"Pair off and work on the hand to hand maneuvers we went over yesterday! I want to see some wing work out there too!" Commander Ameer hollered.

Estelle scanned the training grounds for Celeste, Sienna, or anyone familiar. She spotted Celeste first, already paired up with Lysander. Estelle arched an eyebrow, catching her little brother's eye. She cast a pointed look at Celeste and he merely shrugged with a grin.

Estelle sighed and kept looking. Sienna was partnered up with another Illyrian female. Nyx and Calden had squared off, and Corbin stood in a ring opposite a brown haired and golden eyed Peregryn male.

"Need a partner, Batsy?" Mikael asked behind her. He sought her out at every training session now. She always gave him the same answer.

"No." She chose a random direction and started walking. Estelle smothered a groan as she heard Mikael's footsteps following her.

"You pulled a move on Sienna the other day that I thought was interesting. You used the curve of your wing to pull her off balance, but it looked like you used your horn in the process. I want to see if I can figure out how to do that too."

"It's a basic move. I learned it when I was ten. I'm sure you can work it out. Use one of your books."

"Books can only show you movements in the form of diagrams. I can study a diagram for hours and still not figure out how the maneuver is done. A physical instructor is far better."

The shadows were surprisingly quiet. Aren't you going to tell me to help your Angel of Dawn? Estelle scoffed.

"It'll give you an excuse to throw me around," Mikael added. Estelle paused, looking back over her shoulder. He grinned. "I knew that would catch your attention."

"Don't start smiling yet, Feathers. You won't like it when I throw you. Take it from Nyx." Estelle shouldered past him.

A point for the Prince of Sunrises, the shadows snickered in her ear.

You're keeping score now?

Marks of progress, both his and yours.

"Why would I ask Nyx when I can just find out for myself?" Mikael asked. "I may be a scholar, but nothing can beat hands on learning."

"Touch me outside of training and you will lose your hands," Estelle snapped.

A point for you.

Estelle strode into a ring and dropped her sword and dagger sheaths. Mikael followed suit, then grabbed a set of hand wraps that dangled from his belt. He situated them around his fists and shook hair from his eyes.

"Hand to hand first," he said. "My father is watching."

Estelle's gaze flickered beyond the rings, where Commander Ameer was making his rounds. She nodded begrudgingly and readied herself. Mikael struck high. She dodged and hooked her fist into his side. He brought up a leg, catching her blow. He jumped, swinging up his other leg in a roundhouse kick.

Estelle flipped herself backwards, flaring her wings out for additional balance as she straightened. Commander Ameer paused beside their ring. She launched another attack, but Mikael was ready. He blocked all of her blows and landed a solid punch to her gut.

Estelle staggered backwards and he took advantage of her disorientation, swinging at her face. She managed to avoid the attack and hooked her leg around his waist. Mikael raised his eyebrows.

She swung herself around him and onto his shoulders. With a roll of her hips, she threw him off balance. They hit the dirt and Estelle sprang to her feet. Mikael was up a heartbeat later. He wiped dust from his cheek, breathing heavily.

"That was a good move. I haven't had a Peregryn female pull that on me yet," he remarked.

"Perhaps you simply haven't insulted them enough."

Another point for you, the shadows laughed.

"I save my best insults for you, Batsy."

But the Prince of Sunrises has scored as well.

Estelle snorted with frustration and snapped her wings out. Mikael flared his own in response. She lunged at him and he braced himself. The corner of her mouth twitched up.

Estelle leaped at the last second, snagging the curve of her wing around Mikael's chest. She swung herself around him and landed as Mikael toppled from the force of the blow. He braced a hand on his chest, gasping for breath.

"No horn," Estelle crowed. "Blunt force."

Mikael dropped his head against the ground, briefly closing his eyes. Commander Ameer still watched them, his expression wary and somewhat concerned. Estelle crossed her arms and stepped back, waiting for Mikael to stand.

"Do you want to learn that move or not, Feathers?" She asked.

"I'm coming," Mikael grunted. "I wasn't expecting that much force."

"It's going to leave a bruise."

"Great." Mikael staggered to his feet and shook out his wings.

Estelle tilted her head, studying the way he fluffed out, then flattened his feathers. Was it instinct or conscious thought that let him do that? The shadows offered an unwanted suggestion. Perhaps you should ask.

"You were right." Mikael rolled his shoulders with a rueful smile. "I did not like being thrown by you."

"And you only went a few feet," Estelle scoffed. They squared off once more, the shadows cheering them both on.

◦═══✦═══◦

Mikael trudged into the hut with a groan. His entire body ached. He hadn't expected Estelle to hit so hard, nor had he thought Illyrian wings were so packed full of muscle. Calden and the Illyrians tramped into the hut behind him.

"So, did my sister thoroughly trounce your ass today?" Lysander asked.

"If my ass is located on my torso, then yes," Mikael groaned.

Corbin cackled with delight. "I'm remembering that. Dad will love it."

"How did your training go?" Nyx asked, motioning to Lysander. "Celeste seems to know a few key regions to land a punch."

Lysander breathed an amused sigh. "Yeah, that's for certain."

"You're welcome. Mikael and I are usually her punching bags," Calden chuckled.

"In that case, shouldn't you be saying thank you?"

"You're right. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Lysander slouched onto the sofa with Calden and Corbin. "It'll be nice to go back to the Night Court."

Mikael rubbed his forehead, thinking. It was almost time for them to trade off groups again. What would it be like in Windhaven? How would he settle in? Would he get along with whomever he roomed with? Perhaps he'd get lucky and Nyx, Corbin, and Lys would have to stay in the war camp too.

"I'm expecting Devlon to be a bigger dick than normal when we arrive," Corbin replied. "You know he's been looking for an excuse to make our training more brutal."

"If Mom and Jorah are there, Devlon will behave." Lysander folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes. "Mostly, anyway."

Mikael kneaded his fingers against his sore chest. He winced in pain and stood abruptly, heading towards the stairs. "Where are you going?" Calden called.

"Bath," Mikael replied shortly.

"Leave some hot water for the rest of us."

"Says the male who spends thirty minutes washing his hair alone," Mikael laughed. He reached the second floor and grabbed a pair of clean clothes from his bedroom before entering the bathroom.

Mikael let the tub fill with lukewarm water while he undressed. He paused before the mirror, examining the welts and bruises across his chest. I hope she enjoyed that more than I did, he thought. I'll admit, I didn't plan on letting her beat me up just so we'd start to get along. Still, it worked. We didn't exactly argue today.

He settled into the tub with a hiss of pain. His legs were just as sore as the rest of him, apparently. Mikael settled his wings over the wall of the tub and grabbed a preening comb off the counter nearby. This comb was specially designed for Peregryn feathers. The bristles were thin and compacted together. He hardly felt them when he used the comb. He set to work on one wing while the warm water relaxed his tense muscles.

Estelle's shadow settled atop his head, dangling itself just above his brow. Mikael caught sight of himself in the mirror and laughed. He finished preening one wing and started on the other. "How long do you plan on staying with me?" He asked. "Estelle is bound to realize that one of her shadows is missing sooner than later, right?"

The shadow gave no response. It remained still, brushing against his forehead occasionally. "Are you telling her my secrets?" Mikael set the preening comb aside and lowered himself into the water until it lapped at his bruised chest. He hesitated, then asked, "Can you tell her that I'm sorry? Can you make her believe me?"

In the mirror, the shadow almost seemed to cock its head at him. He couldn't be sure though. It didn't exactly have a head. For a moment, he thought he knew what it was thinking. Are you really sorry?

Mikael rested his head against the lip of the tub. "Truthfully, I don't know if I am. Part of me is glad that I said something that hurt her. She hurt me and insulted my father, but the other half of me isn't so happy. That part feels guilty. I knew better. It was partially my fault and I should be sorry." The shadow drifted down his neck and perched atop his shoulder. "I'm not getting rid of you, am I?"

The shadow brushed against his cheek in response. "Fine," he sighed. "But you'd better not get me into trouble." He thought for a moment. "Can I give you a name?" Mikael waited, even though he didn't expect an answer. "I'm going to call you Umbra. It means shadow, but it'll be better than calling you The Shadow or Estelle's Shadow."

The shadow, or Umbra, still gave no acknowledgement. It lingered on his shoulder and Mikael was content to let it stay there. He wet his hair and quickly finished his bath.

◦═══✦═══◦

Estelle sat atop the roof of the cottage, gazing up at the sky. She rubbed her thumb over her pendant. Two weeks without seeing the stars of the Night Court had left her feeling rather homesick. Sienna and Celeste were already asleep. She should be too, she knew, but she wanted to sit outside a little longer.

She would be on her way home soon, except she wasn't really going home. She and the Boys would stay in Windhaven for the next two weeks. She'd already sent Devlon and Jorah a list of Illyrians for the next group that would be leaving. They would make adjustments as needed. When the two weeks ended, Estelle would come back to the Dawn Court alone.

Not alone, the shadows protested. We are here. Sienna and Celeste are here. Illyrians will accompany you.

"It's not the same," she sighed.

"Who are you talking to?"

Estelle looked down and caught sight of the brown haired, golden eyed male Corbin had been sparring with. "My shadows," she replied.

"Your shadows?" His voice was laced with disbelief. "Is that what those creepy things are?"

Vile and cruel, the shadows hissed. His thoughts run red with violence.

"Who are you?" Estelle asked.

He lifted his chin. "Ronan. No need to introduce yourself. I already know who you are. You're Azriel and Seren's daughter. Estelle."

"What do you want?" Estelle narrowed her eyes.

"I noticed our bastard Lordling has been following you around like a lovesick puppy. I thought I'd offer to take care of him for you."

Bastard Lordling? If anyone had spoke about Nyx like that, they'd lose their tongue. Repeatedly. First by Nyx himself, then by Rhys, then Feyre, and the rest of them would take their turns in due course. "You shouldn't speak about your future High Lord with such disrespect."

"That boy will never live to become High Lord," Ronan chuckled. "He's just a rutting little half breed bastard."

Estelle leaped off the roof, stalking towards him. "I'm a half breed," she growled. "And you should be going." Ronan's gaze traveled over her appraisingly. Estelle bristled. She'd been viewed like that before. She wouldn't be looked at that way again. "Unless you want to know the true meaning of torment, I suggest you start walking."

"What's tormenting is those Illyrian leathers," Ronan sneered.

Estelle snarled and released the shadows. Ronan leaped into the air, but he was too late. They grabbed him by the ankles and threw him to the ground. Shadows forced their way in between his teeth and down his throat. More of them bound his wrists and speared him to the ground.

Ronan gasped for breath, choking around the shadows. "Stay away from me and my family," Estelle spat. "And learn some respect for the male who will one day hold your life in his hands." She backed away and withdrew the shadows. Estelle entered the house and locked the door without looking back to see if Ronan had gone.