My Mate

I slammed into the railing of my private residence atop the Mountain. It had been 50 years since I had laid eyes on my Court, but I didn't pause to take it in.

Mate

The word rang in my ears— flooded through my blood. I stumbled through the opening of the estate trying to catch my breath only to be smothered by a warm, female body.

"Rhys—oh Rhys" Mor mumbled against my shoulder. After a moment, she leaned back and, with tears glistening on her cheeks, punched me squarely in the jaw. "What do you have to say for yourself you selfish bastard" she demanded, hurt and anger replacing the tears in her eyes.

"She...she's my mate…" I trembled, the words unhinging me completely.

"...Rhys?"

Mor's face morphed from rage into concern.

"She….she was a human...she lived beyond the wall—practically a child"

"Your mate?" Mor asked, bewildered.

I nodded, my head spinning wildly.

"What...what do you mean she was human? She asked softly, assuming the worst.

I slid into an armchair—my legs shaking too much to stand for much longer—and told Mor of how the High Lord of Spring crossed the wall and brought her back. Brought her back and wooed her and made her love him. for

I told her, voice quivering, how I went to Spring on Calanmai. How I met the most beautiful thing i'd ever seen—so fragile and human but with no fear in her eyes as she beheld me.

I explained how Feyre came running Under the Mountain to save her beloved High Lord.

When Mor blanched at that apparent suicide mission, I told her of Feyre's courage and strength and her eventual victory.

"It wasn't until her...her neck snapped… that I realized what she was to me" I croaked, unable to stop the tears streaming down my face.

Mor stood paralyzed, listening in horror.

"Your Mate", she whispered.

I nodded solemnly. "After we made her immortal and brought her back, I brought her to me before I left...to say goodbye. Making her fae must have solidified the bond because it hit me so strongly...and I knew I couldn't take her from Tamlin...so winnowed back here as fast as I could and…"

The words left me and I closed my eyes.

After a long, tense silence, I felt her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Rhys" she sighed. "I'm so... so sorry".

Shout out to SpellCleaver for their great suggestion on how to improve this chapter! Please follow their example by reviewing and leaving your own suggestions. Thanks for reading!