thinking this was crazy.

Lucien laughed at my reaction. “Yes. It’s an honour to be chosen, but it’s his instincts that select her.”

“But what about all the other male faeries that are there?”

A little coy, Lucien explained, “Ah, well, Tam’s not the only one who gets to perform the rite tonight. Once he makes his choice, we’re free to… mingle too.”

Oh Mother! I cursed again, realising what this meant. The ritual was a full-on sex fest, and I had nearly been caught up in it. I recalled the words of the three faeries who wanted to drag me into the forest, and I shivered. They would have had their way with me if it weren’t for my mate.

My mate.

What would have happened if he had stayed tonight? A deep heat started to spread across my skin.

“You’re lucky I found you when I did. He would have smelled you and claimed you, but it wouldn’t have been Tamlin that took you into that cave, it would have been the Hunter. And I don’t think you would have liked it. Tonight is not for lovemaking.”

I felt nauseous again, as Lucien confirmed what I had already begun suspecting. Some feral part of Tamlin wanted me. Perhaps that would have thrilled me an hour ago, but not now.

Not now I had found him.

Not now I had found my mate.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

The beating of the drums was reaching a pivotal point. “I need to return before he arrives at the cave – at least try to control him when he smells you and can’t find you in the crowd.”

I blanched. What had I done? Would I be safe in the manor tonight? Tamlin’s instructions to set up a snare now made much more sense. Not that one of my snares would be effective against him. The last time I had ensnared him, he had simply used his claws to free himself. I stood no chance at all tonight when he became the Hunter.

“Stay in your room, Feyre. No matter who comes knocking, keep the door locked. Don’t come out until morning,” Lucien insisted.

And I had every intention of following his instructions to the letter.

***

The drumming continued for what seemed like hours. The threat of Tamlin coming into my room kept me on edge. I tried to sleep, but it was impossible. Every sound made me leap out of bed. My restlessness was further exacerbated when every time I closed my eyes, a pair of enchanting violet eyes stared back at me.

Mate. My Mate.

I wondered where he was now and what he was doing. Was he partaking in the Great Rite like every else? Lucien said that all courts celebrated Fire Night, so his was surely no exception. Or maybe, just maybe, he was thinking about me just like I was thinking about him.

I closed my eyes again and conjured up his image in my head, finding myself smiling at what I saw. How disappointing that our encounter had been so fleeting. And even more disappointing was that I didn’t know his name. The longer I dwelled on his image, the stronger a desire arose within me to paint him. Even though I could never do him justice, I knew exactly what I wanted the painting to look like: My mate, looking glorious with his wings expanded, darkness swirling all around him. I would paint only with black against a white canvas, save for his violet eyes. He would look majestic and powerful. Terrifying, but beautiful.

My mate.

The longer I thought about the painting, the more restless I became. I went back to pacing, every so often looking out the window at the bonfires, willing it to be sunrise so that I could race to the gallery and to my little painting room. I was afraid that if I didn’t paint him now, I would forget what he looked like. As I was pacing back from the door for what felt like the hundredth time, the drumming outside suddenly stopped. The sudden silence was eerie. Then a wave of magic wafted over me, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. I guessed what had happened, and I was relieved. Now the Great Rite had been performed, there was no longer any reason for me to stay in my room.

Without a moment to spare, I dismantled my snare, unlocked my door and hurried towards my painting room. My heart thrumming with anticipation of seeing my mate again, albeit on canvas. But as I was about to turn down the hallway, I saw a large silhouette at the other end, coming towards me. I halted, as the moonlight shone on his masked face and golden hair on which was adorned a crown of laurel leaves.

“Going somewhere?” Tamlin asked, his voice strange and mysterious.

My stomach plummeted. Even I, a mere human, could sense the magic oozing out of him. I had stupidly thought that once he had performed the Great Rite, he would go back to just being Tamlin, but that was clearly not the case. It was precarious to be here with him right now.  

“I… er…” I didn’t know how to respond. Telling Tamlin the truth about my mate would be incredibly foolish, especially given his current state.

He strode towards me, his bare chest now painted with swirling blue patterns, smudged in places where he had no doubt been touched by the Maiden. I stayed still, willing for him to walk past me without incident. However, as he came in line with me, he pounced like a tiger, pushing me against the wall, making me squeal in fright. He grasped my wrists, pinning them above my head as he bore down on me, his body pressed against mine.

“I smelled you,” he breathed. “I searched for you, and you weren’t there. It drove me mad.” His claws sliced into the wood around my hands. His eyes were wild. He was still the Hunter right now, and not the Tamlin I knew.

“Let me go,” I said as calmly as I could, hoping that the kind Tamlin I knew was still in there somewhere.

“When I didn’t find you, it made me pick another,” he said. He was so close to me it was as if we shared the same breath.

“I’m sure she was honoured,” I bit back. It was probably dangerous for me to taunt him, but I hated what he was doing to me.

He growled and pushed further into me. His hard body crushing against mine. “She was not what I wanted. I wanted you.”

I bit my tongue this time, as I was afraid the next thing I said would provoke him to do something he would later regret.

Bringing his lips to my ear, he said, “I would have been gentle. I would have had you moaning my name throughout it all, Feyre.”

I shuddered at his words as my mind once more went to my mate whose name I was yet to learn. Mother above, how I longed to know his name so that I may shout it from the rooftops.

Mate. Mate. My Mate.

I stiffened as the mating bond tugged me to him again. Having Tamlin against me was so wrong. Where was my mate?

Tamlin noticed that something had shifted. He backed away to gaze down at me. Did he sense it? Did he sense the mating bond that had snapped hours earlier?

“Let. Me. Go,” I said again through clenched teeth.

It was the wrong thing to say, however, for my resistance only seemed to rouse him more as he bit down into my neck which made me cry out in pain. His teeth didn’t pierce my skin, but instead, he used them to keep me pinned to the wall. In that moment I hated him. I hated him for what he was doing to me, regardless of whether he was in control of himself or not. I closed my eyes to blot out what his teeth were doing and focused instead on the one person I really wanted to appear right now.

My mate.

Tamlin’s bite lightened, as he withdrew his teeth, and then locked his eyes with mine again as he continued to hold me against the wall.

“You bastard,” I whispered, my voice cold and hollow.

Whether it was my words or not, Tamlin finally let go and backed away from me. I rubbed my wrists where he had held me.

“This is what happens when you disobey me,” he snarled, towering over me like the beast that he was.

Feeling braver, I looked up to him and spat. “You do not tell me what to do. I am not your plaything. I am not your pet.”

 I didn’t wait for him to respond, but instead, turned on my heel, and ran to my room, as his growls echoed behind me. Once back in my room, I locked the door, and I sank to my knees as a realisation built up in me that was sure and certain.

Did I love Tamlin?

No. I didn’t love him. Perhaps I once could have, but that had all changed once the mating bond had snapped into place.

My mate.

I wanted my mate. But here I was, stuck in the Spring Court with a High Lord who wanted me to be more to him than I was able to give. My mate was right. Our bond was dangerous. Tamlin could never know what had happened, for who knew what he would do if he found out. And I would need to abandon any idea of painting him. My mate would need to remain in my dreams for now, and not on canvas. I prayed to the Mother there and then that my mate would visit my dreams often so that I would never forget his face. As I prayed, I was unable to stop the few tears that slid down my cheek as the full reality of my new situation began to sink in.

Chapter Text

I avoided Tamlin for a good few days after Fire Night, requesting that my meals be brought up to my room rather than have to endure being with him. Whilst the marks where he had bitten me on my neck were beginning to fade, I was still furious with what he had done to me. Perhaps I should have been more forgiving. Tamlin hadn’t been in control of himself. It had been the Hunter that had behaved so abominably towards me, not him. But the marks on my neck felt like his attempt to claim me. To mark me as his. And I wasn’t his. I didn’t belong to anyone but myself… except.

Mate.

My mate. I would have belonged to him had we accepted the bond. Sometimes, when the bond was feeling particularly strong, I felt myself willing to accept it, but other times I was reticent. My mate had called himself a monster. I didn’t want to believe him. But I hadn’t believed Tamlin would hurt me either, yet he had. Maybe I wasn’t as good a judge of character as I thought. My reticence to accept the bond did not stop me thinking of him, though, my thoughts often leaving me very hot and bothered. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him. So many things I wanted to know about him, not least his name! And the fact I had not asked him during our encounter was fast becoming my biggest regrets.

To ensure my path didn’t cross with Tamlin, I spent the long hours of the day locked away in my painting room. At first, I struggled to know what to paint, as my hands only wanted to paint my mate, and that was no longer possible. But as the hours passed, ideas started to flow. There were other ways to capture my mate in my art. And I started with the colour of his eyes.

After a third day of successful avoidance, I emerged late in the evening from my little room, paint smudged all up my arms, my eyes tired, but my heart full. I had finally mixed the right colour for my mate’s eyes, and now, a completed canvas full of that colour was drying in the room. Lazily I meandered back up the hallway with a smile on my face. I had barely eaten all day, and I was hoping Alis could fetch me something from the kitchens and bring it up to me. I slipped into my room and headed over to the sink to wash, when there was a knock on my door.

Thinking it would be Alis, I walked over and opened the door. But it wasn’t Alis. It was…

“Tamlin,” I said, greeting him nervously. He was holding a bunch of white roses, and his demeanour was contrite.

Holding them out for me, he said, “A peace offering.” I took them from him. No-one had ever given me flowers before.

“I wasn’t myself,” Tamlin began to explain.

“I know.”

“And I had told you to stay in your room,” he argued.

“Without any sort of explanation,” I countered. Tamlin shifted on his feet. “You cannot expect me to blindly follow your orders, Tamlin. I am not one of your sentries. You claim that I am your guest here, but sometimes you treat me as though I am your prisoner.”

“To keep you safe,” he growled.

I sighed, irritated by his response. “Well, I don’t like it.”

“I am the High Lord. Everyone who is part of my court is under my protection. It’s my duty. My burden. You are only human, and in more danger than most…”

“I am well aware of my vulnerabilities and shortcomings,” I interrupted. “And I understand your innate instinct to protect me, I do. But I am fed up with being kept in the dark. When you refuse to give me answers, it’s as though you don’t trust me.”

Tamlin swallowed and chose his next words carefully. “This has nothing to do with trust, Feyre. There are some things I simply cannot tell you.”

“Why not?” I demanded.

“Magic.”

Alright, that wasn’t what I was expecting. “Magic?”

“Yes.” I stared at him, trying to work out if he was lying or not. Certainly, it was a very convenient excuse. Sensing my suspicions, he continued, “But I promise from now on, that where I can answer your questions, I will.”

My eyebrows raised, “No more riddles?”

“No more riddles,” he answered. I wanted to believe him. I hoped he was being sincere. “Will you join us for dinner tonight?” he asked nervously.

I glanced at the flowers and then back to him, feeling like we were at least creeping towards reconciliation. “Very well,” I responded. Tamlin stepped back and Alis appeared from behind him, clicking her tongue at my ragged appearance as she prepared to work her magic to get me ready for dinner.

***

After coming to our agreement, the next few weeks passed by pleasantly enough. I spent most days painting; each piece of artwork featuring my mate in some way that only I could identify. I thought of my mate often. Sometimes I even thought I heard him through the bond, but such an idea was surely insane. He was probably miles away from here, and I had no idea if or when I would see him again.

When Tamlin wasn’t called to the border, he would take me to some of his favourite places within the enchanted forest. We fell into a comfortable rhythm, but things were not quite the same between us as they were before. I could tell he harboured an affection for me, but it was an affection that I could not reciprocate. I was fond of him, that much was true, but my fondness only went so far as friendship. Even when he offered to un-glamour me in exchange for a kiss, I only agreed out intrigue and kissed his hand rather than his lips, much to his displeasure. And now I had been un-glamoured, I could experience Prythian for what it truly was: full of rich and beautiful colour, sound and fragrance.

I didn’t fully understand why Tamlin had hidden his court from me until now, and it scared the life out of me when I came down for breakfast that first morning, and the dining hall was full of faeries which I didn’t know had been there all along!

Yes, life was contented enough, but something was still missing. Or rather, not something, but someone. My mate was missing. And whilst finding ways I could covertly paint him helped in a small way, there was nothing that could fill the void entirely.

***

It was only a few days before the Summer Solstice when I found a head in the garden. It was a male High Fae, spiked atop a fountain, the stone beneath it soaked in blood which indicated it had been freshly decapitated when it was impaled. It looked like he was still screaming. His eyes were bulging, and his teeth broken. There was no mask on his face, so he was not from the Spring Court.

I panicked when I saw it and was about to run when whirled into something hard: Tamlin, with Lucien beside him.

“Not Autumn Court. I don’t recognise him at all,” Lucien said gravely.

“Me neither,” Tamlin said, also grave.

Lucien inspected the head closer. “They branded him with a sigil. A mountain with three stars…”

“Night Court,” Tamlin snarled.

I didn’t know much of the Night Court, except what I had deduced from the mural I had seen; that it was the northernmost bit of Prythian. A land of darkness and starlight.

“Why would they do this?” I shivered, looking away from the head as it made me want to retch.

“The Night Court does what it wants. They live by their own codes, their own corrupt morals,” Tamlin answered.

“They’re all sadistic killers. They delight in torture of every kind – and would find this sort of stunt to be amusing,” Lucien added.

I swallowed down the bile collecting in my throat. The Night Court sounded terrifying. “They do this for amusement? So, it is not a message?”

“Oh, it’s a message,” Lucien confirmed as he went to remove the head from the spike, the sounds making the blood in my veins run cold. “To get in and out of our defences, to possibly commit the crime nearby, with the blood this fresh. It’s exactly what the High Lord of the Night Court would find amusing. The bastard.”

I looked between here and the manor. There was only sixty to seventy feet between the head and the manor. “How did they come so close? I thought your wards would keep them out?” Nervously Tamlin and Lucien exchanged a glance. “Is it the blight?”

 “If they got this close, they know that the blight is again awakening and want us to know they’re circling the Spring Court like vultures, waiting for our wards to fall further,” Tamlin growled. “I won’t let that happen.”

But it was happening. It was happening right under his nose. The Bogge; the naga… every day he was hunting down faeries which were not supposed to be in these lands. And now a member of a rival court had breached the Spring Court’s defences without them even realising. They had been so close to my living quarters. It was frightening.

“This is just their idea of a prank.” If it was a prank, it was an extremely sick one. Tamlin was obviously trying to dismiss the threat, and it was very unconvincing. “It’s court posturing,” Tamlin continued. “The Night Court is deadly, but this was only their lord’s idea of a joke. They wouldn’t hurt you. It would be more trouble than it’s worth.”

He couldn’t know that. If the High Lord of the Night Court was prepared to torture and decapitate a faerie like this, surely he could do much worse to a human. It seemed to me like Tamlin was underestimating him, and this would likely be his, and his court’s downfall.

My mind recalled the other faerie who was dumped here with his wings sawn off. The faerie whose hand I had held while he died. How many more faeries were going to lose their lives so needlessly?

“What are you going to about it?” I asked. Something like this clearly necessitated some action on his part. The faerie may not have come from his court, but it was left here for him to deal with. Tamlin looked at me with a frown. “An act like this cannot just be ignored. This faerie… this faerie was murdered near your borders,” I continued.

Tamlin stared me down. “It would be most unwise to provoke the High Lord of the Night Court.”

“Because you are afraid of him?” My question elicited a growl from Tamlin.

Lucien explained. “The High Lord of the Night Court is lethal. He is a daemati.” I avoided looking at him as he had the head in his hands.

“A… what?”

“A daemati. He can control, invade and even shatter someone’s mind.”

I felt sick again. Surely someone with that sort of power was invincible. Even Tamlin, with his supernatural strength would be powerless against a faerie that could control minds.

“How is someone with such power to be challenged?”

Tamlin huffed. “There are ways to deal with him. But he would not be so stupid to start a war between courts, especially now… when the blight is spreading. His own court will be just as susceptible as ours.”

This was all so confusing. “Then why send the head? It makes no sense!”

“Like I said. It was a prank, that is all.”

But it wasn’t just a prank, however much Tamlin insisted it was. It was a warning. A warning that the Spring Court was weak and vulnerable.

“There is no need to worry, Feyre. You are safe here,” Tamlin said.

If that was the case, then why did it feel we were on the cusp of something catastrophic happening? And why wasn’t Tamin doing anything to prepare for it?

***

Tamlin stayed away at the border for a couple of nights after I found the head. It didn’t surprise me. Even with my human shortcomings, I could sense that the blight was bearing down on the Spring Court, and that something was about to strike. I tried to carry on as normal; retreating to my little painting room, staring at the paintings which reminded me of my mate. It had been a few weeks now since the bond had snapped, but I could still feel it; like a constant itch that needed to be scratched.

Everyone was preparing for the Summer Solstice. I wondered what rituals the faeries engaged in for this celebration, and whether I was able to attend. When I asked Lucien about it, he laughed and told me it was just a party. Although he warned me not to drink the faerie wine.

So, when the Summer Solstice came, I decided, naturally, to ignore him and drink it, and it was the most glorious thing I’d ever tasted.

It was quite the party. Tamlin played the fiddle, and I danced and danced and danced, emboldened by the faerie wine. I felt freer than I had done for a long time, and for one day I forgot the threat of the blight, and the Night Court and simply enjoyed myself.

However, I was brought back down to earth the following day when I came down for breakfast, and interrupted Tamlin and Lucien’s conversation.

“I received a letter from my contact at the Winter Court this morning. The blight took out two dozen of their younglings. Two dozen all gone.” I went deathly pale at Lucien’s words. “Their grief is unfathomable.”

“The blight can kill people?” I asked anxiously. It had killed children. And given that younglings were so rare amongst the faeries, the loss of so many must have been devastating.

The look on Tamlin’s face meant he was obviously thinking the same. “The blight is capable of hurting us in many ways…” He stopped abruptly, then leapt to his feet, unsheathing his claws and staring at the open doorway.

Silence descended, and Lucien drew his sword.

“Get Feyre to the window – by the curtains,” Tamlin snarled, his eyes still fixed at the open door.

I tried to ask what was happening, but Tamlin growled at me. Grabbing a knife from the table, I let Lucien lead me to the window where he pinned me against the wall, shielding me.

Magic swirled all around me as Tamlin’s glamour fell upon me, making me a part of Lucien, invisible and hidden by his scent and magic.

I could see Tamlin over Lucien’s shoulder. He proceeded to slouch back in his chair and pick his nails, looking as if nothing were happening, but I knew. I knew someone was coming. Someone awful and someone who would want to hurt me if they saw me. Was it the Attor, returning again? Or was it someone worse? Someone even worse than the naga or the Bogge? I was suddenly fearful.

Out of the silence came the sound of lazy footsteps echoing from the hall. I held my breath as the unwelcome visitor stepped into the dining hall and I had to cover my mouth with my hand to stop myself from omitting any sort of sound that relayed the shock I felt at his arrival.

Mate.

My mate.

My mate was here, exactly how I remembered him. Tall, slim and dressed all in rich ebony clothes; dark and yet beautiful. My whole body reacted instantly, thrumming with need and want. The pull of the bond was so strong, but I fought it and stayed as still as I could; my breaths shallow and laboured from the effort. Could he sense that I was here, glamoured by Tamlin’s magic?

“High Lord,” my mate sneered at Tamlin. He didn’t bow to him. Just hearing his voice again made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

“What do you want Rhysand?”

Rhysand.

My mate’s name was Rhysand.

My heart started to beat faster as the significance of knowing his name sunk in.

“Rhysand? Come now Tamlin. I don’t see you for forty-nine years and you start calling me Rhysand? Only my prisoners and enemies call me that.” His grin was wide, but there was something deadly about his look. Slowly he turned his head towards Lucien – and me, and it felt like my heart had stopped beating. Those violet eyes which I had tried to match the colour of in my painting where now fixed on mine, and I knew right there and then that I hadn’t got the colour right at all. I suspected he would be able to sense me here, even if he couldn’t see me. The bond was too strong to ignore.

You can call me Rhys.

My insides burned when he spoke to me inside my head. How I had longed to hear him again, and now I had, the singing in my soul from the mating bond increased tenfold.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

What is your name? he asked. Had he been as eager to know my name as I was his?

I thought my name, hoping that he could hear me. Feyre.

Feyre, Rhys purred. The way he said my name made my body break out in goosebumps. The was something thrilling about our private exchange. Like a secret only we shared. And as I was glamoured, no-one could see the smile breaking out on my face.

“Lucien, always a pleasure,” Rhys said, obviously pretending he couldn’t tell I was there and not giving any indication that he had been talking with me inside my head.

“What do you want, Rhys?” Tamin said in a voice that turned my insides cold.

Rhys broke his gaze from where I was standing and sighed lazily. “I’m here to check up on you. I wanted to see if you got my little present.”

The smile on my face vanished instantly. Present what present? I was hit with a sudden realisation which made my stomach plummet. My mate… my mate had sent Tamlin the head of that faerie.

Not all is what it seems. Rhys said in my head again.

“Your present was unnecessary.”

 “I disagree. The fact I could penetrate your wards to deposit it within your manor grounds just proves to me what I have long suspected: that you are resigned to your fate and too stubborn to do anything about it. How different the High Lord is from the brutal war-band leader of centuries ago.”

“What do you know about anything? You’re just Amarantha’s whore!” Lucien spat, making Rhys whip his head around.

 Whore? What were they talking about?

“Her whore I may be, but not without my reasons.”

His words sent a wave of pain ripping down the bond, tearing at my very soul. My mate was someone else’s whore?

Sometimes we must do terrible things to protect the things we love.

If it wasn’t for Lucien pinning me to the wall, I would have sunk to my knees. I thought I was going to be sick. Rhys’s eyes were on me, but whether he could actually see me or not, I wasn’t sure. If he could see me, he would see that my face was a picture of pure agony. I wanted to scream at his words. He was my mate. He was my mate, and he was giving his body to another. Pain continued to throb through the bond, so strong that it was as if my heart was being ripped out.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

“At least I haven’t bided my time among the hedges and flowers while the world has gone to hell,” Rhys continued, his voice strained because he could feel my pain as strongly as I could.

Lucien raised his sword slightly. “If you think that’s all I’ve been doing, you’ll soon learn otherwise.”

Rhys sneered. “Little Lucien. Your defection from the Autumn Court certainly gave people something to talk about, but you appear to have done very little else of significance.” He turned his head back to Tamlin. “No, you have just holed yourselves up in this country estate and made no attempts to save yourselves or these lands.”

“Go to hell, Rhys,” Lucien cursed.

Rhys tutted menacingly. “Is that any way to speak to a High Lord of Prythian?”

High Lord? My mate was a High Lord? Oh Mother, my mate was High Lord of the Night Court! The High Lord who was so powerful, he could shatter minds. The High Lord who did unforgiveable things just for fun and tortured innocent faeries like the one whose head had been savagely left here for me to find. No, it couldn’t be true could it?

I did try to warn you.

Yes, he had. Rhys had told me was a monster, and now Lucien and Tamlin had all but confirmed it. But even now, I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t. I couldn’t because, when I looked into his eyes, I didn’t see a monster at all.

Mate. My mate.

All these revelations were beginning to get overwhelming. My head was spinning. I was sure at any point I was going to faint. I wished I were somewhere else. Anywhere but here.

Breathe. You need to breathe. This will all be over soon. Rhys said, tendrils of power stroking my mind to calm me. The same power that could shatter my mind if he so wanted it. I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand any of it.

“Come now, Tamlin, shouldn’t you reprimand your lackey for speaking to me like that?”

“I don’t enforce rank in my court.”

Rhys crossed his arms. “But it’s so entertaining when they grovel.”

“This isn’t the Night Court, and you have no power here – so clear out. Amarantha’s bed’s going cold,” Lucien hissed.

But it wasn’t Amarantha’s bed that was growing cold. It was me.  Just the mention of her name and what Rhys was to her made me want to vomit again.

Breathe. The words came again, and I tried to do as he said, but it was difficult.

“Oh, it will not be me that will be warming Amarantha’s bed for long. She’s already preparing for you, Tamlin. I think I can safely report that you’ve already been broken and will reconsider her offer.”

Tamlin tried to appear disinterested. I still had no idea who Amarantha was, but she seemed to have a hold over both my mate and Tamlin. I could feel my blood boiling. Rhys was my mate. Mine! And I did not want to share him.

Listen to me closely. You do not have much time. You must leave Prythian and go back to your family.

No, I hissed back.

I cannot protect you from what’s coming and neither can Tamlin.

But the Suriel… I started to protest.

Please, Feyre.

“Well, is that everything?” Tamlin asked, interrupting our silent conversation.

Rhys looked over to me, his pale face stark. “I believe so. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you both Under the Mountain. I’ll give Amarantha your regards.”

Then, as Rhys continued to look at me, he vanished into nothing. I couldn’t stop a whimper from escaping my lips as he did, as a feeling of dread swept over me. Rhys hadn’t come here to provoke Tamlin. He had come here to warn him, just like the head of the faerie was a warning – that something was coming. Yet Tamlin seemed to refuse to do anything. Why wasn’t he doing anything? Lucien stepped away from me as Tamlin lifted the glamour. But without Lucien holding me up, I immediately collapsed to the floor and lost consciousness…

Chapter Text

“Feyre?”

The voice calling my name was eerie and distant.

“Feyre?”

I moaned as I tried to move; tried to speak, but I was so damn weak.

“Feyre?”

The voice was getting louder. I was waking up and I was instantly hit by a stabbing pain at the back of my head. I moaned again as my eyes fluttered open.

“Rhys?” I said, my mate’s name automatically on my lips.

“It’s alright, he’s gone,” Lucien said as he helped me sit up, obviously thinking I had called to my mate because I was afraid of him, which I suppose held some truth. Lucien and Tamlin were both crouched next to me, looking worried.

My recollection of the second encounter with my mate flooded my mind, and I was hit with a wave of nausea.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” I said. Tamlin handed me a bucket just in time as I emptied the contents of my stomach. Once there was nothing left but bile, I sat back and rubbed the back of my head, which was still throbbing, my fingers brushing over a large welt.

“You knocked your head hard on the windowsill when you fainted,” Lucien explained, as Alis walked over with some ice. She held it against the swelling, making me wince.

“What are you going to do?” I asked Tamlin. He looked confused at my question. “Amarantha; she’s coming for you.”

The words of the Attor came back to me as clear as day. He had said that she had Tamlin’s fate in her hands. If she could command the High Lords of Prythian, then she must be incredibly powerful. And she had her leash around my mate’s neck. My mate… my mate was her whore. I retched again, grabbing the bucket, but all that came out was air.

“Amarantha is my problem, not yours,” Tamlin insisted. His answer was infuriating.

“She’s coming, Tamlin. And she will destroy the Spring Court. Rhys is right. You cannot just sit back and do nothing!”

The ground seemed to shake, as Tamlin retorted, “Rhysand is her puppet and her whore. You cannot trust a word he says.”

“He came here to warn you,” I implored.

“He came here to provoke and taunt. Have you learned nothing? He is from the Night Court. They kill and torture for fun. If he had seen you today… well, you would probably end up dead. Thank the Cauldron he did not detect my glamour!”

But my mate had known I was there, and his message was clear. Amarantha was coming, and the choice was either to fight or flee.

“You said he wouldn’t hurt me.”

Tamlin looked at me sombrely. “He wouldn’t have dared to do so in my court while you are under my protection, but without it… Feyre, he could torture you in ways you could never imagine.”

I shivered at his accusation. Would my mate truly hurt me as Tamlin professed he would?  I wasn’t convinced. Rhys had pretended he hadn’t known that I was here. He had pretended that Tamlin’s glamour had kept me hidden. He had pleaded with me to leave this place because he wasn’t able to protect me. These actions were not from someone that wanted me to come to harm.

“Do you intend to fight her? Amarantha?” I asked.

“There will be no need for that,” Tamlin responded. My mouth fell open as I realised what this meant. “You mean to surrender,” I bit back. My accusation echoed around the dining hall confirming that it was true. Lucien scowled, but Tamlin’s face remained resolute.

“You have no idea what you are talking about,” Tamlin sneered.

I glared at him. “Then explain it to me!”

I looked to Tamlin, then Lucien, even Alis, but no-one said anything. I shook my head in frustration, but it made the world spin.

“We should get you to bed,” Alis suggested.

“No! No! Not until you give me some answers!” My words were beginning to slur.

“Feyre,” Tamlin pleaded, but his voice was beginning to sound distant.

“Tamlin… I…” and then I fainted again.

***

I woke up in my bed, feeling incredibly groggy, my head throbbing. Slowly I opened my eyes, and they fell on Tamlin who was sat on a chair in the corner of the room, a stream of sunlight reflecting off his golden mask.

“How long have I been out of it?” I asked, my mouth parched. I reached over for some water and gulped down a few mouthfuls.

“A couple of hours,” he answered. A couple of hours? That didn’t make sense. “You have a nasty bump to the head. It’s good for you to sleep.”

His response confirmed what I had suspected. “You used your magic on me.”

“Yes,” he said, unapologetically.

I sunk back into the bed with a big sigh feeling pathetically human. My mind was whirring, still pondering the conversation that had passed between Rhys and Tamlin. “Who is Amarantha?” I asked quietly.

“Feyre…”

I sat up again, rather too quickly, as the room spun around me. “You promised. You promised you would answer my questions where you can,” I said, closing my eyes to recentre myself.

“I did, but…”

I raised my eyes back to him, focussing on the mask that was fixed to face. “No excuses, Tamlin. If Amarantha is coming here, then I want to know how to prepare for her.”

“You won’t be here when she comes,” Tamlin stressed.

“Why not?”

“I’m sending you home.”

Home. Just a few weeks ago, those words would have been music to my ears, but now… “No! No, I’m staying here.”

“Feyre, if Amarantha discovers you here, she will kill you. She hates humans. If you stay here, you will die.”

I looked back at him, my mind unwavering. “I am not leaving you,” I said through gritted teeth.

“You will, even if I have to take you back myself, kicking and screaming,” Tamlin insisted.

“No!” I snapped angrily.

“Yes! I need to do this to keep you safe; to keep you alive,” Tamlin implored.

Tears pricked in the corners of my eyes as I stared at him. I had been in the Spring Court for months now. And whilst Tamlin and I had had our moments, I had come to care for him. It wasn’t love in the romantic sense, but I cared for him like I cared for my own sisters. I cared for Lucien and Alis too. I would not abandon them to this fate. I couldn’t.

“The Spring Court is my home, Tamlin. You and Lucien and Alis; you’re my family now. My own family beyond the wall… well, you would not call us close, but I loved them dearly. I would have done anything for them. And it is the same with you. I cannot just abandon you.”

“You must…”

“No!”

Tamlin looked at me in earnest. “It is too late, Feyre. There is nothing to be done.”

I swallowed back a lump that was forming in my throat. “I don’t want to leave you,” I said, the tears now coming thick and fast.

He came up to me and sat beside me on the bed. Taking my hands in his, he said, “I know. I don’t want you to leave either, but you must. There are things worse than Rhys coming. Worse than the Attor and the Bogge. I can’t even protect myself against them, against what’s happening in Prythian. I am so damn helpless, Feyre. I couldn’t bear it if they found you; if they hurt you.” His voice was raw with emotion. He paused to collect himself. “There was a moment not so long ago when I thought… I thought that maybe you cared for me, as I care for you.”

“Tamlin…”

“But ever since Calanmai, something’s changed between us.” He was right. It had. The mating bond had put paid to any sort of romantic feelings I once had for him.

“I’m sorry,” I whimpered.

He cupped my face with his hands and looked deep into my eyes. “It was selfish of me to keep you here.”

“You didn’t have a choice. The Treaty demanded it.” Then my eyes widened as I realised, “The Treaty! You can’t send my home…”

“I will take on your life-debt. Should someone come enquiring after the broken laws, I’ll take responsibility for Andras’s death.”

“But you said…”

“If they have a problem with it, they can tell me,” he said sharply, shutting down my arguments, his hands were still on my face, caressing my skin as his eyes began committing my face to memory.

 “You will always be special to me, Feyre. I won’t forget you.” The tears were still running down my face as he leaned in a planted a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Please don’t do this,” I sobbed. “The Suriel… the Suriel told me to stay here with you.” It was the same argument I had given to Rhys, and Tamlin blanched when I said it.

Removing his hands from my cheeks, he said, “It did?”

“Yes.”

Tamlin ran his fingers through his long golden hair, clearly agitated by this revelation. “Why?”

“I don’t know. He just said that I must stay with you to see everything righted.”

“Are you sure? Are you sure that is what the Suriel said?” he asked.

“Yes!” I pleaded.

Tamlin didn’t move, still processing what I was saying. Had I persuaded him to reconsider?

“You should get some rest,” he said finally, rising from the bed and crossing the room.

“So, I can stay?” I asked anxiously.

Glancing back at me, he said, “I will start making preparations for your imminent departure.”

And with that, he closed the door, and my heart broke.

***

I did not leave my room for the next twenty-four hours. My head continued to throb, and I cried and cursed, furious about Tamlin’s decision and my lack of understanding about what was happening, which only made my headache worse. When I tried to get out of bed, I felt dizzy, so I spent most of the time lying down, other than when I needed to use the privy. If I ever needed a reminder of the true weakness of my humanity, this was it. Perhaps Rhys and Tamlin were right. What hope did I have against Amarantha? Maybe I should just admit defeat and give up and go home as they wished? Except that every time I had the thought of going home, another thought rose up in my soul.

Mate.

My mate was Under the Mountain and under Amarantha’s control. My friends in the Spring Court would soon join him. Despite knowing I was so utterly weak and powerless, could I simply just leave them to their fate? Even though I knew I would probably be killed on the spot, there was this niggling feeling inside me that kept telling me to stay, just as the Suriel had instructed.

Alis tended to me in my convalescence. Her mood was sombre, and she refused to answer any of my questions, whether because she couldn’t or wouldn’t, I didn’t know. And when she walked into the room the following morning to prepare me for my departure, I was met by a renewed determination to stay. So, I played the invalid, and as luck would have it, it bought me another twenty-four hours! But my games could only last so long, and by the next morning, Tamlin was having none of it. I begged, I pleaded, I cursed, to no avail. At dawn, he called for me and made me get dressed in the most ridiculous dress with ruffles, an ivory jacket and a matching hat (all to support the ruse that I had been staying with an Aunt). However, beneath my outfit I was sure to strap two knives to my legs, just in case, and then I was led to Tamlin’s gilded carriage outside the manor.

Lucien was there to say goodbye, his smile edged and his look sharp. Maybe he didn’t like the idea of me leaving either. However, just as we were about to say our goodbyes, something in the air shifted. Lucien and Tamlin looked at each other for a moment as the realisation sunk in.

She was coming, and clearly earlier than they had expected.

“Run! Run to the stables and hide!” Tamlin snarled, throwing his glamour over me, concealing me from sight.

I didn’t need to be told twice. My legs were weak from two days in bed, and there was still a dull ache in my head, but I bolted as fast as I could. I ran around the side of the manor and started across the gardens towards the stables as I caught the sound of the haunting voice of the Attor echo behind me, and a rippling fear was sent through me.

“Your time is up, High Lord,” it said.

“I think you’ll find, you’re early,” Tamlin’s voice replied, which made the Attor screech.

I kept running. A cold chill ran through my bones as I heard a scuffle behind me. I dared not look back, but kept running towards the stables, as more noise followed. It sounded like a small army had descended. My lungs felt like they were on fire as I ran as if my life depended on it. Perhaps it did.

Eventually I got to the stables where my mare was pawing the ground, agitated by the noises and magic all around her. Then I realised why Tamlin sent me here of all places. He wanted me to escape. He wanted me to take my horse and ride home beyond the wall. But leaving now was most ill-advised. At some point Tamlin’s glamour would lift from me and I would be left exposed and vulnerable. I would need to wait until all had gone to make that journey, if indeed it was one I was willing to make.

Whilst I was grateful I had remembered to secure the knives at my sides, I doubted whether they would be much use against the foe that had arrived. My eyes searched around for any other sort of weapon I could use to defend myself, landing upon a manure fork hanging on the stable door. I grabbed it, and then terrified beyond measure, I hid in the corner of the stable, behind a bale of hay, hoping that the smell of the horses masked my human scent along with the glamour still on me. I sat still for ages, my eyes trained on the stable door and the fork gripped in my hands as the odd crash and bang echoed from the manor where Amarantha’s army were surely devastating it. My paintings were in there. Paintings I had not yet shown anybody, nor did I ever intend to. Paintings which captured my past and my present, along with my mate.

Mate. My mate.

I wondered where he was now. As I thought of him, I started to calm a little. Until that was, the glamour on me suddenly vanished. I let out a whimper as I knew what that meant. Tamlin had been overpowered and his magic no longer had any effect. Hiding in the stables now felt like a terrible idea. If they were ransacking the house, then they would surely also do the same for the outer buildings. I had only two choices: stay and risk needing to fight my way out; or go and find a better hiding place.

As I was contemplating my next move, I heard cruel voices approaching, which then made my decision for me.

“Search the stables; make sure we have rounded up everyone.”

I crouched behind the hay bale which barely hid me, preparing to strike with the fork in my hand as long bony fingers wrapped around the door to open it. I muffled a shriek as the creature came into view. It was a lesser faerie with cruel dark narrow eyes and sallow skin. But just as the faerie entered the stable, it seemed to freeze as a confused, glazed look came over it; as though it had forgotten something.

It stood still and unmoving, and I thought that maybe time itself had stopped, until it finally turned around, and left the way it came. I breathed a sigh of relief, but it was only momentary, as a few seconds later, another fae walked through the stable door.

Rhys, my heart sung as he came into view.

He turned to look at me, his violet eyes wild as the mating bond began pulsating through me.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

 I thought I told you to leave, he said inside my head. Even though his words were in my head, I could sense the anger in his voice, and it made me wince.

I stood up from my crouching position behind the hay, the fork still poised ready to strike if necessary. I was leaving, I said down the bond. You’re early.

There was a change of plans. Rhys looked me up and down. I had forgotten I was wearing such ridiculous clothes. A blush of embarrassment rose on my cheeks. That dress is hideous, he remarked, his voice harsh and cold. He wasn’t wrong, but I ignored his comment. Now wasn’t the time to address my appearance.

Are you going to let her take him? I asked.

Rhys’s eyes narrowed. Tamlin will get what’s coming for him. There is nothing I can do to stop it. He stepped towards me, his hard look softening slightly which made my heart race. I tightened my grip on the fork. He may well be my mate, but he was here with Amarantha’s army, and he was dangerous. Are you intending to use that on me? he asked, with a small smirk.

I’m thinking about it, I answered honestly, not finding this remotely amusing. Tamlin seems to think you like to torture and kill people for fun. I have no idea what you’re capable of.

Rhys stared deep into my eyes. Again, I could feel his power creeping along the corners of my mind, reminding me just how lethal he really was. Then I felt a wave of magic hit me as Rhys used his own glamour to shield me. My glamour should last long enough for you to get to the wall. Find your family and leave these lands before the world goes to hell.

Just as he finished speaking inside my head, another creature entered the stable, and I had to bite down hard on my lip to stop myself from screaming aloud. I knew at once it was the Attor. It had a leathery grey face and silver fangs which were glistening. Its bat-like ears were cocked, listening out for any sounds of movement. I tried not to breathe.

“Anything?” it asked.

“All clear,” Rhys stated.

The Attor paused for a moment to make its own assessment. I willed every muscle in my body to stay as still as possible, even though I was sure he would be able to hear the violent thumping of my heart.

Then, satisfied with Rhys’s response, it led him out of the stable.

As Rhys was leaving, he said down the bond, Goodbye, Feyre with a hollow sadness.

And then, he was gone.

Chapter Text

I did not leave the stables. I did not flee as Rhys had asked me to, partly out of fear of what was out there, but also because that niggling feeling I had still lingered; compelling to me stay. So, I stayed, spending many minutes, perhaps even hours, clutching onto the manure fork, staring at the entrance willing my mate to come back.

My mate.

The way Rhys had said goodbye was so final, and it did not sit well with me at all. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. We hadn’t even begun to get to know each other yet. Would we ever get to have that opportunity? Or was this really the end of things between us? Or worse, was it the end of the world as we knew it? Rhys seemed to think all hell was about to break loose, and I had a similar feeling. I didn’t understand why I appeared to be caught up in it. I was so insignificant and unextraordinary. I was not particularly brave or clever. I couldn’t even read. I had no particular gifts or talents, save that I was fairly adept at hunting. No, there was nothing about me that was significant or extraordinary, and yet I felt that I had a key part to play in what happened next. What that part was, I didn’t know, but I needed to find out. I needed to at least try to stop the world going to hell.

Noises kept coming from the manor for the rest of the day; almost like there was some sort of party going on. I was starving, but I couldn’t leave the stables while they were here. I had to make do with drinking the horses’ water and nibbling on any of their food which I found remotely edible. If anyone were to find me here, I would not be able to put up much of a fight. I had to resign myself to the fact Rhys’s glamour was probably the only thing that was keeping me alive right now.

Rhys.

If his glamour was still on me, did that mean he was still here, partaking in whatever despicable frivolities were happening inside the manor? He had been angry with me for being here; for failing to heed his directions to go home. Yet, I had seen a flash of something gentle in his features during our exchange which made me believe that his anger had stemmed from simply wanting to protect me and keep me safe. Hadn’t that same anger burned in me when I found out he was Amarantha’s whore? How I longed to save him from that fate! The pull of the mating bond was so much fiercer than I had expected. It was as if my soul was tethered to his, which made his anger, my anger, and his pain, my pain.

But Rhys wasn’t just my mate; he was High Lord of the Night Court. When I had challenged him earlier about his reputation of torturing and killing for fun, he had not sought to correct me. Whilst I was starting to be convinced he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, I could not be sure that was true for anyone else. If I was to be mated with such a creature, then what did that say about me? Was I as dark, cruel and deadly as Rhys was supposed to be? I had a long time to ponder on the mating bond in the stables, but I didn’t find any of the answers I was looking for.

It wasn’t until sundown when the noises coming from the manor stopped, and everything fell silent. Then I felt a strange sensation as all the magic was pulled out of these lands, which included Rhys’s glamour on me. Now exposed for the world to see; and still in my ridiculous human clothes, I waited for a while longer, my ears pricked for any sort of sound other than the horses in the stables with me. With Tamlin’s magic gone, everything felt so much colder and stark. It was as if Spring itself had left the Spring Court and it was heartbreaking.

Motivated by hunger more than anything, I decided I would head out of the stables to assess the lay of the land. I left the pitchfork in the stables, thinking this would just slow me down, and instead took out my knives. With one in each hand, I edged across the gardens slowly. It was almost pitch darkness outside, and it took a while for my eyes to adjust as they scanned my surrounding for any sign of danger, but I found none. There was not a soul about.

Cautiously I approached the manor. One of the front doors had been ripped off its front hinge so that it was hanging oddly. I stepped in, resisting the urge to call out. Broken porcelain vases and shattered crystal chandeliers was scattered on the floor of the hallway; tapestries hung in shreds and the marble bannisters were fractured. Splatters of blood were also visible on the floor. Tamlin and Lucien and the rest of the Spring Court clearly hadn’t gone down without a fight, which explained the loud noises. There were also empty bottles of wine strewn around, confirming my suspicions that there had been some sort of celebration. It made me feel sick.

Despite the hunger pains coming from my stomach, there was another thing I had to do first. I hurried upstairs as quietly as I could, coming across no-one as I went, until I arrived at my little painting room, panting from the run up the stairs. I had left the door locked, but now, it had been forcibly opened. Taking a deep breath, I walked inside, and what I saw made my heart shatter. All my paintings had been mutilated. Some of the canvases had been torn; others defaced with paint. The floor and walls were also covered with paint mixed together to make a sludgy brown colour. It was complete and utter devastation.

I sunk to my knees, distraught. And despite the potential threat still lingering, I couldn’t prevent a piercing scream from escaping my lips.

***

Rhys was gone. And Tamlin was gone, along with his entire court, leaving me in the manor on my own to deal with the emptiness and destruction. After hauling myself away from my little painting room, I meandered in a daze from room to room, eventually ending up in the kitchens in search of something eat. As I was helping myself to some crackers, I heard a noise coming from the pantry I had failed to check before eating, my hunger getting the better of me. I grabbed my knives and readied myself as someone stepped out from the shadows, nearly giving me a heart attack.

“I thought it would be you,” said Alis. She was holding a sword loosely at her side.

“Alis,” I breathed in relief, relaxing the grip on my knives. “I thought you had been taken!”

She walked over to me with a slight limp. “Amarantha does not care for lesser folk like me,” she said bitterly.

“You’re injured.” I stated.

“I’m fine,” she said wincing.

“Let me see.”

I made Alis sit down as I looked at her leg which had a nasty gash to it. I washed and dressed it and then, under Alis direction made us something to eat.

“You shouldn’t be here, you know,” Alis remarked as I handed her some soup. “If it wasn’t for your delaying tactics yesterday, you would be back with your family now.”

I sighed, fed up with everyone saying the same thing. “I was in the process of leaving when they arrived. I heard Tamlin say they were early. What did he mean?”

“He had until sundown, so we thought they wouldn’t come until then. We were mistaken. She wanted to countdown the hours on the last day; turn the occasion into a celebration.”

I felt disgusted.

“What did Tamlin have to do by sundown?” I asked, nervous for her answer.

Alis’s lips quivered a little. “Break the curse.” Curse? What curse? Tamlin and his court were under a curse? I waited with bated breath for her to elaborate. “Seven times seven years, that’s how long we’ve had to wear these masks. But now it’s over. He failed. She’s taken him and everyone else Under the Mountain where she will break him.”

I shivered at her words. “The blight… the blight was the curse,” as I started to piece together the pieces of the puzzle.

“Yes.”

“How was it to be broken?”

Alis sighed and looked at me meaningfully. “You were supposed to break it.”

“Me?” A sinking feeling fell over me.

“We couldn’t tell you anything; that was part of it. The fact I can speak to you of it now means that it’s over,” she said severely.

I swallowed. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, even though I wasn’t even sure what it was I had or hadn’t done. “How was I supposed to break it?”

Again, Alis sighed impatiently at me. “Tamlin was to find a human girl with ice in her heart and a hatred for our kind. One willing to kill a faerie. Worse than that, it had to be one of Tamlin’s men, sent across the wall like a lamb to the slaughter.” Andras. I was grateful I was sitting down as I heard this revelation. “The girl was to supposed to fall in love with him. Her love would break the curse. When he brought you here after you killed Andras, we all hoped that you would be our salvation. You took a while to warm to him; to us, but then I sensed that something was growing between you. I hoped that it was love. But these past few weeks, you have been more distant and Tamlin… Tamlin appeared to give up. As we crept ever closer to this day, I think we all began to see that the curse was not going to be broken.”

Love. Love was supposed to break the curse. But I hadn’t fallen in love with Tamlin. I couldn’t. Not after the mating bond had snapped. I had failed them all.

“I’m so sorry, Alis,” I murmured again on the verge of tears.

She shook her head. “Love cannot be forced upon someone. Tamlin knew that. Perhaps he could have done more to earn your affection, but you cannot choose who you fall in love with.”

Alis’s words rang out across the kitchen and resonated within me. Perhaps she was right about the lack of choice in regard to falling in love, but as I was pondering it more, I realised that love could also be a choice. Because to love someone; really love someone, usually meant sacrificing something. I chose to love my sisters and my father, even during those long hard years when I was the only one fighting to keep us alive and they did nothing. And as I looked at Alis, I realised I would have done the same for her, and Lucien and Tamlin too. The strong urge not to abandon them to their fate was very much motivated by love. Not the kind Amarantha was expecting, but love, nonetheless.

Of course, everything was made more complicated by the bond between me and Rhys. I did not quite understand my innate need to save him. It was all part of the mysterious tugging of the bond. However, ultimately, even our bond, just like love, was a choice. I could chose to accept the bond, or not. It was not forced on me even if the pull was strong. Perhaps if I could save Tamlin in this way, then I could also save Rhys too. Perhaps I could even save them all…

I knew instantly what I was going to do, but first, I needed to know everything about Amarantha and her court Under the Mountain.

“Alis, you must tell me everything,” I insisted.

And so, she did.

Alis spent the next few hours telling me about Amarantha, the King of Hybern’s most lethal general, who had fought in the war against mortals, slaughtering humans, High Fae and faeries who dared to defend them. She told me the story of Amarantha’s sister, Clythia, who had fallen in love with a mortal named Jurien, and how Jurien had betrayed Clythia and crucified her with ash wood. Alis spoke of Amarantha’s revenge against Jurien, and how after the war, she had slaughtered all her human slaves rather than set them free. Here was a faerie who hated humans with a fierce rage. And then, a hundred years ago, Amarantha was sent as an emissary to broker trade deals with the High Lords of Prythian.

For fifty years she lived as a courtier. The Never-Ending Flower, they used to call her. She persuaded the High Lords that she had changed. Little did they know that she had travelled with her own personal forces. Not even the King of Hybern had known. But she began amassing power and wanted Prythian for her own. Then she struck, forty-nine years ago. Knowing that she couldn’t conquer the High Lords with her own forces, she waited until the High Lords trusted her and held a ball in her honour. She slipped a potion stolen from the King of Hybern’s unholy spell book into their wine. Once they drank, the High Lord’s magic was prone, and their magic laid bare. She stole it from them all, leaving them with only the basest elements of their magic.

The magic I had seen Tamlin perform was nothing compared to what it was fifty years ago. And my mate’s own power, which I had sensed at every encounter, was actually sure to be more terrifying that I could ever imagine. Since the High Lords were stripped of their magic, all the courts of Prythian had been made Amarantha’s slaves. Now they call her the Deceiver who trapped the seven High Lords and built her palace Under the Mountain. The blight, the sickness in the lands was Amarantha. And she was biding her time now to break the Treaty and take the mortal lands.

Some of other High Lords had fought back, but she had executed three of them and most of their families for doing so. Day Court, Summer Court and Winter Court. The new High Lords were too afraid to attempt to rebel again. Now, none of them are allowed to live in their lands. They live Under the Mountain with Amarantha, including Rhys. Including my mate.

My mate.

I am not free to live in my court as I wish, Rhys had said, and now I understood.

Suddenly it was all starting to make sense, and now I was armed with this information, I could better prepare myself for what was to come.

“Alis,” I began as she concluded her tale. “I am going to need your help.”

Chapter Text

Alis thought I was mad. Perhaps I was, but I was going anyway.

As I was still recovering from a concussion, Alis managed to persuade me to spend a few days at the manor before I headed Under the Mountain. She fed me well, and made sure I got plenty of sleep, but I was getting impatient.

“What is your plan?” Alis kept asking me.

I had no plan, save that I was going there: Under the Mountain, and I was going to save them… somehow.

I was well aware that the weapons I was bringing with me; two small daggers and a bow and arrows (not ash, unfortunately) were hardly likely to help me when I came face-to-face with Amarantha. That is if I was even able to claim an audience. Alis was also keen to impress on me that there were those who would kill me as soon as I set foot in her court, such was their hatred for humankind. And I would be lucky if I got a clean death at that… The prospect of coming out of this alive was looking slim.

Alis tried to prepare me for what I might face by giving me a few rules to live by. First, I was not to drink the wine. Apparently it wasn’t like the wine I had indulged in at the Summer Solstice. This wine would do me more harm than good. Next, I was not to make any deals with anyone unless my life depended on it, and even then, I should consider whether it was worth it. And finally, and most importantly of all, I must trust no-one.

No-one. Not Tamlin. Not Lucien. Not even my mate, as my senses were my greatest enemy, waiting to betray me. It made me understand that in this mission, I was very much alone.

We left the manor in the dead of night, a week after the Spring Court had been taken. Alis led me through silent woods and foothills for what felt like hours. I had only brought a days’ worth of food with me, but she had reassured me that that was enough. We stopped in a hollow between two hills where there was a mouth to a slender cave. It was an ancient shortcut to Under the Mountain.

Alis looked at me apprehensively. “Last chance to change your mind,” she said. “You could come and live with me, and my nephews. I would look after you.”

Her offer brought tears to my eyes. Without hesitation, I embraced her tightly. It caught her by surprise at first, but then she wrapped her arms around me too. No words needed to be said between us as I felt a few tears fall.

As we released each other, Alis said, “There is one more thing, a part of the curse that I still can’t tell you, which means she still doesn’t want you to know. Just… keep your ears open, Feyre. Listen to what you hear.”

I wondered what she meant. Solving riddles was not my forte. “I will. Thank you Alis, for everything.”

“Please, try and stay alive. I should like to see you again someday,” said Alis.

“Me too.”

“May the Cauldron bless you with good fortune.”

Somehow, I didn’t think the Cauldron would have much part to play in what lay beyond that cave, but I appreciated the sentiment.

I took a final look at the night sky as I wasn’t sure when I would see it again. It was shimmering with stars, reminding me of the first time I had met Rhys, and he had magicked starlight out of thin air. My heart started racing at the thought of seeing him again soon, even in these circumstances. It gave me the courage I needed. I took a deep breath and walked into the cave.

***

It was pitch black inside the cave. I had to keep close to the wall, my hand trailing the wet cold stone. I walked for what felt like an eternity, my eyes constantly playing tricks on me. Eventually, my eyes caught sight of a crack of light cleaving through the darkness. I edged towards it as stealthily as I could. I let my eyes adjust to the light, having spent the last minutes or hours in complete darkness as I assessed the situation. The crack in the wall was only large enough for one person to squeeze through, and it opened up into a carved fire-lit hallway. It was clear and deathly silent, but I remembered Alis’s warning not to trust my senses. Some faeries had a knack for being invisible. However, there was little choice for me now that I had reached the end of the secret passageway.

I took some breaths to steady my breathing and willed myself to become the hunter I once was. However, the things I had been hunting in the woods by my home were nothing like what awaited me here. I eased myself down and stealthily made my way along the hallway. There was little cover, so the most important thing was for me to keep moving. As I moved I realised I could be anywhere in Amarantha’s court right now, and I had no idea where I was going. I paused as I got to a bend and peered around, cursing in my head because there was just more fire lit hallway and no shadowy spots for concealment.

My options were either to keep going, or to go back through the crack in the wall to the secret passageway and do some surveillance to come up with a plan. Because now I was here, it seemed wise to have a plan.

Just as I was considering my options, someone with an iron-fast grip grabbed my forearm. I froze as the faerie rounded on me, his pointed leathery face and silver fangs bearing down on me.

“Hello,” the Attor hissed. “What’s something like you doing down here?”

I tried to go for my knife, but he grabbed my other arm and twisted it behind my back. “You’re a feisty one. Oh yes, Amarantha is going to enjoy breaking you.”

I felt all the blood drain from my face and a silent scream escaped my lips as he pushed me forward along the hallway, his claws scraping the cave floor. We passed faeries as we went, none of which looked particularly bothered by my appearance, and then strode through two huge stone doors with ornate designs of faeries, high fae and animals carved into them. Inside were all the High Fae, which by the looks of it were having a party. The Attor threw me forward as I crashed onto a red marble floor which made my bones groan. Slowly, I tried to lift myself up, my eyes falling on a dais. My stomach clenched as I raised my eyes further to a black throne, and sitting on that throne, was Amarantha who was nothing like I imagined, save for her eyes which were black. She was giving me an evil smile, and around her neck was a chain on which was dangling a bone the size of a finger. Fear paralyzed me momentarily.

“What’s this?” she sneered.

“Just a human thing I found downstairs,” the Attor said disinterestedly. I glanced to the side of Amarantha to see Tamlin standing beside her. He was refusing to look at me. I had expected to see Rhys with her, but he wasn’t there. I couldn’t even sense him through the bond.

“Obviously. But why should I bother with her?” Amarantha said in a droll voice.

The Attor laughed and jabbed one of his clawed feet into my side, making me wince. “Tell Her Majesty why you were sneaking around the catacombs – why you came out of the old cave that leads to the Spring Court.” Amarantha’s smirked, her interest peaked. “Tell Her Majesty, you human filth!” said the Attor, jabbing his claw into my ribs again. I tried not to make a sound even though my ribs were screaming.

Slowly I rose to my feet, my hands ready to grab my daggers at any moment. I met Amarantha’s cruel stare, even though I was nearly sick with fear.

“I have come to free my friends,” I said quietly, trying not to give away the quiver in my voice.

“What?” Amarantha snapped.

“I’ve come to free my friends,” I stated again, more loudly this time.

Silence descended for a moment. Then Amarantha burst out laughing, and the rest of her court joined her.

“Your friends? And which ones are they exactly?” she taunted as she looked around her throne room. I looked over to Tamlin, who was now facing my way, but his face was unmoving. Amarantha noticed where I was looking. She laughed again. “Oh, this is priceless! You think that Tamlin is your friend? Why would the High Lord of the Spring Court be friends with you?” I blanched. I really hadn’t thought this through. “Tamlin, do you know this girl?”

“Never seen her before in my life,” he lied.

I half expected him to lie, but his lies would not save me now. I ignored him. “You tricked him. You tricked all of them.”

“And… what? You think by coming here you are going to save them?”

“Yes,” I stated firmly.

Again, Amarantha laughed. She laughed so hard she hardly came up for air. “Oh, what a fine joke this is! Rhysand, did you orchestrate this?”

My body seized up when I heard her say my mate’s name. I dare not acknowledge any connection to him, so I kept my gaze focused on Amarantha as a voice came from behind me.

“As pleased as I am to see you so entertained, Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with me.” His seductive deep voice called to me, but I suppressed the bond as much as I could.

If you see me again, you must pretend you do not know me.

Now my act of pretence would be put to the ultimate test.

Returning her gaze to me, Amarantha said, “How exactly do you think you can save your friends my dear?” she asked, as the Attor and his cronies circled me. “Look at you. So… human. So, weak and helpless. What chance to you stand against my sentries?”

Then, without warning, the Attor threw a punch at my face, cracking my nose and sending me flying, splattering blood as I flew and landed painfully on my back a few metres away. I saw stars for a moment, but I didn’t black out. Gasps as well as laughter broke out around me, as if I was this evening’s entertainment. Perhaps I was. Perhaps this was it for me. I slowly rose to my feet again unsteadily, blood still dripping from my nose.

“You underestimate us,” I said, spitting blood from my mouth as I realised I had bitten my tongue too.

“Oh, I don’t think so. I know all about your kind. You engage in these acts of courage, but then you break so easily… Isn’t that so, Jurien?” Her attention shifted to her white hand on which was a ring on her index finger. The ring was like a human eye encased in crystal.

Before I had time to consider the horror of what was in the ring, I was hit again, this time in my stomach and once more I crumbled to the ground, winded. I tried to catch my breath as my hands went to my daggers.

I rose from the floor, panting, the knives now in my hands ready to fight back. I glared at Amarantha, a silent challenge as blood still trickled from my nose. Her sentries were still circling me. The adrenaline running through my veins heighted my senses. I heard one of the faeries approaching from behind and twirled around just in time as he launched himself at me. I sliced my dagger through the air, at just the right moment, slitting his throat. Blood poured out from the wound all down my arm and the front of my shirt as he fell to the ground instantly, choking on his blood before then going still. I eyed the other sentries around me, waiting for the next one to approach, but they stayed where they were.

The throne room went utterly silent, so that all I could hear were my heavy breaths. I turned back to Amarantha. She was considering me carefully.

“I will fight and kill every single one of your guards if I have to,” I said as menacingly as I could, even though the thought filled me with dread. “I am not leaving here until you free my friends.”

The moments of silence passed by so slowly. My eyes didn’t leave Amarantha, even though I was desperate to seek out one face from the crowd in particular.

After a while, Amarantha smiled. “You have spirit, my darling, I will give you that. I can see it will be very entertaining killing you.” She looked to the Attor and I braced myself for another attack. “But perhaps not today,” she added.

The Attor and her other guards stepped away from me, two of them carrying off the faerie I had just killed. His blood was glistening on my arm, warm and sticky. The smell was vile. I tried not to think about it or else I may vomit. Despite Amarantha’s statement, I still kept hold of my daggers. After all, I was not supposed to trust anyone.

Amarantha sunk back into her throne lazily. “So, tell me, how did you become friends with dear old Tamlin here?”

I turned my gaze to Tamlin. He was refusing to look at me again.

“I killed his sentinel with hatred in my heart,” I answered. The court gasped at my words. Amarantha leaned forward, and Tamlin then met my gaze, but his face was still impassive. “And I may not have fallen in love with him, but he is my friend. There is love in friendship, and that is what has brought me here.”

“That is an interesting story,” she said, her attention turning to Tamlin for a moment. “How close you came to breaking my curse. Such a shame that you could not get the human girl to fall in love with you,” she sneered.

She had the whole court’s attention. My palms were sweating as I continued to grasp the hilts of my daggers. Amarantha turned her attention to picking her nails as I waited for her to decide my fate. She had said she wouldn’t kill me today, but I was dreading finding out what she had planned for me now.

“Things had been awfully dull these past few days and I am in need of some amusement. Perhaps you can offer me that…” I felt my stomach lurch with anxiety. “You came to free Tamlin – well, as it happens I am bored to tears of his sullen silence. So, I’ll make a bargain with you.” Alis’s warning came to me. I was not to make any deals unless my life depended on it. “You complete three trials of my choosing – three tasks to prove how deep and true your friendship runs, and Tamlin is yours. Just three little challenges to prove that there is indeed love in friendship as you profess, and you can have your High Lord.”

My heart was beating fast. Three trials. That was it. But I didn’t just want Tamlin.

Mate. Mate. Mate sang my soul loud and clear. This was my chance. This was my chance to save him, and I had to take up that opportunity.

“If I complete the trials, you break the curse on Tamlin and the entire Spring Court and… and you give back the magic you stole from him and all the High Lords and… and they can all leave here and remain free forever.” It was really ineloquent, but I hoped I had covered all bases. I knew that magic was specific, and I couldn’t afford to have any loopholes.

Amarantha laughed. “You wish to free them all? You do realise that the majority of this court despises your kind.”

I gritted my teeth, even though the movement made my nose throb. “Then I will give them a reason not to.”

She regarded me again. “Hmm… You are a curious creature! I tell you what, I’ll throw in another element, if you don’t mind – just to see if you can indeed prove yourself to us.” The eye inside her ring swivelled wildly. “I’ll give you a way out, girl. You’ll complete all the tasks – or, when you can’t stand it anymore, all you have to do is answer one question.” My heart was beating loudly in my ears. “A riddle. You solve the riddle, and the curse will be broken instantaneously.Tamlin, the Spring Court, the High Lords will all be free.”

I turned her words over, looking for any traps or loopholes, but it all sounded right. Although I doubted very much I would be any good at solving her riddle. “And what if I fail your tasks?”

Amarantha gave me a sinister smile. “If you fail the tasks, precious girl, there won’t be anything left of you for me to play with.”

I chill went through my spine. “What exactly is the nature of my tasks?”

“Oh, I can’t tell you that, it will take all the fun out of it! But you’ll have one task every month – at full moon.”

I glanced at Tamlin who was still looking at me, but his face was giving nothing away. “And what will you do with me in the meantime?” I said, the grip tightening on my daggers.

Smiling again, Amarantha replied, “In the meantime, you shall either stay in your cell or do whatever additional work I require.”

I frowned at her. “What additional work?”

“Just a bit of housework here and there. It is only fair that you earn your keep.”

Narrowing my eyes at her I said, “If I’m earning my keep, you can at least put my up in a room rather than a cell.”

“Be careful, girl. You just killed one of my guards. Your time in your cell is retribution for such a heinous act. And while we’re at it, you won’t be needing those.” The daggers in my hands suddenly went red hot. I dropped them and they clattered to the ground. “So, are we agreed?”

I needed to clarify our arrangement. “If I complete your three tasks or solve your riddle, you will do as I request?”

“Of course. It is agreed?” Amarantha asked again.

My heart was racing. I had tried to negotiate the best deal possible, but the fact was it was this or death. I had no other choice. I looked at Tamlin for a moment. Then I closed my eyes and conjured my mate who was somewhere in the crowd behind me. I could not feel him down the bond at all, and I knew why. He was hiding it from them. Even now he was trying to protect me. And it was the absence of feeling it that gave me the shred of hope I needed.

“Well?” Amarantha demanded. I opened my eyes as I saw the Attor and her other sentinels surround me again.

“Agreed.”

Amarantha laughed and clapped her hands. “Oh, what fun we shall have! Now, let’s give her a greeting worthy of this hall,” she called down to the Attor.

Immediately he pounced on me again, and without the daggers in my hands, I was defenceless. It only took a couple of blows before I blacked out.

Chapter Text

I awoke lying in a cold, dark cell. Everything hurt. My ribs where the Attor had kicked them; my nose which he had broken; my tongue which I had bitten when he broke my nose; and my stomach which he had punched. I could feel my face beginning to swell and knew I would have some impressive black eyes. Dried blood from the faerie I had killed along with the blood of myself was stuck to my skin and clothes. As I began to assess the damage, the full realisation of what had occurred in the throne room suddenly hit me. I had to rush to the bucket in the corner (which I supposed was to be my privy) and vomited.

It had been adrenaline that had given me the courage to face Amarantha in the throne room, but now that adrenaline had worn off, I felt absolutely terrified. Three trials. Three trials was all that stood in the way of my friends’ freedom. That, or a riddle which I had yet to learn. I wondered if I had made a fool’s bargain. Hadn’t Alis told me not to make any deals? But what choice did I have? I wouldn’t have been able to fight them. The faerie sentry I had killed was luck more than anything, the right move at the right time. If I had to face her whole army, I was sure to lose. No, there really had been no other way than to broker a deal.

Amarantha was horrifying. I had not let myself dwell on her too much, but now I had the time to think it through, I was met with another wave of nausea as it struck me just what my mate was to her. Whore. Rhys was her whore. The thought made me vomit again.

My first task was to be at the next full moon, which was a couple of weeks away. But it was going to be impossible to measure time down here. So, I decided I may as well not bother to try. I lay down on a pile of hay in the corner of the cell, thinking the way to get my body to heal quicker would be to sleep. Sleep, however, evaded me for a while, as the noises from the other prisoners echoed around the cell walls: cracks of whips and screams. Was that Amarantha had in store for me?

I must have fallen asleep eventually, as I woke up suddenly to the sound of my cell door opening. Trying to ignore the pain in my body. I withdrew to the furthest end of the cell, readying myself for whoever entered. Someone walked in swiftly and pulled the door ajar behind them. In the darkness, I couldn’t see who it was.

“Feyre?” The voice of my friend warmed me.

“Lucien?”

He hurried over to me and sunk down next to me in the hay. “Are you alright?”

I attempted a smile. “Never better.” He magicked light out of thin air, and blanched when he saw me. “That bad, huh?” I asked.

“It’s not your best look,” he replied, still grimacing. “You were such a fool to come here.”

“Alis told me everything. I couldn’t just leave you to rot down here!” I maintained.

Lucien let out a long sigh. “It’s more than I deserve, Feyre. You have been a better friend to me than I have been to you. So, I am here to at least try to make amends. Let’s clean you up a bit.”

“I think my nose is broken, but nothing else. Just bruises.” I looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to bring out the bandages, but there were none. Did this mean he would be using magic?

Lucien studied my nose, using his fingertips to inspect the damage. I tried not to move, but it hurt. “We don’t have much time. The guards are drunk, but their replacements will be coming soon. I’ll have to set it first before I can heal it.”

I clenched my fists. “Do it… Now.” I readied myself for the pain, and I wasn’t disappointed when he latched onto my nose. Somehow I managed not to pass out. Then he sent his magic through me. “I can’t heal you completely – they’ll know someone helped you. Your black eyes will stay, but the swelling’s gone.” Once the tang of magic had faded, I felt along my nose, it felt fixed. “All pert and pretty as before,” Lucien remarked, smirking.

“You still have your powers,” I stated.

“Yes, albeit they are very limited. She gave me back a fraction to entice Tamlin to accept her offer, but he still refuses.”

I was confused. “What offer?”

“To replace Rhysand as her whore,” Lucien spat. I wasn’t expecting him to say the name of my mate, and I faltered slightly. Thankfully Lucien didn’t notice. “It was the reason she cursed us all in the first place, because Tamlin refused to be her lover. They’ve known each other for centuries, since Tamlin’s father sided with Hybern in the war. She’s always wanted him.”

So, my mate was just a consolation prize to fill the time before Amarantha got what she really wanted. A wave if disgust surged through me.

“What about Rhys?” I hadn’t meant the words to come out of my mouth.

“What about him?”

“Why did she make him her whore?” I asked, trying to sound neutral.

Lucien regarded me for a moment, and I wondered if he could sense it; the mating bond. I tried not to feel anything as he looked at me. “Amarantha craves power. To make even the most powerful High Lord her subject sends a message to the whole of Prythian. Not that he’s come off badly from it. He seems to thrive in his position, and he uses it to his advantage. She gives him more freedom than most. He still retains some of his powers, albeit only the basest remnants, which he uses to do her bidding. I can’t say I’m thrilled that your deal included returning his powers as well as everyone else’s.” My stomach clenched at his words, but I forced myself not to say anything that may give our bond away. “Perhaps we can use it to our advantage. He would be forever in your debt; they all would… if you complete her trials, of course.”

If I completed the trials; not when.

Suddenly, Lucien stood up, obviously hearing something with his fae ears that I couldn’t hear. “I need to go. The guards are about to change. Try not to die won’t you?”

His words did not invoke any confidence. Then he vanished into the dim light.

***

It must’ve been a few days later when I next had visitors to my cell. It was two red-skinned faeries who proceeded to drag me to the throne room. The force with which they took me was very unnecessary, but that was obviously the way they handled prisoners. Once again, I was thrown in front of Amarantha and my body groaned as I fell to the marble floor. I pushed myself up to face her, determined that she would not see the fear behind my eyes.

Amarantha clicked her tongue. “Not looking too perky today, my dear. What do you think, Tamlin?” He was sat beside her again, his face resolute. He didn’t reply. “Still, better than my guard who now lies cold in a grave.”

I didn’t need reminding of the faerie I had killed in self-defence. He had been visiting me in my dreams at night. I didn’t rise to the bait, and stayed quiet, glaring at her angrily.

“You know, I couldn’t sleep last night, and I worked out why this morning. I don’t know your name. And seeing as you are a guest of mine for these next three months, I should know your name, don’t you think?”

I paused to think. Giving Amarantha my name seemed like a foolish thing to do.

“What is your name, girl?” she asked again. The tone of her voice had a bite to it I did not care for. I stayed silent, contemplating whether I should divulge this information, or even give a different name. “Cat got your tongue?” she asked. Still, I didn’t reply, and I could sense her impatience rising. “Perhaps you need a bit of persuading. Oh, this will be fun! Rhysand?”

I couldn’t stop my body jolting as my mate walked out of the crowd towards me. My eyes followed him, but he didn’t meet my gaze. He stood tall and lean as he came to stand beside me, dressed in his signature black clothes. I willed the bond to stop singing, but still it pulsated through me.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” Rhys responded lazily.

“Break into her mind and get me her name.”

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t prevent my heart from thumping violently in my chest as Rhys turned to face me. His expression was completely neutral. He was obviously better at pretending than I was.

His violet eyes met mine as he said, “As you wish.”

At once, I felt his magic begin to claw at my mind, holding me fast. I stood immobile as the tendrils of his power skirted on the outside of mind which he could so easily penetrate if he wanted to, but I could sense he was holding back. I was desperate for him to talk to me; to hear his voice inside my head telling me not to worry; telling me that everything was going to be alright, but he was silent. I felt more pressure at the side of my mind, but still he held back, unwilling to go any further. However, I would have to give in eventually or expose Rhys for not doing as his Queen commanded, and that was the last thing I wanted.

“Well? What is it?” she growled.

I had to let Amarantha think Rhys had forced my name from me, so I shouted out in a strangled voice. “Feyre. My name is Feyre.”

Rhys stared at me for a moment, a flash of recognition crossing his features for less than a second as he realised what I had done. He stepped back, taking his power with him. That’s when I realised he hadn’t even removed his hands from his pockets. The extent of his powers before they had been stolen must have been extraordinary.

“Feyre,” Amarantha said, trying out my name on her tongue. “An old name from earlier dialects. Well, Feyre. I promised you a riddle.” At her words, silence fell again as she had full command of her audience. “Solve this riddle Feyre, and you and your friends, even the High Lords, will immediately leave with my blessing. Let’s see if you can prove how true your friendship is.”

They way she emphasised the word immediately made me anxious. Was she not going to do the same if I completed my trials? I tried to think about it and instead, concentrated hard as she spoke.

Always there, but never seen, you cannot run or hide.

An undefeated secret which no-one can abide.

The answer to a question, which no-one dares to speak.

No difference between weak or strong, I am the greatest feat.

To the young, a foe to conquer. To the old, a welcome friend.

A whisper in the darkness, I will not help you mend.

My timing’s always perfect, but I can break your heart.

And while you may yet fear me, you’ll not find me at the start.

Amarantha repeated herself as I took in the words, but my mind was completely blank and useless. I searched for an answer and found nothing. Someone laughed behind me. When I looked at Rhys, he was watching me intently, a faint smile on his face. If I could solve the riddle now, everyone would be free immediately. But my stupid mind was vacant. I couldn’t think of anything.

“Think on it,” Amarantha sneered. I raised my eyes to Tamlin, whose face gave nothing away as usual, and then I was led back to my miserable prison cell.

***

Two days later, and I wasn’t any closer to solving the riddle. I spent a lot of my time thinking on it, seeing as there was little else to do, but nothing came to me. There was also a nagging feeling growing in me that Amarantha may have wound up tricking me with this bargain, when she’d emphasised immediately when giving me the riddle. Would she free everyone if I completed the trials? I hoped so, but I couldn’t let myself get paranoid. I needed to focus on getting through the first trial which was imminent.

My sleep was restless and my dreams vivid. I didn’t doubt Amarantha’s imagination, and I had a feeling that whatever awaited me would be brutal; torturous even. That’s why fear never left me in that cell, and it nearly swallowed me whole when my cell door opened, and the red-skinned guards told me that the full moon had arisen.

As I was led away, I could hear a rapturous crowd against the passageway, laughing and shouting, which only worsened when I stepped into the arena. Excitement lined the faces of both High Fae and lessor faeries alike and I was terrified. I was pulled towards a wooden platform erected above the crowd on which sat Amarantha and Tamlin. There was no sign of Rhys, and I started to panic. If this was to be the final showdown, I wanted to at least look at his face one last time. Frantically, I looked into the crowd below, searching for his face amongst the crowd, but I couldn’t see him.

Before the wooden platform was an exposed labyrinth of tunnels and trenches running along the floor. I couldn’t see what lay within as the crowd were blocking my view. Once again, I was thrown to my knees before Amarantha, and once again I thought the actions completely unnecessary. Panic still threatening to overwhelm me, I rose onto my wobbly legs where I saw a group of High Fae around the platform secluded from the rest of the crowd, which included the one person I was longing to see.

Rhys my heart whispered. I couldn’t stop it.

My mate didn’t answer me, but he did meet my gaze. It calmed me instantly, even if his face was unmoving.

“Well, Feyre, you’re first task is before you. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of finding out a bit about you. I think you’re going to enjoy this task. Go ahead, look.”

Amarantha waved to the Attor who cleared the crowd so I could see below. The trenches below were slick with mud and ran in a maze along the entire floor of the chamber. But before I could figure out what was going on, I was pushed forwards, and then hauled into the air by the Attor, dangling from the its claws as it swopped down and dropped me into the maze. It was so slippery, I found it difficult to keep my footing. It made everyone laugh. But it was the smell that was the worse thing. It made me gag.

“I understand that you’re a huntress… Now hunt this.” I had no idea what I was supposed to be hunting, but I was without my trusty bow and arrows. I was completely defenceless.

“Release it.” Amarantha hissed. Sounds of a grate being opened followed and then a slithering sound entered the labyrinth. I felt my bowels go watery in fear as I felt and heard the movements of the creature coming towards me.

“Run,” she whispered.

And then it appeared: a giant middengard wyrm.

I didn’t need telling twice.

I ran.

***

Dead.

The wyrm was dead, killed by the trap I had made it out of the bones of its prey. I was caped in the muck I had used to disguise my scent, and my arm was completely wrecked, but I refused to feel the pain. Cheers and gasps could be heard around me, but I didn’t think or feel much of anything as I stumbled back through the maze, holding a bone-sword in my hand.

I looked up to the platform, but it wasn’t Amarantha my eyes were searching for. I was expecting Rhys to look impassive, but he wasn’t. He was smiling smugly at me, and I had to repress a grin back. I shifted my gaze to Amarantha.

“Well, I suppose anyone could have done that,” she said with a smirk.

I saw red. I took a few running steps and then hurled the bone at her with all my remaining strength. It landed at her feet, embedding into the mud at her feet, splattering mud onto her white gown.

“Naughty,” she said displeasingly. I didn’t care if she was displeased. I had completed her first task, and I would complete the others too. I would kill her if it came to it.

“You should know that most of my court lost a good deal of money tonight.” She picked up a piece of parchment. My eyes gravitated to my mate as she did so, who was still looking smug. Or was it pride?

“Let’s see… yes, I’d say most of my entire court bet on you dying within the first minute. Some said you’d last five and… only one said you would win.”

Only one. I knew straightaway who that one person was, and I tried to hide a smile as the Attor hauled me out of the trenches, dumping me at the foot of the platform. The pain in my arm increased. It was badly broken.

Amarantha was still frowning at the list. “Take her away. I tire of her mundane face.” The red-skinned faeries approached to cart me away. As they were doing so, I heard Amarantha say, “Rhysand, come here.”

And then I couldn’t help it.

I smiled.

Chapter Text

I was in a very bad way. My arm was not healing, and I had developed a fever. I knew what this meant, and I refused to believe it initially. However, as the days went by, I began to accept that I would not make it unless someone came to heal me. Whenever there was a sound outside my door, I thought it would be Lucien come to help me, but he never came. I couldn’t even eat the mouldy food shoved through the door as it made me vomit.

As the hours passed and I got weaker and weaker, hope also faded. In my feverish state, my eyes started to play tricks on me. As I was looking at the door, thought I saw it move. But it wasn’t the door. It was the darkness around it. Fear gripped me as a male figure formed out of darkness, as if he had slipped through the cracks in the wall.

“Rhys!” I breathed, half of me delighted he was here, the other half horrified.

“Hello, Feyre darling,” he said. Even though I was in a lot of pain I still found his voice incredibly alluring.

“No! No, you shouldn’t be here,” I said attempting scrambling away from him towards the back of the cell.

“Feyre…” he purred gently, making a move to come towards me.

“Stop!” I hissed. “Don’t come any closer.” I was keenly aware of the vomit, blood and gore all around me like a cesspit.

Rhys stopped where he was and crossed his arms. “You’re hurt.”

“I’ll be fine,” I retorted back, but my voice gave away how not fine I really was. His violet eyes were fixed on me, scrutinising me carefully. “Don’t look at me,” I said, still trying to edge away from my mate to hide myself in the shadows.

He didn’t look away. “Are you always this stubborn?”

I didn’t have the energy to argue. “Please, just go,” I said, as I started to shiver uncontrollably.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Rhys said coming to crouch in front of me despite my instructions not to. “I’m here to help you.”

“No… no, you can’t. Lucien…”

“Lucien? I thought he must have healed you before, given the Attor broke your nose, and now look at it, cute as a button! Human bones do not mend that fast,” he remarked, his eyes trained on my facial features, which were pale and drawn from fever. “Unfortunately for you, Lucien is… indisposed, and by the time he is able to come, you will likely be dead.” He didn’t say it maliciously, but simply stated it as fact. I let out a strangled noise. I didn’t want my mate to see me looking so weak and helpless.

“What do you mean, indisposed?” I asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

“It was Lucien that yelled out to help you against the wyrm. As you can guess, Amarantha wasn’t pleased. He received twenty lashes.” I winced. Someone had shouted out to warn me that the wyrm was incoming, and it had probably saved my life. I hadn’t known it was him. “She made Tamlin do it.” I felt winded. To force a High Lord to be the one to punish his friend was despicable.

“You’re dying, Feyre. You must let me help you,” Rhys implored.

“But she’ll find out,” I protested as my real fears began to reveal themselves. I didn’t want him to do anything that would compromise him.

Rhys smiled at me. “That’s what I’m counting on.” In my feverish state I did not understand him. “Show me your arm.”

Reluctantly I held it out to him as he examined the piece of bone sticking out of my arm and the festering wound. His touch was tender as he delicately inspected it, but it still made me grimace in pain. “Oh, that’s wondrously gruesome,” he remarked as he continued to scan it. “I cannot heal you without you giving me something in exchange. We need to make a bargain.”

Of course. This was the faerie way. “What is it that you want?”

Rhys’s smile grew wider. “Unfortunately, this is not about what I want. It needs to be something that does not arouse suspicion about our bond.”

“What then?” I asked, not in any state to be able to think of something clever.

Rhys looked deep into my eyes, which were glazed from fever. “You will agree to live with me in the Night Court after you have completed your trials.”

“Live with you,” I repeated.

“Yes.”

The prospect of living with my mate made my heart flicker with excitement.

Mate. My Mate.

“Doesn’t seem like too much of a hardship,” I said, the side of my mouth twitching, despite how wrecked my body was.

Rhys smiled back at me. “Well, from what others know of me and the Night Court, it will appear like a terrible fate for you.”

Suddenly I was anxious. Hadn’t Tamlin and Lucien told me that the Night Court fae were sadistic killers who live by their own codes and corrupt morals? Did Rhys have his own ominous plans for me there? “Will it be a terrible fate for me?” I asked apprehensively.

Rhys’s look softened. He gently tucked a stray hair around my ear, his fingers lightly stroking my cheek which, even though I was burning hot, burned hotter at his touch. “I would never hurt you, Feyre. But I’m going to have to make them believe that I will make your life miserable.”

I looked at him earnestly.

My Mate.

Powerful and lethal to those who feared him. Yet right now, here with me in this damp and gloomy cell, he was gentle and caring.

“Why do you let everyone believe you are a monster?”

“Who says I’m not?” he smirked wickedly.

“I do,” I breathed, my head was spinning, whether from having Rhys so near to me or the fever I didn’t know. His smile disappeared, and he sighed heavily, as if he had the whole world was on his shoulders. Somehow I knew that wasn’t far from the truth.

“Do we have a bargain, Feyre?” he asked, his tone sombre.

I looked into my mate’s eyes. I was worried. I was worried his plan wouldn’t work, and Amarantha would find out and he would be taken from me.

Trust me. Rhys whispered along the bond.

Trust him. Hadn’t Alis said not to trust anyone? I hesitated for a moment. But seeing as it was either make the bargain or die, there really was no other option.

I took a deep breath and nodded. “We have a bargain.”

He took my arm again. “I’m afraid this is going to hurt.”

I braced myself as his power flowed through me. The pain was blinding as bone and flesh were kneaded back together, and I blacked out.

When I came to, Rhys was still beside me. I felt… well again. The fever had gone; the mud had gone; and the pain had gone. I felt as though I’d just bathed. I glanced down at my left arm, and I saw it had been mended, but there was more. Intricate black inked patterns had appeared running from my elbow down to the tips of my fingers, and on the palm of my hand where there was a feline eye staring back at me. There were depictions of flowers and curves that made up a larger pattern. It was like I was wearing a lace glove.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“In my court, it is custom to permanently mark bargains on our flesh,” he explained.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, tracing the patterns with my fingertips. I felt a strange sense of peace as I did so, which was welcome after I had felt such despair.

“You shouldn’t have come here, Feyre,” Rhys said forlornly.

My eyes rose to his. “Yes, I should. I had to try to save you.” He was close. So close, and I desperate to reach out and touch him.

“And who is going to save you?” Rhys said earnestly.

I couldn’t stop myself. My hand gravitated to his pale clean-shaven cheek. I wanted to touch him; to reassure him; to alleviate his fears even though I wasn’t at all confident that I would make it through this. Rhys stilled and leaned into my touch, as he covered my own hand with his. We gazed at each other, enjoying a moment of stillness amongst the chaos of our situation. I forgot I was in a cold damp cell. I forgot I had been close to death, and I just lost myself in his eyes; his bewitching violet eyes which I felt I could quite happily gaze into for an eternity.

“You aren’t in love with him,” Rhys whispered. It was a question.

I shook my head slowly. I didn’t need to say anything in response. We both knew why. My heart was beginning to run wild as we continued to gaze at one another, fully indulging in this intimate moment, and wanting more, until Rhys let out a heavy sigh, and prised my hand from his cheek.

I knew he was about to leave as he began to scoot away from me, but I wanted to keep him here a little longer, so I said, “You were the only one to bet on me.”

He paused. “I was.”

“Why?”

“Because I believed you could do it. And I was right. You were magnificent.” His compliment sent a ripple of warmth through me.

“Did I make you a lot of money?” I asked sassily.

Smirking at me, he replied, “Yes, but I took more satisfaction from pissing everyone off.”

I smiled back. It was rather satisfying. “Does anyone suspect anything between us?”

Rhys’s demeanour suddenly shifted. He stood up and walked away from me. “I would know if they did,” he replied, his voice harder now that we were talking about more serious matters.

“You’ve been blocking me out,” I said. He nodded, as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. “How do you do that?”

“Centuries of practice.” So, there wasn’t much hope for me being able to master it then. “No-one can know about the bond, Feyre. The things she would do to you…” Instantly I felt nauseous again, and not about what horrors Amarantha would have in store for me, but about what she was doing with my mate. “I cannot use my powers against her. I won’t be able to stop her from hurting you…”

“Rhys,” I pleaded with him to stop, and he did. “I knew what I was getting myself into when I came here. I know what’s at stake if I fail.”

He gave me a resigned look. “I can’t help you solve the riddle; she’s forbidden any of us from doing so. I will help you as much as I can with the trials, but… I have a role to play here.”

“I know.” Because I did. I understood that Rhys had his own plan; his own reasons for the part he played here in Amarantha’s court Under the Mountain. He was protecting something he loved. I didn’t know what that was, but I understood why he was doing it. Wasn’t I trying to do the same?

“Get some rest, Feyre,” he said, turning from me, but before he disappeared, he looked back at me and restated, “You really were magnificent against the wyrm.”

Then he vanished like a shadow through a crack in the door.

Chapter Text

The next two days in my cell passed by without incident. I couldn’t stop looking at the patterns on my arm; the mark of our bargain, which when you held them in the light, were not actually black, but a very dark blue. I passed the long solitary hours tracing the patterns with my fingertips, thinking about Rhys and wondering what he was doing. Whilst I knew he was blocking me out, there were moments when I sensed him; when he would let down his guard and send a wave of warmth down the bond. I longed for those moments.

There was still a couple of weeks before the second task, and I willed myself not to think about it. If the first task was anything to go by, the second was sure to be just as terrifying. But after my encounter with Rhys, I felt more hopeful. He had believed in me for the first task when no-one else had. Not even Lucien. Maybe not even Tamlin – but who knew as he was always so deathly silent and refused to even acknowledge me. I wasn’t sure what his game plan was, and if I had loved him like I should, perhaps it would have bothered me more than it did. The most important thing was that Rhys was rooting for me, even if my other friends were doubtful.

As I was contemplating my current situation, the door of my cell was prised open by the red-skinned faerie guards.

“Time for chores,” one of them snarled.

Oh yes, I had forgotten that part of the deal I had made with Amarantha. Somehow I suspected the chores she had selected were going to be irksome. I pulled the sleeve of my shirt over the ink on my arm. Rhys obviously had a plan for when he would reveal the bargain we had made, and I didn’t want to spoil his fun.

Forcibly the guards dragged me out of my cell, and then after a walk along the fire-lit passageways, they shoved me into a massive, dark bedroom, lit only by a few candles. They pointed to a huge fireplace which was unlit.

“Servant spilled lentils in the ash. Clean it up before the occupant returns, or he’ll peel off your skin in strips,” sneered the faerie. I was thrown a wooden bucket, and then the door slammed and locked behind me.

I mumbled a curse under my breath. What a ridiculous task! I walked over to the fireplace. I could barely see anything as there was hardly any light. I took one of the candles and brought it over. Sure enough, there were hundreds of lentils in the ash. To separate them out was an impossible task which served no purpose whatsoever. Couldn’t they just sweep up the ash and be one with it?

I sighed and looked about the room. There were no windows, which was expected as we were Under the Mountain, and only one exit – the way I had come in. There was a huge bed in the middle of the room, neatly made, the sheets made of black silk. I ran my hand over them. Such luxury after the hay in my cell I had been using as a bed. I was dying to lie down on it and have forty winks, but the occupant of the room was sure to return and catch me and then I’d be in for it.

There was also a bedside cabinet and a wardrobe. Wondering if any weapons might be stored anywhere, I went over to the wardrobe and tried to open it, but it was locked. The drawers of the bedside cabinet were also unmoving. Whoever slept in here clearly didn’t want anyone snooping. Everything was so tidy, but also so sparse. The room did not feel lived in at all.

My eyes returned to the fireplace and the task I had been given. For a brief moment, I thought about not bothering, but then I remembered what the faerie guard had said about the occupant of this room. I didn’t really fancy being skinned alive. So, I set to work.

***

Two hours later, and I was still finding lentils in the fireplace. My usually keen huntress eyes were burning from the effort of trying to unearth them all in the dim light. Even though I had combed through every inch of soot and ash, there were always more to find. This was clearly a form of torture. And I was keenly aware that the occupant of this room could return at any time and torture me some more. I reached for the iron poker by the hearth every time I heard someone outside the door. I was not about to die now when I was only one task down.

Then it happened: the click of the lock in the door. I grabbed the poker and shot to my feet as I readied myself to face whoever was about to come in.

Darkness entered the room, extinguishing the candles instantly like a gush of wind. I pressed myself against the stone, as the darkness came to stand in front of me, taking a familiar form.

“Fancy seeing you here,” Rhys said with a feline smile. Relief washed over me, as the mating bond started to sing.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

“Why are you digging through my fireplace, Feyre?” he asked, as he relit the candles with magic.

“They said to clean out the lentils from the ashes or you’d rip off my skin,” I answered as I lowered the poker.

He studied me carefully. My hands and clothes were stained with soot. “I see. And how did the lentils get in my fireplace in the first place?”

“They said some servant dropped them.”

“Hmm…” he said thoughtfully as he considered the situation. “Apparently Amarantha or her cronies think I’ll have some sport with you.”

I scowled. “I am glad I can provide you with such entertainment. Do you play with all your prisoners in this way?”

Rhys shrugged. “Amarantha plays her games, and I play mine. It can get very dull down here, day after day.” I didn’t want to know what games they played as it made me want to be sick.

“Yet you managed to get out on Fire Night. And to put that head in the garden,” I stated.

“She asked me to put that head in the garden. And as for Fire Night, well I had to earn her favour to be allowed out.”

Again, I felt a wave of nausea. I didn’t want to think what Rhys had to do with her. Wanting to distract myself from it, I put back the poker and walked around Rhys to the other side of the bed. I looked about the dimly lit room again, taking in its features. Knowing this was Rhys’s room felt significant now. I could feel my mate’s eyes on me as I did so.

Eager to change the subject, I said, “For someone who has lived down here for fifty years, you haven’t done much with your room. It’s so… sparse. Where are the pictures or ornaments.”

“This is not my home, Feyre. I don’t intend on getting comfortable down here.”

“So, your home in the Night Court is not like this?” I asked curiously, seeing as I would be living there with him if I completed the trials.

Rhys offer me a sad smile. “I guess you’ll find out what my home is like after all this is over.” I hadn’t thought much about what the Night Court may be like. Was it always night and never day? A world full of darkness and despair?

As I was thinking about it, absentmindedly, I went to touch the black silk sheets on the bed again, but Rhys called out, “Uh huh. No touching my things with those filthy hands.” I pulled my hands away and crossed my arms.

Drawing my lip through my teeth teasingly, I said, “You’re so… particular.”

He narrowed his eyes at me playfully, then I felt a wave of magic pass over me as the soot disappeared from my hands and clothes. “Now you can touch what you like,” he replied. Tension filled the air at his words, and it made me daring.

“Even the things in your wardrobe you have locked away?” I asked.

"You’ve been snooping?”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see if there was anything that may be useful to me in here.”

“Very… resourceful of you,” he remarked.

“Why do you keep everything locked up anyway?”

“Rule number one of being down here: don’t trust anyone.”

“Even with your clothes?” I smirked, although it hadn’t escaped my notice that his number one rule was the same as Alis’s. Rhys smiled back. “Or are you hiding something else in here too?” I said, trying to open the wardrobe again, and this time, it was unlocked. Surprised, I looked back at Rhys who was regarding me closely.

Inside were a number of black shirts and black jackets hung up, some of them with patterns embroidered on the cuffs and lapels in silver thread. They were made from the finest of materials.

“Why do you only wear black?” I asked as I rubbed the fabric between my fingers.

“Because it suits me,” he said haughtily. He was right, it did suit him. Rhys was the very darkness himself. To wear anything other than black would be strange.

I began to open some of the drawers of his wardrobe, revealing trousers and underwear.

“Are you about done rooting around in my underwear drawer?” he drawled.

“It’s the usual place for hiding weapons,” I maintained.

“There are no weapons in here.”

“So, you say,” I said sceptically.

“Feyre, in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t need weapons to defend myself.”

I stilled at his words. Of course he didn’t. I shook my head at my idiocy as I opened the next drawer, in which was a book amongst the socks. I took it out, thinking it must be significant. However, I couldn’t read the title. Trying not to give away my illiteracy, I turned to Rhys and asked, “What’s this?”

I flicked through the pages. It was mainly text, which I didn’t have a hope in hell of understanding.

“Just some bedtime reading,” he simpered.

The book looked old. “What’s it about?” I asked. He gave me a confused look and it made me wonder if he suspected anything.

“It’s a book about the history of Prythian.”

I wasn’t expecting that. There was something more though, I could tell. “It’s special to you,” I stated.

Rhys paused for a moment, perhaps taken aback that I had worked it out. “My mother would read it with me at bedtime. She used to say that if I was to be High Lord of the Night Court, I needed to understand my history.”

There was a note of sadness in the tone of his voice of which I was all too aware. “You loved your mother.” He nodded. “How did she die?” I asked quietly.

Rhys sighed heavily. “That is a story for another time,” he said, coming over and taking the book off me to put back in his drawer. I didn’t push him for an answer.

I walked away again, coming to stand by the bed.

“Do you think… I mean… would it be ok to lie down on your bed?” I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks at my brazen words, but ever since my eyes clapped on that bed I was desperate to lie in it.

“Be my guest,” Rhys answered, his voice hoarse.

I removed my shoes before sitting down on the bed, bouncing on it slightly to get a feel for the firmness of the mattress, which seemed perfect. Then, I swung my legs around and lay back. My whole body sighed in contentment as I did so, and I couldn’t stop a moan from leaving my lips. “Mother alive, I had forgotten what a bed feels like after sleeping on hay for the past few weeks,” I remarked, conscious that my mate’s eyes were very much fixed on me. It was rather thrilling. “Are these actually silk sheets?”

“Yes,” Rhys replied simply.

Then he did something outrageous and came to lie down beside me, making a surge of desire shoot through me. We both lay on our backs, our eyes looking at the carved stone ceiling, the tension between us palpable. I clasped my hands together trying to resist the urge to touch him. This felt dangerous, and yet it was electrifying.

We lay still for a while, until I could bear the tense silence no longer. I shifted in the bed to turn to face my mate as I asked, “When do you intend to reveal the bargain we’ve made?”

Rhys turned on his side too and propped himself up on his elbow to answer me. “There’s a party tomorrow night. I thought perhaps then. That is, if you agree to be my plus one.”

“A party? Will Amarantha allow me out of my cell?”

“She lets me have some fun with the prisoners. It has proved quite useful,” he said with a smirk.

“I see…”

“You should know, if you come, that I’m not going to make it pleasant for you.”

“Oh…” I half suspected that. “What do you intend to do with me?” For some reason my heart started racing, the words holding even more meaning while we were lying in bed together.

Rhys grinned at my words. “Oh Feyre, darling. If things were different then I could have my way with you exactly how you like it,” he said, licking his lips. My mouth went dry. I gulped. “But I’m afraid while we’re at the party, you’re going to have to do things that you won’t want to.”

“Will it be… painful?” I asked nervously.

“No. But if you drink the wine, you’ll get through it. And you’ll be with me, so no-one else will dare touch you.”

Drink the wine. Hadn’t Alis warned me not to do that? Was I about to break yet another one of her rules for while I was down here? I frowned as I considered this. At least if I went to the party I could escape the confines of my cell. But I wasn’t at all sure about what Rhys had in store for me while I was there. Not to mention I was worried about what Amarantha would think when Rhys paraded our bargain in front of her. Could I trust him, even though Alis, Lucien and Tamlin had warned me in the strongest terms not to?

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Rhys asked softly.

My eyes met his. The way he was looking at me made my stomach flip. “I thought you could you read my thoughts.”

“Only if you openly share them down the bond, which you aren’t or I penetrate your mind, which I won’t. Tell me.”

I bit my lip shyly. “Only if you tell me what you’re thinking.”

Rhys smiled. “A thought for a thought. Alright.” He took a long breath as he looked deep into my eyes. “I’m thinking that I wish that we were somewhere else; anywhere other than here, Under the Mountain. And I’m thinking about the awful things I have to do down here and wishing things were different so I could be the mate you truly deserve.”

My heart skipped a beat as he spoke his honest thoughts to me.

“Your turn,” he said shyly, his eyes still boring into mine.

“OK…” I also took a deep breath to give myself the courage to say exactly what was on my mind. “I’m thinking that everyone tells me you’re dangerous and I shouldn’t trust you, but I am a fool, because I think I do. And I’m thinking that, even though it was probably a mistake to come here, and I don’t stand a chance in hell of surviving, I don’t regret it at all, if it means that I can have moments like this with you.”

Rhys shivered at my words, “Feyre…” he whispered, as he slid closer to me, threw his arm around me and drew me to him. I rested my palms against his hard muscular chest as he brushed his lips against my forehead, his arm deliciously heavy around my waist. It felt absolutely wonderful to lie in his embrace. I closed my eyes and breathed him in. This was probably the one and only time we would get to be like this, and I was determined to make it last as long as possible. I could quite happily stay here forever. I didn’t want this moment to end.

“Do you think you could persuade Amarantha to let me sleep here with you? Your bed is divine,” I asked, nestling more into the bed.

Rhys let out a deep chuckle. “I very much doubt she would allow it, especially if she knew that it wasn’t torture for you.” My heart contracted at his words. I didn’t want him to go back to her, but I knew that he must. “But I can at least get them to stop giving you chores. And I’ll get them to feed you better. You’ll need your strength for the trials.”

Oh yes, my trials, two of which were still remaining. I was suddenly brought right back down to earth. The weight of the burden I had brought on myself suddenly felt overbearing. I clung to my mate tighter and buried my head in his chest.

“Feyre?” Rhys said gently.

“What if I can’t do it? What if I can’t save you all?” I whispered.

Rhys moved his hand to lift my chin so that my eyes met his again. “You said in the hall when you first arrived that we underestimated you, and you were right. The way you defeated the wyrm; no-one expected that. She didn’t expect that. Now, you must not underestimate yourself.”

I gazed back at him, still feeling overwhelmed, but now another feeling was stirring. My eyes drifted to my mate’s lips. The bond was pulling me to him; desperate to close the gap between us. We moved slowly together, but just as our lips were about to touch, there was a loud bang on the door.

“High Lord,” growled a voice from outside.

Rhys stiffened. He gave me a knowing look as we both hastily got off the bed. I pulled my shoes back on as he went to open the door.

“What do you want?” Rhys said warningly as he opened it ajar.

“The prisoner must be returned to her cell.”

“How disappointing! We were having so much fun together, weren’t we, Feyre darling?” he said, opening the door wider to reveal the two red-skinned faerie guards.

I tried to look as though I had been through hell, when the exact opposite was true.

“Feyre, your escort awaits. I look forward to our paths crossing again soon,” Rhys sneered, but as the faeries started to pull me away, he winked at me.

And that’s when I realised that I could play the game too. For that’s all this really was, a game. I just hoped that I was going to be the winner...

Chapter Text

Somehow, Rhys had worked his magic and gotten me out of any more household chores. What was more, that evening, a fresh, hot meal appeared in my cell, and I could not feel more affection for my mate in that moment. Then another hot meal came at breakfast. When I wasn’t eating in my cell, I was trying to work out the riddle. Unfortunately, I was still getting nowhere. It seemed more urgent to solve it now, especially as the screaming in the dungeons continued day and night, reminding me exactly what was at stake for all my friends if I failed.

I was desperate to leave my cell to escape the screaming, even if it meant having to go to a party and having to endure whatever Rhys had in store for me. So, when two High Fae appeared through the cracks in the wall like slivers of darkness, I went with them willingly, knowing they were sent by Rhys. Unlike Rhys, however, their features were undiscernible, and they remained mostly of shadow, their gowns flowing like cobwebs. They didn’t say a word as they pressed close to me, and we stepped through the closed door. It was a very strange sensation. None of the guards stopped us, they didn’t even look in our direction. We had been glamoured so that we were no more than flickering darkness to the passing eye.

The faeries took me down the passageways to another room where they stripped me naked and helped me bathe. Despite being roughly scrubbed, I indulged in it, having not had a bath for days. What I was not, expecting, however, was what came next. They began to paint me, all over, even my intimate parts. They continued the patterns from my arms all over my body, up to my neck. They left my face; instead using make up on my eyes, lips and cheeks. They put a gold diadem in my hair which was embedded with lapis lazuli, then they placed on me a gossamer white dress; albeit it was really only two long shafts of fabric. It was only just wide enough to cover my breasts. A jewelled belt slung across my hips where a single piece of fabric hung between my legs to the floor. From the cold air on my skin, I could tell that most of my backside was exposed. The two High Fae didn’t say a word to me, although I tried to engage them in conversation; mainly protesting about the lack of fabric.

As I was attempting again to persuade them to find me something else to wear, I heard a wolf whistle. Rhys had appeared in the doorway, leaning against the door and crossing his arms, looking at me critically. My whole body seemed to blush as his violet eyes took me in as I was practically naked in front of him. I felt exposed and vulnerable, and I was very unimpressed that he was making me wear this.

“What a withering look!” Rhys remarked.

I tried to use my hands to shield myself unsuccessfully. “Is all this really necessary?”

Rhys pushed himself off the doorframe to walk closer to me. “I did warn you that you wouldn’t like it.”

“This dress, if you can call it that, hardly covers a thing!”

Smiling wickedly, Rhys said, “That is the intention.”

Again, I glared at him. “Rhys, I cannot go out in public looking like this. It’s… demeaning.”

He smiled even wider. “Well done, you’re catching on.”

“Rhys…” I protested.

“Feyre darling, you made a bargain. You agreed to live with me in the Night Court once you have completed your trials. I own you now. You must do my bidding. If I want you to dress like this, then that is what you’ll do,” he snarled. He sounded so convincing.

“Prick,” I muttered.

My insult just made him smile all the more. “Better. I need you to hate me tonight.” There was a part of me that did right now. Only a small part mind you.

“And why have you made them paint every inch of me?”

“So, I would know if anyone touched you.” He walked closer to me and gently stroked a finger down my arm. The paint smudged instantly. “See?” I watched as his magic corrected it. “I’m a possessive person, Feyre. I don’t want anyone touching my things.”

That was what I was supposed to be tonight. His plaything. Perhaps I was meant to feel disgusted, but there was a feral part of me that liked the thought of being his toy to play with…

Perhaps Rhys could sense my feelings because he leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “You are supposed to be miserable. If this is going to work, you’re going to have to play the part.” Games. That is all this was. And I would play along, even if I hated it.

Stepping back, he then said inside my head, You look positively delicious, by the way. It made me shiver.

Prick I cursed down the bond again, flashing him another withering look, making him smile. “Very good. Shall we?” he said, gesturing to me to leave.

I took a deep breath and followed.

***

This was probably one of the most humiliating moments of my life. And I was cold; especially my feet which Rhys had left bare. My whole body was exposed for all to see; the fabric sheer enough to show my breasts, and the paint did nothing to conceal them. We marched towards the sound of merriment and very odd music until we arrived in the throne room. Everyone gawked at me as we entered. It was obvious by the way Rhys walked with me that I belonged to him. It was almost as though I was his dog, and he was leading me on a leash.

The music quietened, and the crowd parted as we approached Amarantha on her throne. Tamlin was in his usual position next to her. When my eyes met his, I could tell he was angry. His knuckles had turned white as he gripped his chair, but his claws did not come out. Why was it now that he was suddenly riled? There had been no emotion on my arrival here, nor my first task. It had instead been Rhys’s games that had got to him.

“Merry midsummer,” Rhys said, bowing to his Queen. I did not move. I would not bow to that monster.

“Rhysand, just what are you doing with my captive?” Amarantha said with a fake smile.

With a sneer, Rhys replied, “We made a bargain, didn’t we Feyre darling?” He turned to me and stoked a finger down my cheek, then gripped my chin. I gritted my teeth and willed myself to play along. The throne room suddenly went silent. “Feyre will live with me in the Night Court in exchange for my healing services after her first task.” He let go of my chin and raised my arm to reveal the tattoo. “For the rest of her life,” he added lazily, his eyes on Amarantha.

The way he said for the rest of her life gave away what he really thought. He thought I was going to beat her tasks. It confirmed what I already knew. This was a game. And I was his key player.

Amarantha stared at us for a moment, before saying, “We’ll see. Enjoy my party.”

On her dismissal, Rhys took my hand and led me away. Everyone gave us a wide berth, and I kept my eyes forward and my chin high. I hated being so naked in front of them. Rhys led me to a table laden with food. The High Fae around it quickly dispersed as the music grew louder.

He poured me a goblet of wine. “Wine?” he said, holding it out to me. Alis’s rule returned to me. I shouldn’t drink it. But Rhys has said I should if I was going to get through tonight.

Do I have to? I asked down the bond.

If you don’t want to have to remember what happens tonight, then yes. Oh Mother! What was going to happen tonight? I won’t let anyone touch you, Rhys reassured me.

There was something in the way he said it inside my head that convinced me. I took the goblet and emptied it.

***

I was so sick the next morning. In fact, I was sick for the rest of the day. I had the world’s worse hangover. The wine may have made me forget what had happened, but I was not at all convinced that it was worth forgetting if I had to feel like this. It was freezing in my cell, and I had nothing to warm me up as I was still in the dress, my body still covered in paint.

That evening, I tried to eat the hot dinner Rhys had sorted for me, but I still felt rotten. As I was picking at it, the cell door creaked open and in walked a friendly face.

“By the Cauldron, it’s freezing in here,” Lucien cursed as he walked up to me. I was feeling too nauseated to notice. He threw his cloak over me, and I was instantly warmed by it.

“Look at you!” he said examining the paint on my body, which save for a couple of smudges on my waist, was all intact. “Bastard,” he cursed.

“What happened?” I asked groggily. The only memory I had was of the music.

Lucien regarded me curiously. “I don’t think you want to know.”

I studied the smudges on my waist where it looked like I had been held. “Who did that?”

“Who do you think?” Lucien responded.

I tried not to give away my relief. Rhys had promised no-one would touch me, but I suppose that didn’t extend to himself. I didn’t mind. He was my mate. The paint was his way of protecting me.

“Did everyone see it?”

“Yes. Rhysand was only doing it to get a rise out of Tamlin.” I didn’t try to contradict him, even though I knew that Rhys’s games went further than that.

“Did it work?”

“No.” For some reason I was disappointed. I had come here for Tamlin as well as the others. He was my friend.

“What was I doing?” I asked, wanting to know even though Rhys had advised me to forget.

“Rhysand had you dance for him most of the night. When you weren’t dancing, you were sitting on his lap.”

“Dancing… in front of everyone?” I clarified, not really caring about sitting on my mate’s lap, as that sounded like a safe place to be.

“Yes,” he replied more gently. Then he grasped my tattooed arm. “What were you thinking making a bargain with Rhys anyway? Didn’t you know I would come as soon as I could?”

This was it. My first act of pretence, and I had to hide the truth from a friend. I did not relish the idea. “I was dying, Lucien. I had no idea if or when you’d come!” It was the truth, but there was so much more.

“Of course I was going to come, Feyre! Didn’t I say to you that I would try and be a better friend to you? I know… I know my behaviour at the manor was at times wanting. And maybe I have not given you a good reason to trust me. But the risk you’ve taken to save us… I doubt that there is anything that could pay such a debt.”

“I don’t want you to be in my debt, Lucien. This is what friends do for each other.”

Lucien shook his head. “We didn’t ask you to make that bargain with Rhys for us.”

“I had no choice, Lucien!”

His eye turned wild. “Don’t you know what Rhys is?” I paused, because the Rhys I knew, was nothing at all like the Rhys Lucien thought he was. “The things he will do to you in the Night Court.”

“It can’t be any worse than what I’ve had to endure here,” I replied.

“No, you’re wrong. Rhysand with his full powers returned would be ten times worse than Amarantha.” I winced, even though I knew Rhys would never be like Amarantha.

“Have you ever been to the Night Court?” I asked.

“No,” Lucien remarked. “But I know what Rhys is like. You’ve made a bad bargain, Feyre.”

“Well, it was either that or die.”

“Maybe we can persuade him to renegotiate…” Lucien mused.

“It’s done, Lucien.”

He signed heavily. “Hmm… I suppose we’ll just have to deal with it when the time comes.”

I had no idea how Lucien planned to deal with it. A bargain was a bargain. There was no getting out of it. “How’s Tamlin?” I asked.

“I have not spoken with him, but I expect he’s livid with Rhys.”

“Why does he hate him so much?”

Lucien looked at me suspiciously. “You mean other than because he is a sadistic bastard?”

I shrugged, trying not to give anything away. “It just seems like there is more to it.”

There was a pause in conversation while Lucien considered whether to divulge further information. Thankfully he obliged. “Rhysand’s father killed Tamlin’s parents and brothers.” My eyes widened in disbelief and shock, as my mind recalled Tamlin’s answer when I asked about how his family had died; he said a rival court had done it. Rhys’s father had done it. “Tamlin’s father was a tyrant, and his brothers were no better. But to kill the Lady of the Spring Court… Well, it was deplorable! Relations between the Spring and Night Court have been… tense ever since. And of course, Rhys siding with Amarantha has made things even more difficult; and now there’s you; making a bargain with his greatest enemy.”

I wouldn’t challenge him, but there was something about the story that didn’t quite add up. As I didn’t want to give anything away, I stayed quiet and instead asked, “Why is Tamlin so silent? Is he under a spell?”

“No. He’s staying silent to protect you.”

“Protect me, how?”

“Because if Amarantha found out what form of your torment affects him most, she will most likely use that to torture you all the more.” That had never occurred to me before. “He’s playing a dangerous game though. We all are.”

Yes, we were all playing games. Amarantha, Rhys, Tamlin, Lucien, even myself, and sooner or later someone would slip up and pay the consequences. I hoped it would be Amarantha.

Lucien’s eye flicked to the door. “I should go.”

Before he left, I called out, “Thank you for helping me with the wyrm. I’m sorry… I’m sorry for what she made Tamlin do to you.”

He was moving stiffly. “It’s why I couldn’t come sooner.”

I smiled sympathetically. “You should take this back,” I said handing over the cloak.

“Keep it. I swiped it off a guard. In any case, I’ve seen much more than you through the gown than I had ever hoped to! Goodbye,” he said, then slipped through the door, leaving me with much to think about.

Chapter Text

I was surprised when the next evening, the two Night Court High Fae came into my cell again. I was washed and painted as before, and Rhys appeared when I was ready to escort me to the throne room.

I crossed my arms and glared at him as he sauntered over to me, looking sickeningly handsome as always in his signature black, his hands in his pockets.

When the two High Fae disappeared through the walls, I hissed, “Are we really doing this again?”

“Feyre darling, do you not want to spend another evening in my good company?” he said, coming to a stop right in front of me.

“Not dressed like this, no.”

“Oh, but you look so bewitching,” he purred seductively, looking me up and down. Even though I was cross with him, it still caused a flash of desire to shoot through me.

“I look like a harlot. You make me act like your harlot,” I retorted.

Rhys’s smile faded. “I know.” Of course he knew, because that was the part he played with Amarantha.

“I don’t understand why we have to do this again,” I said more softly.

He took my hand and interlaced our fingers. It may not seem like it, but I’m trying to protect you. Came his voice inside my head. I stared into his violet eyes which were piercing mine. If you are here with me, I can at least try to keep you safe.

I considered his words for a moment. I got it. The mating bond was so strong, and the desire to protect me; even just be with me, was driving him to do this. I wanted to be with him too, but not like this.

“Can’t we go to your room instead? I quite fancy another forty winks in that divine bed of yours.”

Rhys grinned at my words. “Naughty girl,” he said squeezing my hand sending a firebolt through me. I tried to mask a grin back. “Unfortunately, my presence is required in the throne room tonight.”

I sighed dramatically. “Pity.”

“Isn’t it just?” he agreed, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Fine,” I conceded. “I’ll go with you tonight. But can I ask you something first?” It had been something that had been weighing on my mind ever since Lucien had spoken to me.

“Go ahead.”

I bit my lip nervously as I prepared to ask my question. “Is it true, that your father killed Tamlin’s family?”

The sparkle in Rhys’s eyes extinguished immediately and he let go of my hand to stick it back in his pocket. “Is that what he told you?”

“It’s what Lucien told me. Tamlin only told me that his family had been killed by a rival court.”

Rhys hung his head, contemplating what to say next. “It’s not the whole story,” he murmured. I had a feeling it wasn’t.

“Then what is the whole story?” I pressed.

He raised his eyes to meet my gaze. “Are you sure you want to know?”

His question made me pause for a moment, but I needed to know. I nodded.

With a solemn look, Rhys began his tale. “Tamlin is younger than me. He was born when the War started, but after the War our paths began to cross at court functions, and we got to know each other. I befriended him for a time, as he seemed decent for a High Lord’s son. Much more so than his brothers who were much weaker than him. My family disapproved of the connection, as did Tamlin’s father. He was threatened by us both because we were more powerful than him, and he wanted to prove to the world that he wasn’t.”

“Tamlin said that his father was a tyrant; that he kept human slaves and sided with Hybern in the War,” I cogitated.

“The Spring Court was Hybern’s strongest ally. After the War, Tamlin’s father became even more vicious and power hungry. As I was the greatest threat, he and Tamlin’s brothers set out to kill me after Tamlin had revealed my whereabouts to them. I wasn’t there, but my mother and sister were.”

I was beginning to see where this story was going, and I felt my blood run cold.

“When they didn’t find me, they slaughtered my mother and sister anyway.” I felt my eyes burn as I shook my head in disbelief. “The wings pinned in Tamlin’s study, they are my mother’s and sister’s.”

I thought like I might vomit. I hadn’t been in Tamlin’s study, and at this moment in time, I was grateful I hadn’t. “I didn’t… I didn’t see them… But… but I didn’t think High Fae had wings,” I said, trying to breathe so I wouldn’t hurl.

“My mother was Illyrian. The Illyrian warriors form the Night Court’s deadliest army squadron. She wouldn’t have been my father’s choice of partner as they are considered lessor faeries, but when the mating bond snapped, he had to have her.”

My mind was whirring. “So, your wings… you have wings because you are Illyrian?”

“Half Illyrian, yes. As was my sister. But I mostly keep my wings hidden down here.”

I recalled the first time we met when I had examined his wings. I longed to see them again for they really were glorious. “What happened after they… did that?” I asked, knowing this wasn’t the end of the story.

“My father and I headed straight to the Spring Court that night. Lucien’s version of events was not quite accurate. It wasn’t my father that slew Tamlin’s brothers. It was me.” I could feel the darkness began to swirl around him. “I held their minds and rendered them helpless while I cut them into pieces, and then melted their brains inside their skulls,” he said. I could tell he was struggling not to show his emotions, but the darkness gave him away. “And my father… my father went to the High Lord’s bedroom and killed Tamlin’s father and also his mother. He had promised not to touch her, but he did it anyway.”

I was finding it difficult to breathe as I took in the information.

“My father wanted to kill Tamlin too, but I was so done with all the death that I stopped him. But when Tamlin emerged from his room and smelled the carnage, he killed my father with one blow. We felt the power shift to both of us as we were both crowned High Lord. And then, I ran.”

I stared at him, my mind still trying to catch up with my emotions.

“And before you ask, no. I do not regret what I did to Tamlin’s brothers. It was retribution for what they did to my mother and sister, and I would do it all again.”

“Tamlin… Tamlin murdered your family…” I stuttered.

“And I murdered his,” Rhys replied. “You see, I told you I was a monster.”

Shaking my head, I said through the bond, I don’t think you’re a monster. And even if you are, you’re my monster.

I realised when I said it what it meant. Since the bond had snapped, we had not discussed whether either of us were going to accept it or not. Now my words indicated what I had felt all along. That I belonged to him. That we belonged together. That when all this was over, we would be mated fully.

Rhys opened his mouth to speak, but then he hesitated. She’s coming.

Before I knew what was happening, Rhys pushed me against the wall of the room, his hard body pressed firmly against mine as he pinned my hands above my head and then lowered his mouth onto mine. His kiss was rough and needy, his lips crushing mine. When his tongue moved to pry my mouth open, I willingly obliged. His tongue explored my mouth hungrily as if he was claiming me, and when our tongues met I buckled slightly beneath him at the sensation. The mating bond was screaming at me.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

Mother, I wanted him! But I was immobilised by the way Rhys was pinning me to the wall. I was completely at his mercy.

Only a few seconds later, a small party entered into the room. I could tell who it was instantly, and I began to slowly understand what Rhys was playing at.

“Rhysand?” came the sickeningly sweet voice of Amarantha.

Rhys casually released his mouth from mine. He stepped back, gave her a lazy, self-indulgent grin and bowed. His black clothes were covered in paint which been transferred from my body.

“When you were running late, I thought this may be the case,” Amarantha remarked.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. We were having too much fun playing, weren’t we, Feyre darling?” Rhys said with a sneer as he glanced in my direction. Whilst I was still coming down from the ecstasy of the kiss, I tried to look disgusted with him.

“Are you about done with the girl? I am in need of your services in the throne room.”

Services? What services?

“Certainly,” Rhys said, as he vanished the paint on his clothes with his magic. He turned to me. “Come,” he said sternly. I obeyed and nervously followed him, Amarantha and a couple of her guards to the throne room.

When I was imagining our first kiss, it had not been like that. It had not been a pleasant kiss, but I couldn’t deny that I had enjoyed it, and the roughness of it had served a purpose. It was all for show. This was all part of Rhys’s game.

We walked past the crowds of High Fae who were more subdued than the last time, some of which looked menacingly at me; particularly as all my body paint was smudged. Rhys put his hand on my back. “Just stay close and keep your mouth shut.”

The crowd parted around us as Amarantha climbed atop her throne and we stopped at the edge of the crowd.

“Bring him forward,” Amarantha called out.

The Attor emerged from the crowd dragging a brown-skinned High Fae male with him. Just like with me, he threw the faerie to the ground. The faerie started to sob.

I looked up to Amarantha. She was smiling grotesquely at this poor creature. Tamlin was beside her. He didn’t even glance at me. It was probably a good thing he didn’t because after I heard Rhys’s story I was furious with him.

My eyes flicked to my mate anxiously. Stay here, he whispered in my head.

Rhys approached Amarantha as she explained, “The summer lordling tried to escape through the exit to the Spring Court lands. I want to know why.”

A chill ran up my spine. Oh Mother, Rhys was going to have to use his powers on him, just like he had been made to use them on me. I knew instantly how this was going to end, and I prayed I would be able to stomach it.

Rhys sauntered over to the male fae, sliding his hands into his pockets. There was no movement from him at all to indicate he was using his powers, but it was obvious when his claws had latched onto the lordling’s mind as he stopped shaking on the ground, a puddle of urine beneath him.

“P-p-please,” the male fae whimpered. His plea was heartbreaking. The crowd stilled. It was so quiet, it as if they weren’t even breathing.

After a moment of silence, Rhys turned to Amarantha and said, “He wanted to escape through the exit to the Spring Court, cross the wall and flee south into human territory. He had no accomplices, no motive beyond his own pathetic cowardice.”

Amarantha looked disappointed. She slouched back in her throne. “Shatter him, Rhysand.”

I gritted my teeth as I readied myself with what was going to happen next. I had never witnessed the full extent of Rhys’s mind shattering capabilities, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Rhys took his hand out of his pocket and dangled it at his side as his fingers curled slightly.

“I’m growing bored, Rhysand.”

Rhys’s fingers curled into a fist. The male fae’s eyes went wide, and then glazed as he slumped to the ground. Blood leaked from his nose and ears, pooling on the floor. It was so… quick.

“I said shatter his mind, not his brain!”

Shrugging, Rhys said, “Apologies, my Queen.” He strode away without being dismissed, and that’s when I realised that what Rhys had done was an act of mercy, and it was also likely that he had lied when he read his mind. Who was he protecting this time? The part he was playing here Under the Mountain was a cunning one. I prayed to the Mother that he wouldn’t be found out.

The crowd muttered at us as we made our way to the table laden once again with food and wine. Some hissed at him, calling him “Whore.” Others offered smiles and words praising his actions. Rhys didn’t respond to anyone, nor did he hurry away. When we reached the table he handed me a goblet. I hadn’t wanted to drink the wine tonight, but after what I had just witnessed, I changed my mind. I downed the wine and let the wine sweep me into oblivion.

Chapter Text

Thus, our nightly activities continued in the same vein. Night after night, I would be bathed and painted, and Rhys would take me to the throne room where I would drink the wine and then remember nothing. We used the precious few moments alone together to talk, taking turns to ask questions of the other. I told him about my life in the mortal realm; of my father and sisters; our life before my father’s downfall, and the impoverished life thereafter and how I had been the one to keep us alive. He told me a little more of his history, which, given his age, was much vaster than mine. It was just snippets of conversation when we could, and it wasn’t merely enough, but I relished it every night. There was one topic, however, that we didn’t broach: the kiss. It had served a purpose, I knew that. It was all part of the games we were playing. But we didn’t talk about it, even if it felt like it was the elephant in the room whenever we were together.

I was sat as usual in my cell that evening wrapped in the cloak Lucien had stolen for me to cover the blood orange gossamer gown I had worn from the night before, paint still adorning my body, smudged in the places where Rhys had held me. I’d eaten most of my hot evening meal, and my eyes were fixed on the cell door through which I was expecting the shadow faeries to arrive at any moment. However, it was to be someone else who was to visit me that evening.

Through the shadows, my mate emerged before me, dressed impeccably in a black suit, not a hair out of place. I tugged the cloak around me. The cell was full of the stench of vomit as my body still could not tolerate the wine, and I was still feeling a little nauseous. This was definitely not my best look and I felt rather embarrassed before him.

“Hey,” Rhys said softly. In his hands he was carrying a small pile of clothes, which was intriguing.

“What are you doing here? Where are the shadow faeries?” I asked.

“I’m giving you, and them the night off,” he stated.

Confused, I asked, “Why?”

“Your second trial is tomorrow night,” he explained.

The second trial. It wasn’t like I had forgotten about it, but I had lost track of time. The imminence of it suddenly winded me. “Right,” was the only response I had. A weighted silence followed as the reality of what was to come sunk in. Was this to be the last time we would see each other? If it was, I was going to make it count.

“I’ve brought you some clothes. I figured that dress wouldn’t be appropriate for whatever Amarantha has in store for you,” Rhys continued, handing them over to me.

“As opposed to how appropriate it is to wear it every night at these parties?” I retorted sarcastically. He flashed me a wicked smile. I offered him a half-hearted smirk back. It felt odd trying to joke about something when my life could well end tomorrow.

After using his magic to vanish the paint off my body, Rhys waited with his back turned while I changed into my fresh clothes; just a simple tunic and trousers, which I was much more comfortable in.

“So…” I said, once I was changed and Rhys turned back to me.

“So,” he repeated, his violet eyes piercing mine.

I bit my lip nervously. “Is this the part where we say our goodbyes?”

He was in front of me in a heartbeat. He took my face in his hands and looked deep into my eyes. “Absolutely f***ing not! You are going to complete the trial tomorrow night; do you hear me?” I wanted to believe him, I did, but the odds were never truly in my favour.

“I’ll try,” I answered.

Rhys shook his head, unhappy with my answer. “You are strong, and brave and smart, and you can do it, I know you can, Feyre,” he insisted.

I nodded to try and reassure him, even though I was not at all convinced. “But… but just in case this is the last time I see you…”

“Feyre…” he began to reprimand me.

“Rhys, please. I don’t want to have any regrets. I need you to do something for me.” It had been something on my mind for several days now.

“What is it?” he asked.

I took a deep breath. “I need you to kiss me.”

His face relaxed with the hint of a smile. “This is not really the most romantic setting for our first kiss,” he commented.

“It isn’t our first kiss,” I maintained.

“The time before doesn’t count.”

“Why not?”

“Because it wasn’t real. It was all for show.”

“I didn’t mind,” I smirked.

“I could tell,” Rhys growled, his eyes twinkling in the near darkness as they flitted between my eyes and my lips. He was still holding my face in his hands, and I could feel the tug of the bond between us. “I would have done it differently if it had been our first kiss.”

I licked my lips in anticipation. “How would you have done it?” I whispered as I dared to move my hands to his chest to grip the lapels of his jacket. The bond ignited. I could feel it tingling all through my body.

Rhys leaned in closer to me, his nose grazing mine, as he stroked his thumb along my jaw. In a sinfully seductive tone, he said, “Gently… slowly… just a brush of the lips at first.”

My breath hitched. “Then what?” I asked.

He threaded his fingers through my hair, scratching my scalp with his fingertips in the most delightful way. “Then, I would have pressed my lips more firmly onto yours and sucked on your bottom lip. I would have caressed it slowly… tortuously so, with my tongue. Perhaps, I might have even nipped it with my teeth. And you would have made the most delicious sound as I did.”

A heat started to pool at my core as I somehow managed to suppress the exact sound he had described “And then?” I whimpered breathlessly.

I could feel him smiling roguishly, even though I couldn’t see him fully. “Then, I would persuade you to open your mouth to me, and I would explore it with my tongue, starting with the roof your mouth; then your teeth and then your own tongue and you would taste… incredible.” Rhys dragged his thumb across my lip, and I couldn’t stop a moan slipping from my mouth. “Would you like me to kiss you like that, Feyre?”

“Yes,” I answered immediately.

Rhys clucked his tongue at me. “Where are your manners, Feyre, darling?”

My need for him was becoming unbearable. “Please,” I begged.

“So… needy,” he purred, as he once again dragged his thumb teasingly across my lips, increasing my desire for him even more, but still he didn’t do what I wanted. What I needed.

Getting frustrated, I pleaded again, “Rhys, please.”

Again, I felt him smile, as he knew I was completely in his power right now. “Alright. Close your eyes, and stay… very… still,” he ordered, and I obeyed.

I closed my eyes as his fingers caressed my face.

“Don’t move,” he murmured.

I stayed as still as I could. It felt like I had been waiting an eternity when I finally felt his lips brush warm and soft against mine in a whisper of a kiss. It was the lightest of touches; like a breeze on a warm summer day, and it set the hairs on my arms on end. Just as he described, Rhys began to press his lips more firmly against mine, and when he got to the part of sucking my bottom lip and kneading it with his tongue and teeth, I whimpered just as he said I would. He chuckled against my lips victoriously, and then tipped my head back slightly to be able to explore my mouth.

It was pure ecstasy. Everything about his kiss made me feel wanted; desired; adored. It was slow and controlled, but it stirred the blood in my veins. Rhys was right; this… this was supposed to be our first kiss, and it was perfect. It didn’t matter we were in a dark, dingy cell. All that mattered was that we were here. And if it was to be our last kiss as well as our first, then so be it. I would die a happy woman.

Once Rhys had explored every inch of my mouth, he began to pull away, but I clung on to him. I wasn’t ready to end the kiss yet. Now it was my turn. I let my arms snake themselves around his neck as I stood on tiptoes to push my lips back onto his. I teased him with my tongue, encouraging him to open his mouth to me so I could explore him in the same way he had explored me. His taste on my tongue was divine. I wound my fingers through his short, black locks, tugging slightly which made him omit a deep low hum from his throat as his arms encased me, pressing me to him. I wanted more. I wanted so much more, but I would content myself with this.

The kiss began to slow, and I could feel the effort it took from Rhys to stop things from going any further. It appeared I wasn’t the only one who wanted more. Even when the kiss ended, our lips kept grazing each other, reluctant to part.

“I should go,” Rhys said, his breaths still shallow.

I shook my head in protest. “Not yet.”

“Feyre…”

“Just… just a little longer.” I didn’t want to let go of him. Not now. Not ever.

He pulled back from me slightly to look at me sternly. “This isn’t goodbye, Feyre. Me and you… we don’t say goodbye. Ever. OK?”

Tears were beginning to pool in the corners of my eyes at his words. How could he say that? I was human. Even if I didn’t die tomorrow, I would die eventually. It was an inevitable part of my mortality. But I didn’t want to argue with him. I didn’t want to ruin this moment; not after that kiss which had been so utterly glorious. So, I simply replied, “OK.”

I willed my hands to let go of him, feeling bereft as soon as I did so. He walked over to the door. Each step he took made my heart sink. As we couldn’t say goodbye, I said something completely ridiculous instead. “Have a nice evening.”

Rhys looked back at me curiously. I shrugged. “You said we couldn't say goodbye.”

He offered me a cute, yet sad sideways smile. “Have a nice evening, Feyre.”

Then he vanished through the wall, and it was only after I was sure he was gone, that I sunk down into my bed of hay and wept.

Chapter Text

It was with much trepidation that my second task arrived. I was hauled from my cell by the red-skinned faerie guards with the same unnecessary force as before and led to a smaller cavern than the throne room, but still a large entertaining space. The only chair in the room was occupied by Amarantha. Tamlin was stood beside her, statue still as usual. I couldn’t sense Rhys amongst the crowd, and I dared not look for him because if I saw him, I would probably falter.

“Well, Feyre, your second task has come,” Amarantha said, clearly delighted with herself. I instantly wanted to vomit. Clearly she had something awful planned for me. I tried to focus on my breathing. “Have you solved my riddle yet?”

I didn’t reply. I had gotten nowhere with the riddle. I was certain if I answered wrongly she would kill me on the spot.

“Too bad. Well, I suppose we should just get on with it then,” she sneered at me again. “Begin!”

The ground beneath my feet shuddered, and I was lowered into a pit. Three of the walls were made of smooth, shining stone, impossible to climb up, but the wall other was an iron grate. Just as I thought something terrible may be behind it, I caught a glimpse of red hair.

“Lucien!” I breathed.

My friend lay chained to the centre of the floor the other side of the grate which had split the chamber in two, and I felt a growing sense of dread.

“Here is your task, Feyre, my dear. Simply answer the question by selecting the correct lever, and you’ll win. Select the wrong one to your doom. As there are only three options, I think I gave you an unfair advantage. So, we’ll make it a bit more interesting. Let’s see if you can solve the puzzle in time.”

At the snap of her fingers, two huge spike encrusted grates began lowering from above us, heating radiating off the spikes. I whizzed round to face Lucien. The reason the chamber was split in two was so that I would have to watch as he splattered beneath it, and it would not be a clean death. I turned to look at the far wall where three were three stone levers just as Amarantha had indicated. Above the levers was a lot of text, and the numbers I, II and III.

As soon as I realised what I must do, I panicked. I had never learned to read. I could barely recite my alphabet and could decipher only the most basic words. There was no way I would be able to read the text in time, let alone solve the puzzle. I glanced over to Lucien. He was too far away to be able to read it for me. My biggest weakness was now revealed. Had Amarantha suspected I was illiterate? Is that why she had set me this impossible task? We were going to die, there was not a doubt in my mind about it.

I stared at the words above the levers, willing my brain to connect the letters together, but the exercise was futile. Even if I did by some miracle manage to read it, I was taking far too long. The grate had almost passed over the lip of the pit. I didn’t want to die. For all my thoughts about dying a happy woman after my kiss with Rhys, with death now looking at me in the face, I didn’t feel that way at all. I wanted more time. I wanted more kisses. I was about to not only fail my friends but my mate too.

I forced myself to try and read, willing the words to come to me.

“Answer it!” Lucien shouted at me, the panic in his voice clearly evident.

Then I understood why Amarantha had set this task. I had come here to save my friends. What better form of torture than to watch one of them die a slow and painful death because of my ineptitude.

I tried. I really tried to read the words, but it was hopeless. My only option would be to guess. I prayed to the Mother for help to choose, but she was silent. I was on my own. I had a one in three chance. The odds weren’t terrible… yet if I got it wrong… I couldn’t think like that. I scrunched up my eyes to think. Two had always been a lucky number for me. Yes, two. Might as well try that one. I reached for the lever, but as I was about to pull it, I felt a strong tug. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, so I went back to it to check I wasn’t imagining things and was met by the same sensation.

Rhys. Rhys was using the bond to help me with the second task. I felt a twinge of relief, but that was quickly eclipsed by shame. Rhys had said I was strong and brave and smart, but here, when it truly mattered, I was none of those things. But I couldn’t let me self-pity overwhelm me at this moment. Me and my friend were about to be impaled, and I needed to save us. Concluding that the answer wasn’t the second lever. I went over to the first. Again, there was a strong tug. That left only one.

“Feyre!” Lucien yelled as the grate was getting ever closer. “Just pick one!”

The heat from the spikes was bearing down on me as I reached for the third lever. There was a different sensation. Like a magnet being pulled towards a metal pole. It was this one. I prayed that Rhys was right as I reached for the stone lever, scrunched my eyes up tight and pulled.

Everything went deathly silent. I braced myself for pain, but it didn’t come. I heard Lucien sigh. The spikes were hovering merely inches above my head, but I had won… And yet… it was not my victory at all. It was my mate’s.

There were gasps and murmurs from the crowd as the grate was lifted up, and then the floor of the pit rose too. The vibrations, combined with my wobbly legs from the realisation of how near to death I had come, made me sink to my knees. If it hadn’t been for Rhys, I would have died. Lucien would have died. My weakness: my illiteracy would have killed us both. Never before had I felt such shame. How was it possible that someone like me; weak and illiterate, had been mated with the most powerful faerie in Prythian? I was so undeserving of this bond. Tamlin had told me that when the mating bond snapped, it was supposed to signify that we equal and matched in every way, but that was so decidedly not the case here. Tears began to burn in my eyes. I was so ashamed of myself. I covered my face in my shaking hands.

Feyre, you need to get up. Don’t let her see you cry, came Rhys’s voice inside my head. I didn’t know where he was, but I felt him, and it made me feel ten times worse. I know he had saved us, but I wished he wasn’t here; wished he didn’t see my weakness.

Put your hands at your sides and stand up. You mustn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing you break, he continued.

But I was breaking. At any moment now I was about to fall apart. I pushed myself to my feet.

Good girl. Now, stare at her and count to ten. The sobs were starting to form in my chest. I did as he asked because it was the only thing keeping me tethered to sanity. I held her gaze and counted to ten. OK, now walk away. Turn on your heel and walk towards the door with your chin high. The crowd parted as I did so, and the faerie guards followed me at a distance out of the room. As we walked, I felt a feeling surge through the bond like a hug, but it only increased my shame. And for the first time since the bond had snapped, I blocked Rhys out.

***

I cried for hours after that. For the first time in my life, I felt utterly broken. Amarantha had broken me. And I hated myself all the more for letting her do that to me. Just twenty-four hours ago, Rhys had been in this cell with me, and we had shared the perfect first kiss. Now, I didn’t know how I was ever going to face him again. What must he think of me? It seemed inevitable now that he would not want to accept the bond. He was High Lord of the Night Court. He needed a lady beside him with fortitude of mind and body, neither of which I had. The magic of the mating bond was wrong. So wrong. It had bonded the wrong people.  

Self-doubt and pity overwhelmed me. I was never going to complete these trials. This really had been a fool’s quest. I had wanted to save them, but I was such an idiot to think that I could. My human shortcomings were too great. I was pathetic. A pathetic mess of flesh and bone. I had never wanted to be significant. I wanted a quiet life where I could paint and live out my days with my father in peace. I had never wanted to do anything extraordinary, and yet, here I was trying to do just that. How could I have been so stupid?

It was hours later when Rhys materialised in my room. I had been expecting it after I had somehow managed to block him out after the trial. I was still crying when he appeared. Whilst I didn’t want to look so pitiful in front of him, I couldn’t help the tears from continuing to fall. He opened his mouth to say something, but I was in no mood for it.

“I don’t want you to be here,” I snapped at him, my eyes red and sore from all the tears.

He stood back and crossed his arms, his violet eyes scrutinising me intensely. I could feel the fierceness of his gaze on me. “You blocked me out.” I glared at him through the tears. “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. Just go. Leave me alone,” I growled.

He didn’t move. He obviously had no intention of leaving. “Interesting…” he mused.

Exasperated and exhausted, I said with a sigh, “Why are you here, Rhys?”

“Because when I couldn’t sense you through the bond, I was worried about you.”

“I don’t want your pity!” I spat. I knew I was taking everything out on him, but right now I didn’t care.

Narrowing his eyes at me, he said, “No, you’re reserving all the pity for yourself!” I didn’t say anything in response, because I couldn’t. He was right. “You’ve just won the second task, Feyre…” he began.

“But I didn’t win it, did I? You did,” I interrupted. “We would have died… we would have died if you hadn’t of intervened all because I couldn’t… I couldn’t.”

“Read,” Rhys said, finishing my sentence for me. I nodded as I admitted to him what I had always wanted to keep secret. More tears flowed from my eyes. “Well, that can be easily remedied. It’s not something you need to be ashamed of.”

I couldn’t agree with him. I was ashamed. So deeply ashamed of my inadequacies. “This is all wrong,” I whispered. “The mating bond… the mating bond was wrong can’t you see that?”

Rhys walked over and crouched before me. “Is this what the tears are for?”

“I’m not right for you, Rhys. I’m not strong, I’m not brave and I am certainly not smart. I can’t even read. I’m human and you are High Lord of the Night Court. You… you deserve someone extraordinary, and I… I am small and weak and insignificant. Can’t you see how utterly wrong it is?”

Shaking his head, Rhys said, “It is not wrong.”

“It is. You said yourself, when we first met, that I should resist the bond and forget about you. I should have listened to you.”

“I only said that because I wanted to protect you, not because I didn’t want you,” Rhys insisted.

More tears fell from my eyes. He reached out and caught them with his fingertips. “I want you, Feyre. I’ve wanted you ever since I began seeing you in my dreams. I wanted you when I first saw you in the flesh at Calanmai, and I want you now with every fibre of my being. I don’t care that you can’t read. I don’t care that you’re human. The mating bond is not wrong. You… you are my mate, and with every day that passes, I am more and more convinced that we are perfectly matched in every way.”

“You can’t say that,” I whimpered.

“I can. And I will keep saying it until you believe it too.” I let out a sharp sob at his words, which were so beautiful, yet so undeserved. “Please don’t cry,” Rhys said, as he leaned in and kissed me on my tear-stained cheek. His lips were warm and soft, and it distracted me momentarily. Slowly, Rhys began to kiss away the salty tears on my face, even on my wet eyelashes. It was so tender and beautiful. “No more tears,” he whispered as he continued to kiss me along my jaw, his tongue gently teasing my skin. His lips moved to the nape of my neck, sucking on my pulse point and setting my skin on fire.

“Rhys,” I sighed, my self-pity slowly ebbing away.

“That’s my girl,” he hummed against my skin. I knew what he was doing, and I couldn’t deny its effectiveness. Wicked man! Sensing I had stopped crying, he withdrew from me.

Staring deep into my eyes, he said, “You do not have to do this alone, Feyre. We will get through this, together, OK?”

“OK,” I agreed.

“And when this is all over, I’ll teach you to read,” Rhys said with a small smirk. I rolled my eyes at him. I already could tell he would be insufferable about it. He chuckled slightly at me and sat back casually. “I’ve already got a few lessons in mind,” he added lazily.

“Why do I get the impression you’re going to enjoy playing teacher?” I remarked.

He smiled all the more. “There’s lots of things I’m going to enjoy doing with you in the Night Court,” he said smugly. I scowled at him, my tears now forgotten. “And I am especially looking forward to eliciting lots of withering looks like that from you.”

“Prick,” I muttered, which made him laugh again, and I tried not to smile back.

“So,” he pondered. “How exactly did you block me out anyway?”

I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I just willed it to happen, and it did.”

“And you said you weren’t extraordinary,” Rhys said sarcastically. I just shook my head. “You do realise that most High Fae can’t do that?” He took my hand in his and interlaced our fingers. “Although, I would appreciate it if you didn’t do it again. I hated not being able to sense you.”

“Now you know how I feel when you block me out,” I said a little icily.

“Point taken. But I only do it when it is absolutely necessary,” Rhys explained. “We’ve managed to keep the bond hidden so far, and it is imperative we continue to do so. Which is why, I’m afraid, we’re going to have to keep up appearances at the nightly parties until your final task.” I groaned in response. “It’s only one more moon cycle, Feyre. Then we can be out of here.”

“If I win the third task…”

“When you win it. No more of this self-doubt, alright?” I would try to be stronger. I would do it for him. “Now, is there anything you need before I go?” he said, smiling a little.

It made me blush as I recalled the last time I said I needed something of him. There was, however, something else that came to mind. “I want to see your wings again,” I stated.

Rhys’s eyes widened slightly in surprise at my request, but then he grinned. “Because they are glorious?” he said, repeating what I had thought on the night we had met. I blushed even deeper and just nodded. “Very well.”

He stood up and backed away from me to give himself enough space to reveal them. My eyes followed him hungrily. With his back turned to me I watched as his bat-like wings burst from his back, just as impressive as the first time I had seen them. He stretched them out wide for me to see. They were so big that they stretched the entire width of the cell. I got to my feet, desperate to see them closer.

“You shouldn’t have to hide these,” I said, my eyes taking in all the detail. I refrained from touching them, after what he said last time.

“They are a piece of me that I don’t want anyone to know about down here. They would seek to use it against me. Perhaps even torture me. I can only reveal them to people I trust.”

“But… what about flying? Don’t you miss it?” I asked.

Rhys turned around to face me, folding his wings into him. “Every day. There is nothing I miss more than that. Perhaps one day, I can take you on a flight somewhere.”

I smiled. “Maybe. Although, I’m not sure if I’ll like it.”

“I’ll take it steady to start with,” he promised, taking a step towards me, and wrapping his arms around my waist. I linked my arms around his neck.

“It’s what keeps me going; thoughts of what our life would be like after this,” Rhys confessed. “So, you see, I need you to get through this with me. We can only defeat her together.”

“Together,” I repeated, as I rose on tiptoes to place my lips on his.

As we kissed, I felt Rhys’s wings enclose around us like a cocoon and in that moment, I began to believe it; that perhaps the mating bond had got it right after all…

Chapter Text

The next few weeks went by in a blur of parties, wine (and afterwards, vomit) and stolen kisses. Every night, Rhys and I played the same game and as far as I could tell, no-one suspected a thing about the bond between us. Besides, Rhys would know if they did. Having been afraid for so long, with Rhys on my side, I started to feel something else: powerful. There was power in knowing we were plotting against Amarantha, and whilst I was still very much afraid, it was not to the extent that I had once been because I was no longer alone. We would defeat her. We would defeat her together.

A few nights before my final task, Lucien came to visit me. I was glad to see him after what we had endured together in the second task, albeit there was still some shame lingering due to the fact it was not actually me that had saved us, but my mate. He was quite jittery, and no wonder. His fate, along with every else’s all rested on me completing the third task. He was clearly no good at pep talks as the conversation was rather stunted. Perhaps he didn’t believe I could do it. Certainly, he had never seemed particularly confident in my abilities. Yet, I was still alive so far, so surely that counted for something!

As Lucien was making to leave, he asked me, “Have you worked it out yet?”

I let out a long sigh. “No. I’m no good with riddles,” I admitted.

“I wasn’t talking about the riddle.”

Confused I turned to him to give him my full attention. Was I missing something? “I don’t understand.”

Lucien just stared at me through his mask, trying to silently communicate. But he wasn’t Rhys, and he couldn’t talk inside my head. However, as he was staring at me, I remembered something. Alis’s words suddenly came back to me. “There was something more about the curse… Something you still can’t tell me.”

Lucien nodded.

I had completely forgotten; just like I’d forgotten all of Alis’s rules while I was down here. My day-to-day life had fallen into such a regular pattern, that I had failed to take heed of her words. Don’t drink the wine; well, I had drunk it every night. Don’t make bargains; I had made two, one of which may cost me dearly. Trust no-one, not even your senses; but I had. I had trusted Rhys. I still did.

“If you search your memory of your time in the Spring Court; the things you may have heard. The answers are there for you to find,” Lucien explained.

Alis had said something similar. I was supposed to keep my ears open and listen to what I hear. But I was also not to trust my senses… Everything was so confusing. Had something been said during my time in the Spring Court about the curse which I had not cottoned on to?

“Oh, and Feyre, whatever happens… thank you,” he said, and then he slipped out of the door.

Well, that was that then.

***

All too soon it was to be my final task and as I had still not solved the riddle, everything was hanging on me completing it. When I wasn’t trying to work out the riddle, I spent the long hours in the day going over many of the conversations I had had in the Spring Court, but nothing particularly stood out to me. I wasn’t even sure if it was relevant anymore. What did it matter what the final part of the curse was? I would either complete the third task and save them all or die. Hopefully the former…

Rhys couldn’t visit me the night before the task, so instead he sent me a gift; music, so beautiful it made me weep, could be heard in my cell, filling my soul with joy and starlight. I knew it was from him, and I was grateful, because I was dreading the next day that would decide my fate along with the rest of the Prythian.

I was given my old tunic and trousers for the final task, stained and reeking with the blood of the faerie I had killed when I had arrived. How much had happened since that day! I had not seen the sky for three months, and this was perhaps the one thing that I longed to see the most. But would I get the chance? Or would today be my last day in this world? I couldn’t think like that. I wouldn’t. I’d promised Rhys I wouldn’t.

My mate.

Rhys was the one thing that had made my time here even remotely bearable. I would have broken if it hadn’t of been for him. He had said it was thoughts of what our life would be like once I had broken the curse which kept him going down here, but I couldn’t let myself think about the future. Instead, I lived in the present; making the most of every opportunity to speak to him; hold him; kiss him, because I didn’t know if that that time would be our last. Even though our situation was incredibly unconventional, that had not stopped me from falling for him. It hadn’t taken me long to realise that I was head over heels in love with him. And now, just when I had found him, he may be lost to me forever if I didn’t complete this task. Which is why I had to do it.

My thoughts were on my mate as I was escorted out of my cell that evening. Contrary to their previous rough treatment, the faerie guards allowed me to walk on my own into the throne room. I strode into the room with my chin held high, even though I was terrified. Surprisingly, there were no shouts or jeers this time; just silence as everyone stared at me, especially the masked ones. A few faeries touched their lips with their fingers and then extended their hands to me. It was a gesture for the fallen, a farewell to the honoured dead. It made the tears well up in my eyes, and I forced myself to swallow them down. Their world rested on my shoulders. If I didn’t win the task today, they would never be free.

Amarantha was wearing a blood red gown, which I didn’t think boded well for the next task. Tamlin was stood in his usual place, but this time, he was actually looking at me, and there was something intense burning in his green eyes. I couldn’t see Rhys, but I knew he would be in the crowd.

“Two trials lie behind you and only one more awaits. I wonder if it will be worse to fail now – when you are so close.” Amarantha said. A few faeries laughed, but everyone else remained silent. Amarantha was not impressed by the lack of laughter and glared at them, before returning her gaze to me. Smiling in a sinister way, she said, “Any words to say before you die?”

I looked at Tamlin. Uncharacteristically, he nodded at me, as if giving me permission. Then, I turned to face the crowd behind me. My eyes searched for the violet pair I longed to see, and when I found them, it gave me the courage I needed to speak.

“I may be human. I may be weak and insignificant in your eyes, but I came here to fight for my friends anyway because…” I took a deep breath, for I felt myself getting emotional. I purposefully avoided Rhys’s gaze. “Because there is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friends. And if I die today, then I hope you will remember that there was love in my sacrifice.”

I forced myself to turn to Amarantha and not look for Rhys again. I knew he wouldn’t approve of what I said, but I needed to accept the possibility that this may be the end for me, and if I wanted to be remembered for anything, it was that my sacrifice was not in vain.

“How, touching,” Amarantha said sweetly. The crowd still remained silent as if in defiance, and it gave me courage. I tried to prepare myself for what was to come by taking some deep breaths. “You never figured out my riddle did you?” No, I did not, but it seemed superfluous now when the third task was upon me. “Pity.”

“Just get it over with,” I growled, impatience and nerves getting the better of me.

Amarantha looked around her. “Does anyone have any final words for precious Feyre here?” No-one said anything. It didn’t surprise me. Anyone who dared say anything would likely be punished after. “No? Tamlin?” she said, looking up to him. He didn’t respond as usual. “Very well, then.” She clapped her hands twice.

The far door swung open and three figures with sacks over their heads were dragged in by the red-skinned faerie guards. Two were male and one female. They were shoved to their knees at the foot of the dais but facing me. A feeling of dread instantly overwhelmed me.

With another clap of Amarantha’s hands, three servants dressed in black appeared at the side of each of the kneeling faeries. Each of them carried a dark velvet pillow on top of which lay a wooden dagger, and not just any wood. Ash.

“Your final task, Feyre, is to stab these unfortunate souls in the heart.” I felt my knees buckle. “They’re innocent – not that it should matter to you, since it wasn’t a concern the day you killed poor Tamlin’s sentinel, nor when you slit the throat of my own. Of course, if it is a problem, then you can always refuse. I’ll take your life in exchange, but a bargain’s a bargain, is it not?”

Murder. She wanted me to commit murder. Yes, I had killed Andras with hate in my heart, but I hadn’t known he was a faerie. I was hunting for survival. And as for the faerie guard, that had been in self-defence. This; what I was about to do now was cold-blooded murder. My choice now, was refuse and die, or kill three innocents and live; not only live, but free my friends; free my mate; free the whole of Prythian. It was ingeniously cruel, and how Amarantha must be congratulating herself on what was the perfect way to torment me along with everyone she had enslaved under here.

“Well?” she asked.

I began to shake. I didn’t think I could do it. Surely to do so would damn me to hell? Yet, if I could not, all these souls would be enslaved forever. Rhys, Tamlin, Lucien, Alis… all of them. Even reciting their names couldn’t make me escape the horror of what was before me. But… but the lives of these three faeries would not be wasted. I had to do this for Prythian. Three lives in exchange for Prythian’s liberation. Three lives that would not be spent in vain.

I took a few wobbly steps up to the first figure, and with each step it felt I was being condemned. I remembered what Rhys had done to the summer lordling a few weeks ago. The sacrifices he had made to protect the things he loved. And now I had to make this sacrifice too.

My whole body was trembling as I reached for the first dagger. It was heavier than I expected, which was probably the intention. She wanted me to feel the agony of what I was about to do.

“Not so fast,” Amarantha sneered and the guards who held the first kneeling figure snatched the sack off his head. Looking up at me was a handsome High Fae youth. I’d never seen him before. “That’s better. Proceed, Feyre. Enjoy your moment.”

I wanted to be sick. The High Fae’s eyes were the most beautiful sky-blue colour, and I was about to extinguish them.

“Please,” he whimpered. It shattered my soul to hear him beg. “Please.” Someone started weeping in the crowd and I had to swallow down the bile that rose up in my throat.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered as I poised myself to make the blow.

“Don’t! Please!” His eyes were not just blue, but also lined with silver. So beautiful. Yet so terrible. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get the image of them out of my head.

I hesitated, and then I felt the ripple of darkness as Rhys appeared by Amarantha’s throne. Our eyes locked. His face was a mask of disinterest, but his presence here was a reminder. A reminder that we would do this together. That I wasn’t on my own. But I still needed to do this. There was no other choice.

“Don’t!” the faerie moaned. I couldn’t hesitate any longer, or else I would never do it.

“Please!” he shrieked. The sound he made was dreadful, but it was the impetus for me to move. With a sob, I plunged the dagger into his heart.

The High Fae screamed and thrashed in the guards’ grip as blood poured slick over my hands. I wept as I yanked out the dagger through flesh and bone and watched as the High Fae’s beautiful blue eyes, full of shock and hate remained on me as life left him and he condemned me to hell, along with the person in the crowd who wailed. I dropped the bloody dagger and staggered backwards, appalled at what I had done.

“Very good,” Amarantha said. “Now, the next. Oh, don’t look so miserable, Feyre, aren’t you having fun?”

I got the sense that those having fun in this room were in the minority, for apart from the wailing of the one faerie, no-one else said a word. I faced the next figure and watched as the guard snatched the sack off her head. As soon as they did, several faeries in the crowd gasped and there was a sense of panic. This faerie was obviously well loved, and I was about to murder her. She had a lovely, fair face, and her hair was gold-brown like mine. Tears were falling down her round cheeks and her bronze eyes tracked my bloody hand as I reached for the second knife. The first faerie had already dammed me to hell. My soul was tainted, and yet, taking another life felt just as terrible.

“Cauldron save me. Mother hold me…” she began whispering in the sweetest musical voice. Her prayer was like one I had heard Tamlin say when we had tended to the faerie with the sawn-off wings. “Guide me to you. Let me pass through the gates, let me smell that immortal land of milk and honey.”

I stood immobilised by her prayer as tears flowed from my eyes. After what I had done, what I was about to do, I would be forever barred from that immortal land. The dagger was heavy and cold in my hand, but I couldn’t raise it. I couldn’t kill this beautiful creature.

“Let me fear no evil, let me fear no pain,” she continued, staring at me, into me, but not with hate like the first faerie, but with something else.

“I’m sorry,” I whimpered.

“Let me enter eternity…” she continued, and then I understood. She was asking me to kill her now; to do it fast and not make it hurt. This was infinitely worse than the first faerie.

She held my gaze with her bronze eyes, and then nodded. She was ready. And even though I wasn’t, I did what she asked. I gripped her shoulder and drove the dagger into her heart.

There were lots more wails this time and I couldn’t bear it. I watched the blood spill from her chest and her body slump to the ground and it was like an outer body experience. I dropped the dagger in a daze. I was probably going into shock, but I had to keep going. My eyes turned to the last faerie. One more murder and then we would all be free. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Sometimes we have to do terrible things to protect the things we love. Rhys had been right when he had said that. But I had never imagined I would have to do anything like this. I walked over to the last faerie and as I was about to grab the ash dagger, the guard removed the sack, and I froze.

Amber-flecked green eyes stared up at me. It was Tamlin. But, if that was Tamlin, who was stood with Amarantha? I whipped my head to the throne. The Queen Under the Mountain laughed as she snapped her fingers and lifted her glamour from the Attor who was smiling wickedly at me. Don’t trust your senses, Alis had said. I had suspected something was amiss, but I had not expected this. It was one thing to kill a stranger, but something entirely different to kill a friend; especially a friend I had come to save.

My eyes flicked to Rhys. His face had gone pale, but still he stared at me hard. Clearly he had not been expecting this either.

“Not fair,” I hissed.

Amarantha laughed again. “Fair? I wasn’t aware that you humans knew the concept. So, here’s the deal. Tamlin’s life, or yours. The true test of your friendship. After all, what was it you just said? Oh yes, there is no greater love than laying down one’s life for one’s friend. Well, here is your chance.”

I turned to look at Tamlin. His eyes were so bright and defiant. I had almost loved him. I had come close to breaking his curse, but it was clear to me now that we were never meant to be. I had been lonely and hopeless, and he had been the first person to show me even a hint of kindness and safety. But his ways of keeping me safe were not what I wanted, and I would have come to resent him eventually. Yet I had still come here to save him because I cared about him. I really did. No-one deserved the fate that awaited him. However, with the choice now before me, I was at a loss to know how I could save him.

“So, what will it be, Feyre my dear? Your life, or his?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the ash dagger and the choice I had to make. I’d made a fool’s bargain, just like Alis had warned me not to and now I was facing the consequences. I wouldn’t let her kill me. I would use the dagger to kill myself instead, if I could muster the courage to do it. Something was bothering me and holding me back, though. Maybe… maybe all was not what it seemed. Maybe this was just another trick to torment me. It made no sense that Amarantha would risk me killing Tamlin when she desired him the most. She would not risk me killing him unless… unless I couldn’t.

Lucian and Alis had said there was something more about the curse. Something that had been spoken about in the Spring Court. Was this the piece I had been missing? I couldn’t figure it out last night, but as I looked at Tamlin, more memories came back to me that I had forgotten.

Tamlin had lied to me. He’d lied to me about everything; about what had been happening in his lands and the curse because he had not been allowed to tell me the truth. But he had always given me the impression that something was very wrong. The blight, the Bogge, the naga, the Attor in the garden…

The Attor in the garden.

Tamlin had hidden him from me and me from him, but then he’d told me to stay put and led the Attor to me. He let me overhear the conversation… He wanted me to eavesdrop. But what did the Attor say? I trudged through the memory. The Attor had said that Amarantha sent the naga and Bogge as gifts, reminders of… of the curse. And then he’d said…

“Though you have a heart of stone, Tamlin, you certainly keep a host of fear inside it.”

A heart of stone… a heart of stone. I couldn’t kill Tamlin because he had a heart of stone! It would not be pierced by the blade.

But was I right? I thought back even more. To Calanmai, when Tamlin had shoved me against the wall, his hard chest against mine and I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel any heartbeat. Was this the way she controlled all the High Lords? I thought to Rhys, and the moments we had spent together. The way I had clung to him, my hands on his chest. Even though the mating bond was strong, I never sensed or felt his heartbeat, ever. I looked over to Rhys as all the pieces of the puzzle were starting to knit together. I needed reassurance, was I right?

He has a heart of stone; you both do, I whispered down the bond.

Rhys offered me a small discreet smile and that was all I needed.

I went to pick up the dagger and looked back at Tamlin. There was a faint smile on his lips too as he realised I had worked it out.

I raised the dagger and stabbed him.

Chapter Text

Even though I knew I was right, stabbing Tamlin still made me feel sick. The blade pierced through flesh and bone and blood gushed. However, when it reached his heart, there was a thud as the tip of the dagger hit something hard and unyielding. Tamlin lurched forward, and I dragged the dagger out as the blood continued to drain out of him. I held up the dagger. The tip had been turned inward on itself.

“Tamlin?” I said uncertainly as he clutched his chest. I dropped the bloody dagger to the floor.

“I’m alright,” he rasped. The wound was already healing. “You did it, Feyre.” The first words he had spoken to me in months made a wave of relief wash over me.

I looked over to the dais. Rhys was smiling widely, and Amarantha had climbed to her feet. The crowd began to murmur to one another behind me, I glanced at them all before returning my attention back to Rhys.

Kill her now, I shouted down the bond, but he didn’t move. His smile vanished from his face. I looked back to Tamlin, blood was still dripping from his wound, the mask was still fixed to his face. The curse had not yet lifted. Why hadn’t it lifted?

“She won! Free them!” shouted someone in the crowd.

But Amarantha hissed at them. “I’ll free them whenever I see fit. Feyre didn’t specify when I had to.” My heart began to sink as I continued to stare at Rhys who held my gaze. “At some point. Perhaps when you’re dead,” she finished with a deadly smile. I blanched as a knot twisted in my stomach. I hadn’t specified when to free them, and magic had to be specific. I’d missed it. I’d missed it entirely. “You assumed that when I said instantaneous freedom regarding the riddle, it applied to the trials too, didn’t you? Foolish, stupid human!” I was. I was a stupid fool.

There were more murmurs from those in the crowd. A few shouted that there was foul play, but there was nothing they could do about it.

I’m sorry, I whispered to Rhys as I began to realise what was about to happen, and I could see in his eyes the same realisation.

I started to back away from the dais as Amarantha descended the steps towards me. “And you… you… I’m going to kill you.”

I heard and felt Rhys cry out at her words; a sound more terrifying than the one the blue-eyed faerie had screamed moments earlier when I murdered him. I was blasted by her power, which was fiercer than a lightning bolt, before I could move. I crashed hard to the marble floor, bones snapping beneath me.

“I’m going to make you pay for your insolence!” Amarantha snarled as pain like nothing I had ever felt before pulsated through my body. I screamed in agony as fire blazed through the blood in my veins, burning flesh and bone. She used her power to raise my body, and then slammed me to the floor again as more bones broke.

“Humans are not friends with faeries. Humans are fickle and selfish and nothing but garbage.”

I couldn’t say anything as the pain was so bad. But it only got worse when I heard Rhys scream, “Feyre!” The pain down the bond made me feel like I was being ripped apart from the inside out.

“You think your sacrifice was worth it? What have you achieved? Nothing! You are nothing but a worthless fool!” My back arched and my ribs cracked one by one. It was pure blinding pain.

“Feyre!” Rhys yelled again and my heart shattered. He couldn’t save me. He couldn’t use his power against her. And I could sense his fear due to his inability to save me.

I blacked out for a moment, but Amarantha brought me back She wanted me to feel everything that she did to me. To hear me scream every time a bone broke.

Through the haze of the pain, I saw Rhys move from the dais and grab the bloody dagger I had dropped next to Tamlin who was still hunched over.

“What are you, compared to our kind, that you think you are worthy to be our friend? You are all pigs – all scheming, filthy pigs!”

I sobbed between screams as her foot connected with my broken ribs, but I kept my eyes on Rhys; on my mate as he launched himself on Amarantha, swift as a shadow, the ash dagger aimed at her throat.

For a moment, I thought the dagger would embed itself in her, but she lifted a hand, not even bothering to look and he was blasted backwards by a wall of light.

“Rhys!” I screamed, completely hopeless to help him. He was back on his feet in a heartbeat, as he lunged for her with his talons outstretched. He slammed into an invisible wall, and I let out a wail. He couldn’t get anywhere near me.

“You traitorous piece of filth! You’re just as bad as these human beasts,” she seethed at Rhys as she turned her attention to him and gave me a moment of reprieve from her torture. She started to shove his talons back into his skin one by one, blood dripping. Rhys cursed at her, his face a picture of pure rage. “You were planning this all along.”

Yes, he was. We both were, but we were powerless against her. Me because of my humanity, Rhys, because the magic she had promised to return to him was still within her control and he could not touch her. I watched in horror as Amarantha’s magic sent Rhys sprawling across the floor, and then she blasted him again, so hard that his head cracked against the stone wall.

“Rhys!” I screamed again. No-one was helping him. Why was no-one helping him? She struck him again, and again and again until he slid down the wall with a groan.

This was worse than my pain. This was worse than my torture.

My mate.

She was hurting my mate. She was breaking my mate.

“Stop! Please! Stop!” I whimpered through my own pain.

Rhys tried to rise, but his arms gave out. His eyes met mine and I wanted to weep at the agony in his eyes. It was not the agony of the pain she had inflicted on him, but it was the agony of knowing what was going to happen to me. I was going to die. Perhaps we both were. But if I was going to die, then I was not going to die with any regrets.

I love you, I whispered down the bond as the tears starting falling at a rapid pace down my cheeks.

Rhys’s eyes widened as I said it. I thought it would have been hard to say, but it wasn’t. Not now. Not now we were at the end of things. I needed him to know, because even though we said no goodbyes, it needed to be said.

There was a pop and suddenly I was looking at myself through Rhys’s eyes. Battered and broken on the cusp of death. And then, one by one, I saw his memories of me, starting with my hand, holding a brush and painting flowers on a table. Then came the memory of day he had first laid eyes on me at Calanmai, the joy he had felt when he found me; the snap of the bond which had taken us both by surprise; and the regret he felt when he had to walk away, perhaps never to see me again. Following that came the moment he saw me in the stables on the day the Spring Court had fallen, looking utterly ridiculous in that hideous dress, but still beautiful in his eyes, quickly followed by memory when I had appeared Under the Mountain and the fear that had paralyzed him momentarily, until I had slaughtered the faerie guard which had given him hope that maybe we could defeat her. In quick succession, the memories flowed: images of me defeating the wyrm, the bargain, lying in his bed together, the kisses which had awoken his soul…

And I love you. Even down the bond Rhys’s voice was strained because he knew as well as I that there was no coming back from this. None at all.

I was brought back to myself when Amarantha snarled, “Stop? Stop? Don’t pretend you care, human,” she snarled as she returned her attention to me and made my back arch again so that it was at the point of breaking. The pain was unbearable.

“Feyre!” Rhys shouted again.

“Admit it! Admit that you are a selfish, pathetic piece of garbage. We aren’t your friends! We will never be your friends!”

I was struggling to keep conscious. I could vaguely make out Tamlin crawling towards Amarantha, the wound still gaping at his chest as he clutched her feet and begged her to stop. She ignored him. His begging wasn’t going to save me now.

Always there, but never seen, you cannot run or hide.

There was no running. No hiding. She was going to kill me. At any moment my life would be extinguished.

An undefeated secret which no-one can abide.

I didn’t want to die, but my imminent demise was inevitable, and I was about to discover the secret of what came next.

The answer to a question, which no-one dares to speak.

No difference between weak or strong, I am the greatest feat.

I had thought I was making the ultimate sacrifice in laying down my life for my friends. It was an act that took great courage and strength that I didn’t think I had. Now, here I was in my final moments, showing her what true friendship; true love looked like.

To the young, a foe to conquer. To the old, a welcome friend.

A whisper in the darkness, I will not help you mend.

By body and soul were broken beyond repair. I would not conquer this.

My timing’s always perfect, but I can break your heart.

And while you may yet fear me, you’ll not find me at the start.

My heart was breaking, but not for myself. My heart was breaking for Rhys to have to watch me perish. I was afraid, so very afraid, but this was the end. I was at the end of my life.

And yet, I would still save them.

Amarantha might have lied her way out of our bargain, but she’d sworn differently with the riddle – instantaneous freedom, regardless of her will.

I turned to look at Rhys again for one last time. He was sprawled on the floor, immobilised by the injuries she had inflicted on him, tears shining in his eyes as well as my own.

I love you, I whispered again down the bond.

“Death,” I breathed as I felt my life start to ebb away from me. There was a pause in Amarantha’s magic. “The answer to the riddle is death.”

And just as I said the words, I felt my neck snap.

Chapter Text

I was dead. And yet, there was a part of me still here. Something was holding onto me, keeping me tethered to this world, but only just. It was the bond. It was Rhys. He was clinging onto me, keeping me joined to him despite the fact that my life had left me.

I was seeing through my mate’s eyes as, now released from Amarantha’s magic, he slowly rose to his feet. There was my broken body in front of him, flat on the ground, my head at a strange angle. I watched as Rhys’s eyes looked out to the crowd. Someone with red hair; Lucien, started to remove his fox mask. His scarred face was underneath and there were tears in his eyes. It had worked. The curse had lifted. Everyone was free.

My host’s gaze travelled to Tamlin, who was facing my dead body. Still in his mask, he rose to his feet, his chest wound now fully healed. He faced Amarantha, a deadly look on his face as his fangs lengthened.

“Please,” Amarantha whispered.

But just before Tamlin struck, darkness, great and terrible filled the room. Many people screamed as the full extent of my mate’s powers was now revealed, his rage terrifying. The darkness encircled Amarantha like a tornado without wind, blades of shadow wrapping around her legs, arms and torso pinning her in place, overpowering her. She was lifted in the air for a moment, before she was flung hard against the wall, just as Rhys had been, and held there, immobilised and helpless. The look in her eyes gave away that Rhys was holding her mind as well as her body. She screamed. A long piercing scream. He was torturing her like she had tortured him. Like she had tortured me.

Rhys could have held her there for hours in torment. She deserved to suffer long and hard for what she had done, but something stopped him. The darkness slowly retreated, along with the talons gripping her mind.

“Finish it,” Rhys growled at Tamlin.

Tamlin didn’t need to be told twice. He shifted into his beast form and launched himself on her, gripping her neck with his clawed paw. Amarantha screeched as Tamlin smashed her head against the stone wall. She thrashed and tried to scratch him, but there was nothing she could do against Tamlin’s sheer brute strength. The Attor and the guards rushed for the queen, but several faeries and High Fae, some throwing off their masks, tackled them to the ground. Amarantha was attempting to use her dark magic on Tamlin, but she was met by a wall of gold shining off his fur. She couldn’t touch him. She couldn’t touch any of them.

Over the chaos, Lucien shouted out for Tamlin. A sword was thrown through the air, which Tamlin caught in his huge claw. Amarantha’s scream was cut short as he drove the sword through her head, lodging it into the stone wall. Then he closed his jaws around her throat and ripped it out.

Silence followed, as Rhys’s eyes returned to my broken body, he took a step towards my corpse, but then halted. There was a sound of rushing paws, a flash of light and then footsteps as the beast left and Tamlin came to kneel by my body. He scoped me up in his arms, cradling me to his chest as he wept over my corpse.

Perhaps he had loved me. Certainly, his tears indicated that he had. Yet when it mattered the most, Tamlin had done nothing to try and save me.

“No,” came another shuddering breath as Lucien stood next to me. Other High Fae watched us with tears in their eyes.

Rhys didn’t move. It didn’t seem right that it was Tamlin who was cradling me, and not him. I belonged to him. He was my mate. Only he should have the right to dictate what happened to my body.

Then I watched as someone approached. A tall High Fae with brown hair and a similar face to Lucien. The High Lord of the Autumn Court came up to Tamlin and extended a clenched hand to him. Tamlin glanced up at him and the High Lord of the Autumn Court opened his fingers and tipped over his hand. A glittering spark fell upon me, flaring and vanishing into my chest. Two other High Fae approached; the High Lord of the Summer Court; young and handsome, brown-skinned with white-blonde hair, and the High Lord of the Winter Court, also young with pale white skin. They too dropped those glittering sparks on me. Yet another High Lord approached; the High Lord of the Dawn Court, and then the High Lord of the Day Court too, each depositing the same glimmering spark which vanished into my chest.

Through my mate’s eyes, I stepped closer, Tamlin’s eyes now staring at me – at Rhys, as he also extended a hand.

“For what she gave, we’ll bestow what our predecessors have granted to few before.” I felt Rhys’s love for me as he said it; it was anchored to the fragment of soul he kept tethered to him, keeping me from death’s clutches. I watched the glimmering spark fall into my body.

Then, Tamlin magicked his own ball of light in the centre of his hand as a shining bud formed. Without a word, he kissed my forehead, and then laid his hand on my heart.

Chapter Text

I was swimming up and up through thick black mud. In the darkness, I could see a thin line of light at the surface, beckoning me to break free. It was life. Life was calling to me. As I got closer to the light, the mud thinned, and it became easier to swim. I kicked and kicked and eventually broke the surface.

I gasped, cool air filling my lungs. I lying was in Tamlin’s arms. He was staring at me with his green eyes flecked with amber, a beautiful smile on his now unmasked face. He looked exactly as I thought he would without the mask, but there was more. His face was glowing, as if a glamour had been taken off him. In fact, everything felt un-glamoured. I could see the chandelier’s intricate crystals above us; I could smell Tamlin’s rain and spring meadow scent, and I could hear… I could hear Tamlin’s heartbeat. Which meant, I’d won. I had broken the curse. I glanced over to the wall and winced. There was Amarantha’s body, the sword in her head and her throat ripped out. So, it was real. Everything that I had seen through Rhys’s eyes had actually happened.

I returned my attention back to Tamlin. Slowly he loosened his hold of me and backed away. He held out his hand to help me up, and as I placed my own hand in his, I saw my skin and it stopped me short. It gleamed with a strange light, and my fingers seemed longer. I pushed myself up onto my feet. I felt strong, and fast and sleek.

I had become High Fae. I went rigid at the thought.

“It was the only way we could save you,” Tamlin said gently, his hand still enclosing mine.

I looked around me. Several High Fae were surrounding me, but the sight of them made me squint for the light coming off them was so bright in my eyes. All the High Lords were looking at me strangely including…

Rhys, my heart sang.

My mate was there among them, his violet eyes even more beautiful and iridescent through my new High Fae ones. I thought he had been glorious when I had first met him, but that was nothing to what he appeared to me now. He was smiling at me softly.

Welcome back, he said inside my head.

The mating bond was singing wildly.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

The urge to run to him was strong. I wanted to run to him and hold him and never let go, but I didn’t. The fact Rhys was standing a distance away from me meant that he still didn’t want anyone to know about the mating bond, at least not yet. So, I forced myself not to look at him; nor to listen to the bond and instead focused my attention on Tamlin.

“Is it… is it over?” I asked, my voice sounding so loud in my ears.

“Yes, it’s over,” he replied.

“Your chest…”

“It’s fine. I’m fine, thanks to you.”

I took a deep breath in relief, which made my nostrils fill with a disgusting stench. Even though my body was new, clean and pure, my clothes remained soiled. They were covered in the blood of the two faeries I had murdered, and Tamlin’s too. And being here, at the centre of attention, in front of everyone as I tried to come to terms with the changes to my body, made me incredibly uncomfortable. I needed to get out of here.

“I need… I need to change,” I stuttered, feeling incredibly overwhelmed.

“Of course,” Tamlin said. He glanced around at the High Lords still stood around us. “We have things to discuss here. I will come and find you when we’re done.”

I nodded, as Tamlin instructed two members of his court (now unmasked) to escort me out of the throne room. As I let myself be led by them, I glanced back at Rhys, the bargain we had made at the forefront of my mind. I wondered when he would take me to the Night Court. I needed to talk to him. I needed just to be with him.

Later, he said, clearly sharing similar thoughts.

Later couldn’t come soon enough.

***

I felt better after I had bathed and gotten dressed in a comfortable and freshly pressed tunic and trousers combo. My body felt foreign to me, but there was a part of me that remained human: my heart. My heart was human, and it was a big fat mess of emotion. I was sat on the edge of a bed in a room Under the Mountain, waiting for Tamlin to return. I kept gazing at my hands and my skin, which were so strange to me. I hadn’t wanted to be made High Fae, but I couldn’t deny it would have its advantages, the main one being immortality. No longer would I grow old while Rhys stayed the same. We could live together for an eternity, if fate would allow it. I hoped we would have that time, for we deserved it after all that we had been through.

What was going to take some getting used to was the heightened senses. I could hear every little noise, smell every scent and even see the flecks of dust in the air. It made my head spin so much I had to lie down for a while and try to block it all out. But the problem was that every time I closed my eyes I saw them: the two faeries I had murdered in cold blood to save us. I had been given a second chance at life. They were offered nothing. I prayed for forgiveness for what I had done, but who I was praying to, I didn’t know.

I didn’t want to be on my own. I wanted Rhys. I wanted him to take me away from here and to start our new life together. But he was High Lord of the Night Court, and after being enslaved for fifty years, there was much to be discussed and decided. And I wasn’t naïve enough to think that life outside of here would be easy for him. The torture he had had to endure; the role he had had to play; the terrible things he had had to do… There was much to recover and heal from. I hoped we would be able heal together.

As I was contemplating these things, there was a knock on the door, and Tamlin walked into the room. I was nervous about talking with him. It had been months since we’d had a proper conversation and I wondered whether now the curse had lifted, he would actually answer my questions.

“Feyre,” he said coming to crouch down before me. He took my hands in his. “How are you feeling?”

“I…” I paused. How was I feeling? “Rather overwhelmed,” I answered honestly.

He offered me a sympathetic smile. “That’s understandable.”

“What’s been happening?”

“We’ve just been sorting out some business.” So, he still intended to be vague then.

“What happened with the other High Lords?” I asked, really wanting to ask about Rhys.

“Nothing you need to be concerned about.” I gave him a look which said I wasn’t impressed by his answer. “Everyone is preparing to go home,” was the only elaboration he offered.

Home. There was that word that jarred with me, because my home was no longer the Spring Court, neither was it beyond the wall with my family. My home was to be in the Night Court with my mate.

“How can I ever repay you for what you did?” he asked.

I shook my head. “You don’t need to, Tamlin. It’s what friends do, at least in my world. We fight for each other.”

Tamlin’s face fell slightly at my words. “Yes… friends…” he mused, and I knew what he was getting at. He stood back up and took a step away from me. Scratching the back of his head, he said, “I suppose, I had hoped that after everything that has happened, you may feel differently.”

“I’m sorry,” I answered, not knowing what else I could say. I had admitted to the whole court Under the Mountain that I wasn’t in love with him. That I had come here to save him because he was my friend and nothing more.

“I did love you; you know. I still do,” Tamlin confessed, his gaze intense upon me.

I shook my head. “You may feel that way now, but in time, you’ll see that we were never right for each other.” We were never right, because I belonged to someone else. I belonged to my mate.

He sighed, nodding resignedly in response. Then his eyes fell on my tattooed arm. Walking back up to me, he grasped it more tightly than I would have liked as he inspected the intricate patterns. “Why did you make a bargain with Rhysand?”

“I was dying,” I answered, pulling my arm back out of his grip, my High Fae strength surprising me.

Tamlin looked agitated. “Agreeing to live with him in the Night Court… What were you thinking?”

“I had to make a difficult choice. No-one else came to save me,” I bit back.

Tamlin knew I had aimed that at him, and I saw a flash of pain behind his eyes. “I couldn’t do anything, Feyre, you know that. I was powerless. If I had tried to do anything, she would have killed you.” I stayed quiet. Rhys had found a way to defy her, and I was sure Tamlin could have found a way too. Had he even tried to save me? His silence had done nothing to help me. In fact, it had cost me my life. “You know what the worse thing about being down here was? That I had watch you every night, practically naked, dancing for him, sitting on his lap like his whore. It was… disgusting,” he snarled, his claws emerging.

I flinched at his jealousy and hot temper. This was the last thing I wanted to discuss with him. “I don’t want to argue with you,” I stated. “Not after what I just went through. Not now it’s all over.”

His looked softened and his claws retracted. “Forgive me,” he breathed as he came to sit next to me on the bed. “I just don’t like it, Feyre.”

“I know,” I said, because I did. The enmity between Tamlin and Rhys went deeper than just the bargain I had made.

“We’ll find a way through it,” he muttered, more to himself than me.

But I knew that there was no way through it. Nor did I want to find a way through it. I wanted to live in the Night Court with Rhys. I wanted to live in the Night Court with my mate and, if possible, be happy.

“I think… I think I want to sleep for a bit,” I said, suddenly feeling weary and wanting him gone.

“Alright. Just for a couple of hours, though, then we’re leaving.” We weren’t leaving though. At least, I wasn’t leaving with him.

He kissed me on my forehead, and then walked out the door. As soon as he was gone, I used the bond to seek out Rhys. We hadn’t communicated down the bond where there were walls between us before, but somehow I knew, now that I was High Fae, that we could.

Tamlin is leaving in a couple of hours. He thinks I’m going with him.

I waited for him to respond. I didn’t have to wait long.

Then he’ll be in for a nasty surprise. See you in a couple of hours, Feyre, darling.

Despite everything, I smiled at his words, and I was ready for what was going to come next.

***

I tried to sleep during those two hours, but it evaded me. I was too on edge about leaving, and how it would play out when Rhys called in the bargain. So, when Tamlin arrived to collect me, I was half relieved, half anxious to see him. Together with the rest of his court, we strolled down the carved-out hallways until we came to the passageway which led to the Spring Court. Just as the first sentry was about to enter the passageway, there was a flicker of darkness and Rhys materialised in front of us.

“High Lord,” Rhys said in greeting to Tamlin who looked murderous.

“Rhysand. What are you doing here?” Tamlin replied through gritted teeth.

Rhys looked bored and picked at a speck of dust from his black jacket. “Oh, I’ve just come to, you know, see you off. Say goodbye.”

It was clear that Tamlin didn’t believe this in the slightest. “Right, well, goodbye then,” he said, taking my hand and tugging me, but I stood still, my eyes fixed on the patterns on my arm. Tamlin looked back at me, confused, until he too glanced down at the patterns.

“No!” he growled.

“I can’t come with you,” I said.

“No, Feyre! You cannot go back with him!” he spat, his eyes darting to my mate who was smiling wickedly. It made my heart stutter.

“I made a bargain,” I explained.

Tamlin stared at Rhys, who just shrugged at him nonchalantly, as there was nothing more to explain. The crowd behind us began to murmur.

“After all she’s been through… you can’t expect her to go back with you,” Tamlin argued.

“Our bargain stands, and I’m calling it in,” maintained Rhys.

Tamlin snarled and I felt a ripple of his power down my arm. “You bastard!”

Rhys took a step closer, appearing nonplussed. “I wouldn’t if I were you. You break the bargain; you know what will happen.”

Lucien stepped in between Tamlin and Rhys. “Now, see here Rhysand, perhaps there is some scope for negotiation,” Lucien said, as if he was playing his emissary role again.

Turning his attention to my red-headed friend, Rhys said, “And why would I wish to negotiate when I am getting exactly what I wanted?”

Lucien’s scarred face blanched. “Because Feyre agreed to your bargain under duress.”

Rhys cocked his head and glanced at me. “Why should that matter? Aren’t most bargains borne out of necessity? A deal is a deal.”

“She freed you,” Lucien pressed.

“She did, and I more than paid that debt by helping to bring her back. We are even,” Rhys said lazily.

“Rhysand, please do try and be reasonable. The things Feyre has had to endure down here… We cannot stand by and let you inflict more suffering on her by taking to her to the Night Court.”

Rhys’s eyes narrowed. “Feyre knew exactly what she was signing up for when she made the bargain.”

“She was under duress…”

“She made her choice,” Rhys snarled. “There is no room for negotiation. The bargain stands as is.”

Lucien flinched at the tone of Rhys’s voice. “Can we at least get your assurance that Feyre will be well cared for?”

Rhys took a step towards him. “You mean better than she was in the Spring Court? Wasn’t she some sort of pet of yours?”

Tamlin growled beside me as I could feel his temper rising. “Pet! You filthy bastard! You paraded her around like your whore…” he barked.

“Stop!” I shouted, once again surprised by the volume of my voice in my ears. “Just stop!”

Everything went deathly silent. Tamlin still gripped onto my hand tightly, unwilling to let go. I put my other hand on his cheek to turn his attention to me.

Once his eyes were fixed on me, I said, “Tamlin, you need to let me go.”

He shook his head. “No… Feyre…”

“It’s done,” I said. “Rhys is right. I made my choice. And I don’t regret it, because… because I made it to save you. To save all of you, and I would do it again if I had to.”

Slowly Tamlin began to recognise that there was no way out of this. It was never going to be easy to let me go, but he had to. He returned his attention to Rhys and hissed, “If you hurt her…”

Rhys rolled his eyes. “I know, I know, you will hunt me down and kill me. But you’d be most ill-advised to do so in my court.” Tamlin was seething at his answer. “Feyre is not your concern anymore, Tamlin. So, I will let you say your goodbyes, and then, we’ll be heading off.”

My heart was hammering fast as Rhys started to move away. “Will we get to see her again?” called out Lucien. Rhys shrugged again, and then offered a sly grin in response, before walking a little way down the hallway to give us a moment.

Lucien turned to Tamlin who was back looking murderously at Rhys. “There is nothing to be done, Tam.”

Tamlin didn’t move for a moment, reluctant to give in. Eventually, resigned to this fate, he turned back to me. “Feyre…” he murmured, the desperation in his voice evident.

“It’s okay. I’ll be okay. He won’t hurt me,” I said, trying to reassure him.

“You can’t know that.” But I did.

“It’s done, Tamlin,” I repeated again. He looked crestfallen, and I hated that he was hurting, but I had made my choice.

“I can’t bear the thought of never seeing you again,” he admitted, and if I had loved him, his words would have broken my heart.

“I am sure our paths will cross again someday. But for now, you need to focus on rebuilding your court, not on me.”

“I don’t want to lose you to him,” Tamlin spat. I shivered at the hatred in his voice. Hatred I could never harbour for my mate.

“I was never yours to lose, Tamlin,” my voice a little fiercer, he looked at me with despair. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t be the girl you wanted me to be. I’ll never forget your kindness to me and my family.”

Tamlin’s eyes were full of sorrow. “And I’ll never forget what you did for me; for us all.”

We embraced each other one last time. And after that, I embraced Lucien, who also offered me a heartfelt goodbye. I felt rather emotional saying farewell, but it also felt right.

Then, with a final look at me, Tamlin led his court through the gap in the wall into the passageway to the Spring Court, and I couldn’t stop the tears welling up in my eyes. I stood by to watch all of the Spring Court leave Under the Mountain. Some whispered their thanks to me or bowed as they went.

Finally, it was just me and Rhys in the passageway, and it was only then that I let tears fall. With a sob, I ran to him and threw my arms around him.

“My love,” Rhys whispered as he snaked his arms around me, holding me tight against his warm, hard body as I cried, burying my face in the nook of his neck. Ever since I had been brought back, I had had this overwhelming need to hold him, and it was such a relief to be able to do so now. I melted into him. His scent, which I could now detect with my heightened sense of smell, was intoxicating, and comforting at the same time. He smelled of rain and salt and citrus. And my High Fae ears could hear his heartbeat thrumming strong; another sign that he was free. We all were.

“I thought I’d lost you,” Rhys said, his voice full of emotion. I let out a whimper because he nearly had. “I never want to go through that again.” Neither did I.

We held each other for some time, the weight of all that we’d been through being held up between us. We had beaten her, together, just as we said we would, and now we could leave this place freely to start our new life together, whatever that looked like.

Once I had cried all the tears I needed to cry, Rhys said to me, “Let’s go home.”

I nodded in agreement, even though I was so nervous, there were butterflies in my stomach. Then he grasped me tightly and winnowed us away.

Chapter Text

Wind and sunlight and clouds wheeled by as Rhys winnowed us through the world. I held onto him tightly, feeling a little nauseated by the sensation. The light was so bright I had to shield my eyes which had become too accustomed to the darkness of Under the Mountain. The heat of the Autumn sun’s rays, which although nothing like the heat in summer, surprised me. It was like I had forgotten what it felt like to be warm. As we got closer to the Night Court, I expected darkness and stars, but they never came. There was only the daylight.

Eventually, we landed in the foyer of a house, with a plush red carpet and wood-panelled walls. It was a town house… in a city.

“Welcome to my home,” Rhys said, a nervous smile on his face. 

“This… this is the Night Court?” I asked incredulously, stepping out of his hold and into the hallway. “But… it’s not night…”

“We're not like the Seasonal Courts whose nature is linked to their High Lord’s magic. The Solar Courts still adhere to the laws of nature. Although here in the Night Court, our nights are the most beautiful.”

I dared a peak out of a fogged glass window at the sky in which were floating wispy white clouds and hazy Autumnal sunshine. I had missed the sky, and just looking at it made a little bit of joy return to me. 

“Where are we?” I asked.

“In Velaris, the Court of Dreams and City of Starlight. It has remained hidden from the rest of world for over five thousand years.”

Sometimes we must do terrible things to protect the things we love.

My eyes glanced back to his. “This is what you were protecting?”

Rhys nodded. “This city, and my family, who I expect will make an appearance any moment.” 

“Your family?” I thought all his family had been killed by Tamlin’s father and brothers.

Sensing my confusion, he explained, “Not my biological family, although Mor is my cousin.”

Mor. Rhys had a cousin called Mor and I could sense the affection he held for her in the tone of his voice. “You kept them hidden here?”

“Yes… for fifty years. I had to keep them safe.” 

“Amarantha didn’t find out about it?”

“No. As soon as I knew my court was about to fall, I used the last vestiges of my power to keep them hidden here.”

He had sacrificed so much for them; for his home; for his court. His sacrifice evoked more questions from me, but now wasn’t the time to ask them. Rhys was finally home, and that was all that mattered right now. I reached out and took his hand in mine.

“Will you show me around?” I asked, intertwining our fingers.

Rhys smiled happily. “It would be my pleasure.”

He took me from room to room, and my new High Fae eyes took in every detail. A comfortable sitting room; a large dining room; and a well-equipped kitchen. It was homely and modest. Much more so than the manor at the Spring Court and I found I liked it.

As I walked around, I let my new fae hands graze the backs of chairs, still in awe at the feel of the different fabrics against my skin and picking up ornaments and objects to examine them more closely. I could sense Rhys’s eyes on me as I did so. “This house; this city, isn’t what I was expecting. I thought it would be like…” But I stopped my sentence abruptly, because what I thought it would be like I didn’t want to remember.

“There is another city in the Night Court; the Court of Nightmares from which Amarantha modelled her own court Under the Mountain. You don’t have to go there. You are free to do as you please.”

“You mean, I’m not your prisoner, and you aren't going to make me suffer here?” I smirked.

Rhys smirked back. “No. Although I admit that I rather enjoyed that exchange with our friend Tamlin.”

“I had a feeling that was the case. He may not go about it in the right way, but I believe Tamlin only wants to keep me safe.”

“Perhaps,” Rhys replied sceptically. “Or perhaps he still loves you and wants you to be his.” He looked up at me expectantly, wanting reassurance.

 “I can see how that might make things complicated, given the history between you,” I said. “But I made my choice.”

“He won’t see it that way. I used the bargain to deceive Amarantha, but he thinks I’m keeping you here against your will,” Rhys remarked.

“Let him. What does it matter now?” I said. “Unless you think he’ll be stupid enough to try and get me back?”

Rhys shrugged. “Hell, hath no fury than lover scorned.”

“He was never my lover,” I quickly interjected. Rhys stared at me again. “Tamlin and I... Nothing happened between us. Maybe, if I hadn’t of met you it might have, but... but it didn’t.” Rhys smiled shyly and nodded. “He won’t try anything. He can’t find me anyway if I’m here.”

“You don’t have to stay here, you know that. If you want to live somewhere else; go back to your family, you are free to do so.”

“I’m staying here. With you.” I maintained.

So stubborn, Rhys said inside my head. How I loved it when he did that. It was like a secret just between us.

 “Speaking of Tamlin, there’s something I still don’t understand. Why did you let him kill Amarantha? Why not kill yourself?”

Rhys considered his answer for a moment. “I wanted it to be me, especially after what she did to you. But I felt Tamlin had more of a right to do it, even after everything. I suppose I hoped if I gave him that, he would be more amenable to letting you leave with me. And it would also help my cause for persuading the High Lords to bring you back.”

“You... You did that?”

His gaze turned intense. “When I realised what Amarantha was going to do, I made a decision. If she was going to kill you, then I would die with you. It... It was agony not being able to save you.” I shuddered at his words, because I had seen and felt the agony he had now confirmed. “Then you solved the riddle and broke the curse and... and you died. I know it was selfish of me, but I clung onto you through the bond. I saw a way to bring you back and I took it. I spoke to them all mind to mind. They didn’t need much encouragement.”

“I saw it all... I saw it all through your eyes,” I breathed. “From the moment my neck snapped to when I came back.” Rhys’s eyes widened at my revelation. “I wasn’t ready to say goodbye either.”

Rhys shook his head as he started to slowly wander over to me. “That’s because we don’t say goodbye. Ever.”

My mouth went dry as the air prickled with the magic of the bond. Rhys was walking over to me, slowly and purposefully, and my new fae eyes took in his every movement. On his face was a hungry expression which made my stomach flip. When he was stood right in front of me, he gently reached to cup my face with his hands as his violet eyes bored into mine. “My brave, bold, brilliant mate,” he whispered.

I thought my legs may give way. I wanted him. I wanted him so badly. I planted my hands on his hard chest, under which I could feel the thrum of his heartbeat, when just hours ago he had a heart of stone.

“Being High Fae certainly suits you. You really are exquisite,” Rhys purred as he buried his face in my neck. He took a deep breath in. “Your scent... The same, yet there is a more of sweetness to it, and it’s so much stronger. It’s driving me crazy. And your taste...” He lowered his mouth to my skin at the base of my neck and licked me, letting out a moan. “F*** you taste good.” I clenched his shirt in my fists, my breath catching in my throat.

“Rhys...” I whimpered needily.

He removed his lips from my neck and looked at me with fire swirling behind his eyes because he knew exactly what I needed.

“Patience, Feyre darling. I don’t want to be rushed. I want to take my time devouring you,” he said, his gaze trawling over my body making it break out in goosebumps. “And I want to be free of the risk of any interruptions...”

As soon as he said it there was a loud commotion at the door. I jumped back in surprise, as my eyes whipped to the foyer.

“The door’s locked,” said one male voice from outside.

“What do you mean it’s locked? We’re the only ones allowed in here!” came another male voice.

“What’s going on?” said an eerie feminine voice this time.

“We can’t get in.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Mor must have shut us out.”

“Why would she do that?”

Despite the interruption, Rhys started smiling widely. “Mind if we continue this later?”  he asked.

Now his family had arrived, this seemed like a significant moment I shouldn’t be a part of. “I should go. Let you have your family reunion,” I said, retreating from him, but he grabbed my hand.

“No, please stay. I want you to meet them.”

I bit my lip anxiously. Only a few hours ago, I was dead. And now I was about to meet my mate’s family. It was all rather overwhelming. Perhaps he could read my mind, because Rhys said, “Just a quick introduction. Then you can feel free to escape us.” 

“Alright, just a quick introduction.”

Rhys looked excited as he let go of my hand to go to the door to let his family into the house. I stayed in the doorway of the kitchen, deciding I should stand back in this moment as I watched from down the hallway.

“I think there’s someone in there,” came a male voice.

“Mor! Open the bloody door!” yelled another male voice as there was a loud pounding on the door.

Rhys rolled his eyes and shot a smile at me as he opened the door.

“If you break my door, Cassian, I’ll dock the cost of a replacement from your wages,” Rhys said in a commanding voice.

Silence followed for a moment. And then quite unexpectedly Rhys was punched square in the nose by a huge faerie with shoulder length black hair and wings just like his.

“You bastard!” the faerie roared as blood poured from my mate’s nose. I stood too stunned to do anything. These were his family?

“I suppose I deserved that,” Rhys replied, unfazed, holding his nose.

“Fifty f***ing years, you arsehole!”

“Cass...” began the other male faerie.

“You left us here!” the faerie called Cassian roared again.

“And you would have done the same if the roles were reversed,” said Rhys.

“Who’s to know what I would have done as I was never afforded that choice. You trapped us here!”

“I kept you safe here,” Rhys explained calmly.

“Bollocks. I am your best soldier, the captain of your army. I did not need mollycoddling...”

“Enough!” said the voice of the female faerie. “We have company.” She had the most unusual silver eyes which seemed to swirl like smoke under glass, and her voice sounded deadly.

Four pairs of eyes turned in my direction and I wished the ground would swallow me up.

The other male faerie with Cassian was just as large and also with wings. They both looked like warriors wearing fighting leathers. The female faerie was petite and with chin-length black hair. Whilst she looked High Fae, there was something ‘other’ about her I couldn’t quite make out.

As they were staring at me, a fourth faerie winnowed onto the porch. She was blonde and had a curvy figure to die for, and as soon as she saw Rhys, she pounced on him, squealing with tears of joy.

“What happened to your nose?” she asked once she had let him go.

“Ask Cassian,” Rhys replied.

“Cauldron be damned, Cassian!”

Cassian didn’t look sorry for it at all. His eyes, along with the others kept darting to me. Eventually the other female faerie noticed me.

“Oh! Who’s this?” she said.

Rhys came over to me. He took my hand and led me towards his family. “This is Feyre. Feyre is this reason why I’m back. She broke Amarantha’s curse. It’s over.”

All their High Fae eyes were fixed on me, expressions of shock on their faces. Noticing no one was going to say anything, Rhys said, “Feyre, this is Amren, Cassian, Azriel and Morrigan. My family, of sorts.”

Everyone continued to look at me in awe and shock, mouths agape, and it made me uncomfortable.

“Feyre,” said the female fae with the silver eyes, who I now knew to be Amren, as if she were trying out my name. “You were born something else like me – and now find yourself in a new, strange body.” There was something about the way she spoke that made me not want to know what this fae had been before.

“Up until a few hours ago, I was human,” I confessed.

“What? How?” gasped Mor.

“The seven High Lords used their powers to bring me back,” I responded. 

Everyone was looking between me and Rhys for more of an explanation, but he said, “We have fifty years’ worth of catching up to do, so I suggest we open up one a bottle of my best wine, that is if there is any left in the house and we’ll fill each other in.”

The group remained standing, silent, some with knowing looks on their faces. 

“I think I’ll go for a lie down,” I said to Rhys, who still had blood was dripping from his nose.

“I’ll show you to your room,” he offered.

“No need. Just tell me which one it is.”

“At the top of the stairs, second door on the left.”

“Thanks.”

But just as I was turning to go up the stairs to escape, Amren spoke up. “She’s your mate.”

I stopped as my heart began racing. Slowly I turned back around, my eyes finding my mate’s. We’d spent all that time Under the Mountain able to hide our bond, and now it had been uncovered straight away.

“As I said, we have lots of catching up to do,” Rhys replied, still looking at me.

I pulled my gaze from his to face the shell-shocked faces of his family. “It was nice to meet you all,” I mumbled, “I’ll leave you to catch up...”

And then I bolted up the stairs without a second glance, my face having turned the colour of a beetroot.

Chapter Text

I was lying naked on a cold red marble floor, looking up into the face of Amarantha who was crouched over me; her teeth sharp and dangerous; and her eyes vicious. In her hand was an ash dagger; a dagger that could kill me now I was High Fae. She slid the dagger across my ribs, stopping over my heart. I couldn’t move. I was paralysed with fear.

“I shall kill you, just like you killed them; like the murderer you are.” Frantically I looked around for someone to help me, but there was only darkness. Amarantha laughed sinisterly. “He can’t help you,” she sneered. Panic filled me. “Oh, did you think I didn’t know? Stupid pathetic girl. I know everything, and Rhysand will die just like you…”

She pushed the knife, and my scream echoed in my ears…

Hands were shaking me. “Feyre!” shouted a familiar voice in the distance. “Feyre, open your eyes,” ordered the voice which had a primal dominance to it that I couldn’t ignore.

My eyes shot open, wide with fear to see Rhys hovering above me, his violet eyes as wide as mine, his hands on my wrists to the side of my head. Darkness was swirling all around us like the wind, filling the room so that I couldn’t see anything other than the face of my mate in front of me.

“Rhys?” I said shakily. His faced was etched in concentration.

“It was a dream,” he said, his breathing as ragged as mine. At his words the darkness seemed to pause, but it continued to surround us.

I sensed his power pour out of him as he continued to stare at me. It dampened the darkness, eliminating it from the room which was now lit up by moonlight. It was only then that I realised he was shirtless. Black swirling patterns like the one on my arm ran down his upper arms, his shoulders and his perfectly sculpted chest.

Rhys scanned my face as he let go of my wrists. “Just a dream,” he repeated as if trying to convince himself as well as me.

Slowly it dawned on me we were not Under the Mountain, but in Velaris, at his house. I had been dreaming… but something felt different. A wave of nausea washed over me. I pushed Rhys away from me and rushed to the bathroom where I presently emptied my stomach. I wretched again and again. Large hands pulled my hair back moments later.

“Breathe,” he said.

I heaved again, as more vomit followed. Rhys stayed by my side the whole time, holding my hair and rubbing my back. No-one had ever done that for me before. Not even my mother. Once I was done, I leant back against the wall, exhausted. Rhys took my hands in his. I hadn’t realised they were ice cold until I felt the warmth of his.

“What happened?” I asked, already afraid of the answer.

“You had a nightmare.”

“But why did you summon the darkness?”

“That wasn’t me,” he stated.

I took a sharp intake of breath as I realised what this meant. For a moment I couldn’t speak. “I… I did that…”

“Yes,” he said, still gripping onto my hands, keeping me anchored because I was on the verge of panic again.

“But… but how?”

“I have a theory only. I think that when we brought you back, we transferred some of our powers to you.”

This information blew my mind. “You think I have some of all your powers?”

“It’s possible.” Then to my surprise, he smiled. “But I’m glad my darkness showed itself first.”

Despite the situation, I smiled weakly too. I couldn’t help it. When Rhys smiled, it made me feel like all was right in the world, even though it really was not. “Why are you semi-naked?” I asked. Even though I had literally no energy after my ordeal, the bond still called to me.

He smiled wider. “I was sleeping. I just grabbed some pants and ran here.” As soon as he said that I couldn’t stop the thought of him sleeping naked.

“You have tattoos, like mine,” I said, resisting the urge to stoke my fingers over them. “Are they marks of your own bargains?”

“No. I got them when I was initiated as an Illyrian warrior. They are meant to grant me luck and glory on the battlefield.” My eyes were heavy with sleep, but I was desperate to look at them more closely. There would be plenty of time for that.

“Are your family still here?”

“They left, well, save for Mor as she lives here. You’ve been asleep for a long time.”

“Did Cassian forgive you?” I asked.

“I think so,” he answered, his face bright and his nose no longer worse for wear. All those years he had sacrificed protecting them. Hopefully Cassian would understand why. “They’re really looking forward to getting to know you,” he added. I smiled sleepily in reply, and then yawned. “But now, you need sleep.” Before I could say anything, he pulled me to my feet, picked me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. He placed me down gently and tucked me in.

“Goodnight, Feyre,” Rhys whispered, as he kissed me on the head. I tried to say goodnight but sleep instantly overcame me.

***

I woke late the next morning feeling like I had slept for a month. I reasoned that my body was trying to make up for all the lack of sleep over the last three months; and also, that it was getting used to being High Fae. Not only was I now High Fae, however, but I appeared to have powers beyond my imagination, or at least, that was Rhys’s theory. I didn’t feel powerful at all. I had no idea how I summoned the darkness last night, nor did I know how to do it again! I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to.

After a shower, I emerged from my bedchamber and made my way downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. There, I happened upon Mor, who was pouring herself a hot drink.

“Feyre! You’re awake. Coffee?” she offered.

“Please,” I replied, a little nervous about being alone with my mate’s cousin. “Have you see Rhys?”

“He went out early with Cass and Az.”

“So, all is forgiven between them?” I asked.

Mor smiled warmly. “Well, it will be eventually. I think Cass found it the hardest to be stuck here. He’s a warrior and likes to be in the thick of it. To be shut out of it was incredibly frustrating for him... well, for all of us really. I get why Rhys did it though, and Cass will too.” She set down a coffee in front of me and took a seat at the breakfast table. “The thing you need to know about Rhys is that he has this tendency to take too much upon himself. He’s lost so many things that he has loved deeply. It can sometimes lead him to make decisions that are rather infuriating.”

“Like trapping you in Velaris for fifty years to keep you safe, you mean?”

Mor chuckled. “Yes, that, among other things. His heart is in the right place, though.”

“And you two are related?”

“Well… distantly. Rhys told us about everything that happened Under the Mountain.” Her words made a chill go down my spine. There was so much I still had to come to terms with about my time down there. “And I suppose I just wanted to say thank you, for bringing my cousin back.” I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled shyly and avoided eye contact. Sensing I didn’t want to talk about the topic, Mor continued. “So, what are you planning to do today?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”

“How about a tour of the city, if you’re up to it?” came a voice from the doorway. My eyes darted to my mate. He was leaning casually against the door frame, but he was a complete mess. He looked like he’d been beaten up by thugs. His hair was messy, and his clothes ripped, and a swelt was appearing under his eye. I couldn’t stop a gasp from escaping my lips.

“What happened to you?”

“Oh, this is nothing. You should see Cassian.”

“I highly doubt that Cassian is worse. You’re out of shape, cousin,” teased Mor. Rhys narrowed his eyes at her. He didn’t seem out of shape to me.

“So, this is how you work things out between you?” I asked.

Rhys just shrugged. I turned to Mor, my mouth agape. She shrugged too. “Boys will be boys.”

Turning back to my mate, I said stubbornly, “Well, I’m not going out with you looking like that!”

Rhys smiled slyly back. “Give me half an hour and I’ll be back to the pretty faerie you admire so much.” He winked and then left the room, presumably to preen himself. Arrogant prick.

I heard that came Rhys’s voice inside my head.

Mor chuckled beside me. “You’ll get used to them.”

It was another thing to add to my list that I needed to get used to. This city; this house; my new body; my powers; along with all the faerie ways of doing things. The taste of the coffee in itself was overpowering on my tongue, and my fae eyes were still adjusting to all the intricate detail they could now see. I would be sure to have a headache by the end of the day.

Mor spent the rest of our breakfast regaling tales and anecdotes about other brawls, pranks and spats between the three males. They were quite amusing, and Mor had such an easy way about her, and I already found myself thinking that we would become fast friends.

Rhys came back to the kitchen half an hour later looking back to his usual suave self. Smiling widely, affection dancing in his eyes, Rhys said to Mor, “Do I want to know what you’ve been telling Feyre whilst I’ve been gone?” Presumably he had noticed the grin on my face.

Mor softly tapped my arm. “Just some girl talk.”

Shaking his head but still grinning, Rhys asked, “Very well, but you do know you can’t keep secrets from me.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically. “You must let us women keep some air of mystery about us, or else it’ll just get boring,” I interjected.

“I doubt you could ever be boring, Feyre darling. So, do you think you’ll be happy to be seen with me now?” Rhys spread his arms wide, as if trying to invite a compliment, but I wasn’t going to bite.

“Yes, I suppose you’ll do,” I replied, my eyes raking over his perfectly sculpted body as I recalled the image of his bare tattooed chest last night and heat started run in my veins. Rhys smirked at me as if he knew what I was thinking about, and Mor cleared her throat.

My eyes darted her way. She was looking down but grinning to herself. Could she read minds too?

No, but she can sense your arousal, as can I, came Rhys’ voice inside me head. I wonder what it was about me that got you so agitated.

I expect you already know because you can read my mind.

Maybe I should walk around with my shirt off more often.

Prick. I hissed down the bond, as I darted up from my seat completely flustered. Rhys chuckled at me as I hastily thanked Mor for breakfast, grabbed a sky-blue coat and then dashed out of the house, Rhys hot on my heels.

***

Nothing could have prepared me for what was waiting outside the townhouse front door. Having spent so many months in dank oppression Under the Mountain, Velaris was simply glorious. Pretty marble and sandstone town houses lined either side of the street, each with a green copper roof and a puffing chimney. Many High Fae wandered the streets in varying attire, well-fed and unconcerned and children laughed and played in the streets. It was like they didn’t have a care in the world. Rhys’s townhouse was at the top of a hill, which led down towards a sparkling winding river which ran into the sea. At the other end of the street was a wall of flat-topped mountains of red stone and to the north, more mountains, but made of sharp peaks.

As I was surveying my surroundings, Rhys pointed to towards a spot on one of the mountains. “That’s my other home in this city. The House of Wind.” I could just make out a house with my new fae eyes, carved into the mountain.

“How do you get there?”

Rhys smirked. “You fly.”

I gave him a look. “And what about those of us who can’t fly?”

“You can climb the 10,000 steps.”

I raised my eyebrows. “I think I’ll pass on both and stay in the townhouse for now.”

“Wuss! You know, I did promise to take you on a flight...”

“Maybe another time…” I said firmly. “What do you use the House of Wind for?”

“It’s our official headquarters. As it pretty unreachable, and heavily warded, we can conduct our secret business from up there,” Rhys explained. His logic made sense, even if the house’s location was ridiculous.

We continued walking down the street and I marvelled at how vast the city was, and how… whole. There were no monsters here, like there had been in the Spring Court. No darkness, even though Rhys was the very darkness himself, and not a hint of fear or despair. It was untouched by the horrors of the last fifty years because Rhys had sacrificed himself for this city; for its people; for his family, and as we walked through the streets and passed shops and merchants, I began to understand why.

Rhys took me to each of the four main market squares, called Palaces, two on each side of the Sidra River. We walked together comfortably side by side, Rhys sharing various snippets of information every so often as my eyes took in every detail. As we walked, many people began to recognise Rhys and offered him wide, broad smiles as they passed. Some shook his hand and welcomed him back, although they did not appear to understand where he had been. The news would, however, break eventually. We also stopped to grab drinks and sample produce which was on sale, my new fae taste buds adjusting to all the exquisite flavours and textures.

We walked through the Palace of Thread and Jewels first, where there were the finest and rarest fabrics I had ever seen; then the Palace of Bone and Salt and the Palace of Hoof and Leaf which sold produce and livestock as well as spices, many of which I recognised from my father’s merchant days; and then finally, we came to the final quarter.

“This is what Velaris is known for: the artists’ quarter. They call it the Rainbow of Velaris.”

I gazed at the marketplace in awe. There were art galleries, supply stores, potters’ compounds, musicians and performing artists in the streets, theatres…

“It’s…” but I stopped. I didn’t know how to describe it. Whilst my heart had leapt at the sight initially, it was suddenly replaced by a feeling of profound loss. All these faeries, wandering around so carefree, had been spared the horror of Under the Mountain, but not me. Not Rhys. And not the two faeries I had slaughtered. After what I had done, I wondered if I would ever be able to paint anything ever again.

“Feyre?” Rhys prompted gently.

“This city is not at all what I was expecting,” I said, hastily thinking of something to say, but my hands were shaking.

Rhys looked at me curiously. I knew he could probably read me like a book, but I wasn’t ready to talk through what was going through my head. “Velaris is lovely in the day, but it was built to be viewed after dark. We’ll go for a walk at night next time.”

I forced a smile, even though my heart had broken a little. “I’d like that.”

We started the walk back to the townhouse, my mind now a jumble. I needed conversation to distract myself from my thoughts, so I said, “So, I guess you’ve got a lot of High Lord business to attend to now you’re back.”

“Indeed, but there are a number of other things on my to do list,” he replied.

Frowning, I asked, “Like what?”

“Well, first of all, I promised to teach you to read.” Oh mother. I had forgotten about that. I had hoped he had too. I blushed profusely, which made him chuckle as he took my hand in his and interlaced our fingers. The touch of our hands made a spark ignite in me, but I was also nervous. Did he now care that anyone could see us like this? I was still so used to concealing the bond between us that it felt strange for it to be out in the open. “I think we’ll start your lessons tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I repeated, a little breathless still from the handholding which had completely taken me by surprise.

“Yes, and we’ll throw in shielding while we’re at it.”

“Shielding?”

You need to learn to put up mental shields so that no-one with gifts, like me, can penetrate your mind, he said inside my head.

 I gulped. “You think someone would do that?”

“I know someone would want to do that to you,” he maintained.

“But, why?”

You are my mate, Feyre. That puts you in danger.

Even now? Amarantha is dead, I said back down the bond.

A High Lord is never short on enemies. Rhys’s look turned grave as he squeezed my hand a little tighter. I did try to warn you. He did. He had said it wasn’t safe for me to be his mate. But now you’re High Fae, you have more weapons in your arsenal that can keep you safe. Shielding is one important skill you will have to learn, but there are also your powers.

“You truly believe I took power from every High Lord?” I said aloud. My mind flashed back to last night. I still couldn’t believe that I had been the one to conjure all that darkness.

Rhys nodded. “And you will need to learn to master those powers, just as I have.”

“But the darkness; it only appeared when I was terrified,” I said with a wobble in my voice.

Rhys stopped and pulled me towards him. Slipping his arms around my waist, he said softly, “I will help you.”

I shook my head. “You have so many other things you need to attend to.”

“That may be so, but you are my priority.”

I cast my eyes down to the floor, ashamed. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

Gently, but firmly, Rhys reached for my chin and tipped it upwards so that our eyes met. “You are not a burden. Feyre, you are… everything! And once you have mastered your gifts, you will be unstoppable!” he said earnestly.

My heart began to pound at his words as I stared into those violet eyes which sparkled with emotion. The air between us crackled with the song of the mating bond and the love we had declared for each other shone brightly between us. We had been through hell, but we had come through it together. Rhys had always believed in me. Through all the trials Under the Mountain, he had believed that I would conquer them; believed that I could win, and I did. And if he believed that I could be unstoppable with my powers, then perhaps I could believe it too.

Do you trust me? Rhys asked. I nodded with a shy smile, my eyes not leaving his. Then hold on tight. And before I knew what was happening, he had scoped me into his arms and then launched us into the air.

I squealed with shock as I tightened my hold of him. We shot into the sky as fast as a shooting star. Up, up and up we climbed until the city had yawned wide beneath us. Rhys’s body was hard and warm against mine; clearly made for this. I, however, was not. We swerved, and my stomach dropped as Rhys softly laughed in my ear.

Trying to fight the nausea building within me, I asked, “Are you just trying to impress me with your flying capabilities, or are we going somewhere?”

Rhys laughed again. “Both.”

“Then, where are we going?”

“Somewhere we can be alone.”

His words were full of promise, and they sent a thrill of desire through me. I clung on tighter as Rhys continued to fly us higher until we came to land at the House of Wind.

Chapter Text

The House of Wind was huge, carved into the red rock of the mountain. There must have been hundreds of rooms, some with broad balconies that jutted out precariously from the mountainside. Rhys took my hand and led me through two glass doors that opened into a large dining room. But as intrigued as I was about exploring the house, my stomach had other priorities. Having not eaten since breakfast, I was famished.

My stomach growled loudly as we passed through the dining room and into a kitchen in which was a small round table.

“So, what is there to eat around here?” I began rummaging through the many cupboards, picking out tins and packets of food and inspecting them, but nothing seemed appealing. I tried the fridge instead. Inside was a container of leftovers. It called to me. I set it on the countertop and opened it, inhaling deeply with my new heightened sense of smell. Vegetable soup.

I turned to Rhys who was leaning casually on the doorframe exuding a dark, mysterious allure that made me weak at the knees, his wings tucked in behind him as he eyed me curiously.

“It’s soup. Would you like some?” He stiffened at my words, his beautiful violet eyes widening slightly as the air around us thickened with a confusing tension. “Oh – were you keeping it for another time or…”

Rhys cleared his throat, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “No… no…” He seemed out of sorts. Nervous even.

“Then… do you want some?” I asked, so hungry I was already taking out a saucepan and setting it on the hob. I could sense Rhys fidgeting behind me. I turned back to him. “Is something wrong?”

“No... No... It’s just... it’s a big deal when a female prepares a meal for her mate. It’s a sign that you accept the bond. Some couples have a big celebration to mark the occasion.”

My heart began to hammer in my chest. “Oh...” I swallowed, the significance of the moment now coming to the fore, but also something more. Was Rhys hesitating because he wasn’t ready? The thought unexpectedly made tears prick in the corner of my eyes. “Would you… would you rather make your own food then?”

I held my breath as I waited for his answer, afraid to admit the fact that if he said yes, I would be crushed.

“No,” Rhys answered, his voice a low purr which made my whole body trembled in relief. “Would you?”

Slowly I shook my head, chewing on my lip as I contemplated what this moment truly meant. But if this was a mark of my acceptance of our bond, then perhaps I should have prepared something other than leftover soup! 

“But I haven’t made it… I mean I’m literally just heating it up so...” I blurted out.

Rhys smiled softly as he took a tentative step towards me. “It doesn’t matter. The point is that you’ve prepared it in some way and offered it to me.”

I was suddenly feeling incredibly nervous, and yet, surely, he knew where I stood. And if he didn’t, then this would cement it. I took a deep breath before saying the next words. “So, would you like some? Soup I mean.”

I could feel the blush deepening on my cheeks, Rhys’s gaze was so piercing I was sure he could see right through me.

“I would love some,” he whispered, the emotion in his voice evident.

Heart still hammering fast, I gestured to a chair for Rhys to sit down as I prepared our meal. Rhys’s eyes were on me the whole time, his gaze burning my skin, making it tingle like prickly heat. The significance of my outwardly pathetic gesture hung heavy in the air around us. I wanted to say something, but my mind had gone blank. All I could think about was that once we had done this, he was mine. All mine. Forever.

When the soup was ready, I poured it into the bowls and served us each a hunk of bread to go with it.

“Bon appetite,” I said, settling myself next to him with my own soup in front of me. Now it was my turn to watch him as Rhys picked up the spoon and scoped the soup into his mouth.

I felt a prickle down the bond as he swallowed down the first mouthful and then turned to me. “It’s good,” he smirked, mischief now dancing in his eyes.

“Well, heating up soup is my speciality,” I answered nervously as I took a mouthful myself. It was delicious, but that had nothing to do with me. 

Again, silence enveloped us, the bond between us amplifying with each mouthful of soup Rhys consumed as my heart pounded so loudly I was sure it was echoing through the mountains surrounding us.

When we were both finished, I looked at Rhys nervously. His eyes were shining adoringly at me, and once again tears pricked in my eyes. No-one had ever looked at me like that before.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice like a pleasurable caress making me tremble.

I tried to smile as I whispered. “You’re welcome.”

Rhys reached out to me, pulling me onto his lap. I nestled into him, craving the feel of his skin against mine, yearning to bury myself in the warmth of his embrace.

Gently he held my face in his hands, his eyes inspecting every inch of it. “Five hundred years I’ve waited for you,” he said, his voice strained with emotion.

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting…” My voice was barely a whisper. I placed my hands on his hard chest, my fingers clawing at the black shirt that separated me from his skin.

 He leaned closer to me, resting his forehead against mine as his delicious salty scent filled my nostrils. Lightly he ran his hands down my back, increasing my longing for him.

Nose to nose with hardly any space between us, I waited. Willing him to close the gap. Desperate for him to claim my lips with his, but he was holding back.

Rhys shuddered. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

I want to kiss you.

Mother, I loved it when he spoke to me inside my head.

“Then why don’t you?”

Rhys’s breath caught. Because if I do, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.

I withdrew from him and took his face in my hands, the hunger in his eyes stoking the raging heat which had started flooding through my veins. “I don’t want you to stop.”

His throat bobbed at my words. “Are you sure?” he asked breathlessly.

I nodded, running my fingers through his silky hair, thinking I could never get enough of touching him. “Yes I’m sure. I am yours, Rhys, heart, body and soul, and you are mine.”

He drew me more tightly against him, and yet it wasn’t close enough.

“I am yours, and you are mine.” His gravelly voice resonated through me as the full force of the bond ignited between us with an electric energy that charged the air around us.

Unable to hold back any longer, Rhys’s lips claimed mine. His kiss was needy and deep; full of a passion I had never known before; setting my whole body on fire. I knew in that moment that I was lost. So, completely, utterly, irrevocably lost in love with him.

***

The sex had ruined me. It was the sort of sex that when you thought back on it, it made your toes curl. As I was lying here, gazing into my mate’s eyes, I realised I could never get enough of this. Of him. Our love making had sealed our bond, each coming together of our bodies weaving a thread that bound us together tightly; two halves made whole. For the first time in my life, I knew happiness, and I wanted to feel this way forever.

There was a quiet joy in Rhys’s eyes which knocked the breath out of me as I realised that this was what our future could be. Amarantha was gone. Our time under the mountain was over. Now we had our whole lives together.  

The lazy soft smile Rhys was giving me suddenly faded into something awed… reverent even.

“You’re glowing,” he whispered, as he reached for my hands to show me.

It was like some inner light shone beneath my skin – warm and white light like the sun – like a star.

Rhys ran a finger down my arm. “Well, at least I can now gloat that I literally made my mate glow with happiness.”

But I was confused. “Is this normal after sealing the bond?” I was shining. Shining bright and pure as a star.

“No. I expect it’s the power transferred to you from the High Lord of the Day Court.” I gazed at my skin in awe. “We’ll have to find a way to put a dampener on it… but not yet… Not when I have every intention of making you as happy as a person can be,” he hummed, as he positioned himself over me, and I gave myself to him again.

***

We didn’t emerge from the bedroom for hours, only when our bodies were in much need of sustenance, at which point it was the dead of night. The frenzy, Rhys had called it. It was overwhelming how much I craved him; needed him. But my body also needed food – especially if (as I strongly suspected) we were going to be at it all night. So, I slipped on one of Rhys’s black shirts as he led me back to the kitchen in nothing more than his boxers.

As we sat down to eat, I admired the beautiful twin tattoos on his knees; a towering mountain crowned by three stars. He had explained that it meant that he would bow before no-one and nothing but his crown. But he had knelt before me, his mate, when he had feasted on me off this very table. A deep heat swept through me at the memory that almost made me pounce on him again, but somehow, I restrained myself.

After eating, we wrapped up in thick coats and went outside, up onto a small balcony overlooking the twinkling lights of the city far below. It was a clear, beautiful night, the sky so full of stars I couldn’t count them.

“Beautiful,” I breathed.

“I told you Velaris was glorious at night,” Rhys said, his voice full of nostalgia as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. I leant back into him, hankering for the warmth of his hard body against mine.

“I can’t imagine what it was like… to leave this all behind for so long… what you had to do to save them.”

Rhys squeezed me tighter, burying his nose in my hair. “Nothing was as terrible as watching her kill you… of being so helpless to save you.”

“You did save me,” I whispered. “I couldn’t have survived those months Under the Mountain without you.”

He let out a shaky breath which was warm against my cheek. “No, Feyre. You saved me. When the Attor brought you into the throne room that day… and you made that bargain… I’ve never known horror like it. Watching them beat you, trying to pretend you were nothing to me. But you also gave me hope. You were… you are this beautiful, wonderful thing that has come into my life – a gift from the Cauldron itself. I knew that day that you would be the one to save us. And you did.”

I shuddered at his words as I remembered what had happened. It was threatening to break me, but Rhys was the one holding me together.

“But I murdered them,” I whispered. The images of the two High Fae coming to the forefront of my mind.

Rhys sighed, his nose rubbing my temple. “It’s not your fault, Feyre. You were faced with an impossible choice.” 

“How do you live with it?” I asked, tears pricking in the corners of my eyes. I didn’t want to cry, not when we had been so happy just moments before, but the trauma was still so raw.

“It never leaves you, but the horror of it does fade in time,” he said, his voice hoarse. A couple of tears escaped and cascaded down my cheeks. “I wish I could have spared that,” he breathed. 

“I know…” I closed my eyes and breathed deeply as more tears threatened to fall. “I want to be strong for you, but I’m so broken.”

“We’re both broken, Feyre. The things I’ve done…” Rhys paused; his breaths ragged. “I told you I was a monster. But you… you always make me feel like I’m worth something.”

I turned in his arms to face him. “That’s because you are worth something. You’re worth everything… to me.” Tears started to fall down his cheeks, and I kissed them away as he had once done for me. But even after I had done that, it didn’t seem like he believed me. I would need to show him.

My power crackled beneath my skin, urging me to do something I wasn’t sure I was capable of doing, but I would try. I would try for him.

“After I first met you at Calanmai, I painted you. Not you like this, but there was something of you in every painting.” I smiled sadly. “I couldn’t get the colour of your eyes right,” I admitted as I stared into them even now thinking I could never have found the perfect colour. Rhys stared back at me. He was barely breathing. “Amarantha destroyed every single painting when she took Tamlin and his court, but I still remember them. I’m not sure when I will be ready to paint again, but will you let me show them to you?”

Brow furrowed; Rhys nodded. I took his hands in mine and breathed deeply, using his touch to anchor me as I reached deep within myself for this new power flowing through my veins. Focusing hard, I reached for thread of power Rhys had given me, bringing forth my memories of the hours I had spent in that little painting room in the Spring Court, to send them from my mind to his.

The tendrils of my power stroked the shields of his mind, and he opened them for me as I shared image after image of the paintings I had made, until I could channel no more. I broke away breathless from the exertion of controlling my powers for the first time.

Rhys reached to take my face in his hands, his own cheeks wet with tears. “Feyre...” he murmured, overcome with emotion.

“Promise me, Rhys. Promise me that we will heal from this, or at least try to... together,” I implored.

Resting his forehead against mine, he whispered. “I promise.” He kissed me tenderly on the forehead. “This is it now, Feyre. You and me. I’ve waited for you for so long. And now you’re here, I don’t ever intend on letting you go. Whatever happens, whatever our future brings, we’ll face it together. I love you.” The fact he had said the words aloud made a wave of affection wash over me.

“I love you too.” Although love didn’t feel like a strong enough word for what I felt for him.

We looked back out to the still night sky before us, still wrapped tightly together. “You know, before I was taken Under the Mountain, I would often come here and look up to the night sky and wish. Wish for something better. Wish for this. Wish for you.”

Velaris. The Court of Dreams. How many others had done the same in this very city?

Again, I turned to face him as I said with a shy smile, “To the people who look at the stars and wish.”

Rhys smiled softly at me. “To the stars who listen, Feyre – and the dreams that are answered.”

THE END