Estelle moved about the cottage, gathering up her belongings. Her thoughts were full of plans, questions, and ideas. She and Mikael had been up until dawn, discussing the aspects of their mating ceremony...among other things.

They had decided to find a priestess in the Night Court to perform the ceremony. Mikael explained that under usual circumstances, they would be mated in the Dawn Court because he was the Heir. However, he wasn't against holding their ceremony in her home, and that was where she wanted to have it.

Estelle had chosen a specific date for the ceremony as well. Starfall, an annual celebration of the migration of spirits across the night sky. The migration was only visible in the Night Court, and had always been one of her favorite celebrations. It took place around the Spring Equinox, just a little over two weeks away.

They'd already explained their plan to Thesan and Ameer and gained their approval. Estelle and Mikael would return to the Night Court that evening, and spend the coming days preparing for the ceremony and packing up the belongings Estelle wished to bring with her to the Dawn Court. Estelle had spoken to her mother about their plans as well, through Seren's daemati abilities. Seren passed the word on to Azriel, who expressed misgivings, but gave his consent.

Estelle strapped Znaniya to her thigh and sheathed Aesira at her back. She slid her gold siphons on top of her hands and smiled. How she had missed the familiar weight of the items. It had been far too long since she'd held them. She slung a bag over her shoulder, then paused, eyeing the corner of a box peeking out from beneath her bed.

Estelle knelt and tugged it out. She opened the box, eyeing the gown Celeste had given her for the Winter Solstice. She tilted her head thoughtfully as she traced the glittering diamonds with her fingertips. The shadows were silent, then passed over her eyes, dropping a vision into her mind.

Estelle saw herself wearing the gown. She saw how the waist length neckline flaunted her bronze skin and curves. The way the bell shaped sleeves draped around her wrists elegantly. She saw how the ebony diamonds shimmered as she moved. The way the dark fabric of the skirt hugged her hips. The long slit up the middle of the skirt displayed her sleek legs. The hem pooled around her feet and extended into a curved train, following her like a shadow.

She closed her eyes and the image vanished. "I don't know if I'm ready," she said.

You will know when you are, the shadows replied, fluttering across her cheek. And you will look beautiful.

There was a loud knock on the door downstairs before it opened and boots thumped on the floor. "Are you ready?" Mikael asked, appearing in the bedroom doorway. He paused, staring at the gown with raised eyebrows. "Is that yours?"

Estelle nodded. "Celeste gave it to me for the Winter Solstice. I've never even tried it on."

Mikael looked between her and the gown. "I think my heart would stop entirely if you wore that."

She smiled, the tips of her ears warming. "I probably shouldn't wear it then."

Mikael knelt beside her, taking her hands into his own. "You should. Someday, you most definitely should." He lifted her fingers to his lips, then released one of her hands. Estelle closed the box and let him help her up. "Are you taking it back to the Night Court?"

"Yes. If I don't wear it, I'm sure my mom or one of my many aunts could."

Mikael took the box and they left the cottage swiftly. Ameer and Thesan waited outside. Estelle let her gaze wander about the camp while they walked towards Mikael's fathers. She caught sight of several Peregryns watching them. The warriors bowed their heads when the two of them passed by.

Mikael seemed to notice as well. He looked back over his shoulder at a group of Peregryns, his throat bobbing. Estelle laced her fingers with his, giving his hand a tight squeeze. He glanced at her with a small smile. At last, they reached Thesan and Ameer.

"Stay out of trouble for once," Thesan ordered, before hugging Mikael. "We'll see you on Starfall." Mikael moved over to Ameer and Thesan hugged Estelle as well. "Stay safe, Daughter." She beamed at the word.

They drew back and Mikael nodded to Estelle. Shadows swirled around them, hiding Thesan and Ameer from view. When the shadows faded, they stood in the Illyrian mountains, the bustling sounds of Windhaven echoing around them.

A familiar brown haired female caught sight of them. "Estelle!" Jorah exclaimed. "It's been so long since I've seen you. The last I heard, you were participating in the Peregryn Rite with him." She jerked her head towards Mikael. "Your mother was out of her mind with worry. Between you, your brother, and your father, I don't know how she hasn't worn out every nerve in her body."

"I strive to be just as hardy as she is," Estelle giggled. She hugged Jorah briefly. "Is Devlon here?"

"No, he's away on business with Cassian and your father in Hewn City."

"What about my brother and cousins?"

"Lysander and Corbin are here, as well as your Peregryn friends. They're at the hut you usually stay in. Nyx, however, is in the Spring Court with Rhys." Jorah smiled, brown eyes sparkling. "You missed his mating ceremony."

Estelle pursed her lips. She would make that up to her cousin somehow. She'd have to find something extraordinary to give Nyx and Venelia for their mating present. "Did you go? Did you meet Venelia? What did you think of her?"

"As curious as ever, Little Bat," Jorah huffed. "Yes, I met Venelia. She seems very sweet. I don't know how she could possibly be Tamlin's daughter."

"I can't figure that out either."

Jorah crossed her arms and looked back at the training rings. "Oh, Liva, that's not how you..." She winced as a loud crash interrupted her. "I need to deal with this. I'll let Devlon know you're here as soon as he gets back."

Estelle nodded as the female headed off. "Congratulations!" Mikael called. Jorah smiled and carried on.

"Congratulations?" Estelle looked at Mikael in confusion. "What are you congratulating her for?"

"Didn't you scent it?" He asked. "She's pregnant."

Estelle's eyes widened as she stared after Jorah's receding figure. "I didn't notice."

"Well, you're used to her scent. I'm not. I suppose it might've been more prominent to me than to you. It was faint, so it must've only recently begun to change." Mikael wrapped an arm around her shoulders and started towards the rows of huts several yards away.

Estelle smiled to herself, wondering how many others knew of Jorah's condition. She couldn't help but wonder if Devlon knew, and if he did, how Cassian and Azriel had persuaded him to leave Jorah's side. That child will be a force to be reckoned with, she thought. I just hope it takes a little more after Jorah than Devlon.

Mikael's gaze slid to her and he chuckled. "Tell me when you want one, Batsy, and we'll get to work."

Estelle rolled her eyes, even as her smile grew. "Not for many many years, Feathers. This will be Devlon and Jorah's first child, and they were mated before I was born. Same for Eris and Evren. I'll keep taking my contraceptive tonics for now."

"Fair enough. We have time to think about that later. I'm not keen on sharing you with anyone else for a long time anyway."

◦═══✦═══◦

Muffled voices filled the main room of the hut as Mikael opened the door for Estelle. She entered and the voices shifted into cries of delight. Mikael set his box and bag aside as Celeste and Sienna wrapped Estelle in a tight embrace.

They only held her a few minutes before Corbin and Lysander shoved them aside, inspecting Estelle for injuries while scolding and cursing at her. Estelle merely rolled her eyes and hugged the males. The sight sent jealous pangs curling through his stomach, but Mikael tried to hide the feelings.

Calden approached and drew him into a brief but firm hug. "Tell me you didn't scare us out of our wits just to fail the Rite anyway."

"I'm a warrior," Mikael said proudly. "But I didn't ask permission, so I won't be allowed to wear our traditional golden armor."

"A small price to pay." Celeste shouldered past Calden and hugged Mikael as well, followed by Sienna.

"There's something else," Mikael said. "Ronan is dead."

"What?" They asked in unison.

"He challenged me to a Vendetta." Their surprise became even more evident. "He nearly strangled me, but I managed to overpower him. I was going to let him live. When I turned my back on him, he attacked. Estelle killed him to protect me."

The three of them looked back at Estelle. She met Mikael's gaze, a hesitant smile on her lips. Lysander squeezed her hand, which he held, and Corbin had an arm slung over her shoulders.

"And we're going to be mated by a priestess on Starfall," Estelle added.

"But you haven't completed the Blood Rite," Lysander protested. "You've always wanted to do that."

Corbin nodded his agreement. "You kicked my ass daily for over a century to prove it."

"My priorities have changed," Estelle replied. "With all of the dangerous situations we've been in lately, I've decided that I'd rather be mated to Mikael than hold the rank of a Carynthian warrior. That's something I can achieve later. I'll discuss it with Devlon and Rhys. I have time. And if I don't have time for it, I don't. But if I don't have time with Mikael, then..." She trailed off.

"We get it," Corbin said. "I'm sure Nyx would say you're doing the right thing." Lysander nodded, his gaze flickering to Celeste.

"Tell me about their mating ceremony," Estelle urged. "What did Venelia wear? What did Nyx wear? Was he nervous? Was she? Who tied the ribbon around their wrists?"

Corbin and Lysander groaned simultaneously. Celeste looped her arm through Estelle's and led her over to a seat. "I'll tell you about it. Don't expect males to appreciate a mating ceremony. Unless they're the ones being mated, of course," she added, flashing a pointed look at Mikael.

He took Estelle's bag and grabbed his own, along with her box. Celeste launched into a detailed description of Nyx and Venelia's mating ceremony as Mikael strode down the hall towards their bedroom.

◦═══✦═══◦

The moon was almost at its highest peak by the time Estelle retired for the night. After Celeste and Sienna told her about Nyx's mating ceremony, she'd explained the events of the Peregryn Rite and Mikael's Vendetta with Ronan.

She was thoroughly exhausted now, as she closed the door behind her. Mikael was already asleep on his bed. His swords rested against a bedpost next to his boots and discarded leathers. He was still wearing the shirt and pants he usually wore beneath the leathers, as though he'd been too tired to change or undress before falling asleep.

Estelle pried her siphoned gloves off and set them on a table, then laid Znaniya and Aesira on her bed. She crouched at Mikael's side, smoothing hair from his face. She sighed with contentment. He was so beautiful. So powerful. So smart. And he was hers entirely. The thought still seemed unreal. He was hers. He was her mate. He was hers.

Estelle touched her forehead to his cheek and shadows drifted over to him. Prince of Sunrises. Angel of Dawn, they whispered. Our equal. Ours. Your equal. Yours.

Mikael made a small sound, shifting his hand over hers, which she'd rested on the edge of the bed frame. "Come to bed, Batsy," he murmured, words slurred by drowsiness.

"Yes, Feathers," she laughed.

Estelle stood and reached for the buckles on her leathers. The shadows were alert a heartbeat later and rough hands grabbed her arms. Estelle gasped, but couldn't scream as something cold and rancid was shoved against her nose and mouth. Mikael lurched upright, his eyes going wide. Estelle saw a dark blur reach for him, before her surroundings faded into an empty void.