2_-_court_of_mist_and_fury_a_-_sarah_j._maas

CHAPTER
61
I’d never worn so much steel. Blades had been strapped all over me, hidden in my boots,
my inside pockets. And then there was the Illyrian blade down my back.
Just a few hours ago, I’d known such overwhelming happiness after such horror and
sorrow. Just a few hours ago, I’d been in his arms while he made love to me.
And now Rhysand, my mate and High Lord and partner, stood beside me in the foyer,
Mor and Azriel and Cassian armed and ready in their scale-like armor, all of us too quiet.
Amren said, “The King of Hybern is old, Rhys—very old. Do not linger.”
A voice near my chest whispered, Hello lovely, wicked liar.
The two halves of the Book of Breathings, each part tucked into a different pocket. In
one of them, the spell I was to say had been written out clearly. I hadn’t dared speak it,
though I had read it a dozen times.
“We’ll be in and out before you miss us,” Rhysand said. “Guard Velaris well.”
Amren studied my gloved hands and weapons. “That Cauldron,” she said, “makes the
Book seem harmless. If the spell fails, or if you cannot move it, then leave.” I nodded. She
surveyed us all again. “Fly well.” I supposed that was as much concern as she’d show.
We turned to Mor—whose arms were out, waiting for me. Cassian and Rhys would
winnow with Azriel, my mate dropped off a few miles from the coast before the Illyrians
found Mor and me seconds later.
I moved toward her, but Rhys stepped in front of me, his face tense. I rose up on my
toes and kissed him. “I’ll be fine—we’ll all be fine.” His eyes held mine through the kiss,
and when I broke away, his gaze went right to Cassian.
Cassain bowed. “With my life, High Lord. I’ll protect her with my life.”
Rhys looked to Azriel. He nodded, bowing, and said, “With both of our lives.”
It was satisfactory enough to my mate—who at last looked at Mor.
She nodded once, but said, “I know my orders.”
I wondered what those might be—why I hadn’t been told—but she gripped my hand.
Before I could say good-bye to Amren, we were gone.
Gone—and plunging through open air, toward a night-dark sea—
A warm body slammed into mine, catching me before I could panic and perhaps