Chapter 55 Quotes

“I think I fell in love with you,' Rhys murmured, stroking a finger down my arm, 'the moment I realised you were cleaving those bones to make a trap for the Middengard Wyrm. Or maybe the moment you flipped me off for mocking you. It reminded me so much of Cassian. For the first time in decades, I wanted to laugh.'

'You fell in love with me,' I said flatly, 'because I reminded you of your friend?'

He flicked my nose. 'I fell in love with you, smartass, because you were one of us- because you weren't afraid of me, and you decided to end your spectacular victory by throwing that piece of bone at Amarantha like a javelin. I felt Cassian's spirit beside me in that moment, and could have sworn I heard him say, "if you don't marry her, you stupid prick, I will.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“At least the rumours about wing-span correlating with the size of other parts were right.'

His back muscles tensed as he choked out a laugh. 'Such a dirty, wicked mouth.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“Rhys said softly from behind me, 'I would be happy beyond reason, though, if you one day did honour me with children. To share that with you.'

I turned back to him. 'I want to live first,' I said. 'With you. I want to see things and have adventures. I want to learn what it is to be immortal, to be your mate, to be part of your family. I want to be... ready for them. And I selfishly want to have you all to myself for a while.'

His smile was gentle, sweet. 'You take all the time you need. And if I get you all to myself for the rest of eternity, then I won't mind that at all.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“You're mine,' I whispered, dragging my hands through his hair, down his back, across his wings.

My friend through many dangers.

My lover who had healed my broken and weary soul.

My mate who had waited for me against all hope, despite all odds.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“I think I was falling in love with you for a while,' I said, the words barely audible over the trickle of water as I washed his beautiful wings. 'But I knew on Starfall. Or came close to knowing and was so scared of it that I didn't want to look closer. I was a coward.'

'You had perfectly good reasons to avoid it.'

'No, I didn't. Maybe- thanks to Tamlin, yes. But it had nothing to do with you, Rhys. Nothing to do with you. I was never afraid of the consequences of being with you. Even if every assassin in the world hunts us... it's worth it. You are worth it.'

His head dipped a bit. And he said hoarsely, 'Thank you.'

My heart broke for him then- for the years he'd spent thinking the opposite. I kissed his bare neck, and he reached back to drag a finger down my cheek.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“What now?' Wordlessly, he took the soap from my hands and turned me, rubbing down my back, scrubbing lightly with the cloth.

'It's up to you,' Rhys said. 'We can go back to Velaris and have the bond verified by a priestess- no one like Ianthe, I promise- and be declared officially Mated. We could have a small party to celebrate- dinner with our... cohorts. Unless you'd rather have a large party, though I think you and I are in agreement about our aversion for them.' His strong hands kneaded muscles that were tight and aching in my back, and I groaned. 'We could also go before a priestess and be declared husband and wife as well as mates, if you want a more human thing to call me.'

'What will you call me?'

'Mate,' he said. 'Though also calling you my wife sounds mighty appealing, too.' His thumbs massaged the column of my spine. 'Of if you want to wait, we can do none of those things. We're mated, whether it's shouted across the world or not. There's no rush to decide.'

I turned, 'I was asking about Jurian, the king, the queens, and the Cauldron, but I'm glad to know I have so many options where our relationship stands. And that you'll do whatever I want. I must have you wrapped completely around my finger.'

His eyes danced with feline amusement. 'Cruel, beautiful thing.'

I snorted. The idea that he found me beautiful at all-

'You are,' he said. 'You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I thought that from the first moment I saw you on Calanmai.''

And it was stupid, stupid for beauty to mean anything at all, but... My eyes burned.

'Which is good,' he added, 'because you thought I was the most beautiful make you'd ever seen. So it makes us even.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“You're telling me this now?'

'I got sidetracked,' he said, his eyes twinkling.

And the light in those eyes, the quiet joy... They knocked the breath from me. A future- we would have a future together. I would have a future. A life.

His smile faded into something awed, something... reverent, and I reached out to cup his face in my hands-

To find my skin glowing.

Faintly, as if some inner light shone beneath my skin, leaking out into the world. Warm and white light, like the sun- like a star. Those wonder-filled eyes met mine, and Rhys ran a finger down my arm. 'Well, at least now I can gloat that I literally make my mate glow with happiness.'

I laughed, and the glow flared a little brighter. He leaned in, kissing me softly, and I melted for him, wrapping my arms around his neck.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“It was a small magic, he'd once told me, to keep the damper on who he was, what his power looked like.

As the full majesty of him was unleashed, he filled the room, the world, my soul, with glittering ebony power. Stars and wind and shadows; peace and dreams and the honed edge of nightmares. Darkness rippled from him like tendrils of steam as he reached out a hand and laid it flat against the glowing skin of my stomach.

The hand of night splayed, the light leaking through the wafting shadows, and I hoisted myself up on my elbows to kiss him.

Smoke and mist and dew.

I moaned at the taste of him, and he opened his mouth for me, letting me brush my tongue against his, scrape it against his teeth. Everything he was had been laid before me- one final question.

I wanted it all.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“I could die from this, I decided. From wanting him, from the pleasure of being with him.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“There was a glimmer in the darkness- a flash of lingering pain, a scar. And I understood why he wanted me like this, wanted to end it like this, with me astride him.

It broke my heart. I leaned forward to kiss him, softly, tenderly.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“I would glow- for him, I'd glow. For my own future, I'd glow.

So I sat up, hands braced on his broad chest, and unleashed that light in me, letting it drive out the darkness of what had been done to him, my mate, my friend.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“He tugged on my wet hair. 'We'll have to find a way to put a damper on that light.'

'I can keep the shadows hidden easily enough.'

'Ah, but you only lose control of those when you're pissed. And since I have every intention of making you as happy as a person can be... I have a feeling we'll need to learn to control that wondrous glow.'

'Always thinking; always calculating.'

Rhys kissed the corner of my mouth. 'You have no idea how many things I've thought up when it comes to you.'

'I remember mention of a wall.'

His laugh was a sensual promise. 'Next time, Feyre, I'll fuck you against the wall.'

'Hard enough to make the pictures fall off.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“If I am a High Lord's mate, I'm expected to bear you offspring, aren't I? So perhaps I shouldn't.'

'You are not expected to bear me anything,' he snarled. 'Children are rare, yes. So rare, and so precious. But I don't want you to have them unless you want to- unless we both want to. And right now, with this war coming, with Hybern... I'll admit that I'm terrified at the thought of my mate being pregnant with so many enemies around us. I'm terrified of what I might do if you're pregnant and threatened. Or harmed.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“Rhys picked up a bar of that pine tar-smelling soap and handed it to me, then passed a washrag. 'Someone, it seems, got my wings dirty.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Mist and Fury

“I don't know if I can do this.

Rhys went quiet for a moment. Do you want me to come with you?

To paint?

I'd be an excellent nude model.

I smiled, not caring that I was by myself in the street with countless people streaming past me. My hood concealed most of my face, anyway. You'll forgive me if I don't feel like sharing the glory that is you with anyone else.

Perhaps I'll model for you later, then. A sensuous brush down the bond that had my blood heating. It's been a while since we had paint involved.

The cabin and kitchen table flashed into my mind, and my mouth went a bit dry. Rogue.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Frost and Starlight