The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

Seren weeded her section of snowdrops in the garden. The early spring sun was warmer than usual. She glanced over her shoulder as Nyx laughed. He toddled about, chasing after a butterfly. Elain laughed beside Seren and planted a few more seeds into a freshly turned patch of dirt.

"You never did tell me why you're home so soon," Seren said. "And where is Lucien?"

"Vassa's master was beginning to look at me as a possible replacement for her so Lucien brought me home for a little while," Elain replied. "He went back to the Mortal Lands to investigate the town where Varian's spies say they found the Mortal Queens."

"Where is Jurian?" She had yet to meet the infamous human general.

"He's still with Vassa and the dread-lord. I don't think he's making much progress." Elain gritted her teeth and set to work weeding her iris bed.

"You've been working on this for months already."

"The dread-lord is just toying with us at this point. When he's tired of us coming up with offers for Vassa, he'll either kill us or force us to leave his house."

Seren rubbed her forehead, half closing her eyes. "I'd prefer if he didn't kill you. Rhys would probably declare war and we don't need to fight on two fronts right now." Elain nodded as Seren stood. She crossed the garden and picked up a glass of water from a table. Seren took a slow sip, hoping it would quell her headache.

Nyx was still chasing the butterfly. His small wings flapped behind him. They wouldn't be developed enough for him to fly for several years yet, but that didn't seem to stop him from trying. The butterfly fluttered over Elain's head and Nyx toppled into her lap.

Elain wrapped her arms around him and squeezed, but was careful not to jar his wings. "I've got you now!"

"No!" Nyx struggled in Elain's arms, laughing. He managed to worm out of her grasp and began running again.

Elain pushed herself to her feet and followed him around the garden. "Come back here, you little bat!"

Seren sat down and grinned, watching them. Nyx switched directions suddenly and hid himself beneath her chair. Seren peered down at him. Nyx grabbed her hand and pulled it over his eyes as Elain drew near. Seren's mouth fell open. Nyx kept a tight hold on her hand, using it to shield himself.

Elain paused and tapped her chin, her brown eyes sparkling. "Hm, where could Nyx have gone?" Nyx giggled. "Have you seen him, Seren?"

"I haven't," Seren replied. "He must have flown away."

"I can't fly yet." Nyx's round little voice called from beneath the chair.

"What was that?" Elain began looking around intently. Nyx gasped and pulled Seren's hand over his mouth. Seren bit her lip, then smiled. He didn't balk at her scars. Elain crouched down and reached beneath the chair. "I found you!"

Nyx shrieked as Elain pulled him out of his hiding spot and hugged him to her chest. "Is he behaving himself?" Feyre asked, appearing just beyond the garden hedges.

"Yes," Seren answered. "He's spent most of the afternoon chasing butterflies and digging holes for Elain."

Feyre took Nyx and kissed his forehead. "Is that so?"

"Can we paint?" Nyx asked, patting Feyre's cheek with a hand.

"For a little while. We'll paint out here while your aunts work." Feyre carried Nyx into the house to retrieve their painting supplies.

Seren watched them go, then finished the last of her water and returned to the flowerbeds. Her headache hadn't gone away, but it wasn't as bad as before.

"How has training in Ironcrest been going?" Elain asked. Her eyes darkened a little, and Seren knew what was running through her mind.

"It's not as bad as it used to be," Seren replied. "The females are training nearly every day. Three-fourths of the females in the camp attend our lesson. The males don't usually stand near the rings and insult us anymore."

"And how is Jorah?"

Seren sighed and furrowed her brows. "I'm not sure. When we're training, she's in her element. She's a very skilled fighter and I know she trains even when Cassian and I aren't there, but she never talks to us about what she does beyond training. She doesn't talk about her father and..."

Elain straightened, watching her through narrowed eyes. "What is it?"

"Kallon has been hanging around her a lot lately, making crude remarks and threats. Cassian even stayed in Ironcrest overnight a few times to make sure Kallon didn't do anything to her. Azriel stayed with him. Last week, Kallon said something that worried Cassian and I. He said that Jorah was his and he'd treat her however he wanted."

Elain remained silent, waiting for her to continue. Seren massaged her temples. "I asked Jorah if she knew what he meant by that, but she just told me it was nothing and I shouldn't worry about it. Cassian had a few suspicions as to what Kallon meant, but he never told me what they were."

"Whatever it is, it can't be good," Elain said. "I suppose all you can do is be there for Jorah and help her when she needs it."

"I suppose so." They fell silent as Feyre and Nyx returned. Seren absentmindedly pulled weeds, her thoughts running in circles.

•༻☾☽༺•

Azriel, Cassian, and Rhys wound their way through Ironcrest, hidden by shadows. Night was falling fast and the camp was mostly quiet. A few Illyrian males slipped out of their homes and began walking towards Erebus' hut.

"I can't take all of us into the hut," Azriel said, letting the shadows muffle his words. "I'm not sure the shadows can hide us all as long as we'll need them to."

"I'll wait outside," Rhys volunteered. "Cassian, show me what's happening."

Azriel and Cassian nodded and continued on to the hut. Rhys winnowed from sight and the shadows returned to Azriel. Malice. Mischief. Mutiny, the shadows chanted. The minds of those within the Warlord's hut are dark and twisted.

Azriel grabbed Cassian by the shoulder and the shadows folded over them tightly, accompanied by the sensation of moving water. When the shadows unfurled, they were standing in the small, cramped hut. Erebus and Kallon were there along with several other males.

"Things are changing too quickly, Erebus," one of the males said. "We're losing control of this camp."

"That can't happen," another added. "What will He do to us if we fail to give Him what He wants?"

"You know what will happen," Kallon growled. "All of you know what will happen."

"Quiet," Erebus ordered. He rubbed his mangled wrist ruefully. "We won't fail. There's too much at stake if we do."

"What is your plan?"

"We must do something unexpected. After our meeting with Devlon, I did some thinking." Erebus began to pace before the hearth. "We need Rhysand and his pets to trust us."

"Like that will ever happen," Cassian muttered.

"How do we accomplish that?" Another male asked.

"We do what they want."

All of the males began to grumble. Even Kallon watched his father through angry eyes. "They will never trust us. We have to..."

"Hold your tongue!" Kallon lowered his gaze and Erebus glowered at him. "Until they trust us, we won't have room to work. Let them train the females if they want. Let them think they own this camp. When the time comes, we will strike. The females will be forced to join us and we'll have that many more useless soldiers to offer Him."

"You're forgetting something, Father," Kallon said.

"What?" Erebus crossed his arms.

"The Shadowsinger has been spying on us and reporting everything to Rhysand. Who's to say he isn't here right now?" Kallon's gaze swept over the room. Azriel tensed, but the shadows did their job well. Kallon didn't see him or Cassian. "They will never trust us. We won't gain maneuvering room by submitting to them."

"Then what do you suggest?" Erebus asked.

"I say we make it too dangerous for them to remain." The males began to nod their agreement.

Erebus stroked his chin, then nodded as well. "Fine. I place you in charge of the details. I want that scum out of my camp in two week's time."

"What about the Shadowsinger's mate? What do you want us to do with her?"

"You know exactly what I want done with her," Erebus crooned. "But I'll handle that matter myself. You just focus on subduing the females and ridding us of the other two pests."

Azriel's hand tightened around Truth-Teller's hilt. His siphons flashed with energy. The shadows covered them, hiding their glow. Cassian grabbed Azriel's arm and shook his head slightly. Cold talons scraped against Azriel's shields. He lowered them a fraction.

Calm down, Az, Rhys said.

I am calm, Azriel replied. It was the truth. Cold fury hummed in his veins but the Killing Calm had settled in his mind.

Don't move until everyone leaves that hut. I want to see who all was there.

Azriel picked up on the hidden meaning of the words. Rhys had meant "Stay there until the Calm had passed and by the Cauldron, don't kill Erebus."

It took several minutes for the males to file out. Azriel focused on his breathing, allowing some of his anger to settle. Cassian kept a tight hold on his arm. At last, they walked through the shadows and left the hut again. Rhys winnowed them out of the camp and back to the river house.

"We need to make a plan to counter this," Cassian said. "Kallon won't take any shortcuts this time."

"Neither will we," Rhys promised. "I want you two to stay in Ironcrest for the next few weeks and keep an eye on things. Seren will stay with you and so will Amren. Feyre and I will check in every few days."

Cassian grimaced. "Are you sure it's a good idea to bring Amren? She and Seren aren't on the best of terms and..."

"And it's high time that ended," Rhys finished for him. "Working together is the only way they'll learn to get along." He glanced at Azriel. "Az?"

"Fine, but if Amren acts up..."

"You will tell me," Rhys ordered. "And I'll handle it. I don't need tension between you and Amren too."

Azriel clenched his hands into fists and nodded. Cassian groaned, running his hands through his hair. "It's going to be a very long few weeks." He leaped into the air and flew towards the House of Wind.

Rhys and Azriel lingered outside of the river house. "Az?" Rhys placed a hand on his shoulder.

"If Erebus or anyone else touches Seren, they will die. By her hand or mine. I don't care whose, but they will die. I'm not letting Erebus try to take her again."

Rhys sighed, but nodded. "All right. Just...try to keep death as a last resort." Azriel swallowed some of his anger. "Is she pregnant?"

"I don't know. If she is, she needs to come home before her scent begins to change."

"I'll let you tell her that," Rhys chuckled. "Don't worry, Az. Nothing will happen to her. I swear." Azriel released a slow breath and gave Rhys a short nod. He flew up to their balcony and entered the bedroom.

Elain was sitting on the bed with Seren, whispering something. They both glanced at him. Seren frowned, spying his expression. "Anyway," Elain said, "Lucien tried offering him different..." she trailed off, her gaze landing on something behind Seren.

Azriel followed her gaze and saw Seren's latest painting, Uncommon Beauty. Elain tilted her head and crawled over the bed towards it. She touched the painting gently. Her brown eyes glazed over. Azriel knew the look all too well.

"I see an island," Elain murmured. "It's beautiful. Ancient. Holy. There are two people there. A man with feathered wings. He's carrying a woman. I feel great sorrow."

Seren slid off the bed and joined Azriel. She wrapped her arms around him, not looking away from Elain. Azriel tucked a wing around her shoulders.

"There is an amulet. There is life. There is light. Now, there is darkness and anguish. I hear screams. I hear cries. I see a broken body." The strange look faded from her gaze and Elain lowered her head. "That vision was unclear. I couldn't see any defining details on anything."

"Do you know what it means?" Seren asked.

"No, but it has something to do with this amulet." Elain touched the painting again. "I just don't know what."