The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

Look, Azriel. Isn't it pretty? See how it dances? Do you want to feel it?

Look, Azriel.

Look.

Azriel.

Azriel.

"Az." He blinked, Rhys' voice dragging him out of his thoughts. "Are you ready to go back?"

Azriel pressed his thumb against Truth-Teller's blade. Cassian appeared behind Rhys. He bore several bruises and a bloody gash marred his forehead. "I'm sorry, Cass," Azriel murmured. 

Cassian shrugged with a smirk. "You've done worse. I've dealt with worse. I can have Amren patch up my forehead, assuming she's in a good mood."

Rhys swatted dust off his leathers. Azriel lifted his head finally and looked at the mess around him. He'd taken down two mountains and most of the dead trees in the clearing were nothing but splinters.

Shadows crept over him, hiding him from view. Azriel continued to run his thumb over Truth-Teller. I haven't caused this much destruction since...He couldn't remember. He'd been angry before, but never as angry as last night. Erebus brought my half brothers to Ironcrest and promised power to my father, he thought. Why? He asked if they'd help him with his dilemma, which must mean us. But my father was talking about me specifically.

It's been a long time since we saw our little brother.

Look, Azriel. Isn't it pretty? See how it dances? Do you want to feel it?

Seren's flame wavered around his arm and he jumped. His thumb slipped and blood wet Truth-Teller's blade. Pain spiked through his palm. He stared at the fire, horror creeping over him. Azriel tried to push the feeling away. It's Seren's fire. It won't hurt me. It's Seren's...Seren. Mother above, he'd ignored her all night and now she was silent.

You mentioned he has a mate now. It would be wonderful to meet our new sister.

Erebus speaks very highly of her. Her scent is delicious.

The shadows unwound and Azriel leaped to his feet. Rhys and Cassian watched him, their concern evident. Rhys' gaze flickered to his hand. "Az, did you..."

"It was an accident," Azriel interrupted. He turned to Cassian. "You took Seren to the hut?"

"Yes. Feyre, Jorah, and Amren were with her."

"They were there when I left," Rhys added. "She was worried. She probably still is."

"Let's get back."

"You're not going to bring down the mountains around Ironcrest, are you?" Cassian chuckled.

Azriel didn't reply. Rhys took them each by the arm and winnowed away from the destroyed clearing. They arrived just outside of the hut. Azriel didn't wait for his brothers. He entered and walked straight past Amren and Feyre, even as they stood up.

Azriel closed the bedroom door behind him. Seren was asleep, but from her position and expression, he knew it wasn't a peaceful one. She blinked her eyes open seconds later, then sat up.

"Are you all right?" She asked, her eyes full of concern. Azriel nodded. "We saw the mountains come down. Are Rhys and Cassian all right too?"

"Cassian is a little banged up, but Rhys is fine."

Seren slid out of bed and lifted his injured hand. "How did this happen?"

"I wasn't thinking clearly. Your flame moved and Truth-Teller slipped in my hand. It will be healed in half an hour or so."

Seren moved around him and began to undo the fastenings on his dust coated leathers. Azriel focused on drawing steady breaths. He couldn't look at the band of fire around his arm.

"Do I need to take it back for now?" Seren murmured, covering it with her hand.

Azriel rested his uninjured hand over hers. "No. Leave it."

She helped him out of the leathers, leaving him in his loose underclothes. Seren was careful not to touch his wings, for which he was grateful. Given his current mood, he doubted he'd find having his wings touched enjoyable.

"Sleep," she said, pushing him gently towards the bed.

"I'm covered in dirt and it's daylight. I need to start trailing Erebus and Kallon." He bit his lip. "My half brothers too."

"Not until you sleep. I'm sure Rhys and Cassian will sleep a little too. Amren, Feyre, and I will..."

He began shaking his head. "No, don't go to train the females. Not without Rhys, Cassian, or I with you."

"We're perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves."

"I know." Seren pushed him down onto the bed. Azriel rubbed his forehead with a hand. "I know you are, but..." His heart was racing again, just thinking of the way his half brothers had spoken about her. Erebus had told them who she was. What else had he told them?

"I need to find Jorah," Seren said. "I'll be fine with Amren and Feyre."

"When Feyre and Rhys leave, will you go home with them?"

"What?" Seren furrowed her brows and knelt, resting her hands on his knees. "Do you want me to?"

He nodded and began rubbing his thumb roughly over his injured palm. The pain grounded him, but only slightly. "It's bad enough that I haven't been able to stay near you while we've been here. Erebus hasn't touched you, but now that Osiris and Seker are here... I don't know what Erebus is planning, but it can't be good." His gaze dipped to her stomach. "And with how you've been feeling lately, talking to Madja might be a good idea."

Seren sighed. "All right. If it will make you feel better, I'll go home when Rhys and Feyre do." Azriel closed his eyes in relief. "But," she continued, "I am not going to neglect my responsibilities while we're here. I have an idea for the females and I intend to at least try it."

"Then I'll come too." He tried to stand. Seren pushed him down again.

"No. You need to rest now."

"I'm not letting my half brothers get near you," Azriel snapped.

"They won't, but you're staying here until you've slept a little. I'll be fine with Amren, Feyre, and Jorah."

"You don't understand."

Seren pressed her forehead against his. "I do understand. You're scared that something will happen and you won't be around to stop it. You're scared that Erebus will try to hurt me again. I'm scared of that too, but I know I'm more capable now than I was then. I will be fine. Besides, I don't think anyone can do anything worse to me than what Beron and my father already did."

Azriel's breath shook and bitter shameful tears sprang into his eyes. He tried to blink them away. "They can. Osiris and Seker can do worse things and if they have the chance, they will."

Look, Azriel. Isn't it pretty? See how it dances? Do you want to feel it?

Seren stroked the Bond and brought her hands up to his cheeks. Azriel kissed her scarred palm, and she kissed his. "I won't give them that chance. No one will ever have that chance." A tear slipped down his cheek. "Azriel, do you hear me? They will not have the chance to hurt me. I promise." He couldn't reply. Panic lay heavy on his chest. Seren kissed his cheek and pressed her face against his neck. "And they will not have the chance to hurt you, ever again."

His hands shook. Azriel squeezed his eyes shut and hugged Seren, burying his face in her hair. Stay with me, please, he begged across the Bond. Don't leave. Not right now.

Seren twisted and he followed her until they were both lying on the bed. He didn't loosen his grip. Seren didn't either. "I'll stay," she murmured. "Sleep." He closed his eyes obediently, but sleep was long in coming.

•༻☾☽༺•

Seren sat on the edge of the bed, watching her mate sleep. The cut on his hand had healed already. The dirt on his face was streaked from tears. Azriel's shadows hovered over him, not as lively as usual.

She furrowed her brows in concern. She'd felt his fear and panic drift across the Bond. She hadn't realized the true depth of his fears. He wasn't just afraid. He was terrified. And with good reason, Seren thought. What else did they do to him, beyond burning his hands? How many of his other scars are from them?

Seren looked at her own hands, then clenched them into fists. Anger was a burning seed in her gut. Her head began to throb and she rubbed her temples wearily. Her nausea was returning.

She looked over Azriel again, then silently left the room. Feyre and Amren sat at the small table. Seren set to work making herself another cup of tea. "How is Az?" Feyre asked.

"Not great."

"He hasn't seen them since he was eleven," Amren said. "He probably hoped to never see them again."

"Where's Rhys and Cassian?"

"Rhys is in my room and Cassian is right there." Amren jerked her head towards the cot. Cassian had moved it into a dark corner of the main room. He was fast asleep.

Feyre watched him, biting her lip. "From what they said, it sounded like Az almost lost it. He's never attacked Cassian so brutally before when burning off steam."

"It's different this time," Amren agreed. "What do you think Cassian would do if the males who worked his mother to death were alive and showed up when Nesta was around? What would Rhys do if Amarantha were here and threatened you and Nyx?"

"Azriel wants me to go home when you and Rhys do," Seren said to Feyre.

"We aren't leaving for a while. Rhys decided that we need to stay and help where we can. I might go home before he does, but not for another week or so," Feyre replied.

"All right." Seren drank her tea once it had slightly cooled. Her nausea became a little more tolerable.

"Are you coming with us to train the females this afternoon?" Feyre asked.

Seren shook her head. "I told Azriel I would stay here for now. I'll go tomorrow, though. I have a new idea for us to try." Feyre nodded and Seren returned to the room.

Azriel was awake and sitting hunched over. Shadows covered his face and his hands lay limp in his lap. "The dirt feels like ash," he whispered, his voice shaking. "After they burned me, they would come to my cell and dump ash everywhere. Sometimes there would still be live embers in the ash. I would sit there, hiding in my shadows, afraid that the embers would become fire and consume me."

Seren crouched in front of him again and lifted his hand to her lips. "Let me help you." She pulled him to his feet. Azriel followed her out of the room. They turned down the tiny hallway and entered the bathroom.

She set to work filling the tub with water. Azriel cast sound wards over the bathroom, then stripped off his dusty shirt and pants. He settled in the tub, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm reacting this way," he mumbled.

"It's all right." Seren wet a cloth and wiped the dust from his face and neck.

"I was so angry earlier, and now...now I'm just afraid. Why did Erebus bring them here? What deal did he make with my father? What are they planning?"

"One thing at a time," Seren said. She scrubbed the dirt off his shoulders. "Let your emotions run their course. I've discovered that it's best not to fight them. Rest today and tonight. Tomorrow, start trailing Erebus. He seems to be hiding more than Kallon. If your half brothers are working for him now, they're bound to meet with him occasionally."

"Kallon still needs to be watched and someone has to monitor Osiris and Seker."

"Rhys can help. So could Cassian." Azriel opened his mouth to protest. "We'll figure something out," Seren said before he could speak. "For now, relax."

Azriel lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. "I love you."

"And I love you." He leaned into her as she ran the cloth down his neck and in between his wings. Seren began to hum, hoping her voice was louder than the thoughts in his head.