Mikael woke before Estelle did. Sunlight streamed through his balcony doors, cold and brilliant. Judging from the brightness, they'd slept in rather late. That wasn't surprising. They hadn't fallen asleep until the moon dipped out of sight.

When they finally came inside the night before, faces tear streaked and hearts near busting, they decided to talk things out at once. There had been a lot to discuss. Mikael's largest concern had been what they would do next. Estelle decided she didn't want to have an official mating ceremony or stay with him in the Dawn Court yet. Not until she'd finished what she had to do in the Night Court.

She still wanted to complete the Blood Rite and become a Carynthian warrior, Estelle had explained, so that she could take her place amongst her people in times of war. Mikael understood her sentiment. He needed to complete his own Rite at some point too.

They'd discussed who they would tell and how they would announce their Mating Bond. As Mikael had pointed out, it didn't matter who they told. Their already changing scents would give them away long before words did.

In the end, they'd decided to tell Thesan and Ameer first. Estelle would tell her brother and cousins when they returned to the training grounds. Mikael wouldn't accompany her, in case they didn't take the news well, or his own instincts flared up when she was around three other males. He would tell Calden, Celeste, and Sienna while she spoke with her family.

When they returned to the Night Court, they would tell Estelle's parents, then speak with Rhys and Feyre. They weren't sure if the High Lord and Lady would continue to allow Estelle to be part of their Inner Circle if she was going to one day leave it to be High Lady of the Dawn Court.

And Mikael had promised that she would be. She would be his equal in every way, always. That included sharing his power, his throne, and his crown. When Estelle reminded him of her apparent lack of diplomatic skills, Mikael had simply told her that one of them had to be intimidating. Who better to fit the role than a half blooded Illyrian Shadowsinger?

After that discussion was complete, Mikael had spent a little over an hour with his head in between Estelle's legs. He could still feel her hand, fisted in his hair, as he worked his tongue inside her sensitive and heated core. He recalled her gasps of pleasure. Her moans as she begged for more, crying his name.

He remembered how she had writhed until he pressed his hands on her thighs, holding them down and spreading her legs further apart. His shoulder blades were scored by light scratches, made by her torturous nails, and there were bruises and bite marks on his neck.

Mikael drew in a steadying breath, trying to quell the instincts that flooded him, even just remembering such an intimate moment with her. Estelle shifted in her sleep, making a small sound. He brushed his finger across her cheek. Shadows wrapped around it and tickled his arm as they drifted over to him.

Stars, he loved her. He loved her more than he thought possible. He loved her shadows, her wings, her body... He loved her heart, her soul, her passion. He loved every inch of her very being. He loved her until he thought it would break his heart.

Mikael wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply. Smoke and snowdrops, and above that, his own scent...and the scent of a Mating Bond.

Estelle slipped her arms around him, blinking her eyes open. "Good morning," she mumbled.

"Good morning." Mikael kissed her forehead. "Ready for today?"

She stretched with a nod, a smile blooming across her lips. "I want to shout to the world that you are mine."

"Me too." Mikael nuzzled her neck, then slid out of bed. The floor was cold beneath his feet. He made his way to his closet and retrieved a set of Illyrian leathers. He glanced back over his shoulder.

Estelle was still sprawled out on the bed, her arms crossed above her head and the curve of her hips outlined by the sheets. Mikael looked away swiftly, instincts threatening to surge once more. This is going to take some getting used to, he thought. Umbra squeezed his arm and he stroked the shadow gently.

Estelle's feet whispered against the marble floor as she joined Mikael. She took the undershirt from his hands and fitted it over his head and wings. Mikael didn't protest when she took his leather shirt next. That went on top of the first one and Estelle began buckling the many straps into place. She smiled suddenly.

"Did you purposefully choose a set of leathers that wouldn't cover your neck?" Estelle chuckled, cinching the last straps down.

"What makes you say that, Batsy?" Mikael fiddled with the cuffs of his long sleeves, buttoning them around his wrists.

"I wonder." She rolled her eyes and jerked his pants out of his other hand.

He stepped into them and she pulled them up, dragging her hands over the back of his thighs. She fitted the waistband of the pants over the hem of his shirt. Mikael threaded his fingers through her hair as Estelle began lacing his pants.

Her amber gaze flickered up, meeting his briefly. She buckled several straps around his legs, then held up her hand. Mikael passed her his belt and sheaths. She situated them and he drove his sword and dagger through the thick leather.

"Have you named your new sword yet?" Estelle asked, retrieving her own leathers.

"Alethea," Mikael replied. He pulled his shirt off Estelle and helped her into her jumpsuit. Her necklaces rested just below her collarbone. "It means Truth. I received it the day I acknowledged the truth." He paused to kiss her. "You are my mate." Mikael called down the Bond and Estelle returned it.

My mate, she said, her voice loud in his mind. I love you.

And I love you.

Mikael took her one piece leather suit and she fitted her legs inside. He worked the panels of black leather up to her thighs, letting his hands smooth out any wrinkles that formed in the taut material. He released the leathers, letting them hang from her hips.

Mikael began buckling the straps in place, resting his forehead against her stomach. "I love this," he murmured. "Serving you in small ways, like dressing you. I've never done this for anyone before."

"Neither have I," she admitted.

Mikael ran his hands over her hips, reclaiming the leathers. He lifted it to her arms and she stuck them through the sleeves. Mikael fastened folds and buckles around her wings, then moved in front of her again. He tugged the separate panels of fabric closer to the center of her chest. Mikael lowered his head, kissing the hollow of her throat lightly. He zipped up the leathers and fastened the last buckles over the seam.

She cupped his face and kissed him as he straightened. "Let's go tell your fathers." Mikael nodded and they left the closet.

◦═══✦═══◦

They found Ameer and Thesan in the library, sitting side by side near a fireplace. Thesan lifted his head from Ameer's shoulder as they approached. "I wasn't sure if you'd gone back to the Peregryn training grounds or stayed here last night," he said. "You two just vanished."

"I had another gift to give Estelle," Mikael explained. "And I asked her to stay here overnight." Estelle fought the urge to blush as Thesan and Ameer both leaned forward, studying the bruises on his neck.

She bit her lip and swallowed. Mikael lifted his chin, flaunting the marks proudly as though he were an Illyrian who had just gained his warrior tattoos. "So I see." Ameer crossed his arms, his stern gaze flickering between his son and Estelle.

Shadows brushed against her neck. One curled over her ear. They are amused, it whispered. And they are happy. They know.

A smile lit up Thesan's face and he leaped off the sofa. "You accepted the Mating Bond!" He exclaimed. Mikael nodded and Thesan threw his arms around his son. "Congratulations. I'm so happy for you."

He turned to Estelle and hugged her as well. "It certainly took you long enough," Ameer huffed behind him. He embraced Mikael too and dipped his chin to Estelle. She smiled and Mikael wrapped an arm around her waist. "Does anyone else know?"

Estelle shook her head. "You two are the first to find out."

"Are you planning on being officially mated?" Thesan asked.

"Not anytime soon. We want to complete our Rites first and I have to tell my family, and talk to Rhys and Feyre."

Thesan gave her an understanding nod. "This is wonderful news. I'm sure they'll all be overjoyed as well."

"I hope so." Estelle glanced at Mikael. "We should go. The others are probably wondering where we are."

"I'm sure they could guess," Thesan chuckled.

Mikael wrinkled his nose at his father and led Estelle back out of the library. They were quiet as they walked out to one of the verandas. They spread their wings and flew away from the Palace. The air was frigid and snow drifted down beneath the clouds.

In a matter of minutes, they had reached the training grounds. Mikael gave Estelle a parting kiss and headed off to find Calden, Celeste, and Sienna. She began her own search for her brother and cousins. The sound of clashing steel came from the training rings close by.

Estelle headed there first. She found all of them empty, save one. Lysander, Nyx, and Corbin were sparring together. They broke off, noticing her approach. "There you are!" Corbin called. "I thought we were going to have to come drag you back here. Where've you been?"

"Where do you think?" Lysander elbowed him in the ribs. "In Mikael's bed."

"If you want the specifics, I was in Mikael's bathroom for part of the evening," Estelle retorted. Lysander grimaced. "There's something I wanted to tell you. All of you." She halted just outside the ring. Nyx was watching her, a knowing look in his eye. "Mikael and I are mates. We accepted the Bond last night."

Corbin's mouth fell open. "I knew it." He threw his head back with a laugh. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! Dad owes me fifty gold marks. I knew it!"

"You really are?" Lysander came closer, inhaling deeply. He clenched his jaw, hazel eyes unreadable. "You are."

"We're not having a mating ceremony yet, and I don't plan on moving to the Dawn Court for a while. We both want to complete our Rites first and everything," Estelle explained.

Lysander stared her, unmoving. "Congratulations."

Estelle hugged her brother tightly. "I promise this isn't going to change anything, Lys," she whispered. "You're still my brother. I still love you."

"I know. I just...need some time to get used to it." Lysander drew back with a smirk. "Good luck telling Dad."

"He promised not to kill Mikael. I'll remind him of that." Estelle turned to Nyx.

He smiled, a hint of anxiety in his sapphire eyes. He hugged her tightly. "I'm happy for you, Essie. I really am." Nyx squeezed her tighter still.

"Things will work out for you and Venelia," she whispered. "I know they will."

"I hope you're right." He stepped away, a mischievous glint replacing the anxious one. "Now, where is the feathered prick? I've got a few things to say to him." Estelle only shook her head and laughed.