The sun had fully set by the time they reached Windhaven. Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel only lingered in the camp a few minutes. They, along with Devlon, took four groups out to search for Estelle. Mikael was determined to keep looking too. Until his wings fell off, if that was how long it took, but Seren had grabbed his arm and led him into a hut, along with Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin.

She seemed a little calmer now as she and Jorah dished up bowls of hot stew for them to eat. Mikael accepted his wordlessly, but didn't take a bite. He stared out the window at the mountains, stroking the Bond in his chest.

Nyx and Lysander poked at their food. Corbin seemed to be the only one with any appetite. His gaze was vacant too though, even as he shoveled stew into his mouth. "Eat, Boys," Seren murmured. "Staying cold and hungry won't help us find her any faster."

Nyx and Lysander obediently ate a little more. Mikael managed to take a few bites. He squeezed his eyes shut against stinging tears. His mate was out there, cold, hungry, and bleeding. He should be looking for her. He had to find her.

"Is there anything we can be doing here?" Nyx asked. "I need to stay busy." Lysander and Corbin nodded their agreement.

"You can help me find a few more volunteers to accompany you on your next search," Jorah replied. She drew her hand away from Seren's shoulder and beckoned for the three of them to follow. They left the hut, a gust of cold air swirling in their wake.

Seren sat down across from Mikael. She pushed his bowl closer to him. "Eat."

"Have you?" He asked.

She managed a small smile. "Jorah fed me as though I were a baby. I am not afraid to do the same to you."

Mikael looked away, but ate some more. The stew was good. Much better than some of the things he'd previously eaten while at the war camp. His stomach clenched with anxiety and he lowered his head onto the table, crossing his arms over it. He struggled to draw even breaths.

Seren moved beside him and rested her hand on his shoulder. She said nothing. Neither did Mikael. He smothered his sobs, but his shoulders shook and a few tears dripped from the end of his nose.

Estelle! He called across the Bond. Answer me, please! Where are you? Are you all right? Nothing. Umbra didn't even move. Mikael wiped his tears away, but more fell. He covered his face with his hands. Please let her be all right, he pleaded. Please let me find her. Please don't take her from me.

Umbra clenched his arm. Mikael lowered his hands. "What is that?" Seren asked, drifting closer to a window. Mikael followed her gaze. Something appeared, then vanished again, barely visible in the dark sky.

Seren ran out the door and Mikael followed. The air was frigid, even through his Illyrian leathers. Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin were nearby, along with Jorah. "Dad, Rhys, and Cassian are coming back," Lysander murmured to Seren.

"They found her?" She asked hopefully.

Lysander shook his head. "Nyx showed Rhys whatever that is." He gestured to the object overhead. "They want to investigate. It could be the thing that attacked Estelle."

Mikael tilted his head, studying the object a little closer. Something warm splashed against his cheek. He wiped it off with his fingers, then tensed. Blood. It was blood. His head snapped up again. Tattered wings unfurled as the creature reappeared...and plummeted.

Estelle, Mikael realized. He was already running. "Estelle!" He screamed, throwing himself in the air. The shadows were unmoving around her. She didn't seem to be awake. Her wings were in ribbons.

Mikael caught her with a grunt. Hot blood spilt onto his hands. Estelle groaned, but didn't wake. He flew back to the others just as Rhysand, Cassian, and Azriel appeared. Seren caught sight of Estelle and began screaming. Jorah caught her into a tight embrace, hiding Seren's face in the crook of her neck.

"Tell me she's all right, Jorah!" Seren sobbed. "Tell me she's not dead. My baby! My baby!"

Mikael landed, panic gripping his heart. He could scarcely breath as he looked over Estelle. These wounds...her wings... He couldn't heal them. He didn't know enough about healing to fix something of this magnitude. Her breathing was shallow.

"Get her to Velaris. Madja and Feyre are ready and Amren is coming," Rhysand ordered.

Instincts surged as Azriel started towards Mikael. His mind roared at him not to let her go. Not to let her out of his sight. Azriel pulled his daughter from Mikael's arms and he lunged. Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin grabbed him, dragging him backwards as shadows swirled around Azriel and Estelle.

Mikael was screaming. Fighting. Trying to reach his mate. She vanished from sight and only the scent of her blood was left. Power flooded Mikael's veins. His skin was soaked by her blood. His mate's blood. His mate! HIS MATE! He was hardly aware of what he was doing. Rhysand took Seren by the arm and they disappeared as well.

"Mikael, stop!" Nyx pleaded. "We'll take you to her soon! Just let them get her to Madja!"

He barely heard the words amidst the tempest of his mind. He was still fighting them. Still screaming. Still sobbing. Cold talons dug into his mental shields. Mikael fought harder. Nyx's face was strained and Mikael knew he was using his daemati powers.

Pressure built up within Mikael's temples. Cracks splintered through his shields. Lysander and Corbin's siphons were glowing with power as they held him down. Mikael screamed again as his shields shattered. Nyx swept into his mind, invading every hidden space he could possibly find. Mikael gave one last desperate scream before he was lost to oblivion.

◦═══✦═══◦

Mikael woke with a gasp, bolting upright. He was no longer outside at Windhaven. He was in his borrowed bedroom at Rhysand and Feyre's estate by the Sidra. He was in Velaris. Sunlight streamed through the balcony doors close by.

Mikael rubbed his forehead, a terrible pain splitting through his skull. The door creaked open, revealing Nyx. "I thought I heard something." There were dark rings under the male's eyes. He entered the room, closing the door behind himself. "Are you all right?"

"What did you do to me?" Mikael demanded. His throat was hoarse and dry.

"I broke your shields and forced you to fall unconscious. I'm sorry. You wouldn't stop fighting us. You were going to hurt someone. You...did hurt someone."

"I did?" Mikael drew his knees up to his chest. "Who? What happened? How long has it been?"

"About two days, and you hurt Corbin and Lysander. Your skin was scalding to the touch. You burned them. Lucien was able to heal them and they aren't mad. They know it was an accident."

"Lucien Vanserra?"

Nyx nodded, sitting down beside him. "Lucien and Elain are here. Elain and Mor are keeping Seren appeased. My dad and Cassian are handling Azriel. Lucien has been aiding Amren, Madja, and Mom with healing Estelle."

"Where is she?" He reached for the Bond within his chest, relieved to feel Estelle's presence there.

Nyx hesitated. "I'm not allowed to tell you that."

Mikael lifted his head. "Why not?"

"Madja says you can't see her until she's fully healed. Your Bond is newly formed. You don't have control over your instincts. If your instincts flare up, you could cause more harm than good. She's in Velaris, but I can't tell you more than that, or take you to her."

Mikael buried his face in his hands again. His mate had nearly died. She was in pain and he couldn't even see her. He couldn't be there to help her. Nyx touched his shoulder gently.

"Madja said she'll live, but she's very weak. She lost a lot of blood and was facing an onset of hypothermia. There was faebane in her system too, but they already gave her the antidote for that."

"Her wings," Mikael whispered. "Please tell me she didn't lose her wings." He couldn't bear to think of what that loss would do to Estelle.

"She didn't." He breathed a shuddering sigh of relief. "It's going to take Madja and Amren a long time to piece them back together though. Estelle won't be able to fly for at least two weeks afterwards too. Maybe longer. But she won't lose them." Nyx ran a hand down his face. "She was close though. She was too damn close to losing them."

"She was too fucking close to dying," Mikael snapped. "What happened? Do we have any idea of what happened to her?"

Nyx shook his head. "Dad, Cassian, and Azriel had searched the clearing where we found her weapons over and over again. They can't find signs of any animals or people. We don't know what happened. We won't be able to ask Estelle until she wakes up, and she might not remember anything."

There was a knock on the door before it swung open again. Seren was there, looking even more exhausted than Nyx. "Feyre is looking for you," she said. Nyx nodded and ducked out of the room. "How do you feel?" Seren asked Mikael.

"Like I was hit over the head with a rock." He stood, crossing over to a desk. Mikael grabbed a piece of paper and began to scribble a hasty letter to his fathers. He paused with a sigh. "Do you know where she is?"

"Yes, but I can't take you to her. Madja is right. You would get in the way, or possibly make things worse. I can promise that she's in good hands, though. Madja is one of the best healers I know. Amren is very powerful too. So are Lucien and Feyre."

"I'm a healer. I could help," Mikael muttered. But as he recalled the extensive damage done to Estelle, he knew he was wrong. He knew a lot about healing, but he didn't know that much. He wouldn't be interested or able to learn new skills right now either. Not while his mate's life hung in the balance.

Mikael spotted his satchel on the floor. He stooped, pulling the portrait of his mother out. If she were there, perhaps she'd have advice for him. Perhaps she would be able to distract him. If his fathers were there, they would do the same.

"Is that your mother?" Seren asked. Mikael nodded silently. "She's beautiful. You look a lot like her."

"I used to think I looked more like my father. Now, I see her in myself more and more each day. I'm grateful for that." Mikael brushed his thumb over the painting. "I never knew her. She died giving birth to me."

"When Estelle was born, she came feet first. We both could've died," Seren said. "I went into labor in the Spring Court, while fighting Beron Vanserra. It was during the War with Koschei."

"Father said Mother was always a frail person, but her personality made up for her physical weakness," Mikael murmured. "She wanted him there in the end. My father. He was already in Hybern, helping fight against Koschei."

"Azriel didn't get to see Estelle's birth either."

"Is he always going to hate me?"

"He doesn't hate you. He hates having to acknowledge that Estelle is going to rely on you more than him now. They've always been close. They've been through a lot together. Azriel never had a good relationship with his own family, so he did his best to have one with his children. It's going to take time for him to get used to them growing up and moving on."

She smiled gently. "It will take time for both of us. But he doesn't hate you. He wants Estelle to be happy and he knows that you make her happy. He was the first person she told when she began to suspect you were mates. He told her not to be afraid, and that she would know when the time was right to accept the Bond."

"He may be overbearing and very protective, but he only wants the best for her. Azriel is her father. You are her mate. You want the same thing. You want to see Estelle happy and cared for. You'll learn to work together and get along. That will make her happier than anything else."

Seren turned to go. "Thank you," Mikael called. She paused, glancing back at him. "You said that it would be nice to have another son. Well..." He hesitated. "It will be nice to have a mother."

Seren crossed the room and hugged him tightly. "I know I can never replace the mother you wish you had known, but I am glad to hear you say that just the same. I'll keep you updated on Estelle's progress." Mikael nodded and she left, closing the door softly.