The artwork above is not mine.

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    The wind was cold as they flew to Windhaven, but Estelle didn't mind. She breathed in the crisp air with a delighted smile. The shadows hummed with energy in her ears. Cold weather always excited them. It had ever since her first time playing in the snow.

    Her parents had told her the story many times. By her second winter, she was always begging in half complete sentences to go outside. One day, her parents relented and Azriel took her out to play for a little while. Her favorite activity quickly became making snow angels, and the shadows loved to make their own imprints on the ground.

    Every time Azriel picked her up after she made a snow angel, there were thin scraggly lines jutting out from the indentions of her wings, shoulders, and legs. Estelle hadn't called her creations snow angels. She called them squiggles. Azriel and Lysander teased her about it continuously now, especially because she still called them that.

    Celeste and Sienna flew alongside Estelle, drawing her out of her thoughts. "Don't forget your dare!" Celeste giggled.

    "Don't forget yours!" Estelle shot back. She had dared Celeste to officially ask Lysander out for an evening. Celeste was all too eager to agree. "What's the alternative if I don't complete my dare?"

    "We haven't decided on our method of public humiliation yet," Sienna laughed. "We'll let you know when we do."

    Estelle rolled her eyes but nodded. Windhaven appeared in the distance. Some of the trees within the valleys were already changing colors. Autumn was setting in fast. She drew up her wings and landed as they arrived at the war camp.

    Lysander, Corbin, and Nyx shoved ahead of the group already gathered there. Estelle barely folded her wings in before Lysander wrapped her in a tight embrace. As soon as he released her, she was snatched up by Corbin, then Nyx.

    "Guys, it was only two weeks," Estelle wheezed. Nyx hugged her even tighter.

    "Two whole weeks without being bossed around," Corbin sighed. "It was terrible."

    "You're terrible," Estelle retorted.

    "Did you miss us?" Lysander asked, slinging his arm over her shoulder.

    "Yes," she admitted. "I was a little homesick at first, but then I became busy and things got better."

    "Busy with what?" Nyx raised an eyebrow.

    "Well, Celeste and Sienna took me to get some Peregryn leathers. We did a little more shopping than that and spent a lot of time at the dance hall in Nimbus." She held out her tattooed wrist. "And I made a bargain with Mikael."

    Lysander grabbed her wrist at once, inspecting the marks. "What kind of bargain?"

    "I'm helping him prepare for the Peregryn Rite and he's helping me prepare for ours." Lysander glanced up at her, his eyes narrowed skeptically. "He and Thesan have been helping me work on learning to use my magic without siphons. So far, I'm making slow progress, but it's been interesting."

    "Do Mom and Dad know about this?"

    Estelle nodded. "I told Mom and she thought it was a good idea. She said she would tell Dad."

    "Lys!" Celeste hollered, interrupting them. Lysander dropped Estelle's arm with a grin and sprinted off.

    "He's talked about her nonstop since you left," Corbin groaned. "I'm going to make sure he behaves himself." He chased after Lysander and Celeste.

    "Did you visit Venelia while I was gone?" Estelle asked, facing Nyx.

    "Once," Nyx replied. "Mikael found out about her."

    "What? When?"

    "He scented her on me the night I came back from visiting her, when I asked you to cover for me. I've started taking even more precautions now. Mikael doesn't know her name or who her father is. I only told him that she's from the Spring Court." Nyx clenched his jaw. "He mentioned you had been in a fight with Ze'ev."

    Estelle narrowed her eyes. "What else did he say?"

    "That was it. He said there was a fight but he helped you, and you were fine." Nyx's sapphire eyes swept the crowd of Peregryns. "Celeste, Sienna, and Calden all came along again?"

    Estelle nodded. "They won't be coming next time we're in Windhaven though."

    "All right. Dad wanted to talk to you, by the way."

    "I'll go now. I needed to talk to him too. Take this to the hut for me." She shoved her satchel into Nyx's arms without waiting for a response.

    Estelle let the shadows carry her away from the war camp and all the way to Velaris. She landed outside of Rhys and Feyre's estate. Estelle paused beside the garden, spying a familiar golden brown haired female at work amongst the dying flowers.

    "Aunt Elain, I didn't know you were here," Estelle said with a smile.

    Elain looked up and grinned. "Just for a few days. Lucien and I will be unavailable over Mor's birthday this year, so I wanted to bring a gift for her while we have time. It's good to see you."

    "You too." Estelle waved to her aunt before continuing inside.

    She mounted the stairs and started down the hallway towards Rhys' office. She halted in the doorway. Lucien was already there speaking with Rhys. They broke off, noticing Estelle. Rhys waved her in.

    "We'll talk later, Lucien," he promised. Lucien nodded and closed the door behind him. "How was the Dawn Court?"

    "Better than my first week there, that was for certain," Estelle chuckled. "Nyx said you wanted to see me?"

    "Just to make sure things are still going smoothly. I haven't heard any complaints from Devlon, Jorah, Thesan, or Ameer yet, so I'm hoping it's all going well."

    "It is. Did my mom tell you about my bargain with Mikael?"

    "She mentioned it to Feyre, but didn't include many details. I'm glad you're getting along and helping each other."

    "Me too. Are there any meetings I need to know about in the next two weeks?"

    Rhys shook his head. "I think Nyx and Lysander will accompany me to one in the Winter Court. You just focus on your duties here."

    Estelle's smile faltered. Of course. Why should I expect to attend anymore meetings when the last one I went to ended so horribly? Lysander always wanted to go to the meetings. Now he has his chance. So does Corbin. Why should Rhys begrudge them that? Why should I?

    "Estelle?" Rhys' amethyst eyes carried a hint of concern.

    Estelle blinked her dark thoughts away and plastered a smile to her face. "That's great. I was hoping I'd have more time here anyway. I was wondering if I could show Mikael around Velaris. Possibly Celeste, Sienna, and Calden as well?"

    Rhys narrowed his eyes. "I don't know."

    "Mikael will see it eventually anyway. If not now, then someday when he's High Lord. Celeste and Sienna are trustworthy, and Calden is devoted to them and Mikael. He won't reveal the city's location, especially if Mikael tells him not to."

    Rhys clasped his hands together, thinking. "All right, but make sure they understand the rules applying to their visits."

    "I will." Estelle bowed her head. "Thank you!" She ducked out the door and prepared to head back to Windhaven.

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    Mikael swung Lovis in a lazy circle as he and Calden faced Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin. Their breath frosted in the cold morning air. Mikael had donned his Illyrian leathers, hoping the insulation would help keep the cold out. So far, it was proving beneficial. His feathers were still fluffed though.

    "You two look like frozen pigeons," Corbin taunted. "All fluffy, trying to keep warm. Not at all menacing."

    "Oh, he wants menacing," Calden laughed, elbowing Mikael. "Shall we show him how menacing pigeons can be?"

    "After you," Mikael offered.

    Calden lunged at the Illyrians. His sword clashed off Corbin's but Lysander and Nyx ducked. Mikael dove behind Nyx, seeing an opportunity. Nyx whirled and their swords rang together, spraying sparks. They began to trade rapid blows, launching punches and kicks when they could.

    Calden was handling Corbin and Lysander now. "Two against one?" He groaned. "Come on, Guys. That isn't fair."

    "Here's the thing about pigeons," Sienna called nearby. "They tend to flock." She landed behind Lysander and grabbed him by the arms, pulling him away from Calden. Lysander stomped his foot on top of hers. She yelped and let go. Sienna drew her sword as Lysander turned his attention solely on her.

    "So," Nyx grunted, raining blows down on Mikael, "are you excited to finally see Velaris tomorrow?"

    "Can't...wait." Mikael shoved Nyx back a few paces. "Where are we going first?"

    "That's up to Estelle. It was her idea, after all."

    "Really?" Their swords locked again.

    "She asked my father for permission."

    "I see." Mikael flared his wings out as he stepped into a patch of sunlight. Nyx blinked rapidly and Mikael spun around him. He kicked his foot into the back of Nyx's knee. The Illyrian went down and Mikael leveled Lovis at his throat. "That's your head."

    "And that's yours."

    Mikael tipped his head back, feeling cool steel against his neck. "Hello, Batsy."

    "Hello, Feathers. Be a good angel and let my cousin up." Estelle moved in front of him, her dagger angled at his neck. "Pigeons might flock but bats? We tend to swarm. Silent as ghosts and twice as fast. You don't see or hear us coming until it's too late."

    Nyx got to his feet with a laugh. "Well, I guess we know whose side she's on."

    "I guess we do." Mikael stared down the length of Znaniya, holding Estelle's gaze. "I'm a little wounded."

    "You're a healer, aren't you? I'm sure you can fix that wound," Estelle snickered.

    "Hm." Mikael couldn't stop the smirk that crossed his lips. "I can think of a few things that might fix it quicker than magic."

    Celeste and Sienna ceased sparring long enough to laugh, almost as though they knew something he didn't. Estelle's cheeks were flushed and she was attempting to hide a smile."I'm sure Nyxie would love to help you out with that."

    Nyx grimaced. "I don't think pigeons are my type."

    "Ah, right." Estelle leaned towards Mikael and whispered, "He prefers cherry blossoms." Mikael grinned.

    "I'm no longer certain whose side she's on."

    "Well, she's definitely not on mine!" Corbin exclaimed. He was pinned to the ground by Sienna and Calden. "Otherwise she never would have let this happen."

    "I'm sure you're used to it. How many times has she put you on the ground herself?" Calden cackled. Corbin faked a pout.

    "You should be more careful with your cousins, Batsy," Mikael scolded. "They seem surprisingly fragile."

    "Not so fragile!" Nyx retorted. He sprang to his feet, reclaiming his sword. Mikael caught the blow with his armored forearm and brought up Lovis. Estelle backed away as they began to attack one another again. "So much for swarming, Essie!"

    "I want to see who wins," Estelle merely laughed in response. The shadows curled around her ears, wavering with energy. Sunlight glinted off her dark hair and her amber eyes sparkled with delight.

    Mikael stumbled as Nyx landed a blow to his chest. "Didn't you learn to watch your opponent?" Nyx asked. "You'll never win if you're distracted."

    "Who said I was being distracted?" Mikael straightened, tightening his hands around Lovis. Estelle tilted her head curiously. "I was becoming inspired."

    "Ugh." Nyx rolled his eyes and their swords rang together once more.

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For a bonus scene from this chapter, please see the short story "Squiggles" in my book "Beyond the Books".