The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Seren ran into Lucien on her way down the stairs. The red headed male backed away with an apology. "Sorry. I was in a hurry," he said.

    "It's all right. Elain is in the art studio with Feyre if you're looking for her."

    "Actually, I was looking for you." Lucien smiled nervously.

    "Me?" Seren raised an eyebrow.

    "I need your help finding a gift for Elain. In the past, she's never really liked the presents I got her. Or, she didn't act like she did."

    "All right, but why me?"

    He gave her a quizzical look. "Because you're her friend? You'll know what she likes."

    "Maybe. When do you want to go?"

    "Now, if possible."

    Seren nodded and they headed downstairs. I don't even have a gift for her and her birthday is tomorrow, Seren realized. And I don't really have money to buy her anything. I'm not going to ask someone else to buy a gift for her on my behalf. Maybe I can make a painting for her?

    They left the river house shortly. Lucien placed a hand on her shoulder and winnowed them further into the city. Seren stepped away from him and eyed the shops around them. "She probably won't want clothes or jewelry, unless it's something small and not the main gift." Lucien nodded and followed her as she began to walk. "Don't let me choose the gift if it's from you. I'm just here to help."

    Lucien took the lead, then. "I did have one idea. She mentioned that there's a cactus she wants to grow. The flowers only open at night. It's called Queen of the Night, I believe. The only problem is that cacti of any kind are hard to find here. I don't know if we can find anyone here who would have seeds or an already grown plant."

    "We can try. We'll just have to check all of the flower shops in the city."

    "That could take a while, and don't you have training?"

    "I can make excuses," Seren laughed.

    They began by finding a map. Seren marked all of the flower shops and garden stores she could find. Lucien then winnowed them to the first few locations. No one had heard of the plant. Many shopkeepers offered them different varieties of cacti, but they continued looking. Seren made a mental note, reminding herself to tell Elain there were, in fact, regular cacti in the city.

    By noon, they still hadn't found anything. Lucien dropped onto a bench with a sigh. "Maybe I should just get her a normal cactus."

    "Someone here must have one," Seren said. "Every time I go shopping with Mor, there's always new and exotic things waiting to be seen. I refuse to believe that no one in this city has a Queen of the Night." They rested a few minutes longer, then continued on.

    The afternoon passed by and they only had three shops left to visit. Seren stifled a yawn and kept on walking. Her feet were sore, but Lucien showed no signs of tiring. He kept up a quick pace.

    Seren perked up, feeling Azriel lower his shields. It seemed like their minds had become more connected since the incident in the clearing. She could easily reach him from any distance now, and could feel the second he lowered his shields for her.

    Where are you? Azriel asked.

    Shopping for a present for Elain. Lucien wants to find her a certain plant, but we're not having much luck.

    When will you be back? She felt a small prickle of jealousy from him.

    As soon as we're done. I might be late.

    Take as long as you need. We won't be training this evening.

    Why?

    Mor and Nesta are taking Elain out for the evening. The rest of us are supposed to set up everything for her party. They'll get back late enough that she'll go straight to bed. We'll keep her busy in the morning until it's time for the party.

    All right. We'll be back soon. His shields closed and Seren returned her focus to Lucien.

    He left the second to last shop with a sigh. "Nothing."

    "There's just one more."

    "If they don't have it, she's getting a regular cactus."

    Seren hid her amused smile as they began walking again. The final shop was just down the street. An old woman bent over several wooden boxes, watering the delicate flowers nestled inside.

    "Excuse me," Lucien called.

    The woman turned. She set down her watering can and smiled. "How can I help you?"

    "I'm looking for a specific plant. It's called Queen of the Night? Technically, it's a cactus, I suppose."

    "Queen of the Night." The woman scratched her chin, thinking. "What does it look like?"

    "The cactus part is long and clustered together. The flowers are usually white with spindly petals on the outside and thicker ones towards their center. The flowers only bloom at night."

    The woman's eyes lit up. "I know the one. Just a moment." She ducked into her shop. Lucien clenched his fist and peered after her. She returned, carrying a potted cactus. The woman handed it to Lucien. "Is this it?"

    "Yes!" Lucien held it up, examining the plant. "Are you willing to sell it?"

    "Of course." The woman named her price and Lucien paid her quickly. "I'm impressed you know about it. Most who come to my shop just overlooked that one."

    "My...friend...loves all kinds of plants. She mentioned she wanted one of these. We searched the entire city to find it."

    Seren smiled. She knew Lucien had wanted to say mate. Out of respect for Elain's feelings, he hadn't. "Well, your friend has very good taste. This one isn't full grown. She'll want to transplant it soon. Here. I have a list of instructions for taking care of it." The woman ducked into her shop again. She returned with a paper and Lucien took it gratefully.

    "Thank you, Ma'am. You've been very helpful." Lucien took Seren by the shoulder again. They winnowed back to where they had begun. "I saw one other item here I wanted to get," Lucien explained.

    Seren took the potted plant and list of instructions wordlessly. Lucien entered another small shop. When he returned, he held a pair of earrings. He held them out for her inspection.

    The earrings were made of small gems and shaped like roses. Thin golden leaves formed the backs of the earrings. "They're beautiful. I'm sure she'll love them," Seren said.

    Lucien tucked them into his pocket. "I hope so."

    "Elain isn't at home so you won't have to worry about her seeing this." Seren lifted the pot.

    Lucien took it back as well. "Let's go, then." They winnowed once more and reached the river house.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Late the next day, Seren bolted awake from her nap, hearing a fist pounding against her door. She toppled out of bed and unlocked it. Mor breezed into the room, bearing a gown on her arm. "Lucien and Elain are having a late lunch in Velaris. We have exactly two hours to get the rest of her party ready."

    Seren rubbed her eyes with a groan. "Did you have to wake me like that? I thought the house was burning."

    "It will be if Feyre doesn't stop stressing out. Nyx is in a mood this morning."

    "Where is she?" Seren grabbed her shoes and pulled them on.

    "Out in the garden."

    "Let's go." Seren pushed Mor out of the room and closed the door behind them.

    The garden was in chaos when they arrived. Nyx was wailing in Feyre's arms as she desperately tried to quiet him. Nesta was covering her ears with her hands. Amren looked to be about three seconds away from killing someone. Rhys was glaring at her as he hung faelights from metal poles. Cassian and Azriel were attempting to help, but Cassian's foot was caught in the strand.

    Seren headed straight for Feyre. "Here. Take a break." She held out her arms. Feyre passed Nyx over and slumped onto the ground. Seren rocked him gently. Nyx's wails threatened to burst her eardrums.

    Amren muttered something to Nesta and stormed off. "I've changed my mind," Cassian grumbled. "I don't want kids for a long time."

    "I agree!" Nesta had to shout to be heard over Nyx. "If they're anything like you, they'll never shut up."

    "And if they're at all like you, every other word they speak will be an insult!"

    Nyx screamed all the more and waved his arms. Seren gritted her teeth. The shadow around her arm drifted down to the baby. It wound around his arm. Nyx watched it, quieting a little.

    Seren reached her flaming hand towards Azriel. He lowered his shields immediately. I think you should hold Nyx. Your shadows might distract him. He seems to find them interesting.

    I don't know.

    You won't hurt him. Contact is good, remember? She withdrew her presence and his shields went up. Seren eyed the water droplet tattooed to her hand. Nyx was still crying, but softer now.

    Seconds later, Azriel flew over. Seren settled Nyx into his arms. The shadows surrounded him immediately. They wrapped around his small body like a cocoon of darkness. Nyx's cries grew fainter and he cooed. One shadow returned to Seren's arm.

    Azriel swallowed as his scarred hand brushed against Nyx's small one. "He's all right," Seren murmured. "You're not hurting him." Azriel bit his lip, but nodded.

    Seren returned to Feyre's side. "Where's Nyx?" Feyre asked.

    "With Azriel. The shadows distracted him."

    "Thank goodness." Feyre scrubbed at her face wearily. "What's left to do?"

    "Nothing." Rhys landed next to them and his Illyrian wings disappeared. "The lights are up. Everything is ready."

    "With forty-five minutes to spare," Cassian added.

    Feyre pushed herself to her feet and joined Azriel. Nyx was soundly sleeping. She took her son gently and carried him into the house. Cassian strode over to Azriel and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

    "Uncle Az to the rescue," he laughed. "I'm keeping that in mind for my own kids."

    Azriel rolled his eyes but smiled. "I expect the favor to be returned."

    "If I hear the words 'kids' out of your mouth again, Cassian, I will hit you," Nesta growled.

    A sly grin slid onto his face. "Kids."

    Nesta lunged at him. He caught her fist and pushed it down. She swung with the other, landing a blow to his jaw. Cassian grimaced, shaking his head.

    "You asked for that one," Rhys laughed.

    Seren stiffened as Mor draped an arm over her shoulder. "I think we should go get ready. Lucien and Elain will be back soon."

    "Lead the way." Seren followed Mor towards the house. She didn't miss the wink Mor gave Azriel as they passed by. I wonder what that was about, she thought.