She was in the Forest House. Her hands and legs were bound in chains of ashwood. Faebane coursed through her veins, blocking her magic. She was helpless. She was friendless. She was nameless. She was nothing.

Three males loomed over her, each wearing a snide expression. She knew them. Trestwyn, her father. Beron, the High Lord of Autumn. Erebus, the Illyrian war lord. Three males who had known her. Three males who had used her.

She saw the intent in their eyes. She reached for her father, begging. "Please, Father! Don't let them do this to me!" She fell onto his boots, sobbing.

"It's what you deserve, Girl." There was no sympathy for the daughter who bore his wife's face. There was no mercy for the girl who had been left behind. "It's what I raised you to become."

Beron kicked her gut, rolling her off Trestwyn. She sagged against the floor, gasping for air. "Is this how you thought things would go?" He sneered. "You would go to the Night Court, befriend them, and fall in love with the Spymaster...and you would be safe from me? You will never escape me. I own you, remember? You made a deal with me."

Beron grabbed her by the chin. "So much for being a High Lady. Now, you'll just be food for the worms and scavengers. What will your precious Shadowsinger think of you then?"

He pushed her aside and she fell against Erebus. His black eyes glittered coldly. "I think we had some unfinished business. I'd like to be reimbursed for all the trouble you've caused me. Luckily, your master and your father are very understanding men."

She began to scream, then. He grabbed her by the wrists and forced her down to the floor. She could do nothing. Her magic wouldn't answer. She couldn't remember how to fight back. She had no friends whom she could call on. Trestwyn and Beron watched silently. They would offer no help.

"Please! Please, stop!" She cried. "No! Listen to me! No!" They didn't care. They let Erebus do as he pleased. She could do nothing. She couldn't even wake herself up.

•༻☾☽༺•

"Seren! Seren, wake up!" Scarred hands grabbed her shoulders and shook her roughly. "It's a dream! Seren, wake up!"

Seren woke, panting for breath. The scent of smoke tinged the air. Azriel was bent over her, fear lingering in his hazel eyes. She looked around, trying to find the source of the smoke. "What did I do?" She rasped.

Azriel lifted her hands. Seren stared at them in shock. They were covered in burns. She flipped them over shakily. "You must have called on your magic while you slept," Azriel said. "But the faebane is still in your system. You couldn't release your magic so it began burning you from the inside out." He smoothed hair out of her face. "Your skin is so hot." He pulled away and ran to the door. "I'm getting Madja."

Seren stumbled out of bed and glanced out her balcony doors. The sun was rising, already visible above the mountians. She entered the bathroom and filled the tub with freezing water. Seren stepped in, still fully clothed. Steam rose from the tub as the water touched her skin. She sank deeper into it until water lapped at her chin.

A few tears dripped down her cheeks. Seren wiped them away angrily. She heard her bedroom door open again. "Seren?" Azriel called.

"In here." Her voice was still hoarse, as though she'd been screaming in her sleep, or burned her throat raw. Maybe she had. She didn't know.

Madja entered the bathroom, but Azriel didn't. Madja looked faintly surprised at the sight of her, but she said nothing. She knelt beside the tub and held out her hands. Seren lifted her palms out of the water. Madja narrowed her eyes, touching the burns.

"You're still very warm, but the cold water was a good idea," she said. "I can heal the burns, but I sense they run within you too. There may be some pain."

"I don't care."

Madja closed her eyes and began. Magic prickled along Seren's skin, healing every burn it came in contact with. As the magic went deeper, Seren grew tense. The prickles turned into sharp stabs. She yelped as the magic stabbed particularly close to her heart. "It won't injure you," Madja murmured. She pulled back at last. "You'll begin cooling down now."

Seren nodded and Madja left the bathroom. She lingered in the tub a while longer, then drained it and got out. She returned to her room, not caring about the water that dripped from her sodden clothes. Azriel stood and waited for her to speak. She didn't. She opened her closet and began searching for a change of clothes.

Seren grabbed a loose shirt and a pair of shorts. She returned to the bathroom and changed. Seren braided her hair quickly. Azriel was still waiting for her when she left the bathroom again.

"Please talk to me," he said. His gaze flickered to the hand shaped burn on her thigh.

"How did you find us?" She sat down at the table. There was another tray of food. Seren poked at the potato wedges disinterestedly.

"I woke up and saw you and Elain were gone. I woke Cassian and we went to look for you. While we were searching, the flame on my arm disappeared. I found Metanoia just beyond the camp." He unsheathed the blade and set it down on her bed.

"We smelled faebane and Erebus, as well as a few other males. We began looking for you, and then I heard you screaming for me. I heard you in here," he tapped his forehead.  Azriel closed his eyes, as though reliving the moment. "I heard you and somehow, I knew where you were. Cassian called out to Rhys and he got there just as we did." Azriel opened his eyes, guilt filling them. "You were crying and I thought I was too late."

"You weren't." Seren's hands shook. She folded them in her lap and looked down. "But if you'd gotten there a minute later, I don't think I'd be telling the same story." Her voice caught and she swallowed hard. She looked up, forcing herself to meet Azriel's gaze.

"I'm sorry. You told me it would be dangerous. You told me we needed to stick close to you and Cassian. I should've known better." Her vision blurred and more tears ran down her face. "But I thought she'd only gone out the door. You were both asleep and I didn't want to bother you. I thought I could just grab Elain and we'd be fine. I'm sorry. It's my fault. I'm so sorry."

Seren began crying even harder. She felt pathetic, but she couldn't stop. "I could have avoided this. I could have gotten us out of the situation. I was too slow. I didn't think of a plan in time. I forgot what you taught me. I couldn't...I would have let him, if it would have kept Elain safe. I was going to let him so that they wouldn't hurt her."

She covered her face with her hands. "My father was right. I'm worthless. I'm nothing more than an object for people to do with as they please. I can't keep myself safe. I can't keep my friends safe. I...I'm sorry."

Azriel fell to his knees in front of her. He gripped her hands in his own and pulled them away from her face. "This was not your fault, Seren. Do you hear me? This was not your fault. It was all Erebus. You did the best you could. That's all anyone can do."

"I could have done better," she spat.

"And you could have done worse. You did what you had to and it kept the two of you safe long enough for us to find you." Azriel stroked her cheek with one hand. "It wasn't your fault. You are not worthless. You are not some object. You are...you are a spark. You set fire to everything you touch. Land is renewed by you. Souls are awakened. Evil is purged. Life is given. You are precious to so many. You are precious to me."

Seren lowered her gaze, tears hanging heavy beneath her eyelashes. Azriel lifted her chin. "Look at me. Never refuse to meet my gaze." She obeyed, recognizing the words. "None of this was your fault."

"What will happen to the females?" Seren asked after a moment.

"Rhys is going to take over your bargain with Erebus. They already made it official."

Seren twisted her head. She pulled down the sleeve of her shirt and eyed her back. Sure enough, her new tattoo had disappeared. She sighed with relief. It felt nice, not to bear the same mark as Erebus. "What about Jorah?"

"If you want to see her again, I can arrange it," Azriel replied. "I told Rhys and Cassian to tell her that too."

Seren nodded slowly. She lowered her head again, closing her eyes. "I'm so tired."

"Then rest."

"I'm scared." She drew in a deep breath. "I'm scared of my dreams. I don't want to be alone anymore."

"I'll stay with you." Seren cracked an eye open and gave him half a smile. "But do you mind if I change first?" She shook her head. Azriel stood and left the room. After a moment, Seren followed him.

He was sifting through his closet, searching for another pair of clothes. Seren looked away and sprawled out on his bed. Who needs a bed this big? She wondered. Three Illyrians could fit in it. She rubbed her forehead, an amusing thought popping into her mind. Maybe he, Cassian, and Rhys have sleepovers sometime.

She heard leather rustling. Seren glanced at him. Azriel fit a shirt on over his wings before he walked over to her. He crossed his arms with a smile. "Are you sleeping there?"

"Mmhm."

"All right." Azriel pulled curtains over his balcony doors. The room darkened and he climbed into bed.

Seren switched positions. She slipped her legs beneath the covers and grabbed a pillow. She waited to see if Azriel would protest. He didn't. Seren closed her eyes, but festering thoughts waited there.

"Azriel?" She whispered.

"Hm?"

The words died on her tongue before she could voice them. "Never mind." Another tear managed to drip down her cheek.

"Tell me what I can do," he murmured. "Please."

She rolled over and found him watching her. Seren's breath shook with pent up sobs. She reached for him. Azriel pulled her against his chest. He slipped an arm around her waist and stroked her hair with his other hand. Seren tangled her legs with his, needing to feel closer to him. His scent was warm and comforting. Azriel pressed his forehead against hers. Shadows curled through her hair and the one on her arm tightened its grip.

"Are they saying anything?" She sniffed.

"They just want to make you feel better."

Seren closed her eyes and took deep measured breaths. Azriel continued to thread his fingers through her hair. His other hand rubbed circles on her back. "Azriel?"

"Yes?"

She pressed closer to him. She could hear his heart thundering in his chest. Seren opened her eyes and looked up. "I love you."

He stopped breathing altogether. Azriel blinked slowly. "You...love me?"

"Yes. I've been falling in love with you since I arrived. I know that's what it is, now. I know I can say it truthfully. I can't...I can't give you anything more physically right now, but..."

Azriel's eyes were shining, even in the dark. His shadows leaped around him excitedly. "I don't need anything more. I love you too. You have no idea how happy I feel, hearing you say that."

Seren cupped his face in her hands. She pressed her lips to his gently. Azriel let her lead. She was the one who chose to deepen the kiss. Azriel's hand slid to the nape of her neck and he angled her head a little more. She kissed him until she was breathless. Seren pulled back and buried her face against his neck.

She loved him. He loved her. Seren closed her eyes, smiling to herself. She was so close to acknowledging that final secret. She could feel it. She just wanted to be sure.