It had been a week since Shaera had almost kissed Azriel on the balcony. The avoiding of one another was... interesting. But plus side now she was given full reign of the city, so keeping the first breakfast in mind the ex-commander often found herself at a small bakery within the city, it had a cream and white exterior, decorative windows, and different coloured chrysanthemums sat below them, the sun hit it perfectly each morning. Shaera had practically claimed the spot perched in the morning sun the heat felt like it cured all her ills. She was sat there wearing a cream shirt with black leather trousers and boots. Fae simply walked along the street, talking, and laughing, not a single worry in the world. The dark-haired woman sighed. Oh to have lived a peaceful life.

"Hello, Shaera!" The ex-commander looked up, her gaze rested on a young high fae woman with long silky hair pulled into a ponytail, dark eyes and brown skin, an apron was tied around her waist. 

"Hello Tira" she smiled gently at the girl 

"How are you today!?" The young girl asked rather excited. Shaera liked her, she was sweet, kind and rather amusing. 

"I'm well, how's my favourite baker?" 

"Oh you know, small bakery, quiet part of town. Business is slow." The young girl remained cheerful despite the circumstances 

"It'll get busier, I'm almost certain. Especially with your skills" Tira smiled nervously 

"You really think I'm skilled?" Shaera chuckled slightly. She felt so old... like a mother... the girl was barely 60. God, she felt ancient. The 466 years age difference was terrifying. She leant forward and grabbed the girl's hand 

"Tira, don't doubt yourself, I'd hire you as my personal baker if I could" Tira blushed and grinned 

"Well as your local baker what can I tempt you with today?" 

"You got anything new?" The violet-eyed woman sat back slightly into the white metal chair, Tira's grin widened

"I made something new... my own recipe, father said he hasn't tried it yet and it's too risky but-" 

"Tira, just give me the experimental pastry" Shaera rolled her eyes 

"Yes!" The girl cheered and speed-walked off inside. The dark-haired woman shook her head and chuckled slightly. Some lesser fae walked past, horns sprouting from their head, they stared in her direction and whispered as they passed

"She looks like the high lord"

"Maybe she's a relative?"

"But then she'd be from the court of nightmares" they held each other's hands tighter and sped up slightly. Shaera frowned, her eyes had returned to violet and it was as though she was now a carbon copy of Rhysand... she had the same facial features before.
"Stop frowning, people are going to think you're unapproachable" Rhysand's voice chimed from her left, he pulled the chair out across from her and sat down. Violet met violet 

"You say that like I'm the type of person that enjoys being approached" she deadpanned, she heard Tira skipping through the shop. The girl approached the table and gasped as the plate slipped from her grasp. Shaera snapped her arm out and caught it.

"Highlord!" The young girl dropped to her knees, the ex-commander placed the plate on the table. 

"Don't feed the man's ego Tira" Tira quickly stood to her feet, her eyes flickering between the two. Shaera sighed 

"Rhysand meet Tira, best baker in the city, Tira meet Rhysand, high lord of the night court, and sadly my older brother" 

The girl was stood there gaping between the two. Rhysand waved. 

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Wave all awkwardly"

"Well, what am I meant to do Shaera? Pat her head!?"

"Would be better than that wave"

"Fuck off" Other people had noticed the high lord sat at the table outside the bakery and had started to come over to the shop.

"Now look, you've attracted a crowd! Can I not enjoy breakfast in peace?" Shaera was exasperated, she wanted one day. One day without anyone interrupting her. 

"No, I need you to come back to the house with me"
"Why?"

"It's to do with Feyre" Shaera sighed and ran a hand down her face. Tira still gaped. People had started to go into the bakery to purchase the treats, because obviously if the Highlord ate there it must be the best. 

"Fine." Shaera stood and grabbed her food. She bit into the flaky golden pastry, almond creme filled her mouth, and she groaned in happiness. Rhysand stood as well, people stared at him in awe.

"Right, sorry to rush away" Shaera slipped way too many coins into the girl's palms and turned, 

"Shaera this is too much-" 

"I don't want to hear it Tira! this pastries wonderful by the way, brilliant idea!" The curly-haired woman called behind her. 

"I want that pastry"

"We should try it!" Rhysand has started to move through the crowd which parted like the Red Sea. She followed behind him until he winnowed away...fuck sake, she stuffed the rest of the pastry into her mouth and winnowed after him.

******************

Shaera appeared a second or so behind Rhysand, he walked into the house. She quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and followed suit.
Everyone was there. Morrigan, Amren, Cassian (her biggest fan) and... Azriel, of course.

"Feyre has fled Spring court" Rhysand stated, the entire room sat up straighter. Shaera moved further in and rested her elbows on top of the backrest of an oak chair 

"Why is she here?" Cassian practically growled 

"Because I want her here. And I'm the Highlord" Rhysand snapped, his eyes flaring at the hazel-eyed Illyrian. Cassian clamped his mouth shut. Shaera kept her expression neutral, she wasn't about to stir the pot anymore than it already was. The dark-haired woman knew her presence was a source of displeasure.

"Do you know how long ago they left?-" Shaera asked and turned towards her brother

" Possibly a day ago, our bonds been stagnant since" Anxiety and concern pooled in his irises. 

"Can she winnow?" 

"Yes" Shaera pursed her lips, she turned and closed her eyes. She often drew maps in her mind to establish strategies, distances and whatnot. If she was Feyre... The Archeron was smart she fooled the king. Think smart 

"How're your relations with summer court?" Everyone looked at each other

"Ok Rocky I get it" If she was walking from spring court (assuming Feyre was situated more east of the court )then she'd be early on in autumn court territory, but she can winnow. So minus a few hours and miles 

"She's in autumn court, nearing the winter court border" Shaera turned and looked at the occupants of the room 

"How did you-?" Mor started 

"Rhysand got the brawn but she obviously got the brains" Amren stated amused. Now that made it seem like she couldn't fight at all... she had brawn. 

"Cassian now's the right time for you to scream 'she was the commander of Hybern'" Mor chimed in Cassian growled at the blonde fae. 

"Azriel, Cassian, go get Feyre... Shaera go with them, show them exactly where you think she is" Both men knew how dire the situation was so they didn't argue, just simply nodded and stood from their chairs 

"Go now" Rhysand had a distant look in his eyes as the command slipped from his lips. As though he was too busy pulling at the bond between him and Feyre searching for anything at all.
All three of them nodded and walked out of the room. Shaera let the two men walk in front of her. At the end of the hall was a small room, they moved through the doorway. The wall was lined with weapons and pieces of armour. Differences aside they walked in and readied themselves, Cassian helped her tighten the sheath now strapped to her back, the dark-haired woman slipped on some gauntlets, steel-lined the tops and thick leather pulled tight underneath. They were better for speed and mobility, whilst providing sufficient protection. Shaera slipped a dagger into the small sheath wrapped around her hips. Azriel and Cassian stood by the door as she put on a thick hide jacket and plaited her hair away from her face. Shaera didn't plan on being blinded by her own stupidity. They all exchanged a look before Azriel grabbed Cassian's arm and they winnowed away into the forest outside the city. Shaera sighed and followed after them. That's what they agreed, they'd winnow out of the Night Court, and then Azriel would carry Shaera as they made their way across Prythian passing Day Court, Dawn Court, and Winter Court. Though Cassian's wings were a lot better, Shaera didn't want to test his strength there seeing as he was going to have to carry Feyre back. The journey would take them 2 hours max.

"You ready" Azriel moved behind her

"Yes," Shaera answered, she turned to look into his hazel eyes. He nodded, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her in tight before shooting off into the air. Cassian followed behind.

********
They arrived at the edge of the Winter Court border in 1 hour 53 minutes and 21 seconds. Conversation was non-existent and to diffuse her awkwardness and tension Shaera had turned to counting. Azriel's arms wrapped around her, and his breath hitting her face once in a while was extremely distracting. So she distracted herself from the distraction. It was fucking cold. She didn't mind Day Court ... or Dawn Court, they were nice and warm, all was swell until they started through winter court. The speed they were travelling at made the air sting her face, and her lungs. It was fucking freezing. At least Hybern was temperate in its weather pattern not like a fucking iceberg.

"We're going to land, then you need to figure out where she is" Azriel spoke in her left ear. Shaera nodded as they started the descent. Her legs almost buckled when they made contact with the snow... she'd been suspended in the sky for nearly 2 hours, they had numbed and the cold didn't exactly help. Cassian landed beside them and flexed his shoulders slightly

"So where's Feyre then?" He turned to look at her, his arms gesturing to the great expanse of snow and forest. Shaera licked her dry lips and sent him a disgruntled look

"Give me a second to think" she partly snapped and started trudging forward in the snow, the dark-haired woman blinked into the blinding white. Where the fuck could she be, they were positioned on a slightly elevated mound, but still no sign of Feyre... Shaera knew nothing would hold the Archeron back from returning to her mate. Unless... Shaera snapped her head round to the two Illyrian men, her eyes filling with panic. Azriel saw her face and his expression dropped 

"Shaera what?" She moved forward and past them, further up the mound, a better view... there had to be something.

"Would anyone in this court try and hurt Feyre?" She looked down at them both. They turned to look at each other

"We need to find her now" Cassian's tone was panicked. Shaera had already continued her march up the mound 

"We would've seen her if she was nearby!" Cassian was growing frustrated with her, she could tell

"Not through the trees" the dark-haired woman whispered more to herself... then she saw it. In the distance. A lake, figures on the lake. Fire. 

"AZRIEL!" She shouted at the man, he didn't have to be told twice, he lunged towards her and stretched his wings, his arms wrapped around her waist again and they ascended into the air, she didn't know they could go any faster. She'd never flown so fast. Cassian had followed after them and had now set his gaze onto the lake. Onto his Highlady. The fire was wrapped around Feyre, a man that looked oddly like Lucien stood nearby. Lucien. That little shit was there too. Well, guess she was winnowing all the way back to Night Court... 

"Azriel, drop me" the Illyrian's eyes met her own. They may never be lovers, but they'd sure as hell be deadly fighting side by side.

He dropped her. It wasn't far... it was further than she fought. Fuck. Might as well carry through with the plan on plummeting into the redhead, whose face pissed her off more than Lucien's.
3
2
1
SMACK
The high fae let out a sound of shock as Shaera hurled into him full speed, they rolled along in the snow landing a metre or so away from each other. The fire holding Feyre diminished 

"Who the fuck are you!?" The redhead growled as he pulled himself to his feet, as his gaze fell on her, amid a fight, he still found the time to rack his eyes over her body, Shaera too rose quickly and grinned. Not her usual grin she'd send to Tira, or Rhysand or Madja. You could take the commander out of Hybern, but you couldn't take Hybern out of the commander. She drew the sword off her back and held it slack in her left hand.

"Shaera, pleasure to meet you" she bowed and twirled the sword. The man drew his own

"Goodbye Shaera" he charged, his form was good, weight evenly distributed, right-handed. Fucking idiot, his left side was wide open... she's left-handed. How is he not thinking about that rather obvious detail? Shaera flickered her eyes quickly over to Azriel, he and Cassian were fighting two other men, whilst Lucien helped Feyre stand. He was fine. The man's sword was inches from her face. He was grinning like a madman. Oh... he thought he'd surprised her, swinging for her exposed right side. That was amusing. Their eyes met. Amber and violet. The man faltered for a second. She smirked. Shaera grabbed the dagger from her belt and blocked his swing. Then her sword sliced through the air at an ungodly speed, hitting its mark by slicing into his side. A small amount of blood splattered up her face, Lucien's brother choked and stumbled back in shock. His mouth opened and closed. The dark-haired woman hummed and moved towards his stumbling figure, her sword dripped with his blood. A predator descending upon the prey. It was a thrill, the way his eyes were filled with fear, it practically seeped through his pores. The bliss of watching someone accept their defeat and lay down to die. It was euphoric to Shaera. It would never not be. The bloodlust would always pump through her veins.

"Stop it" Feyre. Shaera wanted to kill him. To tear him apart so badly... she hadn't been able to do it in weeks. In the corner of her eye, she saw both Illyrian men stop along with Lucien. She felt everyone's gazes settle on her battle with one of the brothers. She wanted to know his name. The man stood against the tree. So she went In, into his mind that is, he didn't even notice.
Eris. 

"You all deserve to die for this. And for much, much more. But I am going to spare your miserable lives" he lifted his sword in her direction. The woman whose eyes had darkened once shifting her weight 

"Shaera, don't" Azriel... Shaera turned her head to meet his gaze. Black faded back to Violet. The ex-commander growled softly and sheathed her weapons. 

"Listen to her like the good bitch you are" Eris sneered, Shaera snorted 

"Firecracker you don't want to test my restraint right now" she made her way towards Azriel as Feyre moved towards Eris. Oh... she had her tattoo visible again. Ha, Shaera was too busy wanting to kill Eris she didn't notice. 

"I am High lady of the Night Court" the Archeron spoke lowly, Eris stopped sneering, and fear crept back onto his features. Times 10. 

"There's no such thing as a High lady" one of the other brothers spat. Feyre smiled 

"There is now" Cassian looked at his High lady with pride as she turned to him

"Take me home-" Feyre turned to Azriel 

"Take us both home" They did not foresee Lucien joining along with the flee from Spring Court.
Feyre then turned to the members of the Autumn Court 

"We'll see you on the battlefield" Shaera prayed the arseholes were on Rhysand's side, for their own sake and the sake of Prythian. Feyre moved towards Cassian and Lucien to Azriel.

"Seems like the pretty little thing is staying with us" one of the brothers grinned in her direction. She did not like his grin. Azriel growled, she heard it and was pretty sure everyone else did. The men shrunk back slightly as Azriel practically appeared in front of her. She wouldn't slander the man for being protective, she was still his mate. He'd always be protective.

"I will carry you both" he whispered to her quietly

"Don't be stupid, I can winnow" 

"They look at you like a piece of meat"

"Azriel I could slice them apart in minutes, mentally or physically I don't have a preference"

"Be careful" was the last thing he said before he winnowed over to Lucien and grabbed him. Cassian gripped Feyre tightly and flew into the air. Snow swirled where they once stood. Azriel and Lucien followed after.
So there she was three brothers and herself. Her eyes scanned them one more time

"Bye boys" she waved and winnowed away. She arrived 2 hours later than the rest of the party, sweating and heaving. Who doesn't enjoy winnowing across three Courts?

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2920
It's 2 am! Shock
I am very tired, this was meant to come out yesterday but I had to write more and then edit it to the best of my ability right now. So DA DA hope you enjoyed

Edit update: spelling fixes and rewording
Don't forget to vote and comment!
Thanks for reading! ❤️

Edited: May 12th 2022, Grammarly is out here doing Gods work