A Court of Scars and Steel (Completed)

Chapter 17 - Feyre

"How dare you take what's mine!" Tamlin snarls. I grind my teeth. He's being a territorial ***hole.

"I am not your possession," I growl.

Tamlin glances over. "Feyre, he's playing with your mind, can't you see? Rhysand is controlling your thoughts."

All the other High Lords murmur among themselves.

I grab my temper and hold it on a very, very tight leash. I stand up, glaring at Tamlin. "My thoughts are perfectly my own, thank you," I hiss icily.

Tamlin stares at Rhysand with a crazed rage in his eyes. "What have you done to her?" Tamlin yells at my mate, completely ignoring me.

Gods! I can't believe I once loved this self-absorbed idiot. Tamlin acts like I am a second-class citizen, his possession, and have absolutely no brain or will of my own.

"He saved my life," I reply smoothly, and I could see Aelin and the Court of Dreams grinning out of the corner of my eye.

Tamlin opens his mouth to retort, probably something along the lines of 'He's messing with your mind,' but Rhys cuts in camly, "As much as I would enjoy smashing your heart into little tiny pieces like you did to Feyre's, we do have a meeting to attend."

Tamlin looks like a fish, a sight that my court and I thoroughly enjoy. He deserves it.

Grumbling, Tamlin, Lucien, and Ianthe move to sit down in the three remaining seats, which are thankfully on the other side of the pool, as far as possible from me.

"As I understand it, you called us here to discuss the threat Hybern poses?" Helion asks once everyone is seated.

"Hybern doesn't pose any threat," Ianthe simpers. I barely contain my snarl of rage. I can't believe I didn't see the manipulative b:tch in her.

Rhysand raises a single eyebrow. "And yet he attacked my city." Rage rises in my chest against Hybern, against the mortal queens. Velaris is a gem in the darkness, one they sought to destroy for their own gains.

All the High Lords turn to Rhysand at the mention of a city. I grin. It's time to let out a long kept secret and shock the High Lords dead, like Aelin put it.

"I didn't know there was a city in your lands, Rhysand," Tarquin hisses. "Pray tell, how did it survive Amarantha?" I feel bad for him. Tarquin is the only High Lord to reach out a hand of friendship, and we returned it by stealing from him.

Sorrow clouds all the eyes of the Inner Circle, Aelin's included. I remember what Aelin told me about her sacrifice, so similar to Rhys's, and the one we will both be required to make...

"Amarantha never knew it existed," my husband says simply. Yet I, and hopefully all of the High Lords, can hear the emotion behind that plain statement.

"I'm not even sure this so called 'city' even exists," Tamlin jabs.

"Velaris, the City of Starlight." I reply, smiling a little at the thought of my city. "And as for the reason you've never heard of it... it has been a secret from the rest of Prythian for over 1000 years. A place of prosperity and peace."

Tamlin outright scoffs at this. "I doubt any sort of place could exist under his rule."

I, and the entire Night Court, glare. Even Aelin glares, and that is something to behold. Her glare chills my blood.

"You know nothing about me, Tamlin," Rhys says calmly, and I truly admire my mate for his restraint.

"Then prove it," Beron grins. "Prove this so-called Velaris."

My court trades a look. The last time we revealed our city to an outsider, the queens betrayed us and gave Hybern the information to attack.

But Hybern already knows, and none of the High Lords, save Tamlin or Beron, would dare attack.

"There is an orb that belongs to my family," Mor says softly as all eyes turn to her. "The Veritas. Perhaps you have heard of it."

All the High Lords nod, and my husband snaps his fingers, the beautiful crystal appears on the desk.

I didn't know you still had it, I comment to my mate through the bond.

Rhys smiles at me. I saved it just in case. "You desire proof of Velaris?" he says out loud. "Then have your truth."

The city appears before us as it did the last time we used the Veritas. The image zooms through the streets, and I can feel Rhys's love through the pictures.

He squeezes my hand. I love you, he murmurs.

I send a stroke of love back, smiling. No matter what. The image tours the Rainbow now, and I see the beautiful multi-colored buildings and the people, each one smiling and waving.

The image rises, and we can see the gleaming Sidra and sparkling lights of the city before dissipating.

The High Lords sit stunned for a moment, just like I was the first time I saw the City of Starlight.

Finally, Tarquin says, "Someday, I should like to make Adriata like that. Where all Fae can live in peace together, whether they be male or female, High Fae or lesser Fae."

Rhysand smiles, saying softly, "I'd be honored to bring you around sometime."

Tarquin nods, but I can tell he's remembered the blood rubies and the Book of Breathings again. Then he looks at us, at me, and says softly, "Thank you for aiding me when no one else did. I rescind the blood rubies."

I notice the silver lining in my mate's eyes, and hastily jump in. "Thank you, Tarquin," I say softly. He nods at me again, smiling softly.

"So," he asks, "Are you going to introduce your friend?" Tarquin nods towards Aelin. "We've already met her, of course, but none of us were ever formally introduced."