A year and a half later...

Auriella sat by the couch in front of her window, watching the sunrise from beyond the horizon.

She desperately wanted to feel a sense of warmth or comfort from it, waiting every morning for the feeling. But it would never come. She reminisces the times she watched the sunrises with her father, remembering the excitement coursing through her veins.

But after everything, she couldn't feel anything. There was no excitement, no happiness. There wasn't anything but nothing in her mind.

After Under the Mountain, Auriella believed her life would be normal again. She thought that once she stepped back into the Dawn Court, she could wash away everything that happened to her, forget what Amarantha did. And she tried.

Auriella spoke to her brother, Damian, about everything. She told him about what happened to her, about every ordeal she faced with Amarantha, and he listened. He stared at his sister with the utmost sympathy, not knowing how she survived all those years.

Auriella believed that if she told Damian everything, she would finally be able to move on. But that was far from what it did.

Instead, it brought her into depression.

She replayed every memory. The whippings, the torture, her cell, the humiliation, Clare, Marcellus, Poppy, and the unbearable pain she faced. Every memory that she told was like being Under the Mountain again, experiencing everything as if it were the first time.

And it would never stop.

Auriella would walk through the palace, jumping at every noise she heard. She would tremble at times, unable to control it. Her dreams would become nightmares. Amarantha's voice would haunt her, torture her, and never fade. Auriella would awake from them, screaming, making her attendants come into her room to comfort her.

More than a year later, nothing had changed. Auriella was distant from her family, still not able to look at her fathers' eyes. She was not able to sit at her piano for more than a minute, feeling unworthy enough to play such a beautiful instrument. She did not walk through the streets of her court, fearing that she would be judged by every eye that laid upon her.

Instead, she simply stayed in her room, alone.

Occasionally, she would let Lara and Valeria in, letting them keep her company while she withered away into nothing. She let the peacefulness of the moments overtake her, even though she was never at peace herself.

At times, her fathers' would try to go into Auriella's room to speak with her, but she would refuse to let them in. She panicked whenever she heard their voices. She would hide in her closet or her bathroom and let her attendants wave them away.

One day, her father, Thesan, barged into her room. Auriella quickly burst into tears, running into her closet and slamming the door closed while her father was calling her name. She pleaded with him to leave, but he would beg to see her. He would plead with tears, unable to bear his daughter ignoring him for so long.

As much as he tried, Zephyr had to pry Thesan from his daughter's room. Auriella's attendants were worried for her, seeing as she stayed in there for hours. She had her knees clutched to her chest, trembling in her own fear. She didn't know how she would ever look into her father's eyes again.

But as the months passed, Auriella finally gained the courage to try to mend herself, taking small steps. She let herself become reacquainted with her two attendants, keeping them close and telling them everything. She also met with Dawn Court representatives, allowing herself to become available and approachable.

Even though Auriella was able to speak with her twin brother, things were still off between them. She decided that she would spend an entire day with him, arranging a small picnic in their palace garden. She wanted to hear more about what he had done for the decades she had been gone. She wanted to get to know more about the man he had become.

Auriella wondered why it was easy to speak with him. She didn't hold back from any of the questions he had asked. Sure, she hid a lot from him and shed tears from those untold memories, but some things needed to be buried in the back of her mind.

But as she spoke with her brother, Auriella couldn't help but feel guilty. She had made an effort to mend the relationships with those around her except for her fathers. Word had made its way around the palace that they argued day and night because she refused to speak with them.

Auriella knew that she would have to face them soon. She didn't want their relationship to crumble because of her. She wanted them to be happy. She wanted them to stop worrying about her and try to repair themselves into the family that they once were.

After a full year had passed, Auriella finally arranged to meet with both of her fathers' in the palace gardens. She remembered the night so clearly. She had her back turned to the palace, looking up at the gleaming stars in the sky. The wind sent chills throughout her body and her tears slid down her cheek ever so slowly.

She could hear her fathers' footsteps coming towards her, stopping feet away from her. She loved that they gave her room to breathe, to try and compose herself.

It took several minutes, but she spoke. "I want you to know that I love you both. That has never changed. I know that you both have suffered because of my refusal to meet with you. During my time with her, I started to feel unworthy. I felt so weak and hopeless that I shut myself off and succumbed to her wishes. As she was beating me into oblivion-" She heard her father, Thesan, let out a sob. It took everything within her to keep from breaking down.

"I knew there was nothing I could do. She had humiliated me in many ways to the point where I did not feel like your daughter. I was supposed to be strong, fearless, and unbreakable like the both of you. But I was not. I decided to stop looking into your eyes because I believed you deserved so much better than me. I wish I could have said all of this earlier, but forgive me, for the remainder of my fear, is still very much inside of me. Even now." She finished.

For a moment, there was silence. Then Auriella turned around, her heart beating so fast, she thought it would burst out of her chest. She slowly lifted her head, her gaze landing on Zephyr first.

Her father's blue eyes gleamed with love and understanding, knowing how hard it must have been for his daughter to suffer alone. Auriella couldn't keep back her tears. She loved him so much. Her thoughts always remained on him, remembering the first time he saw her Under the Mountain. She remembered the tears he shed for her, feeling as if he failed as a father to protect his little girl.

Auriella slowly moved her gaze from Zephyr to Thesan. His brown eyes were beautiful in the moonlight, even when they gleamed with tears. He stared at his daughter in awe, finally seeing her lovely eyes as if it was for the first time when he carried her in his arms.

The Daughter of Dawn went towards Thesan, pulling him into an embrace. She sobbed into his shoulder, apologizing again and again. Both of her fathers' held her tightly, planting kisses on her head and reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. She let herself believe them, feeling as if they could erase every bad memory that haunted her.

Auriella knew that those horrific nightmares would never fade or would hurt any less. But at that moment, she finally felt safe after so many years. In her fathers' arms, she felt like nothing bad had happened. She assumed it was because of what they all had gone through, but she didn't have a care in the world for anything else, except for them.

The day after their rekindling, Auriella was informed of the unprecedented meeting with all of the High Lord's and High Lady of the Night Court.

During the chaotic year, Auriella had learned of the separation of Tamlin and Feyre. She heard the rumors of what he had done to her. It was said that he kept her locked in his palace, refusing to let her leave his grounds. There was a point where it was said that Feyre was too unhealthy, her bones starting to peek out of her skin.

Auriella heard that Feyre had made a bargain with Rhysand during their time Under the Mountain. She had to stay with him for a week each month of her life. He even marked her arm with a beautiful black design, showing proof of the deal with the Night Court.

Months later, Feyre had returned to the Spring Court, only to bring it down. It was said that she sought revenge on Tamlin for selling out her family and his court to Hybern, a ruthless male who wanted his claim on Prythian, killing anyone in his path to do so.

And after all of that, it was revealed to Prythian that Feyre had become the (first ever) High Lady of the Night Court, standing alongside her mate, Rhysand.

Auriella couldn't help but feel anything but happiness for him. She was glad that he could find some light in the darkness, even if it was from the person she least expected. He was a good male and she felt like she owed him in some way, knowing that he risked his life to take away her pain when she was being whipped repeatedly by Amarantha.

But then there was the matter of Feyre.

Auriella knew that the girl had no choice. It was either the lives of two Fae or entrap the rest of them for eternity with Amarantha. They lost in both situations.

But even though Feyre had saved the Fae and became one herself, revived from the power of all seven High Lords, Auriella couldn't help but feel resentment towards her. It was a feeling that she did not want. Feyre did not have a choice. She would have died, along with the rest of the Fae.

Even as the months passed, Auriella tried to remind herself that. But each time she thought about Feyre, there were only terrible memories that appeared in her mind.

But now, it was time to face her, along with all the other High Lord's.

The meeting was agreed to be held in the Dawn Court at the palace, which meant that everyone was on high alert. Not all the High Lord's got along, but when it came to the safety of Prythian and the courts, everyone had to be on board.

Of course, it was a ludicrous idea, for every High Lord to be in the same room together, given their histories with one another. But Auriella knew that it was necessary, especially when it came to her home being threatened by a barbarian who showed no mercy to those who pleaded for it.

Auriella felt someone touch her shoulder, making her break away from her mind. Lara was there, smiling down at her. "Are you alright, Auri? I can see that something has you deep in thought." She says.

The Daughter of Dawn shakes her head, not wanting to share details. "It was was nothing, Lara. Is everything ready?" She asks.

"We are ready! You are going to be absolutely stunning in this dress. I can't wait for others to see it. You are heartbreakingly beautiful." Valeria says from the other side of the room.

She stands next to a sparkling champagne dress, putting the finishing touches on the bottom of the long skirt. The neckline is V-shaped, plummeting down halfway to the stomach. There is transparent felt in the middle, letting it be a little revealing, but not too much.

"You both did not have to go to such lengths. This is a meeting, not a ball." Auriella says, making her attendants laugh.

As she is changed in the dress by Valeria, Lara does everything to make Auriella as presentable as possible. Her hair is curled to perfection, the jumping waves moving back and forth. Her face is painted lightly, having more of a natural style. And once she looked at herself in the mirror, she felt like she was looking at someone else.

Under the Mountain had taken so much from her. It occupied her mind every day since she finally stepped outside from the rising rock.

Auriella noticed the change. Her attendants looked at her with sympathy, knowing that she still struggled with what happened.

Valeria takes her hands, "Healing won't come easy, Ella. I don't know what you suffered, but my mind was always focused on you and the safety of your fathers. I will every step of the way and so will Lara. You can trust with anything. We will always be here." She says.

Auriella wipes the tears from Valeria's eyes, "I know. But I promise, I will do everything to keep moving forward," she takes Lara's hand, "and I know I can count on both of you to help me through it all. You two have become sisters to me. I am grateful." She says.

A knock at the door interrupts their heartfelt moment, but when Lara opens it, Damian is on the other side, looking as dashing as ever.

He greets the attendants and goes over to his sister, "Our fathers are wondering where you are. They want to see you and keep you in their sights before the other High Lord's arrive." Damian tells her.

Auriella chuckles, "Our fathers worry too much, but I understand why. So, let's get going, shall we? I don't want them lecturing me on being more responsible." She tells him.

Once the twins arrive at the throne room, their fathers are already there, along with Kallias and Helion. The High Lords of Winter and Day.

As the attention goes to the twins, Thesan stands to greet his children. They both sit by his side as the Daughter and Son of the Dawn Court.

Auriella looked to Kallias first, nodding her head once in greeting. He does the same, his crystal blue eyes holding nothing but sympathy towards her. Looking at him from up close, Auriella felt chills go down her spine, feeling as if he were winter himself. She looked over to his companion. She was beautiful; an equal to his ice.

Then Auriella looked at Helion, who held his hand out to her. She accepted it, letting him bestow a kiss to the top of her hand. His amber eyes bore into her like they could see her darkest secrets. She kept her eyes on his, nodding once again in greeting. He gave her a sincere smile and slowly took his hand away.

Thesan looked over to his daughter, "Are you sure you want to be here? It could get messy at any moment and I don't want you to get hurt. They could also mention things that happened in..." He trails off. She knew what he meant.

Auriella grabs his hand, "We're in this together, Pa. The life of Prythian doesn't just affect the High Lords. It affects all of us. I am willing to do anything for my court to survive," she looks at the two other High Lords, "standing along with the others." She says.

As they are waiting, Auriella looks around the room, trying to spot Zephyr. She hears a small cough behind her and she turns in her seat, seeing her father in his golden armor. He looks at her, giving her a small smile. She gives him one back, wishing that he was sitting beside them, but she knew why he couldn't.

She wished that her fathers' did not have to hide their relationship. Inside the palace, they delighted in each other and their children didn't mind. But outside, they were strictly High Lord and Captain. They were a powerful team, destroying anyone who threatened their court or their family.

Some people would not agree with their relationship or would use it against them, which is why they had to hide it. And with the war against Hybern, it was too dangerous for that kind of information to make its way into the light.

As Auriella was in her own thoughts, something automatically snapped her out. She looked toward the tall oak doors, knowing that something made of Night was on the other side. She felt a strong sense of longing that she never felt before. Her chest tightened like something was connecting, something that she could not piece together.

One of the servants cleared their throat, making their way to the doors, holding onto the handle, "The High Lord and High Lady of the Night Court," he said, before opening it.

Auriella remembered Ruth speaking of the mating bond. When they were both in the servants' hall, doing their daily chores, Ruth had spoken about her mate, Arthur. Ruth had said that when she first laid eyes on him, he intrigued her. He was like a magnet that she had connected with. Unbeknownst to Ruth at the time, Arthur was her mate.

Ruth had said that she didn't know what to do, that it was a surprise when he had told her. But she knew that she loved him as he did her. And when she accepted the mating bond, she knew that it had snapped into place.

But as Auriella asked questions about it, she remembered Ruth telling her one specific fact about it: the mating bond could be felt by either person. It could snap at any point when they meet each other, like a puzzle that has waited for its last piece. And for Auriella, that is exactly what she felt.

The Daughter of Dawn and the Spymaster of the Night Court locked eyes... and the mating bond snapped into place.