ACOTAR (Rhysand's POV)

Chapter 14

Amarantha and Tamlin were already seated upon the dais when I entered. There were no sneers, no murmuring, and no betting amongst the gathered faeries. It was solemn, like a ceremony for the dead. My heels clicked through the silence as I approached the foot of the dais, giving the smallest, briefest bow I could. I turned, facing the entrance of the throne room where the two red-faced guards appeared with Feyre in tow, and hid myself amongst the crowd. She was dressed in her old tunic and pants that were so filthy, I could smell them from across the room. Yet, Feyre only held her head high and walked forward. I had spent the previous night racked with guilt after speaking with Feyre in her cell. I had spoken too bluntly, too recklessly, and imagined the fear that must had festered inside her all night. I wondered if she laid awake for all those hours, as I did. If Feyre held any fear, as she approached the dais this morning, she did not let it show. 

"Two trial lie behind you and only one more awaits. I wonder if it will be worse to fail now-when you are so close." Amarantha feigned a pout, awaiting laughter from the gallery. But the room remained silent, aside from those red-faced guards positioned on either side of Feyre. A mixture of terror and sorrow laced each face in the crowd. "Any words to say before you die?" Amarantha smiled sweetly, waiting for Feyre to beg. 

Feyre glanced from face to face on the dais, landing on Tamlins. Her eyes were lined with silver as she spoke, "I love you." The words hung heavy from her tongue. "No matter what she says about it, no matter if it's only with my insignificant human heart. Even when they burn my body, I'll love you." I sucked in my breath, choking down the anger quickly rising. Anger at Amarantha, anger at Tamlin, anger at myself for not getting her out of this mess. Tears began to fall from Feyre's eyes, but she didn't wipe them away. Tamlin did not react. 

"You'll be lucky, my darling, if we even have enough left of you to burn." Amarantha said sweetly, looking over the crowd. But, again, no one laughed. No one smiled. "You never figured out my riddle, did you? Pity. The answer is so lovely." 

"Get it over with." Feyre stood with clenched fists. 

Amarantha turned to Tamlin. "No final words to her?" Tamlin only sat, stone faced and emotionless. The same as he had in all of the previous trials. The anger that lived in me raged. I could feel the darkness pulsing beneath my fingertips. "Very well, then." Amarantha clapped her hands. 

I heard the doors to the throne room open once again, a loud groaning, and then the echo of multiple feet upon marble. I peered around turning heads to see three faeries being dragged forward, bound and masked. My eyes flicked from Feyre and back to those three faeries. She would have to kill them. The realization shuddered through my body. 

"Your final task, Feyre. Stab each of these unfortunate soulds in the heart. They're innocent - not that it should matter to you since it wasn't a concern the day you killed Tamlin's poor sentinel. And it wasn't a concern for dear Jurian when he butchered my sister. But if it's a problem... well, you can always refuse. Of course, I'll take your life in exchange, but a bargain's a bargain, is it not? If you ask me, though, given your history with murdering our kind, I do believe I'm offering you a gift." 

Feyre only stood, staring at the faeries now kneeling before her. Each had a dagger laid out on a pillow before them. One dagger for each of them, to further test Feyre. Could she pick up that knife each time and kill an innocent? My lungs ached as I tried to suck in a breath. I needed air. 

"Well?" Amarantha lifter her hand, Jurian's eye whirring at the scene before them. "I wouldn't want you to miss this, old friend." 

Feyre still didn't move. She glanced to Tamlin again, then back to the three faeries. Do it, Feyre. I wanted to scream into her mind, but I couldn't get in. Some emotion, too great for me to get past, blocked me out. I could feel her trembling as she stepped toward the first faerie, a male. Feyre reached for the first dagger and weighed it in her hand. 

"Not so fast." Amarantha chuckled and motioned to the guards behind the male. They reached and lifted off his hood. It was a young male, High Fae with bright blue eyes full of panic. "That's better. Proceed, Feyre, dear. Enjoy it." 

Feyre peered up at the young male. "Please." he begged in a whisper. "Please." Her hands shook, but held the dagger firm. Do it, Feyre. We understand. "Don't. Don't!" The young male tried to scream, beg her to stop. I stroked my talons against his mind, and entered. 

"I'm sorry," was all Feyre could say. Before she made another move, her head turned and her eyes met mine. Do it, Feyre.

"Don't...please!" The young High Fae shook, tears filling his eyes. I folded over his mind, encasing it. I could see his family, his lover, places he would never get to see again, all flit through his mind. This was complete terror that filled him. Terror one would never know until in the face of death. It was torturous. Before the young male could scream out again, Feyre plunged the dagger into his heart. I snaked my way through his bones and muscles, reaching each nerve to strangle the pain. The only sound that remained was the wailing of his mother. One of the many faces that passed through his mind. 

"Very good. Now the next." Feyre was still knelt in front of the young male, tears streaming down her face. Choked sobs broke from her chest as she looked down at her hands, now covered in his blood. "Oh, dont' look so miserable, Feyre. Aren't you having fun?" Bitch. 

The second faerie was female with golden-brown hair, very similar to Feyre's own. I hoped she didn't notice. "Cauldron save me," the small female began to whisper. The prayer continued, silent tears rolling down both of their faces. "Let me fear no evil," the female stared into Feyre's eyes. 

"I'm sorry." Feyre's trembling lips could barely form the words as sobs broke from her. Do it. Please. My talons were already against the wall of the females, coursing my way to her heart to comfort the oncoming pain. To my surprise, the female did not think of her family or lovers. She was not consumed by fear. Her mind was in...peace. It was clear, almost welcoming to my intrusion. Almost asking me to guide her home. The shattering of Feyre's heart broke through the serenity, as the dagger pierced the females own. Male and female cries erupted from the crowd, the others now stirring with the building tension. 

It did not make sense. While the task was mentally challenging, something was... missing. I glanced up at Amarantha who was now grinning from ear to ear. One more faerie and we would all be free. One more faerie and- Feyre collapsed. My head snapped in her direction, only to see Tamlin kneeling before her. Amarantha crowed a cruel laugh and snapped her fingers. The "Tamlin" beside her transforming back into the Attor. 

"Something wrong?" Amarantha asked, cocking her head. Evil laced her tone and gleamed in the eyes boring into Feyre. My fists clenched at my sides. It wasn't fair. 

"Not...Not fair." Feyre mumbled. 

"Fair? I wasn't aware you humans knew the concept. You kill Tamlin, and he's free. And then you can have him all to yourself." Amarantha's cackle filled my ears, my head spinning. 

None of it made sense. Amarantha would not want Tamlin dead. He was the sole reason for these trials, for Feyre to fight. Tamlin was Amarantha's prize. She wouldn't dare give him up for, a game with this human? I racked my brain for something, anything to help Feyre. To fix this mess. A part of me, selfishly, wanted Feyre to do it. If she killed Tamlin, we could go. We could be free. But at the cost of her heart? Her sanity? It tore me apart. The rage welled and the darkness pulsed, wanting to tear through my skin. I would not let her. I would find a way to end this, so she could be with... him. 

Before I could think another moment, Feyre shoved the dagger through Tamlin's chest.