That’s thirty,” Ansel said. “We can count,” Rolfe snipped. Ansel lifted a wine-red brow. “Can you really?” Despite the army marching on them, Lysandra’s mouth twitched upward. Rolfe just rolled his eyes and went back to watching the approaching army.
For a heartbeat, the silence peeled back long enough for that question to worm its way into her skull, into her skin, into her breath and bones. And in the dark, she remembered.
If you don’t stop feeling and start instructing, I’m going to rip out your eyes and replace them with these billiard balls.
Flinging it out with his magic, his soul, his cracked heart. Searching for her. Fight it, he willed her, sending the words down the bond – the mating bond, which perhaps had settled into place that first moment they’d become carranam, hidden beneath flame and ice and hope for a better future. Fight her. I am coming for you. Even if it takes me a thousand years. I will find you, I will find you, I will find you. Only.
Aelin smiled, and eternity opened before them, shining and glorious and lovely. “Tell me tomorrow.
Shall I gag you, or are you capable of being silent without my assistance?
And who, exactly, told you this?” Rhys said with a lift of the brow, not showing one ounce of ire, of surprise. Steps sounded. But we all went for our weapons as Jurian strolled into the guardhouse and said, “I did.
Vain until the bitter end.
The assassin pivoted around the table and took aim again. She missed. Gritting her teeth, she considered snapping the cue in half across her knee. But she’d been attempting to play for only an hour. She’d be incredible by midnight! She’d master this ridiculous game or she’d turn the table into firewood. And use it to burn Cain alive.
I bet you’ll be spitting on Death’s face when she comes to claim you, too.
That was fine – fair enough. We owed each other nothing beyond our promises to work and fight together. He could still be my friend. Companion – whatever this thing was between us. His taking someone to his bed didn’t change those things. It’d just been a relief to think that for a moment, he might have been as lonely as me.
It was hope that stood beside him, hidden and protected these years in this city, and in the years before it, spirited across the earth by the gods themselves, concealed from the forces poised to destroy her.
Some would say it’s unwise to insult a Fae in his home,” Tamlin ground out. “Some would say you should be grateful for me finding you before another one of my kind came to claim the debt, for sparing your life and then offering you the chance to live in comfort.
Aedion nocked an arrow into his bow, arm straining as he pulled back the string. As one, the army gathered on the city walls did the same. “Let’s make this a fight worthy of a song,” Aedion said.
You were always too good for here Feyre. Too good for us, too good for everyone.’ He squeezed my hand. ‘If you ever escape, ever convince them that you’ve paid the debt, don’t return.
The Lion will roar no longer, his life the asking price for defending his cub.
I began to recognize the trees, the rocks. There, I had stood with Rhys – there, I had flirted with him. There, he had lounged atop a branch while waiting for me.
Whatever you had to do to survive, whatever you did from spite or rage or selfishness... I don’t give a damn. You’re here – and you’re perfect. You always were and you always will be.
Then, like a shimmering disk too rich and clear to be described, the sun slipped over the horizon and lined everything with gold. It was like seeing the world being born, and we were the sole witnesses.
Rowan wriggled his fingers in silent reminder. Shall we? Aelin scowled and took his hand, letting him haul her to her feet. So pushy. Rowan slid an arm around her shoulders. That’s the most polite thing you’ve ever said about me.