Eris pants hard and looks around, his eyes wild and confused, taking deep drags of air. Everyone in the room nearly gasps in unison at the shock that it worked. Suddenly, Gwyn passes out and the room erupts back into chaos. Eris watches the blur of motion and noises are so loud, even for fae hearing that he has to rub his temples a bit.

Nuan wraps her arms around his neck as everyone yells out Gwyn's name, trying to wake her up from whatever side effect took place. Eris breathes deeply as the memories of being in the Forest House dungeon flood his mind and he suddenly clings to Nuan, his head resting on her chest as he loosely wraps his arms around her middle, still speechless and weary.

"You're going to be alright", she murmurs. "Your predictions were wrong by the way. You have people that care about you. Me, Lucien, Gwyn."

"I—", he looks up at her, his deep russet eyes looking into her smokey ones. "What happened?"

Nuan takes his hand and squeezes it. "You died. And...your daughter wouldn't let that stand. So she convinced Nesta to wield the Dread Trove. She also helped find the fourth."

Eris looks at the box which had slid down into his lap when he sat up. "This?"

"Yes. It pulled your soul back into your body."

"That's..."

"Crazy? I know. But it worked. Along with the rest of the dread trove. To reanimate you to get your heart pumping again and turn the clock back on the effects of death."

He takes a shaking breath and suddenly the reality of what's going on hits him and his eyes widen. "Gwyn."

"They've got her, she'll be okay."

Eris shakes his head and nudges her off, giving her the bone box and getting off the cot, his beige breeches still stained with blood, his shirt nowhere to be found since they had cut it off.

"Gwyn! Move", he grumbles at Azriel, Cassian, and Mor, shoving through them and making his way next to her, sliding onto his knees on the ground across from Nesta. "Gwyn. Gwyn. Gwyn, wake up." He lifts her gently and cradles her in his arms, lightly patting her cheek as Nesta tries her best to bite back a haughty retort. "Hey...you did it. You did it, Gwynnie", he says softly, stroking her copper hair from her freckled face. Come back to me, to us. I know you can do it. You're stronger than me."

Nesta swallows a bit and her brow furrows, unsettled by how genuine and sweet Eris seems. So very out of character for him.

Mor takes Cassian's arm. "Come...let's give them space. We have to return the Trove."

She takes in Eris for a moment, the bond they once has still dead and hollow in her chest, not reanimated with him.

"Right." Cassian nudges her. "By the way, he'll know it was you who got him out. Eventually."

Nodding softly, she looks over at their small crowd, her ex-mate on the floor holding his daughter. "He doesn't need to know unless he asks. I don't need recognition for it. I'm...trying to be a better person lately."

Cassian looks a bit confused as Mor inclines her head.

Azriel's hands nearly burn to take his mate from Eris, but she had done this for him, and he's her father. He doesn't know what it's like to have a relationship with a father, so he very very reluctantly lets him cradle her for a bit, even if he doesn't want to. Azriel kneels on the floor by her feet, across from Lucien who had situated himself next to Eris. The pair not so much as glancing at one another yet. Talk about his mate being loved by all. All who disliked one another mostly. He flexes his hands out of habit from stress and both Lucien and Eris turn to glance at him.

Eris sets his jaw but manages to bite out, "Maybe you can try...as her mate."

Azriel glances up and stares into those red-brown eyes for a moment, coldly and assessing. "Yes", is all he says, not trusting himself to say something worse to the male he had despised and wished dead for five centuries, only for him to be brought back by his mate...who happened to be Eris's long lost daughter, just his luck.

Eris allows Azriel to take over trying to rouse Gwyn and leans back on his hands, palms to the floor, mirroring Lucien. Nesta glances between them, and gods, if it weren't for Lucien's tanner skin and Eris's freckles, she would think they could be twins. For being so far apart in age, even by faerie standards, they still look around the same. She looks up at Cassian—at the amused, knowing, goofy grin on his face and she rolls her eyes.

Cassian takes her hand and helps her stand up. "You must get the Trove back. As soon as possible."

"I don't—"

"—want to leave Gwyn, I know. But look. She's alright. She has Az and...and her family. We will come right back."

Nesta huffs annoyedly and her right hand unconsciously goes to her stomach. Cassian can't help but beam as he leans over and kisses her. She looks at him confused and he nods to her hand, only smiling broader when a beautiful blush rushes to her cheeks. She grabs the harp and the bone box carefully from Nuan before walking back over to Mor and Cassian, Mor hooking an arm with both of them as they winnow out.

Lucien glances over at Eris. "Welcome back to the land of the living. At least now I can kill you myself."

Eris snorts. "Such a charming line of worry, brother mine."

"I'm serious. We have much to discuss."

"In time."

"Enough time has gone by. We will discuss once Gwyn is alright."

Eris looks over at him and russet eyes meet one similar and one of gold. They hold their staring match for a while before they both sigh and shake their head at nearly the same time.

"Can you give me the slightest of breaks? I was just dead. It can give you a massive headache."

Lucien swallows and nods. "So, there were things they had to do to you when you were dead, and I don't think you've noticed yet."

Eris almost looks alarmed. "Like what?"

Without so much as a word, Lucien twirls a couple of fingers around the end of his red locks, looking at the top of Eris's head. The moment he realizes his eyes nearly bug out of their sockets.

"No."

"Yes."

"No. They didn't!"

"They did."

"I'm going to—"

"They had to. The dried blood was too thick and too sticky for them to remove. They had to cut it."

Eris swallows the lump in his throat. It's entirely ridiculous and vain, but his hair was a part of his look, his show of vanity, part of what earned him respect, at least in his eyes. His lip curls and he looks away, frantically running a hand through his now much shorter, earlobe-length shaggy red hair, doing his very best not to tear up over something so utterly stupid. He supposes it's just the stress of everything he has been through since his torture, coming back to hit him with just another thing to make him feel like a piece of shit.

Lucien squeezes his hands into fists and hesitates, but still reaches out, squeezing Eris's shoulder. He stiffens and turns back to him, confused.

"What", he grumbles.

"Look I—fuck, I'm the last person who enjoys getting...y'know. Emotional."

"Ugh, please spare me."

"Lucien squeezes a bit harder and Eris hisses. "Ow!"

"You're going to fucking listen to me for once."

"Fuck! Fine! Let go", he growls and pries his hand off of his shoulder, his entire body still sore despite healing the open wounds. He can still feel the tightening of the scars along his back. Rather, the new ones on his back.

"First, when I heard you were dead...I didn't believe it. Obviously. But Elain had a vision of it, and she was screaming and crying and then I knew it was bad. And I figured it was Beron."

"Doesn't matter now, does it?"

"No, it does", he snaps. "It does because for fucking centuries, I thought that if my whole family was wiped out aside from Mother, I'd be completely fine. That I wouldn't mourn any of you horrid brothers that made my entire life a living hell", he says, his voice lowering. "Including you. Especially you."

"I never laid a hand on you", he growls.

"No. But you turned on me. Which felt worse. When I was a kid, I—", he blows out a breath. "I fucking adored you", he forces out. "I wanted to be like you, and I enjoyed being around you because even when Beron was around you made me feel safe. And I know there were times that he punished you for shit that I did as a rambunctious brat that he probably should've or wanted to put down when I was born."

Eris sneers and his fist closes at his side. "No. You have no idea, Lucien. No idea at all. You're not like the rest of us. In so many ways. You're better. And you've always known you're better. That you never belonged trapped there."

"Is that why you secretly got me out?", he whispers, unable to look at him.

"Wh-What?"

"Tamlin told me. Elain had flashes or something of the past. I guess she can connect to things that still haunt me through the bond. I don't know, but I don't like it much more than she does. Anyway, I confronted Tamlin. He admitted that you both have been talking behind my back for centuries, starting then."

Eris sighs. "You want to know that story, truly?"

"Yes."

"It's easier if you keep hating me. You must keep hating me so Beron—"

"I'm not some child anymore. I haven't been for centuries, I can take care of my fucking self. Tell me."

"I denied him something he really wanted. He locked me up in the dungeon until it was over. I could tell the others were still bloodthirsty, and father was angry enough to sic them on you. So when I got out, the first thing I did was get word to Tamlin to be at the border for when he allowed them to chase you."

"Don't tell me shit I already know. Tell me why. What did he want you to do."

Eris looks down. "He wanted me to help kill Jesminda. I refused. He pushed. And my answer didn't change. Not even when he offered to simply let me "hold you back". So that wasn't me. It was Tristan and Patrick. Tristan used my boots. My clothes. Styled his hair like me. Father knew you were closest to me and wanted it to hurt as much as possible for punishment to you. But I was never there, and I never held you down. When I refused he had me lashed at the same time..."

Lucien tears up a bit and looks away, his voice breaking. "I always thought it was you. I-I only saw the boots...you let me believe it."

"I had to. If you didn't, and father caught you trying to ever be friendly with me, the attacks on you would never stop, no matter what court you were in. He never would've let it go. He had to believe his tactic worked. And when you and Tamlin killed Patrick and Solis, and Kellon came back all bloodied and pissed...I knew you made it. I knew that you would be able to live your life."

Lucien swallows hard. "You still lied to me."

"I was protecting you. The only way I knew how. So you wouldn't be trapped there with him and us. You're so much better, Lucien. You'll know what I mean one day."

"More fucking secrets? Really?"

"It's necessary."

"Eris!", he growls angrily.

"I mean it, Luci." His childhood nickname that Eris always called him slips out and he cringes a bit. "Lucien. It's not just you whose safety is at stake with the rest of the info. It can not get out. Not until the time is right. Trust me."

"Trust you?"

"Please", he grumbles. "This is a long game, and as long as I stay the course, things will work out. But you cannot become a hitch."

Lucien scoffs. "Yeah, because all I've ever been is a hitch, right?"

"Gods, why are you so fucking annoying?"

"Why are you such a fucking liar!?"

"Because you do what you have to when you need to fucking survive there. I figured out how to make things better, but it takes careful planning and sometimes people not knowing information helps more than it hurts. Even if it's you. Especially if it's you."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Lucien."

"No. Don't you dare try to scold me like a child, I'm not a child!"

"You sure sound like one."

"Fuck you", he bites out.

"It's not worth shit, but...I'm sorry", he mumbles. "I still stand by the fact that I did what I had to, but I'm sorry the lie went on so long."

"We're making half-cocked apologies now?"

Eris shrugs quietly.

"Well, then I'm sorry I spent my day as an emotional wreck over you."

"You mourned me?"

Lucien sets his jaw. "I—I mourned the you that I knew as a child."

"You don't know the whole story and you can't know the whole story. But I turned away from you because the closer I remained to you after I was of age to start training as heir and he had a closer eye on my actions, the more torment and grief he would rain down on you for normal things that a kid does. I had tried to protect you from it for so long. There came a point where I couldn't anymore. Not all the time, and not because I didn't want to. But because I realized that if I wanted to save our Court from him one day, I had to remain heir. The only way to do that was to anger him as little as fucking possible.

You don't think I felt anything at all, any time he hurt you? Hurt Mother? Don't you think I wanted to gather all my firepower and a rusty knife and slice his throat open while I melted his flesh for ultimate pain? Don't you think I hadn't dreamed of a thousand and one ways to kill him by the time you were old enough to know how cruel he was? You were just a kid. I felt it. Every time. And I had to sit and force myself to do nothing, to say nothing, while the other five laughed and were praised for celebrating your pain. I know how fucking wrong that was. But I also understood by the time I was about fifteen, that I was the only damned hope our Court will ever have at being normal again one day. I'm it, Lucien. Whether I wanted to be or not, I was it. Not only for the Court either...for...the other reason I can't mention to you yet."

Lucien shakes his head. "You seemed pretty chummy laughing along with them at my pain Under the Mountain."

Eris's gaze slides to the floor. "I wear the mask I hate the most when I feel the most panicked. When I saw you getting lashed, I felt like I was younger again and I was watching you cry for Mother while he hurt you. You're tough. I don't think I heard you make a sound the last few years in Autumn. And your screams Under the Mountain...", he trails off and swallows hard. I had to laugh to keep from exploding. I had to wear that mask to protect not only you but myself, and Mother. Much like I assume Tamlin did, and much like I assume you did, until you told Feyre to go left during the first trial. Or when you held your tongue when Amarantha was going to torture her name from you, or when you healed her in her cell. Because I know it was you. You're better, different, you had powers she couldn't steal because they're so ingrained in who you are. But you risked your neck for her multiple times, which ultimately led to us all being freed. So yes, it may have been Feyre that ended the curse on Tamlin and Spring, and it may have been Tamlin who killed her and set the rest of us free. But you got the ball rolling too. You were a part of it. Don't think I don't know that."

Lucien sighs deeply. "I don't know why I retained power when nobody else did. I kept it hidden until...she needed it, but it was just enough so Amarantha wouldn't be curious."

"Interesting, indeed", he mumbles to himself. "But anyway, I may be...tainted. But I am not evil."

"I know. I've...known. You didn't ever make it easy to enjoy or even tolerate your presence though."

"I know." Eris looks over at Gwyn and Azriel, sighing. "My life wasn't hard enough without the Cauldron getting the last laugh and making my daughter's mate my sworn enemy?"

Lucien snorts. "You'll have to get along. Also, I will hear the story of how she came to be one day soon I hope."

Eris looks away, a faraway look in his eyes. "Yes."

Lucien nods slowly. "Losing someone that means that much...something we have in common I guess."

"Yeah. Do you think the Cauldron gives out second chances?"

"Do I not have Elain?"

"No, I mean...I can't feel the mating bond with Mor anymore. I think my journey somehow severed it when I died. I'm sure it's never happened before so hard to tell. At this point, I don't hold out hope for much. A second chance mating bond seems impossible."

"Ah, yeah...I heard that little rumor. Feyre had gossiped to Elain. I wouldn't say impossible, I know someone that has a second chance mate from the Cauldron. His first was also severed by death."

"Who?"

Lucien gives Eris the side eye. "Tam."

Eris gapes a bit. "Tamlin? Tamlin gets a second mate? Out of ev—"

"Shh! Yes. Believe it or not, he's done a shit ton of work on himself. Something you seem to know a lot about. People aren't always what they seem. And I can't tell you the story, as it is not mine to tell, but yes. His mate died a long, long, time ago. And he has a new bond with someone else. He's not happy about it, due to his parents and what happened to his first mate. But...he will thaw out hopefully. Speaking of mates", he says, narrowing his eyes at Eris. His metal one whirrs a bit. "Another lie by omission. When were you going to tell me that Mom's mate was Helion", he hisses.

"Shh!" Eris gives him a scolding look. "Not here. Too many ears. It's dangerous."

Lucien scoffs. "Helion could win the blood duel if he tried. Beron's a coward at heart."

"Lucien!"

He shrugs and rolls his eyes. "Could be a way."

"No. And Helion knows he could start a civil war between our Courts if he even tried that idea. They're all still healing."

"She shouldn't have to live miserably forever", he mumbles.

"No shit, it's part of my long game plan. I'm working on it."

"Maybe someone else can help you. I know you chose Rhysand, but who has been doing the heavy lifting? Not him."

"Let it be, please, brother. Just let it be."

Lucien huffs and looks over at Gwyn again. "This is ridiculous and is taking way too long. I'm going to try healing her."

"Eris follows as Lucien kneels by them again. He looks at Azriel. "I'm going to try and heal her. I'm hoping it will force whatever magic is affecting her, back."

"And if it doesn't?", he asks, his voice like ice.

"Let me try", he asserts, leveling a glare at the shadowsinger that has him gently motioning him to try.

Lucien waves his hands ever so slowly over her head and her heart, trying both to be sure. The warm, sunny light that radiates from him takes over his entire body, and he shines. Brighter than Eris has seen since he was a child, and without meaning to, he smiles at the scene. His baby brother, and his daughter. Two people he loves most in this world.

A moment later, Gwyn gasps, waking from her magical coma, and looks around, tears coming to her eyes until they land on Eris.

"Dad", she breathes out. "It worked. You're alive?"

"I seem to be", he smiles slightly, going over to them.

He squeezes Lucien's shoulder and inclines his head. "Thank you."

Lucien nods and smiles at Gwyn. "Good to have you back, freckles."

Gwyn chuckles and hugs him gently. "Whatever you did, thanks."

"Of course, niece", he smirks.

Azriel hugs Gwyn from behind and nuzzles her shoulder, all of his tension releasing in deep breaths.

"I'm here, Az. I'm okay, I promise."

He nods and presses a kiss to her cheek. They all get up off of the floor and Gwyn hugs Eris tightly around the middle.

"Oh", he blushes, hugging her back.

"You scared me. You promised we could get to know each other and then that happened and I thought I had found you only to lose you. I couldn't let that happen."

Eris tears up, stroking her hair and pressing a light kiss to her head. "You are a very strong female, Gwyn. Much like your mother. I see a lot of her in you. Thank you for bringing me back. I suppose I owe you now."

Gwyn shakes her head. "I don't care about scores or bargains. I have you back. That's reward enough. Plus, I've gained a cool uncle too", she grins up at them. Eris smirks over at Lucien who chuckles and shakes his head shyly.

"Where did Nesta and Cass go?"

"They went to return the Dread Trove", Lucien answers.

Nuan nods and smiles. "I have never seen something so utterly magnificent and intriguing in my entire life. I was awe-struck."

"I'm just glad it worked."

When she lets go of the hug and turns toward Azriel, he gasps, his eyes becoming a bit cold and panicked. "Gwyn, what did you do?"

Eris's brow furrows and he goes around to her side, his jaw-dropping a bit. Lucien bites his lip and Nuan strokes Eris's bicep.

"What?"

Azriel tips her chin and looks over her. "You have a tattoo...on your neck. It's entirety. Whorls...but different from mine. They look like waves."

"I do?", she blinks, patting her neck, then felt foolish because of course she can't feel it.

"What did you bargain to get him back?"

Eris's face falls. "Gwyn?"

She chews her lip and wrings her hands, looking down. "I um...I gave up my lightsinger powers. Unfortunately, that included my ability to sing, which is supposed to be used to lure. I'm sorry, Az. I really wanted to sing with you more. But I couldn't lose my father after I lost the rest of my family. So I made a bargain. If the Cauldron granted his safe return, I would give up something special to me. So I gave up my ability to sing. It was special to me because my mother taught me, and it was a part of her that I carried. But I don't have to be able to sing to know that I resemble her", she says softly.

Walking up to Az, she takes his hands and gazes up at him, her eyes filled with guilt. "Is it ugly?", she whispers.

Azriel's face falls and he cups her pale face in his tanned hands. "No. You could never be ugly, Gwyn. Nothing would stop you from being beautiful."

Her teal eyes glimmer with unshed tears and her cheeks pinken.

"I swear it on my life, my sweet warrior", he murmurs, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers gently.

Eris turns with a grunt and Nuan gently slaps his chest. Lucien snorts.

"Let's go home?", Azriel murmurs to her. She nods but turns back to her father and Nuan, striding across the room to them.

"I don't want you going back there", she says assertively to Eris.

He raises an eyebrow. "Gwyn, I am the heir and—"

"And he will only kill you again. You can't. He thinks you're dead, right? So you're free until he's gone. When you reveal that you're still alive, you can then take the throne. The Night Court has sworn to back you, right?"

Lucien interrupts. "She does have a point. This could be your clean break."

Nuan hugs his side and he gently wraps an arm around her shoulders, sighing deeply, a slight shake to it.

"You can live here. In Dawn. With me. At the palace."

Eris's eyes widen. "But...Thesan—"

"Thesan is usually fine with whatever I do. Like Lucien and I, Thesan and I have been friends for a very long time. He and Vihan know what it's like to be unfairly judged, so they will accept you. I swear it. And if they are hesitant, I will make them understand the circumstances. Please? You are safe here."

"You should, Dad", Gwyn says shyly. "You have Nuan. And I can probably visit whenever if they allow, I'm sure they will. Or you can visit me maybe. As Lucien said...this is your chance to break free from that awful place."

Eris nods slowly, then levels a glance at Lucien. "What about Mother?"

"Mother can take care of herself if need be. She has been for centuries, Eris. No, it's not the best and we both worry about her. But she is not powerless. We get most of our firepower from her bloodline. Beron is only powerful because he was bred from a High Lord. And the High Lord's magic made him more powerful than Mother. If he were stripped of that title, I'm not sure he would be."

"She thinks I'm dead."

"Maybe it will encourage her to do some things she wished she had earlier", Lucien quips, that tiny shred of anger he carries for her, sneaking out.

"Luci."

He sighs. "I love her, too. But she is powerful. She is not helpless like she acts for him. She needs the motivation to get upset, to get angry. Maybe things will change. And since you were close to her and always have been, it seems, it's not hard to decipher that this would greatly upset her. And we know what can happen when Mother is that upset."

Gwyn glances between them. "What happens?"

"Forest fires", they respond.

Eris rubs his temples. "They dwindle out with magic eventually but...she is a firestorm. Lucien isn't lying when he says we get our fire magic from her line."

"Well, I'd hate to see either of you upset then."

Lucien chuckles. "Luckily I learned from an early age that my magic was much easier quelled than anyone else in Autumn for some odd reason. Some people will even call me a master of control."

Azriel shrugs. "I did see you ease Cassian with one word and tone."

Lucien nods. "Subset of my healing powers, I'd imagine."

"And you?", Gwyn looks up at Eris.

"Me?"

"What about when you're upset?"

"I—I tend to internalize as well."

"Right. It's settled then", Nuan states. "You'll stay with me. Hide out."

Just then, Mor, Cassian, and Nesta winnow back in. Nesta squeals; a girlish sound that stuns Lucien, as she rushes over and throws her arms around Gwyn.

"Oh, thank gods you're okay."

Gwyn giggles and hugs her close. "I'm quite alright."

"You're pregnant", Eris states, passing a glance over Nesta. She crosses her arms and levels a sharp glare at him. "I am."

Cassian comes over and pulls Nesta to his side. "If you say anything about my child, I will make sure you wish you were never revived, Eris."

Eris holds up his hands and swallows down a snide comment. "Congratulations, Archeron."

"Tyr."

"What?"

"Her last name Is Tyr. We are mated and married."

"Right, well, still."

Nesta nods. "Thanks."

Gwyn shudders. "Ugh, can we not? I don't want to think about that past stuff."

Mor hangs back, her insides still feeling hollow and empty from the missing mating bond. Gwyn and Nesta and Cassian go over to talk to Azriel, and Nuan speaks with Lucien. Eris goes over to her and leans on the counter next to her, silent.

"So..."

"So..."

Eris waves a hand. "You first."

"Looks like we got our wish. Or, I did."

"I would seem so. I am happy for you, Morrigan. It's a fresh start for real. You are free of me once and for all."

She takes a deep breath and nods. "It is. I am."

"Though when I was dying, I had a moment of weakness. I thought that maybe my body would never be found. I guess dying totally alone scares even the toughest of people", he mutters.

"You sent that pain through the bond."

"Sorry."

"You wanted me to find you."

He cringes. "Again...sorry."

"No, it—I remember what it's like to be left alone and in pain", she whispers. "Even if I know you did it to free me, I still remember the abandonment and the weakness of emotion. We had made amends and anyway, I've been trying to better myself lately. So I wasn't going to leave you to die that way. I understood that fear."

He swallows hard and fiddles with the ring on his finger, his mother's father's ring. "I was quite the mess."

"You were."

"You brought me here."

"I did."

"Thank you, Morrigan."

She looks over and catches his russet eyes with her amber ones, seeing the brokenness within them. "You're welcome. I hope that you can find what you've wanted too. Someone who can love you the way you deserve as well."

Eris looks over at Nuan and smiles slightly. "If it works out."

"Nuan? Lucien's friend."

He nods. "We've been...I don't know. Skirting around feelings I suppose."

"I think you should go for it. Especially now."

"I'm staying here in Dawn with her since my father believes me to be dead. I need to clear my head and lay out my next step."

"That's a good opportunity."

He goes to run his hand through his hair and grumbles at its shirt length, dropping his arm. "She's amazing. Not the kind of female I would have imagined falling for, especially not one my father would approve of. She really is brilliant. And beautiful, graceful, kind."

"I admit I never saw you falling for anyone with visible flaws. You've always been vain."

He cringes a bit. "I had been, yes. But...it doesn't matter to me. She has a metal arm, my brother has a metal eye. Well, I have scars. Everywhere."

Mor furrows her brow. "I didn't see any when we...er..."

"I glamoured them."

She gapes.

"I was ashamed, alright? Is that what you want to hear?"

"No, it's just...I'm sorry. But a piece of advice, if you do end up with her, don't hide them. Don't hide anything. If you would love her for who she is and what she looks like, she should love you for the same reason."

He scoffs lightly. "You can be very insightful. I must admit I used to think you were quite shallow."

Mor smirks a bit and rolls her eyes. "Well, I was. I told you I was trying to make changes. I have a girlfriend now. I messed up once already and out of the good of her heart, she took me back. I vowed I wouldn't lose her again. So I'm doing my best. Trying to make amends. You were first apparently."

"I wish you well", he says, a slight smile coming to his face.

Mor smiles and nudges him. "You too. And I guess I'm kinda glad you're not dead."

He chuckles as she walks back over to the group. Eris lets out a sigh and looks around for a moment before going over and looping his arms around Nuan from behind. She smiles shyly and leans back against him.

"You scared me for a while there. I never want to see you like that again. It was horrifying."

"I'm sorry", he murmurs, pressing his nose to the side of her neck. "I'm alive now, and I'm safe. Especially here with you."

A hand of flesh and metal reaches up and holds his arm that reaches across the front of her shoulders. "That you are, Vanserra."

Everyone commiserates and Gwyn promises that she will be in touch. Eris does the same. Lucien tells him that he isn't finished with him, but he will let him rest for the night. He watches as they all winnow out.

Nuan turns to him and kisses the corner of his mouth. "Let's go home. Do you have the strength?"

"Yes, I feel fine."

He glances over at Lucien who drops to an embellished bow and Erin tosses him a snarky grin, shaking his head from his antics as he leaves as well.

"Yes, let's go home", he murmurs, slipping his arm into Nuan's and transporting them to the Dawn Court palace.