The artwork above is not mine.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Azriel's thoughts were jumbled with panic. They raced through the Spring Court lands, constantly on the lookout for Beron, Tamlin, and Seren. She yanked on the Bond again and an image accompanied it.

    "Rosehall!" Azriel shouted. "They're near Rosehall!"

    Eris switched directions at once, heading for the ruins. Unearthly screams filled the air, the closer they got. Tamlin was surrounded by the undead. Several wounds covered his thick furry hide. Eris' loyalists jumped into the fray, cutting down the undead. Tamlin continued to strike at them.

    "I don't see my father," Eris noted.

    "Or Seren." Azriel pulled on the Bond. Where are you?

    We sense great pain and distress in the woods beyond, the shadows said. We are there.

    "This way." Azriel jumped into the air and soared towards the forest. Eris sprinted after him. Gradually, he could make out the clashing of steel. The scent of blood filled the air.

    He flew over a clearing and saw Beron standing over Seren. Elysian lay in the grass nearby. Seren was covered in sweat and her chest heaved with uneven breaths. It was her clothes that were stained with blood, but he couldn't see a mark on her.

    Azriel dove just as Beron looked up. He tackled the High Lord away from his mate. Shadows pinned Beron down. Beron's hand grew white hot and he lunged at Azriel's face. Azriel rolled backwards just as Eris reached the clearing. He took Azriel's place and held Beron off.

    Azriel ran to Seren as she screamed. "Where are you hurt? What were you thinking?" He demanded.

    "The baby," she gasped. "The baby is coming and something's wrong."

    "Eris!" Azriel hollered. Eris kicked Beron away. The High Lord's head crunched against a tree and he collapsed. Eris ran to them. Seren's face was pale and twisted in pain. "I have to get her out of here. The baby is coming."

    Eris swallowed, watching Seren. She gritted her teeth, but couldn't stifle her cry. "Go. It will be your favor to me."

    Azriel scooped Seren up. She choked on another scream and swallowed hard. "Eris," she called as he turned away. He faced her and she held out Elysian. "Please. He killed my mother." Azriel stiffened at the revelation.

    Eris took the sword and gently smoothed some hair from her damp forehead. He kissed her temple. "He will die today, and it will be your blade that claims his life." Eris drew back and shadows pulled them from the woods.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Eris drew in steady breaths, eyeing his father's body. Beron groaned and picked himself up. "Where is the little bitch?" He snarled.

    "Gone. You killed her mother?"

    "I did."

    "Why? Why would you kill Aralynn Marzena?" Eris circled Beron.

    "Because she was a threat. She was carrying my child."

    "My mother bore seven sons, yet you never killed her."

    "She never tried to hide you from me."

    Eris gripped Elysian tightly. "She hid one of us right beneath your nose."

    Beron narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

    Eris grinned. "One of your sons is not really yours." He had only recently pieced it together himself, but it was blatantly obvious. He didn't know how he hadn't realized it before.

    "Who?" Beron growled. "You?"

    "Oh, no, Father. I am undoubtedly your son. Think younger."

    Beron's gaze darkened and Eris knew he understood. "Lucien. Who was his father?"

    "Who do you think?" Eris snapped. "The only male who ever loved my mother, and the only male she ever loved in return."

    "Helion. I always suspected... Why would you reveal this to me?"

    "So I can see your shame as you realize everything you have lost. Lucien is Helion's only heir. You could have won his affections if you'd ever treated him right. You could have made him loyal to you. You could have had influence in the Day Court upon Helion's death. Now..." Eris cracked his neck. "You will die without a single friend to mourn you."

    Beron roared and rushed at Eris. He sidestepped and brought up Elysian, catching his father's blow. Their swords sang, spraying sparks throughout the clearing. "You can't defeat me on your own," Beron seethed. "You know that."

    "You have underestimated me my entire life."

    "You have been a disappointment your entire life!" Beron slammed the pommel of his sword into Eris' nose. He staggered backwards. "Out of all my sons, you are the most like me. I had high hopes for you, but you had to be compassionate. You could never become the ruthless High Lord that we needed."

    "The Autumn Court doesn't need a ruthless leader!" Eris drove Beron back a few paces.

    "Not the Autumn Court. Prythian. Fae were once revered as gods! The Humans were made to serve us! We deserve to rule!"

    "You sound like the King of Hybern."

    "He was a smart man who nearly succeeded in getting what he wanted. I learned from his mistakes. I won't lose."

    Eris beat upon his father's sword with frantic fury. Beron lifted a flaming fist. Eris winnowed behind him. He landed a kick to Beron's back and winnowed again. His knee crunched against his father's jaw. Eris appeared behind him and swept his legs. Beron hit the ground with a heavy thud.

    Eris pinned his legs down and stabbed Elysian through his gut. "This is for Lucien...and Jesminda!" Beron gasped. Blood leaked from the wound. Eris stabbed him again. "This is for Aralynn Marzena." Again. "For my mother!" Once more. "For Seren Marzena!"

    Beron gasped for breath, clutching at his injuries. Eris pressed his knee down on Beron's chest and warm blood gushed from his father's wounds. "I am not like you," Eris snarled. "I am better. This...this is for me." With one clean stroke, he drove Elysian through Beron's throat.

    Beron convulsed, blood gurgling out his mouth and neck. His body spasmed for several seconds, then went still. Eris pulled Elysian free and walked away. He didn't look back.

•༻☾☽༺•

    Seren sobbed with pain as Azriel carried her to the spare room Madja had prepared. She screamed when he set her down, the movement sending agony spiking through her. He could feel it across the Bond. Azriel combed his fingers through his hair, panic shining in his eyes.

    Madja pushed him aside and felt around Seren's stomach. "Why does it hurt so bad?" She cried, reaching for his hand. Azriel knelt, smoothing hair out of her face. She squeezed his hand and cried out again.

    Az, did you find her? Rhys' voice sounded just beyond his mental shields.

    Azriel lowered them. Yes. Eris is still in the Spring Court, but I had to bring Seren home. The baby is coming. Something is wrong.

    Shit. He felt Rhys withdraw. Azriel left his shields partially lowered and returned his attention to Seren.

    She screamed, squeezing his hand until it popped. He didn't register the flash of pain. Madja straightened and hurried into the bathroom. She returned with a bowl of water and several rags. Seren's face grew paler and she sobbed.

    Madja jerked her head to the bathroom. Azriel joined her. "What's wrong?" He asked.

    "The baby isn't in the right position. I'll try to turn it, but if I can't, it will come feet first."

    "What does that mean? Will they be all right?"

    Madja's gaze flickered to Seren as she cried out again. "Babies are born feet first more often than you'd think, but there's an added risk with the wings. If the wings get caught wrong, they'll come out crippled or the baby will be stuck. If the baby isn't born fast enough, it will suffocate."

    "And Seren?"

    Madja hesitated. "If the baby gets stuck, she'll bleed out. It will kill her." Azriel exhaled sharply, tipping his head back. "I've delivered many babies feet first. That is what could happen, but I'll do my best to make sure they're both safe."

    Azriel didn't reply. He returned to Seren's side. She gripped his hand, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Beron raped my mother. She was going to try to run so he couldn't take the child. He killed her."

    Azriel leaned over her, stroking her hair. Shadows brushed across her cheeks. Seren gritted her teeth and cried out. She panted for breath when she fell back against the pillows. Azriel kissed her forehead and stroked the Bond, offering what little comfort he could.

    Seren wailed, burying her face against his chest. Is she all right? Rhys asked, his presence returning suddenly.

    The baby isn't in the right position. It might be born feet first. If it gets stuck, and there is a possibility of that happening, they'll both die. Azriel pressed his forehead against Seren's.

    Stay with her.

    You need me back on the frontlines.

    I promised Seren that if she needed you, you'd be there.

    Have you made any progress?

    We can see the Queens, Rhys answered. If we keep pushing, we can reach them before sunset.

    Seren lifted a shaking arm and wrapped it around Azriel's neck. "Am I...going to...die?" She panted.

    "No. No, my love." Azriel slipped a hand beneath her, hugging her tightly. She clung to him, trembling. "No, you aren't going to die. You'll be fine." Madja met his gaze and slightly shook her head. He closed his eyes. She couldn't move the baby into the right position.

    "The others...they need you." Seren groaned, a little quieter this time.

    Rhys, tell me what to do, Azriel shouted. What do I do? Do I stay or come back?

    I can't tell you. The choice is yours.

    Azriel couldn't hold back his tears. He pressed his face against Seren's neck. She kissed his temple. "I don't know what to do," he whispered.

    "Go," she answered. "Go help our family."

    Azriel lifted his gaze and met hers. Her amber eyes were filled with fear and pain, but also resolution. He kissed her briefly. "Promise you'll both be here when I return."

    "Promise you'll return in time to see our child be born," Seren replied.

    Neither of them promised. Seren bit back a cry and Azriel hugged her as tightly as he dared. He kissed her once more. "I love you."

    "Go."

    Azriel released her and ran to the balcony. He leaped over the railing and soared away from the house. His tears continued to fall. "You sought out my mate and changed her body so we could have a child!" He screamed to the sky. "Tell me you didn't do that... You didn't give me hope, only to take them from me anyway!" There came no response. Only Seren's pain, shared across the Mating Bond.