p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin landed us in the gravel of the front drive./p
p class="MsoNormal"I had forgotten how quiet it was here./p
p class="MsoNormal"How small. Empty./p
p class="MsoNormal"Spring bloomed – the air gentle and scented with roses./p
p class="MsoNormal"Still lovely. But there were the front doors he'd sealed me behind. There was the window I'd banged on, trying to get out. A pretty, rose-covered prison./p
p class="MsoNormal"I smiled sourly, head throbbing, and bitterly scoffed, "I thought I'd never see this house again."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin just stared at me, as if not understanding the resent in my voice. "I though you would never, either."/p
p class="MsoNormal"emAnd you sold us out – sold out every innocent in this land for that. All so you could have me back. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"Love-love was a balm as much as it was a poison./p
p class="MsoNormal"But it was love that burned in my chest. Right alongside the bond that the Kins of Hybern hadn't so much as touched, because he hadn't known how deep and far, he'd have to delve to cleave it. To cleave me and Rhysand apart./p
p class="MsoNormal"It had hurt – hurt like hell to have the bargain between us ended – and Rhys had done his job perfectly, his horror flawless. We had always been so good at playing together./p
p class="MsoNormal"I had not doubted him, had not said anything but emYes/em when he'd taken me down to the temple the night before, and I'd sworn my vows. To him, to Velaris, to the Night court./p
p class="MsoNormal"And now…a gentle, loving stroke down that bond, concealed beneath that wasteland where the bargain had been. I sent a glimmer of feeling back down the line, wishing I could touch him, hold him, laugh with him./p
p class="MsoNormal""How did you break free of his control?" Lucien's voice brought me away from my mate./p
p class="MsoNormal"I turn to look at the two males who stole me from the people I love the most. Tamlin was starting at me unblinking like if he did, I would disappear again. Lucien looked at me with skepticism. He was smart when it came to reading people. He was trying to figure out if I truly turned my back on the Night Court./p
p class="MsoNormal"Take a deep breath to calm the anger simmering below the surface of my skin I said, "Let's discuss this in Tamlin's office once we have all had a chance to clean up and space to clear our heads."/p
p class="MsoNormal"They broke their starting to glace at each other, "Is that not an acceptable request after everything we just witnessed?" I asked contemptuously, "After everything that Hybern put us through?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin cleared his through and spoke, "When I returned to the manor and found you gone," he hesitated before finishing, "I took my anger out on my office."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "Then we will use whatever room you are currently using as an office."/p
p class="MsoNormal""The library" was his short reply./p
p class="MsoNormal""If there are no other issues, I'd like to go to my room and change out of these clothes." I had Cassian's and Aziel's blood on my leathers. The sight of the drying blood made my stomach sour./p
p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin and Lucien exchanged another glace and I knew my old bedroom had also fallen victim to that anger. "Any room will do."/p
p class="MsoNormal""The room across from mine is open for you to use," Lucien said. Tamlin looked at him suspiciously, but I understood that Lucien didn't trust my miraculous escape from Rhys mind games. He wanted me close so he could monitor me./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"Since Tamlin did not object, I said, "Good, now that we've settled that, I will me you both in the library in an hour." With that I turned on my heels and stalked toward my beautiful prison./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"Behind me I heard Tamlin call out to me, "I will send Alis to tend to you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"I walked past the spot I fell apart without a glace. I did not want to remember how weak Tamlin had made me. I didn't not want to let the memory from that day nor my anger at the events that just took place cloud my judgement. I had warned Lucien that day in the woods that if Tamlin continued to hunt me, that I would return and destroy his court. I said the same to Tamlin when facing his deception with Hybern./p
p class="MsoNormal"I would have liked nothing more than to raze his court to the ground from the inside out. But we were facing war on multiple fronts. The human queens betrayed us to gain eternal life and Hybern had repaired the cauldron. We had enough to deal with without me adding Tamlin to the mix. As much as I would have savored turning his sentries and people against him, I had to got back on my word. We needed as many bodies as we could to fight Hybern./p
p class="MsoNormal"I reached the room across from Lucien's before Alis. The room was smaller than the one I previously occupied, but still decorated in the Spring Court fashion. There was a set of glass doors with ornate wrought iron insets. Once I might have fount the detail beautiful, but not it felt like the bars on a prison cell./p
p class="MsoNormal"I ignore the rest of the room and marched into the bathing chamber shutting the door behind me and leaning against it with a sigh. I enveloped the entire place in a wall of hard air to keep any scent from my silent tears from escaping as I took a minute to process what I was going to do./p
p class="MsoNormal"emAre you okay?/em The question came down the bond from my mate./p
p class="MsoNormal"emI'm unharmed/em was my reply./p
p class="MsoNormal"emYou know that was not what I was asking,/em Rhys chided./p
p class="MsoNormal"emYou also already know the answer/em, I retorted. I could feel Rhys sign and didn't give him a chance to respond. emWhat is the update on Cassian and Azriel? How are my sisters doing?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emCassian is with Madja, the best healer in the Night Court. Aziel with another healer who is certain of a quick recovery. /emRhys paused and I could feel his reluctance to tell me this next Your sisters are also, /emI took a deep breath bracing for the news, emas you would say "unharmed"./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emUNHARMED!/em I ragedem; they most certainly are not "unharmed" Rhys. They were forced to become something they despised. Elain…/emshe was so afraid. The look in her eyes when she was dragged to the cauldron will forever be seared in my memory./p
p class="MsoNormal"emI know Feyre. I do not have words for how your sisters are doing. Nesta is being protective of Elain. And Elain has not spoken once since we returned to Velaris. I cannot tell you how they are because I do not know. /emI could feel Rhys frustrating through the Nesta will not let me or anyone near them. She locked themselves in one of the bedrooms at the townhouse. We have been attending to Cassian and Azriel's wounds./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"At least the cauldron did not change that aspect of Nesta's personality. She will always be Elain's protector. She is probably blaming herself for giving into Elain's request to help us. She is blaming all of us and herself for not keeping Elain safe. I could not blame her if she wants nothing to do with any of us./p
p class="MsoNormal"I could feel the guilt rising in me, but before I could let it consume me Rhys broke in, emDON'T you dear blame yourself for this. I should have brought your sisters to Velaris after Hybern's attack, that was poor judgement on my part. We are responsible for involving them in this conflict and I am responsible for not ensuring they were protected. But what happen to your sisters was Ianthe's fault. She sold them to Hybern after forging a bond between Tamlin and him. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I took a deep breath and let the last of my tears fall. emI can't destroy the Spring Court. We will need its people to fight in this war and we will need Tamlin to spy on Hybern. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emThe choice is yours./em I smiled; I always had a choice with Rhys. emI love you. /emI sent as much feeling as I could down the bond./p
p class="MsoNormal"He returned the feeling and the words; emI love you too./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emLet our family know that I will be okay. /emWith that I pushed off the door releasing the shelf of hard air from around me. In the middle of the bathing chamber stood a beautiful bathtub of silver. I quickly walked to the knobs and turned the water on when Alis knocked on the door./p
p class="MsoNormal"She entered without permission and took in my appearance. She surveyed Ilyrian fighting leathers I wore covered in the blood of my mate's brothers. "You look healthy," she said before getting to work fixing me a bath./p
p class="MsoNormal"This female was there when Mor came to get me. She knew the truth and had not said anything to Tamlin or Lucien. "Alis, thank you for keeping this secret from them. It couldn't have been easy."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She stopped what she was doing and gave me a hard look, "It was much easier than watching you fade away. Watching you give up on yourself and want to die."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I was taken aback by her words./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't look so surprised. I have been in contact with my nephews in the Summer Court." The conviction in her eyes when she spoke this next part made me believe every word she spoke "If your state hadn't improved, I would have found a way to get you out and take you there."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Tears leaked from my eyes, and I stepped forward to hug her, but she stopped me with a raised hand, "I will accept a hug once you have bathed and are in clean clothes." She said with a smirk in her voice./p
p class="MsoNormal"I laughed and stripped out of my clothes to climb in the bath, "I would like my leathers clean and returned to me. Please do not throw them out."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alis looked at my leathers then at me. Whatever she saw in my face had her nodding and scooping them up to be taken to the laundress, "I will pass the message on, but I can't guarantee if they can be properly cleaned."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;""Thank you," I said before settling into the warm of the bath./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"The bath had done nothing to calm my anger and I stood outside the library trying one last time to calm the rage. I took a deep breath before entering the library to find Tamlin and Lucien already waiting. They took in my clothes, slight surprise shown on Tamlin's face at my appearance, "Did you expect a gown?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin bristled at my tone, "You can wear whatever you wish. I never cared what you wore."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Could have fooled me the way Ianthe prattled one and one about appearances," I retorted letting some of my anger to the surface./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin took a deep breath and moved toward me. I stepped away from him and he paused, hurt shown on his face, "Do you really think I'd let you touch me after what you just did?" He had the nerve to look confused and wounded. "Your bargain with Hybern indirectly led to my sisters becoming high fae against their wills." The anger was threatening to break free, "Although I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you were never one to give females a choice in how they live their life."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I could see the impact of my words all over Tamlin's face. He looked wounded and turned to Lucien for help, "We never would have agreed to the bargain had we known what he would do to your sisters."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I took a minute to stare at Lucien before I responded, "I don't believe emYOU/em would have made the bargain with Hybern to begin with. You would have accepted my choice to leave." When I turned to look at Tamlin confusion was written all over his face, "You, on the other hand, were not one to obey anyone's wishes but your own."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"At that, Tamlin seems to stammer on his words, "Feyre…you have been through a lot…I know the Night Court…Rhysand…is powerful but you have to break through the mind control."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I began laughing, not the merry laugher I had with my court, but a dark joyless laughter that sent shivers down their spines. "Haven't you figured it out by now?" I shifted by gaze between the two of them. Lucien understood but Tamlin simply could not understand why I left. "Did you honestly think that Hybern could break a cauldron blessed mating bond?" I implored him to understand what I was saying. He just shook his head and turned to stare out the window./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"So, I turned to Lucien, "I need to know the exact wording of his bargain with Hybern."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"He looked to Tamlin for guidance, but he didn't turn from the window, "In exchange for your return to Tamlin and the bond between you and Rhysand being broken, he would allow Hybern's troops access to the human realm and Prythian."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Which bond? Was he specific about which bond?" I asked hoping this was the loophole we needed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin chose this moment to join the conversation, "Why does it matter?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I rolled my eyes and spat, "You have been fae far longer than I so you should know how specific you need to be when entering a bargain. Or have you forgot about my mistake with my bargain to Amarantha?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin flinched at her name and stared at me as if he didn't know me at all, "I did not specify which bond."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Exasperated I turned from them and started pacing, "Hybern severed the bargain I made with Rhys under the mountain, but nothing can break the bond between mates except death." I spared a glace at Tamlin and knew he understood. I paused and explained, "The power serge you saw was me dismantling the wards surround the island. I knew you'd get in the way of us leaving if I was with them, so I used it to make you believe that I broken out of the mind control you believed Rhys had me under." My explanation seemed to be sinking in as I saw anger brewing in Tamlin's eyes. "It was the only way I could get my sisters and my court out of there alive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Your court?" Tamlin growled out between clenched teeth. His claws were out, and his anger was simmering./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Rhys is my mate. I am his equal and as such he saw to it that I spoke my vows before we went to the island." I explained and the rage in Tamlin threated to explode, "I am High Lady of the Night Court and therefore I am also emyour /emequal."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Like the time in his office Tamlin's anger raged out of him, but unlike this time, I had the power to contain his power. I threw out a shield of hard wind around Tamlin and let him endure the effects of his own power./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"He was thrown back into a shelve of books and slid down to the floor. Around him book fell from the shelf. When one book landed on his head he sprang to his feet and started toward me. He didn't get very far as I sent another blast of power barreling toward him. I could feel Rhys panic on the other side of the bond and sent reassurance I was okay and could handle this./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin's growl rattled the windows and echoed throughout the house. He turned to Lucien and ordered "Seize her and take her to her room. Lock the door from the outside and warn it so she can't escape."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Lucien looked shocked by the order. He looked to me and shook his head, "It didn't work the first time you tried to hold her prisoner in this house, what makes you think it will be any different this time?" He voice was calm, but I could see the conflict and devastation in his eyes as he took in his High Lord and friend./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin's anger burned bright as he turned his murderous gaze to him, "that's an order Lucien. Do not disobey me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Lucien flinched at his tone and then turned to stare at me. He took me in from head to toe. I knew what he saw. emYou look like a woman again/em. The memory of Rhys words at Starfall rang true and Lucien was seeing it too. Seeing the sheen of health in my hair, the tan glow of my skin, the curves, and muscles I developed training with Cassian, and he saw the clarity in my eyes. He understood that Rhysand didn't just save me, he healed most of the broken pieced in me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Resolved he turned back to his friend, "If this is how you are going to rule your court then consider this my resignation." There was conviction in his voice, but I knew deep down he was breaking./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"My heart fluttered hearing Lucien stand up to his High Lord in my honor. I went to him and wrapped my arms around him and said into his chest, "Thank you." When I pulled away, he was still staring at Tamlin./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I turned to take him in. Some of his anger seemed to melt away at his closest friend's rejection. "You have two options Tamlin. One you can continue to be angry, Lucien and I will leave, and you will deal with Hybern on your own." I looked to Lucien for confirmation that he would indeed leave with me. When he gave a nod of agreement I continued. "I believe this is the option you deserve; however, the second option would benefit all Prythian. I will remain in the Spring Court, and we will work together to discover Hybern's plan to invade Prythian and the human realm. I will play my part of the simpering female traumatized by the mind control of the High Lord of the Night Court. We will act like we are repairing our relationship and when I have the information I need, I will rejoin my court. You will continue to sky on Hybern and feed us information that can help bring him down." I finished and waited for his response./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Lucien and I remain silent while we let him work out his choices on his own. Tamlin was many things, but he wasn't stupid. He knew he had a better chance of breaking free from his bargain with Hybern with our help. I knew which choice he made when he let out a long breath and asked, "what role does Lucien play in the second option."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I rolled my eye at this question and gave Tamlin a smug smile, "As I don't make Lucien's decisions, I suggest you has emhim/em what he wants his role to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin turned his attention to Lucien waiting for an answer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""I will play whatever role Feyre wishes," he stepped around me toward Tamlin, "but understand that when she leaves, so do I." My heart leapt at this confession. Lucien had to repair our relationship before I would allow him to join me in the Night Court, but this was a huge step in the right direction. "Feyre is right about you taking away your subject right to chose for themselves. I have followed your orders and done thing that I did not agree with, but I did so out of loyalty to you. You have not shown me that same loyalty…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""You are my subject…" Tamlin interrupted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""And as such, you should give the same loyalty you receive," Lucien finished before turning to me. "I am sorry that I didn't stop him from caging you. It is the command I most regret."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I smiled at Lucien and put a hand on his chest, "thank you." I wasn't ready to forgive him, but it was a step in the right direction. He stepped to my side, so we were shoulder to shoulder as we face Tamlin./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"We did not look away as he took us in seeing it for what it was. We were united against him and for once he could not control us. Something cracked in his anger, and he hung his hand before he paced back to the window, "You are the only family I have left." He spoke to Lucien, "and you would abandon me for her?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Help us bring Hybern down. Listen to our opinion and consider our advice instead of dismissing them. Learn how to control your anger so you don't continue to make the same mistake and I will not abandon you," Lucien explained. "But I will not stay in the Spring Court when I'm needed elsewhere."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin turned from the window. He looked defeated and sadness shined bright in his eyes when he turned to me and asked, "So, what's your plan?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"With both in agreement I explained the plan. I would continue to act like I didn't remember much due to the power I needed to use to break Rhys' mind control. Tamlin and I will pretend like we are repairing our relationship by him allowing me to be a part of the decision making. If Tamlin's anger gets out of control again, Lucien will step in this time. Tamlin will show that he is accepting of Lucien checking him on his anger and in turn the sentries will remain loyal to him when we eventually leave./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""What about Ianthe?" Tamlin asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Then anger that lay dormant within me rose to the surface, "I get to deal with Ianthe how I see fit." I shifted by gaze between them, and I knew they could see the burning darkness rolling from me. "Neither of you will interfere and I will make her pay for what happened to my sisters."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"They nodded their heads in agreement. "Good, now that we are clear on the plan, I don't wish to be in your presence any longer." I turned and left the library with a second glace./p
p class="MsoNormal"I had forgotten how quiet it was here./p
p class="MsoNormal"How small. Empty./p
p class="MsoNormal"Spring bloomed – the air gentle and scented with roses./p
p class="MsoNormal"Still lovely. But there were the front doors he'd sealed me behind. There was the window I'd banged on, trying to get out. A pretty, rose-covered prison./p
p class="MsoNormal"I smiled sourly, head throbbing, and bitterly scoffed, "I thought I'd never see this house again."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin just stared at me, as if not understanding the resent in my voice. "I though you would never, either."/p
p class="MsoNormal"emAnd you sold us out – sold out every innocent in this land for that. All so you could have me back. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"Love-love was a balm as much as it was a poison./p
p class="MsoNormal"But it was love that burned in my chest. Right alongside the bond that the Kins of Hybern hadn't so much as touched, because he hadn't known how deep and far, he'd have to delve to cleave it. To cleave me and Rhysand apart./p
p class="MsoNormal"It had hurt – hurt like hell to have the bargain between us ended – and Rhys had done his job perfectly, his horror flawless. We had always been so good at playing together./p
p class="MsoNormal"I had not doubted him, had not said anything but emYes/em when he'd taken me down to the temple the night before, and I'd sworn my vows. To him, to Velaris, to the Night court./p
p class="MsoNormal"And now…a gentle, loving stroke down that bond, concealed beneath that wasteland where the bargain had been. I sent a glimmer of feeling back down the line, wishing I could touch him, hold him, laugh with him./p
p class="MsoNormal""How did you break free of his control?" Lucien's voice brought me away from my mate./p
p class="MsoNormal"I turn to look at the two males who stole me from the people I love the most. Tamlin was starting at me unblinking like if he did, I would disappear again. Lucien looked at me with skepticism. He was smart when it came to reading people. He was trying to figure out if I truly turned my back on the Night Court./p
p class="MsoNormal"Take a deep breath to calm the anger simmering below the surface of my skin I said, "Let's discuss this in Tamlin's office once we have all had a chance to clean up and space to clear our heads."/p
p class="MsoNormal"They broke their starting to glace at each other, "Is that not an acceptable request after everything we just witnessed?" I asked contemptuously, "After everything that Hybern put us through?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin cleared his through and spoke, "When I returned to the manor and found you gone," he hesitated before finishing, "I took my anger out on my office."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I scoffed and rolled my eyes, "Then we will use whatever room you are currently using as an office."/p
p class="MsoNormal""The library" was his short reply./p
p class="MsoNormal""If there are no other issues, I'd like to go to my room and change out of these clothes." I had Cassian's and Aziel's blood on my leathers. The sight of the drying blood made my stomach sour./p
p class="MsoNormal"Tamlin and Lucien exchanged another glace and I knew my old bedroom had also fallen victim to that anger. "Any room will do."/p
p class="MsoNormal""The room across from mine is open for you to use," Lucien said. Tamlin looked at him suspiciously, but I understood that Lucien didn't trust my miraculous escape from Rhys mind games. He wanted me close so he could monitor me./p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"Since Tamlin did not object, I said, "Good, now that we've settled that, I will me you both in the library in an hour." With that I turned on my heels and stalked toward my beautiful prison./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"Behind me I heard Tamlin call out to me, "I will send Alis to tend to you."/p
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/div
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"I walked past the spot I fell apart without a glace. I did not want to remember how weak Tamlin had made me. I didn't not want to let the memory from that day nor my anger at the events that just took place cloud my judgement. I had warned Lucien that day in the woods that if Tamlin continued to hunt me, that I would return and destroy his court. I said the same to Tamlin when facing his deception with Hybern./p
p class="MsoNormal"I would have liked nothing more than to raze his court to the ground from the inside out. But we were facing war on multiple fronts. The human queens betrayed us to gain eternal life and Hybern had repaired the cauldron. We had enough to deal with without me adding Tamlin to the mix. As much as I would have savored turning his sentries and people against him, I had to got back on my word. We needed as many bodies as we could to fight Hybern./p
p class="MsoNormal"I reached the room across from Lucien's before Alis. The room was smaller than the one I previously occupied, but still decorated in the Spring Court fashion. There was a set of glass doors with ornate wrought iron insets. Once I might have fount the detail beautiful, but not it felt like the bars on a prison cell./p
p class="MsoNormal"I ignore the rest of the room and marched into the bathing chamber shutting the door behind me and leaning against it with a sigh. I enveloped the entire place in a wall of hard air to keep any scent from my silent tears from escaping as I took a minute to process what I was going to do./p
p class="MsoNormal"emAre you okay?/em The question came down the bond from my mate./p
p class="MsoNormal"emI'm unharmed/em was my reply./p
p class="MsoNormal"emYou know that was not what I was asking,/em Rhys chided./p
p class="MsoNormal"emYou also already know the answer/em, I retorted. I could feel Rhys sign and didn't give him a chance to respond. emWhat is the update on Cassian and Azriel? How are my sisters doing?/em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emCassian is with Madja, the best healer in the Night Court. Aziel with another healer who is certain of a quick recovery. /emRhys paused and I could feel his reluctance to tell me this next Your sisters are also, /emI took a deep breath bracing for the news, emas you would say "unharmed"./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emUNHARMED!/em I ragedem; they most certainly are not "unharmed" Rhys. They were forced to become something they despised. Elain…/emshe was so afraid. The look in her eyes when she was dragged to the cauldron will forever be seared in my memory./p
p class="MsoNormal"emI know Feyre. I do not have words for how your sisters are doing. Nesta is being protective of Elain. And Elain has not spoken once since we returned to Velaris. I cannot tell you how they are because I do not know. /emI could feel Rhys frustrating through the Nesta will not let me or anyone near them. She locked themselves in one of the bedrooms at the townhouse. We have been attending to Cassian and Azriel's wounds./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"At least the cauldron did not change that aspect of Nesta's personality. She will always be Elain's protector. She is probably blaming herself for giving into Elain's request to help us. She is blaming all of us and herself for not keeping Elain safe. I could not blame her if she wants nothing to do with any of us./p
p class="MsoNormal"I could feel the guilt rising in me, but before I could let it consume me Rhys broke in, emDON'T you dear blame yourself for this. I should have brought your sisters to Velaris after Hybern's attack, that was poor judgement on my part. We are responsible for involving them in this conflict and I am responsible for not ensuring they were protected. But what happen to your sisters was Ianthe's fault. She sold them to Hybern after forging a bond between Tamlin and him. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"I took a deep breath and let the last of my tears fall. emI can't destroy the Spring Court. We will need its people to fight in this war and we will need Tamlin to spy on Hybern. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emThe choice is yours./em I smiled; I always had a choice with Rhys. emI love you. /emI sent as much feeling as I could down the bond./p
p class="MsoNormal"He returned the feeling and the words; emI love you too./em/p
p class="MsoNormal"emLet our family know that I will be okay. /emWith that I pushed off the door releasing the shelf of hard air from around me. In the middle of the bathing chamber stood a beautiful bathtub of silver. I quickly walked to the knobs and turned the water on when Alis knocked on the door./p
p class="MsoNormal"She entered without permission and took in my appearance. She surveyed Ilyrian fighting leathers I wore covered in the blood of my mate's brothers. "You look healthy," she said before getting to work fixing me a bath./p
p class="MsoNormal"This female was there when Mor came to get me. She knew the truth and had not said anything to Tamlin or Lucien. "Alis, thank you for keeping this secret from them. It couldn't have been easy."/p
p class="MsoNormal"She stopped what she was doing and gave me a hard look, "It was much easier than watching you fade away. Watching you give up on yourself and want to die."/p
p class="MsoNormal"I was taken aback by her words./p
p class="MsoNormal""Don't look so surprised. I have been in contact with my nephews in the Summer Court." The conviction in her eyes when she spoke this next part made me believe every word she spoke "If your state hadn't improved, I would have found a way to get you out and take you there."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Tears leaked from my eyes, and I stepped forward to hug her, but she stopped me with a raised hand, "I will accept a hug once you have bathed and are in clean clothes." She said with a smirk in her voice./p
p class="MsoNormal"I laughed and stripped out of my clothes to climb in the bath, "I would like my leathers clean and returned to me. Please do not throw them out."/p
p class="MsoNormal"Alis looked at my leathers then at me. Whatever she saw in my face had her nodding and scooping them up to be taken to the laundress, "I will pass the message on, but I can't guarantee if they can be properly cleaned."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;""Thank you," I said before settling into the warm of the bath./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"The bath had done nothing to calm my anger and I stood outside the library trying one last time to calm the rage. I took a deep breath before entering the library to find Tamlin and Lucien already waiting. They took in my clothes, slight surprise shown on Tamlin's face at my appearance, "Did you expect a gown?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin bristled at my tone, "You can wear whatever you wish. I never cared what you wore."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Could have fooled me the way Ianthe prattled one and one about appearances," I retorted letting some of my anger to the surface./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin took a deep breath and moved toward me. I stepped away from him and he paused, hurt shown on his face, "Do you really think I'd let you touch me after what you just did?" He had the nerve to look confused and wounded. "Your bargain with Hybern indirectly led to my sisters becoming high fae against their wills." The anger was threatening to break free, "Although I guess I shouldn't be surprised, you were never one to give females a choice in how they live their life."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I could see the impact of my words all over Tamlin's face. He looked wounded and turned to Lucien for help, "We never would have agreed to the bargain had we known what he would do to your sisters."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I took a minute to stare at Lucien before I responded, "I don't believe emYOU/em would have made the bargain with Hybern to begin with. You would have accepted my choice to leave." When I turned to look at Tamlin confusion was written all over his face, "You, on the other hand, were not one to obey anyone's wishes but your own."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"At that, Tamlin seems to stammer on his words, "Feyre…you have been through a lot…I know the Night Court…Rhysand…is powerful but you have to break through the mind control."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I began laughing, not the merry laugher I had with my court, but a dark joyless laughter that sent shivers down their spines. "Haven't you figured it out by now?" I shifted by gaze between the two of them. Lucien understood but Tamlin simply could not understand why I left. "Did you honestly think that Hybern could break a cauldron blessed mating bond?" I implored him to understand what I was saying. He just shook his head and turned to stare out the window./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"So, I turned to Lucien, "I need to know the exact wording of his bargain with Hybern."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"He looked to Tamlin for guidance, but he didn't turn from the window, "In exchange for your return to Tamlin and the bond between you and Rhysand being broken, he would allow Hybern's troops access to the human realm and Prythian."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Which bond? Was he specific about which bond?" I asked hoping this was the loophole we needed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin chose this moment to join the conversation, "Why does it matter?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I rolled my eyes and spat, "You have been fae far longer than I so you should know how specific you need to be when entering a bargain. Or have you forgot about my mistake with my bargain to Amarantha?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin flinched at her name and stared at me as if he didn't know me at all, "I did not specify which bond."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Exasperated I turned from them and started pacing, "Hybern severed the bargain I made with Rhys under the mountain, but nothing can break the bond between mates except death." I spared a glace at Tamlin and knew he understood. I paused and explained, "The power serge you saw was me dismantling the wards surround the island. I knew you'd get in the way of us leaving if I was with them, so I used it to make you believe that I broken out of the mind control you believed Rhys had me under." My explanation seemed to be sinking in as I saw anger brewing in Tamlin's eyes. "It was the only way I could get my sisters and my court out of there alive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Your court?" Tamlin growled out between clenched teeth. His claws were out, and his anger was simmering./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Rhys is my mate. I am his equal and as such he saw to it that I spoke my vows before we went to the island." I explained and the rage in Tamlin threated to explode, "I am High Lady of the Night Court and therefore I am also emyour /emequal."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Like the time in his office Tamlin's anger raged out of him, but unlike this time, I had the power to contain his power. I threw out a shield of hard wind around Tamlin and let him endure the effects of his own power./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"He was thrown back into a shelve of books and slid down to the floor. Around him book fell from the shelf. When one book landed on his head he sprang to his feet and started toward me. He didn't get very far as I sent another blast of power barreling toward him. I could feel Rhys panic on the other side of the bond and sent reassurance I was okay and could handle this./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin's growl rattled the windows and echoed throughout the house. He turned to Lucien and ordered "Seize her and take her to her room. Lock the door from the outside and warn it so she can't escape."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Lucien looked shocked by the order. He looked to me and shook his head, "It didn't work the first time you tried to hold her prisoner in this house, what makes you think it will be any different this time?" He voice was calm, but I could see the conflict and devastation in his eyes as he took in his High Lord and friend./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin's anger burned bright as he turned his murderous gaze to him, "that's an order Lucien. Do not disobey me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Lucien flinched at his tone and then turned to stare at me. He took me in from head to toe. I knew what he saw. emYou look like a woman again/em. The memory of Rhys words at Starfall rang true and Lucien was seeing it too. Seeing the sheen of health in my hair, the tan glow of my skin, the curves, and muscles I developed training with Cassian, and he saw the clarity in my eyes. He understood that Rhysand didn't just save me, he healed most of the broken pieced in me./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Resolved he turned back to his friend, "If this is how you are going to rule your court then consider this my resignation." There was conviction in his voice, but I knew deep down he was breaking./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"My heart fluttered hearing Lucien stand up to his High Lord in my honor. I went to him and wrapped my arms around him and said into his chest, "Thank you." When I pulled away, he was still staring at Tamlin./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I turned to take him in. Some of his anger seemed to melt away at his closest friend's rejection. "You have two options Tamlin. One you can continue to be angry, Lucien and I will leave, and you will deal with Hybern on your own." I looked to Lucien for confirmation that he would indeed leave with me. When he gave a nod of agreement I continued. "I believe this is the option you deserve; however, the second option would benefit all Prythian. I will remain in the Spring Court, and we will work together to discover Hybern's plan to invade Prythian and the human realm. I will play my part of the simpering female traumatized by the mind control of the High Lord of the Night Court. We will act like we are repairing our relationship and when I have the information I need, I will rejoin my court. You will continue to sky on Hybern and feed us information that can help bring him down." I finished and waited for his response./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Lucien and I remain silent while we let him work out his choices on his own. Tamlin was many things, but he wasn't stupid. He knew he had a better chance of breaking free from his bargain with Hybern with our help. I knew which choice he made when he let out a long breath and asked, "what role does Lucien play in the second option."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I rolled my eye at this question and gave Tamlin a smug smile, "As I don't make Lucien's decisions, I suggest you has emhim/em what he wants his role to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin turned his attention to Lucien waiting for an answer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""I will play whatever role Feyre wishes," he stepped around me toward Tamlin, "but understand that when she leaves, so do I." My heart leapt at this confession. Lucien had to repair our relationship before I would allow him to join me in the Night Court, but this was a huge step in the right direction. "Feyre is right about you taking away your subject right to chose for themselves. I have followed your orders and done thing that I did not agree with, but I did so out of loyalty to you. You have not shown me that same loyalty…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""You are my subject…" Tamlin interrupted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""And as such, you should give the same loyalty you receive," Lucien finished before turning to me. "I am sorry that I didn't stop him from caging you. It is the command I most regret."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"I smiled at Lucien and put a hand on his chest, "thank you." I wasn't ready to forgive him, but it was a step in the right direction. He stepped to my side, so we were shoulder to shoulder as we face Tamlin./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"We did not look away as he took us in seeing it for what it was. We were united against him and for once he could not control us. Something cracked in his anger, and he hung his hand before he paced back to the window, "You are the only family I have left." He spoke to Lucien, "and you would abandon me for her?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""Help us bring Hybern down. Listen to our opinion and consider our advice instead of dismissing them. Learn how to control your anger so you don't continue to make the same mistake and I will not abandon you," Lucien explained. "But I will not stay in the Spring Court when I'm needed elsewhere."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Tamlin turned from the window. He looked defeated and sadness shined bright in his eyes when he turned to me and asked, "So, what's your plan?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"With both in agreement I explained the plan. I would continue to act like I didn't remember much due to the power I needed to use to break Rhys' mind control. Tamlin and I will pretend like we are repairing our relationship by him allowing me to be a part of the decision making. If Tamlin's anger gets out of control again, Lucien will step in this time. Tamlin will show that he is accepting of Lucien checking him on his anger and in turn the sentries will remain loyal to him when we eventually leave./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;""What about Ianthe?" Tamlin asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Then anger that lay dormant within me rose to the surface, "I get to deal with Ianthe how I see fit." I shifted by gaze between them, and I knew they could see the burning darkness rolling from me. "Neither of you will interfere and I will make her pay for what happened to my sisters."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"They nodded their heads in agreement. "Good, now that we are clear on the plan, I don't wish to be in your presence any longer." I turned and left the library with a second glace./p