2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

“I need some fresh air,” I said, even though we were in the open. But with the golden
lights, the people up and down the table … I needed to find a spot on this barge where I
could be alone, just for a moment, mission or no.
“Would you like me to join you?”
I looked at the High Lord of Summer. I hadn’t lied. It would be easy to fall in love with
a male like him. But I wasn’t entirely sure that even with the hardships he’d encountered
Under the Mountain, Tarquin could understand the darkness that might always be in me.
Not only from Amarantha, but from years spent being hungry, and desperate.
That I might always be a little bit vicious or restless. That I might crave peace, but
never a cage of comfort.
“I’m fine, thank you,” I said, and headed for the sweeping staircase that led down onto
the stern of the ship—brightly lit, but quieter than the main areas at the prow. Rhys didn’t
so much as look in my direction as I walked away. Good riddance.
I was halfway down the wood steps when I spotted Amren and Varian—both leaning
against adjacent pillars, both drinking wine, both ignoring each other. Even as they spoke
to no one else.
Perhaps that was another reason why she’d come: to distract Tarquin’s watchdog.
I reached the main deck, found a spot by the wooden railing that was a bit more
shadowed than the rest, and leaned against it. Magic propelled the boat—no oars, no sails.
So we moved through the bay, silent and smooth, hardly a ripple in our wake.
I didn’t realize I’d been waiting for him until the barge docked at the base of the islandcity,
and I’d somehow spent the entire final hour alone.
When I filed onto land with the rest of the crowd, Amren, Varian, and Tarquin were
waiting for me at the docks, all a bit stiff-backed.
Rhysand and Cresseida were nowhere to be seen.