2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

“You have nothing to fear from me,” he said, and I wondered if my scent was that
readable. “But I meant it—you have … sway with Rhysand. And he is notoriously
difficult to deal with. He gets what he wants, has plans he does not tell anyone about until
after he’s completed them, and does not apologize for any of it. Be his emissary to the
human realm—but also be ours. You’ve seen my city. I have three others like it.
Amarantha wrecked them almost immediately after she took over. All my people want
now is peace, and safety, and to never have to look over their shoulders again. Other High
Lords have told me about Rhys—and warned me about him. But he spared me Under the
Mountain. Brutius was my cousin, and we had forces gathering in all of our cities to storm
Under the Mountain. They caught him sneaking out through the tunnels to meet with
them. Rhys saw that in Brutius’s mind—I know he did. And yet he lied to her face, and
defied her when she gave the order to turn him into a living ghost. Maybe it was for his
own schemes, but I know it was a mercy. He knows that I am young—and inexperienced,
and he spared me.” Tarquin shook his head, mostly at himself. “Sometimes, I think
Rhysand … I think he might have been her whore to spare us all from her full attention.”
I would betray nothing of what I knew. But I suspected he could see it in my eyes—the
sorrow at the thought.
“I know I’m supposed to look at you,” Tarquin said, “and see that he’s made you into a
pet, into a monster. But I see the kindness in you. And I think that reflects more on him
than anything. I think it shows that you and he might have many secrets—”
“Stop,” I blurted. “Just—stop. You know I can’t tell you anything. And I can’t promise
you anything. Rhysand is High Lord. I only serve in his court.”
Tarquin glanced at the ground. “Forgive me if I’ve been forward. I’m still learning how
to play the games of these courts—to my advisers’ chagrin.”
“I hope you never learn how to play the games of these courts.”
Tarquin held my gaze, face wary, but a bit bleak. “Then allow me to ask you a blunt
question. Is it true you left Tamlin because he locked you up in his house?”
I tried to block out the memory, the terror and agony of my heart breaking apart. But I
nodded.
“And is it true that you were saved from confinement by the Night Court?”
I nodded again.
Tarquin said, “The Spring Court is my southern neighbor. I have tenuous ties with them.
But unless asked, I will not mention that you were here.”
Thief, liar, manipulator. I didn’t deserve his alliance.
But I bowed my head in thanks. “Any other treasure troves to show me?”
“Are gold and jewels not impressive enough? What of your merchant’s eye?”
I tapped the box. “Oh, I got what I wanted. Now I’m curious to see how much your
alliance is worth.”