Azriel wasn't in bed when I woke up the next morning. Instead, a single white rose was left on his pillow and breakfast was on a small, silver tray, waiting for me. I ate it quickly and headed to the main level. I threw on my Valkyrie leathers, strapped my dagger to my thigh and then I grabbed the sword before heading onto the balcony. No sign of a pegasus, which was fine. I had it all to myself. I unsheathed my sword and practised my attacking, my defending. Swinging my sword. I practised spinning it, throwing it, and catching it. I moved with purpose.

The sound of applause made me pause and I turned to see Eris stood in the archway, leaning against the threshold. I returned my sword to my holster on my back as he stepped out onto the balcony.

"Sorry, General Eris," I murmured, "I wasn't aware you had arrived yet."

"I arrived an hour ago," He said, "I'm just awaiting my meeting with your High Lord and Helion." A sword appeared in his hand, the golden hilt like flames. His amber eyes looked fierce, "I've got time for a little skirmish." My eyes widened. What was the protocol here? "Well?"

I straightened, withdrawing my sword again and Eris bowed to me. I bowed to him in response and moved into position. Eris' fighting style was different. As our swords clashed and we pivoted, circling each other, he had one hand tucked behind his back. I spun towards him, swinging my sword as I did so and he parried the attack. I dodged as the sword came to mine and as it clanged against mine, it was as if fire had started shooting through my body. My blood turned warm. I spun again, moving to strike but as I did so, the metal became hot against my hand and I hissed. Eris saw the opening and knocked the sword to the ground.

I widened my eyes, staring at the burn mark across my palm.

"That was unexpected," Eris commented, watching me with a tilted head. "Shall I fetch a healer?"

I held my invoking stone above my hand and chanted a healing spell. I watched as the skin healed on my palm and I gritted my teeth at the feeling of my skin repairing itself. I straightened up, grabbing my sword and sheathing it. "I… I should go." I started to walk towards the archway.

Eris' sword disappeared from his hand, "You have her eyes."

I paused on my feet, turning, "What-"

"Are you okay?" Azriel's eyes were wide as he came running from inside the palace, Cassian closely behind him. He scanned me over and then his eyes narrowed on Eris.

"I'm fine," I told him. I headed back inside, spending the rest of the morning tucked up with a book in one of the many alcoves in the palace.

Nesta and Emerie found me later and sat down beside me on the cushioned benches. One look at my face and they had me explaining everything. When I was done, I sat up straighter, running a hand over my palm. There was a small, pink puckered mark in the centre, no bigger than a sunflower seed.

"What if Eris is your grandfather?" Nesta whispered.

"Or even Beron?" Emerie added.

I ran a hand through my hair, "There's so much I just don't understand."

Quiet lingered for a moment.

"Would you be able to do it… fight against the Autumn Court in a war if we had to?" Nesta asked.

I nodded, "If it's what needs to be done, yes." I ran a hand over the sheath of my dagger, "I swear to always do what is the right thing for Prynthian." I felt a zing of magic across the back on my neck and I gasped as the bargain was made. "Please tell me it's tasteful," I groaned, lifting my hair out of the way. Nesta and Emerie peered over.

"It's pretty cute actually," Emerie commented.

"Cute?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Sexy," Nesta corrected, "It's a crescent moon with a few stars trailing down. Suits you." I released my hair and sighed, leaning against a pillar.

"What am I going to do?"

"About the tattoo?" Emerie laughed, "Not much."

I narrowed my eyes at her, "About Eris."

"You need to talk to him," Nesta said. "Just maybe not over dinner later… I'm not sure that's the best idea."

We were summoned to the war room a short while later, to be present in the meeting. The three of us stood in our leathers, watching, observing. Eris did not look my way. He spoke only to the two High Lords as he mused over the map.

"There is some unrest in the Autumn Court," Eris said, circling the table. "Among its people. My father simply believes that taking the Spring Court will remind them who is in charge." He pointed to a place on the map within the Autumn Court. "He's taken out two villages here and here this week, believing this is where the rebels were."

"And what do you intend to do about your father?" Helion asked.

"He needs removing," Eris replied.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Rhys drawled. "Murder him in his sleep?"

"When my father finds out that Lucien is the heir to the Spring Court, he'll be furious," Eris said. "He's already on the borders, ready to attack. I believe this will push him to the edge."

"You would risk Lucien in order to kill your father?"

"He will not get close to Lucien. In fact, Lucien need not even be anywhere near the perimeter when my father strikes and you will make sure of that. Perhaps send him somewhere with his mate."

"My sister will not be involved in any of this," Feyre spoke as Nesta let out a growl from beside me. "We will find another way to have Lucien out of harm's way, though I'm not sure he'll be happy about it."

"Keep us informed of any developments," Rhys said to Eris.

"Isn't that what your Shadowsinger is for?" Eris said. He glanced over at my mate, who gave him a cold, hard stare.

Rhysand, however, ignored him, "I think we're done here. Will you be staying for dinner?"

"Yes," Eris replied, "And I'd like a room to retire in for the evening."

"Of course."

Azriel did not return to our room when we all retired to get washed and changed ready for dinner, so I changed quietly, with only the gentle humming leaving my mouth to keep myself company. I dressed in the teal dress with the slit that I had not worn yet, put on my blue beaded slippers and pinned back half of my hair.

I stepped out of the room and made my way to the dining room. Everyone but Rhys, Eris, Azriel and Cassian were already seated and wine had already been poured as I sat between Emerie and Nesta. Helion raised a glass to me with a bow of the head as I reached for my own glass.

"I like the dress," Nesta said from beside me. "New?"

"Courtesy of your ongoing relationship with the house," I whispered back and she smiled.

"We should go shopping when we return to Velaris." Nesta looked over at Emerie on the other side of me, "Fancy a shopping trip?"

Emerie wrinkled her nose, "I'd rather not. But if you see anything for me, send it my way."

The conversation paused as Rhys and Eris walked into the dining room, followed by Azriel and Cassian. The Illyrians sat across from us and Rhys and Eris sat up at the table near Feyre. Morrigan, I noted, was nowhere to be seen. I didn't blame her.

"You look lovely," Azriel whispered from the other side of the table. A blush crept across my freckles and I smiled. He and Cassian had not had time to change or were keeping their Illyrian leathers on as a show. They'd both changed for dinner with Helion the previous night.

The conversation at the dinner table was civil, but not relaxed. Even with Helion making jokes every now and then in an attempt to lighten the mood. I was grateful when it was finished, although Rhys announced we were all retiring to another alcove for drinks. As I stood, I felt another spark warming my hand. As if it was being called by someone.

"I'll be back in a moment," I said to Nesta and I slipped out of the alcove and walked along the corridor.

I stepped behind another gossamer curtain, holding my hand out in front of me as I sat by the open window. I focussed on my breathing, thinking of my mind-stilling. The fire inside was snuffed out. I tensed as the curtain was pushed aside and in stepped Eris.

"May I?" He asked, signalling to an armchair opposite the bench I sat on.

"Of course," I replied.

Eris sat in his armchair regally, every bit the High Lord's son.

"You knew my grandmother," I said after a minute or so of silence.

He gave a nod of the head, "You have her eyes."

"What happened to her? My mother… she never told me."

His hands moved in his lap, "She was killed… your mother was only a young child, barely no longer a babe."

I took a deep breath, "Why?"

"My father is cruel and his traditions are cruel too. He is a firm believer that the lesser fae are far below us, filth if I recall. My brother, he fell in love with a lesser fae girl and my father… she was captured and tortured. It was around the time your mother was born."

My eyes widened, "Was she-"

"No, Jesminda was not your grandmother," He stood and moved to look outside of the window, "I heard her song. It was like she was calling to me. I followed the sound and crossed into the Spring Court and found the most beautiful clearing with a waterfall. I was young and naive and I responded to her call." My breath caught in my throat. "I did not know she was with child until she called to me again some time later. Her people had banished her and she was afraid for the child. I could not take the youngling with me to the Autumn Court. I knew my father would kill the child if he found out so I sent her away, to the priestesses at Sangravah and as for your grandmother… two of my soldiers turned me over a year later." He paused for a moment, "She did not suffer, I made sure of it."

A tear rolled down my cheek and I sat there, unsure what to say. Eris was my grandfather. The future High Lord of the Autumn Court.

"Your eyes gave you away," He said, turning to me, "And your scent."

"I had a sister," I told him, "A twin."

Surprise crossed his face, "What happened?"

"Hybern slaughtered her in front of me the night they attacked," I told him. "I managed to get the children out but… I could not save her." Nausea filled my stomach and I wiped a tear from my cheek

His stern face seemed to soften. Ever so slightly, "And your mother?"

"She died eleven years ago," I told him. "A wound became infected and nothing could be done."

He gave a nod and silence settled over us for a few moments, "And you can manipulate fire?"

I shook my head and let out a laugh, "I can light a candle… although recently I've felt the heat in blood and wondered if perhaps there was more, waiting."

"At the house we're trained very young," He said, "Although you must be only…"

"28," I replied, "Soon to be 29 years of age."

"Yes, still very young," He ran a hand through his hair. "I never expected to have a granddaughter."

"I never expected to have a grandfather."

An amused smirk crossed his face, "Well met."

I got to my feet, the nausea threatening to bubble over, "I should go." I hurried from the alcove up to my room, barely making it to the toilet before the contents of my stomach were emptied into the bowl.

I cleaned myself up, when the nausea had mostly passed, and dressed for bed before sliding under the covers. That's how Azriel found me. The door had nearly come off its hinges when he hurried into the room, as if sensing that I was feeling unwell. He sat beside me on the bed, placing the back of his hand to my forehead, checking my temperature.

"What's happened?" He asked. His shadows wrapped around me in a soothing embrace and he wiped a tear that rolled down my cheek.

"Eris is my grandfather," I told him and he tensed.

"What did he do?" His voice was cold.

"Nothing," I assured him, "He told me what had happened with my grandmother… why my mother ended up at Sangravah…" I looked at my mate with tears in my eyes. "Azriel, if he becomes the High Lord of the Autumn Court…"

"Then you become his heir."

"Well, not technically because I'm female and they're not as open to changing succession as here," I interrupted, "But… will Rhys even let me stay here? When the Night Court's relationship with the Autumn Court isn't good?"

"You'll always be welcome here," He caressed my cheek. "And wherever you go, I will go too."