A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

I surveyed the bustling city around us. “Can I give you a bit of truth, then?”

  He stilled, but said, “Always.”

  I blew out a breath. “I think you should be careful—working with Keir. Not for how despicable he is, but because … I think you could truly wound Mor if you don’t play it right.”

  Rhys dragged a hand through his hair. “I know. I know.”

  “Is it worth it—whatever troops he can offer? If it means hurting her?”

  “We’ve been working with Keir for centuries. She should be used to it by now. And yes—his troops are worth it. The Darkbringers are well trained, powerful, and have been idle too long.”

  I considered. “The last time we went to the Court of Nightmares, I played your whore.”

  He winced at the word.

  “But I am now your High Lady,” I went on, stroking a finger over the back of his hand. He tracked the movement. My voice dropped lower. “To get Keir to agree to aid us … Any tips on what mask I should wear to the Hewn City?”

  “It’s for you to decide,” he said, still watching my finger trace idle circles on his skin. “You’ve seen how I am there—how we are. It is for you to decide how to play into that.”

  “I suppose I’d better decide soon—not just for this, but the meeting with the other High Lords in two weeks.”

  Rhys slid a sidelong glance to me. “Every court is invited.”

  “I doubt he’ll come, given that he is Hybern’s ally and knows we’d kill him.”

  The river breeze stirred his blue-black hair. “The meeting will occur with a binding spell that forces us all into cease-fire. If someone breaks it while the meeting occurs, the magic will demand a steep cost. Probably their life. Tamlin wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack—nor us him.”

  “Why invite him at all?”

  “Excluding him will only give him more ammunition against us. Believe me, I have little desire to see him. Or Beron. Who perhaps is higher on my kill list than Tamlin right now.”

  “Tarquin will be there. And we are pretty high on his kill list.”

  “Even with the blood rubies, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack during the meeting.” Rhys sighed through his nose.

  “How many allies can we count on? Beyond Keir and the Hewn City, I mean.” I glanced down the river walkway. The diners and revelers were too busy enjoying themselves to even note our presence, even with Rhys’s recognizable wings. Still—perhaps not the best place for this conversation.

  “I’m not sure,” Rhys admitted. “Helion and his Day Court, probably. Kallias … maybe. Things have been strained with the Winter Court since Under the Mountain.”

  “I assume Azriel is going to be finding out more.”

  “He’s already on the hunt.”

  I nodded. “Amren claimed she and Nesta needed help researching ways to repair the wall.” I gestured to the city. “Point me toward the best library to find that sort of thing.”

  Rhys’s brows lifted. “Right now? Your work ethic puts mine to shame.”

  I hissed, “Tomorrow, smartass.”

  He chuckled, wings flaring and tucking in tight. Wings … wings he’d allowed Lucien to see.

  “You trust Lucien.”

  Rhys angled his head at the not-quite question. “I trust in the fact that we currently have possession of the one thing he wants above all else. And as long as that remains, he’ll try to stay on our good side. But if that changes … His talent was wasted in the Spring Court. There was a reason he had that fox mask, you know.” His mouth tugged to the side. “If he got Elain away, back to Spring or wherever … do you believe, deep down, that he wouldn’t sell what he knows? Either for gain, or to ensure she stays safe?”

  “You let him hear everything tonight, though.”

  “None of it is information that would let Hybern wreck us. The king likely already knows that we’ll go for Keir’s alliance—that we’ll try to find a way to stop him from bringing down the wall. He wasn’t subtle with Dagdan and Brannagh’s searching. And he’ll expect us to try to band the High Lords together. Which is why the meeting location will not be decided until later. Will I tell Lucien then? Bring him along?”

  I considered his question: Did I trust Lucien? “I don’t know, either,” I admitted, and sighed. “I don’t like that Elain is a pawn in this.”

  “I know. It’s never easy.”

  He’d dealt with such things for centuries. “I want to wait—see what Lucien does over the next two weeks. How he acts, with us and Elain. What Azriel thinks of him.” I frowned. “He’s not a bad person—he’s not evil.”

  “He certainly isn’t.”

  “I just …” I met his calm, steady stare. “There is risk in trusting him without question.”

  “Did he discuss what he feels regarding Tamlin?”

  “No. I didn’t want to push on that. He was … remorseful about what happened with me, and Hybern, and Elain. Would he have felt that way without Elain in the mix? I don’t know—maybe. I don’t think he would have left, though.”

  Rhys brushed the hair from my face. “It’s all part of the game, Feyre darling. Who to trust, when to trust them—what information to barter.”

  “Do you enjoy it?”

  “Sometimes. Right now, I don’t. Not when the risks are this high.” His fingers grazed my brow. “When I have so much to lose.”

  I laid my palm on his chest, right over those Illyrian tattoos beneath his clothes, right over his heart. Felt the sturdy beat echoing into my skin and bones.

  I forgot the city around us as he met my eyes, lips hovering over my skin, and murmured, “We will keep planning for the future, war or no war. I will keep planning for our future.”

  My throat burned, and I nodded.

  “We deserve to be happy,” he said, his eyes sparkling enough to tell me that he recalled the words I’d given him on the town house roof after the attack. “And I will fight with everything I have to ensure it.”

  “We will fight,” I said hoarsely. “Not just you—not anymore.”

  Too much. He had given too much already, and still seemed to think it was not enough.

  But Rhys only peered over his broad shoulder, to the cheerful restaurant behind us. “That first night we all came here,” he said, and I followed his gaze, watching the workers set the tables with loving precision. “When you told Sevenda that you felt awake while eating her food …” He shook his head. “It was the first time you had looked … peaceful. Like you were indeed awake, alive again. I was so relieved I thought I’d puke right onto the table.”

  I recalled the long, strange look he’d given me when I’d finally spoken. Then the long walk we’d taken home, when we’d heard that music he’d sent to my cell Under the Mountain.

  I pushed off the rail and tugged him toward the bridge that spanned the Sidra—the bridge to take us home. Let the debate over who’d give the most in this war rest for now. “Walk with me—through the Rainbow.” The glittering, colorful jewel of the city, the beating heart that housed the artists’ quarter. Vibrant and thrumming at this hour of the night.

  I linked arms with him before saying, “You and this city helped wake me up—helped bring me back to life.” His eyes flickered as I smiled up at him. “I will fight with everything I have, too, Rhys. Everything.”

  He only kissed the top of my head, tugging me closer as we crossed the Sidra under the starry sky.

  CHAPTER

  19

  It was a good thing I’d insisted on meeting Cassian at eight, because even though I awoke at dawn, one look at Rhysand’s sleeping face had me deciding to spend the morning slowly, sweetly waking him up.

  I was still flushed by the time Rhys dropped me at the sparring ring atop the House of Wind, the space surrounded by a wall of red rock, the top open to the elements. He promised to meet me after lunch to show me the library for my researching, then gave me a roguish wink and kiss on the cheek before he shot back into the sky with a powerful flap of his wings.
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  Leaning against the wall beside the weapons rack, Cassian only said, “I hope you didn’t exert yourself too much already, because this is really going to hurt.”

  I rolled my eyes, even as I tried to shut out the image of Rhysand laying me on my stomach, then kissing his way down my spine. Lower. Tried to shut out the feeling of his strong hands gripping my hips and lifting them up, up, until he lay beneath them and feasted on me, until I was quietly begging him and he rose behind me and I had to bite my pillow to keep from waking the whole house with my moaning.

  Rhysand in the morning was … I didn’t have words for what it was when he was unhurried and lazy and wicked, when his hair was still mussed with sleep and his eyes got that glazed, purely male gleam in them. They’d still had that lazy, satisfied glint a moment ago, and his mockingly chaste kiss on my cheek had sent a red-hot line through me.

  Later. I’d torture him later.

  For now … I strode to where Cassian stood, rotating my shoulders. “Two Illyrian males making me sweat in one morning. What’s a female to do?”

  Cassian barked a laugh. “At least you showed up with some spirit.”

  I grinned, bracing my hands on my hips as I surveyed the weapons rack. “Which one?”

  “None.” He jerked his chin toward the ring etched in white chalk behind us. “It’s been a while since we trained. We’re spending today going over the basics.”

  The words were laced with enough tightness that I said, “It hasn’t been that long.”

  “It’s been a month and a half.”

  I studied him, the wings tucked in tight, the shoulder-length dark hair. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” He stalked past me to the ring.

  “Is it Nesta?”

  “Not everything in my life is about your sister, you know.”

  I kept my mouth shut on that front. “Is it something with the Court of Nightmares visit tomorrow?”

  Cassian shucked off his shirt, revealing rippling muscles covered in beautiful, intricate tattoos. Illyrian markings for luck and glory. “It’s nothing. Get into position.”

  I obeyed, even as I eyed him carefully. “You’re … angry.”

  He refused to speak until I started my circuit of warm-ups: various lunges, kicks, and stretches designed to loosen my muscles. And only when we’d begun sparring, his hands wrapped against my onslaught of punching, did he say, “You and Rhys hid the truth from us. And we went into Hybern blind about it.”

  “About what?”

  “That you’re High Lady.”

  I jabbed at his raised hands in a one-two combination, breathing hard. “What difference would it have made?”

  “It would have changed everything. None of it would have gone down like that.”

  “Perhaps that’s why Rhys decided to keep it a secret.”

  “Hybern was a disaster.”

  I halted my punching. “You knew I was his mate when we went. I don’t see how being High Lady alters anything.”

  “It does.”

  I put my hands on my hips, ignoring his motion to continue. “Why?”

  Cassian dragged a hand through his hair. “Because … because as his mate, you were still … his to protect. Oh, don’t get that look. He’s yours to protect, too. I would have laid my life down for you as his mate—and as your friend. But you were still … his.”

  “And as High Lady?”

  Cassian loosed a rough breath. “As High Lady, you are mine. And Azriel’s, and Mor’s and Amren’s. You belong to all of us, and we belong to you. We would not have … put you in so much danger.”

  “Maybe that’s why Rhys wanted to keep it a secret. It would have changed your focus.”

  “This is between you and me. And trust me, Rhys and I had … words about this.”

  I lifted a brow. “You’re mad at me?”

  He shook his head, eyes shuttering.

  “Cassian.”

  He just held up his hands in a silent order to continue.

  I sighed and began again. It was only after I’d gotten through fifteen repetitions and was panting heavily that Cassian said, “You didn’t think you were essential. You saved our asses, yes, but … you didn’t think you were essential here.”

  One-two, one-two, one-two. “I’m not.” He opened his mouth, but I charged ahead, speaking around my gasps for breath. “You all have a … duty—you’re all vital. Yes, I have my own abilities, but … You and Azriel were hurt, my sisters were … you know what happened to them. I did what I could to get us out. I’d rather it was me than any of you. I couldn’t have lived with the alternative.”

  His upraised hands were unfaltering as I pummeled them. “Anything could have happened to you at the Spring Court.”

  I stopped again. “If Rhys isn’t grilling me with the overprotective bullshit, then I don’t see why you—”

  “Don’t for one moment think that Rhys wasn’t beside himself with worry. Oh, he seems collected enough, Feyre, but I know him. And every moment you were gone, he was in a panic. Yes, he knew—we knew—you could handle yourself. But it doesn’t stop us from worrying.”

  I shook out my sore hands, then rubbed my already-aching arms. “You were mad at him, too.”

  “If I hadn’t been healing, I would have kicked his ass from one end of Velaris to the other.”

  I didn’t reply.

  “We were all terrified for you.”

  “I managed just fine.”

  “Of course you did. We knew you would. But …” Cassian crossed his arms. “Rhys pulled the same shit fifty years ago. When he went to that damned party Amarantha threw.”

  Oh. Oh.

  “I’ll never forget it, you know,” he said, blowing out a breath. “The moment when he spoke to us all, mind to mind. When I realized what was happening, and that … he’d saved us. Trapped us here and tied our hands, but …” He scratched at his temple. “It went quiet—in my head. In a way it hadn’t been before. Not since …” Cassian squinted at the cloudless sky. “Even with utter hell unleashing here, across our territory, I just went … quiet.” He tapped the side of his head with a finger, and frowned. “After Hybern, the healer kept me asleep while she worked on my wings. So when I woke up two weeks later … that’s when I heard. And when Mor told me what happened to you … It went quiet again.”

  I swallowed against the constriction of my throat. “You found me when I needed you most, Cassian.”

  “Pleased to be of service.” He gave me a grim smile. “You can rely on us, you know. Both of you. He’s inclined to do everything himself—to give everything of himself. He can’t stand to let anyone else offer up anything.” That smile faded. “Neither can you.”

  “And you can?”

  “It’s not easy, but yes. I’m general of his armies. Part of that includes knowing how to delegate. I’ve been with Rhys for over five hundred years and he still tries to do everything himself. Still thinks it’s not enough.”

  I knew that—too well. And the thought of Rhys, in this war, trying to take on all that faced us … Nausea churned in my gut. “He gives orders all the time.”

  “Yes. And he’s good at knowing what we excel at. But when it comes down to it …” Cassian adjusted the wrappings on his hands. “If the High Lords and Keir don’t step up, he’ll still face Hybern. And will take the brunt of it so we don’t have to.”

  An unshakable, queasy sort of tightness pushed in on me. Rhys would survive—he wouldn’t dare sacrifice everything to make sure we—

  Rhys would. He had with Amarantha, and he’d do it again without hesitation.

  I shut it out. Shoved it down. Focused on my breathing.

  Something drew Cassian’s attention behind me. And even as his body remained casual, a predatory gleam flickered in his eyes.

  I didn’t need to turn to know who was standing there.

  “Care to join?” Cassian purred.

  Nesta said, “It doesn’t look like you’re exercising anything other than your mouth
s.”

  I looked over my shoulder. My sister was in a dress of pale blue that turned her skin golden, her hair swept up, her back a stiff column. I scrambled to say something, to apologize, but … not in front of him. She wouldn’t want this conversation in front of Cassian.

  Cassian extended a wrapped hand, his fingers curling in a come-hither motion. “Scared?”

  I wisely kept my mouth shut as Nesta stepped from the open doorway into the blinding light of the courtyard. “Why should I be scared of an oversized bat who likes to throw temper tantrums?”

  I choked, and Cassian shot me a warning glare, daring me to laugh. But I felt for that bond in my mind, lowering my mental shields enough to say to Rhysand, wherever he was in the city, Please come spare me from Cassian and Nesta’s bickering.

  A heartbeat later, Rhys crooned, Regretting becoming High Lady?

  I savored that voice—that humor. But I shoved that simmering panic down again as I countered, Is this part of my duties?

  A sensual, dark laugh. Why do you think I was so desperate for a partner? I’ve had almost five centuries to deal with this alone. It’s only fair you have to endure it now.

  Cassian was saying to Nesta, “Seems like you’re a little on edge, Nesta. And you left so abruptly last night … Any way I can help ease that tension?”

  Please, I begged Rhys.

  What will you give me?

  I wasn’t sure if I could hiss down the bond between us, but from the chuckle that echoed into my mind a heartbeat later, I knew the feeling had been conveyed. I’m in a meeting with the governors of the Palaces. They might be a little pissy if I vanish. I tried not to sigh.

  Nesta picked at her nails. “Amren is coming to instruct me in a few—”

  Shadow rippled across the courtyard, cutting her off. And it wasn’t Rhysand who landed between us, but—

  I sent another pretty face for you to admire, Rhys said. Not as beautiful as mine, of course, but a close second.

  As the shadows wreathing him cleared, Azriel sized up Nesta and Cassian, then threw a vaguely sympathetic look in my direction. “I need to start our lesson early.”

  A piss-poor lie, but I said, “Right. No problem at all.”