Previously, Tarquin still hates our heroes because their world-relations strategy is a PR NIGHTMARE! Tarquin blames them for Hybern’s attack, and may or may not show up to the big upcoming meeting between all the High Lord Bros.
A Court of Wings and Ruin Chapter 39:
The Night Court crew and the Illyrian army set up camp nearby to try to help the wounded. Feyre assures us there has been a lot of damage, but it all happened offscreen to characters that I don’t know, so it’s hard to get too invested in this.
Cassian, though … He limped through the injured laid out on the rocky, dry ground, offering kernels of praise or comfort to the soldiers who had not yet been tended. With the Siphons, he could do quick battlefield patching, but … nothing extensive. Nothing intricate.
I have absolutely no idea what this means, but everyone act concerned!
Feyre tells us how strong and amazing and clear-eyed Rhys is. A perfect inspiration to his army while the rest of them walk around in a daze.
After a montage of Feyre helping out around camp, she sits down and falls asleep, only to wake up in a tent with Rhys who tells her to sleep more. Instead, they talk about how they need to take Hybern down and how they need allies. They decide to hold their big meeting three days from now, and Feyre tries to convince Rhys that maybe making the world think they’re all assholes isn’t the best plan forward anymore.
“At this meeting with the other High Lords, what role will you play?”
“The usual one.”
I nodded, having anticipated his answer. “And the others will play their usual roles, too.”
“And?”
I slid my hand from his face and put it over his heart. “I think the time has come for us to remove the masks. To stop playing the part.”
[…]
“…So no more masks, no more roles to play. We go as ourselves. As a family.”
I don’t really get what exactly this transition means. They’re going to show up and be…polite? I understand they’ll reveal Velaris, THE SECRET CITY OF KINDNESS, but I don’t know how suddenly everyone else will be like, “OMG THEY ARE ACTUALLY SO NICE??? LOOK AT THESE FRUIT BASKETS THEY LEFT IN OUR GUEST ROOMS???”
Rhys is like, “We have to spin this the right way so we don’t look manipulative. Also we need to be super careful how we reveal you have ALL THE POWERS.” Which all feels pretty manipulative still.
He pulled his mouth from mine, his face grave. “We keep all your powers but the ones I gave you hidden. As my High Lady, you will have been expected to have received some.”
I still don’t quite understand why all the other lords…who intentionally saved Feyre…would want to kill her because she gained some of their powers. And I also understand it less now that being able to give powers seems like a normal thing? And wait. Wait. High Lady is a totally new thing, so how could he have been expected to have given her some of his power? WHAT?
They recap all the various people who might ally with them and then have sex.
As I kissed my way across the muscled pane of his stomach.
Lower. Rhys’s hands slid into my hair as the rest of his clothes vanished.
I can’t wait until Feyre reveals her clothes vanishing powers to the High Lords! The Night Court is so full of wonder.
They head back home the next day, but Cassian and Azriel stay behind to lead the army to their new base. Mor, Rhys and Feyre recap the plot to Amren and Nesta. Now it’s time for WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF CASSIAN AND NESTA’S ROMANCE?
“Where is he?”
“Who?” Rhys crooned.
“Cassian.”
I didn’t think I’d ever heard his name from her lips. Cassian had always been him or that one. And Nesta had been … pacing in the foyer.
As if she was worried.
Wow. What a thrilling revelation. I never saw this coming.
Things get confusing when…Mor seems annoyed…and Feyre gives us a convoluted explanation.
I opened my mouth, but Mor beat me to it. “He’s busy.”
I’d never heard her voice so … sharp. Icy.
Nesta held Mor’s stare. Her jaw tightened, then relaxed, then tightened— as if fighting some battle to keep questions in. Mor didn’t drop her gaze.
Mor had never seemed ruffled by mention of Cassian’s past lovers. Perhaps because they’d never meant much— not in the ways that counted. But if the Illyrian warrior no longer stood as a physical and emotional buffer between her and Azriel … And worse, if the person who caused that vacancy was Nesta…
I don’t understand a single bit of reasoning in that paragraph. For HUNDREDS OF YEARS Mor and Azriel have been keeping themselves apart from one another for reasons…and Cassian is a buffer because he and Mor slept together once…A VERY VERY LONG TIME AGO? But now if Cassian is with Nesta…Mor and Azriel might have to…stop avoiding each other romantically? Okay.
Rhys sends Mor off to prepare for the meeting, and Amren and Nesta return to their lessons. Feyre overhears Amren telling Nesta that Cassian will be fine, but Nesta pretends not to care (eye roll).
Feyre tells Rhys she needs to go down to the prison. Boy oh boy.
“OMG I might have to totally admit to Azriel that I like like him if Cassian starts dating Nesta!!!!!” People keep saying this is supposed to be a “new adult” book but these characters all act like 14-year-olds at best.
“Her jaw tightened, then relaxed, then tightened” then relaxed again and keep doing for 4 hours?
““Who?” Rhys crooned.”
Rhys why are you doing that, just talk like a person
Clothes vanishing power could actually be useful during sexy times.
Just be careful about that public speaking trick where you imagine everyone naked, it could go very wrong
The sheer ick factor of Rhys and Feyre having sex while soldiers are literally trying to make it through the night right outside their tent. Just so messed up. Especially when a few lines later it’s confirmed that more people died in the night. They have some string as hell libidos being able to get turned on after being surrounded by war and death all day.