Mikael almost couldn't believe that Estelle had agreed to stay with him. He had been certain she was going to leave. Estelle led him through several dimly lit alleys and down a few side streets. Her hand was warm in his. Shadows wound from her wrist to his own. Umbra had settled on his arm atop his leather sleeve, for once.

    "Where are we going?" Mikael asked.

    "You were going to ask me to dance before I left, weren't you?" Mikael nodded. "Then we're going to find another place to dance. Our people almost always have some sort of festivity going in the squares after dark."

    "Do they never sleep?" He joked.

    Estelle smiled. "This is the Night Court, Feathers. We thrive in darkness. It's where we feel the most alive."

    Gradually, raucous laughter and lilting notes flooded the air. They stepped into a market square, where a small crowd had gathered. Strands of faelights ran overhead, pinned between buildings. Lanterns were suspended as well, providing additional light. A few females wandered to and fro, carrying trays of pastries and drinks.

    One elderly female paused beside Estelle and Mikael. "A Peregryn in Velaris? You don't see that every day," she remarked. "I've heard that the Peregryns and Illyrians are training together now and have been for some time. They say the Heir to the Dawn Court is with them."

    Mikael stiffened and Estelle squeezed his hand. The shadows slithered up his arms. The female studied him intently. "It's you, isn't it? You look so much like Thesan."

    Despite his own misgivings, he didn't sense anything menacing about the female. She was genuinely curious. Mikael gave her a small nod and a smile bloomed across her features.

    She bowed her head respectfully. "I hope you enjoy our small gathering. Think of my people fondly in the future." The female offered up her tray of pastries. Estelle took one, thanking her quietly. Mikael followed her example and the elderly female continued working her way through the crowd.

    Mikael stared at the pastry, unable to hide his surprise. "What is it?" Estelle asked, swiping crumbs from her mouth.

    "She didn't say anything about me being a bastard." He swallowed hard, his eyes suddenly burning. "She didn't...she..." Mikael blinked rapidly. "She..." The words wouldn't come. He ran his fingers through his hair, lowering his head.

    Estelle hesitated, then took his hand once more. "Your people will see you the same way someday."

    "Mother above, I hope so," Mikael murmured. "I hope so." He measured his breaths until the lump in his throat vanished. He ate the pastry while watching couples waltz by. "I'm sorry. We came here to dance. Not for me to be...me."

    Estelle pressed his hand to her waist and his breath caught. "I like when you're you."

    She hooked her arms around his neck and nodded. He rested his other hand against her waist and they began to dance. Mikael kept his wings tucked close to his back to avoid bumping into the High and Lesser Fae dancing around them.

    "You've been distant the past few days," Mikael said, averting his eyes. "Nyx thought we might have argued again. Did I do something to upset you?"

    "No, you did nothing wrong. I just..." Estelle paused with a sigh. "I'm not good at understanding my own thoughts and actions sometimes. I'll do something in the moment and when I think about it later, I won't know why I did it or if I even meant to do it."

    "Oh. I see." Mikael couldn't stifle the jolt of disappointment that ran through him. So what she did and said on the bridge... She didn't mean it?

    "I know that look."

    "What look?"

    "You're confused and disappointed. The shadows didn't tell me that. You're thinking about what happened on the bridge."

    "Yes," Mikael admitted.

    Estelle looked away, then met his gaze again. There was nothing but sincerity in her amber eyes as she spoke. "I'm not ready for this conversation. I don't know what my own thoughts are right now. I'm confused and running myself in circles."

    Nyx had said not to let her walk away. It seemed like she was about to do just that. Mikael gave a resigned sigh. Estelle shook her head, cupping his face in her hands.

    "Don't sigh like that. I just need a little time to think. I need to sort out my thoughts and feelings. If I don't understand them myself, how can I expect you to?"

    "All right." Mikael pulled his hands away from her waist. "Take all the time you need." He turned to go.

    "Mikael." He paused, looking back at her. "Don't leave." He raised an eyebrow. "I mean it," Estelle said. "Don't leave. We came here to have fun, so let's have fun."

    Mikael pursed his lips, then smiled. "All right, Batsy." He tucked his arm around her waist and she rested a hand against his shoulder. "We probably make an interesting sight."

    "How so?"

    "Well, one of us has wings covered in disgusting feathers. The other has wings made from nightmares. We're both dressed entirely in black and armed to the teeth. You're covered in shadows."

    "And yet, we're dancing," Estelle laughed, catching on.

    "And yet, we are." Mikael led her in a spin, then dipped her low. Estelle gasped, hooking one of her legs around his hips. Her wings dragged against the ground. Mikael shook his head with a smirk. "You tell me you're confused and then you pull this? You wicked creature."

    Estelle's smile grew as he tipped her upright. She didn't move her leg right away. He could hear the uneven hitch of her breath. "Well, the role of valiant angel was already taken."

    "Thank goodness for that." They resumed dancing. Mikael brought his lips down to her ear. "I happen to find wicked creatures very attractive."

◦═══✦═══◦

    Estelle couldn't wipe her blush away as she and Mikael danced. The shadows murmured in her ears, but she ignored them. The tempo of the music slowed gradually. Estelle stepped closer to Mikael, resituating her hand on his shoulder.

    His arms tightened around her. "Is this all right?" He asked.

    Estelle nodded, half closing her eyes. Why was it so easy to know what she was feeling in the moment, but never when it was past? Why were her emotions so hard to interpret?

    When she'd seen how that elderly female's behavior had affected Mikael, she wanted nothing more than to thank the female profusely. Then, she wanted to find the people who had been the reason why the female's acceptance of Mikael was so shocking, and duly repay them.

    When she'd seen the confusion and disappointment cross his features, she wanted to kick herself repeatedly for her tactless words. She wanted to tell him that she'd meant it all. She'd wanted to kiss him until he believed it. Until she believed it too.

    And then, there were the strong instincts that had flared up when her leg was on his hip and he was whispering in her ear. She'd wanted his lips on her skin. Below her ear. On her neck. Tracing her jaw. She wanted to know what things he would whisper to her then.

    Her instincts had never been so overwhelming before. Not towards anyone she was interested in previously. She had felt defensive...no, protective, of Mikael even when she was convinced they could never get along. She wanted to hunt down those who hurt him and show them what would happen if they hurt him again.

    She wanted to ease his concerns about his past and future, and change the way he saw himself. She wanted to see a smile on his lips and joy in his eyes. She wanted to see that golden light glowing from his skin and nothing but pleasure on his face.

    Estelle opened her eyes. Her cheek was pressed against Mikael's chest. His scent was familiar and warm, morning dew and mountain air. He'd bowed his head over hers, his lips touching her curls. Estelle lifted her head and Mikael turned his face away.

    She glanced towards the sky. The moon was already sinking. "Training is going to be hell tomorrow," Estelle laughed.

    "Give me a stiff drink to carry around all day and I'll be fine," Mikael chuckled in reply.

    "You can't even fly straight when you're hungover."

    "Have you seen me fly while I'm drunk?"

    "No. Are you good at it?"

    Mikael threw his head back with a laugh. "I'm even worse than when I'm hungover. Don't ever ask my fathers how many windows I've flown through or pillars I've crashed against." He thought for a moment. "Or how many bones I've broken."

    "I'll make sure the shadows remind me to do just that. I can see it now. You aren't very graceful, Feathers."

    "I'm probably more graceful than you."

    "That's doubtful." Estelle peered over his shoulder. "I think there's going to be an announcement." Mikael followed her gaze to where a female was standing before the musicians.

    "We will be having one last song before packing up for the night," she said, her voice ringing over the crowd. "Our musicians don't have a closing number selected. They were hoping that someone from the crowd might have a suggestion or volunteer to sing."

    The crowd began whispering rapidly. Estelle tensed, hearing her name close by. It was picked up and began passing around the square in hushed tones. Someone approached the female and spoke to her quietly. Estelle smothered a groan as the female straightened.

    "Many people have noticed that Estelle Marzena is in attendance this evening. They are asking that she sing for the final dance of the night."

    Mikael gave Estelle a skeptical glance. "You sing?"

    She nodded. "My parents do too. Mom taught me when I was little. I've only sung a few times in public, though."

    "You should," he urged. "I'd like to hear you."

    Estelle shook her head, biting her lip nervously. "I can't. This crowd is bigger than the ones I've performed in front of."

    "You can do it, Batsy," he said gently.

    "Mikael..."

    "Sing to me. Not to them."

    "I don't know."

    Mikael tilted her head up. "Sing for me, Estelle. Please."

    She smiled at last. "All right."

    The crowd parted as Estelle made her way towards the musicians. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her eyes swept the crowd until she saw Mikael. She focused on him, only him, and began.

◦═══✦═══◦

    Mikael ignored the couples that resumed dancing while Estelle sang. He might be the one with feathered wings, but it was her voice that was angelic. It rose and fell with swells of music. Her gaze never left his.

    Mikael hardly recognized the words she was singing. He studied the way the light reflected off her bronze skin. How her amber eyes glistened with nervous determination. The way the shadows danced around her excitedly.

    He let every emotion he felt shine through his features, hoping she would see and recognize them. She was confused and had misgivings. He could wait until she figured out everything for herself, but he would wait no longer than that.

    Mikael had made up his mind. He stared at her, an unusual, yet familiar pressure welling up within his chest. He didn't acknowledge the feeling. Didn't let himself consider what it could mean. He just watched and listened as his Shadowsinger sang.