The night before I was to return to Spring, I went looking for Rhys. I found him in an office, working through some paperwork.

"Rhys?" I asked. He looked up and his face tightened slightly. I knew I was shielding but he likely knew why I was there.

"Yes?"

"Are there others who can winnow other than you in your court?"

"Mor can," he said cautiously.

"I-" I paused then continued. "Can she be the one to take me back tomorrow?" His face went blank, wiped clean of all emotion. I decided to give him a little more detail than I planned. "I'd like to talk to Tamlin about a few of the things we discussed this week. My powers and all? And someone who can back me up would be useful. I'd ask you but due to your problems with each other, that would cause more harm than good." His face loosened the smallest bit. His body relaxed slightly.

"Of course," he replied. "It's vital that you get some training soon, and Mor is very good at swaying opinions."

"Thank you," I said shyly. He looked at me confused, but smiled ever so slightly.

"You're welcome."

~~~~~

The next morning, I didn't see Rhys. Mor, however, was waiting at the breakfast table with a slightly sad expression on her face.

"Are you ready?" she asked as soon as I finished. I just nodded.

In a blink, I was back in the suffocating Spring Court. I turned to Mor.

"Do you trust me?" I asked.

"Yes." There was no hesitation. I nodded.

"Then wait here, I'll be back." Her face broke into a sudden smile. "I know some things are going to be said that Rhys does not need to hear," I added. I hesitated and then spoke again. "If something goes drastically wrong, I'll scream." She nodded.

Without another word, I walked back into that house for what would likely be the last time.

When I arrived, Tamlin and Lucian were having breakfast still.

"Feyre!" Tamlin said when I came inside, "I'm so glad you're safe!" He stood up to hug me and was shocked when I took a step back.

"I need to talk to you," I told him. His face darkened a little bit.

"What did he do." Tamlin said in a flat, dead voice.

"He didn't do anything," I assured him. "But I found out something that you need to know." Suddenly Tamlin looked interested again.

"What's that?"

"He's-" I stopped, biting my lip. This was going to be disastrous. I could feel it in my bones. "He's my mate." Both males froze.

"He. Is. WHAT."

"He's my mate," I explained. "I didn't know that was why I could hear him, I always could. I thought it was that bargain but it was the mate bond because I don't know anything about them. He didn't realize it until right after.. Right after I was re- Made. And I was with you, so he left me alone. He didn't want to tell me and turn my life upside down. He thought I was happy. He wasn't even going to cash in on the bargain." I took a deep breath before continuing.

"But he could feel how scared I was during the wedding. I was having a panic attack. That's why he came for me. He told me about the bond while I was there." I didn't tell Tamlin that Rhys had told me drunk, that wouldn't help my case.
Tamlin and Lucian just stood there. Frozen.

"This doesn't change anything," Tamlin said to me.

"Of course it does," I argued. "He's my mate, he deserves a chance. I'm sorry Tamlin, more sorry than I can say. But you're the one who told me that the mate bond is sacred, special. If my own mate doesn't deserve a chance, then who does?" His face darkened as I spoke.

"Fine," he spat. "Fine. If that's what you want, then get out. Get out of my house and leave my land and go stay with your whore. "

My vision went red.

"Don't you ever call him that again," I said from between gritted teeth.

"Don't like the truth? That creature sat by Amarantha's side and helped her. The woman who killed you. And you want to stay with him? You want to go live in the house with Amarantha's Whore ?"

"I said," my voice turned soft, deadly, "Don't you ever call him that AGAIN !" On the last word, I exploded.

I was a column of flame. Every ounce of my anger and fury at his hypocrisy was flowing through me and out of my pores as pure flame. The room darkened, the sun beginning to be obscured by the darkness flowing through the room. Dimly, through my fury, I could see Lucian's bald fear. Even Tamlin looked afraid for the first time since we'd returned to this stifling house.

"Never darken my life again," I said, pointing at Tamlin. Before either male could speak, I spun on my heel and walked out of the room, spreading the darkness before me.

Mor looked like she was in shock when I found her right outside of the house.

"I heard screaming," she explained. "Do you think you could turn that off? At least the flames? We need to get back before they recover." Her words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the flames instantly. I collapsed.

"I'm okay," I rasped. "I've just never had that happen before. I'd like to leave please?" Without another word, she grabbed me. In a few moments, we were in front of the townhouse again.

I heard him before I saw him.

"Mor? Are you okay? You've been gone a whi-" he stopped when he saw me hanging on to Mor, smelling of smoke and darkness. "Feyre?" I smiled at him slightly.

"You came back," he said, wonder in his voice. Mor said nothing, only handed me to him with a smile.

"I only went back," I rasped, "Because I had unfinished business in that court." I held up my left hand. It was empty, the engagement ring had melted off when I blew up like a volcano.

He brought me into the townhouse, tucking me onto the couch with a cup of tea and a blanket. I let him fuss. It was nice to have someone who cared about me as something other than an arm ornament.

"What the hell happened?" he asked bluntly.

"I don't have the words to describe it," I said finally. "And I don't want to repeat some of the things that were said. I asked Mor because I didn't want you to have to hear them. And because I knew you'd be hard pressed to sit and wait for me while I tidied up behind myself." He hesitated.

"Will you show me? I can take it," he promised. I studied him for a moment, then showed him. When he came out of my memory, his face was somewhat shadowed. But also joyful.

"I'm sorry for what he said," I told him.

"I'm used to it," he explained.

"You shouldn't be," I replied softly. He smiled at me.

"Did you mean it?" He asked suddenly. "Do you really want to give me- us- a chance?"

"You're my mate for a reason," I said, "You deserve at least a chance."

His face lit up in a brilliant smile.

"Thank you, Feyre."

(1245 words.)