Cassian lay facedown on the earth.
Nesta rushed toward him, praying, sobbing, her magic still echoing through the world.
She turned him over, searching for the knife, the wound, butโ The knife lay beneath him. Unbloodied.
He groaned, cracking his eyes open. โI figured,โ he rasped, โI should lie low while you did that.โ
Nesta gaped at him. Then burst into tears.
Cassian sat up, soothing sounds on his tongue, and took her face in his hands. โYou Unmade her.โ
Nesta glanced to the Crown on the earthโthe black stain where Briallyn had been. โShe had it coming.โ
He chuckled, leaning his brow against hers. Nesta closed her eyes, breathing in his scent. โYou are my mate, Cassian,โ she said against his lips, and kissed him softly.
โAnd youโre mine,โ he said, kissing her in turn.
And then his hands slid into her hair. And the kiss โฆ
It did not matter, the world around them, or the Crown at her feet, as he kissed her. A mateโs kiss. One that set their souls twining, glowing.
She pulled back, letting him see the joy in her eyes, her smile. His awe, his own joy, made her throat tighten.
โCassian, Iโโ
But two figures landed beside them, making the mountain shudder, and they whirled to find Mor and Azriel there, faces grave.
โEris?โ Cassian demanded.
โSafe, and the Made dagger is in our possession again,โ Azriel said, โthough Eris is pissed and confused. Heโs at the Hewn City. Butโโ
โItโs Feyre,โ Mor said.