Mikael couldn't ease the pounding of his heart as they appeared in Velaris, just beyond the gates of Azriel and Seren's townhouse. Thesan released him and Mikael sprinted up the marble steps. He threw the doors open.

    Dark shadows swirled before him as he entered. Azriel appeared, clutching Truth-Teller in one hand. His siphons flared with power. Mikael raised his free hand. "It's me. Where's Estelle?"

    "In her room," Azriel grumbled, lowering his dagger. "Asleep, like any sane person would be."

    Thesan crossed his arms, lingering in the doorway behind Mikael. "He was adamant that we come."

    "Estelle won't answer me." Mikael shouldered past Azriel, heading up the stairs. "And I found something important. Something she needs to see."

    Azriel and Thesan followed him up the stairs. "Be quiet," Azriel hissed. "Don't wake Seren."

    Mikael barely nodded. Estelle's scent was strong as he reached her room. Please let her be here. Please just let her be asleep, he prayed silently.

    He opened her door softly. Estelle's bed was unmade, and there was no sign of her. The bathroom door wasn't closed. Mikael entered the room. His heart skipped a beat. Her balcony doors hung open. Azriel entered behind him. He bolted to the bed, staring at the empty hollow where Estelle had slept. Shadows curled over his ears and his eyes widened, obviously in fear.

    "Where is she?" Mikael demanded. Azriel didn't reply. "Where is she?" He took a step forward, his voice dropping to a growl. "Where is my mate?"

    Thesan grabbed him by the shoulder and hauled him back. "Mikael, no."

    Azriel ran a scarred hand over his mouth and down his chin. "I should've just agreed to take her."

    "Take her where?" Mikael asked.

    Azriel strode out the door. "Wake Lysander. I'm going to get Rhys and Cassian. Do not let Seren hear you. I don't want this to scare her." He left the room without another word.

    Mikael stared at the empty bed, fear gripping his mind. "Don't worry," Thesan murmured soothingly. "It sounds like Azriel knows where she is. I'm sure she's fine."

    "No, she's not. I think I know where she is too." Mikael raked his fingers through his hair. Estelle, please tell me you didn't go to the torture chamber on your own. How did you even find it? I thought Azriel had refused to show you the way. She didn't respond. Estelle, can you hear me?

    "Ameer is back at the Palace," Thesan said.

    "You can go if you need to."

    "Will you be all right?"

    Mikael nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "Once we find Estelle."

    Thesan hugged him briefly. "Let me know when you do." Mikael nodded and his father left the room.

    He lingered in the bedroom only a few minutes longer, breathing in Estelle's warm scent. Mikael headed down the hallway to Lysander's room. He didn't bother knocking. He threw the door open, summoning light to his fingertips. Lysander bolted upright, his hand vanishing beneath his pillow.

    Mikael saw a glint of steel. "It's me, Lys," he said quickly.

    "What are you doing here?" Lysander asked, rubbing his eyes groggily. He dropped his dagger and sat up. His eyes flew wide open. "Shit, it's Estelle, isn't it?"

    Mikael nodded and Lysander toppled out of bed. He dashed around his room, tripping into a pair of pants and a shirt. The male stepped into his closet and grabbed a pair of leathers.

    "What happened?" Lysander asked as he collected his seven green siphons and a few blades.

    "I don't know. She's missing. I couldn't reach her through the Bond, so I had Father bring me here. Her bed is empty and her balcony doors are open. I think your dad knows where she is."

    Lysander paused, meeting his gaze. "So do you. Where?"

    "I think she went to the old torture chamber. The one Ze'ev took her to."

    Lysander closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. "Shit. Where's Dad?"

    "He said he was going to get Rhysand and Cassian."

    "Nyx and Corbin too, then. How long has she been gone?"

    "I don't know. Half an hour. Maybe a little longer. Her scent is still fairly fresh."

    "Let's go to the river estate. We can wait with Rhys and Nyx," Lysander said, brushing past him. "Does Mom know?"

    Mikael shook his head, following him down the stairs. "Azriel made it clear that we shouldn't wake her."

    "Well, let's hope she doesn't wake up. She'll notice Dad is gone and if she finds out Estelle and I are too, she'll panic."

    "Maybe we should tell her, so she's not caught off guard when we return?"

    "She'll insist on coming with us."

    "Is that a problem?" They spread their wings as they exited the house. Lysander took the lead, flying across the Sidra towards Rhys and Feyre's estate.

    "Yes and no. Mom is good to have around in a fight, but if Estelle is hurt..." Lysander hesitated. "You've seen how she reacts. She won't be thinking clearly. Dad is right. It's better if she doesn't know right now."

    Mikael nodded. He stroked the Bond as they landed beyond the grounds of the estate. The front doors open and Nyx and Rhysand emerged. Both wore worried expressions.

    "Good. I was hoping you two would come here. We're supposed to fly to the House of Wind and meet Az, Cass, and Corbin," Rhysand explained. "Azriel will take us to the chamber from there."

    They took off again. Rhysand flew ahead, while Nyx and Lysander flanked Mikael. "Have you heard anything from her?" Nyx asked.

    "No," Mikael replied. He was still tugging on the Bond. Umbra squeezed his arm. We'll find her, he promised the shadow.

    The House of Wind loomed just ahead. Three winged figures appeared atop it. Rhysand landed beside Azriel. "Take us there," he ordered. Azriel bowed his head and shadows engulfed their group.

◦═══✦═══◦

    They emerged before a dark mountain cave. Estelle's scent was fresh. Mikael started forward, then paused as everyone else waited for Azriel. He was staring at the cave, features frozen in a haunted expression.

    "Az," Cassian gripped his shoulder. "Can you handle this?" Azriel blinked and entered the cave without responding.

    "There's a set of stairs back here that leads down into the torture chamber," Azriel explained. "The entire place is warded against magic. Once we go down there, we'll be powerless. Have your weapons ready."

    Mikael drew Alethea and followed the Shadowsinger down the winding stairs. So that's why Estelle isn't answering. The Bond must be affected by the wards too, he thought. They were quiet as they filed down the stairs.

    Estelle's scent grew stronger and Mikael stiffened with dread. He could scent blood. They burst into the torture chamber and found it devoid of life. Mikael's mouth fell open, spying the bloodstained runes carved into every surface of the chamber.

    "Those are new," Azriel murmured.

    Mikael was about to reply, when a bloodcurdling scream filled the air. "Estelle," he gasped.

    "Estelle!" Lysander hollered. Nyx and Corbin echoed the call.

    "Here." Cassian reached a metal door positioned on another wall. He grabbed the latch and shoved. "It's stuck." Cassian backed up and landed a solid kick just beneath the latch. The door jolted open.

    Mikael's heart stopped at the scene. Estelle was screaming and coated in blood. Her blades were a blur of light as she cleaved through the limbs of dozens of undead creatures. He rushed into the corridor, steel already singing. Mikael tore into the creatures, fighting his way towards Estelle.

    Her eyes were unfocused and she stumbled. He couldn't tell if the blood covering her body was her own or from the creatures she'd slain. "Estelle!" He hollered. She showed no signs of hearing him.

    Her screams grew louder and tears ran down her cheeks. Znaniya clattered to the ground close by. Mikael kept his gaze on Estelle as he struggled towards her. Azriel was right behind him. Estelle doubled over with a wail and her sword slipped from her grasp. The creatures closed in on her. Mikael decapitated three of them in one stroke, their blood misting in the air.

    He reached Estelle as she collapsed. Angry, protective instincts flooded his veins and Mikael flared his wings out, using them to shield Estelle as he held off the creatures. She convulsed, blood falling from her lips. Breath rattled in her lungs.

    "Get her out of here!" Rhys yelled. "We'll hold them off." Mikael sheathed his sword and scooped Estelle off the ground. Azriel reclaimed her blades and followed him out of the corridor.

    They ran up the stairs and out of the cave. Mikael dropped to his knees, setting Estelle down. He cupped her face in his hands. "Estelle. Batsy. It's me. Look at me. I'm here." Her eyes were unseeing as she continued to sob. Her breaths were coming fainter.

    Azriel knelt beside them. "Is your magic back?"

    Mikael sparked a flame to life above his finger. "Yes."

    "Can you heal her?" Azriel pointed to Estelle's stomach. Her leathers were soaked in blood and riven flesh was visible beneath them.

    Mikael nodded, swallowing hard. "Hold her down."

    Estelle screamed, her tears falling harder as Azriel pinned her arms and legs in place. "I'm sorry, Little Bat," he murmured. "I'm sorry."

    Mikael shifted behind her head and held his hands over her. Two years ago, he wouldn't have been able to treat damage this extensive. He was grateful that he'd chosen to improve his healing abilities. He gritted his teeth, focusing as his magic sought out Estelle's wounds.

    "This will hurt," Mikael grunted. He set to work and Estelle struggled, her voice breaking mid scream. Azriel's siphons glowed as he fought to keep her still.

    "Get off of me!" Estelle wailed. "Let me go! Stop! Stop!" Her screams were like daggers to his heart, but Mikael kept working. Estelle's breath came in hyperventilating gasps. "Not again! Let me go! Not again!"

    "Is she all right?" Nyx appeared in the mouth of the cave, covered in blood. "All of the creatures are dead."

    Estelle gave an answering scream. "Get off of me! Let me go! Mikael!" Her cries were deafening. "Mikael!"

    Azriel's throat bobbed as she thrashed against him. He pushed her down harder, squeezing his eyes shut. Sweat dotted Mikael's brow. "Just a little longer, Batsy," he rasped. She wailed, and it was evident that she hadn't recognized him. "Nyx, what's going on in her mind?"

    Nyx was silent for a few minutes, then replied, "She's hallucinating. She's stuck in her memories. Hold on. I can break her mental shields and force her to sleep."

    "Get off of me!" Estelle shrieked. "Mikael!" She wailed again. "Dad! Dad! Please! Get off of me! Get them off of me!"

    A dry sob broke from Azriel's lips. "Do it."

     Mikael was nearly done with her injuries. Estelle sobbed harder, then went silent. Her eyes closed and she fell limp, her features relaxing with sleep. Nyx staggered backwards, rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes. Azriel released Estelle, backing away from her.

    Mikael healed her last injury and lowered his head, panting for breath. "She'll...she'll be all right. Assuming whatever was going on with her mentally fixes itself." He bent over Estelle, pressing their foreheads together. Mikael wiped blood and tears from her cheeks, breathing a sigh of relief.

    From the corner of his eye, he saw Azriel gulping down deep breaths. When he seemed relatively calm again, Azriel returned to Estelle's side. Mikael didn't protest when he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. He buried his face in her hair, his shoulders shaking. His shadows drifted over Estelle, nudging her own abnormally still ones.

    Mikael closed his eyes as a headache pressed at his temples. She's safe, he told himself. She's all right. She'll be fine. Nyx rested a hand on his shoulder, but Mikael didn't look up. Not as tears of relief dripped down his cheeks.