A Court of Ash and Fire

Chapter Fourteen

"You had no right!" Aelin screamed, trying to get out of those invisible bonds.

"You gave us no other choice," Rhysand said. The others gave him a look that suggested otherwise. "And we learnt more from a few flashes of your memories then we have talking to you."

Aelin took a deep breath, another tear leaking from under her eye. "You had no right," she repeated. She hated herself for how her voice broke.

Rhysand stared down at her, and his eyes softened. "I am sorry that it has come to this. I truly am. But there was no other way that we were going to get anything out of you."

"Why couldn't you have just let me go?" Aelin whispered, her bottom lip trembling. "Why put me through all this?"

Rhysand shook his head. "You managed to invade the Night Court, a place no human has ever infiltrated."

Good. Somehow, they hadn't noticed she was Fae. Perhaps her mental shields had protected at least that. Aelin's eyes fluttered closed. "It was an accident," she murmured, going to sit up and finding that her bonds were gone. She was done. With these Fae, with this place. "I want to go home."

Rhysand cocked his head. "Where is your home, exactly?"

Aelin slowly got to her feet, swiping her fingers under her eyes. She inhaled sharply, then spat, "up your ass."

And launched herself at him.

~

She clawed and scratched at every part of him she could reach. She scratched at his eyes, his throa,t his chest. Immediately, the others leapt upon her, ripping her from Rhysand.

The male stumbled back, slapping a hand to his bleeding nose. Aelin struggled against Cassian's grip, but she was tired. "I want to go home," she sobbed, and began to cry in earnest. She slumped into Cassian's arms.

You do not yield.

But she wanted too.

You do not yield.

She can't keep going like this.

You do not yield.

She was done.

And she was going home. Now.

She sagged, flopping her head forward. That inner fire dulled. Her last light trembled.

When she lifted her head again, she was face to face with her mother.

Evalin gently clasped her daughters face in her hands, her eyes, identical to Aelin's own, brimmed with tears. "Your fire may flicker from time to time," she whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead. "But do not let it go out." She rested her forehead against her own. "My fireheart."

She nodded, her last tear running down her cheek. Her mother smiled, a sweet, serene tilt of her lips, and disappeared into mist.