The artwork above is not mine.

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Estelle sat behind an easel, studying the blank canvas upon it. Seren was beside her, already working on a painting of her own. "How did your search in Windhaven go yesterday?" Seren asked. "You never told us if you found anything."

Estelle shook her head, swiping her fingers through white paint. She began to blot it on the canvas. "Nyx went with me, and neither of us found anything."

She stifled a yawn and continued to paint. She'd had another nightmare just last night. One that was bad enough that she stayed awake until dawn, too terrified to try to sleep again. She hadn't reached out to Mikael, despite the shadows urging her to.

"What will you do now?" Seren glanced at her. Estelle quickly reinforced her mental shields, not wanting her mother to pick up on any thoughts or emotions she was having.

"I've been trying to come up with places Ze'ev could have practiced his necromancy in secret. A place that very few people know about. I have an idea, but I want to talk to Dad about it before I do anything else."

Seren nodded and continued to paint. Estelle switched to a shade of gray. She was painting a scene from her nightmare, hoping to get it out of her head. She would likely burn the painting when she was done with it. No one needed to see what hidden creatures lurked within the dark corners of her mind, and she didn't need any reminders either.

Mikael tugged on the Bond. Are you busy?

No, I'm painting.

I haven't been able to find anything on necromancy, even with Calden, Celeste, and Sienna's help. I asked for Wynter's help too while Father and I were in the Winter Court. I only told him what he needed to know, and he agreed to do some research of his own.

That's great.

But, Mikael continued, if he does find something, I have to tell him the entire truth about what's going on.

Estelle sighed, pursing her lips. All right. Just...don't tell him anything about me that he doesn't need to know.

I won't.

I met the female who helped you during the Blood Rite, Morai. She was asking if Sienna will be coming to Windhaven for the next exchange. I think Sienna might have herself a secret admirer.

Really? That's not something you hear every day. Should I mention it to her?

Sure. Tell me what she says.

I will. Did you find anything when you searched Ze'ev's house?

No, Estelle grumbled. I didn't think we would, but I'm still disappointed.

We?

Nyx helped me.

Oh. What will you do now?

Estelle hesitated, eyeing her painting. Mikael waited patiently for her response. She swallowed, then said, I want to search the old torture chamber. The one they took me to.

Wariness crossed the Bond, along with a fierce urge to protect. I'm not sure that's a good idea.

It's the only one I have.

Estelle...

I came here to get answers. I will find them, if it's possible. I know the torture chamber wasn't searched during the initial investigation, because Dad and Ze'ev were the only people who knew how to get there.

You don't know where it is? Mikael asked.

No, I was unconscious when Ze'ev and his brothers first brought me there. When Dad and I escaped, I was able to use the shadows long enough to transport us back to Velaris.

How does Azriel know where it is?

Because he tracked me there and memorized the route he took. I'm going to ask him to take me, or at least tell me where to go.

Mikael's sigh echoed over the Bond. If you somehow convince him, let me come along. I don't want you going there by yourself.

All right, Estelle agreed. She heard a door open and close downstairs. Two sets of boots mounted the stairs. Lysander and Azriel were home. I have to go. I love you. She barely heard Mikael's response.

The door to the art studio opened and the two males stepped inside. Lysander stared at Estelle's painting, his hazel eyes widening. Her shadows covered the canvas, hiding Ze'ev's distorted features from view.

"Dad, I have a favor to ask of you," Estelle said, before anyone else could speak.

Azriel raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I want to go to the old torture chamber. The one Ze'ev's father and brothers took us to."

Tension flooded through the room at once. Azriel's shadows coiled atop his shoulders. Seren moved to his side, resting a hand on his arm. Tendrils of fire flickered to life at her fingertips, soothing Azriel's shadows.

"Why would you want to go there?" Lysander asked, glancing between her and their parents.

"It's the only place that hasn't been searched since Ze'ev's death, and it might have been a good place for him to practice necromancy in secret."

"No." Azriel shook his head. "We aren't going back there. Please don't ask me to take you."

"You don't have to. Just tell me how to get there."

"No." His voice was cold and dark. It was the voice of the Spymaster, not her father. Estelle knew better than to argue with him when he used that voice.

Azriel strode out of the room without another word. Lysander left as well, heading towards his bedroom. Seren sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. The few shadows that were with her brushed across her cheeks.

"I'll talk to him," Seren said. "But it's best if you leave this idea alone for now. "

"He doesn't have to come with me if he's afraid," Estelle muttered.

"He isn't afraid."

"Then why is he reacting like this?"

Seren tilted Estelle's face up, holding her gaze. "Because the last time you were there, he witnessed something no father should ever have to witness; something no daughter should ever experience, and he was powerless to stop it." Estelle gave a small nod. Seren released her and breezed out of the room.

Estelle lingered in her seat, staring at her painting. Anger burned through her veins and her golden siphons sparked with power. She stabbed her fingers through the canvas, electricity crackling through her palms. The canvas crumbled into ash beneath her touch. Estelle left the art studio, slamming the door behind her.

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"Do any of you want to go to Windhaven during the next exchange?" Mikael asked, looking up from his book briefly.

Celeste had her nose buried in the spine of a book. "I'll go if I can stop researching for five minutes."

"I was thinking about that, actually," Calden said. "It's been a while since we were in Windhaven. You too, Mikael. Maybe we all should go."

Mikael shook his head. "I can't go to the Night Court at all right now, unless Estelle wants me to."

"Oh." Calden rested his chin in his palm.

Sienna closed one book and grabbed another. "I'm fine with going. Is there a particular reason why you're asking?"

"Want us to check on Estelle for you?" Celeste raised an eyebrow.

Mikael glanced at her. "Yes." He looked back at Sienna. "And also yes. Apparently, some Illyrians have been asking if you'll be coming to the Night Court anytime soon."

"Lysander?" Celeste's voice was oddly hopeful.

Mikael narrowed his eyes. "No. There's a female from Ridgeback, Morai. She asked Estelle if you were coming during the next exchange." His gaze was still fixed on Sienna.

Sienna flushed pink, hastily looking away. "I've never met anyone by that name."

Celeste clapped her hands together with a laugh. "But you obviously know who he's talking about!"

Sienna's blush deepened. Calden rubbed her shoulder with a smirk. "Come on, Sienna. How come you've never mentioned this to us before?"

Sienna batted his hand away. "Because there's nothing to mention. I don't know any Illyrian named Morai."

"I didn't know you liked females in the first place," Celeste said. "But I suppose it makes sense. You've never been interested in males."

"I'm not... That isn't... I mean..." Sienna's face grew redder still.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Mikael cut in. "Sienna said they haven't met. Maybe Morai is just interested in becoming friends." Calden nodded his agreement.

"Sure. Whatever you say," Celeste giggled. "But Sienna never blushes, and I don't think she would unless there's something actually going on. Your secret admirer won't stay a secret for long."

Sienna's features froze and something almost like horror flashed through her eyes. She shoved her chair back from the table abruptly and left the library. Calden and Mikael glared at Celeste.

"What?" She asked, looking in between the two of them.

"It's one thing to tease someone and back off when it's time, but it's another to keep going," Calden said.

"I was just..." Celeste trailed off. "It's not a big deal." They continued to glare at her. "You know as well as I do that Sienna isn't being entirely truthful about this. What harm can a little teasing do?"

"So what if she's not being entirely truthful? Maybe she doesn't fully understand everything herself," Calden snapped. "You have no idea what it's like. Teasing can do a lot of harm. When are you going to learn that you can't just go through life doing and saying whatever you want to whomever you want?"

"I don't do that."

"Yes, you do. You've done it for years. You act like nothing ever affects you, so it shouldn't affect anyone else. Right?" Mikael began to speak, but Calden continued, cutting him off.

"Let's pressure Estelle into wearing things she's uncomfortable in and completely disregard her trauma. Let's flirt with Lysander until he sleeps with us, then dump him and move onto the male we've been flirting with behind his back. Let's tease Sienna about something she might not understand or is unwilling to admit to herself right now."

"Stop it," Celeste spat. "I apologize to Estelle every time something like that happens. I'll apologize to Sienna later when she's had time to calm down and won't get mad at me. As for Lys, I never flirted with anyone behind his back, and he said he agreed that things weren't progressing between us."

Calden huffed in disbelief. "When are you going to wake up, Celeste? You can't live with your head in the clouds and pretend that nothing bad ever happens, just because something terrible happened to you once. Something terrible has happened to everyone. We don't deserve to be treated as meaningless objects just because you're afraid to be attached to something or take responsibility for your actions."

Calden slammed his book shut, facing Mikael. "I'll see you later." He stormed out of the library without another word.

Celeste stared at her lap, blinking rapidly. Mikael crossed his arms. "Don't," she sighed. "Just don't." She pushed her chair back from the table and left quietly.

Mikael combed his fingers through his hair with an exasperated sigh. By the Mother, I wish Estelle was here. Umbra squeezed his arm comfortingly. Mikael began to gather up books and push chairs back under the table.