2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

a small party to celebrate—dinner with our … cohorts. Unless you’d rather have a large
party, though I think you and I are in agreement about our aversion for them.” His strong
hands kneaded muscles that were tight and aching in my back, and I groaned. “We could
also go before a priestess and be declared husband and wife as well as mates, if you want a
more human thing to call me.”
“What will you call me?”
“Mate,” he said. “Though also calling you my wife sounds mighty appealing, too.” His
thumbs massaged the column of my spine. “Or if you want to wait, we can do none of
those things. We’re mated, whether it’s shouted across the world or not. There’s no rush to
decide.”
I turned. “I was asking about Jurian, the king, the queens, and the Cauldron, but I’m
glad to know I have so many options where our relationship stands. And that you’ll do
whatever I want. I must have you wrapped completely around my finger.”
His eyes danced with feline amusement. “Cruel, beautiful thing.”
I snorted. The idea that he found me beautiful at all—
“You are,” he said. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I thought that from
the first moment I saw you on Calanmai.”
And it was stupid, stupid for beauty to mean anything at all, but … My eyes burned.
“Which is good,” he added, “because you thought I was the most beautiful male you’d
ever seen. So it makes us even.”
I scowled, and he laughed, hands sliding to grip my waist and tug me to him. He sat
down on the built-in bench of the tub, and I straddled him, idly stroking his muscled arms.
“Tomorrow,” Rhys said, features becoming grave. “We’re leaving tomorrow for your
family’s estate. The queens sent word. They return in three days.”
I started. “You’re telling me this now?”
“I got sidetracked,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
And the light in those eyes, the quiet joy … They knocked the breath from me. A future
—we would have a future together. I would have a future. A life.
His smile faded into something awed, something … reverent, and I reached out to cup
his face in my hands—
To find my skin glowing.
Faintly, as if some inner light shone beneath my skin, leaking out into the world. Warm
and white light, like the sun—like a star. Those wonder-filled eyes met mine, and Rhys ran
a finger down my arm. “Well, at least now I can gloat that I literally make my mate glow
with happiness.”
I laughed, and the glow flared a little brighter. He leaned in, kissing me softly, and I
melted for him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He was rock-hard against me, pushing