The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

Seren couldn't stop crying. She tried, but the tears wouldn't stop coming. Azriel held her tightly, concern emanating from him. His shadows transported them to the grounds of the river house. The doors flew open. Feyre, Nesta, and Mor came running towards them.

Nesta pulled Elain away from Azriel and half carried her into the house. "What happened?" Feyre demanded. "Rhys left and told us we should be ready for something."

"I can't explain right now," Azriel said. "Have Madja look them over. I don't know what all was done to them."

Seren tightened her arms around his neck, still trying to fight back her sobs. No, don't leave, she cried out silently.

"I have to," Azriel murmured. "You're home. You're safe."

Don't leave me!

Mor slipped her arms beneath Seren and pulled her away from Azriel. She didn't have the strength to hold on. The faebane had been in her system long enough to weaken her physically, it seemed. Azriel turned and flew away without looking back.

"I'll get Madja," Feyre said.

Mor nodded and carried Seren into the house. Seren's thoughts screamed at her as they mounted the stairs. Why didn't you winnow when you heard that voice? Why didn't you use your daemati powers to stop them? Why didn't you burn them? Why didn't you shout sooner? Why didn't you wake Cassian or Azriel? Why did you think you were capable? How could you forget what to do?

They reached her room. Mor set her down on her bed. "Seren, what happened?"

Seren drew her knees up to her chest and rocked herself. Her breath shook and she desperately tried to push away her condemning thoughts. "Erebus," she gulped. "He tried to...he wanted to...if they hadn't..."

Mor gripped her hands tightly. "It's all right. Talk to me."

"I can't," Seren whispered. "He tried to..."

Mor released her and grabbed a thick pair of pajamas, the thickest she could find. Seren took them wordlessly. "I'll be back with some food," Mor promised. She ducked out the door.

Seren changed out of her underclothes and pulled the pajamas on. The thickness felt protective somehow. A barrier between her body and the outside world. It was a comforting weight. Seren swallowed and ran her fingers through her hair. She felt Erebus' weight on her legs.

Her stomach churned and she ran to the bathroom. Seren barely made it to the toilet before she vomited. She hovered there for a few minutes, emptying her stomach again and again. She heard the door open and two sets of footsteps entered. Seren threw up once more. She flushed the toilet and stood on trembling limbs. She rinsed her mouth out before returning to her bedroom.

Mor and Madja waited for her. A tray sat on one table, bearing soup and bread. Mor took her by the shoulder and sat her down at the table. Seren looked at the food, then turned away as her stomach rolled again.

Madja let her hands hover over Seren. They glowed with magic. "Her only physical wounds are a few bruises and the cut on her forehead," Madja reported. She leveled her palm across Seren's forehead. Her skin tingled as the cut healed itself. "The faebane will work itself out of your system. You will regain use of your magic by noon tomorrow. You must rest and eat."

"When will Azriel be back?" Seren whispered.

"Soon," Mor promised. Madja left the room and Mor sat down across from Seren. "Eat, please. You just threw up every meal from the past two days at least."

Seren tore off a small piece of bread and dipped it into the soup. She ate even though it tasted like ash in her mouth. "Is Elain all right?"

"Yes, she's just shaken up. Feyre is telling Lucien to come home."

"I'll let Feyre see my memories," Seren kept her voice quiet. She couldn't summon enough strength to talk normally.

"I'll get her." Mor left the room again.

Seren took another bite of bread and soup. Beron hasn't forgotten about me, and Erebus knew. Does that mean they're working together? She shook her head and ate some more. It doesn't matter. I can't reveal Erebus without revealing my own secret in the process. At least I know he's stuck in the same situation.

Mor and Feyre entered the room shortly. Feyre looked Seren over, her eyes filled with concern. Seren lowered her shields partially. She grabbed her memories and practically threw them at Feyre. Feyre accepted them. Her throat bobbed and her concern changed to anger.

"He tried to rape you," she said. Seren looked away, her breath catching.

"What?" Mor's voice lowered in anger.

"Please leave me alone," Seren rasped. Tears were forming in her eyes again. She didn't want Mor and Feyre to see her in this state. She just wanted to curl up in a ball and cease to exist. Briefly, her thoughts drifted towards the Illyrian females. Seren dropped her head against the table, everything crashing down around her.

Mor pulled her out of the chair and carried her back to her bed. Feyre situated the pillows around her. Mor pulled a blanket up to her chin. They both watched her for a moment, then tiptoed out of the room. Seren hugged a pillow to her chest. Tears rolled down her cheeks again.

Her thoughts screamed at her. Worthless. Good for nothing. You tried and you failed. Your father was right. This was all you were meant to be. A broodmare for someone to rut around with. Worthless. Worthless. Worthless.

The shadow tightened around her arm. Seren ignored it and closed her eyes. Sleep was long in coming.

•༻☾☽༺•

Anger was a molten pool in his stomach. Azriel flew hard and fast, needing to expend his energy. If he returned to the cave like this, he'd snap Erebus' neck before they got what they needed. Seren's cries echoed in his ears and he flew faster. The sooner Erebus was dealt with, the sooner he could get back to her.

He didn't know what all had transpired before their arrival. He didn't know if Erebus had just begun or was just finishing. Azriel didn't know if Seren had been his only target or if he'd meant to take advantage of Elain as well.

Azriel wrapped shadows around himself. When they unraveled, he was back in the cave. Rhys and Cassian had bound Erebus and his accomplices. Truth-Teller, and Metanoia below it, were leaden weights against his thigh. Azriel's siphons glowed as he held back his power.

"I can tolerate you being angry with me, but I will not tolerate you taking out that anger on my family," Rhys growled.

"That girl shouldn't have gotten involved the way she did," Erebus replied. "I was forced to take action. My men thought I was going to give in to a female and break our laws and traditions."

"So your answer was to drug her with faebane and rape her?"

"She needed to be taught a lesson. She had to learn her place."

Azriel couldn't stop the snarl that escaped his lips. He'd seen her memories. He'd heard her father say those exact words to her. What this had done to her psychologically...Azriel tucked his wings tight against his back. The urge to fly home to her was overwhelming.

Erebus must have noticed his inner turmoil. "Did I leave your bitch in tears, Spymaster? Did I leave her begging for more?"

Shadows lashed out from him before he could stop them. Azriel glared as they forced themselves down Erebus' throat, silencing him Rhys didn't call him back and Cassian simply waited. "What did you do to her?"

Erebus couldn't answer. Azriel pulled the shadows back, but only slightly. Erebus coughed and rubbed his throat. "Would I be correct in assuming she's your mate?" He rasped, not answering the question. Azriel gave no response. Erebus cackled with laughter. "You don't carry the scent of the Mating Bond, so she must not know about it yet. How does it feel, knowing your mate is doomed to die someday as she gives birth to your worthless offspring?"

Azriel didn't loose the shadows. That would have been too easy. Instead, he wrapped his fist around Erebus' throat and lifted him off the ground. "What did you do to her?" He growled.

"Nothing. I was interrupted before I got to satisfy my needs." Azriel felt some relief at that. Erebus hadn't accomplished his goal. Still, he'd come close, and Seren had been crying. "I suppose I won't have to train the females though, seeing as she only convinced ten to train and she's no longer here."

"That's not how this works," Rhys argued.

"I think it is." Erebus gagged as Azriel tightened his grip. Cold fury burned within him.

"No, Erebus. I'll tell you how this is going to work. We will leave this cave and you and your warriors will swear fealty to the Night Court, to the Illyrian Legion, and to your High Lady and I. One by one, in front of this entire camp. You will train the females and you will stop with the fear mongering. You will respect and obey the members of my court."

"And if I don't?"

"Azriel, clip his wings."

Azriel didn't balk at Rhys' words. He unsheathed Truth-Teller and threw Erebus to the ground. He grabbed one of the war lord's wings roughly and angled the blade over its central tendon. "No! Wait!" Erebus pleaded. Azriel didn't pull Truth-Teller away, but he waited for Rhys' order.

"I will take on your bargain with Seren, if that makes things more fair to you," Rhys snapped. "But that is the extent of my mercy. Agree to these terms and I will spare your wings."

"I accept," Erebus spat. Azriel sheathed Truth-Teller and stood.

Rhys waved Azriel over. "Cassian, retrieve Feyre and Mor. Bring them here so we can get on with the fealty ceremony. Azriel..." he softened his voice. "Go to her."

"There's a female here who was becoming friends with Seren, Jorah." Azriel glanced at Cassian. "Cass knows who she is. Tell her what's happened and tell her that if she wants to see Seren, I'll arrange it."

His brothers nodded their agreement. Cassian and Azriel flew away from the cave together. Azriel increased his speed until he was a long ways ahead of Cassian. He didn't slow down until the edge of Velaris was in sight.