"I don't know why I can't sleep" I complained to Mor. "I've tried everything from counting sheep to banging my head against the bed frame to knock myself out!" I exclaimed with an exhausted groan, looking at my mate. "You really shouldn't do that. I don't like it when you hurt yourself. Tomorrow I'll make some tea to help you sleep… it always does the trick for you." She said kissing my forehead better. Mor always knew how to make me feel better. It had always been that way, even before the mating bond had clicked. She got up and started to leave the room. I looked at her confused until she said, " I'm going to get you something to help with your headache. I'll be back soon." I nodded and sent an image of me kissing her goodbye down the bond.

Father had been both ecstatic and furious when I had announced that Mor was my mate. Especially since I was his heir and she was The Morrigan and his third in command. I laughed to myself remembering the day I felt that bond.

I was twenty-two relaxing after a hard day of training when father walks up to me with mom,Cassian,and Morrigan. I'd never actually met her before, although I'd seen her a few times when she'd report to my parents or Cass. She didn't come to the Illyrian mountains for social calls very often but this was different because mom and dad needed help winnowing me and my siblings home for the summer solstice.

"Riley!" Mom pulled me into a big hug then asked, "do you remember Mor? Probably not since you were so young last time she saw you."

I looked at the beautiful female before me, I felt it click into place. She was my mate,I was already in love with her I had to know if she felt it to,so I did what anyone does to see if the attraction is mutual... I flirted… badly. To my surprise she flirted back,days later we started courting and a few weeks later we fucked ourselves sore. We announced our mating bond the following day everyone was so surprised to find out that I was mated with a female because normally a mating bond takes place with people of the opposite sex.

Dad yelled,then cried,then laughed and broke into his good supply of wine to celebrate. The hurt on uncle Azrael's face was clear and mom explained that Az was hoping to be Mors mate, he has been in love with her for so long that he didn't understand why the mating bond clicked. Cassian came up behind me then and told me he was glad that we had each other… It seems like that was decades ago but it has only been a little more than a year.

"Riley! Come downstairs, please" mom calls up to me. I let out a strong groan and slowly make my way down to see my sister Claire and her mate… Moms ex-fiancee Tamlin, high lord of the spring court. I rush and hug my older sister as Tam pats my back.

"It's been so long since you visited,Claire. How are you?! How is the spring court?! What have you been up to?!"

"Calm down little sister. I'm doing great,the spring court is lovelier than ever,and we came to make an announcement."

The room goes quiet for just a moment when Tam makes suddenly says slowly so that mom and dad don't kill him, "Claire is pregnant. Feyre, Rhys, you two are going to be grandparents." Mom drops her drink. I hold my breath waiting moms reaction. To the surprise of everyone, dad laughs and congratulates them and mom hugs my sister and Tamlin. I breath as my older brother Andras embraces his twin. I did what no one expected… I ran.

Once I reached the yard I took off in flight. I just flew and flew crying. I hated myself at this moment. I couldn't believe I was jealous of my sister. She was with child and that was something I had always wanted but I can never have. I was in the Illyrian steppes when I finally landed. I sat for hours thinking in a treehouse I built there when I was seventeen.

It was sundown when father approached me landing on the balcony of my treehouse. He leaned next to me and stood there in silence. He knew me well enough to know that, like my mother before me, I would tell him what was wrong in my own time. He spoke though after a moment.

"As happy as I was when your brother and sister were born, the day you came made me the happiest. I was thrilled to have a child, a little girl, born with Illyrian wings. I know it's hard for you. Not being able to have children with Mor. But you will learn as you get older that you may be able to have children… when the time is right. I'll see you when you come home." And he flew off.

As I stood there alone looking at the stars, I thought. I thought about what my father had said, about how Mor and I would have children when the time came... and realized he was right. So I grabbed my favorite jeweled hunting knife from inside placed it in a small painted box and flew away to home.

Mor was waiting for me in our room when i arrived and immediatly took me into her arms.

"What's that?" Mor asked, looking at the box in my hand.

"A gift,my love, for you." I replied handing it to her. As she opened the box her eyes lit up, sparkling like the stars of the night court.

"It's the most beautiful blade I've ever seen. Thank You." I took her in my arms and held her. My beautiful,strong,intelligent,feirce,kind, all around amazing mate. I knew right then that I would never have to worry about anything,not even my people, ever again.

To be continued