The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

The hut was nearly silent, thanks to the heavy wards and shields placed over it. Despite the quiet, Seren couldn't sleep. She was too busy thinking. Jorah never used to wear wraps on her arms, and I know she's using them to hide bruises. I've seen the ones on her wrists. Who is doing that to her? Her father? Someone else? Kallon?

She didn't know, and it scared her. I don't want her to be in trouble, Seren thought. But I can't help her if she won't trust me with whatever is going on. She rubbed her hands together anxiously. Seren smiled to herself, realizing she hadn't tensed at the feeling of her scars. In fact, her scars hadn't been bothering her so much lately. She'd been distracted by everything else.

I haven't had a nightmare since that first night Azriel stayed here with Cassian, she realized. The thought filled her with prideful happiness. Seren rolled over and nestled closer to her mate. His features were softened by sleep. Seren lifted a hand to his bare shoulder and began tracing his tattoos.

"Don't wake him," she whispered to the shadows. They remained still, although the one around her arm squeezed gently. Azriel made a small sound as he dreamed. One of his wings shifted over her. Seren covered his hand with her own and closed her eyes.

Her head began to spin and Seren swiftly rolled away from Azriel. She sprinted out of the room and down the narrow hallway towards a tiny bathroom, inconveniently placed next to Amren's room. Cassian snored from a rickety cot in the main room.

Seren slid to her knees next to the toilet and vomited. The dizziness faded, but only slightly. Her nausea remained. "Definitely have to talk to Madja when we get back," she mumbled to herself.

Amren appeared in the doorway, her hair and clothes ruffled from sleep. "Oh, it's just you."

Seren flushed the toilet and rinsed her mouth out before answering. "Yeah, it's me."

"Nightmare?"

"No."

Amren sniffed, looking her over. It was hard not to feel small under her gaze, even though Seren was several inches taller than Amren. "You aren't serious," she scoffed. "What were you thinking? Now is the worst time to have a baby!"

"Keep your voice down," Seren hissed. "Cassian doesn't know yet and nothing is confirmed. This is the first time I've thrown up." She shouldered past Amren. "And we know the risks. That's why we decided to try."

"You're both crazy. What about your trauma? What about Beron, Koschei, and Erebus? Do you know what will happen if Erebus finds out?"

"He won't find out unless you keep crowing about it," Seren snapped. "This decision was for Azriel and I to make alone. You can disapprove all you want, but at least respect us enough to be quiet for now."

"You're not going to be able to hide this. This might be the first time you've thrown up, but it won't be the last. People will notice, especially when your scent changes."

"And if they do, I'll go home, but like I said, nothing is confirmed yet."

"Just because it's not confirmed doesn't mean it's not there."

"I know."

Amren crossed her arms and tapped her sharp nails against them. At last, she sighed. "Herbal teas will help with the nausea. Chamomile and ginger would be best for you to use right now. When you're farther along, you can start using peppermint and red raspberry leaf. Drink lots of water, too. Morning sickness can dehydrate you quickly." Amren turned on her heel and disappeared into her room.

Seren stared at her door in surprise briefly, then returned to her own room. Azriel blinked his eyes open and sat up. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, don't worry." She closed the door and crawled into bed. Azriel slipped an arm around her waist and buried his face in her hair. He was asleep again in seconds. Seren closed her eyes, hoping to sleep at least a little.

•༻☾☽༺•

The next afternoon, Seren had to fight to keep an encouraging smile on her face. Only six females came to the lesson. She could tell Jorah was just as disappointed. Amren had joined Cassian in his guarding duties. The crowd of sneering onlookers had doubled in size. Cassian had placed shields over the training ring to ward off the rocks that continuously rained down.

Seren demonstrated a few self defense is blocks and punches. The females copied the movements lethargically. Two of them lowered their arms and left the ring. Jorah's hands were shaking. Seren saw angry tears in her eyes. Another female left. She called the lesson to an end.

"I hate it here!" Jorah exclaimed. "I'm tired of these pricks thinking they own us. I'm tired of being told what to do. I'm tired of seeing my friends be put down and abused simply because they want to learn new skills!" Jorah slumped to the ground, covering her face with her hands.

Cassian looked over his shoulder worriedly. He and Amren stepped through the shield. Jorah's shoulders shook, but she didn't cry. "I'm tired of leaving this ring every day just to..." her voice broke and she pressed her forehead against her knees. Seren rubbed her shoulder, offering what comfort she could.

"It's hard now, but it will get better," Cassian promised. "Trust me, Little Sister."

"I do trust you, but I don't trust that things will get better. Things were better. Things were a lot better, but now look at what's happening." Jorah shook her head. "I can't keep doing this day after day. I can't..."

"What is that?" Cassian asked, interrupting her. Seren followed his gaze down to Jorah's arm. Her cloth wrap had come undone partially and angry bruises were visible.

"It's from training," Jorah mumbled. "Some of the girls hit hard."

Cassian shook his head and grabbed her arm. Jorah flinched. His eyes flickered up to hers. "You flinched. You flinched...at me."

"They're sore."

"No, you flinched because..." he stared at her, his hazel eyes hardening with rage. "You flinched because my touch scared you." Jorah didn't contradict him. Cassian let go of her arm. "Who did that? How long has this been going on?"

"It's from training," Jorah said again.

"No, it's not. Cut the crap, Little Sister. Who the hell hit you?" Cassian was seething with rage. Seren didn't have to feel his presence to know that. Amren's gaze remained cool and calculating.

"No one. It's nothing. It's from training." Jorah refused to look at him. Her large brown eyes fixed on the ground.

Seren moved in between her and Cassian. She tilted Jorah's head up gently. "Don't look down."

"You'll miss the sights of the world," Jorah finished. Tears welled up in her eyes and she blinked them away.

"Was it your father?" Cassian asked.

"No, my father would never hit me. He may not be the most kind male, but he would never physically hurt me."

Seren winced, but quickly schooled her features. I wish I could have said the same about my father. She took Jorah's hands into her own and silenced Cassian with a look. Seren formed a flaming hand in her mind and reached towards Jorah.

Jorah had no mental shields, but Seren didn't steal into her mind immediately. Jorah, she called.

Jorah blinked in shock. "How did you..."

I'm daemati.

Jorah answered mentally this time. Oh. I think you've mentioned that a few times.

You need to learn how to shield your mind from people like me. I can teach you sometime.

    All right.

    Do you want to talk about what's going on?

    Nothing is going on, Jorah lied again. Seren felt her guilt and resolve.

    We could help. I'm sure we could. Look at Cassian. If you gave him a name, whomever did this wouldn't walk away from that fight. Cassian would snap their legs like twigs.

    Nothing is going on, Jorah repeated. After a moment, she added, And if there was, you couldn't help. Cassian couldn't touch him without severe consequences.

    Was it Erebus? Jorah gave no response. Kallon? Again, nothing. Jorah...

    Stop, Seren. Please. I can't tell you. I can't. You don't understand. A few tears dripped down Jorah's cheeks. Cassian's anger was growing by the minute. Please, stop.

Seren nodded and withdrew her presence. Jorah wiped her tears away, then stood. Cassian rose too. He swallowed, closing his eyes briefly, as though willing himself to calm down. He held out his arms silently. Jorah hesitated, then hugged him.

"He should be glad Nesta isn't here," Amren muttered. "Whether he sees Jorah as a sister or not."

"Shut up," Seren snapped. Amren stared at her. Jorah let go of Cassian and left the ring without another word.

•༻☾☽༺•

The hut was filled with a tense silence when Azriel returned. He massaged his temples wearily. He'd spent the entire day trailing Erebus and Kallon, but they hadn't left the camp. He'd already decided not to trail them tonight. Mother knew he needed the rest.

Seren sat at a small table, holding a cup of tea. Cassian was sharpening one of his knives. Azriel couldn't see Amren and guessed she was in her room. Azriel moved behind Seren and rested a hand on her shoulder. She sipped her tea and lowered her head into her hand.

Azriel kissed the back of her neck. Are you tired too?

And frustrated, anxious, dizzy, and nauseous, she listed. Something happened with Jorah today.

What? He sat down beside her.

Only six females came to training and three of them left before the lesson ended. Jorah had a bit of a meltdown and then...Seren sighed and took another drink. Cassian saw the bruises she's been trying to hide. Jorah tried to pass them off as bruises from training, but he didn't believe her. I couldn't get her to open up either.

Azriel ran his thumb over the flat of Truth-Teller's blade. He hadn't told Seren what the shadow had said, and he wasn't sure he should. Especially if Jorah won't tell them what's going on, Azriel thought to himself. Maybe I can get the truth out of her if she realizes I know it's her mate who's been doing this. To my knowledge, Cass and Seren don't even know she has a mate. I didn't.

Seren smothered a groan and laid her head on the table, pushing her tea away. Azriel frowned and rubbed circles on her back. "Don't worry. I'm sure she'll open up in time."

"Don't worry," she chuckled wryly. "How can we not?" Seren closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of her elbow.

"You should rest."

"If I stand, I'm going to throw up."

Azriel raised his eyebrows. Across the room, Cassian lifted his head. He said nothing though, and soon went back to sharpening his blade. Azriel bit back a grin and his heart fluttered in his chest. He kissed Seren's cheek, then headed to the bathroom to bathe.