The next day passed much like the previous one. Estelle was listless and unsettled, both by the argument with Celeste and by the meeting swiftly approaching. All of their guests had arrived and the meeting would take place the next morning.

    The entire Palace radiated with tension. Eris was a raging flame, crackling through the hallways and leaving embers of pain and anger in his wake. Castiel was constantly at his side. His Spymaster, Keitha, had said he hadn't been apart from his son for more than five minutes since Evren's kidnapping. Estelle couldn't blame him. He was probably paranoid that his child would be next.

    Besides Keitha, only three other people had accompanied Eris. Two of his generals and Keitha's wife, Juliette. Juliette was tasked with taking care of Castiel during the rare moments Eris wasn't around. Estelle had to wonder if Castiel had realized his mother wasn't actually with the two females. If so, had Eris told him the truth, or yet another story to fool his young mind?

    Larilis and Lucien accompanied Eris through the Palace. Elain kept herself occupied by helping with arrangements for the generals and advisors who accompanied the High Lords and Ladies. Helion brought only one general along for the meeting, as opposed to Eris' two.

    Tarquin had arrived with Varian, Amren, and a general as well. Both Tarquin and Varian were on edge. Estelle knew it was because of Cresseida's recent disappearance. She was Varian's sister, and Tarquin's cousin. Another person with ties to a High Lord, who Melantha had snatched out of her home.

    Kallias and Viviane brought two generals and an ambassador with them. Estelle couldn't wipe Viviane's tired and worried face from her mind. The beautiful female had dark circles under her eyes, as though she hadn't truly slept in weeks. Not since Wynter disappeared.

    Kallias' anger was as icy as Eris' was burning. When he entered a room, it felt as though all the warmth had been sucked away. He spoke very little or not at all, and kept one hand on Viviane's arm. Mikael had sought them out and apologized profusely, promising to find their son. His friend. Estelle had spent an hour in the bedroom with him after that, simply holding her mate as he fought back tears.

    Tamlin had come alone, unsurprisingly. The tension between him, Rhys, and Nyx was almost tangible, although they all did their best to hide it when Venelia was around. Drakon and Miryam also came by themselves. They alone seemed to be unaffected by the spiking emotions in the Palace. They were sympathetic, of course, but no one from their hidden country had disappeared, so they were a little more collected than the rest of their companions.

    Jurian, Vassa, and the other Mortal Queens brought no generals or ambassadors either. Estelle couldn't help but hope that they, or Drakon and Miryam, would have some useful information. They had been around for centuries, despite being Mortal.

    Jurian's soul had been trapped in the world for many years, thanks to Amarantha. She wore his eye in a ring and one of his fingers in a necklace, keeping his soul bound to his body parts. He was eventually resurrected by the Cauldron during the War with Hybern. He maintained his Mortal appearance, but it seemed like the Cauldron's power had unexpectedly lengthened his life span as well.

    Vassa shared a similar story. She had once been cursed by the dreadlord Koschei to take the form of a firebird by day and a Mortal at night. During the war against him, Vassa wielded the Amulet, a powerful piece of the Dread Trove capable of resurrecting the dead and granting them a Fae's lifespan.

    She had connected with the artifact, and through it, gained a longer life span as well. Estelle found it all hard to comprehend, but as Mikael had said, there was far more to the Cauldron and the artifacts created by it than anyone could ever, or would ever understand.

    The last people to arrive had been Rhys and Feyre's Inner Circle. Devlon and Jorah came, accompanied by Azriel, Cassian, and Mor. Azriel had explained that Seren chose to remain in Windhaven and help Lysander and Corbin manage things there while Devlon and Jorah were gone.

    Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn were with them as well, checking in on the other war camps and making sure the Warlords were respecting the security measures Rhys had ordered them to put into place. Estelle guessed someone, likely her mother, was looking after little Orion, given the fact that he wasn't with his parents.

    And so the Palace was full. Tensions were running high and for the most part, everyone seemed to be avoiding each other. Estelle's stomach was a knot of nerves as she wondered what they would say about Melantha and the plot that was underway.

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    Mikael blocked Estelle's blow with his forearm and ducked beneath her leg as she swept it up in a kick. Her siphons flared with power as they sparred, though she didn't unleash it. He kept himself shielded anyway, just in case. He could sense his mate's anxiety and frustration, and knew that one wrong move would make her lose what little control she had over herself.

    That was why they'd left the Palace and gone to the warded clearing. They hadn't been here in months, since Estelle first left for the Night Court. Mikael was hoping to help her work off some steam before they returned to the Palace.

    He'd considered taking her to the Peregryn training grounds at first, but decided against it. Calden and Estelle were both still mad at Celeste, and he assumed they would be for a while. It was better for them to give each other some space, rather than escalate the situation further.

    Estelle's next blow caught him in the gut. Mikael staggered backwards. He shook his wings out and straightened. Umbra squeezed his arm. "You should've seen that one coming, Feathers," Estelle chuckled.

    He grinned. "Maybe I did and I just let you hit me."

    "Right."

    She launched another attack. He blocked and countered it effortlessly. Mikael hooked his leg around hers and pulled her off balance. He pulled her close to his chest, bracing one hand on her back. Mikael dragged her to the ground, pinning her down beneath him. He gripped Estelle's wrists, planting them in the grass above her shoulders.

    Her eyes widened and he could hear her heartbeat quicken. Mikael released her wrists as he bent down. His hands caressed her cheek and threaded through her hair as he kissed her. Estelle kissed him back with a small contented sigh. Mikael closed his eyes, pressing their foreheads together as he continued to kiss her.

    Estelle thrust up with her hips and his eyes flew open. She flipped him over her head. He hit the ground and she twisted on top of him, a pleased grin on her lips. "That wasn't very nice, Batsy," Mikael huffed breathlessly.

    "I let you kiss me, didn't I?" She asked, leaning over him. "Or...were you thinking I'd let you do a little more than that?"

    Mikael didn't reply. Estelle studied him, her lips tilting up in a smirk. She touched a light kiss to his throat. Mikael leaned his head back and she kissed him again. Shadows drifted around his wrists as he held Estelle by the hips.

    "I brought you out here to distract you," Mikael murmured while her lips traced his jawline. "Whether that entails sparring or kissing is entirely up to you." Estelle buried her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply. Her hips shifted off his stomach and onto his own as she lay down on top of him. "Although, I think you know which I prefer," Mikael added.

    She kissed his neck, slipping her hands beneath his leathers and letting them glide down his chest. He shivered at her touch. She moved her hips again. Mikael gritted his teeth, loosing a sharp breath.

    "We'll be expected back at the Palace soon," Estelle breathed. "Maybe we should go now." The sun was sinking already and twilight stole across the land.

    Mikael tightened his hold on her. "Or, we can make this fast." Estelle met his gaze, her aroused scent growing increasingly prominent as he rolled his hips beneath hers.

    "All right," she said, and began grinding against him.

    Mikael groaned, the friction only strengthening the ache that had already built in his lower body. He deftly began to undo the lacings on Estelle's pants while she tended to his. Estelle pulled his down to his thighs, while Mikael simply forced hers out of the way. She settled onto him with a pleased gasp.

    She braced her hands on his chest, half closing her eyes while she rode him hard. Mikael kept his hands on her hips, guiding her through the movements. Estelle moaned, and shivers wracked her body. She leaned her head back, chest heaving with ragged breaths.

    Mikael rocked his hips, driving himself deeper inside her as she came down on him again. Estelle whimpered and he ground into that spot once more. One of his hands left her thigh to clutch at the grass beside his leg. Mikael arched into Estelle with a needy groan, curling his nails into his palm.

    "Fuck. Just like that, Batsy," he gritted out.

    Estelle didn't reply. A few curls stuck to her damp forehead. Mikael strained his head back, moaning loudly. Estelle bent and kissed him, coaxing his lips apart and letting her tongue sweep in. Mikael moaned again.

    She whimpered as he caught her bottom lip between his teeth with one kiss. Mikael kissed the corners of her mouth and dropped burning kisses along her jaw. Estelle buried her hands in his hair.

    Mikael's legs tensed and his knees knocked against her back. Shuddered wracked his body as he grabbed her hips and brought her down harder on him. Estelle gasped, lowering her head. Heat swelled through his veins and Mikael moaned, her name falling from his lips as release erupted from him.

    Estelle slowed to a stop and hovered in place while he weathered the waves of pleasure. Mikael gulped down deep breaths, rubbing circles on her hips with his thumbs. He stroked the Bond, letting the euphoric effects of his climax drift across it. Estelle brought her lips to his and kissed him softly as she moved off of him.

    When Estelle drew back, Mikael pulled his pants up and swiftly fastened them. He stood, legs quivering beneath him. He offered Estelle a hand and helped her to her feet when she'd finished lacing her own pants. Shadows crept over them and the clearing faded from view.

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    They landed on a pavilion and entered the Palace. Estelle's cheeks were flushed as she gripped Mikael's hand tightly. She hoped they wouldn't bump into anyone. Their scents would give away exactly what they'd been doing. Considering neither of them had been able to clean up, and it just occurred a few minutes ago, there was no way the others wouldn't notice.

    They mounted the stairs and turned towards their bedroom. The shadows perked up, alerting Estelle at once. Something wasn't right. The door to Nyx and Venelia's room flew open, revealing a wide eyed Nyx. "What is it?" Mikael asked.

    Nyx stared at them, clutching at his head with shaking hands. He fell to his knees, a low sob clawing its way from his throat. Estelle's heart plummeted. "She's gone," Nyx rasped. "Venelia. She was just taken."

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For a bonus scene taking place after this chapter and during the next, please see the short story titled "No Choice" in my additional book "Beyond the Books".