We arrived at the Court of Nightmares and I wondered what would happen next. I certainly had gained a reputation for myself, but Mor told me they often gave her a hard time just for being female.

I told her men liked to remain oblivious to the power of women because they were threatened by us.

I held Azriel's hand at the entrance to the throne room. Rhys stood in front of us, at the front, with Feyre on his arm. She had her hair down, and wore an outfit similar to the one she wore under the mountain, but this time, she wasn't stark naked. This wasn't the time for Rhys and Feyre to make their announcement. No. Autumn and Spring had to be dealt with first. A crown sat on her head, a small silver tiara. To anyone looking at her, one would think she was just there to please Rhysand.

But it was more than that. They were mates. And Rhysand has every and full intention to make her a queen. No- the High Lady. And I was the only other living soul who knew about it.

Azriel and I, however, had real shadows to done ourselves with. Him in his fighting leathers and me in a formal military dress, we looked like a menacing pair.

Behind us stood Mor and Amren, and behind them stood Cassian. All of us looked like we were dunked in coal dust for the occasion. Except for Mor. She wore her red dress with the low neckline and slit in the skirt.

The doors opened.

Faeries left and right bowed as the High Lord entered with Feyre on his arm. They wanted to a throne at the head of the room and Azriel and I walked in next with Mor and Cassian and Amren. Eyes followed my every movement, eyeing me curiously.

There were Illyrian generals that I recognized, and a few dignitaries I did because of Haven. The other faeries and Fae were strangers to me.

They didn't call this place the Court of Nightmares for nothing. If I wasn't accustomed to the dark, I would have been unnerved by the place.

I had my arm looped through Azriel's and we must have been a spectacle, with the shadows trailing off our wings and clothes. Cassian, Mor, and Amren took their places closer to the throne, and Feyre sat in Rhys' lap, leaning back into him as they played their power play move.

The room was silent, all eyes trained on the High Lord, waiting for him to speak.

"I'd like to introduce the newest member of my Inner Circle." Rhys said and waved towards me. I straightened. "A few of you have met Adrianna Meridia from her time in the Illyrian war camps. Despite what she was put through, she has become a formidable weapon, serving me Under the Mountain for twenty-two years. She is the Night Court's assassin and if you are ever met by her or her mate, Azriel, you should pray you do not meet the end of her blade. Now. You have reports for me?"

Rhysand was nothing but solid stone. As hard as granite and expression filled with distaste. His violet eyes made him look almost otherworldly, and the way Feyre perched in his lap...while I honestly hated it, I understood.

A part of me hated it because of what I had personally been through. Showing her off like that made me squirm. But another part of me understood that as mates, neither saw it as anything but love. The way his hand gently stroked her thigh. It was how I felt for Azriel and he for me. But here, it was control he wanted to be seen. But she sat on him, so she had just as much control in this situation as he did. She could easily leave, and the way she lounged showed just how comfortable she was, a dare in her silvery eyes directed at anyone that dared look at her in any way other than reverence

Feyre Archeron demanded respect. And she earned it. Right here. In the Court of Nightmares. I was proud at how far my friend had come.

I looked over to the crowd and noticed a familiar commander who was staring at me. His eyebrows were drawn together and his eyes were narrowed. I knew who he was. Why he was here. And what about me made him so angry. All of these things flashed in my mind at once.

He was one of the Illyrians in my old camp. He was the one who asked me to marry him almost every time he paid for me...and that's when I realized his glare wasn't directed towards me, exactly, but Azriel.

Az? I whispered down the bound.

His other hand moved over the one I had on his arm and his thumb rubbed against my knuckles. Yes, my love? He asked.

That Illyrian making angry faces at us. He asked for my hand once. But I refused every time. He was paying for me. But he doesn't seem too happy I'm with someone else.

A wave of amusement went down the bond. He can try to take you from me. And if he touches you, he'll die.

Sounds good to me. I replied and rested my head on his shoulder.

Rhysand turned to us suddenly and said, "Adrianna. My friend here doubts you are a Shadowsinger. Perhaps you could come demonstrate to him why he's wrong?"

My eyes turned to the male standing before the throne, sending me a look of distaste.

I released Azriel's arm and bowed my head to Rhys, then turned to the man. "Of course, High Lord."

I held out my hands and pure darkness danced across my fingers like live flames. The male watched me with wide eyes as the tendrils began to approach him like snakes slithering on the floor.

"Do you believe it now?" Rhysand asked darkly.

"I guess I should, now, High Lord." He said with mock respect.

A wave of anger came over me and I felt defensive. I whipped a tendril for darkness across his face like a whip and he stumbled back in shock. "Is that how you address the High Lord of Night, sir?" I asked quietly, anger lacing my voice and every feature.

The room was silent. Rhys sat in the throne looking very amused.

"I don't have to answer to the likes of you! You're a woman. And-" he froze as his whole body became immobile. His eyes darted back in forth between me and Rhysand and I stepped back several paces.

"Did I not introduce Adrianna as a member of my Inner Circle? Doesn't that then mean her rank is more than any of you in this room? Pray I don't send her to slit your throat tonight in your bed. You wouldn't be able to stop a shadow anyways."

Rhys released him and he fell to his hands and knees, coughing and holding his throat.

"Is there anyone else who wants to question my decisions?" Rhys asked tiredly. There was no answers. "Very good. Now get on with it. I have other things I planned to do today."

******

When we returned to Velaris, Rhys asked to see me. I had changed into some loose pants and a loose open backed shirt with puffed sleeves.

I met him on the balcony and walked over to stand next to him. "Hi." I said softly.

"Hi." He replies and looks over at me. "When I made Amren my second, they had problems with it, too, until she made a power move and scared them all shitless. It was quite fun to watch. And the same with Mor when I made her my third. You and Azriel and Cassian don't have rank to me. All three of you have different roles as general of my armies, master of my spy network, and assassin. In a way all three of you are one. And that's a bond I want to portray to the Night Court. You did well today."

"And Autumn?" I asked. "What about there, where I have to be heir and daughter of Beron's mate? What if this plan fails and Ravenna is there already trying to twist Beron to Hybern as we're seeing Spring begin to weaken in the same way?"

"That's why you're so important. You're not only royalty here in the Night Court, but also on Hybern, and in Autumn Court. So that means whatever you chose is going to make the biggest difference in the coming war. And the less ground Hybern is able to take and control, the better."

"But, Rhys, there's one problem with your master plan I see being a wrench that'll ruin it all." I say and look at him with a frown. He nodded for me to continue. "If Feyre destroys and cripples Spring, it will be that much easier for Hybern to take it, don't you think? I think it would make more sense for Feyre and I to return, still with our Night Court titles, to these Courts with the ideas of union. As much as I'd love to see Tamlin suffer for the next twenty years, I think it suits us better if those courts are on our side."

"That's why you and Feyre are so central to this plan," Rhys says seriously. "I can't ensure Autumn will be on our side without you down there, and I can't ensure that Spring will be on our side either if Feyre doesn't do something to distract them. Yes, I guess there's a possibility Tamlin could size with Hybern, but that's a risk we need to take."

I didn't like the plan. I thought it was stupid and that letting Hybern take any lands- even if it was Spring- was stupid. When I told him this, he laughed and said,

"I know. But we can always fix things later. Besides, Mor has requested our assassin take care of a few people in Autumn while there. And maybe be discreet?"

I nodded, a small grin on my face. "You don't even have to tell me who it is. It'll be done." I paused. "I want to talk to Lucien."

He nods. "I expected as much. Find out what you can from him, but tomorrow. He's not going anywhere anytime soon, Adrianna."

I nodded. "Ok."

He smiled and rested a hand on my shoulder, and I hesitated, then stepped in and hugged him. He froze for a moment, then his arms gently wrapped around my shoulders and he rested his chin on my head.

"Thank you." I whispered and he didn't need any context to know what I was thanking him for...because it was everything.

******

I found Azriel laying in bed with his eyes closed. He didn't stir when I entered the room and kicked off my slippers. I walked over to the bed and slid across it and laid on top of him.

Eyes still closed, his arms came up to wrap around me. I got more comfortable and rested my head on his shoulder, my arms under his shoulders.

He breathed in deeply, and one of his hands lifted up to my hair, his fingers gently combing through it. I smiled, laying still and utterly content.

He turned his head and kissed my forehead, his other hand rubbing my back.

We didn't say anything because we didn't need to. I moved my wings slightly to drake over us like a blanket and closed my eyes too. I was warm and comfortable and I had him. He didn't seem to mind me as a blanket, either.

His arms suddenly moved around my waist and he rolled onto his side, rolling me off of him so he could face me. I snuggled in close, my legs tangled with his and he reached up to brush some hair from my face and very gently and tenderly kissed my forehead.

"I love you." He said simply.

"And I love you." I say and lifted my tattooed left hand, and he snatched it with his own tattooed fingers as he squeezed my hand, leaned closer, and kissed my lips.

And I was happy.