When I woke up around midday, I found I was still in the library. I lay stretched out on the sofa, but with a blanket over me and the hearth crackling in front of me. I rubbed my eyes, surprised I'd managed to sleep some more without any dreams. I wondered if it was the tea or the incense I noticed was burning on the mantelpiece. My head felt completely clear. I folded the blanket and returned to my room, to find Emerie looking concerned.

"Oh thank goodness!" She said, "I was worried something bad had happened." She pointed to the daggers on the bedside table. "Your weapons were still here!"

"I had a bad dream," I told her, "And I was struggling to go back to sleep so I went and sat in another room so I didn't disturb you… and I guess I fell asleep."

"Well get washed and dressed so we can get something to eat please, I'm starving!"

—-

Training resumed two days later so that everyone had time to recover from Starfall and could end any last celebrations. The temple even had a small service to mark the end of the Calanmai period one evening and to show we were all back to normal service. Getting through training without getting distracted by Azriel's presence wasn't easy. Not now that I realised my stomach seemed to flutter and my breath caught in my throat when he looked over at me. And the memory of his hands touching mine was enough to make me want to reach out to him again.

Nonetheless, I did my best to carry on as normal. Training, then work in the library, then time in the temple. I was surprised when a bag of a certain tea was left a few nights into Starfall for me with a teacup and a teapot, with no note. I didn't need a note though as I knew who it was from. Another gift.

"Our outfits are ready!" Nesta announced one afternoon, a couple days before we were set to go to Windhaven, when I was placing books back onto shelves in the library. "When do you finish for the day?"

I glanced around me and grinned, "Give me ten minutes!"

I met Nesta in the House of Wind in her old room, as she didn't want Cassian to see the uniforms until we made our grand reveal at training the following day, apparently. Emerie was already there, having been winnowed in by Rhysand, and there were three black dress bags holding what I presumed were the outfits, with three shoe boxes on the ground. Emerie bounced on her toes and Nesta let out an excited squeak.

"I can't believe these were ready so quickly," I said.

"I told Cassian they needed to be paid for and sorted in time for Windhaven," Nesta replied. "I can be very persuasive when I need to be."

"I'm sure," Emerie raised an eyebrow and I laughed behind my hand.

She passed me a bag with my name on and then one with Nesta's on.

"Shall we countdown?" Nesta suggested and Emerie and I nodded. "3…2 …1."

We all unzipped at the same time and there was a collective gasp. The leathers were made up of a top and bottom part, as we'd explained that it's far harder for females to pee than males. The bottom trousers were long, black leather. The armoured bodice was black leather too, with a longer part covering each hip and a longer part over the crotch. The belt around the middle was black with a gold Night Court Insignia at the buckle. Then, on the shoulders were golden pauldrons made up of leather feathers. Our gauntlets were also black leather, with a gold trim on them. We had black wool cloaks for when the weather was cooler and all the additional accessories for holding on weapons were black leather too with gold buckles, along with our long, black boots.

"This is so beautiful," I whispered, "Emerie, you've truly outdone yourself."

"We're going to look incredible," Nesta held hers up. "Let's try them on!"

Ten minutes later and the three of us were stood, head-to-toe Valkyrie.

"One last thing!" Emerie pointed to the gap in the side of my gauntlet, "This is for your invoking stone. I know you don't like to wear it on your head but… I thought if the males can have their siphons then your invoking stone could go here."

I gave a bow of the head, "Thank you."

Nesta called us both over to the mirror and the three of us stood together. We really looked Valkyrie, I realised. The armour had been inspired by the original designs with modern touches and it worked perfectly and fitted each of our bodies like a second skin. Yes, it was closely fitting, possibly the closest fitting thing I owned, but the armour protected exactly where it needed to and the accessories provided us with places to strap our weapons, and stash any belongings and healing products we needed. It was perfect.

"Thank you, Emerie." I told her, squeezing her hand. "For the first time ever, I feel strong and in control."

—-

We made our grand entrance in our full Valkyrie attire at training the next day, each of us with our hair braided in our own ways too and just a little kohl eyeliner on our eyes like warpaint. We'd left the cloaks behind for today, as Spring was getting warmer now, even on top of a mountain. The three of us walked out of the door together, each with a dagger strapped to our thighs and our heads held high and there was a collective gasp from the other priestesses. Cassian and Azriel stopped their warm-up and both turned to face us, eyes wide. And then they both placed their hands on their hearts and knelt down on the floor, heads bowed as we reached them.

"We are the rocks against which the surf crashes," We chorused. "Nothing can break us."

It was enough to send goosebumps scattering across my skin. I felt as if some mysterious power oozed from us. The Shadowsinger's eyes flicked upwards from where he bowed, his hazel eyes running over my armour, to the gifted dagger strapped to my thigh, and then up to meet my eyes. I couldn't read his facial expression but it made my breath hitch ever so slightly.

"Are you boys just going to bow all day?" Nesta asked with a smirk from beside me. "Or are we actually going to get some training done?"

Cassian grinned as he and Azriel both moved to stand. I swallowed, aware that the Shadowsinger's eyes were still on mine.

"Actually, we have something else for you Valkyries," Cassian said.

Roslin, Deidre and Anake all stepped forward, each with a black leather sheath in their hands. A golden trim was at the tip, tying in with our armour. The novices passed each of us our sword and I smiled as I inspected the handles. Each were intertwined with different details- Nesta's had flame, Emerie's had Illyrian wings and stars, mine had the ocean's waves. The surf. I unsheathed the sword, enjoying the sound of withdrawing metal, and the sun shone on the blade. They were lighter than the Illyrian weapons, but just as sharp and with enough swing, they'd be just as powerful. I looked over at my two fellow Valkyries and they too were grinning from ear-to-ear as they examined their new weapons.

The other priestesses watched, some with smiles, others with awe on their faces.

"Thank you," I said to Cassian and Azriel. "They're perfect."

"I suppose you'll want to try them out?" Cassian asked.

"Of course!" Nesta's voice was a few octaves higher than usual.

Warming up and watching our swords where they sat waiting for us at the sidelines was frustrating to say the least. As we worked through our laps, sit-ups, lunges and a few press-ups, it felt as if the blades were calling to us. I was surprised that I wasn't roasting in my Valkyrie leathers by the end of it, but then I remembered Emerie had mentioned designing them so that they were cooling when feeling hot, but warmed you when feeling cold. It was a leather fabric that had probably cost a lot more but I was grateful for it.

When we moved onto the swordplay aspects, Cassian moved to the novices, guiding them through the eight-pointed star and some defending moves. Nesta and Emerie however, decided it was their turn for a duel. They grabbed their new swords and then found their own space in the ring.

"Fancy that duel?" Azriel asked, appearing beside me with a small smile.

I glanced over at him, "Game on, Shadowsinger."

We found our own space in the ring and I was grateful that everyone else was distracted with their own training because I didn't want anyone watching Azriel thrash me. We both bowed to each other and then unsheathed our swords. I turned the hilt around in my hand, spinning it and getting used to the weight. We slowly circled one another, swords ready, as my heart pounded in my chest. The Shadowsinger's face was playful, a smile on his lips, not the lethal calm that sent his enemies running. Not the face I'd seen that night that he'd rescued me, when he'd slaughtered so many Hybern soldiers with barely a flick of the wrist. As he stood across from me, his shadows peered out from over his shoulders, watching.

Azriel lunged first. A smooth step towards me, his feet completely silent as our swords clanged together, metal on metal. I kept my breathing steady as my wrists rotated this way and that, my footwork careful as our swords met again and again. The Shadowsinger was light on his feet for an Illyrian but I was lighter, I reminded myself, thanks to my nymph blood. He swung towards me and I dodged out of the way with a spin. Another swing and I leapt out of reach. I swung towards him but he parried the attack, both of us closer together now as our swords pushed together.

"Nice," He gave me a feline smile, our faces as close as they were when we were dancing.

He pushed back and our swords separated but I kept my posture strong and moved on the balls of my feet, ready for the next attack. He was playing fair, I realised as our swords clanged together. With General Cassian, they used their wings in battle, leaping higher, clashing swords in the air. But I didn't have wings so he kept it even between us. I watched my opponent carefully as we each dodged one another's blows. Then I noticed something. His shadows were moving. Left. He struck to the left. Right. He struck to the right. The movement was so small that most may not have realised but I did. His shadows wanted me to win.

I paid attention for the next few moves as my plan pieced together in my mind. Then I spurred into action. I moved fast, like I had with the star spirit on Starfall. I moved one way, tricking him, and his shadows went in the direction as I wanted. With a spin, just as he'd shown me, I was behind him, my front pressed into his back and my blade against his throat. His shadows danced around my sword hand in what felt like a flicker of approval. I smiled as the Shadowsinger held up his hands in mercy.

I released the sword and he turned to face me, his eyes lit up. And then he laughed. A warm, melodious sound that warmed my skin and made my stomach flutter. He bowed to me, still only a short distance away. I bowed too and then became aware that everyone else had stopped and was watching the exchange between us.

"Well played, Valkyrie," he said, holding out a hand to shake mine. The touch felt almost electric, as if magic zapped through it. Then he added, in a whisper, "Meet me up here tonight."

"So that I can hand you your ass again?" I teased and amusement shone in his eyes.

"Something like that."

—-

"You could've cut the sexual tension with a knife," Nesta whistled from the armchair in the library where she was reading a book about the history of Windhaven.

I ran my fingers over the spines of the books, searching for the next title Merrill had requested. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Nests slammed the book shut and moved to my side. She leaned against the bookcase, watching me. "Did you stop reading those smutty books?"

"Of course not," I scoffed. I pulled out a book, checked the cover and frowned before returning it to the shelf.

"You've gone all red," She commented with a grin.

I ran a hand through my hair, still damp from my bath after training, "It's because you and Emerie keep bringing things up."

"We'll stop when you admit something is going on," I gave her a look and she continued, "Okay we won't stop but still. The way he looked at you in the dress on Solstice and the way he looked at you in your Valkyrie leathers today…" She let out a low whistle.

"So what, a little lust?" I grabbed the correct book and pulled it from the shelf. "I don't think a quick fuck is my style." I wrinkled my nose. I couldn't even think about it … not after… I shuddered.

"I'll drop it," She said, holding up her hands. "But I'd change before you meet up with him tonight, your dress is a little dusty."

I opened my mouth to ask how she knew about it but with a wink, she walked away and up the library steps.

—-

My outfit was a little dusty, I realised at dinner that evening. It wasn't unusual to get dust or cobwebs in your hair or on your dress when working in the library and often we were all a little grubby at dinner time in the dining hall but that was normal. I sat in silence as I ate, barely managing to consume much, as my thoughts drifted around in my head.

Afraid. Merrill's voice repeated in my head even from the other end of the banquet table where she sat with Clotho.

But I had been to Starfall. That was one thing that has made me a bundle of nerves. I had a great time too. I could tick that off the list. And tomorrow I was going to Windhaven… the last time I'd been there… we'd been dragged into the Blood Rite. I forced down the last mouthful and escaped back to my room with the book I'd borrowed from the library about Great Families in the Autumn Court.