When I wake up next, I half think that I dreamt everything. In a minute, the sun will shine through the little window on my face and my sister in the bed across the room will get up to make tea. A few blinks clear my vision and I find I'm not in my family's small cabin on the edge of the woods. I let loose a small sound of disappointment at the thought of where my family actually is, and where they're not.

"Kaira." A soft, soothing voice drifts to me before his gentle face appears in front of me.

"Azriel," I say and watch him sigh in relief which quickly turns to concern when I try to move.

"Stay very still." He says and the command has me freezing even as I feel the extra weight pulling at my back. Everything that happened that evening comes back to me and fear settles in my gut.

"What happened to me?" I ask and only now do I realize that I'm clinging to his scarred hands as he holds mine. His head shakes.

"You're okay. Healthy." He gives me an answer that isn't really an answer.

"Azriel." I tug blindly at the bond and he swallows.

"You have wings." He tells me carefully, but the words slap me in the face. "We don't know how, or why, but they ripped apart your skin on the way out. Healers have been tending you all night and you should be healed completely. A healer needs to see you before you get up."

"Wings," I repeat, flabbergasted. He nods.

"Lovely wings." He adds and a breathy, hysterical laugh leaves my lips at the sheer lunacy of this. A smile cuts across his face before he goes on. "There's green veining in them that brings out the green in your eyes." He continues and I calm a little at the compliment as well as the information that he's noticed the green in my eyes. I'd thought it had long faded.

"How? Why?" I ask and he sighs.

"We don't know. Since it is such a big, physical change, it may just be a delayed reaction from being Made." He tries to give me some explanation and I nod thankfully at the effort.

"Missed our training session then," I say dryly and a smile tugs on the edge of his lips.

"I won't forget." We both stiffen and Azriel stands with his hands slipping from mine when someone comes in. His wings flare slightly to hide me, but also block my sight. As soon as he sees who it is, those wings go back to being tucked tightly behind him

"Well, at least you haven't grown talons too and ripped poor Az apart," Mor says with a soft smile as she walks over with a healer trailing behind her.

"Yet." I return and her smile grows while Azriel's brows raise.

"Now that you're awake it would be good if you could try sitting up." The healer says with skin that's dark blue and shimmers like the night sky. She moves behind me as my arm slips under my body to push myself up.

"Here." Mor slides past a frozen Azriel to take my other hand and pulls me upright.

"How heavy are these things?" I ask Az who smirks while muscles I've never used scream with the effort.

"Heavy." He returns and I'd slap him for the obvious comment if I thought I could stand. A dark chuckle leaks from his lips as if he knows, but it quiets when Mor looks over at him.

"You're also not holding them right. Hold them up." The healer behind me encourages and my hand in Morrigan's tightens as I lean forward slightly to lift them off the floor. I pant slightly with the effort before the healer hums her approval and I hold them still as she examines me.

"You know, I'm Rhys' cousin." Mor comments and I blink as I look up to meet her warm, brown eyes. "I hope your feelings towards him don't extend towards me too." Her voice is sharper this time and I wince when I sigh. I'd called him nothing.

"I could have handled that better. Possibly." I allow and her expression doesn't change. "Look, I'm still mourning my family. I still have nightmares about the way that they died. It's a little soon to start replacing them." My answer is a little sharper than it should be, but Mor softens a bit.

"You can't replace family, trust me I've tried, but there's nothing wrong with adding to it." She tells me and I soak in her words. "When you got here, I didn't realize how much you looked like an Illyrian, but now you really fit the part." Mor jokes and I'm glad to feel the air lighten around all of us. Azriel considers me with slightly furrowed brows as if noticing the same before the healer clicks her tongue and rounds the bed.

"You're settled. You should be fine to walk and fly." She tells me and rests her fingers on my cheek before turning and walking out of the long room. I turn back to the two people in front of me before Mor starts bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"Time to stand." She says and grabs onto my right hand while Azriel takes my left. They glance to one another in surprise, then quickly turn back to me. I use them as leverage to slowly rise and figure out what muscles I should be using to lift my wings too. After I stand, I take a step forward so my wings have cleared the bed behind me. Knife sharp pain echoes over my back as my muscles scream from the extra effort, but I manage to stand with my wings pulled tight to my back like Azriel's.

"Well done." He bids and I can hear the sincerity in his voice.

"He doesn't give out compliments often, so take that one to heart, Kaira." Mor teases and Az rolls his eyes before stilling for a moment, then smirking. His eyes look me over, then he turns to Mor.

"Pine forest. Ten minutes." He tells her before looking back at me with amusement dancing in his eyes. "Your training starts today. With flying lessons." I blink at that and by the time my mouth opens he's already at the door. Mor bounces on her feet again as she squeals then grabs my hand and takes us to my room.

"This is exciting!" She says, vanishes, then reappears with a small pile of clothes that she sets out on my desk before helping me into them. A little of Mor's excitement leaks into me as I change and try to keep my wings from falling to the floor.

"Probably more exciting for the people who are about to see me crash. Multiple times." I say and Mor hums as she steps back and considers me now dressed in Illyrian leathers.

"True. I wonder if Az would let me watch." She laughs when I glare at her before reaching for my hand and whisking us through the shadows into a forest. Pines tower above us while little grey pebbles tumble under my feet actually encased in boots for once. A glittering lake stretches next to us with two people on the other edge.

"What is that called, by the way?" I ask Mor before she disappears and she smiles.

"Winnowing. You can do it too. That's what happens when you reach for the shadows and think of where you want to go. Good luck." Her grin brightens before she's gone and when I look across the lake, I find that both people now have wings. Something like a smile works its way onto my face at the sight of the smaller person's wings dragging behind them before I reach for the shadows in my loose hair. The next time I blink I'm beside Azriel and standing in front of Feyre whose wings are now standing at attention.

"Late." The male comments and I give him a look that has those eyes shining before I look back to Feyre.

"You look well." She comments even though I can see sweat already beading on her brow. The last time we saw each other I'd been yelling ungratefully at her mate.

"So do you. Nice addition." A little smile lifts her lips as I gesture to her wings. Hers don't seem to have a certain color in the veining, but shimmer like the night sky.

"I didn't know that you were going to join us today. Glad to know my humiliation won't be completely one-sided." My lips twitch at the sentiment.

"You'll need to start physical training so you can build up your muscles." Azriel's voice drifts over to me and I frown at the thought.

"You'll train with me," Feyre says as she perks up slightly, then winces at the pain from her wings. We certainly are a pair. "I could use the back-up anyway." She and Az share a look before he waves a hand for me to join Feyre at the water's edge. She begins snapping her wings open, then pulling them shut and Az nods for me to follow suit. A sharp yelp fills the air as I open my wings and my muscles ache with the effort. My fingers curl into fists at the cool smirk on Azriel's face and I make sure not to make a sound when I pull my wings back in.

* * *

I'm not quite sure how I'm still standing after my first training lesson with Azriel and I have no clue how Feyre is walking. At least I didn't have to train with Cassian first, but that would apparently change soon. Feyre had to go somewhere with Rhys afterward and Azriel had to go speak with Lucien, the red-headed male, so I'm left to my own devices. It feels good to feel sore. It's evidence that I'd worked, that I'd accomplished something other than sitting alone in the dark.

I decide to seek out Nesta. We hadn't seen each other since I'd...sprouting wings, so I want to know that my screaming didn't awaken something in her. Or remind her of the trauma she and her sister experienced. I'm surprised to find her waiting in my room and she jerks to her feet when I walk in the door a bit awkwardly with my wings. It will take time to get used to moving with them. My lips press together as her eyes rove over them, then snap back to my face.

"I was told that you were better. I was with the healers for a while, but Elain..." I nod.

"She needs you. I understand." I tell her smoothly and a little tension leaves her shoulders. I'm shocked she was with me at the healers at all. "If...if I frightened you or caused you distress, I'm sorry." A huff of laughter leaves her and her head shakes.

"You didn't ask for it. None of us asked for any of this." Her eyes look over my wings again before she looks out the window. "The way that you screamed...I could still hear it for hours afterward. It made me think of when they put Elain in the-" She cuts herself off as her hand rests over her heart.

"Has she made any improvement?" I ask carefully and her head shakes. After shucking off my boots, my feet pad over to her but I keep a solid distance between us so she stays comfortable. "I would be happy to sit with her. If you should like more company." She takes a deep breath before looking at me and blinking as if she'd already forgotten that I'd grown wings.

"Maybe." She allows. I know that the answer is the best that I'll get and nod in acceptance. She flows out of the room and I sigh while making sure I keep my wings up off the floor. I will master this. I leave the doors open and stand in the widest part of my room before going back to work before the soreness really sets in. I keep the image of Azriel jumping from the ledge in my mind. The way he fell but caught himself. I want to do that. Each time my wings snap open I breathe out and every time they snap back in I breathe in.

I will fly. I will fly. I will fly.

By the time dinner comes around, I'm surprised my body hasn't collapsed into a ball of flesh on the floor. I'm the first into the dining room at the townhouse and I'm filled with half hope, half dread that Rhys will be next so we can talk. "If you wanted to talk, all you had to do was say so, little sister." His voice drifts over to me and I turn to the door with a deep frown on my face. Feyre pinches him with a scolding look, but she looks more exhausted than I am.

"Don't be a prick." She comments and my irritation slakes.

"Shields were down," Rhys warns playfully as Feyre sits down while he moves towards me. I sigh but haul up my shadowy shields before focusing on the High Lord in front of me.

"I wanted to address what happened last night."

"When you yelled at me so passionately that you sprouted wings? I must say, I've never angered someone to that extent before. It'll make for a good story." He grins and my teeth grit together before I cross my arms, then wince when the movement pulls on my muscles. "How are the wings, by the way?" He asks before settling down next to Feyre with a hand sliding over her arm even though her eyes are shut as if she may fall asleep at the table. I wouldn't blame her.

"It's an adjustment," I say and roll my shoulders while swallowing a groan. "I wanted to say that I could have handled last night differently." The words finally leave me as I plop into a chair across from him. Just like Mor, he waits silently with an expectant look on his face for me to continue. I think about tossing silverware at his head. "I know that you didn't know I existed before now and even if you did, you owe me no loyalty. I...apologize for my rudeness." He'd been more than kind since meeting me and that holds some weight too. Rhys inclines his head towards me and I'm glad for the gracious acceptance. For a moment.

"Well, that may have been true up until this point." He says and I sigh as his eyes twinkle. Feyre has a small smile on her face but seems content to let the two of us sort this out.

"What does that mean?"

"As you said, I didn't know you existed before. Now I do." He shrugs with a smile slowly crawling over his face. "You now have my loyalty, my protection, and even a little bit of affection. You're stuck with us for eternity, little sister." He tells me with a wide, mischievous grin. I set my elbows on the table before burying my head in my hands while I groan. The two at the table laugh before we hear footsteps and all turn to find a sullen Mor walking in.

"Glad to see that groan is from irritation rather than something else." She teases and glances at Rhys and Feyre who blushes, but her voice lacks its usual light-heartedness. Both High Lord and High Lady watch her carefully as she settles in front of Feyre to my right. She's uncharacteristically quiet as we wait for the last member since Amren is busy and Azriel is apparently gone on Shadowsinger business. I find myself checking the strange connection between us and relax when I feel him on the other end. At least he's alive, wherever he is. The other Illyrian doesn't take long to show and marches into the room before sliding into the seat next to me as I try not to lean away.

"Wings suit you, little sister." He says with a wide grin as he adopts Rhysand's nickname for me. Briefly, I think of how much he reminds me of a dog who bounds from room to room and insists on sitting in everyone's lap despite being twice as large as any person present. A deep chuckle rumbles across the bond and I hear Azriel's smooth voice on the other end.

"I'm not sure he'd appreciate the comparison." He comments and I find a smile tempting my lips at the laughter laced in his tone. Cassian's grin widens as he thinks the near smile is some encouragement for him.

"Are you safe?" I ask and wait a moment for a response even as Rhys snaps food onto the table with eyes grazing mine. Maybe it's foolish that I've asked, but I think I'd miss him if he weren't here. Would be upset if he were hurt.

"As safe as I can be. I'll be back by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"So no morning flying lesson?" I tease and relish the trickle of amusement that trills through me from him. My shell of a body gobbles it up as I feel a little fuller, a little livelier.

"Careful. The dog next to you can fly as well." I snort and the people around the table look at me before moving on with their muted conversation.

"I have dinner to eat per someone's request that I keep my energy up." Amusement drifts over the bond again before it quiets and I focus on the food in front of me. The room is quieter than usual thanks to Mor's mood about the trip they're taking. Feyre and Azriel mentioned it earlier while Feyre was trying to keep her mind off the pain of training. Wise, since it's taking all my effort right now to just keep my wings off the floor as I eat.

"I hear you're coming to our next training session, Kaira," Cassian says and I try not to pull back from his broad body when he looks at me with nothing but kindness in his eyes.

"If you agree."

"I'm glad to do as my High Lady asks." He shoots a wink over at her that has she and her mate rolling their eyes. "Although I'll warn you that it's hard work." Feyre hums across the table in tired agreement which has Cassian smirking.

"Depending on who stays here tomorrow night, your training can start then." Rhys teases, but the words carry a weight that settles over the room. I hesitate as I glance at Mor, then look over at Rhys.

"Should I come? Could...I help?" I ask all the while aware of Mor next to me, her flame dim tonight because of whatever has to happen tomorrow. Rhys softens slightly in his seat at the question but shakes his head while Feyre answers.

"For the part that we need to play we need to be a strong, cold front. While I can make my wings vanish and manage my soreness, you'd have to act like an Illyrian warrior and-" I cut her off with a wave of my hand as I nod. I won't make her describe how I can barely hold my wings up and still have bones practically poking out of my skin.

"I understand."

"But the offer is appreciated," Feyre says, always kind, and the corner of my lips lift even as I look to Mor. I take the mug of chocolate that Rhys always gives me and nudge it towards her. Her brown eyes dart to the movement, then her hand slides down my arm in thanks even though she doesn't touch it. Her eyes steady on Rhys.

"Consider any offer Keir gives you, Rhysand. Thoroughly." Mor warns him and it's the most fire I've heard in her voice all night. Rhys shrugs.

"I'll think about it when the time comes." He doesn't really answer and the fact makes Mor grit her teeth together. I don't dare probe further about where they're going and the meal continues a bit tensely. When it ends, Feyre limps upstairs while Cassian walks out with Mor, which leaves Rhys and me at the bottom of the stairs.

"You can stay here if you like." He says blasely as his eyes wander to mine. I look around at the house that is clearly more of a home than the one high in the mountains. When I look back to him, I know the offer isn't just for the night.

"Does it get better?" I don't have to specify what it is. The High Lord sighs and shrugs as he lingers a little closer to the sweeping oak stairs.

"With time, effort, and support. A little. There are good days and bad days." A smile creeps onto his face when he glances up the stairs. "I'm lucky to have a mate who understands and stays by my side through everything." I nod slowly as I consider his previous offer, but Nesta and Elain come to mind.

"Maybe one day. For now, I'll stay at the House."

"Feyre appreciates it, you know. You being there for Nesta." He tells me with flashing violet eyes and I check my shields to make sure he isn't rooting around in my mind. Once I make sure they're secure, I just shrug.

"It's the least I can do." For any of them, not only for Feyre. Rhys hums with interest lurking behind his smooth expression.

"You know, since you're family, you don't have to buy your way into anything." There's a little smirk at pressing my buttons on his face, but the sentiment is genuine.

"I'm not buying anything. Nesta..." I'm at a slight loss for words for what Nesta is.

"She defended you quite vehemently when she thought I was torturing you at dinner the other day." He comments and I know he understands what I'm trying to say.

"I won't abandon her or Elain." Not when she seems to feel like she has so few allies while I might be gaining a few. "Being a little farther away from you than down the hall helps too." His grin widens and I allow myself a small one in return.

"Flattering, Kaira. Can I take you back to your room far from me?" He offers a hand despite knowing that I can winnow. A test...and an offer. I take it before I can think too much about it and he grins before we vanish into shadow. When he leaves me alone in my room once again, I find my stomach isn't churning from his touch.

*A/N*

Yup. Wings. Who called it? ;)