A/N: Sorry for the delayed chapters. Life is terrible especially working...
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The rest of our journey was quiet after introductions. Lucien's intentional neglect of introducing his fellow sentries, spoke volumes to me. Clearly, the Spring Court was hiding more than even Azriel knew. The spymaster was not going to be happy.
Deep in thoughts, I didn't realize that we had reached a beautiful house in the middle of the woods. Everything was so green and alive. It disgusted me and I was suddenly missing the Illyrian Steppes and the majestic mountains that was my home. I took time to take in every aspect of the manor and I was assaulted by a vast power that reminded me of the first roses of spring. Tucked carefully in that power, I felt an even greater power that spoke of a comforting darkness. This had to be Feyre.
The wee hours of the morning had Cassian explaining the full situation. Feyre was my High Lady, the first of her kind. It was through not only her mating bond with Rhysand, but also her new powers of becoming High Lady of the Night Court that allowed her to pass along vital information along. The ignorance of the Spring Court was palpable in Feyre's true identity.
And I would not blow her cover.
I paused outside the doors as the four sentries disappeared to their own duties, leaving Lucien and myself alone. "Come. Tam is expecting you in his study." I didn't bother asking questions of Lucien. Rhys had informed by that there weren't any daemati in the Spring Court so Lucien must have used another means to inform Tamlin while we were traveling.
"After you, Lucien." I nodded, gesturing that I would be following behind him. I suppressed the urge to walk next to him. I had won the right to be equals with anyone and everyone, but I had to scope out Tamlin's manor and mark every possible escape route. Feyre was counting on me.
There wasn't many to my dismay. Doubt started creeping in as we headed down a long hall, drawing closer to those terrifying powers. Those powers had me on edge and Lucien led me to the epicenter of it. 'Cauldron save me.'
A light knock and a terse enter was all we received.
"Stellar. Don't be afraid. I will protect you."
I nearly lost my step as that voiced sounded in my head. Though I had never heard that voice before, I knew it was Feyre's. "Yes, my Lady." Lucien led us into what was Tamlin's study and what was my doom: my mate.
In the chaos of ensuring the success of the mission, I had completely forgotten that elusive pull to this forsaken court. I missed as the cord grew taunt the closer I drew to him. Nothing could have prepared me for the instant connection I felt to my court's greatest enemy in Prythian.
A cursory glance around the room had yielded nothing significant. Feyre stood next to the High Lord of the Spring Court. I met her eyes first and saw the hope in her eyes. My eyes then slid to the greenest eyes I had ever seen and I felt the bond snap in place.
Tamlin echoed my gasp as he felt it too. I stumbled away in shock, unable to tear my gaze away from his. "You're… You're…" The words wouldn't come out, the shock fully settling in.
Both Feyre and Lucien were looking at us in shock. All eyes, including mine, were trained on Tamlin as he stalked toward me. I shrank into the wall, trying to deny what the Cauldron had given to me, to us. When he reached me, he pulled me up and looked intently into my eyes. What he was searching for, only he knew.
"How is this possible?" Confusion shot through me that wasn't my own. Rage followed closely. Then his head whipped toward Feyre and I could feel the glare he gave her. "How. Is. This. Possible?" The venom was thick.
Feyre was at a complete loss of words. "What is possible, Tam? I don't even know what happened?" Her knowing eyes darted between the two of us. "He's your mate, isn't he, Stellar?" I could only stare dumbly at Feyre as her voice resounded in my head.
Mate.
Mate.
Mate.
This mission was a failure because the High Lord was my mate.