Cassian finds me awake and fully dressed the next morning with food already on the table. I could get used to this house that tends to our every need. "Did you not stay awake long enough the other day?" He teases while plopping unceremoniously beside me and piling food on his plate.

"Hopefully, there will be a day coming where I can sleep until noon peacefully. And without a pig snorting in the other room." I hide my smirk behind a cup of tea when Cassian pauses with a frown.

"My snoring is musical. It's not my fault you don't have an ear for it."

"I doubt anyone other than your mate would find it musical."

"Which is why I'm shocked you're against it."

"We're not together!" I laugh and shake my head. "You lied about that!"

"Still hurts, little sister." He puts a hand over his heart and I laugh again, shoving him which only causes me to rock in my seat. "Seriously though, if you need to talk about something..." He shrugs and my smile sobers a bit.

"What are we going to do if the High Lords don't agree to fight?" I ask and he sighs.

"No matter what they decide, we'll fight. We'll fight until the end and do whatever we can for the innocents caught in between." The general makes an appearance and I nod, ever the soldier. "But they'd be fools not to agree. It would be signing their own death into Hybern's hands. Still, it's important to make a good impression which means we should get back. Rest. Find you something to wear." He sighs and stands, his wings stretching along with his arms. I pop up just after him and walk outside into the morning light barely leaking over the snow-capped mountains.

"So, what's the prize for winning this race?" I ask and his grin is brighter than the rising sun. I'm glad to see it after yesterday.

"Hm. Mor always asks for foot rubs." He offers and I perk up.

"Accepted. What does the loser have to do?" I question while extending my wings and rolling my shoulders to warm myself up. Cassian's brows furrow.

"Giving me foot rubs isn't punishment enough for you?"

"It certainly isn't enough punishment for you when I take pride in keeping my feet smelling nice." Ever since nearly losing my toes, I'd discovered a newfound respect for my feet. "Winner gets foot rubs for a month to be called in at any time. Loser...the loser has to wear one item to the meeting that the winner chooses." A wide grin inches over my face at the shock, then absolutely wicked pleasure that settles onto his face. "And go!" I sweep into the sky and shoot towards Velaris with a few shadows left behind to hold Cassian to the ground. His roaring makes me push harder while I chuckle, but I don't have the lung capacity to waste on laughter.

It takes him minutes to catch up with me, then within the next hour, he's a speck in front of me. My jaw locks at the thought of rubbing his feet and whatever horror he'll make me wear to the meeting. An idea flashes into my mind before I'm diving into a pocket of the world, sliding through shadows, then coming out in the air over Cassian. Before he can look up, I melt into his shadows while barely breathing. I hitch a ride until we're within sight of Velaris and even still, I hold on until we're meters from the border, then fling myself out.

"What—" He barks as I spear across the border with a shout of triumph. "YOU DAMNED CHEATER!" He thunders, but when I look back at him, he has a wide grin on his face.

"We never specified any rules, shaggy." I return and he practically steams before we skid to a stop on the deck of the House of Wind. We shove each other through the door grinning and chuckling. "Hope your hands are ready for a workout." I tease and he groans before wiping sweat off his brow to slather it over my arm. "Ugh!" My arm is raised to slap him when we both feel the slight eddy that whirls in to reveal Rhys touching down on the veranda.

"Could you try to keep it down? Both of you sound like two dogs mid-fight." Humor is laced into each word and my eyes roll before I cross my arms over my chest.

"Cassian is down because he lost a bet."

"Because you cheated."

"Prove it." I dare and my smile widens when he takes a step toward me that may be threatening to anyone else but is a challenge to me. His grin widens when I don't move away, but Rhys' head shakes.

"Maybe pairing the two of you together wasn't such a good idea." He comments, but his eyes are shining brightly.

"Just try to take her from me now, Rhys. She dealt with Devlon's second with nothing but class." Cassian pronounces proudly as he sways into me. My lips press together at the obvious lie as I open my shields to gift Rhys the memory in lieu of a report.

"My methods were necessary this time, but I plan to enforce more diplomacy in the future." I assure him, knowing that this was a sort of test. Rhys nods slowly and I'm glad to see that his eyes don't stop shining. On the contrary, they seem to glow brighter.

"Spoken like a true advisor and one I'm glad to have in the family. Now, do I get to know about this bet?" He asks and I grin over at Cassian who groans.

"Depends. How do you feel about Cassian wearing something lacy and frilly to the meeting with the High Lords?" His mouth pops open while Rhys chokes on a laugh.

"You wouldn't dare." He says quietly with hazel eyes focused on me like a wolf cornering a rabbit while I grin and shrug.

"I'm still thinking about it. Maybe my kindness concerning it will increase based on how good a foot rub you give me." Cassian groans again and Rhys is trying to smother his laughter since there's a chance the winged male may shove his brother out the window.

"You're worse than Mor and that's saying something."

"Excuse me?" The blonde pops her head in from the hall and Cassian grimaces but straightens when she steps in the room. "I'm going to look past that comment because everyone is worse than me since I am, in fact, the best." She levels Cassian with a playful glare which he rolls his eyes at.

"Since I've given my report, I'll leave you two to talk." I point to Cassian. "I want to see you in an hour with ready hands." He shakes his head and shoves me out before Mor links our arms before we winnow to the townhouse.

"Do I want to know why Cassian is supposed to meet you with ready hands?" She teases, but there's an edge to her voice. I pick out a change of clothes with a wave of my hand back to her.

"He lost a bet to me and I stole your idea for a prize." I turn and lay out my clothes on the bench at the end of my bed beside where Mor has perched. She blinks, then grins.

"Ooo, finally someone new to bet with. Feyre is far too economical." She complains with a hungry glimmer in her eyes. My head shakes.

"I prefer to barter with favors and humiliation rather than money."

"Mm, even more fun. Besides, you might change your mind when you see how much Rhys is paying you for being an Advisor." She winks at me while my brows furrow.

"He never mentioned anything about a salary," I say before there's a soft knock on the door, then Feyre pokes her head inside.

"Rhys said you were back." She says before I wave her in. The door clicks shut softly behind her as she glides in and settles beside Mor. "I heard that economical comment by the way and of course we're paying you. You'll deserve every penny if you can simply keep Cassian from bursting when he has to deal with Devlon." Her fingers reach out and pinch Mor for her comment, but I focus on her other words. Devlon is the male that neither Azriel nor Cassian allowed near me when we were in the Illyrian camp at the border. Their leader, when neither Rhys or Cass is there. He's a complicated character, it seems.

"I'm glad of the work and proud of the title, but I'd actually like to ask for advice myself." Both women perk up while I take a breath. "I'm new to this world and to this court, so I don't want to make a novice mistake. I...I wondered if you both would help me choose something to wear to the meeting." I ask with my fingers knit together in front of me, but the women simply look to one another, then back to me.

"Of course, we will." Feyre answers first, apparently deciding the next words out of Mor's mouth would be too crass for my fragile ears. Worry lifts off my shoulders as I nod to them in thanks.

"We'll do you one better, actually. Go bathe and get dressed, then meet us in front of the house so we can take you shopping." Mor says and hops up with a skip in her step, then slides out of the room without another word. I sigh, but Feyre just smiles and walks to the door.

"It's time you got out and saw the city you're fighting to protect. Time to stop hiding." She says softly and something in the way she says it makes me think that she understands more than I realize. I nod in acceptance before she slips out too. With my bundle of clothes in my hands, I turn to the bathroom and the accursed bathtub inside it. I decide a little distraction is in order.

"I'm back without a scratch. Miss me?" I shoot the words over the bond and the soft rumble I receive in return is a salve to my nerves.

"Desperately." Azriel deadpans and my laugh echoes in the bathroom. "But I'm not in Velaris. I'll be back soon." Words are left off his last sentence and the fact makes me smile. His lack of entitlement is so different, so thrilling.

"I'd appreciate it if you told me when you were. More so if you came to see me." Pleasant surprise flits across the bond and I take the moment to step into the tub.

"I will. Although I'm surprised that you're in such a good mood. Spending prolonged time with Cassian usually has the opposite effect." He teases and my head shakes as I pour water over myself. It's warm and for once, I manage to enjoy the way it feels rather than paying attention to what I'm standing in.

"I may have won a bet that puts me in a position of power over him which isn't hurting my mood." I return and my brows furrow at the beat of silence that passes before he responds.

"What are you doing?" He asks and I can feel his tone change more than hear it. The feeling sends chills down my spine.

"Why?" I ask innocently and I swear I can feel him swallow.

"I thought...I thought I felt water. On you. Your skin." The words are lower than I've ever heard Azriel speak and the fact has a shocking burst of heat skittering through my body. I find myself imagining his scarred hands instead of water sliding over my bare skin before a choked gasp echoes over the bond. "You can't...you have to be careful what you focus on when we're connected like this. Strong emotions, thoughts, images...they can easily be accidentally carried over." He tells me evenly, but there's a strain in his voice. My cheeks are red as I step out of the bath, then wrap a towel around myself.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable," I murmur and feel soothing comfort drift over to me.

"You didn't. I just want you to be aware so you're comfortable." I take a breath and nod to myself. "Although, you have made flight a little awkward." This is said with slight hesitancy, but it makes me smile as I feel what exact type of discomfort he's suffering from.

"I can help with that." I return and conjure an image I'd concocted of Cassian wearing those pink and frilly things from earlier. His discomfort vanishes and I'm glad to hear a loud, rumbling laugh even if he's halfway across the world. "Fly safe." I bid and feel his hand flick the bond in return for the cruelty of the last image, then my mind is my own once again. After I'm dressed in pants and a shirt that finally, miraculously fit from all the weight I'd gained and muscle I've put on, I head towards the stairs. Something makes me pause and turn around, then pushes me onward towards Nesta's room. I don't think about it when I knock, but can't help taking a breath when she jerks open the door.

"Kaira." She says in greeting and actually sounds a little relieved. "They said you were alright and that you were with him, but..." She trails off as her eyes scan me.

"I'm fine and so is Cassian. I went with him to reconcile those that lost people in the battle." I explain and she barely nods. "I...I'm going into town with Feyre and Mor and wondered if you'd like to come." Nothing flickers in those bright blue-grey eyes, but her body does betray her slightly by softening.

"Do they know you've come to make this offer?" She asks and my head shakes, which she hums at.

"But I doubt you'd be unwelcome."

"Then you aren't half as observant as I took you to be." The words are sharp, but not harsh. Her eyes look me over again and I can see her disapproval in the clothes even if, somehow, that disapproval hasn't extended to me yet. "You...you're the only one who makes an effort with me and has nothing to gain." It's as close to saying we're friends as I think she's willing to say. "But I'm busy." She shuts the door in my face and I sigh but flow down the stairs to meet Mor and Feyre at the door. Kindly, Feyre tells Rhys what we're doing and relays the information to Cassian who is more than grateful that I've skipped our first foot rub appointment.

"So, what do you want to wear? What do you want to look like?" Mor asks as she practically skips down the street while Feyre links her arm with mine. No one stares, but many nod or smile at her and Mor with curious looks at me.

"Do they know who I am?" I ask Feyre quietly and she shrugs.

"There aren't exactly any other female High Fae who resembles an Illyrian." She answers while Mor peeks in every shop we pass. "Rhys also did everything but shout that you're related from the rooftops—"

"And word is already spreading about the Shadow of Velaris," Mor adds over her shoulder while admiring a flaming red outfit front and center of the nearest store.

"But they don't really know you. They've never seen you until now except from a great distance while you were flying." Feyre goes on while I survey the expressions on the people's faces as they pass by. There's no fear even though they've heard what I did to earn my nickname, only respect and interest.

"You never answered my questions, Kaira. We do need a little help unless you want me to just lend you something." Her eyes spark at the idea while my head shakes. I love her clothes on her, but they definitely aren't my taste.

"I want to look...feminine. Nice." I tell her and think for another moment. "And also like fear given flesh." Both women grin, then drag me down the street into a lovely shop decorated with all sorts of fabric and dresses.

We spend at least two hours in the store.

We feel fabric, wrap it around ourselves, each other, and ask the woman who runs the store dozens of questions before walking out with my outfit and I actually think it's going to be perfect. My anxiety grows as the afternoon turns into evening and I settle in my room with books about the Dawn Court. I'm about to give in and head out to afflict someone else with my company when someone slips into my room.

"Figured you were about to destroy your room again if you didn't have something fun." Mor says with a soft smile as she heads over and hands me a mug of chocolate.

"Thank you. Even though I wouldn't say chocolate is fun. Delicious, yes." I specify and her eyes roll while I take a sip of the warmed happiness.

"I'm the fun. The chocolate is just a bonus." She says and wipes my books to the side so she can hop onto the bed beside me. "I wanted to clear things up as well as give you a nice distraction before we go to the meeting tomorrow. About the kiss." Mor's eyes are steady on mine as I pause mid-sip, then lower my mug into my lap as I listen. She sighs and shakes her head. "Look, I...what happened...when I said it could or could not mean...fuck." She curses and I put my mug to the side in order to take her hands in mine.

"Say it or don't, but either way, I will not judge you," I tell her with confidence. I've seen too much depravity in myself and others to judge Mor for hers. She takes a deep breath with warm brown eyes focused on me.

"I prefer females." She states and I blink. It's quiet for a moment, then I nod.

"Okay."

"Okay?" The word comes out and Mor hardly seems aware of it as she blinks rapidly. I nod again with a small shrug.

"Yes," I respond while surprise colors her face as well. "It's not like I don't understand."

"You...then you prefer them too?" She questions with hands tightening on mine, but my lips press together.

"I don't know. It isn't something I've ever really thought of." I think about myself before all of this, before Hybern, before my family was killed. Thoughts of a romantic nature happened for me, but never for an allotted sex. I just remember an appreciation for both. There's a beauty to both, a strength, a pull. "For me, I think either." Mor releases a long breath, but her hands squeeze mine.

"It's not accepted in the Court of Nightmares. More than not accepted." She huffs. "Reviled. Despised. I've...hidden this part of myself for so long, but then you came and I saw a piece of myself in you. How I was after everything happened with Eris, then I got drunk and you were so lovely..." Her head shakes, but my eyes don't leave her for a second.

"You don't have to apologize for anything. No matter what the kiss meant, it was a gift you gave me, and I'm grateful for it." I swear while she stares at me without that lightness and swagger that usually accompanies her. "I won't tell a soul. It's your gift to share when you're ready." Tears fill her eyes to the brim and my arms open the instant that she leans forward. For once, I hold someone else just like I held Feyre at the camp. My fingers drift over her fine gold curls like little tendrils of bright flame trailing in Mor's wake. So beautiful. Far more precious than real gold.

"Thank you." She murmurs into my shoulder and I find I don't grow panicked at her arms tightening around me. When she pulls back, her hands stay on my waist while I gently reach up to wipe away her leftover tears. She half-smiles. "What I wanted to say is that the kiss did mean something to me. It's the first time I did something I wanted to do...in that way in a long time." Her golden hair falls over her shoulders when she looks down for a moment. Briefly, Azriel comes to mind and the connection between us before I push it aside. It's not the time to mention that. I lean forward and press a light, butterfly kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"I'm glad I could give that to you," I murmur and we lean against one another for a moment before we sit straight up at the sound of a light knock on the door. Mor instantly slides to the other end of my bed before I call for whoever it is to come in. I see a wing first, then I'm smiling as Azriel slides in. "In one piece?" I ask and a feeling I can't quite describe fills my chest when the corner of his lips lift.

"Yes. Despite a little turbulence." My smile grows at the mention while Mor's eyes flit between us.

"Rhys needs me." She mumbles and I'm about to ask her to stay when she winnows out. Deflating, I sigh before packing up the books on my bed and shifting them to the desk.

"Everything alright?" He asks and I nod as I turn to face him.

"She was distracting me from where we have to go and what we have to do tomorrow." It's not technically a lie. Azriel moves further into the room and closer to me with a flick of his chin towards the bag at the end of my bed. "Feyre joined in on that distraction, but I also needed something to wear tomorrow." His brows raise and he floats a bit closer to the bag before I slide in front of it. "You'll see it tomorrow." Curiosity makes his hazel eyes seem more alive as his shadows shiver when I draw a bit closer.

"And the pink, frilly outfit you were planning for Cassian?" Laughter tints his voice while my head shakes.

"Anything frilly in that bag is for me, I'm afraid. Cassian's outfit is going to stay my little secret for a little while longer." I did get him something to wear when I was out with the others, but they didn't see. It was actually a little thrilling to be able to spend money on something, no matter how small. After all, I have a salary now. A job. A purpose.

"Kaira," Azriel calls softly and I blink as I refocus on the male in front of me.

"Tomorrow. If I need to be steadied..." I trail off and he nods.

"Reach for me." He encourages and I release my hold on that worry. "Anytime for anything." He reiterates and I hum, then quirk my head at him.

"I will, but only if you agree that you can turn to me for the same." I condition and that sly smile widens.

"A bargain?" He questions and I nod. His eyes go soft at the edges and I know his answer before the words leave his lips. "Agreed, Kaira." Something light tickles my left ear and my hand slides over it before Az sends me an image of the new tattoo. It's simple. Two solid bands wrapping around the top of my pointed ear. My eyes lift to Azriel and find his tenderly appraising the marks on me before I offer him my hand.

"I have something for you," I tell him and his eyes widen, but he takes my hand before we winnow into the House of Wind in front of that singular room with only one thing in it. A deep breath leaves me at the sight of the piano and I release Azriel's hand as I walk over to it.

*A/N*

Alright, everyone. What is Cassian wearing to the meeting? ;) In all honesty, he would rock something pink and frilly. What are we thinking so far? Also, Kaira purposefully making bargains because she likes the tattoos is absolutely something I would do.

Keep reading, lovelies!