As Auriella was in her room, drying off from her bath, she heard a knock on her door.

"Give me a moment!" She calls out, quickly putting a robe around herself. She puts her fingers into her wet hair, shaking out the long locks. Sometimes, she wanted to cut her hair, but she knew she would miss it after a while.

When she opened her bedroom door, Emerie was there, smiling. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, Auriella. Rhysand has called for a meeting at his estate in half an hour. He wants you to be there, saying that there is someone from the Dawn Court who wishes to meet with you." She explains.

Auriella narrows her eyes, "Why would someone from the Dawn Court be here? Also, how does this meeting involve me? I am not part of the Night Court." Her heart tightens at the words, but she ignores the feeling.

Emerie shrugs, "I wasn't told anything more than that. Right now, I am heading down to the library to look for answers for you. I know that since you have been hounded with training the Illyrian Sisterhood and your shadows, you haven't had enough time for yourself. I want to help in any way that I can." She says.

"Thank you, Emerie. I can't tell you how much I'm grateful for your assistance. Hopefully, after the competition, I can go down there myself and start looking." Auriella says.

Emerie grins, "Hopefully, you will. Anyway, Cerridwen is currently downstairs waiting for you. She will accompany you to Rhysand and Feyre's estate. I'm sure the others will be arriving there soon." She tells her.

Auriella feels herself grow cold. She hadn't seen Azriel the entire day, even when Cassian and her were training Aiko. Other than a slight sensation of desire, the bond had been silent. She ached to say something to him, but her nerves would not allow her to.

"Tell Cerridwen I'll be down in ten minutes. Again, thank you for your help, Emerie." Auriella says, dismissing herself from Emerie, before closing her door.

She goes through her closet, seeing a sleeveless gold silk dress that was smooth to the touch. Auriella takes it off of the rack, admiring the beauty of it. She hadn't worn a sleeveless dress in a while due to her welted scars that were on her back. It was a painful reminder of what Amarantha had done to her, but it was also a reminder that she survived her wrath.

Auriella took a deep breath, putting the dress back and picking out a red dress with long sleeves. It hugged her waist tightly, letting anyone see her slim figure. In the long mirror, she could see that she had grown fuller in the past two weeks. A smile appeared on her lips.

When ten minutes had passed, Auriella and Perseus were rushing down the stairs, where the maiden stands in the foyer. Her face brightens, a smile appearing on her glossed lips.

"Ah, just in time, Daughter of Dawn. Are you ready to go?" Cerridwen asks, opening the tall oak doors of the House of Wind, letting a gust of cool air fill the room.

Auriella takes in the afternoon breeze, letting it relax her. "Do you know what Rhysand wants to meet about? Is there something happening that we don't know?" She asks.

The pair walk out of the House, the doors closing by themselves. They stand at the top of the thousand steps, looking over the city of Velaris. For Auriella, it took her breath away every time, feeling like it was a dream she did not want to wake up from.

"Like you, I am unsure. But for some reason, I can sense an unusual power prickling at my skin. It feels... wrong. There is something in Prythian that shouldn't be here; that shouldn't exist. I'm sure that Nuala and I will have to venture out soon. I know she feels the same." Cerridwen says.

There were times where Auriella felt the same. Even when she was in the sisterhood, she could feel an uneasy presence, like something dark was lingering nearby. She would sometimes look at Morrigan and Nesta, to see if they felt the same, but there wasn't anything on their faces that suggested it.

Auriella sighs, "Hopefully, it's nothing." She breathes.

Cerridwen grabs her hand and Perseus's collar, "We can only hope, Daughter of Dawn." She says before they winnowed to Rhysand and Feyre's estate.

***

Nuala was waiting at the foyer, along with Nesta, who carried the High Prince in her arms. The Archeron sister briefly glanced at Auriella, before looking back to her nephew, who put his small hands on her face.

After their intense duel, Auriella and Nesta hadn't talked to one another. She always saw Nesta observing the sisters, examining their movements. Sometimes, she would see Nesta and Morrigan exchanging glances, ones that Auriella couldn't read.

She knew that they both didn't get along, but there were times when it didn't seem that way. When she wasn't looking, Auriella could feel a shift in the room, sensing something that she couldn't decipher between them. But, she didn't pay it any mind.

Now, seeing Nesta away from the sisterhood compound, Auriella felt compelled to say something. She stepped closer, "Hello Nesta," she says.

The Kingslayer locked eyes with the Daughter of Dawn.

It was as if the entire room was void of sound. Nesta's fiery gaze was entrancing; a beautiful silver flame that brightened Auriella's shadows, as if they too were amazed by her.

The Archeron sister gave her a small smile, "Daughter of Dawn," she said, nodding once.

And that was that.

Nesta looked back to her nephew, who was playing with her necklace. He cooed, opening his mouth to give his aunt, what seemed to be a kiss, on her cheek. She chuckled at the motion, giving Nyx a kiss on his forehead.

Nuala clapped her hands once, "Alright, you two should head down to Rhysand's office. I believe that everyone has already gathered there." She says to Nesta and Auriella.

The Archeron sister nods, handing the High Prince over to Cerridwen. Perseus looked up at the child. Nyx looked down at the wolf, reaching out his hand. Cerridwen bent down a little to let him touch the wolf, making the kid giggle in her arms.

"Let's get going," Nesta says, turning away from the maidens. Auriella tails her, whistling for her companion to follow.

As they both walk down the echoey hall, Auriella couldn't help but feel herself grow cold all of a sudden. She remembered about what she and her mate shared the night before, remembering the heat of the moment that overtook her mind.

He was here and she was about to face him. She wondered if he regretted it, if he didn't enjoy it as much as she did. The thought only made her heart race even faster.

"What's got you all worked up?" Nesta asked, still keeping the slow pace.

Auriella shook her head, "I'm just thinking about how Aiko will do in the competition. A month isn't enough time for her to learn everything." She partly lies, hoping that Nesta will see the mistake she and Morrigan made for choosing the sister who was one of the least prepared.

Nesta shrugged, "I'm sure she'll be fine. If you and Cassian are training her, she will learn and she will prove herself. I see the potential of her that you don't see, Daughter of Dawn. If I didn't, she would have not been chosen to be in the sisterhood." She says.

Auriella was surprised to hear her mate's name come out of her mouth, but she didn't show it. It seemed that the rejected bond didn't affect her as it affected him.

Instead, she nods, "I know she is a good fighter, Archeron. But swordplay isn't really her specialty. If we had a month more, she could be better. I know Byron will not show any mercy against her. Devlon will make sure of it." Auriella tells her.

Nesta scoffs, "You may doubt her, Auriella. But I don't." She says.

Auriella briefly glanced at her. Nesta held her head high, like a leader should, confident and dangerous. It was obvious why she was chosen to lead the sisterhood with Morrigan. They both had a strong faith in the Illyrian women and in themselves.

As they got closer to Rhysand's office, Auriella could hear a familiar deep voice that, other than her fathers', kept her in line. She sped to the door, seeing it wide open.

"Wadsworth?" She breathed.

Roth Wadsworth was a Peregryn, loyal to her father, Zephyr. He had been her personal guard ever since she was young. Whenever her fathers were busy, Roth would play with her, either doing puzzles or chasing her around the house. He was second in command to her father and it didn't take a genius to see why.

Her personal guard looked back at her, his face holding nothing but relief when he looked at her. He smiled, "Daughter of Dawn," He says, grinning.

Auriella embraces him, "What are you doing here?" She asks him.

He looks over to the High Lord of Night, who leans against his desk, with his arms crossed against his chest. Rhysand's face holds nothing but dread as if there was something wearing heavy on his mind.

Feyre sits down on the couch, along with the rest of the Inner Circle. Her hands shake slightly, but she tries to maintain her calm. She doesn't stare at anyone. Her face is filled with pure rage. Rhysand glanced at his mate, who didn't meet his gaze. Instead, her eyes were set on the wall at the far end of the room.

Auriella's shadows shied away as if the silence was roaring in their ears.

Nesta, who now leans against the windowsill, is the first to speak. "I, as the Daughter of Dawn, would like to know why we are so pissed off. Has something happened?" She asked.

Azriel, what's going on? Auriella sent down the bond, disturbed by the tension and anger radiating throughout the room.

When her mate doesn't answer, she looks over at him, seeing how he has the same face of anger and rage. Through the bond, Auriella could feel it simmering throughout his body like he was getting ready to explode at any moment.

The High Lord of the Night Court clears his throat, "There have been things happening throughout all of the courts that raise concern, especially with Dawn and Winter." He says, his voice low.

Auriella's brows narrow at the mention of her court. "What do you mean? Can you please explain what's happening?" She pleads.

"It's about Under the Mountain," Feyre says, still facing the back wall.

Auriella feels her heart stop at the mention of that wretched place. "What about Under the Mountain?" She asks a chill running down her spine as she said the words.

Rhysand licks his lips, "There has been unusual activity going on there. Bones from graves of every court have been discovered, scattered around the mountain. Dead bodies, decapitated or battered, are also lying there, right in front of the mountain." He explains.

Auriella stares at him, feeling bile rise to her throat. It takes everything within her not to spill it onto the floor. "And how is this happening? Why? Under the Mountain has been sealed for four years. Why would anyone want to go back there?" She asks.

Rhysand looked to his mate once again, but pure anger was written on her face. Feyre didn't look at anyone. He took a deep breath, "We don't know that yet. In fact, we barely know anything. All we know is of the bones and bodies and," he swallows, "the dark magic that surrounds it all, including the mountain." He says, his darkness rippling through the air.

Morrigan takes a step forward, "What dark magic?" She asks.

"The kind that no one should have, girl. A magic that hasn't existed since before every single one of you were conceived in your mother's womb. The kind of magic that should never exist inside of anyone." Amren mutters, her voice filled with a cold rage.

"How do you know it?" Cassian asks her, leaning forward in his seat.

Amren lifts her bare feet on the couch, looking at no one. "It's a magic that I've only seen once in my lifetime. Before I was even two hundred years old, the man who held that power was named Dathomir. No one even knew his name until after he died. They only called him "The Being" since nobody could figure out what he was."

"People who even spoke his name were afraid that he could hear them, no matter the distance. His pure magic was dark enough to raise armies to the ground. He was able to control people with only a kernel of his power. He is able to steal the souls of the people around him, letting him regain strength or take it if he wanted to. He was able to control the dead, building an army of corpses."

"There was a time when he became so powerful, everyone feared that he would rule the world, including me. Everyone who was loyal to him bowed at the mention of his name. Even the deadliest creatures stayed away from him. There was no one in the world strong enough to go up against him... not in that time anyway." She says.

The room was silent, waiting for her to go on. Amren took a deep breath, as if remembering everything that Dathomir had done affected her. Auriella could see tears forming in her eyes, but the Second Commander fought to hold them back.

Amren spoke once more, "Dathomir wanted everyone to know his name. He wanted them to know what he could take if anyone went against him. There was one time when..." she trails off for a moment. Feyre turned to her and took her hand, trying to comfort her.

Amren accepted the touch, briefly looking at her High Lady before continuing, "He took one hundred children, no older than ten years, and with a snap of his fingers, he had them under his control. They were all standing at the edge of a mountain peak with him right in the middle."

A tear fell down her cheek, "I watched along with the thousands of people that were gathered around as Dathomir announced his imminent rule. No one was focused on that, not me at least, but we looked at the children. Their faces were blank and empty and... emotionless. Everyone knew what was about to happen, but we held out hope that he wouldn't..." She swallows.

Everyone in the room held their breaths, fearing the next words that were about to be said.

"He said that it was a demonstration for the people who rebelled against him. What would happen to their children if they didn't accept him. And then, with a wide grin, he snapped his fingers once more and the children lept off the ledge... none of them survived." She breathes, gripping Feyre's hand.

Auriella's hands fisted at her sides, feeling herself grow hot with anger. This couldn't be real. A being with insurmountable power that not even a High Fae had? There had to be a mistake.

Feyre wiped her own tears away, "How was he defeated?" She asked her.

Amren takes a deep breath, "The children of Day and Night killed him before he ever had a chance to take the throne. They were beings who had the power of the light and the darkness. The balance of everything. The child of Day, Cyrus, used his beam of light to absorb his magic. The child of Night, Ravyn, wielded Dathomir's darkness."

"Together, Cyrus and Ravyn created a portal while they had Dathomir's power. The pair went into it and were never seen again. Dathomir was weak as a mortal. The children of Day and Night had drained him of his power. People took that man alive and ripped him apart. They showed no mercy as he screamed, begging for forgiveness. He died with his guts hanging out of him and creatures feasting on his remains." Amren spits.

Morrigan narrows her brows, "Why didn't the children of Day and Night defeat him before any of the carnage started?" She asked.

Amren shrugs, "That, I do not know. They are beings that were far older than I was. Even now, I have a faint memory of them. But what I do remember is the unbelievable joy after it was all over. There wasn't anyone who wasn't rejoicing at Dathomir's death. It was like a fucking festival all over the land." She says, smiling at the dim memory.

Cassian shakes his head, "So how is it that this being is back? It doesn't make sense. Were they alive this whole time?" He asks.

Rhysand shakes his head, "No, this only happened just recently. They have been gaining time, stalling. Right now, this thing is plotting its next move and we need to figure out who the hell it is before things become even more complicated for us." He says.

Wadsworth clears his throat, "High Lord, as I have told you, we cannot move near the mountain. It's enchanted with dark magic. The Dawn Soldiers were disintegrated within a millisecond. It's not safe." He says.

Auriella turns to him, "What do you mean? My father sent men out there?" She asks.

Her personal guard looked down at her, "We needed to see for ourselves what was happening over there, Daughter of Dawn. Dawn and Winter are closest to Under the Mountain. Kallias and Thesan sent out six of their men to investigate. Only one came back from each team." He tells her.

Silence filled the entire room once more. But this time, Auriella was grateful, feeling as if she might faint if she heard another detail. She looked over to her mate, whose eyes bored into hers. She could see the uncertainty written all over his face.

We will keep training, Auriella. He sends down the bond.

The Daughter of Dawn gave him a small smile, I can't wait, Spymaster.

And before she turned away, she could have sworn that his eyes gleamed like the stars in the night sky.