When Auriella returns to the dining room and goes back to her seat, she could feel Azriel's eyes upon her the entire time.

He sat on the other side of the table, next to Morrigan, who didn't seem to mind.

Auriella's heart hammered inside of her chest. She gripped the glass of wine in her hand, taking a swig of it to calm her nerves, but it seemed like nothing worked. Being in the same room with him felt surreal.

Rhysand cleared his throat, "Well, now that everyone is here, late, as usual, we can finally begin our meal together." He says.

Auriella looked down at her plate of food, but with everything that happened today, she had no appetite for anything. She became nauseous at the sight of it. Still, she managed to take small bites.

The room stayed silent for a few moments, hearing only the clatter of utensils touching the plates, and the High Prince drinking his bottle in his mother's arms. Feyre smiled down at him, her thumb gently rubbing his face. Rhysand admired his little family, staring at them with adoring eyes.

Auriella felt Perseus lightly tap her arm with his nose. She looked down at him, seeing his pleading and hungry eyes. She glanced at her food, noticing the piece of meat on her plate. Her heart clenched, unsure whether to give it to him in front of everyone. It would have been misinterpreted, thinking that she didn't enjoy the food.

Give it to him. They won't mind. A deep voice spoke through her mind, sending chills down her spine.

Auriella was hesitant for a moment, but eventually, she caved in, setting the meat on a smaller plate. Before she set down the food in front of him, she snapped her fingers at the wolf, "Sit," she commanded. Perseus immediately listened, his drool already hitting the floor.

The Daughter of Dawn placed the food down, giving a single nod to him to eat. He practically lunged towards the meat, chewing on it fiercely.

"Where did you find Perseus?" Rhysand asks, looking down at the wolf.

Auriella snaps her head to him, "Actually, he found me. I was out one night..." she trails off for a moment, "I was walking through the gardens and he was right there looking at me. I expected him to run away, but somehow, he trusted me enough." She explains.

No one had known of that night, not even her brother, whom she trusted with all of her heart. But through the bond, she felt the anger ripple down as if Azriel knew she was lying. He couldn't have known... could he?

The High Lord nods, "And who trained him?" He asked.

"I did. I had a lot of time on my hands. It took a while for him to perfect his training, but eventually, he got the hang of it." She says.

Morrigan scoffs, "Oh good, maybe you can train Cassian. He struggles with listening and following commands. I have a whistle you could use." She says, lifting her glass.

Cassian smirks, "The commands I mostly follow are Emerie's. They mainly involve the bed though." He says, earning a slap on his arm from his lover. He huffs out a laugh, bestowing a kiss on her hand.

The general looks around, landing his eyes on the Spymaster. "Although, someone who could use some training would be my darling brother, Azriel. There are times when he cannot control his temper. Throughout these past three years, he has been nothing but frustrated." Cassian turns his head to Auriella, "Do you think you could train him, set him right?" He asks, the smirk still plastered on his face.

Auriella could not even think of words to say. She wasn't even sure what shade of red she was, her face burning with embarrassment.

Thankfully, Feyre came to her rescue, "Please, Cassian, do not be inappropriate at the table. Some of us are trying to enjoy our meals." She says, her voice filled with annoyance.

Cassian nods, "Apologies, my High Lady. I am just extremely concerned about my brother's testosterone. There are only so many trees he can knock down before it becomes a concern to our environment." He says, making everyone spit out their food.

Auriella pursed her lips, glancing at her mate, who stared at Cassian with murderous eyes. The general held his gaze with amusement gleaming on his face. She wondered if he would pounce across the table and choke him to death as he did with Eris at the High Lords meeting.

Would it entertain you if I did? He asked through the bond.

Their eyes locked once more. Auriella remembered the words she accidentally sent down the bond for the first time. It would have been entertaining to watch.

He had Eris in his hands. The Autumn heir did not have a chance against the Spymaster. In that moment, his shadows swirled around him, as if they were panicking. Auriella was neither shocked nor surprised to see that Eris had put himself into a situation that almost put him into the grave, but she was taken aback at the sheer strength of her mate.

The deadly eyes that bore into his enemy. The rage that emitted from him. And the anger that was directed towards Eris. If Feyre hadn't stopped him, Azriel would have surely killed him. He would have started a war with the Autumn Court.

Auriella scoffed, Highly, but I wouldn't recommend it. She replied.

Another tug of a smile. She wondered what it looked like.

The High Lady sighs, handing Nyx over to Rhysand, who sits in his lap. His eyes land on Perseus, who lays on the floor, looking at the child with confusion. The High Prince coos at the wolf, reaching out to him, but Perseus turns his head to Auriella, as if asking, but she shakes her head. Instead, the wolf lays his head on the floor.

"Has he ever harmed anyone?" Rhysand asks her.

Auriella clears her throat, "It depends on the person. Perseus growls when he doesn't sense anything good. He has never attacked anyone, but he is trained to on my command. He is kind to those he doesn't view as a threat, children included." She says, seeing the High Prince grow fussy for the wolf.

Rhysand nods, looking over to his mate, "We should get one." He tells her.

Feyre rolls her eyes, "You, Cassian, and Azriel are enough to deal with. I don't think I'll be able to handle a wolf who could destroy everything in the house when you three already do that yourselves." She says, making the boys chuckle.

Auriella huffs out a laugh, "Believe me, my father was furious in the first days that I had Perseus. He would ruin pillows and cause a mess of feathers everywhere. Obedience was one of the first lessons I taught him." She says.

A sense of intrigue rippled down the bond.

Rhysand scoffed, "Maybe you can train Cassian after all." He says, making everyone in the room chuckle, including the general.

As the meal comes to a close, Rhysand looks over to Auriella, "I believe that your things have arrived from the Dawn Court. You will be staying here in the House of Wind. Tomorrow, Feyre will show you around the court. And then, we have to get you to training." He tells her.

The High Lord turns to look at Morrigan and Nesta, "You both will be joining her in combat. Even though Auriella has trained for most of her life, strength is necessary for her shadows." He says.

Morrigan rolls her eyes, "Are you really pairing me with the incompetent fool?" She asks. Nesta stares at her.

"Be careful with your words, commander, or I will not hesitate to kill you once we get back to the mountains." She threatens. Morrigan smirks but says nothing.

Rhysand pinches his nose, "How is it that my son has better manners than both of you? I don't care whether you want to rip each other's guts out, you will help train Auriella." He says, his voice firm and assertive. The High Prince stares up at his father as if he was dumbfounded.

The High Lord turned to Azriel. He stared at the Spymaster with calculating eyes. The deafening silence hung in the air, making Auriella shift in her seat.

Rhysand took a deep breath, "Brother, I am sure you know what to do. Help her strengthen her shadows." He says. Azriel nods, his shadows hiding behind him.

Auriella felt her own shadows swirl with excitement. She willed for them to calm, but it seems, even in their weakened state, they remained content.

The High Lord wasn't done, "You must also show her around the House of Wind, let her take in the place." He says, a small smile forming on his lips. Cassian choked on his wine, coughing to the point where Emerie had to hold the water for him to drink.

Auriella felt her stomach drop, her nerves rising higher than before.

Feyre's eyes narrowed, "I could show her around, Rhys." She told him.

Rhysand shook his head, still staring at Azriel. "No, you and I have things to discuss. I'm sure Azriel can handle this simple task. Isn't that right, brother?" He asks.

If you are uncomfortable with this, you don't have to agree. I'll understand. Auriella sends down the bond.

After a few seconds of silence, the Spymaster clears his throat, "No, I do not have a problem with it at all." He says.

Auriella was terrified once everyone started leaving one by one.

Amren.

Morrigan.

Cassian and Emerie.

Nesta.

And then, Rhysand and Feyre, along with the High Prince.

The Spymaster and Daughter of Dawn remained still in their seats, looking at anything other than each other. Perseus sat still next to his owner, looking at her.

Auriella didn't know what to do with herself. She wondered if she should speak with him, ask him about anything that didn't relate to their mating bond. She closed her eyes, mustering the strength inside of her to actually speak.

"You don't need to be terrified of me. I don't bite." She says, looking down at her lap.

She heard him take a deep breath, "I'm sorry. I just don't know what to say." He tells her. Auriella couldn't help but feel the same. It was like her mind went blank all of a sudden.

She looks up at him, "I understand. All of this has my mind in shambles. I don't know what to think of it." She says, truthfully.

Azriel nods, standing from his seat. He extends his wings, stretching them out, before tucking them back in. "Well, let me show you around quickly so that you can get some rest." He says.

The Spymaster led her through the house, telling her which rooms are which. He showed her the kitchen, studio, library, and many more rooms that Auriella had completely forgotten the names of. The "house" was built more like a palace.

Azriel led her to another set of doors, opening them, revealing...

"This is the music room. We rarely use it." He tells her, but all Auriella could focus on was the black piano sitting in the room. She walks towards it, seeing the beautiful design of glittering stars that covered it. A piano crafted of Night.

It had been a long time since she had played the instrument. It was just before she was taken to Under the Mountain. She had played her fathers' melody. She remembered that she had touched each note that was written, never missing one. But after she had escaped, Auriella could never bring herself to touch the piano again.

No matter how much she tried, Auriella could never finish a song, let alone write one. As the months passed, she couldn't bear to stare at the instrument anymore. She instructed her guards to remove it from her room and they did. She hadn't asked for it since.

Auriella touched the smooth surface, smiling down at it.

"Do you know how to play?" Azriel asked from behind her.

The Daughter of Dawn nodded, "Yes," she turned back to him, "My father taught me how to play. Ever since I was young, I had a passion for it. But um..." she trailed off, "I haven't touched one in a while." She told him.

Silence took over once again. Auriella was tired of it. She knew that their bond was inevitable to ignore. If they didn't talk about it now, when they just met, it would be hanging over their heads every single day.

"I think you know that I didn't come here just to find answers about myself and my brother. But I came here to find out what to do about this." She says, gesturing between them.

She takes a step towards him, "I know what the mating bond is and how it works. I don't understand why the spirits decided to pair us together, but I don't know you and you do not know me." She says.

Auriella continues, "I am willing to try if only you are, Spymaster. I want to get to know you, even if all that comes from this bond is friendship or nothing at all." She tells him.

She had thought of this moment for a while, wondering what she would say to him once they met again. But this wasn't the conversation she had in mind. Speaking about the bond terrified her, but she needed to know if there was a chance. A chance where maybe she could...

Azriel nods, taking a step forward, inches away from touching. He stares down at Auriella with sincere eyes, as if he's taking her in. "I don't think you'll like who I am, Daughter of Dawn." He tells her.

She scoffs, "I can say the same thing, Spymaster. But appearances are nothing when it comes to the person that is inside. If you do not want anything to do with this, tell me now. I will not waste my time. Enough of it was already taken from me." She says, her voice firm.

And yet, all he could do was stare at her.

The Daughter of Dawn makes her way out of the room, not wanting to spend a moment longer with him. She felt suffocated, not because of him, but because of the weight that was set upon her with everything that happened. Again, she felt like she was crumbling.

Instead of making her way to her room, Auriella went back downstairs, walking out to the gardens. Perseus immediately ran around in circles, barking in excitement. Auriella smiled at him, picking up a stick off the ground.

The wolf sat on the grass, waiting for his owner to throw it.

And when she did, Perseus caught it in the air. But instead of bringing it back to her, he laid on the grass, starting to chew on it as he always did.

Auriella sat down next to him, petting his dark fur. She breathed in the fresh air of daisies and roses that were planted all around her. She admired them, seeing them gently flowing in the wind. And when she closed her eyes, she let the scent calm her racing heart.

Hope bloomed in her chest and four simple words streamed down the bond.

I will try, Auriella.

Then she would too.