Seren waited in her room while Azriel finished changing into his leathers. A tiny note card appeared on the table before her. She lifted it and began to read.

Do what you need to today. I'd prefer if Erebus leaves your meeting alive, but I can work around an unexpected death as well. I told Az that if Erebus dies, it must be by your hand. That choice will be yours.

~Rhys

Seren clenched her jaw and set the note card aside. Azriel appeared in her doorway. "Ready?"

She joined him quickly. "Yes. Let's go." They started down the stairs, hand in hand.

Everyone was gathered near the front doors when they arrived. Mor gasped, suddenly, and began to laugh. "You accepted the Mating Bond!" She squealed, throwing her arms around Seren. "About time, too!"

Mor went to hug Azriel. Seren had to turn away as instincts welled up within her. She focused on her breathing. It's just Mor, she reminded herself. They've been friends for a long time. The instincts remained. That's going to take some getting used to. Hopefully when the Bond is older, the instincts will dull a little.

"I'm coming with you," Mor said as she drew back from Azriel. "I'm not going to let the overbearing Illyrian babies crowd you while you talk to Erebus."

Seren smiled and nodded her consent. "All right. Let's go, then."

"We're not overbearing," Azriel protested quietly.

"You're a little overbearing, Az," Feyre called after them.

"Am I overbearing?"

Seren laughed and shook her head. "Not to me." Azriel smiled and squeezed her hand. Mor took them both by the shoulders and they winnowed away from the river house.

•༻☾☽༺•

Ironcrest was as she remembered it, but there were a number of noticeable changes. The females carried themselves with more confidence now. There were fewer downcast eyes and more smiles. Seren looked to the training rings. There was Jorah, holding a sword and shouting instructions. Cassian stood behind her with his arms crossed.

"I'll talk to Jorah first," Seren said. She pulled her hand away from Azriel's and crossed the camp. Several pairs of eyes began to follow her as she walked. She heard Azriel smother a growl behind her. The shadow on her arm drifted up to her neck.

Jorah gasped, catching sight of her. Cassian took her sword and Jorah sprinted over to Seren. "You came back! I thought I was going to have to come see you," Jorah laughed. "I'm so happy you're all right. Cassian told me what happened and Rhysand took over your bargain with Erebus. You'll be pleased to know that there are now sixty-five females training."

"I'm happy to hear that. Things seem a little better around here."

"They are better. The warriors haven't been threatening us anymore. They still sneer and spit at the rings while we train, but now, I think they're scared we might hit back." Jorah laughed, her brown eyes sparkling. She hugged Seren tightly. When Jorah drew back, she wore a curious expression. "You have the scent of a Mating Bond."

Seren smiled and looked behind her. Azriel was a short distance away. Mor stood next to him, vigilantly watching the Illyrian warriors. His back was turned towards Seren, but he looked over his shoulder, as though sensing her gaze. "We're mates," she said.

"That's wonderful. I wondered when I saw you here, but you didn't carry the scent then."

"I accepted the Bond this morning."

"Ah, so in other words, I shouldn't look at your Shadowsinger for too long."

Seren shook her head. "These instincts are very strange. I wanted to strangle Mor just for hugging him, and she's one of my best friends."

Her smile broadened at the word. Best friend. She'd never had a best friend before, much less three of them. She had best friends. She had a mate. She had safety. Old guilt bubbled up in her before she could stop it. And how long do you think that will last? Beron hasn't forgotten about you. Seren shoved the thoughts down. She wouldn't let thoughts of Beron spoil her mood. She would deal with him when the time came.

"I'm sure they'll calm down in time. Or, maybe not. Have you consummated the mating yet?"

"No." Seren bit her lip. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that. Hopefully, confronting Erebus will help me get there, though."

"Invite me to the mating ceremony," Jorah chuckled. "I need a good excuse to leave this Mother forsaken camp."

"I'll do that," Seren promised. Jorah hugged her again before returning to her lesson.

Cassian approached after Jorah took her place. "Rhys is in the hut. I told him you're here. Mor came along?"

"She said she couldn't let me deal with Erebus and three overbearing Illyrian babies at the same time," Seren smirked.

Cassian rolled his eyes, then sniffed. A broad grin spread across his cheeks. "You accepted the Bond!" He picked her up and spun her around, then pulled her into a hug. "Welcome to the family, Sister."

Seren laughed and hugged Cassian back. "Thank you, but you might want to let go before Azriel sees."

"Let him see. We'll have to beat some of the protectiveness out of his system anyway. We did it for Rhys. They did it for me. Rhys and I will do it for him."

After a moment, Cassian relented. They joined Azriel and Mor. They passed through the camp again and found Rhys waiting near the small hut. "Where do you want to meet with him?" Rhys asked, getting straight to business. He smiled though, and she knew that he'd also scented the Mating Bond between her and Azriel.

"The cave," Seren replied firmly. She swallowed her anxieties and sidled closer to Azriel. He rested a hand on the back of her neck.

"All right. Cassian and I will bring him," Rhys promised. "Remember, what happens up there will be your decision."

Seren nodded and took Mor's offered hand. They winnowed to the cave. It looked different in daylight. The ground was hard stone with several loose rocks strewn about. The cave was smaller than she'd originally thought. It was high in the mountains and far away from the war-camp. She almost thought she could see Azriel's hidden valley, but she wasn't certain.

The scent of faebane and blood still hung in the air. She could smell fear as well, hers and Elain's. There was a faint hint of arousal too. Erebus' and his warrior's. Seren returned to Azriel's side as he tensed.

Mor retreated to the mouth of the cave. Azriel spread his wings slightly, covering her from sight. He cupped Seren's face in his hands and pressed their foreheads together. She rubbed her hands over one another nervously.

"It's all right," Azriel murmured. "I'm here. Mor is here. Rhys and Cassian will be here. We won't let anything happen to you."

Seren continued to rub her hands together. Memories surfaced. The feeling of rocks beneath her head. Erebus' legs pinning hers down. His rough hands on her wrists. Her breath quickened. Azriel's shadows leaped over to her. They wound around her shoulders and nestled in her hair.

Azriel tugged on the Bond. Seren focused on its new presence, brilliant and gleaming. I'm here, she heard his voice in her mind. I'm here. I won't leave you.

Seren drew in several deep breaths, focusing on his presence. Her mate. She was doing this for him. She was doing this for herself. She was doing it for both of them.

I'm here. I'm here. I'm here, Azriel repeated. She gripped his wrist and brought his palm down to her lips. Seren flipped it over, examining his water droplet tattoo. She kissed it as well. Azriel tucked his wings against his back as footsteps crunched on the rocks.

They turned just as Rhys and Cassian appeared, with Erebus in between them. The war lord looked bored and unamused. His black eyes settled on Seren. "I knew you'd be back," he sneered.

"I am back," Seren echoed. She nodded to Rhys and Cassian. They backed away from Erebus. He approached her, reaching a hand towards her cheek. Seren gritted her teeth and grabbed his wrist. Her palm grew hot and Erebus howled in shock and pain. "I am back to make sure that you remember who and what I am," she spat. "I am not yours. I am not a possession. I am not something to be used on a whim. I am a person. I have been seen as an object my entire life and I will not be viewed as one again!"

Erebus bit back his howls and glared at her. "You think a little fire makes you something? You think your worthless mate gives you strength? We both know the truth. If they hadn't interfered, I would have gotten what I wanted and you would have given it to me without a fight."

Seren's hand burned hotter, and she tightened her hold on his wrist. Erebus fought back a scream, but to no avail. "To protect my family. I would have given you what you wanted to protect my family. But I would never have been yours. I would never have submitted to you. I submitted to my father. I submitted to my former High Lord. I will not submit to you. You will not haunt me. You will not control me. I am not worthless. I deserve better and so does my mate."

Flames licked at her shoulders. Azriel's shadows crept out of her hair and began to dance with them. Erebus' eyes widened in fear. The shadows and flames did not touch him, but her hand continued to burn. "You are a coward, Erebus. You drugged me and used my family to get what you wanted, but you failed. I will give you nothing that you desire. I won't give you my body. I won't give you my thoughts. I won't give you my fear."

Seren smelled smoke and tasted it as it left her body through her nostrils and mouth. "I will give you a promise and a reminder. If you ever turn against my family or try to hurt them in any way, I promise that I will melt the wings right off your back and your skin will follow. I will melt your body bit by bit until your bones are nothing but ash. This," she held up his wrist, "is your reminder." She pulled her hand away.

Erebus screamed at the sight of his wrist. Skin and bones had melted and reformed into a crooked snake. The skin was black and taut. It was covered with indentions from her fingers. "Bitch," he seethed.

"I could have taken your life. Be glad I'm sparing it for another day," Seren snapped. Her amber eyes flashed with fire and Erebus fell to his knees, trembling. Seren squared her shoulders, looking down at him.

From the mouth of the cave, she heard gasps and murmured surprise. Dozens of Illyrians watched them, flying just beyond the mountain side. They all bowed at the waist, their eyes filled with awe.

"What are they doing?" Seren whispered. Her voice felt hoarse.

Azriel moved in front of her and fell to his knees. "Look at yourself." He sent an image down the Bond.

Seren's eyes widened in shock. His shadows had drifted to her back and formed the illusion of Illyrian wings. A crown of flames sat atop her dark locks and more flames wove through her shadowy wings. Her skin was glowing with the light of a thousand stars. Smoke drifted from her mouth and nose.

Mor and Cassian knelt too. Rhys did not, but he bowed his head to her. "The shadows have given you a new name," Azriel rasped.

"What is it?"

"The Illyrian Dragon."

Seren lifted her eyes once more. She felt peace wash over her. The fire returned to her veins. Azriel's shadows crawled back to him. One remained, curled around her arm as always. She knelt down and kissed Azriel softly. "Let's go home. I have done what I needed to."