The artwork above is not mine.

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    "Slow down, both of you." Thesan lowered his head, rubbing his fingers across his eyes. "Ameer, explain it to me again, from the beginning. Mikael, wait your turn."

    Mikael crossed his arms and resituated his feathered wings over the low cut back of his chair. Ameer began to explain the fight as he had seen it. Thesan's honey brown eyes drifted between his mate and son in equal turns.

    At last, Ameer finished speaking. He and Mikael waited for Thesan to reply. "I'll talk to Mikael alone," Thesan murmured, clasping his hands together and resting his forehead against them. "Carry on with today's training sessions." He gave Ameer a tired smile. Ameer returned it and left the room, shooting Mikael another stern look. "Well?"

    "Ronan started it," Mikael muttered.

    "It doesn't matter who started it. What matters is how you ended it. I know you and Ronan have never seen eye to eye, but this will only secure his hatred of you. As my heir, you can't afford to make enemies of the people who will one day serve you, and who you will serve."

    "It's not my fault," Mikael protested. "I won a match against Calden and Ronan overheard him saying that he yielded. He made some remark about how Calden was yielding to a bastard. I tried to get Calden to leave so we could train with Celeste and Sienna, but Ronan challenged me directly."

    "I knew that if he kept goading Calden, there would be a much larger fight than whatever would happen between us, so I accepted. I didn't mean to be so...violent, Father, but he...he..."

    "He what?" Thesan prompted.

    "He told me I was a bastard and that the people will never accept me as High Lord." The words stung, despite how often he heard them.

    "And that's why you were so harsh?"

    "Not exactly." Mikael bit his lip, then added, "He also insulted you."

    Thesan stiffened. "I see. What did he say?"

    "He called you a soft spoken, dick sucking coward." Mikael's anger returned at the look of surprise and hurt that flooded his father's face. It was gone a heartbeat later. "I'm not sorry, Father. I couldn't let him get away with that. You're his High Lord, but more importantly, you're my father. Ameer is too. I can't...I won't...stand by and let people say things like that about you."

    Thesan sighed, shaking his head. "Our battles are not yours to fight. I understand how angry you must've been, but you can't treat your warriors that way."

    "Wouldn't you have done the same?" Mikael protested. "If you were there and heard him say that about Father, wouldn't you retaliate? What about my mother? How would you have reacted if someone insulted her like they insulted you?"

    Thesan hesitated and Mikael continued. "How do you think the other High Lords and Ladies deal with situations like this? I've heard stories. Helion has been known to blind people who disrespect his High Lady. Rhysand threatened those who refused to accept Feyre, and he made good on his threats. Eris has killed people for making remarks about Evren being a Human. Not to mention what the High Ladies themselves have done."

    "You must take after your mother more than I thought, because you certainly don't get this hotheadedness from me," Thesan chuckled under his breath. "Mikael, I understand. I do. You're right. If I had been there, I would've been angry too, but there are better ways to handle situations like that."

    "Ruling through fear...that's no way to lead. Yes, it will secure the loyalty of your people. Yes, it might protect you and those you love, but it never lasts. Your people will never trust you if they fear you, and eventually, they will rebel."

    "How can I expect them to trust me if they don't even respect me?" Mikael asked.

    "Well, for starters," Thesan stepped around his desk and perched atop it, "don't attack someone who is just trying to antagonize you."

    "That's easier said than done."

    "It is, but it takes a better male to walk away from a fight than it does to finish one."

    "The people might see that as cowardly."

    "They might," Thesan agreed.  "You'll have to decide whether a fight should be won or conceded."

    "I will never concede a fight when it involves your honor."

    Thesan's smile carried a hint of sadness. "I love that you're eager to defend us, but don't let our choices cause a negative reflection on you as well."

    They do already, Mikael thought to himself. Whether or not you agree. I'm a bastard and my father has a male mate, which isn't something the people are used to.

    "Mikael?" Thesan gave him a prompting look. "I see your mind at work."

    "I..." Mikael hesitated. Could he voice the thoughts he'd just had? His father had enough to worry about, and he didn't need to feel guilty about things out of his control. "It's nothing."

    "I know you're worried about being accepted when your time as High Lord comes. That's why I'm telling you these things. Hopefully, you can use my advice to make your transition into power easier." Thesan leaned forward and smoothed a stray brown curl from Mikael's face. "But remember that you are my heir because you are my son, whether or not the Court sees you as legitimate. Besides, you're not the only future High Lord with such a lineage."

    He wasn't; he knew. There was also Lucien, the son of Helion and Larilis, former Lady of the Autumn Court. He'd been conceived during an affair when Larilis was still wed to Beron Vanserra. Did Lucien face the same judgment that he did? Mikael didn't know. He never spoke to the male and had only met him a handful of times.

    "I know," Mikael said. "I'll do better, Father. I promise." Thesan smiled.

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    Estelle and Nyx met Rhys in his office late the next afternoon. Both of them were tired and grouchy, having spent the morning training in Windhaven. Devlon had been particularly overbearing today, and without Jorah around to curb his temper, his innocent pupils were run ragged.

    "We're going to the Autumn Court today," Rhys explained. "It'll just be a short visit, don't worry. No long boring meetings for you to sit through." He lifted a box off his desk and handed it to Nyx. "I do expect you to present this to Evren though."

    Nyx lifted the lid and Estelle caught a peek at the emerald laiden necklace that rested inside. Nyx nodded and pocketed the box. They left the office and made their way outside, past the security wards that were set around the house.

    Rhys took them each by the shoulder and wind roared through Estelle's ears as they winnowed. These diplomatic visits were gradually becoming a regular thing. They were always traveling between the Courts, or welcoming delegates from other Courts into their own.

    The only Courts they hadn't visited yet were the Dawn Court and the Spring Court. Apparently, Thesan had been tied down with meetings of his own lately, so they were waiting for an invitation from him when he had additional free time. As for Tamlin, he was wary to accept their request to meet with him solely because of the underlying tensions that he and Rhysand still carried towards one another.

    Estelle had to attend these meetings because she was being trained as a diplomat and potential spy for the Night Court. She wasn't certain if she'd ever take over her father's role as Spymaster. Perhaps if Nyx wanted her to when he became High Lord, but she wasn't going to worry about it now.

    The wind died away and they stood beyond the perimeter wards of the Forest House, home of the High Lord and High Lady of Autumn. Estelle knew they had likely just been alerted to their arrival. The forest around the House was filled with sentries and scouts, and Eris' Spymaster, Keitha Drach, always had spies of her own watching.

    Two guards opened the doors as they approached. Keitha was waiting just inside. She smiled brightly and beckoned them in. Estelle spied a glittering wedding band on her left hand. Rhys noticed it too.

    "Is this a recent development?" He asked, gesturing to the band.

    Keitha's smile grew. "It is. Juliette and I were married just last week. She wanted wedding bands because it's a Human tradition."

    The shadows dropped an image of a young and pretty High Fae female into Estelle's mind. She presumed it was the Juliette being mentioned. The shadows whispered something that Estelle had guessed, based on what little she had already heard about Keitha's reclusive wife.

Juliette was once Mortal, but with Eris' help, the High Lords agreed to use the Cauldron to Make her High Fae many years ago, when you were still young. There is a little more to the story than just that, of course.

Another time, Estelle replied.

    "My congratulations," Rhys said, before the shadows could speak again.

    "Thank you. Follow me." Her long red braid fell over her shoulder as she spun on her heel. Keitha led them down a long corridor towards an office. She opened the door, revealing Eris and Evren Vanserra.

    "Rhysand." Eris inclined his head, pocketing his hands. His amber gaze flickered to Nyx and Estelle. "Demon spawn."

    Estelle smothered a snort of amusement. Nyx simply rolled his eyes. Eris had been calling Nyx that since he learned Rhysand wouldn't retaliate if he did. "Maybe I'll have to come up with an adorable nickname for your own child," Rhys chuckled. He gave Nyx a prompting nod.

    Nyx approached Evren and held out the box. Estelle let herself study the High Lady briefly. She'd seen her a few times, but never up close. Evren Vanserra was beautiful for a Human, having porcelain skin, jet black hair that hung in loose curls around her face, and shrewd sea green eyes. She'd been mated to Eris when Estelle was only a baby, meaning she had lived in the Autumn Court for 123 years.

    Estelle had been told the story of how Evren was able to live so long. Shortly after the War with Koschei, those still loyal to Beron Vanserra began causing problems in the Autumn Court. Evren killed their leader, but killed herself in the process. Eris was allowed to use the Amulet, one of the four pieces of the Dread Trove, to resurrect her and grant her a Fae's lifespan.

    A good thing he had, too, or Evren would have inevitably died of old age. Now, she still bore the beauty of her youth, and her stomach was round with the child she carried. It would be their first child, the Heir to the Autumn Court. That was why Rhys had brought the High Lady a gift.

    Evren held up the necklace with a smile. "It's beautiful. Thank you."

    "You're welcome, and congratulations."

    Evren's smile grew. "I'm curious what your nickname for our baby would be. Just as awful as Eris' nickname for Nyx?"

    "I'm not sure. It might depend on gender," Rhys replied.

    Evren glanced at Eris. He rose and rested his hand against her back. Estelle recognized the look they shared. They were having a mental conversation, likely through their Mating Bond. The shadows curled around her ear. Don't tell me what they're saying, Estelle warned them internally. I don't need to know.

    Very well. The shadows perched atop her shoulders once more. The High Lord is on edge.

    Eris? Why?

    It is just instinct.

    Ah. That makes sense.

    Evren faced them once more. "We haven't told anyone else this, not even Helion and Larilis, so keep it amongst your Inner Circle."

    "Don't tell Cassian," Eris interrupted before she could continue. "We all know how well he keeps secrets."

    Rhys nodded with a laugh. "We're having a boy," Evren announced.

    "Congratulations," Rhys repeated. "In that case, my nickname for your son will fall along the lines of Prick Junior."

    "Absolutely not," Eris snapped.

    Rhys took Evren's hand and kissed it lightly, then backed away. He flashed Eris a sly smirk and it was all Estelle could do to keep from laughing. Her uncle was toying with Eris. Watching that could always brighten her mood, regardless of how poorly her day went.

    "Get out," Eris said, rolling his eyes. There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

    Rhys led the way out of the room. The shadows wrapped around Estelle's ear once more. She glanced back in time to see Eris clasp the new necklace around Evren's neck. Their lips moved with silent words, but the shadows carried them to her.

    "Some days, I really can't stand him," Eris said.

    "I don't know. Prick Junior sounds rather fitting," Evren laughed.

    "Cauldron boil me."

    Estelle swatted the shadows away with a laugh. She and Nyx trailed after Rhys until they left the Forest House and passed the wards. From there, they winnowed back home.