The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman

Chapter 16

Well this is awkward. It's kind-of been a while. ;)

~ Feyre ~

I had only been unconscious for a few minutes when I am dragged back to the dark forest behind me with a terrifying vision- Rhys, on the ground, twin ash daggers piercing his hands and my name being screamed on his lips.

Tamlin's arms are wrapped tight around me pressing me into the dirt.
"Be quiet Feyre, you're not going to him. Do not worry, you'll always be mine." My anger at this claiming statement clears my head enough for me to note that I'm screaming too. I note that Tamlin is wrong, there is nothing in me that needs him anymore, no part of me that wants him. There had been once, before Under The Mountain, maybe after, but he left me, abandoned me, suffocated me and gave me no proof that he was mine, as he constantly claimed, and gave me nothing but his word that I was his. I kept using the excuse that I didn't know Rhys that well to dissuade the mating bond- but how well did I actually know Tamlin? I don't know what he did, what he liked outside of the bedroom. And that bedroom- it was never his.

So he was wrong, I was not his anymore. I had been granted something better, from a male who would worship me, do anything for me, including ordering his own torture to protect me from what he thought I didn't want. Tamlin was wrong, I was not his, I was my own. Power flowed through my veins, waiting to be directed wherever I wished, just as my heart did. I will give my heart to Rhys, when I reach him, I decide. Because Tamlin was wrong- I was not his, and I was definitely going to Rhys. My mate, who was screaming for me. I was coming for him.

My decision took place within a second, and within that second I realised I had no qualms about hurting Tamlin to escape his steel grasp. Light exploded around me, pushing Tamlin backwards, and lifting me to my feet. I rise steadily, the light emanating from me lighting up the darkness. The way before me is clear, the bond given a physical form, the light emanating from me channeling into a clear path towards him. Faster than what should have been possible, even by a fae, I travel along that bond.

Moving so fast, the forest, the glittering night sky, and the roars of an outraged Tamlin barely touch me as I move towards Rhysand. It is not until I stop before him, that I realised I had appeared as if moulded from the Night itself. The need panting through him makes his chest rise fall, his eyes locked on mine wonder and relief caressing my mind. Twin daggers appear in either of my hands, but I did not need them as my clear voice pierced the gathering.

My gaze directed to the stunning fae woman, standing above him clad in an extremely revealing black slip.
"You are not needed anymore." I say, dismissing them. They look at me, sniffing, then look at Rhys as they scent the bond between us. Rhys nods erratically, straining against the ash daggers in his hands. His body is writhing in both pain and need.

The rest of the fae disappear without another word, between the folds of the world, and only Rhys and I are left in the small clearing surrounded by trees. I'm at Rhys' side in an instant, pulling the daggers from out of his hands then channeling all my strength into pinning his chest down beneath me as I let his arms stroke my sides, my hair, my legs. I'm sitting on top of his chest, focused, at long last, brought back to life from the male below me. Relief, purpose and the freedom from the endless turmoil I had been suffering from all these months pounded through me, clearing my head and my heart as much as my lust tried to cloud it.

I hear Tamlin moving closer, traveling fast, although no where near as fast as I had. Rhys' hands were trying to reach his pants , which I were sitting on to prevent that very action. He pushes into my behind, but I clear my head as much as possible and focus. I lean down, my hair falling like a sheet on either side of us, giving us a world of our own, and speak to him.
"Take us to Night. Somewhere isolated. Where we cannot be interrupted."

Even through Rhys was not himself, he understood that to relieve his desperate consuming need, he would have to comply with every order I gave. I was the only one who could complete the Rite. I was his mate, and tonight, I would be his Maiden.

He pulls us through the folds in the world, we became the darkness, the light and the stars. We arrive outside of a cabin covered in the winter snow, Rhys is holding me in his arms and begins running the 20 feet it takes to reach the cabin. I look around, snow capped mountains tower around us, the stars are endless above. What a beautiful place to take refuge in.

Rhys bangs through the door and I take in the warm wooden walls, floors and counters, the small kitchen, living room and homey atmosphere. I don't have the will to wonder where we are, but a small part inside of me, slowly being brought back to life, wonders that the cottage around me, although beautiful, could do with a splash of colour.

Rhys takes us to a bedroom at the end of a small corridor and lays me down surprisingly gently on the soft plush bed he then stands above. His hands clench and release in fists at his sides, and I watch in wonder as he manages to hesitate in front of me. Although the lust in his eyes never clears, I watch as the feeling within them changes. I know Rhys is fighting the Rite for control of his body, as he purrs to me,
"Hello, Feyre darling."

This isn't long, but at least it exists. I am so sorry for the wait! I suppose I could end it here, or let it continue. But who knows if I'll ever update it arghhh. Thank you so much for your patience and supportive comments!! They mean the world!! 😘