Once again, Estelle didn't come back before the moon had risen. Mikael hovered near the window beside the front door. Celeste, Sienna, Nyx, and Calden were laughing around the fireplace. Nyx had brought home a few bottles of ale that they were sharing.

Mikael refused when he'd been offered a drink. He wanted to be thinking clearly if Estelle needed him again. Umbra was calm against his arm. Mikael scanned the street outside the hut. There was no sign of the Shadowsinger.

"Looking for someone?" Nyx asked quietly, joining him.

"Did you talk to Estelle before you left yesterday?" Mikael asked, not answering his question.

"I did. You mentioned she never told you where I'd gone."

"She never had the chance."

Nyx straightened, a wary look filling his blue eyes. "What do you mean?"

"She went for a drink after talking to you. Ze'ev, Ronan, and three other Illyrians cornered her." Mikael clenched his jaw. The urge to speak the truth was overwhelming, but...Estelle had just forgiven him. He couldn't jeopardize her trust. "There was a fight. I found her before things got out of hand."

Nyx ran his fingers through his hair. "Shit. Is she all right?"

"She's...fine, considering the circumstances. I'm just worried that it's going to happen again." Mikael rested his knuckles against the glass. "She has a history with Ze'ev. I can tell."

Nyx looked away briefly. "She does."

"You know what it is?"

"Yes, but it's not something I can share. If she wants to tell you someday, she will." Nyx gripped him by the shoulder. "But you don't need to be worried about her right now. She's in Velaris with her family."

Mikael narrowed his eyes. "Did she tell you to say that?"

"No, my father told me. I asked him where she was." Nyx withdrew his hand. "What's your problem?"

Mikael continued to stare out the window. What was his problem? What was it? He closed his eyes. Estelle's panic stricken face waited there. His problem was that she'd been with Nyx before anything happened. His problem was that her cousin had left her to cover for him while he snuck out with some female from the Spring Court. His problem was that if Nyx had been there, Estelle wouldn't have been in trouble.

"You should take a few more precautions when you visit your female friend," Mikael murmured. "You came back smelling like her." He turned away abruptly and headed to his bedroom.

Nyx followed him. "You know?" He closed the door behind them.

"Yes, I know. I just said you came back smelling like her."

"Why are you angry about it?"

"Does Estelle know? Is that why you asked her to lie about your whereabouts?"

"Estelle promised she'd cover for me. This isn't exactly something that everyone needs to know about."

"Why not?"

Who could be important enough to pull Nyx away from his cousin mere hours before something so awful would happen? Mikael couldn't stop the angry thoughts that pounded within his temples. If Estelle hadn't been alone, it would never have happened. If Nyx had stayed... If Mikael got there sooner...

It didn't matter that Estelle seemed unfazed now. She'd been panicking when he arrived. She'd been crying. She'd been pinned to the ground with daggers. He couldn't stop seeing that bruise on her collarbone.

"Why not?" Mikael repeated, his voice rising slightly.

"Keep it down," Nyx snapped. "People can't know because I don't know what would happen to her if her father found out." He paced a few lengths. "My parents don't know. Lys and Corbin don't know. Estelle is the only one who does. She's the only one I trust with this right now. I'm not going to tell you who she is or who her father is. The only thing you need to know is that for her safety, this stays quiet."

"If seeing her is putting her in danger, then why do you continue to do so? Why don't you stop?" Mikael asked.

"It's not that simple." Nyx ran a hand down his face with a sigh. "I...I think she might be my mate. I don't know for certain yet and she hasn't mentioned anything about it to me. I want to be certain before anyone finds out about us. If we really are mates, then things might work out for us better. If we aren't..." Nyx shook his head. "It doesn't matter if we aren't. Being mates would just make things a little easier."

He'd left and Estelle had needed him...but he'd left to see someone who might be his mate. Someone he had to keep a secret. If Mikael knew anything about mates from watching his fathers, he knew that keeping their distance from one another was a nearly impossible feat.

He lowered his head, resting it against his clasped hands. His thoughts were slowing down now. Becoming less...overwhelming. What right did he have to blame Nyx for what had happened, even if his presence could have prevented it? If Nyx hadn't gone and Mikael hadn't helped Estelle, they might not have apologized to each other. Estelle was all right.

Mikael looked up, meeting Nyx's gaze. "I hope you find out soon, before you're discovered. Because you will be. One way or another, someone will find out. Take more precautions."

Nyx barely dipped his chin. He began to open the door. "And...I'm sorry," Mikael added. "I've been a little out of sorts today. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Nyx offered him half a smile. "We all have those days." He slipped out of the room, letting the door click shut behind him.

Mikael lay back, letting his wings fall off either side of the bed. Umbra wound up his arm and curled atop his chest. He stroked the shadow with a finger, trying to push his concerns to the back of his mind.

◦═══✦═══◦

Estelle's first few days back in the Dawn Court went better than she expected. She was still homesick and lonely, but not as much as she thought she'd be. Celeste and Sienna were taking advantage of having her to themselves. They trained together and visited several shops and the dancing hall in Nimbus.

Currently, they were sparring two on one. Or, two on a dozen, as Celeste had pointed when she noted that Estelle had the shadows to help her. Sienna and Celeste lunged. Estelle blocked each of their blows, one with Aesira and the other with Znaniya.

Mikael had given the blades to her when she returned to Windhaven. Apparently, he'd gone looking for them after she told him they were missing. Having them back in their old familiar places was a comfort.

"I've been wondering," Estelle grunted, pushing Sienna back. "Do Peregryns have a Rite you have to participate in to become full warriors?"

"We do." Celeste's blade rang against Aesira. "It's not as drastic as the Illyrian Blood Rite is said to be, but it's still challenging."

"Are you allowed to talk about it?"

Sienna nodded, sidestepping and jabbing her elbow into Estelle's ribs. "When a novice believes they're ready to become a full fledged warrior, they have to gain Commander Ameer's permission to attempt the Rite. If permission is granted, they fly to the tallest summit in the mountains."

"I thought Thesan's palace was built on the highest summit."

"It's not," Celeste replied. "It's high enough that it's above the clouds, but it's not on the highest summit. The highest summit is called Aurora. The Fountain of Dawn flows from its peak into a pool at the base of a cliff. From there, it turns into a stream that runs all the way down to the foot of the mountain."

"It's not actually a fountain," Sienna clarified. "It's a waterfall."

"We are allowed to use our wings during the climb," Celeste continued, "but tricks like winnowing are strictly forbidden. We can take no weapons or food. We use only what we find. When a warrior reaches the summit, they drink from the Fountain of Dawn during the first light of sunrise."

"It's said that the Fountain glows like fire at sunrise. Drinking from it is drinking from the very veins of the Dawn Court itself." Sienna's green eyes had taken on a reverent sheen. "While atop the mountain, the warrior will take an oath to protect the Dawn Court and serve their kind and the High Lord to the end of their days. If they successfully make it down from Aurora, having completed all of that, they become fully fledged warriors. They'll also be given golden armor to wear into battle."

"Do you have echelons you're sorted into?" Estelle asked.

Both females shook their heads. Celeste offered an explanation. "Our warriors are all equals. Of course, Thesan and Commander Ameer will choose officers out of the more experienced ones."

"Neither of you have completed the Rite, then?"

They shook their heads again. "None of us have. Not me, not Sienna, not Calden, and not Mikael."

"I've tried," Sienna cut in. "Commander Ameer told me I wasn't ready."

"I've been told that too," Estelle grumbled. "You get tired of hearing it after a while."

"No kidding."

"I think you're doing more talking than training," Mikael laughed nearby.

Estelle glanced over her shoulder. He was standing outside the painted markers of their training ring. His arms were crossed over his usual Peregryn leathers. She couldn't see the shadow anywhere on him, but she was certain it was there. Estelle hadn't let herself fully process what her father had said about the shadow's behavior. It was too absurd to even consider.

Celeste flashed Mikael a pouting expression. "I liked the Illyrian leathers on you better." Estelle smothered a laugh. Her own thoughts had echoed the sentiment.

"Batsy here doesn't think black is my color."

"I said you'd look good in white or gold," Estelle scoffed. "And I never said black wasn't your color. I said it was mine."

"These have white in them."

"That's beige," Sienna corrected.

Mikael rolled his eyes. "Close enough."

Estelle sheathed her sword and dagger, approaching him. "And I share Celeste's opinion. Illyrian leathers do look better on you."

Mikael smirked. "I know. I saw you staring, remember? I thought I'd save you the distraction while we're here though."

"Did you need something or did you just come to interrupt our training?" Sienna hollered.

Mikael gave an indifferent shrug. "I came to watch. I want to see Estelle kick your ass."

"Who says she's going to kick my ass? What if I kick hers?"

His smile grew. "Then I'll want to see that too."

"Bastard," Estelle huffed. Mikael tensed. "I'm sorry. That's not what I meant. I didn't..."

"It's all right, Batsy," Mikael chuckled. "I know what you meant. It just...catches me off guard sometimes." His smile no longer reached his eyes.

Some unfamiliar feeling tightened within her chest. She didn't like the look on his face. The hidden hurt within his eyes. She was going to find every single person who helped put that pained look there, and she was going to repay them tenfold.

"Come on, Estelle!" Celeste called.

She blinked, as though waking from a trance. Mikael held her gaze, even as Estelle backed away. She could feel his eyes on her when she returned to Celeste and Sienna. Estelle knew the shadows were watching him in return, but she didn't call them off. They were whispering names in her ear. Names that he was thinking of.