2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

millennia. If that’s the cost of stopping this war, helping Amren … I’ll pay it.”
He’d pay with everything he had, I realized. Any hopes for himself, his own happiness.
“Do the others know—about the blood rubies?”
“Azriel was the one who brought them to me. I’m debating how I’ll tell Amren.”
“Why?”
Darkness filled those remarkable eyes. “Because her answer would be to go to Adriata
and wipe the city off the map.”
I shuddered.
“Exactly,” he said.
I stared out at Velaris with him, listening to the sounds of the day wrapping up—and the
night unfolding. Adriata felt rudimentary by comparison.
“I understand,” I said, rubbing some warmth into my now-chilled hands, “why you did
what you had to in order to protect this city.” Imagining the destruction that had been
wreaked upon Adriata here in Velaris made my blood run cold. His eyes slid to me, wary
and dull. I swallowed. “And I understand why you will do anything to keep it safe during
the times ahead.”
“And your point is?”
A bad day—this was a bad day, I realized, for him. I didn’t scowl at the bite in his
words. “Get through this war, Rhysand, and then worry about Tarquin and the blood
rubies. Nullify the Cauldron, stop the king from shattering the wall and enslaving the
human realm again, and then we’ll figure out the rest after.”
“You sound as if you plan to stay here for a while.” A bland, but edged question.
“I can find my own lodging, if that’s what you’re referring to. Maybe I’ll use that
generous paycheck to get myself something lavish.”
Come on. Wink at me. Play with me. Just—stop looking like that.
He only said, “Spare your paycheck. Your name has already been added to the list of
those approved to use my household credit. Buy whatever you wish. Buy yourself a whole
damn house if you want.”
I ground my teeth, and maybe it was panic or desperation, but I said sweetly, “I saw a
pretty shop across the Sidra the other day. It sold what looked to be lots of lacy little
things. Am I allowed to buy that on your credit, too, or does that come out of my personal
funds?”
Those violet eyes again drifted to me. “I’m not in the mood.”
There was no humor, no mischief. I could go warm myself by a fire inside, but …
He had stayed. And fought for me.
Week after week, he’d fought for me, even when I had no reaction, even when I had