Tethered to the Starlight: A Court of War and Starlight

Chapter 10: Feyre

            The Illyrian fighting leathers clung to my every curve, and highlighted the outline of the baby ever so slightly. I ran my fingers over the familiar fabric with a small grin stretching across my lips. Home.

Rhys' hungry eyes devoured my body, arousal still written in his gaze. Later, I said through the bond. He understood immediately and pulled me into a warm embrace one last time.

"Remember," he said, "My top priority is to keep you both safe. If something is wrong, you get me. You do not fight this alone, Feyre." I nodded and buried my head deeper in the crook of his neck. He chuckled deeply and broke away. "That's my girl. Now let's go get' em."

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My fae ears pricked with a slight movement. Rhys and I were perched behind the restaurant, awaiting any sign of danger. "Where is everyone?" I whispered.

He turned his head slightly, but kept his peripheral vision trained on the open space before us. "All of the kids are in a hidden bunker. As for the adults, they are either fighting in the army or hiding in their homes. Surprisingly, most were more than willing to fight." I nodded, however I wasn't surprised. Velaris was a city of dreamers, lovers, and passionate people. Velaris signified the paradise many spend years searching for. My people were not going to allow this city to fall to rubble without a fight.

My crouched stance was beginning to cause my legs to cramp up, Cauldron how I ached to be able to spread my wings and slice the throats of every attor covering the sky.

"Me too," Rhys said, smirking.

"Oh stop it you," I cried and swatted his shoulder. "But seriously, we need to make a move now. But how do we avoid them?" I pointed to the black mass of flying creatures.

"I have an idea. Azriel is on the ground with the troops and Mor is the eye in the sky. I think we could be the most help to the ground troops if we winnow there. Feyre, I want you to get into Tamlin's mind and see where he is. We can use that to our advantage." Furrowing my brow, I closed my eyes in concentration. Sending feelers in the direction of Tamlin's mentals walls, I found his brooding figure. His mental defenses were dangerously low, and I slipped in quite easily.

What am I doing here? Why did I agree to use Feyre as a pawn? His thoughts seemed to say. I wanted to scream into his mind, fight you prick! Pick up a weapon and fight for once, don't be so foolishly weak!

I thought better of my ideas and wound my way into his very being until I was Tamlin himself.. His eyes opened easily to me and I looked around. Hybern was to his right, looking rather impatient and brooding. Jurian was to his left and had a sword drawn, obviously unnerved by the eerie silence. Looking past the two men I saw Hybern's troops assembled in front of them, awaiting instruction. The troops were situated along the Sidra with menacing armor and bearing ash swords as well as arrows. A strong bark from Hybern motivated them all to move further into the Rainbow, directly into where Azriel would be waiting.

"They are along the Sidra. If we go now we reach Azriel in time."

"Stay safe, my mate," he urged and kissed me passionately before winnowing us to Azriel's side.

Azriel was tense, his shoulders drawn taut. "Az?" He turned tentatively, skepticism written across his face.

"Feyre, is it really you?" He scanned my face and I nodded, confidence radiating.

Rhys put a wearying hand on Azriel's shoulder and squeezed; a warning. "They're coming right now Azriel. Are we ready?" He glanced to the expansive horde of people to our backs.

Sighing, Azriel said, "I'm sure we will know soon enough."

I moved to grip Rhys' hand tenaciously, afraid to let go. It's now or never, I said through the bond. He met my gaze in agreement.

Our first sign of danger was an increasing number of attors who preyed upon our people. They began to dive bomb and slash at the army behind us. Now or never, I thought to myself. Along with Rhys, I winnowed as fast as I could into the sky and slashed the throats of as many attors as I could with my ash swords.

Illyrians stormed the sky left and right, falling occasionally in defeat. I watched a slender woman fall in particular, a woman I had seen many times. Rita. I'm so sorry, I tried to say. But I was cut short by an attor ripping an excruciatingly pointed beak across my shoulder.

Bellowing, I let several drop so of blood fall before I gripped the world again. Unleashing the fire beneath my bones, I scorched the pathetic creature until he resembled a skewered chicken.

"Everybody back!" I screamed, and watched as each warrior fell to the ground in confusion. The attors attempted to follow suit, but were stopped short by a combination of blaze and high winds. Bones rained from the sky and brought with them the smell of destruction.

"Nice," Rhys praised through the bond.

I huffed, the baby causing me to tire more quickly than usual. I'm a little fatigued, can you get a read on them?

I couldn't see my mate anywhere, but I could almost sense him nodding and setting to work immediately. "I-I can't. Tamlin's defenses are up! Someone is controlling h-"

But he never finished his sentence. "Rhys!"

My eyes were wide in fear and Azriel looked to me in concern. "What s it?"

"I can't reach-"

"Feyre, sweetie?" The purr of the voice was wrong.

Where is he? I pleaded, pounding against the intruder in my mind.

Hybern's ragged chuckle sounded throughout my head. "Well, why don't you turn yourself and that precious child you're carrying over to me, and maybe then I'll release your precious mate."