Dinner was quiet, save for Nyx's fussing. Seren found herself with little appetite and she picked at her food absentmindedly. The shadow had left earlier and there was no sign of Azriel. Nyx's cries grew louder. Feyre excused herself, and her son continued to wail as she carried him out of the room. Amren massaged her temples and stabbed a fork into her food.

"The downside of children," Elain laughed gently. No one else laughed.

"Has Feyre spoken to you yet?" Rhysand asked.

"She did. I'm not so sure..."

Amren cleared her throat and shot a pointed look towards Seren. Seren rolled her eyes and pushed her seat away from the table. "No, you don't have to go," Mor reached for her.

Seren jerked her arm out of reach. "It's fine. I'm tired anyway." She breezed around the table.

Rhysand caught her by the wrist. "You should apologize to Azriel."

Of course someone told Rhysand, she grumbled to herself.

"What happened with Az?" Mor asked.

"Nothing. Let go of me." She pulled away from the High Lord.

"Well, let's all be in bad moods then," Amren huffed. Seren closed the door behind her and headed up the winding staircase.

She locked the door as soon as she reached her room. Seren lit a ball of fire in one hand and hurled it into the fireplace. Logs exploded into flames. She dropped to her knees in front of it and began to breath.

Inhale. The flames shrank. Exhale. They grew. Inhale. Exhale. The flames crackled in tune with her breaths. Seren felt her frustration easing after a few minutes. Her father had shown her this form of release. It was one thing she thanked him for. She'd had to use it more than she cared to admit.

Seren stood and rubbed her hands together. Koschei and the Mortal Queens. I wonder if Beron already knows what's going on there? Anxiety stung within her chest. I've been gone three weeks and there's still no word from Beron. I haven't heard or seen anything about Eris, the Dread Trove, or Nesta's weapons.

She began to pace. Elain and Mor trust me, I think. Feyre is starting to. Azriel might have been, but after today, I don't know. As for the others, they haven't been around me as much.

Desperation sent tears swimming through her vision. Seren blinked them back and drew in a deep breath. As long as Beron is silent, don't worry about him.

She crossed the room and opened her balcony doors. Velaris twinkled below. The breeze was cool and the Sidra gurgled in the distance. Seren let flames surround her. They wreathed her body in a soft light. Her shoulders relaxed as some of the tension left her body, born away on glowing embers.

The scent of night chilled mist and cedar filled the air. "Your flames don't frighten me. I don't want you to think that."

She tilted her head, listening. Seren let her flames grow brighter, feeding more of her anxieties into them. "I know." Azriel was quiet behind her. She could feel his gaze following the sparks that leaped around her body. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was hurting you. I just thought you wanted it gone because you were annoyed."

"It wasn't hurting me."

"It was. Maybe not physically, but it was hurting you."

Azriel hesitated before asking, "Why did you really say no?"

"Because I've never said no without someone retaliating."

"You were waiting to see if I would." Seren nodded shortly. "I'm not like that. None of us are."

"Seeing is believing."

"I'm not like that." She heard leather rustling. Seren looked over her shoulder. Azriel hid his hands behind his back.

"I believe you, but my fears do not."

"Don't be afraid of me."

"I'm not."

"I saw the terror in your eyes. Please don't be afraid of me."

"Azriel, I'm not afraid of you. I," she tapped her chest, "am not afraid of you. The part of me who knows she's free is not afraid of you. The broken part, the part that isn't me, is afraid of you."

Seren pulled herself away from the balcony railing and stepped closer to him. Azriel went completely still. "How can I make the broken part trust me?" He murmured.

"I don't know if you can. I don't know if anyone can. Can you make yourself stop being afraid of fire?"

"I've been trying to for over 500 years. The fear lessens, but it's still there. Today..." Azriel sighed and rubbed a hand over his mouth. "Today was a bad day. I shouldn't have pushed you."

"No, I shouldn't have pushed you," Seren corrected. "Today wasn't a bad day for me. I should have listened."

"Rhys wants Elain and Lucien to go to the Spring Court. He thinks they might be able to help Tamlin. Ever since the war with Hybern, he's remained in his animal form. The Spring Court is in ruins."

She knew already, but she couldn't let him realize that. "I think they were talking about it at dinner. Elain acted like she didn't want to go."

"Rhys won't make her go if she says no."

"But she won't say no?"

Azriel shook his head. "She's always eager to please. I'm just worried Tamlin will see them as a threat. I don't know if Lucien can do what's necessary to protect Elain."

Seren bit her lip. A part of her did not like the concern Azriel was showing for Elain. She didn't know why. "I suppose you'll just have to see what Elain says. Maybe Rhysand will change his mind."

"You could just call him Rhys, like the rest of us."

"I don't think I'm at that level of familiarity with him yet." She likely never would be. Not when she roamed his home as a spy.

"You will be soon."

Seren offered up a small smile. She moved away from Azriel, realizing that her flames were still leaping across her skin. Azriel watched them curiously. His shadows withdrew from his face and began to dance across his shoulders.

Seren laughed, reaching a hand towards them. "They're copying my flames."

Her shadow broke away from the others and curled around her hand. "Your flames are their counterpart," Azriel said.

"What do you mean?"

"Fire doesn't produce a shadow. My shadows don't produce light. That's why this one is drawn to you." He traced a finger over the shadow. "You glow."

    Her shadow wound up her arm once more. Seren held her arm out and smiled, watching it. She brought her gaze back to Azriel's and lit a flame above her finger. He eyed it, then nodded. She freed the flame and it settled onto his arm.

"As long as the shadow stays with you, your flame stays with me," he said.

"Are you sure?" Seren raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

Seren held out her hand. "Is it a bargain?"

Azriel took her hand gently. "It is." Her skin tingled right beneath the shadow. Seren pulled her sleeve up. Another tattoo had appeared. A band of fire wrapped around her bicep. The shadow curled over the band. It almost seemed to purr.

"I wish I could speak to it like you do," Seren said.

"Well, I can't speak to your flame so it's only fair," Azriel chuckled. Seren glanced down. Their hands were still intertwined. Azriel pulled away sharply. He cleared his throat and shadows flickered around his face once more. "Goodnight." Seren lingered on the balcony as he flew towards his own. She let her flames dissipate before returning to her room.

•༻☾☽༺•

As always, sleep did not find the Spymaster. Azriel lay awake with his head resting in the crook of his arm. Seren's flame glowed amidst the darkness of his room. It covered a tattoo that stretched around his bare arm. Yet another mark, akin to Seren's, that was etched onto his skin.

Seren Marzena, Lady of Ashes. A shadow brushed across his cheek, whispering to him. Azriel listened quietly, as he did every time the shadows spoke of her. He still wasn't sure why the shadows chose to stay quiet about her. They'd never done that before.

Seren Marzena, the Shadow's Flame. Another shadow curled around his ear. The painting is true. The Seer knows.

"Elain?" Azriel knit his brow.

She has the Sight. She has Seen.

"What has Elain seen?"

The truth.

"The truth about what?"

The Flame.

Azriel pressed his cheek against a pillow. "You're not making any sense."

We will.

He sighed and closed his eyes. The shadows fell silent. Darkness filled the room, pressing down on him. Azriel swallowed hard and kept his eyes closed.

•༻☾☽༺•

The breakfast table was crowded the next morning. Seren took her place beside Elain and Mor. Across the table, Azriel looked half asleep. Her flame still clung to his arm, just as his shadow clung to hers.

Rhysand and Feyre took their places and food appeared on the table. Everyone dug in eagerly. "Our plans have been altered," Rhysand said.

"How so?" Amren asked. Mor took a sip of wine and eyed her cousin.

"No one is leaving," he said, with a cautious glance towards Seren. "Elain?"

"I want to learn how to defend myself before taking on an assignment like this," Elain explained.

"And while she is being trained, we'll gather some additional information," Rhysand added.

Seren resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She hated how guarded they were being. I don't blame them, but if they're going to speak about this in front of me, they should just get on with it. Otherwise, they could have these conversations when I'm not around, she thought.

Cassian arched an eyebrow. "Who will train her?"

"I was hoping I could work with Seren and Azriel," Elain admitted. Azriel stiffened and didn't look up from his plate.

Seren narrowed her eyes as Rhysand glanced at the Shadowsinger. "I'm not sure that will be an option, given how much progress Seren has made and Azriel's schedule. Mor will train you."

Elain sighed and nodded her consent. "Don't worry." Seren placed a hand on her shoulder. "We can practice together whenever you like." Her friend brightened at that.

"We're adding something new to your schedule too," Rhysand continued. Seren's eyes widened. "It's about time we start exploring your daemati powers."

A grin spread across her lips. I'm finally going to learn about my daemati powers! And...my first bargain with Azriel is complete. He promised to stop spying on me whenever my daemati training began. Azriel met her gaze, as though remembering that as well. Seren pushed her sleeve up a bit. Her tattoo remained. She didn't have time to be confused, though.

"We'll begin after breakfast," Rhysand said. Seren nodded and continued to eat.