"You really can't remember anything that happened following breakfast?" Madja asked. She pressed a glowing hand to Seren's forehead.

"No, and Elain and Lucien only told me that they heard me screaming and found me thrashing around in the hallway," Seren replied. "I remember leaving the dining room, but after that, everything is murky."

Azriel stood in a corner, shadows hiding the elegant planes of his face. They couldn't mask his concern which rippled over the Bond, though. "Strange." Madja moved her hands down to Seren's stomach. "I can find no illness or signs of injury in you. Has something like this ever happened to you before?"

"No," Seren said. Madja glanced at Azriel. He shook his head.

"Hm. I suppose we'll just have to keep an eye on you and see if it happens again," Madja sighed.

"I didn't hurt the baby, did I?" Seren asked, her anxiety spiking at the thought. Azriel crossed the room and knelt beside her chair, taking her hand gently.

"No, it's fine." Madja gave them a small smile. "But there is something you might like to know."

"What is it?" Seren urged.

"Your baby has wings. They are small and barely detectable, but there all the same."

The shadows backed away and joy shone on Azriel's face. He kissed Seren's hand. I can teach our child to fly, he said. Seren smiled at the mental image he created.

"Would you like to know the child's gender?" Madja asked.

Seren furrowed her brows, thinking. Would you think me strange if I wanted to wait and find out when the baby is born?

No, but is there a particular reason why?

Not really. I just...I want to wait.

Azriel faced Madja. "We'll wait until the baby is born to find out."

"Are you sure?" Madja asked. They both nodded. "Well, tell me what each of you are hoping for, anyway."

"I think it's a boy," Seren said.

Azriel helped her to her feet. "I hope it's a girl."

"Really? Why?" Seren asked.

"Because I want to give her the life most Illyrian or half Illyrian females don't get to have. I'll be happy with a boy too, of course. I just hope it's a girl."

"Even if she makes you have tea parties with her?" Seren laughed.

"Even if I have to walk through Windhaven with her, dressed in matching pink clothes."

Madja smiled and ushered them towards the door. "Make sure to take it easy the next few days. If something happens, come to me at once."

"We will," Seren promised.

She followed Azriel out the door. His shadows engulfed them and they appeared before the river house. They hurried inside to prepare for their trip to the Court of Nightmares.

Seren groaned as they began to mount the stairs up to their room. "I'll be glad when my back and ankles don't hurt so much," she said.

Azriel watched her sympathetically. At last, they reached the landing. Seren entered the bedroom and began digging through the closet. She already had an outfit in mind, one that Mor had picked out for her during their last shopping trip.

Azriel stood before a mirror and swiftly cleaned the dust off his leathers. He situated his siphons and sheathed Truth-Teller at his thigh. As usual, he carried no other weapons. Seren watched him briefly, a smile flickering across her lips.

She ducked into the closet again and changed into her gown. It was made of a soft pearlescent white silk. The neckline dipped low and the waist sat just above her round stomach. The cuffs of her sleeves buttoned around her wrists. She slipped on a comfortable pair of shoes and left the closet.

Azriel held out Metanoia. She took the dagger and tucked it into the sheath that was strapped to her thigh, accessible through a false pocket in her gown. Azriel stepped back, his wings tucked against his back tightly. His gaze wandered over her.

"What do you think? Mor picked this out." Seren spun carefully and the dress swirled around her feet.

"It's beautiful," Azriel said. "Are you sure you're all right?"

Seren bit her lip, then nodded. "I feel fine. I really don't know what happened." She sat on the edge of the bed and let her hair down. Azriel's shadows combed through her dark brown locks. "There was something strange about that place, but I don't know what. I can't remember. It feels like I knew something important, but now it's gone, or out of reach."

"Hm." Azriel lifted a hand to her cheek. He kissed her, then leaned his forehead against hers. "I was so worried, especially when the shadows said they couldn't find you or themselves."

"That's odd, and you said they couldn't remember anything either?"

"No. That worries me too."

Seren searched his hazel gaze, then wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sure everything is fine. It was probably a one time thing. Maybe I saw or heard something that triggered a panic response."

"But the shadows..."

"Everything is fine." Seren ran her fingers through his hair. Azriel's arms tightened around her and he relaxed his wings. A moment later, Seren tensed at an odd fluttering feeling in her stomach. She waited and the feeling came again, a little sharper.

Azriel pulled back, taking in her confused expression. "What is it?" Seren grinned and pressed his hand to her stomach. Several minutes passed and there came the little fluttering sensation. Azriel's lips parted in surprise. He looked between her face and stomach. "Is that..."

"Madja did say the baby would start kicking soon," Seren replied. Azriel's eyes shone as he swept her into a hug. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent.

"Stay close to me tonight," he murmured. "Do you remember the stories you were told about the Night Court before you came here?" Seren nodded. "The Court of Nightmares, Hewn City, is where those stories originated. The people there are wicked, cunning, and cruel. Mor's father rules over them in Rhys' absence."

A wave of hatred swept over her, not her own. "Will you be the Spymaster tonight?" Seren asked.

"Yes. We'll all play our roles with quiet lethalness. This meeting is a show of power, to remind Keir what will happen to him if he chooses to betray us."

"I'm not afraid."

Azriel rested his hand against her stomach again. Several minutes later, they heard Elain and Lucien's voices as they walked down the hallway. Seren took Azriel's arm and followed him out the door.

•༻☾☽༺•

He hated Hewn City and the people within it. Playing the role of the Spymaster was easy here. A cold mask slid over Azriel's features as he situated himself and Seren behind Mor and Amren. Cassian and Nesta lined up with him. Lucien and Elain hovered behind the four of them and Jorah, Gwyn, and Emerie made up the last of the procession. Rhys and Feyre headed it, with Nyx held securely in Feyre's arms.

Seren was trying not to appear too curious as she looked around. She'd never been to the Court of Nightmares before, and it was rare to find an entire city hewn from the inner part of a mountain. It was often said that Amarantha had modeled her court Under the Mountain after the Court of Nightmares.

They entered a vast chamber lit by several wall sconces. With a wave of Feyre's hand, the flames gave off a blue hue. She and Rhys took their spot on an obsidian throne. Nyx was quiet and stayed surprisingly still on Feyre's lap.

The rest of them positioned themselves around the throne. Amren and Mor stood closest to it, Amren on the right and Mor on the left. Azriel and Seren stood next to Amren. Cassian and Nesta stood beside Mor. Lucien and Elain fell in place beside them. Jorah, Gwyn, and Emerie moved closer to Seren.

Rhys beckoned a familiar blonde haired man forward. Keir glowered at them. "I imagine it's no surprise that we've come," Rhys stated. His voice was that of darkness and nightmares.

"It is," Keir argued. "Your appearances seem to come at random." Amren flashed him a cruel grin. "My Lord," Keir added.

"Do you like your power here?" Rhys asked. "Do you like the respect your people show you? Do you enjoy pretending to rule them?" Keir blinked, his expression unreadable.

He is angry, the shadows whispered.

"Do you remember," Rhys leaned forward, smiling, "that your power is merely an illusion?"

"No, my Lord." Keir looked away, his brown eyes dark with rage.

"You're a terrible liar. Do you know what happens to those who lie to me?" There was something utterly calm and unnerving in Rhys' voice. Azriel recognized it. It was not Rhys, his brother, speaking. It was Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Seren tremble. Shadows wrapped around her arms, whispering comforting words that she could not hear. Azriel brushed his thumb over the back of her neck. She stroked the Bond and he returned the gesture.

"I've seen your Spymaster in action," Keir spat. "But I have not lied to you."

"You have. You have forgotten that you do not rule here. This throne is not yours. It belongs to me. It belongs to your High Lady. It does not belong to you. Whatever authority you think you have, remember that we were the ones who gave it to you."

"Why are you here? What are you going on about?" Keir demanded.

"We know you are considering betraying us." It was Feyre who spoke now. Her tone was just as powerful as Rhys', and maybe a fraction darker. "We have come to remind you what your punishment will be, should you choose to do so." She motioned to her family. "Look at this court. Look and remember what you have witnessed us do. Remember that if you betray us, we will know and our anger will be turned on you."

Keir's gaze swept over them, resting briefly on Mor. Azriel couldn't stop the growl that slipped past his lips. Keir's gaze found him next. The male balked and Azriel knew the Spymaster's mask was serving him well.

"You must be genuinely worried if you brought your entire court here to threaten me," Keir said, facing Rhys and Feyre again. "Why don't you just use your daemati powers to make me loyal?"

"Because forced loyalty does not last," Feyre answered.

"You are forcing me to remain loyal through fear."

"I trust your fear more than I trust your mind," Rhys said. "You are a coward, Keir. And cowards can always be trusted to give in to fear."

"What if you're wrong?" Keir spat. "What if I'm not afraid? What if I've already chosen a side?"

Beron's son is near, the shadows hissed to Azriel.

Rhys stood, dark magic crackling around him. "Then you should hope you chose the right side."

"I chose the Night Court." Keir dropped down to one knee. "I chose my High Lord and Lady."

Truth, the shadows sang. Rhys glanced back and Azriel nodded.

"If you know what's best for you, you will remain on our side," Rhys growled.

"Beron Vanserra sent one of his younger sons to meet with me," Keir said. "But I didn't like what he had to offer. He did mention something before he left, though."

Where is Beron's son? Azriel asked.

Close, very close, the shadows replied.

"What?" Rhys prompted.

Where?

"The first strike is coming," Keir answered.

Ironcrest. They march on Windhaven.

"Rhys," Azriel called, interrupting the conversation. Rhys looked back at him. "Erebus is going to attack Windhaven."

Rhys rounded on Keir, pointing a finger at him. "Keep your loyalties in sight, Keir." He rejoined the group. "When is Erebus attacking?"

"Now. The shadows said Beron's son is with him. They're still in Ironcrest, but won't be for long."

Rhys and Feyre grabbed onto everyone and wind roared around them. When the sound died away, they were standing before the river house. Nearly everyone rushed inside to grab leathers and weapons.

"I'm taking Jorah, Gwyn, and Emerie to Windhaven now," Azriel said before Rhys and Cassian left.

"I'll come too," Cassian said.

Rhys nodded to them. "The rest of us will meet you there." He brushed past Seren and entered the house.

Azriel hugged Seren briefly. "I'll be back soon," he whispered. She didn't answer, but kissed him. Azriel let go and joined Cassian and the three females. Shadows engulfed them, carrying them away from the river house.