The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman

Chapter 14

~ Feyre ~

I'm not sure what I expected to happen when I returned to Spring, but the next few weeks were less eventful than I had even considered. Much to my surprise, after making a dramatic reunion scene in front of Rhys- who had to silently suffer through it - Tamlim had just sort of disappeared for 'business', as he had been doing before I left.

I spent my days with Lucien, taking Rhysand's advice and learning more defence techniques. It'll probably come in handy at some point in my infinite life span and, well, I was looking forward to impressing Rhys with my ass-kicking moves when I returned to Night.

I couldn't get him out of my head, every minute I was alone, my thoughts revolved around his perfect face and everything that lay beneath it. I had to refocus myself every two minutes when I was around others- and by others, I mean Lucien, who was the extent of my social interactions.

My thoughts were constantly swarmed by worries on what Rhys must be thinking of me. A weak minded human, unable to accept the truth? His mate who has already accepted it but cannot find the words to tell her lover? All I knew was that every second without Rhys by my side felt like another tear in my soul.

The bond constantly thrummed beneath my skin, I fought a constant tiring battle, pushing it down and trying to keep it out of my mind. Nevertheless, I wasn't unaware that I didn't have long until I'll be thoroughly disgusted by the thought of anyone else's hands on me but Rhys'. When do I tell Tamlin? He needs to know before it comes to that.

Training kept my mind mostly occupied, mostly because Lucien found it amusing to stage random surprise attacks, which meant I had to be on my guard at all times. It was incredibly fun, I'd missed his company when at Night. I know I'll have to come back and visit him when I move... If I move. Let's not go there.

After a few weeks passed and we reached the day before I would've been returning to Night, I found myself sleeping beside Tamlin when I jolted awake. Images of wings, knives, and Amarantha's leering face flashed through my mind, and my heart began beating faster and faster in undiluted panic. I knew he had awoken when the visions stopped. I knew he had noted my absence from beside him when I felt another jolt of panic through the bond.

I sat up in bed silently, trying not to rouse Tamlin as I called across the bond-
Rhys, Rhys? Are you okay? A silly question, I felt his heartbeat pumping through me like it was my own. His panic was my panic and I wanted nothing more than to hold him in my arms and comfort him from the haunting nightmares of his past under the mountain.

Feyre, he pants, his mixed feelings of misery, pain, guilt, loneliness and betrayal threatening to suffocate me.
Rhys, I don't know what to do but I won't let him handle this on his own. He held me through my nightmares whilst I was at Night and I will be there for him too. He had never had any nightmares when we snuggled together in my room. Come here.

What? He asks, confused.
Now. Library. Bring blankets, I instruct. Then I slowly edge out of bed and oh-so-carefully tip-toe to the door. Lighter than a feather, I drift down the main stairway and follow the tugging in the pit of my stomach all the way to the library.

When I open the door, my Fae eyes are quickly adjust to the darkness and I spot Rhys already cocooned in a humongous pile of blankets. I can make out his strong jawline and practically glowing eyes but tragically not much else. Despite feeling self conscious of my thin white nightgown, I walk over to when he sat near the far wall.

I silently unwrap the blankets from around him so I can slide in beside him. I wrap my arms around his neck and curl against him whilst he wraps the blankets around us once again. Wordlessly, he surprises me by pushing forwards and rolling us around, him below me then back on top until I'm sure we'll never free ourselves from the blankets. Side by side again, he manages to shuffle down until his face is buried in my neck. I'm unsure of where he ends and I begin; our minds are curled around each other and deep inside me, I'm fighting a battle to prevent my soul from throwing itself at him.