A Court of Trickery and Salvation

Chapter Twenty

The sound of heels clicking rapidly down the stone hallway has me clutching onto Rhys' hand more tightly. I don't know the limitations or basic strength this new body has and I don't want to hurt the person running towards us. "Rhys!" A beautiful blonde woman throws herself into Rhysand's arms, ripping his hand from mine. He responds in kind to the hug, burying his face in her neck.

"Mor." Rhys rumbles before pulling away and smiling broadly at the blonde before he remembers I'm there. "Mor this is Kayla Archeron, she's the one who freed us from Amarantha." The woman named Mor matches my expression when hearing that bitches name from him. She can't know what Amarantha did to Rhysand in that hell hole but she does know that she kept him away from his home for fifty years.

"Thank you!" She throws herself into my arms just as she did with Rhys, nearly toppling us both over. "You brought him home!"

"I didn't do much." I try to untangle myself from her grip, feeling completely unworthy of such a reaction. Other Fae were killed, murdered, for such a task to be accomplished.

"Okay okay, let her breathe. We just got her back." Rhys chuckles as he gently pulls Mor away from me, making my heart hurt just a little. What did I think? That Rhys wouldn't have someone waiting for him? "Mor is my cousin." His warm breath brushes my my ear, causing me to shiver slightly at the sudden action. Mor laughs, understanding what just happened in my head before smiling at me. "Nuala and Cerridwen will show you to your room. I need to talk to Mor in private."

"Okay, uh it was a pleasure to meet you." I nod to Mor before following the shadow twins that appeared before me. They lead me downstairs to a beautifully decorated room, the huge bed a deep teal color to contrast the black walls. I run my hand over the silk sheets then press down, smiling softly at the plushness of the mattress. Never in my life have I ever had such a soft mattress, my family lost our fortune when I was a six.

"Is it to your liking?" Rhys purrs from the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest as he leans against the frame. I nod and he chuckles before walking all the way into the room, heading to the dresser tucked in the corner. "You'll find all the clothes you need in here but if you prefer something else just let me know." He starts walking towards the door again but I grab his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.

"Rhys? Why are you doing all this for me? I understand looking out for me when I could break the curse but now?" I sigh, letting go of Rhys' wrist to clench my fist tightly at my side as words struggle to form. "You could've just let me die you know? You wouldn't have had to bring me back here."

"What do you actually know of Fae Kayla?" He asks slowly, a question hidden inside a question I just don't know what.

"Not much. I know everything I was taught as a child is a misconception but I never bothered to learn more." I tell him, slowly unraveling my fingers from his wrist as I shrink in on myself under his gaze. Jaye was always so interested, he begged me to let him teach what little he actually knew but... I didn't. Gods I should've, if he could see me now. Rhysand tilts his head as a bitter laugh slips from me, his eyes filling with worry.

"Kayla?" He steps closer but I match it backwards, shaking my head as I struggle to rein in this overwhelming grief.

"Talk." I manage to get out around the lump of emotions clogging my throat.

"Bargains made with Fae are made with ancient magic so strong no one knows how to unbind them without fulfilling it. These bargains are marked with ink on the skin." He pulls up his sleeve of his shirt to reveal a tattoo identical to my own. I try not to stare at the veins protruding from his arm and focus on the intricate whorls and swirls. "The only magic more powerful is the magic of the mating bond. Only death can sever it."

"Mating bond?" I ask, Rhys' tangent of information having the opposite effect of what I desire, pushing me further into this grief made my Jaye's death. A small smirk finds it's way to Rhys' face, oblivious to the turmoil devastating me from the inside.

"The bond between mates. The Mother decides which two Fae would make the most powerful offspring and makes them mates. Sometimes it's not always in the best interest of the Fae themselves but for the survival of the species. They don't have to accept the bond, it's all completely their choice." He says the last part slowly, remembering when his choices were taken away.

"Do... do you have a mate?" I find myself asking, unable to stop the words from flying from my lips. Anything to stop this overpowering grief, to take it away for a minute. Rhys seems to think something over, his eyes searching mine for what seems like forever before deciding on a choice.

"Yes I do." My heart plummets at those three words, my stupid traitorous heart aches more than before. I don't know why I asked, of course this male would have a mate waiting for him all this time. A low chuckle breaks me of my spiraling thoughts to see Rhysand slowly approach me. His hand gently cups my cheek, his thumb stroking my cheekbone as those stars shine brighter than I've seen them before.

"Your mate probably wouldn't like you touching me like this." I breathe, earning me a broad smile from him as he leans his forehead against my own.

"I'm glad you think that because you're my mate."