I woke up suddenly to a sharp tug deep down in the pit of my stomach. I sat up in bed suddenly and looked around. It was dark in my room still. The middle of the night. But that tug was strong and I felt my head spin as I tossed my covers off of me and left my room, following the direction of the tug, the cramp strengthening as I got closer to whatever was pulling me along.

It lead me to Azriel's door.

I hesitated outside of it, then knocked. When no answer came from inside, I opened the door to find him sitting on his bed with his arms wrapped around his head, knees tucked up and his shoulders shook. I raced over to his side and rested my hands on his shoulders.

"Azriel." I said.

He looked up suddenly and backed away with a jump. He stared at me incomprehensibly with red tear-filled eyes, then he covered his face with his scarred hands. His wings were drooped around his sides and he wore only pants, and I looked at the tattoos across his shoulders and chest curiously, but sat on the bed in front of him and whispered,

"Azriel. Look at me." I reached for his hands and his while body went stiff. "Come on, now, love. It's ok. I'm here."

I gently pulled his hands from his face and saw it was stained with tears. I furrowed my eyebrows and he held onto my hands tightly, saying nothing, as if he was clinging onto me for dear life.

I slid closer and kissed his tear-stained cheeks and whispered, "It's ok. I'm here now, love. You're safe. It was only a nightmare. I get them, too." My hands resting on the sides of his head to tilt it down.

He looked up at me, hazel eyes shining a little in the dark, and he whispered hoarsely, "Stay?" A broken plea.

I paused. That tug was even stronger now and only seemed to abate when I was closer to him. I nodded. "Yes. Always." I wasn't going to leave him like this anyways.

I slid off the bed then closed his door and returned and slid under the covers and laid on a pillow and held my arms out to him. He laid down next to me and wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his head on my shoulder so that I was his pillow, pulling the blankets over us.

I kissed the top of his head and gently ran my fingers through his soft black hair. He let out a shuddering breath and just hugged me closer, and I whispered,

"It's ok. I've got you, and I'm never letting go."

I felt myself begin to drift off again and I did, this time in his arms and him in mine and without a fear in the world.

******

The next time I woke up, sunlight was streaming through the windows. I looked over to my right, and he was still there and sleeping. He laid on his side facing me and I scooted closer to him and wrapped my arms around him in a hug, nuzzling my face into his neck and breathing in the scent of him.

His slowly moved around me, and a kiss was placed on my head. "Good morning." He said softly, voice scratchy and a little rough.

I blushed. "Good morning."

His hand came up to tilt my face up to his and I smiled a little at him. He smiled back and leaned forward and gently kissed my lips. "How did you sleep?" He mumbled, brushing some hair from my face.

"Very well, actually. I didn't have any nightmares. Did you have any more?" I asked and rested a hand on his cheek.

He shook his head, a small smile on his face. "No. I did not."

"Well, that's good." I say and smiled at him a little more. "I have training again this morning. Would it be bad if I just skipped today?"

He chuckled and I smiled. "I think he wouldn't let you hear the last of it. How are your wings? Are you using the techniques I showed you to strengthen them?" He asked, rubbing his hands up and down my arms.

I nodded. "Yeah, I have been. They're a little sore from yesterday, but it's to be expected when I haven't used them for more than twenty years."

He smiled a little sadly and kissed my forehead.

"I'll see you soon, though. At breakfast and then training." I said and pulled away carefully from his arms and kissed his lips once more, then winnowed back to my room and changed into my fighting leathers and tied my hair into a braid.

As I was lacing up my boots, a knock sounded on my door.

"Come in!" I called and the door opened and I was startled to see who stood in the doorway.

Two shadow wraiths stood behind a Fae girl. But I knew her. At least, not as Fae.

Her grey-blue eyes widened when she saw me and she gasped, "Adrianna?"

"Feyre." I breathed and took two steps forward and she threw her arms around my neck and I hugged her tightly. I pulled away and looked her over and said, "How are you here? What happened to you?" My hands rested on her impossibly slim shoulders. What did happen to her in the Spring Court?

Her face went ashen and I shook my head. "When you're ready."

"Well what about you? Your wings are free. And the last time I saw you you were dying on the floor."

"Yeah. I'm ok now, obviously. Rhysand sent Azriel to save me and I've been here with them. Why are you here?"

She lifted her left arm where tattoos covered it and I frowned. "I made a bargain with Rhysand. He healed me and in exchange, I have to spend one week a month for the rest of my month here."

I raised an eyebrow. "But you weren't here for almost three months."

She nods. "I know. I don't know why he decided to get me now- especially so late." She wrapped her arms around herself.

"Rhysand does a lot of things that oftentimes don't have an explanation, but he does it for the good of others."

"You believe that?" She asked. Her cheeks were hollow, she had dark bags under her eyes, and she looked a lot more sickly since last I saw her.

"I do. With all my being. Have you meet anyone else here?" I asked gently.

She shook her head. "No."

"Would you like to?"

"Not yet. Maybe later."

I nodded and said, "Alright. It's really good to see you again, Feyre. I'll be at breakfast if you would like to join, then I'm going to the fields to train."

She nodded. "Maybe. It was good to see you again, Adrianna."

"You too, Feyre. Come find me later, ok?" I say and smile, but she doesn't return it.

After she left with the two servants, I grabbed my twin swords and strapped them to my belt and made my way to the dining hall where Cassian and Azriel already sat talking.

I sat down next to Azriel and I felt that tug at the pit of my stomach again and Cassian sniffed, then choked on his wine and coughed.

"No way." He said and Azriel looked up and gave him a warning look as he stuck an apple slice into his mouth.

I took a piece of bread and said, "What?"

"You guys? Really?" He asks and was grinning like a fool.

"Yes." I said and placed my hand on top of Azriel's.

"When did it lock in?" Cassian asked and grinned at me, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Beat me in an archery contest and maybe I'll tell you." I said with a devious grin and he stuck his tongue out at me.

"You're on." He said through a mouthful of bread.

Azriel turned his hand under mine and laced his fingers through mine and gave them a squeeze.

Suddenly, Mor entered the room with Rhysand and I moved our hands under the table and onto my lap. Azriel released my hand and rested his on my thigh, thumb rubbing lazy circles onto it and I bit into my bread to keep from blushing.

I swallowed hard and picked up my wine and took a sip, coughing once as his hand moved a little higher. "Rhysand." I said suddenly.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Feyre is here. She came to see me. How long will she be here?"

He paused, then said, "A week. You meet her Under the Mountain, right?" He served himself some food and I caught Mor staring at Azriel, but my mate looked just as casual and silent as he usually did.

I was beginning to find it hard to breathe. "Yeah." I coughed again.

"Are you alright?" Rhysand asked and raised an eyebrow.

"I'm fine. Think I'm coming down with a cold or something. Probably because for the last week Cassian wanted to train in the cold, snowy mountains."

The general merely shrugged. "Cold builds character." I flashed him a vulgar gesture and he grinned at me broadly.

Azriel's hand moved from my leg to pick up a knife so he could slice himself a piece of bread and Mor watched his every movement sharply.

"How was your sleep, Adrianna?" She asked me suddenly. I looked up at her.

"It was good. I got my usual three hours of sleep. Insomnia is wonderful." I gave her a fake smile. "And yours?"

"It was mediocre. Couldn't sleep because-"

"Mor." Azriel said sharply, speaking for the first time. "If you have something to discuss, it can be brought up at another time." His voice was terse and I clenched my jaw.

"Adrianna, I actually have something for you to do today other than train." Rhysand cut in, giving them each a look of annoyance. "As Assassin in my court, you have the ability to go anywhere and do anything you please. You will receive a salary for your services to the Night Court. Your first mission involves someone form your past that I know you haven't forgotten about."

"Who? There are many Fae and faeries from my past that I'd want nothing more than to cease existing." I said darkly and he grinned wolfishly.

"Perfect. Because I found your kidnappers and the ones who murdered Haven and I want you to take care of them."