Before Auriella could pull away, Azriel's arms immediately went around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Their shadows quickly hid away behind them, letting them have this long-awaited moment to themselves.

His lips were soft and warm against hers; gentle as a cool breeze as they touched again and again. It was enough to send her melting under his hands, her mind swirling with thoughts of what she would do to him.

Auriella had imagined what it would feel like to be with him in such an intimate way. She wondered how he would react to her touch, how they would feel against each other, and how they would both be sent over the edge.

The thoughts, combined with the kiss, made a wetness pool in her core. She clutched her legs together, not wanting to give away how intense this made her feel.

Auriella could sense his growing arousal.

And it seemed the Spymaster could sense hers too.

Azriel grabbed her thigh, pulling her over his lap, straddling him.

Spirits save her...

From beneath, Auriella could feel her mate's erection brushing in between her legs. She whimpered, licking his bottom lip, her tongue yearning to enter. Azriel gladly let her in.

The taste of him - like snowfall mixed with the night air.

His tongue conquered the depths of her mouth, craving for more of her. His arms went underneath her cardigan, feeling the thin silk of her nightgown. He fisted the fabric in his hands, resisting the urge to rip it off of her.

Auriella brought her hands into his hair, angling back his head to drown deeper into him. Azriel snarled. He gripped her ass, sinking her down further onto his lap, pressing himself against her. She gasped, the movement catching her off guard.

She was burning; aching to have him ruin her. She wanted nothing more than to rip off every piece of clothing from their bodies and feel his bare skin collide with her own. No, it wasn't a want, but a need.

The need to forget everything that haunted her, that hounded her wounded mind. She needed that temporary distraction for a moment, relieving her from the horrifying nightmares that crept their way in when she least expected it.

She needed him.

Auriella slightly moved her hips, grinding herself against him. She let out a moan.

Azriel growled, low and deep, at the push of her hips. She delighted in the sound, raking her tongue over his teeth, craving to have more of him. Her hands roamed over his muscled chest, desperate for the contact of his skin.

She hadn't expected herself to be so hungry, so feral, for him. It was like their bond came alive, simmering and begging for her mate to drag her into pleasurable oblivion.

The Spymaster separated their lips, dragging his tongue up the column of her neck. He placed his hand in her hair, grabbing a fistful before tugging down, his mouth devouring the heat of her skin. He lightly bit down, earning another whimper from his mate.

It was as if this bond of theirs controlled them, overtaking their minds and breaking any bit of sanity they had left. In the three years they were separated from each other, their desire had never been so powerful, so charged, as it was in this moment.

Auriella felt her breasts become heavy, seeking contact for any more of him. She wanted his mouth everywhere, licking her until she became undone. Even as she gently moved her hips against him, it wasn't enough. She needed him bare, wanting him pounding into her until she couldn't take it any longer.

Even when covered, Auriella could feel the thickness of him. She could feel it throbbing against herself, wanting to spring free from its tethered state. Her thoughts ran wild thinking about it, wondering how he would feel inside of her. She would take it; every glorious inch.

She wanted Azriel to claim her; to unravel her with everything that he had. Her heart was beating out of her chest as if she was a wild animal, filled with adrenaline and ready to win her prize.

Azriel lifted his head back up. She caught his bottom lip with her teeth, unable to get enough of the raging desire that ran through them.

"Well well, what a surprise," A familiar voice says.

Auriella immediately jumps off of Azriel's lap, feeling her skin grow cold. She wraps her cardigan around her, attempting to hide any evidence of arousal.

Cassian leaned on the threshold of the doorway, his face holding an amused smirk. His arms were crossed against his bare chest, his hazel eyes staring directly at his brother. Azriel held his stare, unashamed that he and his mate were caught.

However, Auriella felt her face heat with embarrassment. She imagined that she was red as an apple, trying to soothe herself with the soft fabric of her cardigan. Her body trembled, feeling the aftermath of what she and Azriel had done.

"I knew you hadn't left the house, brother. I figured you stayed a bit longer to drink or something, but when I went to look I found you children here... enjoying each other's company." He says, grinning.

Bastard.

Cassian looks over at Auriella, "Daughter of Dawn, you seem flustered. Hopefully, my brother didn't tire you out to the point where you are unable to wake up in the morning. You and I have a long day ahead of us once the sun rises." He tells her.

"Shut the fuck up, Cassian," Azriel says through gritted teeth.

Auriella clears her throat, mustering up a smile. "I am... perfectly fine, General. In fact, I am going to head back to my room and rest. Goodnight to the both of you." She says, nodding her head once to both of the Illyrian men before rushing out of the music room.

She runs back into her room, gently closing the door behind her. Perseus still sleeps soundly on the bed, his ears fluttering at the draft of wind.

As if the House felt her racing heart, the fireplace came alive with flames. Auriella sat down on the fur carpet, wanting the fire to envelop her with warmth. She clutched her arms around herself, trying to calm her shaking body.

She wondered if she had dreamed it all if she had just conjured the fantasy in her mind to give herself some excitement. It couldn't have been real.

She had kissed her mate, the Spymaster of the Night Court.

Auriella touched her lips, still feeling the remnants of his warm lips. She could feel the inside of her mouth slightly trembling from where his tongue explored every inch. She felt bumps rise on her skin as she remembered how his scarred hands touched her body with such gentle fierceness that would have surely made her burst if they had kept going any longer.

She clutched her legs closed once more, wishing away those unholy thoughts.

Suddenly, a cup of water appeared beside her, ice clanging in the glass. Auriella drank it all, ignoring the freezing headache that it caused her. She squeezed her eyes closed, wanting anything to take her out of her raging mind.

Once she was calm enough, Auriella made her way to her dresser, putting on another pair of undergarments before she went back to bed. She cuddled up next to her wolf, petting his fur and giving him a soft kiss on his head.

She stared at him for a long moment, remembering that he was the only companion he had when she felt like everyone had abandoned her. For a while, it was just them: the Daughter of Dawn and her protector, Perseus.

But even during those three years, Auriella couldn't help but imagine her mate right there, standing alongside them.

***

Auriella woke to a soft knock on her door.

"Come in," she groaned, her head in between two pillows.

A woman chuckled, "Well, it seems that someone isn't a morning person. Hopefully, you've rested enough to go up to Windhaven today." Cerridwen says.

Auriella lifts her head up, blinded by the rising sun. She turns her head the other way, seeing Cerridwen already preparing an outfit for her. Perseus was awake, sitting laying down on the carpet, watching the maiden.

"There is a hot bath waiting for you, Daughter of Dawn. Cassian is already awake and getting ready. I have brought some warmer clothing, seeing how it is colder in the mountains at this time of the month. Hopefully, everything fits your preference." She says.

Auriella smiles at her, "Thank you, Cerridwen. I am grateful for your assistance. You don't know how much it means to me." She tells her.

The maiden smiles at her, "You are an honor to assist. You remind me of someone I used to know. She didn't stop fighting for what she believed in. No matter how hard it got, she prevailed, coming out the other end stronger and braver than before." She says.

"I wouldn't say that I'm there yet, but hopefully, things get better. I am honored to be here in the Night Court. Even in the short time that I have been here, I am able to say that it is more comforting than home. I believe it's because this is where my abilities derive from or because I desperately wanted to get away from home, but I'm not sure." Auriella explains.

Cerridwen nods, "The truth will be unveiled soon, Daughter of Dawn. All you need to do is keep looking." She says before walking out of the room.

Auriella couldn't help but think about those words. Even when she enveloped herself in the scalding hot water, the maiden's voice echoed through her mind.

***

Once Cassian winnowed Auriella up to Windhaven, it wasn't until they got closer to the sisterhood compound when he spoke.

"Only Rhys and I know about the bond you two share. No one else." He says, his breath showing through the freezing wind.

Auriella doesn't look at him, "I figured as much, seeing as you two are his brothers. Plus, it wasn't as if the both of you were being subtle about it." She mutters, bringing her hands up to her mouth, warming them with her breath.

Cassian lets out a deep chuckle, "Well, someone has to liven up the place. Hopefully, I didn't spook you last night. You seemed to leave in a hurry." He says, that cocky grin making its way onto his lips once more.

"I don't want to talk about it, General." She says, feeling a flutter in her stomach.

"Oh, don't worry. There is no need to share the details with me, Daughter of Dawn. It was written all over my brother's face last night and the evidence was showing through his pants." He tells her, making Auriella's face heat once again.

When they both entered the compound, Aiko was already there. She was in the middle of the training mat, practicing with the wooden sword.

Morrigan was watching her from the sidelines. Cassian and Auriella made their way beside her, seeing the female sweating from head to toe from non-stop practice.

The Third Commander took a deep breath, "I fear that she is overexerting herself. I heard from the other sisters that Aiko is only sleeping for one or two hours before coming back here to train every night." She says.

Cassian crossed his arms against his chest, "She is running on pure fumes if she keeps going on like this. Even if she completes her training, she will be restless on the day of the competition. It wouldn't be healthy for her." He says, biting the inside of his lip.

"But if she doesn't do this, she will barely have any time to train on her own to learn the movements. There has to be one day in the month to let her rest. It would mostly have to be before the day before the competition. She will have time to sleep and gain strength back." Auriella says, seeing Aiko jab and strike at the air.

Morrigan nods, "Hopefully, with you two helping her, she will get to where she needs to be faster. Devlon cannot win this time, especially with the sisterhood on the line. If he does, the Illyrian females will never gain any respect or ranking here in Windhaven. I refuse to let them down." She says, her hands shaking with gentle rage.

Cassian touches her shoulder, "Auriella and I will take care of it, Mor. Do what you need to do with Nesta. We'll be here with Aiko for the rest of the morning." He tells her.

The Third Commander looks to him for a moment before turning away. She walks out of the compound. Auriella stares after her, seeing her silhouette go deeper into the winter fog before becoming nothing but a shadow.

Cassian cleared his throat, "Let's get this going, Daughter of Dawn. We can't waste any time." He says, going towards Aiko. She follows him, shrugging off her cape, and throwing it to the side.

And minutes later, the real training began.