For a moment, nothing was said between them.

Auriella, Feyre, and Rhysand stood in the High Lord's office. The High Prince was in his mother's arms, playing with the jewelry around her neck, letting the jingle of the chains be the only sound.

The Daughter of Dawn stood, eyes locked on with Rhysand's. He stared at her with such dark intensity that even her shadows hid behind her, but she kept her calm, knowing that he wouldn't dare try anything.

Perseus seemed to sense the tension throughout the room, sitting right next to his owner. He licked his lips, staring at the High Lord without fear.

Auriella was the first to speak, "May I know the reason why you called me in here? Or are we going to have a staring contest for the entire night?" She asked, feeling darkness rumble in the corner of the room.

Rhysand scoffs, "You know why, Daughter of Dawn. What happened yesterday down at the library?" He asks.

She debated on telling him, knowing that he was craving answers. But Auriella was also, the vision flashing in her mind as if to remind her to be careful with how much she reveals to them.

"I am not able to tell the entirety of what happened. But what you can know is that... this being that is out there... is powerful. It was the reason for my collapse in the library." She tells him.

Feyre sets down her son on the couch, fumbling with a bracelet that she had taken off from one of her wrists. She raises her brow at Auriella, "We already know that this being is powerful, Auriella. But what happened to you down there? The priestesses mentioned that you were unable to hear them nor Emerie, that you somehow blanked out." The High Lady says.

Auriella nods her head once, "That is true. I wasn't able to hear anything around me. My vision was blurred. And my head felt like it was caving in. This powerful being spoke into my mind saying things that-" she stops herself, taking a deep breath, "I cannot say right now."

Rhysand tilts his head. Auriella knows that his anger is reaching its breaking point, but she doesn't care. She does not abide by his rules. Instead, she continues, "I have to speak with my brother before I reveal anything more to anyone. There is a possibility that he could have felt this too." She explains.

"Auriella, you must understand how desperate we are to receive answers. If you know something important that affects all the courts, then you need to tell us. If this being spoke to you, what did it say?" Feyre asks her.

Auriella shakes her head, "I understand completely, especially since I am of the Daughter of Dawn. This affects me too. But I have to know if my brother has felt anything like I have. I promise once I know, I will tell you." She says.

Rhysand bites the inside of his cheek, "Tomorrow, Helion will be present at the competition. Your brother, along with Elain and Lucien, will be attending. They will be staying for two nights before heading back to the Day Court. I expect answers after this, Auriella." He tells her.

The Daughter of Dawn scoffs, feeling the anger bubble under her skin. She doesn't like taking orders, especially if it's by someone other than her fathers. But she knows that it's not just Rhysand looking for answers, it's every High Lord who is trying to uncover who this mystery being is and how to put a stop to them.

She nods at the High Lord of Night, "I'll make sure to inform you. But if my brother reveals something more to me that I don't know, I must tell my father immediately. He will make sure to inform you and all of the others." Auriella says.

Feyre takes a step towards her, "Can you at least tell us why the being spoke with you, Auriella? Give us something to relieve some of the stress." The High Lady pleads.

Auriella looks at Feyre for a moment, staring into those blue-gray eyes that held beautiful authority. The girl from Under the Mountain had died, coming back to life into the High Lady of the Night Court, who held incredible strength and love for those around her.

Feyre reaches out her hand, "Will you show me?" She asked.

The Daughter of Dawn stared at the hand - the same one that had plunged a knife into her two friends. The hand that freed her and all of the other fae from out the mountain. The hand that was placed on the Cauldron to save Prythian from a man who never deserved it.

The Savior's hand.

Auriella looks back up to the High Lady's eyes, putting their hands together, and let the echo of The Being's voice flow through their minds.

Child of Night, I am coming for you.

Who are you? Auriella had asked.

You'll find out soon. You and all of Prythian will.

With their hands still linked, Auriella could see the High Lady's face become pale, realizing that history was repeating itself once more.

***

The next morning, Auriella was up hours before the competition, barely able to get even an hour of sleep.

After her meeting with Feyre and Rhysand, Auriella was unable to shake the High Lady's face out of her mind, seeing the fear and dread that was clearly there. Feyre was without words, sitting back down onto the couch and holding the High Prince close to her.

Rhysand had insisted that Auriella show him what happened down at the library, but she couldn't. The Daughter of Dawn felt drained - terrified of hearing that haunting voice speak in her mind. Instead, Feyre vowed to Rhys that she would show him later.

And that was that.

Auriella had left the estate restless. When she arrived back at the House of Wind with Cassian and Emerie, she immediately headed to her room, feeling like she was going to burst from all of the unwanted adrenaline. The House started a cold bath for her and she went into it, submerging herself into the freezing water.

But that hadn't stopped it.

Her nerves had run high the entire night. Perseus had tried to comfort her throughout all of it, putting his head in her lap as they laid on the bed. But as much as the wolf tried, he wasn't enough to calm her.

Once the sun had risen, Auriella left her room in her nightgown, heading down to the gardens.

The variety of flowers bloomed in the sunlight, their numerous colors capturing the beauty of nature. As she walked onto the grass, Auriella couldn't help but feel that sensation of relief, wanting to give up her responsibilities for a moment to breathe.

She sat down in a patch of grass, surrounded by flowers that circled around her. The sun beamed down onto her skin, warming her scarred back. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before gently releasing it into the wind.

She let the music of nature bring her into sweet serenity, humming her father's (Zephyr) song in the peaceful moment. Her shadows danced around her, bright and content. She could feel them coil around her, like a lover who did not want to let go.

Auriella smiled, feeling that peaceful calm envelop her. She welcomed it into her mind, letting it calm everything that overwhelmed her. Even as she hummed, she didn't think about anything but herself and what was around her.

She couldn't remember the last time she was able to be outside on her own. Even when she would go on walks, Auriella would always be accompanied by Perseus, who followed her every step. She never went anywhere without him, feeling as if she might do something to herself if she did.

After spending over a month here in the Night Court, Auriella never felt freer. Even though she was never to avoid the 'Daughter of Dawn' title, she did not feel suffocated; confined in one space like she was Under the Mountain and in the Dawn Court palace.

She felt like a bird free from its cage, spreading its wings to fly into the sky without anything holding it back. She imagined soaring through the clouds, darting fast into them, coming out with unending joy. She imagined descending down above the sea, skimming the water with her fingers before heading up once more, untethered and revived.

How do you feel when you fly? Auriella asked through the bond.

For a moment, there was no answer. She wondered if her mate was still asleep. She immediately regretted asking the question, hoping that she didn't disturb him.

I feel like there is nothing that can hold me back, like there is no one who can take my freedom away from me again. Azriel replied.

Auriella felt her heart tighten in her chest, flashed of his scarred hand filling her mind. She could see the pain in his eyes that he tried to hide, even from her. She wished she could take it away from him; to take a weight from his pile and put it on hers.

Have you soared through the clouds? She asked.

The feeling of amusement ran down the bond, making Auriella's grin grow wider. It was clear that he has, seeing how he was way older than she was and it would be foolish to pass the opportunity.

Where are you, Ella? He asked.

Auriella plucked a daisy out of the ground, placing it behind her ear. In the gardens behind the House of Wind.

He didn't say anything after that, which disappointed her for a moment. She wondered if he was doing something more important or if he went back to sleep. It was still a few hours before she and everyone else would have to head to Hewn City.

Auriella stood from the grass, walking through the garden, basking in the windy silence. As she admired the nature around her, she could hear the distant flapping of wings coming close to her. Her heart pumped in her chest.

She turned around to see the blue-siphoned Illyrian in the air, heading down towards her. Auriella smiled, feeling the familiar swelling in her chest whenever he was near her. Suddenly, she felt too bare, remembering that she was still in her nightgown. She crossed her arms against her chest.

The Spymaster landed gracefully on the grass, tucking his wings behind his back. He wore black trousers with a dark blue half-buttoned shirt that flowed in the wind, showing off his tattooed chest. His scarred hands were uncovered, letting anyone see their white lines.

"A flair for the dramatic, Spymaster?" Auriella asked.

Azriel scoffed, raking his eyes over her body, "I was hoping to answer your questions, Daughter of Dawn." He says, his voice raspy. Auriella almost melted at the deep tone of his voice, as if he could send her to the edge with it.

She lifted a brow at his words, but the Spymaster held out his hand. "Do you want to know how it feels like to soar through the clouds?" He asked her.

Auriella's eyes widened, "You are asking me to fly with you? Up there? In the sky?" She asked, pointing up to the clouds. She felt her heart sink with fear. She had never flown so high, even though her father, Zephyr, has.

Azriel chuckled, smiling at his mate, "Yes, Ella. Let me show you." He says, stepping closer to her.

The Daughter of Dawn took a deep breath, contemplating his words. She could already imagine it. The both of them up in the sky, soaring through Velaris and above the ocean. She could feel the harsh wind in her face, holding on tightly to her mate as he showed her every corner of the Night Court.

All she had to do was take his hand.

And she did.

Auriella walked closer to him, closing the distance from themselves. Their bodies were warm against one another, but arousal didn't form for either of them. Azriel put his arm around his mate, securing her to him. They stared into each other's eyes, full of trust and curiosity.

"Please, don't drop me." Auriella breathed, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

The Spymaster lifted her off of the ground, their faces inches away. He grinned, "I wouldn't dream of it, sunlight." He says before they both head into the sky.

Auriella screams, burying her head into his neck. She keeps her eyes open, seeing Velaris become smaller as they went up, up, up. The roaring wind hounded her ears, unable to hear her own panic as it became one with the air.

And before she knew it, they were in the clouds, heading above them. Azriel chuckled, "I have you." He says, both of his arms holding her tightly.

Auriella lifts her head, witnessing the beauty of the skies. She breathed heavily, trying to regain life back into herself. The clouds were beneath them, huddled against each other, unable to see the ground underneath it.

She could see the daisy she had tucked behind her ear head back down to the dirt, its white petals swirling around in the wind.

From above the clouds, the sky was pink and gold - morning rising. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. It was as if she were at the gates of the afterlife, open and ready for her to walk through. A never-ending beauty she thought could only exist in dreams.

"Azriel," she breathed, still unable to grasp the reality of what she was seeing.

Her mate nodded, "I know," was all he said. He must have seen this place dozens of times. She couldn't blame him. If she had wings, she would rush above the clouds any chance she had, admiring the view for hours until night overtook the skies.

Auriella looked into his hazel eyes, seeing them gleaming in the gorgeous light. She smiled at him, "What do you think of when you see this?" She asked, hoping to open more of the book that he was.

He scoffed, his eyes scanning her face, "I think of my family. They are everything to me. Without them, especially my brothers, I don't know where I would be. Sometimes, I frighten myself. My reputation isn't exactly... ideal." He admits.

Auriella had heard of the violent stories of the Spymaster, knowing of the tortuous methods he would use in order to get answers out from those who refused to give any. He was a man who was far from good, along with everyone else who resided in Prythian. He was a man who would do anything to protect those he loves.

She would do the same.

"What about you, Ella? What do you think of?" He asks.

Auriella shrugs, her fingers tracing the tattoos on his chest. She takes a deep breath, "I think of the light that could prevail at the end of any ordeal. Yes, there will be trial and pain along the way, but at the end, darkness will fall and the light will win." She says, her eyes still trained on his tattoos.

Under the Mountain, and the war of Hybern was apart of the darkness that clouded Prythian. They were meant to cause terror and disorder, but instead, everyone worked together, trying to find a way to defeat the darkness. And in the end, the light prevailed.

Through the bond, Auriella could feel the silent rage of Azriel simmering beneath his skin. He had to know about what happened to her in Under the Mountain. It wasn't a bombshell to anyone, especially to the High Lords, but she wondered what her mate thought about it; about what Amarantha did to her.

She looked into his eyes, "Do you know?" She breathed.

Azriel nodded.

Auriella put her forehead onto his, closing her eyes, and taking in his scent of wind and rain. Even the skies could not compare to the beauty that was him.

What do you think of me? She asked.

Azriel's arms were tight around her - protective and possessive, feeling as if someone could take her away from him at any given moment.

You did not deserve what happened to you. If I could take away the suffering and pain from your mind, I would do it in a heartbeat. He said.

She smiles, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I would the same for you, Azriel. I would inherit your scars if it meant that you wouldn't have to suffer anymore." She says, placing her hand on his cheek.

At the brush of her thumb, Auriella could feel a stray tear run down his face.

The Daughter of Dawn brushed the Spymaster's lips with hers, sealing them together once more. They kissed passionately above the skies, their shadows brightening in the morning sunlight.