ACOWAR (Rhysand's POV)

Chapter 2

(Rhysand's POV)

Two more days passed, and Cassian still slept. The healers came and went, quickly and efficiently changing his bandages and assessing his healing. They were much less concerned now, but we wouldn't know the extent of the damage until he tried to use his wings. The thought of Cassian unable to fly made me shudder. He would rather die than endure that. Any Illyrian would.

I paced in my study at the townhouse, multiple maps strewn across the large desk. Always calculating, they would say if they saw me now. But someone needed to. There were threats all around us, and soon, Feyre would return, escalating the conflict. Tamlin would surely be enraged and might even rally Hybern's help - might even make an attempt on the Night Court. They knew where Velaris was. My heart began to pound against my chest as anxiety surged within me. Right now, we needed to focus on what we could control.

The island of Cretea wasn't far; Azriel could head out and be back within a day once Cassian was awake and improving. I traced a line across the east shoreline of Prythian. Possible allies were on the continent: Vallahan, Rask, and Montesere. How long until Hybern would ask them to join his cause? One of us needed to go—to see if there was a chance of them siding with us before the king sunk his hooks into them.

I glanced along the west shoreline, where Hybern settled just across the sea, now taking up residence on the outer edges of the Spring Court. We were closer to those cities on the continent; we were closer to Cretea—we still had some time. But not much.

I sighed, rubbing at my face, then plopped into a chair beside the desk, extending my feet into a stretch. Once Cassian was awake, we would need to move fast. Some very large decisions would have to be made in a very short amount of time.

It started as a soft rumbling, panicked voices, shouting, and then an explosion. I felt a large mass slam into her—into me—down the bond. I shot up out of my seat. I could still feel her, her pain, and then it stopped. The silence of the townhouse startled me, the chaos only faintly echoing through the bond, but on the surface, everything was still. The bond had not gone silent, but calm. I waited, hoping Feyre would let me know she was okay. But no reassurance came.

Minutes dragged on as I paced the floor of the study, my boots thudding against the hardwood. There was no further sound from her end, but I could still sense her, which sated some part of me. But what the hell had just happened? Had Lucien or Tamlin figured it out? Had they sensed our bond? Was she in pain? How extensive were her injuries?

My steps quickened as I pulled at the ends of my hair. I remembered Calanmai—when she had been dragged into the woods by those faeries—the panic that had gripped her then, that I could feel through our bond, even in its early stages. But at least I had been able to do something. When I was stuck in that cave, when Feyre captured the Suriel, that same jolt of her panic sluiced through me like a hot knife. What if I couldn't reach her in time? What if she needed me?

If I called for Azriel right now, we could go to the Spring Court. The temptation almost won out, but I withheld. She was alright, as far as I could tell. It was likely she couldn't communicate yet after what had happened. I needed to remain patient, but this was killing me. The constant urge to check our mental connection consumed my thoughts, and knowing something had actually happened without my understanding sent me spiraling. I fought to keep myself from falling into that abyss every day.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Knowing that our bond still held should have been enough, but it just wasn't. I needed her here. I missed her presence. In and out—my breaths steadied, but the anxiety lingered.

A sharp knock startled me from my thoughts. I whirled, instincts flaring at the impending threat to my mate. But it was Mor standing in the threshold, her hand hesitant in the air. There was a gravity to her expression.