✦ ───── ✧ Reunion ✧ ───── ✦

Azriel

They winnowed straight into the sparkling city of Velaris, the bright lights hitting them instantaneously. Velaria turned in a circle as soon as they landed, taking in the chatter, the laughter, the sight and scent of people living and thriving.

"Welcome to Velaris," Rhsyand said, his eyes twinkling.

"You named it after me," Velaria breathed, gaping at her brother.

Rhysand exhaled, giving her a sentimental smile. "Of course I did, Vela. I promised you I would name something after you, didn't I? What better than the City of Dreams, for the Princess of Dreams?"

The nickname had come from Velaria's utter resilience in always being able to dream, no matter all of the ways the world tried to shut her down. She was always able to dream, thus giving her the nickname of the Princess of Dreams for when Rhys, Cassian, or himself wanted to refer to her, but it was mainly Cassian who used it.

Velaria closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of her home, her court, once again.

A cry pierced through the air, and someone winnowed in front of Velaria and tackled her to the ground in a bear hug. Velaria opened her eyes to see her cousin, staring at her with wide eyes.

Velaria laughed, beginning to sob hysterically at the sight of the blonde. "I'm alive, Mor, I'm alive."

Mor bit her lip, helping Velaria up off of the ground and giving her another hug. "You're alive," she breathed. "You're here."

Fae rushed out of the river manor, one by one, to see the commotion going on outside. First was Amren, who, by the light in Velaria's beautiful violet eyes, he could tell that Velaria had missed dearly. The female ran up and hugged Velaria fiercely, displaying more emotion than Azriel had seen from her in all of the time he had known her. "Welcome home, Velaria," Amren said, her voice breaking. "Welcome home."

The second was Nesta, still in her party attire, whom Azriel presumed that Rhysand had winnowed home quickly as soon as Cassian had retrieved him. She stood in the pale grass, surveying the new female, who was now hugging Cassian, with a territorial glare.

The third was the person Azriel wasn't sure if he wanted to see. Elain walked and stood behind Nesta, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder and whispering something to her.

The last was Feyre, who ran up to Rhysand and Velaria, looking frantically back and forth between them.

Velaria's eyes widened at Feyre. "If it isn't Feyre Cursebreaker, defender of the Rainbow," she said, embracing Feyre before she could respond. "You healed my brother more than you could ever know. Thank you for saving him when I couldn't anymore. I would like to request that you paint my eyes next to Rhysand's in the cabin."

Feyre's face shifted into utter confusion so quickly Azriel almost didn't see it. "Wait, how do you kn–"

"Nesta Archeron, I presume," Velaria said, although she seemed quite sure of herself. She curtseyed lower than she should have, Nesta sneering at the action. "I would also like to thank you for saving my brother, along with my nephew and my brother's mate during Nyx's birth." She ignored Nesta's bewildered look, continuing, "I was one of the original Valkyries. I was the last one alive before you reinstated the program. I would love to share the information and techniques I have with you, so long as you do the same."

Nesta paused, watching Velaria with a skeptical brow raised. "Sure, she said hesitantly.

Azriel's gaze flicked to his High Lord, who was watching the whole spectacle with an amused look on his face. Feyre was frowning at her mate, clearly trying to reach him mind to mind, but failing.

Morrigan stared at her cousin, jaw dropped. "Vela, how the fuck do you know any of that?"

Velaria looked around innocently, but Azriel knew that every move was calculated and thought out, not a single action mistaken or innocent in the slightest. "Rhys never told you?"

"I'm sorry, what exactly did Rhysand never tell us?" Cassian asked, glaring at his High Lord, who just shrugged.

Velaria grinned at Cassian before simply saying, "Rhysand isn't the most powerful fae in Prythian. I am."

Silence fell over the group, thick and heavy, unbreaking until Mor shrieked.

"WHAT?" she yelled, running over to Rhysand and punching him in the arm. "Rhysand. How did you not say anything?"

"I thought she was dead! And our mother wanted to keep it a secret once she found out," Rhysand said quickly, throwing his hands up. "She wanted Velaria to live a normal life, not to mention what our father would have done had he found out."

"In my defense, I told your spymaster," Velaria said to Mor. "So more people knew than just Rhys."

"You told Azriel but not me?" Cassian asked. "Ouch."

Velaria glared at him. "Azriel is my mate, Cassian, although I didn't know he knew, but he was also my best friend for an entire century."

Cassian whirled on Azriel, who just shrugged. "How could you not tell me?" Cassian demanded.

"It wasn't my secret to tell," Azriel said coolly.

Rhysand and Velaria were conversing in their minds in front of them. As Cassian opened his mouth to snap back at Azriel, Velaria leaned away from Rhysand and cleared her throat.

"My brother and I have decided that it is best if I share the true extent of my powers to all of you, as you are part of his most trusted companions," Velaria said cautiously. "Rhysand, you swear that none of them would tell this to anyone, especially not our enemies?"

Rhysand nodded at his sister. "Go ahead, Vela."

"As you all know, my power exceeds that of Rhysand, our father, his father before him, and so on, and so on," Velaria said. "Wards, mental shields, ash...none of it does anything to me. Protection spells don't work. I can winnow anywhere in the world, and I can use my daemati abilities in any fae's mind, no matter where they are in all of Prythian. I'm also a shadowsinger, as some of you may know, and my shadows are slightly more powerful in addition."

When she was done, Cassian exhaled. "Holy shit," he said. "How did none of us know?"

"I don't know." Velaria shrugged. "I have no intention of using my powers for harm, so it doesn't really matter."

"So what now?" Feyre asked, winding her arms around her own shoulders, her eyes clouded with an emotion Azriel couldn't quite place.

"Now," Velaria said, turning to her mate with a serious look in her eyes, "is when I need to have a discussion with Azriel, preferably in private. Oh, and with Miss Elain."

✿ ↬ - - - ↫ ✿

Velaria

Velaria watched as Elain blushed and Azriel paled at her words. The little gardener had been hoping, begging in her mind, that Velaria didn't notice her, didn't pick on her, didn't pick up on what was going on between her and the shadowsinger. But Velaria had seen it all. She saw their almost-kiss, and the way Azriel had lusted after her for months since her arrival in Prythian.

The Inner Circle vanished quickly, leaving Azriel and Elain standing across from Velaria, but far from each other.

"And what would you like to talk about, mate?" Azriel purred, trying to mask how nervous he was, his brows lifting slightly.

Velaria ignored his tone. "I think we need to discuss how you're going to choose, or even who you're going to choose," she said. "Now that I've returned, it isn't fair for you to pursue both of us, if that's what you were planning to do. Gwyneth Bedara isn't here, but I am sure that she wouldn't want this limbo either."

Velaria watched Azriel think, calculating and careful as always. His thoughts were unshielded to her down the bond, as were his emotions, but she chose to ignore them.

"I–I cannot," Azriel said after a moment, his wings drooping. "I cannot be forced to choose between you two, or even if you add Gwyn into the mix."

Elain crossed her arms. "Well, I certainly won't just stand by while we wait for you to make a decision, or while you court someone else," she said, and Velaria decided she liked the gardener at that moment.

"I agree with Elain Archeron," Velaria said, frowning. "It is not fair to either of us, or to Gwyn, Azriel, for you to pursue us all. We are not options for you to pick and choose between at your convenience." At his beginning protest, she continued, "You are a good male, Azriel. You are my best friend. Use your head, and make a good choice."

And with that, Velaria swept out.