The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

Azriel didn't sleep again, but it was by his own choice this time. He knew that if he had wanted to, he could have slept without fearing his nightmares. Instead, he lay awake, simply feeling Seren's presence. She was sleeping soundly, her breaths deep and even.

He stroked her cheek with a thumb. She loves me. Azriel blinked as her flame winked back to life around his arm. The faebane must have worn off, he thought. Good.

He could still hear her screams as she fought to wake up. Her skin had been glowing white hot. He could see the fire coursing through her veins. Smoke poured from her mouth and nose. Azriel had sent the shadows to her first. They'd shaken her roughly, trying to wake her. When the glow faded from her skin, he'd grabbed her and she had woken.

Azriel pushed the memory aside and held her tightly. Maybe I should tell her about the Mating Bond, he thought. She must suspect it by now. He watched her briefly, then shook his head. No, I can't tell her. I wanted her to find out on her own and I'll stick to that. I don't want her to feel like she owes me anything, especially after what's just happened.

Still awake? Rhys' voice hovered just beyond his mental shields.

Azriel lowered them. Yes. How are things going?

So far, so good. Erebus did all that was asked of him and his warriors followed his example. Now, we just have to convince the females to train. Mor and Feyre should be home by now. I'm going to stay here for a while. Cassian will stay with me.

Do I need to come?

Not right now. I'll tell you if we need you. Rhys was quiet for a moment. How are Seren and Elain?

I haven't seen Elain yet, but Madja said she's all right. She's just shaken up. Lucien will be here soon.

And Seren?

Azriel continued to stroke her hair. His shadows drifted in and out between her dark locks. They curled around her shoulders, whispering softly. She'll be all right. The faebane has worn off and she's sleeping. I'll take her to the old clearing later and let her burn if she needs to.

I'm sorry. Tell them I'm sorry, Rhys said. I wouldn't have asked them to go if I'd known this would happen.

They wouldn't blame you, Azriel replied. Seren blames herself. I don't know how helpful I was in changing her feelings there.

Rhys sighed and Azriel knew he was thinking of his time Under the Mountain. Just keep reminding her that it wasn't her fault.

Azriel smiled to himself. She loves me.

She told you?

Yes.

Did she say anything about the Mating Bond?

No, I don't think she's acknowledged it yet. I think she suspects, but she isn't certain. I'm going to stick to my original plan and let her find out on her own.

I'm sure she'll realize it soon. I'm happy for you.

Thanks.

Sleep well, Az.

Azriel let his shields rise once more. He listened to the shadows as they floated across Seren. Lady of Ashes. The Shadow's Flame. Our equal. Ours. They curled around her arms. We will protect. Azriel kissed Seren's forehead gently and closed his eyes.

•༻☾☽༺•

The room was still dark when Seren woke. She rubbed her eyes and laughed as shadows tickled her neck and arms. She batted them away and they returned to Azriel. He was asleep. Her flame glowed around his arm once more.

Seren twisted so that she was laying on her back. She lifted her hands and called on her fire. Flames sparked at her fingertips. She gave a sigh of relief. The faebane was gone. Shadows jumped at the sight of her flames. They began to dance around her hands excitedly.

Azriel stirred and stretched his wings. "You would think shadows were quiet," he mumbled, "but sometimes they're louder than Cassian."

Seren let her flames fade. The shadows retreated. "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's fine." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." It was true. Now that she was well rested, everything seemed a little better. She knew she wouldn't feel entirely herself for a few days yet, if not more, but better was a start.

Seren sat up with a smile. She smoothed sleep mussed hair out of his face. Azriel's hands slid down to her waist as she kissed him. He sighed when she pulled away. Seren slipped out of bed and moved the curtains away from the balcony doors. The sunlight was brilliant and only a few clouds hung in the sky.

"It's almost noon," she said. "I should go see Elain."

He got up and nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I think we need it to just be us."

"All right." Azriel brushed a hand across her cheek. Seren covered it with her own and kissed his palm. "I'll be around here if you need me."

She gave him a grateful smile and slipped out the door. Seren went to her own room first. She bathed quickly and threw on one of her favorite outfits. It was the one she'd first worn when she arrived. The shirt was loose with long bell shaped sleeves and a wide neck. It left her shoulders partially exposed. The pants were fitted down to her knees before they flared out.

The outfit was comfortable and she didn't want to cover herself up anymore. Erebus said he wanted to break me, Seren thought, but I won't let him. It would be easier said than done, but she would do it. She'd already done many things she thought had been impossible for her.

I won't let him break me, she repeated. Azriel doesn't deserve that. I want to be able to give him whatever he needs. Seren swallowed, pushing aside the thoughts of self blame. Azriel doesn't deserve that and neither do I.

She breezed out of the room on bare feet. Seren made her way to Elain's room quickly. She knocked on the door and waited for admittance before entering. Elain sat in a chair next to her fireplace. She had a vacant look in her eyes. "Elain?"

She looked up, hearing Seren's voice. Elain tumbled out of her chair and threw her arms around Seren. "I'm so sorry!" Elain sobbed. They both fell to the floor, holding one another tightly. "I was having another vision. I didn't realize I'd left the hut. I'm so sorry, Seren. I'm so sorry!"

Seren squeezed Elain tightly. "It's all right. We're all right. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't help it."

"I can't stop thinking about what could've happened!" Elain's voice fell to a choked whisper. "If Azriel, Cassian, and Rhys hadn't gotten there in time...I'm so, so, so sorry."

Tears formed in Seren's eyes. She blinked them back and cleared her throat before replying. "I've done the same thing, Elain. I'm still doing it, but Azriel reminded me that we did what we could. We kept ourselves safe until they got there. Something worse could have happened, but it didn't. We have to focus on that. We have to help each other focus on that. It didn't happen. It could have, but it didn't. We're all right."

"How are you so rational?" Elain murmured.

"I wasn't earlier. I was a sobbing mess. I was trapped in my thoughts and even my dreams were awful. I'm still not entirely myself. I don't think I will be for a while." Seren loosened her hold as Elain's sobs lessened. "But I made a decision. I won't let this get the best of me. I won't let Erebus win. He failed, but if I let this take over my thoughts...my life...then in a way, he wins. I don't deserve to let him win. I won't give him that control over me."

Elain sniffed and wiped the last of her tears away. "Then I won't either. I'll help you."

"And I'll help you," Seren promised. "Now come on." She pulled Elain to her feet. "We need to do something to distract ourselves."

"I don't feel like sparring," Elain replied.

"I don't either. What do you want to do?"

"I just want to work with my flowers. What about you?"

Seren thought for a moment. "I want to do a painting."

•༻☾☽༺•

Half an hour later, they were seated in Elain's garden. Seren had a bucket filled with clean water, a blank canvas, and several paints and brushes were at her disposal, thanks to Feyre. Feyre and Mor had offered to join them, but they'd declined. Seren didn't know where Nesta and Amren were. Elain didn't either.

Elain lay on her stomach and pulled weeds out from between her rose bushes. Seren stared at her canvas, thinking up a painting. She could only think of one thing...of one person.

Seren dipped her brush into the paint and began. She worked aimlessly, blotting paint on one area and then starting on another. At first, she only painted shapes. She knew his face by memory, and it was easy to identify the planes that formed his features. Gradually, she painted in finer details. She used her nails, rather than another paintbrush, to create individual strands of hair. She added in shadowy wraiths and hazel eyes.

Her heartbeat quickened and she continued to paint. She finished his hair; hair that she wanted to run her fingers through. She added the final highlights to his eyes; eyes that looked at her and saw the soul hidden within. She painted his proud nose and high cheekbones. She painted the lips that she had kissed; lips that she wanted to kiss again. The lips she wanted to feel against her skin.

Elain appeared at her shoulder. "You're glowing."

Seren paused and looked at her arms. Sure enough, light was shining through them. She closed her eyes and summoned her flames. They danced about her shoulders, crackling with release. Azriel's shadow wound around her arm until it joined them, writhing with energy.

"Did something happen between you two?" Elain asked. Seren opened her eyes as Elain pointed to the painting.

"I love him," Seren answered simply. "And he loves me."

"Have you thought about...do you think he's your..."

"I'm not thinking about that right now," Seren interrupted. "After what happened, I'm not ready to think about something like that." She looked at the painting. She smiled, her heart swelling with affection. "But yes, it's crossed my mind."

"Well, you know what's best for you." Elain rested a hand on her shoulders. "But you both deserve an answer sometime."

"And someday soon, we will have one," Seren promised. She rinsed her hands off in the bucket and picked up the painting. "And when I have that answer, I will title this." She smiled at Elain before returning to the house.