Feyre POV
"Such a sad sight: a library without books," the young girl said. She was sitting at one of the tables with her feet propped up and a book held open in front of her face, "It's a good thing I bring one with me everywhere I go." Although I could smell the other male, I couldn't see him. She lowered the book and placed it on the table.
She was beautiful in a way I had ever seen only once before. I'd noticed this particular kind of beauty in Amren, but I couldn't put my finger on why they seemed so similar. This girl was lethal, at least I was sure of that. Her long golden locks gleamed as well as the weapons that covered every inch of her body.
"Oh, you can put that away now," she drawled as she gestured towards Tamlin's unsheathed blade. For a moment, he looked like he would tell her just where she could put that blade, but ultimately, he sheathed it with a loud grunt. She stood up, it wasn't the spectacle that I usually performed with my awkward limbs, but a smooth graceful movement-like a true Fae warrior. Her striking blue eyes, with rings of gold around the pupil, assessed us like a cat preying on mice. I saw her eyes shoot towards Lucien, and I noticed that he straightened his spine, holding his chin a bit higher. She slowly turned her head towards Tamlin, her gaze cold, hard, and unrelenting. I saw her nostrils flare slightly and she glanced towards me with something close to sympathy softening her eyes as she took in my pathetic state. "You must be Feyre," she said.
My fae ears perked up at the sound of faint rustling in the dark corner of the room. We turned toward the noise as a hawk flew towards us and landed on the girl's shoulder. "It's nice to meet you, Feyre, though I can't say as much for the other two," she remarked, rolling her eyes in the direction of Tamlin and Lucien. "My name is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen, and this is Rowan Whitethorn, first and most valued member of my court," she said as she gestured toward the bird on her shoulder. It's eyes were locked on Tamlin and even though it was only a hawk, I sensed hatred in its eyes.
When I was about to ask why exactly she had a bird as a member of her court, it jumped off her shoulder and flew straight for Tamlin. I certainly didn't make a move to protect him.
"Rowan, save that for later," she said before the bird could sink its talons into Tamlin's face. The hawk disappeared through the door and into the hall. I turned in time to see a flash of white light and a man walk back through the door. He was breathtaking, like the art inked on his face and arm. His silver hair made his green eyes more vivid. He passed right between Tamlin and I, only to stand beside Aelin.
"Wha- you're lying, there is no place named Terrasen," Tamlin snapped. He was right, in all the times that Rhys had shown me maps of our world, I'd never seen any place labeled Terrasen.
"Wrong," Aelin chimed, a sweet smile sliding onto her face, "Terrasen just happens to exist in another world, but it is very real and almost as large as your ego."
"How did you get in here?" I could hear the seething anger in Tamlin's voice.
"Your grounds are very easy to breach, all it takes is a half decent assassin to get in. You really should reinforce your borders," her eyes narrowed and she smirked, "if you ever get the chance."
She looked to Rowan and he nodded once. Aelin walked to the far side of the room, all eyes on her. Facing the wall, she took out one of her daggers and slid it across her palm. Blood fell on the floor. Red. My mind started to shut itself down again. I didn't know what this girl was doing, or who she was, I just knew it wasn't good. Fear spread through my veins and paralyzed me.
I searched and searched within me until I found the bond between me and Rhysand, and I pulled.