I dragged Azriel out of bed the following morning as the sun beamed through the windows, warming the cabin. I wanted to go for a walk. And explore. I dressed quickly in the tunic and leggings that had been packed, practically inhaled my breakfast and waited for my mate by the door.

He watched me with an amused expression as he took his time getting ready. Eventually he made his way over to the door. "You know, there was a time when you didn't want to leave the library," he murmured, kissing my forehead as he opened the door.

My cheeks flushed as I looked over at him, "But you make me want to live."

His eyes softened and he held out a hand for me, leading me back into the great outdoors.

The forest was vast and despite the similar trees, it certainly wasn't the terrifying forest surrounding Ramiel. Birds sang overhead and the occasional deer pranced past as rabbits tucked themselves away in the undergrowth. Flowers and summer berries grew on some of the bushes, a sign of summer.

Azriel fed me some of the edible berries as we walked and I laughed as I threw some his way and he caught them in his mouth. We soon reached a clearing and I gasped as I paused. In front of us was a waterfall, pouring into a pool. Rocks were scattered around in and led the way as the pool joined the river that led to our cabin.

"Fancy a swim?" I asked with a smile, dragging him to the water's edge.

"It might be cold."

"Sensitive male," I purred, running a finger down his wing. He shivered. I shimmied out of the leggings and then the tunic and blouse, aware that Azriel watched every move. I kissed him gently and then slipped into the pool in just my underwear. I sank under the water, a refreshing escape from the midday sun. As I rose to the surface once more, my river nymph blood seemed to be singing with approval.

"It's not that bad," I told him, "In fact it's quite refreshing. Illyrians aren't scared of a little water are they?"

I left the challenge there, floating with me, and Azriel removed his t-shirt and then his shoes and trousers and jumped in. I laughed and splashed him as he surfaced beside me. I swam towards the waterfall and he chased after me as I reached it. I held my hand out to the water, where it plummeted over the edge and into the pool where we were. I put my head under, enjoying the sensation and my mate laughed as he reached us. He sat on a rocky ledge in the water beside me and just watched.

"What?" I asked.

"You're beautiful," A lopsided grin, "And I like seeing you happy." He held out his hands and tugged until I was on his lap. He kissed me softly, just holding me in his arms until we decided to return to the land.

"Shall we head back?" I said a short while later. We were sprawled out on the rocks, drying.

"I'll make us dinner tonight," He promised and I slid my leggings, blouse and tunic back on. I fastened the dagger back on my thigh as Azriel looper truth-teller back onto his belt. I'd just put on my boots when he held up his hands.

Don't make a sound. His voice filled my mind. I heard the crunching of leaves under boots and the voices of males. Azriel and I crept forwards quietly, crouching between a rock and a bush. He withdrew truth-teller and I gripped my own dagger in my hand.

"The legend says that the Dusk Court is three miles West of here," A voice said.

"It's hardly going to have a flag on it, saying Welcome to the Dusk Court is it?" Another voice. "It's just a bunch of ruins, if it's visible at all."

"It's my birthright," the third spoke then. "Ruins or not."

I caught a glimpse of them then. Three males. Two winged males. I'd thought Illyrian at first glance until I realised their black wings were in fact feathered. A third, wingless, carried a sword with them and my eyes widened as it shone. I'd seen that sword before in history books and from Azriel's facial expression I knew he had too. Gwydion.

Azriel suddenly pushed me behind him as an arrow flew our way and missed us both by mere inches. Somehow they knew we were here.

"You know, it's rude to spy," An irritated voice said as the three moved towards us. Then the other soldiers appeared. As if they'd been cloaked.

Azriel let out a snarl that seemed to rip through the trees. A newly-mated male, ready to kill.

I clenched my teeth, dagger ready.

"Ah, the Shadowsinger of the Night Court. Was the Spymaster spying on us?" The tallest folded his arms and curled his lip.

"You're in our lands," Azriel said, his voice cold. "I could say the same to you."

Fire crackled to life in my hand and his eyes turned to me.

"And with an Autumn Court bitch? Interesting. Don't tell me, you're Eris' heir? Put the dagger away, sweetheart, it's not very ladylike."

"I was never one for etiquette," I spun the dagger in my hand and he raised his eyebrows.

"Leave us be and we won't kill you and your mate, Shadowsinger."

"Get out of our lands and we'll leave you be," He replied, coolly.

But it was too late. Azriel moved quickly, taking out soldiers left, right and centre. One turned on me and I ended him with my dagger quickly, before grabbing his sword. I moved to the next soldier then.

"Enough!" The Male called and with a dramatic click of his fingers, they were gone.

Azriel panted as he looked at the bodies before him, "I've just ruined our holiday, haven't I?"

I poked a body with the sword I still held in my hand and I wiped the blood from my face. "I think it's safe to say we both did. I suppose we get one of these back to Rhys and try and work out who they are?"

"Indeed," my mate replied, his eyes dark as his shadows danced around him.

We met Rhys at the Moonstone Palace, a body in tow. Azriel had dumped it in a room on the lowest floor by the time Rhys had strolled in.

"Are you both alright?" He asked, looking at each of us at our blood splattered clothing.

"Yes," Azriel said, his voice still promising death. I gave an answering nod. My mate filled our High Lord in on what we had heard and witnessed as they looked over at the body. Azriel searched it thoroughly for any clues of where they might be from or what their plans could be.

"They had Gwydion," I said and Rhys tensed.

"The weapon has been missing for centuries," He looked down at Truth-teller on Azriel's hip. "Perhaps that's how they knew you were there," He mused. "They are connected, after all."

"It's possible," Azriel said. He pulled the sigil off of the uniform. "I don't recognise this, do you?"

"I can't say I do."

"I can ask the other priestesses," I told them. "And I'll search the library if I have to." Rhys inclined his head in thanks and I turned to Azriel. "If you just winnow us there now…"

"It's getting late," Rhys said, "and I can't imagine Clotho will be pleased to see you walking in like that." He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated that he did not know the answers. "I'll send a few guards to Rosehall," he said to Azriel. "Tomorrow when Gwyn is searching the library, you and Cassian will go and scout the lands. I'll contact Helion. Perhaps we need to find the Dawn Court before they do."

"And Eris? He may know something," I said.

"Perhaps," Rhys gave a nod. "I'll have him and Helion meet me here tomorrow." He gave us each the once over, "You can both stay here tonight, you definitely both need a bath. I'll have your things sent over from the cabin."

Azriel was silent as we headed up to our room and I knew he was beating himself up. I removed my bloodied clothing and it disappeared as it hit the marble floor. I sank into the huge, warm pool and went under, cleaning the blood from my face. When I emerged, it disappeared, falling over the side of the pool and into nothingness.

"You didn't do anything wrong," I said to him, breaking the silence.

"I should have kept one alive," he said, barely a glance in my direction. Ah. For torturing answers out of them, I realised.

"But the price could have been one of our lives," I reminded him.

He tensed, his shadows curling around him, hiding him in darkness. "I just wanted a few days away with you in peace."

"I understand that," I told him. "So why not join me in the bath? There's nothing more we can do tonight but… we could have some peace here, together." I brushed my wet hair off my shoulder, "Or it doesn't have to be peaceful. I can think of some other ways to spend our time."

A few shadows moved away from his face and his eyes darkened. A distraction. One I was happy to give.

"Although," I told him, "You were very good at showing me what your mouth can do… maybe once you've cleaned up I can return the favour."

His throat bobbed and then he quickly removed his clothes, getting into the water with me.