"I wish I could tell you the truth." Aralynn covered Seren's hand with her own. "But your father...he would kill you if you knew and he found out."

"I don't understand."

Aralynn leaned closer and tucked a lock of dark curls behind Seren's ear. She cupped her cheek in a hand. Aralynn smiled wistfully. "You are so lovely. You will find freedom someday, my daughter."

"Mother, what are you talking about? Are you all right? Is something wrong with the baby?" Seren rested her hand on her mother's swollen stomach.

"No." Aralynn pushed her hand away and stood. "No, everything is fine. I love you." Seren watched her go, confusion settling heavy on her heart.

When morning dawned, Aralynn was gone. Trestwyn called for search parties and led them himself. Three days passed before he returned, bearing her mother's corpse with him. Seren was summoned to her father's office at last.

When she entered, she saw Aralynn on the floor. A hand flew to her mouth. Tears stung her eyes. Trestwyn turned slowly. "Leave us." The servants and guards filed out of the room, closing the door behind them. "Did you know?" His voice was a low whisper.

Seren shook her head vigorously. "What happened, Father?" Trestwyn knelt beside Aralynn. His jaw clenched as he ran a knuckle across her pale cheek. Death shrouded her mother completely. The glow was gone from her olive skin.

"Did you know, Girl?" Trestwyn repeated.

"Father?" Her tears were forgotten now.

Trestwyn's breath rattled with anger. A dagger appeared in his hand. "Damn you, Girl! This was your fault! She's dead and it's your fault!" The dagger plunged into Aralynn's still chest. Blood began to leak from the wound. The trickle was slow, the blood thick.

Seren gasped as her father began hacking away at Aralynn's corpse. The dagger became slick with blood. Blood flew through the air spattering against Seren's face and arms. She couldn't move. She couldn't scream. She watched Trestwyn mutilate her mother's body.

She watched Aralynn's beautiful face become nothing more than tattered flesh and blood. Her chest was torn into ribbons. Trestwyn pulled her hair out in clumps. Her swollen belly, he left untouched. Seren fell to her knees, terror welling up within her.

"This is your fault, you good for nothing wretch!" Trestwyn continued tearing away at Aralynn. "This is because of you!" He whirled on his heel, his face covered in blood. Liquid fire gleamed in his eyes. "Get out of my sight, Girl!"

"Father..." Seren reached for him.

"Get out of my sight before I kill you!" Trestwyn hurled the dagger towards her. Seren ducked, but the blade slashed through her arm. She stumbled towards the door. Trestwyn roared insults after her. Seren didn't stop running until she reached the safety of her room.

•༻☾☽༺•

Why does he hate me?

Why wasn't I enough?

Why didn't she tell me?

What did I do wrong?

Why am I useless?

Why can't I cry?

Why? Why? Why?

•༻☾☽༺•

Seren's flames erupted from her, blazing with heat. Azriel threw a shield over himself just in time. Fire filled the clearing, burning with her pain. She wailed, the tears on her cheeks turning to steam. The sound hit Azriel like a blow to his wings.

He waited for the old familiar panic to rise within him as her flames grew. Strangely, it didn't come. These flames drew no fear from him. They were...beautiful...red, orange, and gold, with hints of blue and purple in some of them. The flames jumped, ravaging the clearing.

His shadows began to writhe with energy. Lady of Ashes. The Shadow's Flame. She burns. Our equal. Let us dance with her. Let us burn.

Flames continued to pour out of Seren. Heat scorched against Azriel's shields. His shadows thrummed with excitement. He began inching closer to Seren. Her cries were like faebane to his heart. His shadows spread past the shields that his siphons produced.

They began to weave around Seren's flames, matching their energy. The clearing was burning with fire and shadows. Azriel's heart raced as he drew closer to Seren. Her eyes were open, nothing but pools of molten amber. Her skin glowed white hot. She burned still, her limbs trembling.

He reached her and froze. Sweat beaded on his brow from the heat that radiated from her. Azriel lowered his shields, knowing that she could sense it. Seren.

Why wasn't I enough? Why am I never enough? He saw the memory she was reliving. Anger took root in his stomach. If her father were still alive, nothing would have stopped Azriel from killing him, and he would have taken a very long time to do it. Her eyes lifted, watching the shadows and flames. I am nothing. Her flames flickered out and she collapsed.

Azriel let his shields fall. He gathered her into his arms, ignoring the heat that clung to her skin. "You are not nothing. You are enough."

"No. I am not. I can't even cry for my parents."

"You were crying. You are still."

Seren lifted a hand to her cheeks, wet with tears. "These are not tears for them. They're for me." She closed her eyes, letting her hand fall. "I don't even deserve my own tears."

Azriel pressed her head against his chest. He rested his cheek atop her hair and rocked her gently. Her tears continued to fall.

"I'm sorry if my flames scared you. I lost control." Her hand fell to the ground and she grabbed a fistful of ashes.

"They didn't scare me. Your flames don't scare me."

They dance. They thrive. They are our equal, his shadows sang. They curled around Seren, weaving through her hair and around her arms. Lady of Ashes. The Shadow's Flame.

"What are they saying?" She murmured.

"They are infatuated by your flames. They call you Lady of Ashes. The Shadow's Flame."

A small tired smile flickered across her lips. "What does that mean?"

"I don't know."

Seren gulped and drew in a shaky breath. "Will Rhys be mad at me?"

"For burning the clearing?" She nodded. "No, he'll understand." Azriel brushed his thumb over her cheek. "You need to release yourself more often to avoid things like this. Not just your fire, but your emotions."

"Says the stoic Spymaster."

That small joke sent relief flooding through him. "Even I have feelings sometimes."

"I don't know how," she admitted. "My fath...he...would always become angry with me when I displayed my emotions."

"He's not here anymore."

"No, he's not." Seren closed her eyes, her breaths growing heavy. "You are." He knew when she slept. He could feel the blissful silence of her mind.

Wings flapped overhead. Cassian, Rhys, and Feyre landed. "What happened?" Rhys demanded. He strode towards them.

"Stay back," Azriel growled. He couldn't explain the instinct that now filled him from head to toe.

Protect. Protect. Protect, his shadows chanted. Lady of Ashes. The Shadow's Flame. Ours. Ours. Ours.

"Az?" Cassian called warily. "Is she ok?"

"She will be." Azriel stood, lifting Seren.

Feyre was staring around the blackened clearing, mouth agape. "Did she do this?" She took a step towards them.

Azriel flared his wings out, baring his teeth in a snarl. Shadows rose behind him, ready to strike. Rhys ducked in front of Feyre, narrowing his eyes. "Back up, Feyre darling." She obeyed and Cassian placed a hand on her shoulder.

Shadows folded over Azriel and Seren, carrying them back to the river house. Azriel landed in the garden. Elain and Mor jumped to their feet at once. He didn't stay long enough for them to question him. Azriel flew up to Seren's balcony.

He set her down on her bed, then locked all of the doors. Azriel dropped into a chair, watching Seren sleep. He should leave and explain what happened. He knew he should. Still, he couldn't make himself move.

•༻☾☽༺•

The room was dark when Seren woke. She drew in a deep breath and rolled over. Azriel was in a chair beside her bed, half asleep. She felt no surprise seeing him there.

She was surprised to see his shadows still wrapped around her limbs. Seren lifted a hand to her hair. They were still woven through her curls as well. Azriel straightened, spying her.

"I told them to leave you alone, but they wouldn't listen," he explained. "Are you all right?"

Seren sat up and drew her knees towards her chest. "I think so. I feel...better." She thought for a moment. "Soon, it will have been 100 years. I've kept this memory buried since it happened. I've never cried for my mother. I guess after talking to Elain last night..."

"Two nights ago, actually."

She glanced up. "What?"

"You slept all through today and yesterday after I brought you home."

"Have you been here this whole time?"

"I tried to leave." She picked up on the rest of his meaning. He had tried, and for some reason, found that he couldn't. "No one came in. Not even Nuala and Cerridwen."

"Did Rhys and Feyre try to talk to you?"

"Yes. I wouldn't answer them."

"Maybe you should now." He merely watched her. "I need to take a bath and I'm starving," she added. "And Rhys will have homework for me." Azriel still didn't move. "I don't want them to worry about me. I'm all right." Seren gestured to the shadows that covered her. "Your loyal wraiths will be looking out for me."

In response, they began to wiggle around. She grimaced, then laughed as the shadows tickled her neck. Azriel smiled at last. "All right. I'll go. I'm taking most of them with me." The shadows tightened their hold on her. Azriel rolled his eyes. "She doesn't need all of you to stick around." One by one, the shadows returned to Azriel. Her shadow remained curled around her arm. A few more nestled within her hair. "You three are coming with me when I get back." They disappeared into her dark locks.

Seren smiled as Azriel headed to the door. He unlocked it and stepped out. He glanced back briefly, then closed the door behind him. She slid out of bed on shaky feet and entered her bathroom. Seren took in her reflection and groaned. She was definitely in need of food and a bath.