My limbs feel more like jelly than they have in a long while since I'd gained endurance from my days of training. Cassian didn't lie when he said he wasn't going to hold back. Az and Rhysand are out doing whatever they do and Mor claimed Cassian for lunch, so after an hour with the pups, I head to the townhouse. I shuffle into the kitchen and thankfully don't get pelted with dough this time. Nuala and Cerridwen are flowing smoothly around the room while Elain is bent over the counter with furrowed brows.

"It smells amazing in here," I comment and the icing Elain is carefully applying spurts out all over the tart.

"Ugh!" She exclaims and pulls back, raising a hand to tuck a strand of brown hair behind her ear and staining it green from the icing.

I grimace as I come to the other side of the counter. "Sorry about that." She sighs and waves off my apology while leaning back with her eyes shut a moment.

"No, it's fine. That one will just be a taste tester." She cuts the tart in half and offers me a side. I don't bother trying to be polite and shove the half in my mouth as Elain blinks. Warmth fills my mouth along with sharp spice and cinnamon before I hum happily.

Elain smiles. "I'll add this to my list of Kaira-approved desserts."

I quirk an eyebrow and suck off a bit of icing from my finger. "I have a list?"

Red brushes Elain's cheeks as she shrugs. "I noticed that you're a little pickier than everyone else. You rarely go for the sweeter treats and opt more for the savory. This one is a pumpkin tart." I stare openly at her as the tips of her ears brush pink as well, but I'm really just surprised that she noticed. "I was actually going to bring you a batch over later today. Green ones." She gestures over to the edge of the counter where I spot a glistening batch of tarts with emerald green icing drying on top.

"Thank you," I murmur, touched. She smiles and shrugs.

"Azriel helped me figure out which ones you liked as well. I asked him before he and Rhysand left this morning." A soft smile tugs at my lips. Of course, Azriel has noticed. "Feyre told me what you did for Nesta. That she ate a little." Her eyes shine as she looks at me and I can't even be upset that Nesta's business is being passed around. "Thank you."

My head shakes as I lean my hip against the counter. "I'd do anything for you and your sisters, but Nesta has to want help in order to get better. You know that. My visits don't change that." The words might be a bit harder than I mean if the twins' glares are any indication, but Elain only sighs softly.

"I know. But she ate and got out. That's more than she does usually and you got her there." She remains firmly in her stance and after a moment, I nod. If I give her hope then I won't push back. Even if the only one who can make a difference in Nesta's life is Nesta. Apparently deciding this topic has run its course, Elain continues, "The blue tarts are for Feyre. She's been up in her office most of the day."

Nuala smirks. "Groaning every so often." Just as she says it, a soft huff floats down the stairs and we all giggle.

I sigh. "Paperwork does that to you." More than likely, that's what I should be doing now. My eyes lift to Elain as I think about her doing so much for everyone else. Sure, she enjoys it, but when did someone last do something for her? Or other people who put all of themselves into others. "Elain," I call for her attention as she starts decorating another type of tart for Feyre.

"Hm?"

"Would you help me do something when you're done here?" I smile a little sheepishly when she glances up at me, then stands and hands me a piping bag.

"Help out and I'll help you faster." She dares as I stare at the bag.

My hand gently wraps around it as I walk around the counter to her side. "I hope you aren't expecting any art here," I warn her and she giggles.

"Fill in the tarts and I'll be happy." She goes back to work and I do my best to not get icing absolutely everywhere. As we work, Elain hums and I note that it's the melody I wrote for her and played on Solstice. "Do you ever add words to your songs?" She asks and moves onto her fourth tart while I move on to my second.

"Not usually, no. Words have always been harder for me to find and oftentimes, they aren't necessary for people to understand the sentiment behind a piece. In truth, words can muddy the water of the true meaning behind a song." I explain as Elain pauses in her work to look over at me.

"I've never thought about it that way." She says softly and I smile at her interest in the subject.

"There's a sort of unity in music. There's nothing quite like singing the same words with a crowd of people or listening to a piece of music, connected by the thrumming of the air, even if every person reads something different in the notes." There was a hall in the city a little way from our tiny village and I remember my mother going shopping for something, I hadn't paid attention for what at the time, but we stopped outside a storefront. Across the street the hall's doors were open and I remember the beautiful music flowing out of it. I walked over and climbed the steps to peer in, seeing an entire symphony learning a new piece together.

The tune was jaunty, partially because it was new to them, but I think that was part of the tune anyway. It was supposed to sound joyful and young, like a young stallion learning how to run under the watchful safety of the herd. My mother practically boxed my ears when she spotted me across the road, but we stayed for an hour more to listen to the free show. It was the first time I ever heard music outside of my mother's singing or the sparing player that passed through town. From then on, I was determined to bring more of it into the world. Music is like color. Things are fine without it, but with it, things shine.

"Kaira?" Elain calls and my head jerks up to find her squinting at me. "I'm taking the tarts to Feyre. Want to help?" She offers and I nod, taking the basket she offers me before we head up to her sister.

We enter the room and Feyre instantly perks up at the sight of a distraction before she even sees the tarts. "Work dragging a bit?"

She shoots me a light glare while sampling a tart. "It's never-ending." I hold back a laugh as tension leaks off her shoulders the more tarts she eats.

Elain looks over the piles and hums. "Looks like you're almost done." She encourages and glances at me.

"I'm dragging Elain out to help me with something at my house. Care to join since you've already done so much work today?" I tempt and she glances from us to the papers, then hops up onto her feet.

"I'm bringing wine."

*     *     *

There are a few things I need for the house, so Elain and Feyre break off to grab them while I drift towards another part of the city with my own errand. Being with two Archeron sisters only reminds me of the third, and if I'm being honest, the one I'm closest with. I send a shadow up to her apartment and when it tells me she isn't there, I turn on my heel to walk towards the nearest pub.

"We like her too." My shadows whisper and I nearly trip over nothing at the comment. "Her power slumbers, kept on a tight leash, but we know it. It is perhaps the most feared thing in all the world." And if my power is fear, I'm not sure if I'm reassured by that at all.

I walk into the pub and even the loudest drunk goes silent as the crowd looks over me with my wings flaring slightly in case they weren't intimidated enough. I don't give them an easy smile as I've seen Cass or Rhys do to put them at ease in the face of someone dangerous and powerful. I let them feel and imagine everything I could do to them with shadows dancing around my feet like dark fire. It's good to have fun every now and then. Even better for the low lives to remember who watches over this city like a looming shadow.

It's easy to spot Nesta and she doesn't pay me any heed. Unlike the rest of the pub who stare as I walk over to her with a straight back and long strides. "Don't remember inviting you." She comments as the buzz of the room slowly returns, although not nearly at the volume that it was.

"I came to invite you, actually," I say, sliding into a stool beside her as she flicks her glass so the bartender pours her another. Sharp silver eyes land on me and roll when I roll my shoulders so the bartender flees after only filling half her glass. "I'm doing something with your sisters at my house tonight. You're welcome to come."

Her answer comes sharp as a whip despite the amount of alcohol I can smell on her. "Why would I do that?"

"I was hoping because you wanted to, but I'd settle simply for the fact that you like me."

"Who said I did?" She snaps, but I only half-smile at the viper.

"I believe I just did."

"You become more of a smartass every day you spend with that haughty High Lord."

I shrug a shoulder and don't deny it. "While you're all politeness and sunshine?" My elbow leans against the bar before I promptly remove it when I feel the tackiness of the wood. Finally, Nesta's lips twitch. "The invitation is open. It'll be fun." Darkness passes over her eyes like clouds rolling over the moon and I know she's thinking the fun will vanish the second she enters the room. I can't even tell her she's wrong, but it isn't an accident. She chooses the suck all the air out of a room.

"Give up." She states, eyes suddenly burning. "Just stop."

I stare at her for a minute as I recognize her words for what they are. Like someone pushing people into lifeboats as a boat sinks, Nesta is trying to save everyone. The difference is that Nesta thinks she's the sinking ship that will take us all down with her. I slide off my stool and desperately wish I could simply give her a hug like Cassian or a reassuring smile like Rhys to make the world better, but I know neither would help. There's only one thing to say and do. "Never," I promise. "Although, I wouldn't mind if you gave in, Nesta."

Her entire body hardens and I wonder if that includes her heart as well. "Get out. I'm having enough fun here." She dismisses me and I hold in my sigh as I slide off my stool to head towards the door. A soft tugging on one of my curls by one of my shadows has me turning back towards Nesta and I find my spot has quickly been taken by three males. Two slide around her while the third is planted firmly in the stool where I had been sitting. Something in me says to wait, so I do.

The male in front of her coasts his fingers over her arm and I can see her entertaining the idea of taking him to her apartment before she dismisses him for a more handsome male who sends her a drink from the other end of the bar. The hiss from the male in front of her can be heard from the door as he clamps down on her wrist and her eyes widen. My shadows latch onto the wisp of fear scenting the air and I'm stalking over before I can think about it.

I'm silent and smooth as a shadow when I slink between them and slam my hand down onto his wrist. The impact is so hard that the bar cracks and the shattering of his bones is louder than the shattering glass from the shocked bartender. He howls in pain, but I don't release him even as I feel his bones shift under bloody skin. My shadows attack the two behind Nesta, gorging themselves on their fears while I stare down the male in front of me. "Please! Mercy, Shadow. Mercy." He begs and a macabre grin teases my lips.

"Hm. Mercy. Yes, I think I will show mercy." I purr and his body slacks with relief. "It'll certainly be a mercy to the population to have scum like you off the street." Wide, panicked eyes flash up to mine as my nails dig into his broken arm and his screams fill the pub before I let my shadows play with him a bit. His fears swim blurrily through my head, muddled by pain, but one is painfully clear; him, on the ground in a dirty alley being used the way he once used a woman.

My shadows pull back when he's a weeping mess on the floor with piss pooling on the floor around him and brown staining the back of his pants. His other friends are similarly afflicted. Incoherent words spill from their mouths, but I pay them no heed as I turn back to Nesta and offer a simple hand. The one that isn't bloodstained.

Her blue eyes stare at it for a few moments before she accepts it and slides off her stool, every bit a queen, as I guide her around the bawling masses. I look to the bartender. "I'll pay for any damages. Have a good evening." We float out of the pub and I take a blissful breath of clean, sharp air as the doors close behind us. "You'll stay at my house tonight," I tell her and her head snaps towards me. "We don't know if they have friends who will come looking for revenge. Just for tonight."

Her hand is still in mine and I'm not sure if it's by choice or simply from the shock. She nods and doesn't let go as we walk down the snowy street, nor does she fight it when I wrap her arm around mine to keep her steady on the ice. We don't say a word to one another, but someone else seems to pick up on my strong emotions.

"Everything alright?" Az's voice slides over the bond and part of me laxes at the connection.

"Nesta is staying the night at our house," I tell him and there's a long pause.

"That does not seem to point towards a positive answer to my previous question."

I nearly crack a smile. "We're fine. I may have misbehaved slightly." It's easy to show him what happened and I can feel his pleasure in me being forthcoming. I also hold back a pleased purr at his outrage of the men in the pub.

"I'll be home in a few hours. Unless you'd rather I stay at the townhouse?"

My head shakes imperceptibly even though he can't see me. "No, I need you with me tonight." Those men had brought up sour memories and nothing soothes me more than Az.

"I'll be there." He promises and I find it easier to relax with the assurance as we reach my house still covered with snow.