Ten Years later...

Auriella went outside of her cabin, looking for her mate.

She found him in the flower fields, playing with their wolves, Ragnar and Pandora.

Her heart always tightened whenever she saw her companions, seeing as they reminded her of Perseus. She wondered what had happened to her friend, not knowing if he survived the journey to whatever world he landed on with Elain and Nyx.

For the past ten years, she had to conform to a new life without her father, Thesan, and her brother, Damian. The only one who remained of her family was her father, Zephyr, who was still the Captain of the Peregryns and who commanded a small battalion of his own, along with Morrigan.

Lara, her brother's widow, had decided to become a healer, tending to the wounds of soldiers that went beyond the border shield. The soldiers left to find resources to use back here that would benefit everyone. Sometimes, their journeys would be fruitless. Then, there were other times that they weren't. Lara worked alongside Azriel's mother, who taught her everything she needed to know.

Everyone within the border shield had to sacrifice something, whether it be a piece of cloth or a fish, order had to be established. Valeria, the High Lady of the Spring Court, was practically in charge of all of the courts, doing whatever she could to help out as many people as she could.

After the High Lords were taken, it seemed as if all hope was lost for the courts. But it wasn't until Valeria stepped up to her role where people listened. With the help of her father, who was a general in the Winter Court, she was able to keep her court stable, making sure that she was making the right decisions that would benefit her home.

Valeria had also sought help from Feyre, seeing as she was the one who had experience in being the High Lady of her court. Feyre was hesitant at first, but as time went on, they had both developed a professional relationship, helping each other out in their every need.

Emerie, Cassian's lover, had given birth to their daughter, Calliope, eight months after Nesta began her reign. The little Illyrian girl was a gleaming light in the darkness, giving hope to everyone around her, especially Feyre. She had slick black hair, sparkling amber eyes, and a warrior's spirit just like her father. Emerie had revealed that Cassian knew about the pregnancy, telling him a day before Nesta's terror rained down upon them. She said that he was ecstatic, wanting to tell the world.

But unfortunately, he never had the chance to do so.

Calliope would occasionally be with Feyre, who still grieved the loss of her son and her mate. They would do everything together, having a beautiful bond that kept growing. Auriella was happy that Feyre had started to open herself up again, knowing that her mind had not been kind to her over the years.

The High Lady of Night was starting to shine again.

Auriella whistled to her wolves, who ran to her in a heartbeat. She laughed as they tackled her to the ground, licking her face. She playfully shoved them away, sitting up on the grass before being tackled down again by her mate.

Auriella giggled as he kissed her face and her neck, feeling butterflies rise within her.

They had both built their own cabin in the woods of the Spring Court, separating from everyone else. It wasn't just for privacy, but it was mostly for the nature around them. It didn't compare to their cabin in the Night Court, but it was beautiful nonetheless.

"Why are you so charged up today?" Auriella asks her mate.

He chuckles, "Do you not want my affection?" He asks.

The Daughter of Dawn rolls her eyes, "You show me your "affection" every night. It usually ends up with me not being able to walk in the morning." She tells him.

He laughs, "Then I accomplished my mission." He says, making her playfully slap him on his chest.

Azriel buries his head in her neck, "Sometimes, I forget the situation we are in. There are times when I wake up in the morning and forget that much of our family isn't with us." He tells her.

Auriella nods, knowing that he is right. Rhysand, Cassian, Thesan, and so many others were currently in Nesta's grasp, and they weren't able to do anything about it. It was infuriating to think about, knowing that they were all suffering because that is what Nesta promised.

There would be times when Auriella would overhear Feyre in hysterics because she would feel something wrong through her bond with Rhysand. Her screams would awaken Morrigan, who always comforted her during the night.

For Feyre, her world had already crumbled apart when she lost her son. Then, the pieces were crushed when she lost her mate. And now, it seemed that those broken pieces were orbiting around her, reminding her of what she once had and lost in an instant.

There was only so much they could do for her.

"I know, my love. We have to hold out hope that the Children of Day and Night will return so that we may commence our attack on Nesta. Right now, we have to sit and wait, even though we might not like it in the least bit." She tells him.

Azriel nods, sitting up, "There's no telling when they would return. We have to plan now to prepare ourselves for the future. The citizens will grow angry if they see that we are not doing anything to gain Prythian back. There will be unrest soon and we have to find a way to prevent that." He says to her.

Auriella nods, knowing that he's right. The citizens cannot live without their High Lords, seeing as they have lived that way for centuries. Nesta wasn't just destroying homes, she was destroying the lives that everyone knew, making them start new ones, including the Daughter of Dawn.

Shortly after Damian's death, Ruth had told Auriella the entire truth, leaving out nothing. She had found out that the woman who she looked up to the most, was her and her brother's birth mother. She had traveled from Hybern to Prythian to protect her children, not wanting the King of Hybern to use them as weapons of war, even though he was their birth father.

Auriella could barely keep herself together, feeling as if the air had been sucked out of her as the truth was laid bare before her.

Ruth had revealed that when it was announced that the Daughter of Dawn had been taken to Under the Mountain, she immediately followed after her, getting herself caught by the Attor. She didn't want her daughter to suffer alone, knowing that in the hands of Amarantha, people were bound to die if there was even one act of disobedience.

After she explained everything, Auriella expected herself to be angry, to be filled with hate for the woman who knew the truth from the beginning.

But in reality, she found herself filled with peace, feeling as if the weight that burdened her for so long had been lifted from her chest.

Even though she already had a family, Auriella did accept Ruth into her life, including Arthur and her three half-brothers. Ares, Ajax, and Orion had been a light in her life, treating her as if they had known her their entire lives. She was grateful to have them by her side, even when Damian's death still hovered over her at the time.

Her life would never be the same without her twin brother, but she knew that he was always watching over her, even when she didn't know it herself.

Azriel grabbed his mate's hand, sitting her on his lap, "What has caught you so deep in thought, my sunlight?" He asked her. Ragnar and Pandora laid on the grass, basking in the sunlight that beamed down upon them.

Auriella shakes her head, "Nothing. I was just thinking about what the future holds for us." She lies, knowing that he would see right through her.

The Spymaster's eyes gleam, "It would hold a hell of a lot of death, especially when the shields cease to exist anymore. Once the war begins, we have to give it all we have." He tells her.

Auriella could still see the pain he felt for his brothers, seeing as the status of their wellbeing was unknown. Spies were sent out, but none came back with information of the High Lords. It was said that Tarquin was still out there, hiding underneath the dirt. No one had expected for the High Lord of Summer to last long out there, especially with the thousands of creations.

She nods, planting a kiss on his lips, "And you'll be beside me the entire time?" She asks him, making a smile appear on his lips.

"I'll be beside you for eternity, my love. I'm not going anywhere. My home is wherever you are." He says to her, wrapping his arms around her.

"As mine is with you." She tells him, their shadows swirling in the air.

In the distance, a small voice is heard, "Uncle Az!" Calliope yells, running towards them. She waves her wooden sword in the air, excitement radiating from her beautiful face. Azriel grinned, standing from the ground as his niece jumped into his arms.

Since Cassian was still held captive by Nesta, Azriel made it his mission to take care of his brother's daughter, making sure that the little girl had everything she needed. He would always check in with Emerie regularly, knowing that she was busy with training others in combat in case the war broke out earlier than expected.

Auriella smiled as she saw her mate spinning the little girl around, hearing the laughter and joy that was needed in times like these. She wondered how he would be with children of their own, seeing how much love poured out from him as he cared for Calliope.

The Daughter of Dawn smiled at the Spymaster of the Night Court... praying that their eternity would blossom as bright as the horizon.

***

Nesta stood on the peak of The Prison, staring out to the continent that was under her rule.

She witnessed the horrendous creatures she released plowing down creations or citizens that were in their way, seeing the blood stain the ground within seconds. Screams echoed through the air, being silenced as throats were torn.

The sisterhood stood behind her, along with Bryaxis, who had turned back into his shadow form. They watched the chaos they created, knowing that this is how Prythian was meant to be - controlled and obedient.

Nesta took a deep breath, unbothered by the carnage that polluted the air, "Has anyone learned of the whereabouts of the High Lord of the Summer Court?" She asked the sisterhood, turning her head to the side.

Delphine stepped forward, "There hasn't been anything new, my queen. His status remains the same. The High Lord of Summer has vanished, but we don't know where." She says.

Callista speaks, "We assure you that we will keep looking, my queen. He has to be here somewhere. Someone has to know where he is. And when we find him, he will join the other High Lords and suffer the most out of all of them." She tells her.

Nesta nods, not saying another word.

She didn't know how victorious this would feel, having the power to control anything and anyone that moved. Over the years, her power had become stronger, more dangerous than before. It had surpassed the High Lords, obliterating anything with the snap of her fingers.

Never again.

In her mortal life, Nesta thought herself useless, seeing as she hadn't done anything important that benefited her family in any way. But now, she finally had a purpose in life. She had become something worth living for, gaining a power that seemed impossible to wield and control.

Never again would she be weak.

In the palm of her hand, Nesta summoned her power. She let the heat fuel her body, feeling the strength flow through her veins. She breathed in the crisp air of the snow-capped mountain, gritting her teeth as her power burned inside of her.

Never again would she be at someone's mercy.

"This world is mine," she breathed, igniting her silver flames upon Prythian.

END OF BOOK ONE