2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

I hated to add to that burden, but I said, “If we all go to Hybern to destroy the Cauldron
… who will defend the city?”
Silence. Rhys’s throat bobbed.
Amren said, “I’ll stay.” Cassian opened his mouth to object, but Rhys slowly looked at
his Second. Amren held his gaze as she added, “If Rhys must go to Hybern, then I am the
only one of you who might hold the city until help arrives. Today was a surprise. A bad
one. When you leave, we will be better prepared. The new wards we built today will not
fall so easily.”
Mor loosed a sigh. “So what do we do now?”
Amren simply said, “We sleep. We eat.”
And it was Azriel who added, his voice raw with the aftermath of battle-rage, “And then
we retaliate.”
Rhys did not come to bed.
And when I emerged from the bath, the water clouded with dirt and blood, he was
nowhere to be found.
But I felt for the bond between us and trudged upstairs, my stiff legs barking in pain. He
was sitting on the roof—in the dark. His great wings were spread behind him, draped over
the tiles.
I slid into his lap, looping my arms around his neck.
He stared at the city around us. “So few lights. So few lights left tonight.”
I did not look. I only traced the lines of his face, then brushed my thumb over his
mouth. “It is not your fault,” I said quietly.
His eyes shifted to mine, barely visible in the dark. “Isn’t it? I handed this city over to
them. I said I would be willing to risk it, but … I don’t know who I hate more: the king,
those queens, or myself.”
I brushed the hair out of his face. He gripped my hand, halting my fingers. “You shut
me out,” he breathed. “You—shielded against me. Completely. I couldn’t find a way in.”
“I’m sorry.”
Rhys let out a bitter laugh. “Sorry? Be impressed. That shield … What you did to the
Attor … ” He shook his head. “You could have been killed.”
“Are you going to scold me for it?”
His brows furrowed. Then he buried his face in my shoulder. “How could I scold you
for defending my people? I want to throttle you, yes, for not going back to the town house,
but … You chose to fight for them. For Velaris.” He kissed my neck. “I don’t deserve
you.”
My heart strained. He meant it—truly felt that way. I stroked his hair again. And I said