Auriella stood beside Morrigan and Nesta as they faced Devlon.

The sisterhood were behind their leaders, still and silent. The brotherhood stood behind Devlon, smirking and sneering at the twelve women.

The crowd had gathered around them, whispering and murmuring to one another. Auriella's heart raced with nervousness, not knowing what was going to happen. She hoped Morrigan and Nesta would choose Basiliah or Delphine. They were the best choice out of all of them.

The women in the sisterhood were strong, but that wasn't enough, especially with the brotherhood. Each of them looked like they could lift an entire house, their muscles showing, along with their veins popping out of their skin.

Devlon had trained these men to be killers. Auriella had no doubt that he would do anything to make sure that the sisterhood fell. He wanted the women back in their homes, subjecting their lives back to cleaning and bearing children. This was their last chance to prove themselves.

Even though this opportunity was unbeknownst to Auriella, she was glad to be apart of it. She would train these girls everything she knew.

"Enough!" Devlon yelled, keeping his eyes on the sisterhood leaders, and making the murmuring of the audience cease.

Morrigan and Nesta weren't fazed. They kept their eyes on him. If looks could kill, the duo would surely commit it. Their hate for him was unhidden, but even if he didn't show fear, Auriella knew that Devlon was shitting his trousers. These two women could kill him at the snap of their fingers, especially Nesta.

The bastard cleared his throat, "Now, we have gathered here once again to choose one fighter from the sisterhood and the brotherhood to fight in the Arena of Nightmares. This fight will determine if the sisterhood stays," a smirk makes its way to his lips, "or if it goes."

Devlon motioned for one of the trainers to come forward, "Pyxis will be announcing my choice." He says. The bastard hands the trainer a slip of paper, holding the name of one of the brothers.

Morrigan motions for Auriella to step forward, "The Daughter of Dawn will be announcing our choice." She says, handing her the same slip of paper, holding the name of one of the sisters. She takes it, coming face to face with the other trainer.

Pyxis scoffs, "I wonder if the High Lord of Dawn knows you are doing this. I don't think he will be very happy, do you?" He asked.

Auriella heard a growl come from Perseus, who stood by Azriel. His gaze was on her the entire time, arms crossed against his chest. Through the bond, she could feel his raging emotions. He did not want her here at all.

"My father allows me to make my own choices. If he knows about this or not, I don't care. That is my business and no one else's." She says.

Silence overtook the entire camp as if everyone was holding their breath.

Pyxis was the first to open his slip. Auriella looked at his expression, seeing that he didn't immediately read the name. He cleared his throat, "From the brotherhood... Byron." He announces.

The brotherhood erupts into shouts, congratulating their fellow companion. The muscular male steps forward, ruffling his wings, before standing beside Pyxis.

As the shouts die down, Auriella takes a deep breath, opening the slip in her hands. Her heart races, hoping for one of the two names that she wanted. And once she read the name on the slip, her heart sank, but she made sure not to show it.

"From the sisterhood... Aiko." She announces, making the sisterhood erupt into shouts. Aiko steps out from the line, making her way to stand beside Auriella.

Devlon steps forward, "Well there you have it! Byron and Aiko will be facing each other in the Arena of Nightmares! The two fighters will have the entire month to prepare themselves before the event and then... they will fight to the death." He states.

Auriella could feel Aiko tense up beside her. She stares at Byron, who has his sights set on her, sizing her up. If they could fight now, Auriella had no doubt that he would do everything to break Aiko apart, and Aiko would try to do the same.

Once The Choosing was over, the entire sisterhood went back to the compound, either in silence or patting Aiko on the back. The female smiled at them, but it quickly diminished. Auriella knew that she was terrified, seeing how the brotherhood stared her down as if she were an obstacle in their way.

Azriel had made his way beside her, along with Perseus. She briefly looked at him, seeing the flurries of snow in his hair. Her mind itched to shake it out.

"You doubt their choice, don't you?" He asked, still staring forward.

Auriella took a deep breath, "Aiko is a good fighter, but she has trouble wielding a sword. I'm sure I can help her get better, but I don't know if a month is enough for me. I hope it is." She says, her voice low.

He stays silent for a moment, contemplating. Then he speaks, "If you are okay with it, I would like to train you today." He says, putting his hands into his pockets.

Both of their shadows stilled, but they didn't acknowledge it. Auriella swallowed, remembering his heated stare when he found her already at the camp early in the morning. She had the image engraved in her mind, not wanting to forget how possessive it felt.

Auriella nodded, "After I'm done here, we'll go. But prepare yourself, Spymaster. I am a fast learner." She says.

Azriel scoffs, "I have no doubt that you are, Ella."

***

Auriella spent the rest of the morning training Aiko.

The female had much to learn before she could be put into the real fight. Auriella wanted to scream at Morrigan and Nesta for choosing her, but she decided against it, knowing that it wouldn't change anything.

It seemed that Aiko knew it too, becoming frustrated with herself. Auriella motivated her, telling her to focus and to not give up. The art of wielding a sword wasn't easy. When she was a little girl, the Daughter of Dawn had to try time and time again to get a movement right, but that took time.

That was something that Aiko didn't have. The other females depended on her to win this fight, to keep the sisterhood alive. There was a heavy weight on Aiko's shoulders, but there was also another one put onto Auriella.

She tried not to think about it too much, even when she left the Windhaven Camp with Azriel and Perseus.

The Spymaster had winnowed them to the forest, right at the entrance. Auriella looked back to see a long bridge that led back into the city of Velaris. It looked even more beautiful from afar, truly living up to its name.

"Amazing," she breathed.

She could feel Azriel's gaze upon her. Even after what happened, Auriella could feel that same heated stare, filled with conflict and confusion at the same time. She didn't dare look into those eyes again, knowing that she might come apart at the seams if she did.

Instead, she looked back at the green trees, avoiding him. Perseus had already walked towards the forest, looking back at his owner with awaiting eyes.

"Let's get going, Spymaster. Don't want to waste daylight now, do we?" She asked, starting to walk away. Azriel didn't respond.

As the two descended into the forest in silence, Perseus enjoyed every moment, running off through the trees and chasing anything that moved. Auriella smiled at her wolf, seeing how he looked so free. He ran fast as the rushing water of the Sidra, his tongue sticking out his mouth, panting.

Auriella was too focused on him to even notice that her mate was not by her side anymore. She stopped walking, looking around, trying to see where Azriel went. He was nowhere to be seen.

"Azriel?" She called out. No response.

Azriel, where are you? She sent down the bond.

Again, nothing. Panic settled in her, feeling herself grow anxious. Was this a game he was playing?

No, this isn't a game. Find me. He says, his voice startling her.

"What the hell do you mean? Come out now!" Auriella yelled, her voice echoing throughout the forest.

Concentrate on your shadows, Auriella. Let them tell you where to find me. Focus on them, not me, not anything else. He says.

Auriella swallowed, taking a look around one last time, before stilling herself. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She tried to calm her chaotic mind, wanting to focus solely on her shadows, but her thoughts kept distracting her.

Focus on something that calms you. Something that made you forget about everything. Her mate says, feeling her struggle.

His voice sent chills down her spine as if he were right behind her. Auriella supposed he was, but she didn't want to look. No, she wanted her shadows to stay with her, to learn how they worked.

Suddenly, flashes of her playing her piano came to mind.

She remembered when music would take away her every worry, calm her mind, and make her smile whenever she played the notes. She remembered her orange-colored piano that no longer sat in her room at the Dawn Court. She remembered when Thesan and her would play and sing for hours, coming up with new melodies.

She remembered his song that she wrote, how it brought her peace in the darkest moments before she was taken Under the Mountain.

It brought her utter serenity, feeling as if she could reach him if she played longer. She had closed her eyes, imagining him wrapping his warm arms around her, hugging her tightly.

Let me find him. She thought to her shadows, hoping they would listen.

Auriella imagined herself in her bedroom in the Dawn Court, seeing her piano in the corner of the room, cleaned and untouched. As if it beckoned her, she walked over to it in strides, immediately sitting down on the small bench.

Let me find him.

She put her hands on the keys, her father's song appeared in front of her, ready to be played. Auriella didn't know if she would remember, but when she pressed down on the first note, it was as if everything she had learned came back all at once.

Her ears filled with the wondrous melody, making her remember why she wanted to play the piano in the first place.

Let me find him.

She played because it reminded her of her father, of who she used to be, of the court she grew up in, and who she was: the Daughter of Dawn.

Right. A soft whisper spoke in her ear.

Auriella felt her shadows roam around her, but she didn't open her eyes. She let herself focus on the melody, not wanting to lose that grip of who she once was. A girl filled with happiness and content. Even when her fathers' were not with her, she was someone who still carried hope when there was none to be found.

Instead, Auriella walked with her eyes closed, letting her shadows guide her. She trusted them and it seemed they knew that.

Right. Another whisper.

Her father's melody was peaking. She pressed down on the keys with such passion, as if the music controlled her in a way. It was a reawakening, she supposed, feeling as if this could be the moment where everything changed.

Left. Another whisper.

Auriella didn't know where she was walking, if she was going to run into a tree, or if she would trip over a branch. Either way, she didn't care. She was far too deep in her mind to open her eyes.

Her father's song was coming to an end, remembering how the notes became softer. It would always bring tears to her eyes because she never wanted it to end. She wished she could play it forever, wanting the world to hear how bright and beautiful it sounded.

Even now, Auriella could feel tears streaming down her cheek.

Right. Another whisper.

But in those final notes of her father's song, she was no longer thinking of him, but of Azriel. She imagined him sitting beside her, watching her play the instrument to its finale.

A smile came up to her lips. She wondered if he liked it.

Left. Another whisper.

And as she ended the song, Auriella turned to the Spymaster. She grabbed one of his scarred hands, putting it on top of the keys. In silence, she showed him how to position it and he did, spreading his fingers onto the delicate keys.

Stop. A shadow said.

She could feel him in front of her, their shadows swirling through the air in celebration. But she couldn't open her eyes yet. She needed to see the end.

Auriella pointed to the second to last note of her father's song and pressed down on the key. She motioned for Azriel to hit the last note.

With his eyes on her, he pressed down, letting that single note reverberate through her mind, bringing an end to the blissful imagination.

Another tear fell down her cheek.

Azriel's rough hand slowly caressed her cheek, his thumb wiping away the single tear. Auriella didn't try to move it away. She had craved his touch, knowing that he had craved hers too.

"Open your eyes, Ella." He whispered.

Slowly, she fluttered them open, staring right into those hazel eyes like it was the first time she ever saw them.