Minutes blurred into hours. Hours blurred into days. Days blurred into weeks. Mikael did nothing but eat, sleep, and train. He refused to return to the Dawn Court when the next exchange occurred. The Peregryns and Illyrians left without him. Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin stayed behind as well. No one argued with their decision.

Estelle still hadn't woken up, although Seren assured him that she was doing better. Madja and Amren were almost done healing her wings. All of her other wounds were practically healed. She was safe from any fear of sickness that might have been brought on due to her exposure to the cold.

That didn't stop Mikael from worrying. He wouldn't stop until he saw her for himself. Until he held her in his arms and she wasn't covered in blood. Until he felt her return the gestures he sent across the Bond every few minutes. Until she was awake and well and herself once again.

His fathers sent him frequent letters, asking for updates about her progress and making sure he was doing all right too. Celeste, Sienna, and Calden had accompanied the Peregryns that came to Windhaven, but Mikael hardly spoke to them. He, Nyx, Lysander, and Corbin went there for training in the morning and returned to Velaris in the evenings.

He knew he needed to talk to his friends. He knew he should stay with them, or at least see if they could accompany him to Velaris, but he didn't want to. They would try to distract him from his concerns. They would try to get him to talk and have fun. He didn't want to do any of that. He just wanted to see Estelle. He just wanted his mate.

◦═══✦═══◦

Estelle blinked her eyes open wearily. Her head ached and she was laying on her stomach for some reason. She shifted and dull pain throbbed through her limbs. Estelle raised her head, peering back over her shoulder. Her wings were wrapped in bandages. Only her curved horns were visible.

Shadows curled across her cheek. We are safe, they said. You are healed. You will be all right. We are sorry we could not do more. We are sorry we did not warn you sooner.

It's all right, Estelle managed to reply. I'm all right. We're safe. That's what's important.

She gradually began to recognize her surroundings. She was in her room at home. She was in Velaris. A fire crackled on the hearth and snowflakes blew against the window panes. A familiar figure slouched in a chair close by.

"Dad," Estelle rasped.

His dark head snapped up. Relief flooded Azriel's hazel eyes as he ran to her. He knelt beside her bed, stroking her short hair and gently squeezing her hand. Tears flooded his gaze and he looked away briefly.

"How long has it been?" Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"About four weeks," he replied. His own voice was choked with emotion. He pressed a kiss to her temple. "We were so worried." Azriel touched their foreheads together. "We were so worried, Little Bat."

"I don't know what happened," Estelle said, tears misting her vision. "I couldn't see, smell, or hear whatever was attacking me. I lost my weapons and siphons."

Azriel shook his head. "The Boys found them when they were searching for you. They're over there." He jerked his chin to the other side of the room. "I should go tell Madja, and find your mother." He stood. "Mikael is still here. He refused to go back to the Dawn Court. Do you want me to send for him?"

Estelle bit her lip, thinking. "Not yet. There's something I need to tell you and Mom first. Lysander too."

Azriel knit his brows, but nodded. "I'll be right back, Sweetheart." He kissed her forehead and stepped out of the room.

Estelle didn't bother trying to roll over or sit up. She would be in a lot of trouble if she did so without Madja's supervision. There was a gentle tug on the Mating Bond. Estelle began to return it, then paused.

The minute Mikael realizes I'm awake, he'll be fighting to come see me, she thought. I need to tell my family the truth before I see him. I won't have a moment alone for a long time afterwards. I won't respond to him for now.

Still, her heart ached as she ignored him. She could only imagine the concern, the despair, her mate was experiencing. She knew he hadn't been there to see her. He probably hadn't been allowed to, although she didn't know how they would've managed to keep him away. Estelle couldn't scent him anywhere in the room. Besides, if Mikael had been there, she would have woken up to see him, not her father. He never would have left her side.

Minutes later, the door opened revealing two females. She was surprised to see a familiar black haired female following Madja into the room. "Amren?"

"So you are awake," Amren chuckled. "About time."

"How do you feel?" Madja asked.

"Sore. Nauseous. Thirsty. I could really use a drink," Estelle replied.

"I'm afraid you won't be doing any drinking for a little while. Flying either, for that matter."

Estelle's heart skipped a beat. "My wings. Are they..."

"They're healed," Amren interrupted. "It took us weeks to fix them up. You're very lucky no irreversible damage was done to the central tendons or the muscles in your back and shoulders."

"You won't be able to fly for at least two weeks," Madja added. "And you'll be sore for a while. Your wings will be more sore than the rest of you. Would you like to try to sit up before your family arrives?" Estelle nodded.

Amren and Madja slipped their arms around her and twisted her upright. She winced, gritting her teeth as the movement jarred her wings. Estelle sat up and they arranged a few pillows around her for support.

"When will I be able to get up?" Estelle asked.

"When you feel ready," Madja replied. "Make sure you have help though. You'll be very unsteady for a while. The bandages on your wings won't be taken off until tomorrow, so don't get them wet if you bathe." Estelle gave a nod of understanding and Madja left the room.

"I'll tell Rhys, Feyre, Mor, and the others that you're awake," Amren said. "But I'll make sure they know not to bother you right away."

"Thank you," Estelle said with a small smile. "It's good to see you."

"You too. Congratulations on your Mating Bond, by the way. Who is your mate?"

"Mikael Anik," Estelle replied.

Amren raised her eyebrows. "Thesan's son? Isn't he half Peregryn?"

"Yes."

"Your children ought to turn out interesting." Amren gave a low chuckle as she headed out the door.

Estelle only had a few minutes to herself before the door opened again. This time, it was her father, along with Seren and Lysander. Seren carried a tray of food. She set it down on Estelle's lap and kissed her forehead softly.

"Madja asked me to bring this to you. There are some herbs in the soup that will help ease any lingering soreness you feel," Seren murmured. "I'm so glad you're awake. Mikael will be relieved."

Lysander nudged her aside. Estelle held out her arms and hugged her brother. His embrace was gentle, as though he were afraid she'd break if he held her too tightly. "Don't ever do that again," he grumbled. "Ever. I don't want to be an only child."

"I seem to recall you saying otherwise several times in the past," Estelle laughed. She grimaced, rubbing her side. Lysander drew back and she swallowed a mouthful of soup before speaking again. "Mikael told me I should tell you all this a long time ago, but I didn't. I didn't want you to worry about me more than you already did."

They watched her silently, waiting for her to continue. "The last time I told you I was in a fight with Ze'ev...that wasn't all that happened." Azriel bristled at once. Seren wrapped her arms around him. "I don't remember what I was thinking. I just know that I wound up drunk. I was trying to find my way through Windhaven, but I got turned around. Ze'ev, Ronan, and a few other Illyrians found me."

"Ronan?" Seren asked.

"A Peregryn who dislikes Mikael," Lysander explained.

"And me on his behalf," Estelle added. "They cornered me and I was too disoriented to put up a proper fight. Ze'ev forced me to the ground and they pinned me down by my wings using daggers. Ze'ev..." she trailed off. Judging by the looks on their faces, her family already knew what she was going to say. "Ze'ev tried to force himself on me again."

"Mikael found me and fought them off before anything worse could happen. He got me to safety and healed my injuries. He knows a little bit about healing magic. He told me to tell you, but I said no. I asked him not to say anything either, so don't be mad at him."

"We...aren't," Azriel gritted out. "Why are you telling us this now, though?"

"Because you deserve to know. I should've told you when it happened. I..." Estelle shook her head. "I didn't tell anyone where I was going or what I was doing and that's what came of it. This time I did that and I...I nearly died. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Seren said, tipping Estelle's face up. "Bad things happen sometimes and it's no use dwelling on what could have been done to prevent them. What's important is that you're safe now, and you'll know better in the future." Estelle knew her mother was right. She had her own experience on the matter.

"I'm going to talk to Rhys about this," Azriel sighed, crossing his arms. "Something has to be done regarding that male. He will not touch you again." Estelle hugged him briefly. "I love you, Little Bat," he whispered in her ear, before storming out the door. Seren followed him shortly.

"Do you want to see Mikael now?" Lysander asked. Estelle nodded, already reaching for the glowing Bond in her chest. "I'll tell him." Her brother left the room as well.

Estelle stroked the Bond. Hey, Feathers, she called across it. She could hear his sobs of relief and feel his overwhelming joy a heartbeat later.