A Court of Fire and Lies

Living in the Past

All eyes land on me as the words stay still in the air, the girls eyes in front of me widen with shock. I almost think I can see my breath in the air but it vanishes in a second, as if smoke and shadow had descended from somewhere, but when I look around everything is still. Nothing but utter silence. 

The girl in front of me moves closer and says in a whisper tone, "How did you get here?" 

The question makes my mind race, I don't think I want to tell them of my power of winnowing. That is a secret between me and Rhys and the Night Court. No one else needs to know, besides they would tell Ianthe who would probably immediately tell Tamlin who would probably corner me into another interrogation which I know I couldn't bear through again. I wipe the image from my mind and say. 

"Well." My mind goes blank but I blurt out, "I ran actually."

"You ran, from the Spring Court manor to a random forest?" 

"Yeah, that's exactly how it happened." 

"Okay, aren't you mated with Tamlin, why did you leave?"

I feel my heartbeat quicken from the question and my hand immediately touches the hidden tattoo, and that night flashes through my head. 

Rhys had just come into my room, shadows following him with each step as his stare engulfed me, a feeling of pleasure running down the bond as I sat reading a book by the biggest window as a lilac breeze sweeps into the room, a second later the door closes and Rhys is next to me, the violet eyes seeing right through me as the urge to kiss him softly on the lips wafts upon me. Rhys smiles a little bit and just like that his lips are pressed against mine in a soft passionate kiss that makes me forget what we would be doing the next day, the stress pressing against my chest so heavily disappearing as my hands move up through his hair, his hand sliding up my thigh, and I remember at that moment I had never felt so at peace when I had kissed Tamlin, not the way I felt with Rhys, when his skin graced upon mine. He was mine, and we were equals, a promise we would make together forever in a just a moment. A promise that know lined up and down my arm in a tatto of darkness that marked both of us. Mates. And it was eternity that we had to spend together. 

His kiss deepens and suddenly it was like the whole room darkened and sparkled as he moved away slightly, letting loose a breath I felt cover my face as my eyes flicker open. The shadow of him still pressed upon me as he moved to the bed. My shoulders relax as I lean back further in the chair smoothing my now tossled hair. I see the corner of Rhys's mouth turn up slightly. 

And a moment later he says, "I know you're stressed about tomorrow, I can feel it running through the bond." My eyes lower to the floor.

"I don't trust tomorrow, wouldn't you say it is coming all too easily. The book, Amren retracing it all so fast. Yes, the Queens were absolutely horrible and we have risked Velaris for everything, but something is odd, not right. Cassian just wipes it off and Azriel seems to have gone missing. No one else seems to think about it but us. And there is only one way tomorrow that I can go knowing that your safe, if I'm not there or something happens I will have you within grasp with this,  but only if you agree, and it is inevitable anyways." He pauses and twists his hands. "I just thought maybe you would want to, to." He gets up and comes over to me. My eyes widen as he walks over to me swiftly. "If you would want to get our mating bond certain, where nothing could tear us apart. Ever. But once it's done you can't ever be with anyone else." His soft eyes meet mine, a hundred memories flash through my mind, the feeling of when I first saw him. The most beautiful man I had ever seen. And the only one I can ever think of spending eternity with. I place both of my hands upon his slightly tan face. "I can't imagine ever being without anyone else." The words come out smooth and I automatically feel a rush of utter happiness surge through the bond as it hits me suddenly. And I think about how long he must have turned this over in his head. A flicker of amusement passes through me and Rhys takes my hand, like a carved piece of stone, and suddenly we're out the door in a second as I pull us into a run. Realizing this is the perfect time to forget our troubles. I wouldn't want this to be anyway else. The wedding Ianthe had planned was too much, too many roses, too much of everything. None of it felt right none of it. When my eyes shift to the right I see Rhys smiling and we move faster, passing rooms. This is real. My mate and we have forever. Tomorrow will be okay. We leave the house and Rhys suddenly stops me. "You're sure you want to do this? I don't want to pressure you into anything you're unsure of." I move towards him and sweep in giving him a kiss and say, "Nothing is going to stop me from doing this, because not only do you fear losing me but everyday I feel as if you're a dream, your my only hope, my happiness. You once called me your salvation, but you're mine. I couldn't live without you." His eyes sparkle in the light. And as shadows and darkness shift behind us as we run through the bustling streets of Velaris. My home. No one looks at us as we race through the streets passing shops, restaurants and more. And for some reason I think the city feels even more beautiful than ever, and I think Rhys sees it to. I want to close my eyes and savor this moment forever, and never let anything go, to stop time. Rhys suddenly jerks me to the left and I let out a soft laugh as we slide through a narrow pathway. Midway he stops me and leans me against the wall, pulling me with a smile and kiss. But I move out of the way swiftly running to the left and I hear a laugh behind me, a second later I feel his arms wrap around my waist. Breathing in and letting loose a heavy sigh he wips me around and kisses my neck softly. Suddenly  he points slightly up to the sky. And if you look up at an angle you can see the peak of a tower. "That's were we need to be." I smile and nod. It looks like we could be there in about an hour.