The artwork above is not mine.

◦═══✦═══◦

    Their first week of training with the Peregryns seemed to stretch on and on and on. Estelle was gradually settling in with Sienna and Celeste. They were friendly, but she couldn't help but feel like their friendship with Mikael overshadowed everything they did regarding her.

    Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin weren't having the same issues. They already got along well with Calden and Mikael, although Estelle did sense some tension between Nyx and the High Lord's son. She assumed it was on her behalf.

    As for Mikael himself, Estelle had taken to avoiding him as best as she could. That was becoming a difficult task, seeing as he was trying to find her just as much as she was trying to avoid him. The Boys were proving helpful in keeping Mikael occupied and out of her way, thankfully.

    Estelle sat in her window seat, an open book resting on her lap. Rain poured from the clouds overhead and pattered against the window. Training was still held that morning and Estelle had come back to the cottage utterly drenched.

    She'd gotten some satisfaction when she saw Mikael eyeing her wings with envy. The rain had washed most of the mud off of them for her, whereas mud clung to his feathers. She was certain he'd spend hours cleaning it out, if the three hours Celeste and Sienna each spent in the bathroom were any indication.

    Estelle tensed as warm flaming talons scraped at her mental shields. She lowered them a fraction. How are you doing? Seren asked.

    All right. Training is fine and I'm getting along with Sienna and Celeste.

    Have you made any progress with Mikael?

    No. I'm just avoiding him now.

    Estelle sensed her mother's frustration before she voiced it. That's not going to help, you know. The whole point of this arrangement is to help you learn how to improve relations with someone.

    Maybe being a diplomat isn't for me. I can be a warrior without being a diplomat.

    If you want to cause a variety of problems for your High Lord and Lady, I suppose. Even warriors have to know when to restrain themselves and smooth out tensions. Some battles can't be won at the point of a sword, Estelle.

    I know, she sighed.

    Rhys isn't going to let you back out of this, and even if he did, you know it would affect your chances of joining the Blood Rite. There was a small jolt of anxiety accompanying that statement. Devlon and Jorah have both said you need to work on restraining yourself and controlling your temper. You'll never make it out of the Rite alive if you let anger dictate your choices.

    Things will be different during the Rite, Estelle protested. I've been training for that my whole life. I know what choices will await me. I know what I have to do. I know I can do it.

    No, you don't. You have no idea what the Rite will be like. You have no idea what challenges you'll face. If you can't overcome certain challenges out here, what makes you think you'll be victorious in there?

    I'm not going to listen to you telling me you don't believe in me. Estelle began to reform her shields.

    I do believe in you, Seren called, interrupting her. I do, Estelle. I know what you're capable of, and I know that you're capable of so much more. But I want you to listen to me and understand what I'm saying. You can't avoid the problems you face. You won't be able to avoid them during the Rite. Don't start avoiding them now. Estelle didn't reply. Seren sighed and withdrew her presence. Rhys will be checking in on you soon. I love you, she said, just before Estelle's shields closed.

    The Lady of Ashes speaks the truth, her shadows murmured. Do not be angry with her.

    Estelle scrubbed at her face and set her book aside. She rested her cheek against the window, watching raindrops roll down the panes of glass. A knock sounded at the door.

    "Sienna, Calden, Mikael, and I are going to show your brother and cousins one of our favorite dancing halls in Nimbus. Do you want to come?" Celeste called.

    The last thing she wanted to do was see Mikael. Estelle crossed her arms without replying. The shadows tugged her towards the door. You will be miserable and alone if you don't go, they said. Have fun while your family is here, so that you will have fun when they are not.

    You just want to gawk at Mikael again, Estelle grumped. She relented finally and opened the door.

    Celeste grinned excitedly. "Come on. They're already waiting."

    "I thought wet feathers make it difficult for Peregryns to fly?" Estelle followed Celeste down the stairs.

    "It does, but Nyx mentioned he can winnow and you can do something similar using the shadows. We thought the two of you would be able to transport us there."

    "I can't take us somewhere without knowing where I'm going," Estelle pointed out.

    "Nyx said the same thing. He'll use his daemati powers and I'll show him the dance hall, then he'll show you." Celeste laughed and skipped off the steps.

    Sure enough, the males were already waiting in the main room. Sienna and Celeste joined them. Nyx fixed his gaze on Celeste and a moment later, he tapped on Estelle's mental shields.

    She lowered them and he dropped an image of a quaint little dancing hall into her mind. Lysander, Celeste, and Corbin grabbed onto her as she summoned the shadows. The cottage melted away and when the shadows faded, they had reached Nimbus.

◦═══✦═══◦

    Estelle didn't so much as look at Mikael as they entered the dancing hall. Music filled the small space and couples whirled across the floor. Booths lined the walls, but there were no tables or chairs anywhere else in the room. Celeste led the group to a large corner booth.

    Mikael waited for the rest of them to get situated before he claimed a spot at the end of the booth. The Illyrians studied their surroundings intently, from the stained glass windows to the lanterns that hung from the ceiling.

    "Do you come here often?" Lysander asked, leaning towards Celeste.

    She nodded, her curls bouncing as she did so. "It's our favorite dance hall. Sienna and I come here more often than Mikael and Calden. We can spend hours dancing, provided we find the right partner."

    Lysander grinned. "You're in luck. I happen to be just as good at dancing as I am at fighting." He slid out of the booth and offered Celeste his hand. She grinned as she took it. They disappeared into the swirling crowd.

    "He's no better a dancer than me," Corbin pouted.

    "Prove it." Sienna flashed him a haughty smirk. He returned it, wrinkling his nose in the process. They joined Lysander and Celeste on the dance floor.

    "I guess I'll have to search the crowd for a partner," Calden remarked. "Or see myself to the snack bar. Whichever I find first."

    "Want some company?" Nyx asked. Mikael didn't miss the pointed look he threw at Estelle. Calden nodded and they too left.

    Estelle leaned back against the booth and crossed her arms, looking away from him. Mikael rubbed his hands together somewhat self consciously. I should say something, he thought. Anything.

    He moved his hand up his arm and rested it atop his elbow length sleeve. Estelle's shadow was hidden beneath it, wrapped around his bicep. Try as he might, he couldn't convince it to leave. He was struggling to get used to its unusual presence.

    It was an active shadow, always moving in some way, shape, or form. Sometimes, it slunk onto his wings. Its movements shifted his feathers in odd ways. He found it in his hair most mornings. One night, Mikael had woken up to find it threaded in between his toes, a feeling that he found he did not appreciate in the slightest.

    It had begun to feel so strange that he'd finally laid down a few rules. The most important rule was that the shadow had to stay out of sight. The second was that it was only allowed on his arms or in his hair unless he said otherwise. He felt ridiculous when he spoke to the shadow, but it seemed to understand and obeyed him.

    He remembered reading that shadows could sense the thoughts and emotions of others around them and pass that information on to their Shadowsinger. Mikael had to wonder if Estelle had sent this shadow to him purposefully. If she had, she showed no signs of it now.

    Say something, Mikael scolded himself. Father expects me to fix things, so I have to. The shadow on his arm yanked in Estelle's direction.

    "I'm sorry," he said abruptly. At first, he wasn't even certain Estelle had heard him. Slowly, she faced him, her amber gaze wary. "I'm sorry," Mikael repeated. "It was irresponsible of me to show up to our first meeting like I did, and I said terrible things to you then and during our first training session. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

    "Didn't you?" Estelle raised an eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar."

    "I'm not lying."

    "I've been trained to tell when someone is lying." She learned forward, narrowing her eyes. "And you are lying."

    Irritation pricked at his gut, but he forced it down. He would not walk into another fight with her. Thesan wanted reports that showed progress, not regression. "I'm not lying, but believe that I am if it makes you feel better." Estelle said nothing. He sighed, pursing his lips. "I'm willing to make an effort to get along if you are."

    He knew at once that he'd said the wrong thing. Before his eyes, Estelle seemed to harden into ice. Her features froze in an angry scowl and shadows swathed her face in darkness. The shadow on his arm squeezed in warning.

    "Let's get along, he says, when the first thing he asked me on my second day here was 'Why aren't your wings clipped?'." Estelle seethed. She blinked rapidly and stood. "As if an apology can erase that from my memory! As if I will forgive you just like that!"

    Mikael's eyes widened as he felt uneven waves of power rippling from her. She was angrier than he'd thought. "I am sorry," he repeated. "What can I do to prove it?"

    "You can leave me alone!" Estelle stormed out of the hall, shoving couples aside as she went. The door slammed shut behind her, rattling the frame. Mikael blinked in surprise.

    "Well, I'd say that went well," Corbin huffed, leaning against the booth. "You are definitely on her bad side. From experience, it's going to be very difficult to get off it."

    Mikael narrowed his eyes, still watching the door. If she wants to make things difficult, then fine. I'll let her. He couldn't stop her even if she tried. No one could stop her but herself. A slow smile spread across his lips. She would be difficult. He'd just do his best to make it hard for her to remain angry with him. Everyone had a breaking point. A soft spot. A weakness. He would find Estelle's.