Sweat ran down her forehead despite the cool afternoon air. Seren lifted her sword, Elysian, and nodded to her pupils. The Illyrian females fell into position and waited for her instructions. "Begin!" Seren ordered.

    Steel clashed as the females attacked one another. Seren's sword met her opponent's. Jorah's hazelnut eyes gleamed with delight. They began trading blows rapidly, throwing in a few fancy maneuvers. Seren ducked beneath Jorah's blade and jabbed Elysian's pommel into her side.

    Jorah grunted, but did not falter. Her crippled wings flared out as she balanced herself. She lunged at Seren. Seren dodged again, but Jorah dug the tip of her blade into the soil and swung herself around it. Her foot collided with Seren's chest, knocking her backwards. Seren grimaced as she sat up.

    Jorah leaned against her sword, smirking. "Well? How was that?"

    "Great. Did Cassian teach you that move?" Seren took Jorah's extended hand. She winced at the sight of the horrible scars marring her own skin. Jorah pulled her to her feet.

    "No. Cassian would be biting my head off for digging my blade into the dirt," Jorah chuckled.

    "It's a good move to use with a staff," Seren thought aloud. "Why don't you take over this next lesson and show the females how to do that?"

    "Sure!" Jorah clapped her hands, drawing the females' attention.

    Seren retreated to the fence that surrounded the training ring. It took a few minutes for Jorah to pass around staffs and help everyone get situated. Seren smiled to herself as the females laughed and talked with one another.

    The Ironcrest war camp was a different place than it had been a year ago. The first time Seren had come, the females were all downtrodden and wouldn't even lift their eyes. Seren did her best to convince the Illyrian females to train, but Erebus, Ironcrest's warlord, had done everything possible to prevent that.

    Seren wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. The mountains were somewhat cold year round, but especially so in the winter and early spring. Luckily, the snow had melted before Calanmai this year.

    A few males walked past the ring and spat, giving Seren mocking sneers. She rolled her eyes with a sigh. Despite the progress being made in Ironcrest, there was still a lot of work to be done.

    At least they haven't been abusing the females so much, she thought. And the females can now defend themselves.

    The sound of steel scraping against a grinding wheel reached Seren's pointed ears. She tensed with fear, the sound dredging up horrible memories. Something squeezed her arm. She looked down and saw her shadow situated around her left bicep as usual.

    She managed a small smile. The shadow had first become attached to her a year ago, when she'd arrived in the Night Court. Seren had been commissioned as a spy for Beron Vanserra, High Lord of the Autumn Court, after her father was killed. Trestwyn Marzena foolishly told Beron about Seren's daemati abilities. In anger, Beron killed him and threatened Seren until she agreed to spy for him.

    The longer Seren stayed in the Night Court, though, the more her resolve faltered, until she finally made the choice to betray Beron. Of course, Beron learned of her betrayal soon enough and gave her one final choice to make. When Seren's original agenda was revealed to her newfound family, she'd been ordered to leave the Night Court or be taken to the Prison.

    Seren had fled back to the Autumn Court, where Beron was waiting for her. She refused to tell him anything about the members of the Night Court, resulting in several weeks of torture. During those long weeks, Seren had done everything in her power to weaken herself, hoping for death. However, when death finally came, she was not ready.

    She narrowly avoided being drowned thanks to two males. Eris Vanserra, Beron's eldest son, and her mate, Azriel, Shadowsinger and Spymaster of the Night Court. They managed to rescue her and Seren returned to the Night Court with Azriel.

    The wheel was still grinding away. Seren focused on her breathing, trying to keep herself grounded. The shadow tightened its grip on her arm once more. Seren brought her hand down to stroke it, then froze. The sight of her scars stole her breath entirely.

    The scars on her hands were by far the worst of all the ones she'd been marked with. They had been given to her the first day she returned to the Autumn Court. Beron had ordered two of his sons to hold her hands over open flames. Seren reached for her own fiery magic to protect herself, but a moment too late. Her scars were even worse than her mate's, although his were 534 years old, whereas she'd only had hers for a year.

    Gentle concern drifted down the Mating Bond. Seren squeezed her eyes shut and felt the shadow curl around her hand. Are you all right? Azriel's smooth voice entered her mind.

    Someone is sharpening blades, Seren replied in a whisper. The soles of her feet tingled and she saw the scars hidden within her boots.

    Try to focus on something else, Azriel instructed. What are the females doing?

    Seren forced her eyes open. She surveyed the training ring. Jorah had paired them up and they were practicing their new move against each other. They're sparring. Jorah taught them how to plant a staff in the ground and use it as a brace to pull themselves around and land a kick.

    Why don't you go try it out with them? Seren eyed the staffs. She saw her hideous hands wrapped around them. Her breath caught. Azriel's presence brushed over the Bond soothingly. They aren't hideous. Remember what we've been working on?

    They're a prize. I earned them by protecting my family, Seren recited. She'd first said those words to Rhys when Azriel brought her home. She knew they were true, but it was taking her a long time to accept them.

    And they are not hideous. Azriel was silent for several minutes. Seren didn't reply. Where is Cassian?

    Seren craned her neck past the training females. She spotted her mate's brother in another ring with several other females. He's teaching a lesson.

    Relief trickled over the Bond. Good. Keep him in sight.

    Erebus isn't here.

    I know. I'm tracking him, but Kallon is still there and that camp is filled with Erebus' supporters.

    Don't worry. I'll be careful.

    I'll see you at home. His love drifted across the Bond and Seren smiled.

    The Bond fell silent and she crossed the ring, rejoining the females. Jorah sidled over to her, beaming with pride. "Kalea picked up on that move quickly."

    "That's great."

    "Are you all right?"

    Seren nodded, flipping her long dark braid over her shoulder. She tugged on the end absentmindedly. "I heard someone sharpening their weapons. It just caught me off guard and then..." She trailed off.

    Jorah rested a hand on her shoulder. "I know what you mean. After my grandfather clipped my wings, even the sight of a dagger would overwhelm me."

    "How did you work through that?" Seren asked.

    "I tried to expose myself to weapons more. I would watch the males when they trained. At night, I stole my father's dagger and just held it, telling myself that it couldn't hurt me unless I made it." Jorah crossed her arms, watching the winged females train. "It took time and a lot of patience, but eventually, I became less afraid of daggers."

    Seren bit her lip with a small nod. Jorah rejoined the group and began calling out more instructions. But how do I expose myself more? Seren wondered. I see and handle weapons every day. I make myself sit in the bathtub for hours sometimes. What more can I do? What can I do about my scars?

    She studied her hands, swallowing. Seren traced the outline of a tattoo on her right hand. It depicted a water droplet filled with splashing waves. This tattoo was the result of a bargain she'd made with Azriel. She had promised to help him work past his feelings of taintedness, and in return, he promised to help her overcome her fear of weapons.

    The vows from their old bargain were still sealed in the ink, but there was a new promise there as well. Azriel had promised to help her view her scars not as a disfigurement, but as prizes, and she promised to learn.

    "You brood as much as Azriel these days." Seren looked up as Cassian approached. He slung an arm over her shoulders. His dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and he had spread his wings slightly to cool them.

    "Sorry. I was just thinking," Seren replied. She grimaced, sniffing the air. "You smell awful."

    "No worse than you." Cassian gave her a pointed look. "No putting your feet on my back tonight."

    "Don't worry. I won't. I don't want my feet to smell like sweaty back anyway."

    Cassian chuckled and shook his head. At last, Jorah called the training session to an end. The females gathered up their staffs and returned them to a few racks that were set up in one corner of the ring. Jorah joined Cassian and Seren once the females were gone.

    "Will you be back tomorrow?" She asked, looking at Seren.

    "I think so, provided Rhys hasn't come up with something else for me to do."

    "And you?" Jorah raised an eyebrow, turning to Cassian.

    He leaned over and tousled her hair. Jorah swatted his hand away with a huff. "Count on it, Little Sister. I'm stuck in this place as long as Seren and Az are."

    "Great." Jorah rolled her eyes but grinned. "I'll see you tomorrow then." She headed off into the camp.

    "Ready to go home?" Cassian asked. Seren nodded and he grabbed onto her. They soared into the air. "Do you know how long Az will be there?"

    "I'm not sure. He said he was tracking Erebus."

    "But Kallon was still in the camp." A wary look filled Cassian's hazel eyes. "I hope Az is being careful."

    "They haven't done anything yet," Seren pointed out.

    "But that doesn't mean they aren't planning something. Erebus must know by now that you told us he's working with Beron. He's likely just pretending to appease us until Beron gives him a set of orders. Those orders could come at any time."

    "Has Eris said anything about Beron's plans?"

    "Eris hasn't been able to meet with us this month yet. I hope he does soon, though. We need to know what's going on."

    Seren's own amber gaze reflected Cassian's concern and suspicion. "I agree."

    Cassian blinked suddenly and gave her a sideways grin. "But we'll take this peaceful time while we can. Mother knows what will happen when it ends." Seren nodded in response, but said nothing.