I did not need any announcement, it seemed. Guests gathered at the entrance stairs and I watched from the doorway as the redheads I'd not met, presumably the two brothers of Eris, walked down the stairs. Rhian followed, looking radiant in a ruby red gown. Her face seemed to have more colour than when I'd arrived, her eyes brighter. When she reached the bottom, it was our turn.

Eris led me down the stairs as the gathered guests watched in silence. I felt that hum of power radiate from him and my magic seemed to do the same in response. We reached the bottom of the stairs and I curstied to him. Then, as we'd rehearsed, I conjured a ball of fire into one hand. I held my breath as I released it, letting it spiral into the air. Eris moved to catch it and then it was out. The crowd did not applaud, instead bowing or curtsying to us.

"Let the celebrations begin," Eris announced and the guests headed off to enjoy the ball. Summer solstice was a time for drinking and dancing, after all.

"You look beautiful," Rhian said, gently taking both of my hands and squeezing them. She linked her arm through mine, "Let's go and join our people."

The ballroom was already buzzing, as was the outdoor patio. Servants moved through the crowds, serving small platters of food and summer wine. Rhian took a glass for each of us. As I watched the crowds, I recognised some soldiers were there, dressed in fine, matching tunics instead of their armour, and then I noticed a few servants in their best outfits too.

Rhian seemed to notice what I had, "Eris gave some the evening off," she said. "Although I'm sure he did not come up with that on his own."

I smiled at her and she smiled back as an unfamiliar male approached me.

"I wondered if you'd like to dance, my lady," He said to me. Rhian gave a nod and I remembered that it was bad etiquette to refuse.

"Of course," I said and my great grandmother took my glass from me as the male led me to the dancefloor.

Dancing with male after male proved easy. None of them were as much a dancer as Eris so the steps they led me through were slower and more predictable.

After a few dances, my grandfather was there, taking my hand, and I knew this dance would be important. The traditional music sounded through the ballroom and I let him lead me around the room in a waltz that had everyone watching us. Every move was precise, calculated. Like a battle plan. I concentrated hard on my posture as we moved and as we spun. The song seemed to go on forever and by the end, as I curtsied to him, I was out of breath.

"Good," He said in approval and then smiled before taking his mother's hand and leading her onto the floor. I excused myself for a break, grabbing a new glass of wine.

"Miss, you were amazing!" I turned to see Doja and Rosia, dressed in lovely cream embroidered dresses, possibly the finest things they owned but they looked beautiful.

"Look at you both!" I said with a smile.

They both grinned.

"Doja keeps moaning about not dancing," Rosia rolled her eyes. I turned to an off duty guard stood nearby and he bowed.

"Would you and your men dance with my wonderful handmaidens?" I asked.

"Of course, my lady," he replied and I winked as I left them to it.

As the song ended, an armoured guard approached Eris and whispered something to him. They both looked my way and I tensed as they approached.

"What's wrong?" I asked, dread swimming through me.

Eris stepped forward, so that no one could hear our conversation, "You have a guest waiting in our private garden," he said in hushed tones. Then as he stepped back, his High Lord mask returned, "do not be long."

My hands were clammy as I followed the guard to the family garden. I stepped through the open doors into the balmy night and my heart could have stopped at the sight of the winged male. He watched me too, his jaw dropping slightly and then I moved into a run.

As I reached him, I wrapped my arms tightly around him and he did the same, holding me close, breathing me in, lifting me as we embraced. Tears filled my eyes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I moved back to look at his face, his beautiful eyes.

"I have the night off," he said softly and his hand moved to cup my cheek. He pressed his lips gently to mine and I sighed at the touch. "I missed you," he murmured.

"I missed you too," and a tear escaped. A shadow reached forward, brushing it away and a few others moved to caress my arms and shoulders, holding me in an embrace.

"You look beautiful," he said and his throat bobbed, "like a High Lady."

"Oh this thing?" I pointed to the crown and gave him a sly smile. "I'm not sure it suits me, but I'm enjoying all the soldiers bowing to me."

His eyes darkened and he dropped down to one knee, looking up at me, "Like this, my love?"

I laughed softly and pulled him back up to his feet. I glanced towards the doors, where the guard waited, an uneasy expression on his face. Because, I reminded myself, my mate was a threat, a thing of nightmares to many. "Are you coming in?" I asked him, hope filling me.

"I'm not sure Eris would want me to."

"Please?" I gave a hand a tug, "Besides, it's my party too." I gently kissed his palm and he sighed.

"I have to leave at sunrise," He said.

"Me too. I'm off to The Middle," I wrinkled my nose and he tensed again. "But," I reminded him, "Hopefully this will soon all be over with and we can go and buy that little home by the ocean we talked about."

He pulled me in for a kiss, this one lasting longer and feeling more passionate than the last. I was the one to pull away, my cheeks feeling flushed.

"We need to go back inside," I told him, "Something about it being bad etiquette for Ladies to abandon a party you're hosting."

He snorted and I gave him a tug. He walked beside me in his formalwear and the guard stepped aside as we walked through the door. I knew he followed us back to the ball from the sound of his footsteps and Azrie's eyes scanned the space around us. I realised he'd probably never stepped foot in the Forest House, or, if he had, it probably had been a long time ago. We reached the ballroom again and I squeezed his hand as we stepped through the open doors. Couples still danced together, others drinking and I could see dancing continued now even on the outdoor patio. But as we stepped into the ballroom, eyes looked our way. Some were wary, some were concerned, others were intrigued.

"Well this is awkward," Azriel murmured and I gently kissed his cheek, not caring who watched us.

Eris approached as we moved further into the room, his face calm and collected, "Azriel," He said by greeting.

"Eris," A slight nod of the head, not quite a bow from my mate.

My grandfather reached out then and shook Azriel's hand, a gesture of peace, "You look like you've been keeping well."

"You look like you've been keeping your promise."

"I will always keep that promise," Eris said, his voice firm, "I am not my father."

My mate looked like he needed convincing and I used my free hand to gently caress his arm. He relaxed slightly and Eris seemed to watch as a shadow tucked itself over my shoulder. He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Can we dance?" I asked Azriel, needing to break the tension somehow. My mate's eyes snapped to mine and they softened as he gave a small smile just for me.

"I thought I was supposed to ask," He said, amused. He held out a hand for me, a hand tucked behind his back as he bowed slightly. Following the Autumn Court etiquette. "My lady?"

I placed my hand in his, "Always." I let Azriel lead me to the space on the dancefloor and we bowed and curtsied to each other before he placed a hand on my back and took my hand with his other. The orchestra played as I let my mate lead me around the floor in a waltz, twirling me every so often.

"You've been having lessons," He commented as he dipped me and then we continued our dance.

"Daily," I replied, "You never told me I was terrible."

"Not terrible," He shook his head with an amused expression on his face, "But… you were a better warrior than dancer for sure. Now… well I'd say it's debatable."

"I've become better with a bow," I told him, "And I've learnt some new tricks with my fire."

"Perhaps now is not the time to show that," He murmured, spinning me again.

We danced for a few songs and then escaped the dancefloor for a drink. The sky outside was dark as we stepped onto the patio, but the guests still danced, gossiped and drank wine under the stars and the lanterns we'd hung up for evening lighting.

I spotted my two handmaiden's and I waved them over. They curtsied as they reached us and I elbowed Azriel before he could comment on it. "Rosia, Doja, this is Azriel, my mate." I introduced them. "Azriel this is-"

"Rosia and Doja, her handmaidens, sir." Doja said, cutting me off. Azriel's mouth twitched upwards and I gave him a warning glance.

"It's lovely to meet you," He said to them both, reigning himself in. "Are you the reason my mate is in this beautiful dress?"

"We only helped dress her," Rosia said, "The High Lord had the dress especially made for her to represent her nymph and Autumn Court blood."

My mate looked at me in surprise and I gave a nod of confirmation.

"It's a beautiful dress," Doja said with a smile, "And it was made by the best seamstress in the court… and the crown too, it's not been worn by a female in this court for years."

I spotted a few servants coming outside with paper lanterns and then Eris came outside, Rhian clutching his arm. Rhian smiled in greeting and Eris signalled with his head towards the edge of the patio. The night was coming to an end and we had a finale left for everyone. Lanterns were handed out to the guests as they were instructed to spread out across the patios and the grass. A servant handed Eris, Rhian and I each a lantern and I held mine between myself and Azriel. He raised an eyebrow at me.

I watched closely as Eris lit his lantern first with his flames in his hand, then Rhian did the same. I conjured my fire as my mate held the lantern and then we lit our own. I closed my fist and the fire went out as I held the other side of the lantern.

"Ready?" Eris asked and I gave a nod. Remember to make a wish, he had told me as we had walked along the corridor towards the staircase earlier that evening. I thought of one in my head and held onto it as I held the lantern.

The High Lord released his lantern first and then we released ours, his mother's lantern just after. Our lanterns spiralled into the sky and then the patio and lawn lit up with lanterns as guests used firelighters and suddenly a hundred-odd lanterns were ascending into the sky. They looked like glowing stars as they twirled upwards, towards the heavens. Towards those who weren't there with us. The sight warmed my heart and I leaned into my mate as he wrapped an arm around my waist and a wing tucked me in closer to him.

When I glanced down for a moment, I saw Eris watching us. He gave a nod of the head and smiled, before turning his eyes back to look at the heavens. I returned my gaze to the sky too and as Azriel gently kissed the top of my head, I smiled.