𝙲𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙱𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚘𝚖(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔶-𝔢𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱

Rhys had gone in and out of consciousness for the last hour, his head on my lap. I ran my fingers through his damp curls, watching every single breath he took. I monitored him, my heart stopping every time he hesitated to take a breath.

Muffled footsteps sounded outside of the cave, and I straightened, peering out to see Feyre. Her jaw was clenched, her jacket and hair coated in snow.

Feyre chucked the weed at him, showering his bare chest with soil. I picked up the weed and brushed the dirt off of him delicately, shooting Feyre a concerned glance as I did so.

"Chew on that," she instructed.

I plucked off a few leaves and held them to his mouth. He began chewing on it, grimacing as he swallowed.

Feyre tore off her jacket, shoved up her sleeve, and strode to us. She took a dagger from her pocket and dragged it across her forearm, causing me to gasp, my eyes going wide.

"Feyre!" I exclaimed, cringing at the blood. She ignored me.

"Drink this. Now," Feyre said.

"Feyre, what--" I began.

Feyre gripped the back of his head before I could go on. She lifted her arm to his mouth, and shoved him against her skin. I grimaced, listening to him as he drank her blood.

When he was done, she yanked back her arm, and shoved down her sleeve. I stared at her with wide eyes, but she ignored me.

"You don't get to ask questions," she said, and he looked up at her. "You only get to answer them. And nothing more."

"Feyre, what's going on--" I began.

"Mary, please," Feyre cut me off, though speaking with more care than before. "How long have you known that we're mates?"

I froze. My green eyes widened slightly, my breath hitching. I gazed down at Rhys, who had stilled beneath me.

Mates. What did she mean by we? All three of us? I'd never heard of that happening before. I didn't even know it was possible.

"Feyre--" he started.

"How long have you known?" she repeated, nostrils flaring.

"You ... You ensnared the Suriel?" he realized, and dread dawned on me.

"I said you don't get to ask questions."

"Feyre, what are you talking about?" I demanded, brows furrowing. She finally met my gaze, her blue eyes filled with pure fury.

"Did you know?" she snapped at me. "That we're mates?"

"No," I said. "No, Feyre. I swear, I had no idea." I scoffed, shaking my head as I took it in. "All three of us? Mates?" She nodded.

"All three of us," she confirmed, narrowing her eyes at Rhys. "How long did you know, Rhysand?"

"I suspected for a while with you, Feyre," Rhys said, swallowing once more. "I knew for certain when Amarantha was killing you. And when we stood on the balcony Under the Mountain—right after we were freed, I felt it snap into place between us. I think when you were Made, it ... it heightened the smell of the bond. I looked at you then and the strength of it hit me like a blow."

"And for me?" I demanded, tears welling in my eyes, my voice nothing more than a whisper.

"The night my father and I killed your family," he confessed, voice breaking. "When I found you in that closet. You looked up at me with wide, terrified eyes. And the bond snapped for me."