The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Threats were making Seren's job difficult. A total of eight days had gone by. Fifteen females were training with them now. It seemed cruel to hope for more. Seren had seen so many females bearing new bruises and cuts. Some of the females had quit training and were replaced by others.

    She was doing her best to be encouraging, but it didn't seem to help. Tensions ran high in the camp. She didn't blame the females for quitting. At one point, she would have too. Seren rubbed her forehead and called out another assignment. Her pupils answered immediately, with Elain helping those who were new.

    Males hung around the ring, throwing more insults than normal. A few of them spat on the ground as she walked past. Some held rocks. The only reason they weren't throwing them was because Azriel stood inside the ring, his shadows ready to strike.

    His mood was steadily worsening the longer they were in the camp. He snapped at any male whose gaze lingered on her for too long. Seren wasn't sure how to feel about it. On one hand, she was grateful. On the other, why did he feel the need to be so protective? He'd been protective before, but not to this extent.

    Seren shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Jorah swept her opponent's legs and flipped onto her, grinning. Seren allowed herself to smile too. Jorah was proving to be a quick and eager learner. She continued to come to lessons, despite the males who flocked around her, jeering and threatening. Jorah helped up the other female and they moved into the next form.

    Training continued until the sun was low in the horizon. Seren and Elain called the session to end and the females dispersed. Fatigue weighed heavily on Seren as she joined Azriel. He stared after the males who were now leaving. His shadows relaxed when she placed a hand on his arm.

    They started walking back to the hut. Elain linked her arm through Seren's, her gaze following the Illyrian males fearfully. "Don't worry," Seren murmured. "They won't touch us."

    "I'm too tired to fight back if they did," Elain replied. She gave a sigh of relief when they reached the hut. Elain collapsed onto her bed and was snoring in seconds.

    Azriel slumped into a chair and massaged his forehead. "Where's Cassian?" Seren asked. She stepped behind him and pressed her hands against his neck. She began to massage his tense muscles gently, slipping her hands beneath his leathers for better access.

    "Yelling at Erebus and Kallon." Azriel tilted his head back, half closing his eyes. "He's confronting them about the threats towards the females."

    "I don't see how that will help."

    "It won't. It just makes him feel better."

    "Have you told Rhys?"

    "Yes." Azriel let his head fall against his chest now. "He said we just have to keep trying, but if we feel like things are becoming dangerous, we should come home."

    "I'm not giving up on them."

    "I know." He exhaled sharply as she rubbed her fingers over a particularly tense spot in between his shoulder blades. She was careful not to touch his wings. "That feels good."

    "Does it?" Her heart fluttered at the rasp in his voice. "You need to relax more. You've been on edge ever since we got here."

    "They keep watching you," Azriel answered. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so...possessive."

    "It's all right. I know you don't see me as a possession. You're just trying to keep me safe."

    "Are you sure it doesn't bother you?"

    "I'm sure. But, why are you so possessive now? You have been before, but it seems more intense these days."

    Azriel didn't reply right away. "Remember how you felt in the Spring Court?" She nodded. She'd been overwhelmed by the urge to protect him. Even Mor and Cassian had seemed like threats while he was injured. "That's how I feel."

    "I see." She could tell that wasn't the whole answer, but she didn't press it. Seren pulled her hands back up to his shoulders. She kneaded the muscles at the base of his neck. He sighed contentedly. Seren smiled again.

    At last, Azriel pulled away. He stood and motioned for her to sit. "Your turn."

    Seren took his spot, then stood again. "No, wait. I can make it easier for you." She tugged her leathers off quickly. He'd have better access to her now that she was in her underclothes. Seren sat down again.

    She heard Azriel's breath catch. He cleared his throat and pressed his hands against her shoulders. His touch was firm, but gentle. Seren sighed as he rubbed away the tension in her shoulders and neck. Her eyes began to droop shut, even though she tried to keep them open.

    She dropped her chin into her palm. Azriel's hands slid down her back. She loved the feel of them. "Do you really?" He whispered. Seren didn't question how he knew. She just nodded. Azriel pressed a light kiss to her neck, then her shoulder. "If we were at home, I'd thank you more thoroughly."

    Her lips tilted up. "You don't have to thank me."

    "I do. I've always seen my hands as a curse. The way they look, the things they've done...but you don't see that. You never saw that and you tried to help me work past it." He kissed her jawline. "No one has ever done that for me, much less been successful."

    "I was successful?"

    "I'm learning, slowly. I consider that success. I do owe you thanks."

    Seren's cheeks flushed as she came up with her response. "Then thank me when we get home." She drew away from him and joined Elain in bed. She was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow.

•༻☾☽༺•

    The door clicked and Seren woke. The hut was completely dark. Outside, the moon was visible. Azriel was asleep beside her, surprisingly. She could hear Cassian snoring too. Seren rolled over and found Elain's bed empty.

    She sat up with a gasp. There was no sign of her in the hut. Seren crawled out of bed and grabbed Metanoia. Maybe I should wake Cassian and Azriel. She glanced back, then shook her head. No, I can grab Elain and bring her back without them. They need to rest.

    She slipped out the door and scanned the camp. Elain was nowhere in sight. Seren crept in between huts and tents, searching for her. At last, she caught sight of her. Elain was stumbling down a path just beyond the camp.

    Seren ran after her. Goosebumps covered her arms and she shivered. Tiny snowflakes drifted through the air. Briefly, she wished she had pulled her leathers on. She ran faster.

    Seren reached Elain and grabbed her by the arm. Elain's eyes were closed. Seren shook her, but she didn't open them. "Elain!" Seren hissed. No response. "Come on." She pulled Elain around and began to lead her back to the hut.

    "Are you lost?" A dark voice murmured.

    Seren clutched Metanoia and lifted it. "No." She kept walking, refusing to look around.

    "I think you are. Your meeting won't take place there."

    Seren opened her mouth to scream, but someone gagged her quickly. She tried to summon her flames. A hard object bashed against her temple. Stars swam before her eyes and everything went black.

•༻☾☽༺•

    She blinked her eyes open and saw red stone walls. Seren's head throbbed and she touched the tender spot. Blood coated her fingers. She tried to summon her flames. She felt only a spark of power within her.

    Seren sat up gingerly. Erebus tilted his head, watching her. Elain lay at his feet, bound and unconscious. "I'd love to see your fire, but unfortunately, we both know how that would end. I took the liberty of drugging you with faebane while you were unconscious."

    Faebane, she thought. That will dampen my magic for a while. She pushed herself up straighter. "What do you want?"

    "I want you to stop meddling with things you don't understand," he growled. "I want you to learn your place." Seren looked past him. Several males lurked near the mouth of the cave.

    "I have learned my place," Seren replied. "It took me a long time."

    "No, you haven't learned your place." Erebus stood and crossed over to her. "But not to worry. I can teach you. I'm an excellent teacher." He crouched before her and grabbed her chin. "And when we're done here, you'll tell Rhysand's bastards that you want to stay here with me. I will break you and you will be mine."

    "Or what?" Seren fed anger into her stare.

    "Or I will give her," he jerked his head towards Elain, "to them, and I will let your master know where you are." Seren's glare faltered. "He has not forgotten about you, Girl," Erebus laughed. "But I know his ways. Oblige me, and I will keep you safe from him."

    "Never." Seren spat at him. Erebus' hand flew around her throat. She gasped and clawed at his fingers as he tightened his grip. He threw her at the ground and pinned her legs down with his knees. Erebus crushed her wrists together above her head. Seren struggled beneath him, panic overwhelming her. "No, get off me! Azriel! Azriel!" She screamed.

    "He can't hear you, and you're screaming the wrong name," Erebus sneered. He reached for the waistband of her leggings.

    Seren drudged up her training. She pushed up with her hips and kicked her leg when Erebus became unbalanced. He flew over her head and crashed against the cave wall. Seren rolled onto her feet and searched the cave for a weapon. She grabbed a rock and flung it at Erebus's head. He managed to duck and the rock crumbled against the cave wall.

    Erebus kicked her gut and Seren crashed to the ground. He snapped his fingers. She twisted as two of the males grabbed Elain. One held a blade up to her throat. Elain's eyes fluttered open. Panic filled her gaze and she screamed. It was muffled beneath her gag.

    "No, no! Don't hurt her," Seren panted. "Don't hurt her."

    "Then behave yourself," Erebus spat. He stormed over to her. Seren didn't move. He pressed a foot against her shoulder and kicked her to the ground. Tears formed in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She would protect Elain. If this is what it took, she would relent. Erebus bent over her and she squeezed her eyes shut. Her breath shuddered and a small sob escaped her lips. She waited, but Erebus didn't touch her.

    Seren opened her eyes as darkness erupted in the cave. The males holding Elain slammed into the walls, shadowy daggers pinning them in place. More shadows wrapped around Erebus, lifting him off the ground. Azriel appeared in the mouth of the cave, his siphons glowing. Anger burned in his hazel eyes. Cassian appeared behind him, just as angry.

    Cassian grabbed Elain and unbound her. Seren managed to push herself upright. Her limbs shook and tears streamed down her cheeks. Azriel ran to her. She sobbed as he pulled her into his arms. His hands smoothed hair back from her face. His scars were a comforting feeling. Seren tried to form words, but she couldn't.

    "Get them home." Another voice appeared behind her. Rhys was there, his voice low and foreboding. "Take them home, Azriel, then come back."

    Azriel was staring at Erebus angrily. He lifted Seren and backed away. Elain grabbed his leg. Shadows folded around them. Seren squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face against his chest.