2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

Because it had almost gotten me killed, and I’d be no use to him if it happened when it
mattered—with the Book. Exactly like he’d said.
“That’s what this was also about,” I spat. “Not just this stupid ring,” I reached into my
pocket, slamming the ring down on the table, “or my abilities, but if I can master my
panic.”
Cassian swore again, his eyes on that ring.
Amren shook her head, sheet of dark hair swaying. “Brutal, but effective.”
Rhys only said, “Now you know. That you can use your abilities to hunt our objects,
and thus track the Book at the Summer Court, and master yourself.”
“You’re a prick, Rhysand,” Cassian said quietly.
Rhys merely tucked his wings in with a graceful snap. “You’d do the same.”
Cassian shrugged, as if to say fine, he would.
I looked at my hands, my nails bloody and cracked. And I said to Cassian, “I want you
to teach me—how to fight. To get strong. If the offer to train still stands.”
Cassian’s brows rose, and he didn’t bother looking to Rhys for approval. “You’ll be
calling me a prick pretty damn fast if we train. And I don’t know anything about training
humans—how breakable your bodies are. Were, I mean,” he added with a wince. “We’ll
figure it out.”
“I don’t want my only option to be running,” I said.
“Running,” Amren cut in, “kept you alive today.”
I ignored her. “I want to know how to fight my way out. I don’t want to have to wait on
anyone to rescue me.” I faced Rhys, crossing my arms. “Well? Have I proved myself?”
But he merely picked up the ring and gave me a nod of thanks. “It was my mother’s
ring.” As if that were all the explanation and answers owed.
“How’d you lose it?” I demanded.
“I didn’t. My mother gave it to me as a keepsake, then took it back when I reached
maturity—and gave it to the Weaver for safekeeping.”
“Why?”
“So I wouldn’t waste it.”
Nonsense and idiocy and—I wanted a bath. I wanted quiet and a bath. The need for
those things hit me strong enough that my knees buckled.
I’d barely looked at Rhys before he grabbed my hand, flared his wings, and had us
soaring back through the windows. We free-fell for five thunderous, wild heartbeats before
he winnowed to my bedroom in the town house. A hot bath was already running. I
staggered to it, exhaustion hitting me like a physical blow, when Rhys said, “And what
about training your other … gifts?”