Happy New Year! A whole new decade! Here's to hoping that this coming year is filled with happiness and growth. And as always, thank you so very much for reading. I hope you like it.

-Moriarty

Sweat ran in sheets down my body as I pushed myself harder. Where Cassian was all snark and confidence every other moment, when he was training me he was nothing short of terrifying. I wasn't sure how long he had trained in his life, but it had honed his body to perfection. Lethality radiated off of him with every movement. In comparison, I was stumbling around like a newborn colt.

It had been a little more than a week since our first lesson, and I still felt horribly inexperienced. I never knew where to step, or how to hold the body so that I was a smaller target. Cassian jabbed at me and I just barely dodged it, a gasp hissing through my teeth at the effort it took.

"Good," the bastard didn't even have the decency to sound winded at all. He seemed to notice the slight anger in my face and looked amused of all things. I threw a punch, and left myself unguarded. Retribution was swift, and hurt like hell. A growl ripped from my throat as I danced backwards hoping to get out of range.

"Get it under control," he ordered moving toward me. "You can't let your anger make you reckless." He was right, but I was pissed. That blow was going to bruise, I could already feel it. That otherworldly presence glittered at the edges of my senses along that moonstone bridge, and I found myself trying to grab at it. Understand it. I threw another punch and it looked like it was actually going to hit him...right before Cassian's fist slammed into my solar plexus knocking every ounce of breath from my body. My legs gave out and my body burned with the lack of air. I had to get back on my feet.

Panic. I couldn't get my lungs to work right. My vision shimmered and darkness crawled at the edges of my vision. I finally dragged a breath into my battered body as Cassian knelt down near me looking concerned.

I pulled in two deep breaths before I launched myself at him. Even Cassian looked surprised as I slammed into him. With an easy twist he had me pinned to the floor before I could think of my next move.

He laughed, pressing me down just enough to let me know he won without actually hurting me. I relaxed, closing my eyes in defeat.

"You're doing much better." Cassian remarked. I cracked an eye open to look at him.

"You're crushing me."

"Many females would be excited to have me on top." Cassian's eyes gleamed in the mid-afternoon sun his wings stretching over us to create a little bit of shade. I found myself looking up at the way the sun played through his wings, creating a crimson roof over the both of us.

"Is that so?" I asked smirking. "I don't see the draw of it."

His smile sharpened and he leaned further over me, letting his scent fully wash over me. "Would you like a demonstration?" He nearly purred. "You have seemed a bit pent up. Perhaps I could ...release ...some of that tension."

This had become a favorite game of ours. The fake flirting. Like a game of chicken, seeing just how far one could take it before the other gave. Cassian had won every time. Sometimes I wondered if we were both running from something by doing this.

"Could you two stop fawning over each other for a minute and come here?" Mor's voice called. Cassian tucked in a wing and looked over his shoulder before looking back down at me a wolfish grin flashing across his face.

"To be continued." It wasn't a question. He pushed himself up, and the sun came streaming back over me. I narrowed my eyes against the glare and pushed myself up, taking the steadying hand that Cassian offered. I smiled widely at Morrigan as we approached. Both she and Cassian had been with me nearly constantly.

Azriel was usually there too, but he seemed distant and impassive most of the time. He only ever seemed to lighten up for Morrigan and even that had become rare. The two of them had seemed strained around each other, even worse when I was around. I wondered if it had to do with the whole Mate thing that no one had explained to me, but then again I hadn't really asked either.

I wasn't sure I wanted to know what it meant. I was already far too aware of the Shadowsinger. When he quietly informed me that he had to leave for a few days, I wasn't quite sure how I felt. Some part of me missed the soft smiles he gave when amused. He'd been gone for three days so far, the march of time somehow strained without him. I wasn't sure I liked that.

"How are you doing?" Mor asked folding me into a quick hug before pulling back to scan me head to toe. "The brute's not working you too hard, is he?"

"I take offense to that." Cassian said looking anything but offended.

"Don't care." Mor grinned at me. "Okay, you need to get cleaned up."

"Why?" I glanced down to the light training clothing that had at this point been plastered to my skin with sweat. Dust clung to me from where I had hit the ground.

Mor circled me like a hawk. "You can't go dancing in that."

"Dancing?" My mouth dried out.

"Mmhmm," she hummed, "I left a dress in your room."

"I don't dance." I said flatly trying to step away. Mor simply followed the motion grabbing my hands before I could flee. She gave me a beseeching look and I suddenly understood how she could convince the two fearsome warriors to accompany her all the time. The rejection poised on my lips crumbled along with any willpower I had left.

"Okay," I sighed. Mor grinned like she knew exactly what that look did to those around her. Cassian acted busy rubbing at an invisible spot of dust on the strange stones he wore on his hands. I still hadn't worked up the nerve to ask what they were. I had a feeling it would only solidify the fact that I wasn't in my own universe anymore. It was already hard enough to get used to the Illyrians with their powerful wings, let alone Mor, Feyre, and Rhysand who did impossible feats with the wave of a hand.

You can do those things too. Something whispered from the black depths of my mind. I shoved the voices away, like I had every time they had reared up.

"You too." Mor said looking to Cassian. He sighed but I could already see the slight smile he was trying to hide from her. He caught me watching and the smile grew. I found myself smiling back.

I headed to my room, promising that I would meet Mor in the dining room as soon as I got ready. I started the water for my bath and stripped out of my clothing trying to ignore the uncomfortable way the fabric peeled away from my skin. I had constantly put my hair back in a ponytail since that first day, it helped me not notice the platinum locks. I tugged the hair free and felt it fall to brush against my face my head aching slightly from the release of pressure.

I took a quick bath, making sure to scrub myself down properly, before hopping out and wrapping myself in a towel. I braved a look in the mirror. I was still pale, which was fairly rare amongst this group I had realized. Even with my old body I had always been pale, tanning simply didn't work for me. The most I got was a slightly golden glow to my skin, and that was after months of working on it. At least that had stayed the same. The runes running down my body were both eloquent and cruel. Flowing over my skin as if they were an intrinsic part of this new form. They followed the lines of the body perfectly accentuating to the point of beauty. I was a study of contrasts. Silvers and blacks all clashing together to make something otherworldly. Even the eyes of the body stood out, the only splashes of vivid jewel tones amongst the silvers and blacks.

Yet when I moved, it felt right. Natural after all the work I had been putting into learning to fight. I moved away from the mirror and glanced at the dress that Morrigan had put on my bed. I forced myself to put it on, if only to please Mor. It was a sundress from the looks of it. Dark blue and threaded through with silver stars that tumbled down the dress to end near my knees. The night court often had fashion that tried to replicate the night sky. There were a pair of flats that matched the dark blue of the dress that I slipped on.

I sat on the edge of the bed and brushed my hair out slowly and methodically. True to their word they hadn't really expected anything from me. I hadn't been charged for rent yet, or asked to get a job. I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself other than train with Cassian and talk to Morrigan. Everything felt like it was teetering on the edge, a single misstep and the thin ice I had been treading with this group would shatter.

Shouldn't I be figuring out where I fit in this world, rather than going out dancing with Mor? I should be figuring out exactly what all of this meant, but anytime I tried to motivate myself a deep and black panic rose until I distracted myself again. Tomorrow, I decided, I would figure out how this court worked and where I fit. If I even did.

I decided to leave my hair unbound when leaving my room. I had gotten most of the moisture out, and it fell in soft fragrant curls. With so much of my skin exposed the silver lining the runes flickered in the light. Sometimes I caught the sparks of light from my arms or legs as I walked, and the effect to me wasn't unlike a silver fire that licked over my skin briefly. I was sure that Morrigan had noticed the effect as I trained. She often would watch our sessions, so I had no doubt she had planned this little outfit to maximize that effect.

I heard Mor talking before I made it into the dining room. I turned the corner and nearly froze in place as I saw Azriel sitting next to Mor. His eyes darted up to meet mine and a shiver ran through my body. I jerked my gaze to Mor who was watching with a hushed air. The moment she noticed my attention she smiled and stood, a silken green dress whispering with her movement. I echoed the smile she gave me almost automatically.

"Nova." She circled me once and I raised an eyebrow at her. She nodded her head once. "Good, now all we have to do is wait for Cassian and we should be good."

"Welcome back." I said letting myself look to Azriel. To my surprise it looked as if he hadn't actually looked away from me since I had entered the room. His gaze was impassive and his face cool, but something in his eyes seemed laser focused on me. The corner of his mouth quirked slightly at my greeting. I was happy to see he was okay. More so than I expected to be.

"Thank you." He said, all manners. His eyes flashed over my features though, as if searching for something.

"You know," Mor drawled looking a bit closer at me, catching my attention. "Sit down for a second, Nova. I want to try something." I sat watching Mor warily, but she just rolled her eyes at me and waved a hand summoning what looked like makeup on the table near me. "Hold still." She muttered reaching over and grabbing what I assumed was kohl.

"Wow," I muttered relaxing my face even as she brought the stick up against the edges of my eyes. "This feels familiar. Clubbing is the same no matter what universe you end up in, isn't it?" I had a lot of practice in holding myself still as people applied makeup. My mother had loved trying out new looks on me. And I had a few friends who would do my makeup before going out to the club saying that it was all part of the bonding experience. It's not that I went dancing often, but I was taken out much more than I was comfortable with.

Which was like once a month.

"Shh and let me work." Mor leaned back, tilting her head this way and that while looking at me. She leaned back in and I forced myself to stay still again. I heard footsteps which eventually entered the room.

"Uh oh. Mor got her claws in ya, huh?" Cassian chuckled somewhere to my right.

Morrigan leaned back again and nodded to herself. She reached over and smeared something on my lips then leaned back again. She ran her fingers through my hair, which I jerked slightly at the sensation, but quickly relaxed under her touch. After a minute she nodded to herself and stepped back waving her hand to make the makeup disappear again.

"Better." She said with a smug smile. She motioned for me to stand and as I did Cassian let out a low whistle looking me over.

"You clean up pretty good." He said walking up and looking me over.

"What a compliment." I said playfully pushing at him. He chuckled and I beamed at him. There was a slight twinge in the back of my head. Like a jab of jealousy and confused longing. Without meaning to I glanced to Azriel who was watching us all quietly. Both he and Cassian had dressed in normal if not nice clothing. Though they both still wore the jewels, Cassian's red and Azriel's blue.

There was something intimate about having his gaze on me.

"Okay, let's head out!" Mor's voice made me realize we had been staring at each other. Even Azriel seemed to blink and look to her broken out of the same trace. Morrigan walked out onto the balcony. I followed Morrigan who simply waited for Cassian to walk over and pick her up. He cradled her easily in his arms.

"Oh hell no." The words slipped out of me as I danced backward a step realizing what they meant to do. I was suddenly very aware of the drop to the valley below.

"Don't worry," Mor tried to soothe, but Cassian was instantly laughing at me. The expression I had to be wearing.

"Scared of heights?" He teased even as I sensed Azriel walking up to me.

"Not so much the height." I said looking between them all.

"Falling?" Cassian laughed.

"Not even the fall. It's that bit at the end where you hit the ground."

"You'll be safe." That voice stroked down my nerves sending another one of those curls of warmth through me. I looked to Azriel who had a slight amused smile.

"Isn't there another way?" I asked eyes wide.

"There are stairs." Azriel said that amused look growing on his face. "Around ten thousand or so." I winced, I was already sore from training. Doing that many stairs at once.

"The House of Wind is warded so that no one can winnow in or out." Mor explained.

I took a deep breath and turned back to Azriel swallowing my fear. "If you drop me," I warned him only slightly joking, "I'll haunt you for all time." For some reason, it felt comfortable to joke around with them.

"Noted." Azriel said with a slight chuckle. It was the first time I had heard him laugh. He picked me up effortlessly, tucking me against his chest. His scent surrounded me and I stifled the urge to lean up and press myself into the curve where his shoulder meets his neck. That heat in my body grew the smallest bit and I tried to push it away. I was not turned on by a person I had known for less than a month. Absolutely not.

Azriel spread his massive wings as he walked easily over to the edge of the balcony, and terror swamped me for a moment. Shadows curled off of him

"Nova." Azriel caught my gaze and shifted his hold slightly. Secured me harder against his chest. "Trust me." His body coiled and before I had time to speak he jumped. For a moment it was just rushing wind.

His wings snapped taunt, and just like that we were flying. Each wingbeat was massive, and I wondered just how much strength had to be in his body to easily hold the both of us aloft. My fear melted into awe. I looked out and my stomach flipped at the sight of nothing but air between us and the ground.

"Wow." I breathed my body singing with adrenaline. It was amazing, the world had sharpened into crystal clarity with the rush. I could see the distant city streets leading to the bottom of the House of Wind. The sea shining in the distance speckled with white capped waves. The sparkling line of some river cutting through the city. I swore I could see the fae moving about below. Hear their laughter floating on the wind. With that adrenaline fueled awareness I was hyper aware of the taunt body holding mine. Every place we touched felt like it was on fire. Even with the wind whipping at us I caught his scent. I looked to Azriel, and found him watching the air in front of us.

He was the most handsome person I had ever seen.

He glanced down at me then, as if he sensed my thoughts. He searched my face for a moment before looking back forward. I wondered if he ever found what he was looking for in me. His eyes went back to me.

"What do you think?" He asked his voice rumbling against me.

"It's amazing." I said looking back out to the city. He was slowly descending toward the river and what looked to be a brightly painted part of town. Part of me balked at the thought of being near so many people. I could hardly stand to be in my own skin. Dread slowly washed over me at the thought of being near so many people.

Azriel's hands flexed slightly against me and I glanced back toward him. When his eyes met mine I felt the ethereal moonstone bridge flare. Something brushed down that bridge, like wisps of shadow, and it gently curled against the silver gates. Azriel's eyes were dilated again, the black nearly swallowing the hazel. Shadows curled over him. Curled over me, sliding like the faintest touch of cool air.

I found I didn't mind them so much. Just as quickly as it started it ended. The shadows receded, both from my body and mind, as Azriel flared his wings a bit more and began back flapping heavily. We landed on a cobblestone street with a small jolt. I could hear thunderous wingbeats behind us as Cassian and Mor landed safely as well.

"Thank you for flying me here."

"It was my pleasure." He said gallantly setting me back on my feet. I stepped out of the haze that was his scent just as Mor grabbed my hand pulling me along the street.

"You're gonna love Rita's." She promised with an excited smile. I smiled back trying to ignore the strange pull that made me want to go back to Azriel.