Azriel dropped to his knees as Seren stormed towards Beron. She was glowing brighter than ever before. Smoke curled away from her, mingling with his shadows. Her flames twisted around Beron's. They raged in a hue of orange, blue, and white. They were beautiful. She was devastating.

    She burns! The Shadow's Flame. Lady of Ashes. The Illyrian Dragon, his remaining shadows sang.

    How is she doing this? What about the faebane? He wondered. From the corner of his eye, Azriel saw Eris climb out of the lake.

    Seren's magic still beat against Beron's. Eris narrowed his eyes, watching them. He met Azriel's gaze. They couldn't kill anyone, he remembered. Seren could not kill the High Lord.

    Azriel pushed himself to his feet and threw a shield over his body. He walked towards her, showing no fear. Seren's amber eyes glowed with molten rage. Her wickedly scarred hand still pointed at Beron. Azriel's heart clenched at the sight of it, but he walked on still.

    "Seren," he called gently. "It's all right."

    She looked at him and her gaze softened. As quickly as they'd appeared, her flames winked out. Seren crumpled, but Azriel caught her before she hit the ground. Shadows folded over them, forming a protective barrier. Beron staggered backwards, panting for breath.

    "You will pay for this," he spat. "Both of you."

    "No, Beron." Azriel fed cold anger into his gaze. "You will pay for what you did to her." He reached for the shadows and they vanished from the Autumn Court.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Seren's body felt leaden. Whatever strength she'd had before was gone now. She could barely manage to open her eyes. Somehow, she did, and she saw Azriel. They were flying. The cool air felt wonderful against her heated skin.

    "Where are we going?" She rasped. Her voice was not gone entirely, but it would be a while before she sounded like herself.

    "The cabin. It's in the mountains. Madja will meet us there and then we'll stay as long as you need to."

    "What will Rhysand do to me?"

    Azriel glanced at her, remorse in his gaze. "Nothing. He made a mistake. He never should have threatened you or sent you away and he's admitted that himself."

    "Will Beron come after me?"

    "Not unless he plans on going to war. You're under Rhys and Feyre's protection, and my own. As long as you stay away from the Autumn Court, Beron can't touch you without severe consequences."

    Seren nodded and felt tears prick her eyes. "I'm sorry."

    His shadows wiped her tears away. "We'll talk about it later," Azriel said. She clung to him weakly as they landed. They approached a log cabin and the door swung open for them.

    Seren looked around as Azriel carried her down the hall towards a bedroom. The entire cabin was covered in small paintings. They were unmistakably Feyre's. There was a kitchen and living area in the main room. Down the hallway, there appeared to be two bedrooms and a bathroom. Azriel entered one room and set her down. His jaw clenched as his eyes swept over her.

    A moment later, the door opened again. Madja appeared and Azriel ducked out of the room. Seren tried to call after him, but couldn't find her voice. She couldn't make her limbs move either. She found the Bond instead.

    I'll be back, Azriel said before she even spoke. Let Madja take care of you for now. Seren closed her eyes and relented. Her skin tingled as Madja set to work.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Azriel and Mor made their way back to Eris' meeting place swiftly. Eris wasn't there yet. "How is she?" Mor asked.

    "I don't know. Beron tried to drown her. The rescue went according to plan, but somehow, she overcame the faebane in her body and summoned her magic." Azriel looked at his arm. Her flaming band had returned. It glowed steadily, producing no sound or unusual warmth. "But then her flames faded, leaving only this. I wouldn't be surprised if she sleeps for several days after Madja finishes."

    "I'm glad she's safe."

    Azriel nodded his agreement. Eris appeared before them shortly. "Well, you've successfully angered my father. Congratulations, though. He can't start a war."

    "Did he see you with Seren?"

    "No, although he can't wrap his mind around how she escaped her chains. I told him she probably melted them off, which raised the question of how she overcame the faebane."

    "I don't have an answer for that either."

    "I do." Azriel raised an eyebrow. Eris simply shrugged. "I have a theory, anyway. She saw you and my father fighting and she wanted to help. Her instincts gave her the strength to push through the faebane for a short amount of time." He cleared his throat after a moment. "I'll be going then."

    "Wait," Azriel said. He turned to Mor. "Can we speak alone?"

    Mor nodded. "I'll go back and wait for Madja." She winnowed away with a critical glance towards Eris.

    "What?" Eris crossed his arms.

    "Why did you help us?"

    "Because I knew I could get something from you in return," Eris replied smugly. Azriel held his gaze. Eris' smirk disappeared and he turned away. "Because I understood her. I understood wanting to die and feeling worthless." He tapped his chin, thinking. "But in the end, she didn't want to die. She tried so hard to make herself weak. She tried to die, but when the time came, she wasn't ready. She didn't want to go." Eris began to walk away. "Don't make her regret that, Shadowsinger. She was in the jaws of death and came back. Not many people get to do that."

    Azriel flew away after Eris winnowed. When he reached the cabin, Madja was still busy working. He slumped onto a chair and prepared to wait.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Seren cracked her eyes open, expecting to see the darkness of her cell. Instead, she saw a wooden ceiling and sunlight pouring in through large windows. A fire crackled nearby and she lay in an enormous bed. She moved cautiously. There was no pain, only a lingering ache throughout her body.

    She reached for her flames and they answered. Seren sighed with relief, then cast out her flaming hand. She found Azriel's presence. She didn't touch him, but let the flaming hand fade.

    A moment later, the door opened. Azriel poked his head in, eyes wide. Seren managed to sit up. A relieved grin broke out across his face and he ran to her. She bit back a yelp as he hugged her tightly. She hugged him back and buried her face against his neck.

    "How long has it been?" She drew back and rubbed her throat, surprised that her voice didn't break.

    "Three days. Madja healed you as much as she could. She managed to get some of the faebane antidote and used it to get the rest of the faebane out of your system."

    "I didn't know there was an antidote."

    "It was developed during the war with Hybern." Azriel lifted a hand to her cheek, silver lining his eyes. "How do you feel?"

    "I'm starving." She'd do anything for a bowl of rich and creamy potato soup. Almost as soon as she thought that, a tray appeared on the bed, bearing a steaming bowl. Seren blinked in surprise.

    "This cabin is spelled to take care of those within it. You just have to wish for what you want and it will come," Azriel explained.

    Seren began to eat slowly. "Eris brought me food and water and made me take it. He usually wouldn't leave until I'd finished. He said he had promised to keep me alive."

    "He helped me rescue you," Azriel said.

    "And what did he want in exchange?"

    "I had to promise that I'd return the favor and do something for him someday. Before you scold me, I knew the risks and I was careful in my wording." Seren smiled and continued to eat. Azriel swallowed hard. "He did tell me that if you wanted to die in the end, he would let you."

    Seren lowered her spoon and set the bowl aside. "I did want to die. The whole time I was there, I hoped they would kill me or I'd find a way to kill myself. I couldn't stand what I'd done, lying to all of you. I deserved death. I deserved torture."

    "No." Azriel cupped her cheek and pressed his forehead to hers. "No, you didn't deserve any of that. You deserved a chance to explain yourself."

    "Aren't you mad at me? I kept this from you." Tears slipped past her eyelashes.

    "No, I'm not mad at you. I saw everything when you sent it over the Bond accidentally. I saw Beron kill your father and I saw the options he gave you. I know you never wanted to betray us. I'm angry with myself for making you feel like you couldn't tell me this." Azriel continued to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "And I felt your pain. Sometimes it would come over the Bond too. It was worse than being tortured myself."

    "I know you felt it. I heard when you cried for me."

    "Why didn't you answer?"

    "I couldn't. I don't deserve you. You kept calling for me and reaching out to me even though I lied to you and your family. I thought that if I ignored you, you would stop. I knew if I answered you, I'd lose my resolve. I wanted to die."

    "Don't say you don't deserve me." Azriel's shadows drifted over her. "You made a mistake. I've made many of them. I've made mistakes far worse than yours. If you don't deserve me, then I definitely don't deserve you. We can argue about this until we die, but it changes nothing. You are my mate and I love you. I will always love you."

    Seren rubbed her hands together. Her shoulders shook with sobs. "I'm sorry for what I agreed to do, but truthfully, I'm not sorry that it led me to you. I feel like I don't deserve you, but I love you. You are my mate and I am yours. I had hoped that when I died, you would be given a different mate. A better one."

    "I don't want another mate. I want you." Azriel kissed her. It was not gentle. It was wild and claiming, filled with need and yearning. "I will never want anyone else. You are the only one for me." He kissed her again. "The shadows would barely speak when you were gone. I was a wreck. I didn't sleep at all. I thought I was going to have to choose between you and my family. I would have chosen you. I can't say I wouldn't have felt guilty. I would've, but I still would have chosen you."

    Seren kissed him back, but couldn't bring herself to touch him. She kept her hands clasped in her lap. Azriel lifted one. He pressed it to his lips, then to his cheek.

    "The scars will dull in time," he murmured. "They don't mar you. They aren't a taint, but if you see one, I will help you remove it." Azriel kissed her hand again. The water droplet tattoo began to tingle, as it had when they'd first made that bargain. Seren blinked back tears and managed to press her hands against his cheeks. Azriel rested his forehead against hers once more.