A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3.5)

by Sarah J. Maas

“I cannot forgive anyone who made you suffer.”

We fell silent, just staring at each other.

“You were born on the longest night of the year.” His fingers again stroked down my back. Lower. “You were meant to be at my side from the very beginning.”

“You drove me out of my mind. All those months. I still don’t quite believe I get to have this. Have you.”

I think my heart knew you were mine long before I ever realized it.”

“I love you,” he breathed. “More than life, more than my territory, more than my crown.”

I’d be an excellent nude model.

You’ll forgive me if I don’t feel like sharing the glory that is you with anyone else.

“I have to create, or it was all for nothing. I have to create, or I will crumple up with despair and never leave my bed. I have to create because I have no other way of voicing this.” Her hand rested on her heart, and my eyes burned. “It is hard,” the weaver said, her stare never leaving mine, “and it hurts, but if I were to stop, if I were to let this loom or the spindle go silent …” She broke my gaze at last to look to her tapestry. “Then there would be no Hope shining in the Void.”

Mate. My mate.

“Do your worst, Cursebreaker.”

Rhys’s answering laugh was bright as the sun on snow.

Interested in taking a look?

There’s room for one more in here. I thought mates were territorial. I could feel him smile as if he were grinning against my neck. I’m always eager to learn what sparks your interest, Feyre darling.

Cruel, wicked thing.

It was then that I realized what the three different tiers had been painted to look like. On the top: flowers. In the middle: flames. And on the bottom, widest layer … stars. The same design of the chest of drawers I’d once painted in that dilapidated cottage. One for each of us—each sister. Those stars and moons sent to me, my mind, by my mate, long before we’d ever met.

“Because you’re the foundation, the one who lifts us. You always have been.”

I gave him me—as no one but him would ever see me. No one but him would ever understand.

You are beautiful, he whispered down the bond. So are you. I know. I laughed, pulling away. Prick.

Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous.

“Do you want to begin at the wall, or finish there?”

“Or shall it be the wall the entire time?”

In his stare, I could have sworn galaxies swirled.

Any lingering scrap of my soul that hadn’t already belonged to her had unconditionally surrendered last night.

You make me so very happy. My life is happy, and I will never stop being grateful that you are in it.

“I will never stop being grateful to have you in my life, either, Feyre darling. And no matter what lies ahead”—a small, joyous smile at that—“we will face it together. Enjoy every moment of it together.”