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And as if in agreement with me, a horrific, bubbling splat came out of my son’s backside. Right atop where he was perched in Rhys’s lap.

Cassian gagged. I pointed immediately to Rhys. “Your turn.”

My mate winced. “Considering that I think he managed to get some on me . . . I’ll gladly go clean us both up.” In a graceful, powerful movement, Rhys stood, Nyx in his arms, cheerfully pulling at my mate’s hair. And yes—there was a giant, reeking wet patch on Rhys’s pants. And one on the back of Nyx’s. His little wings twitched happily, though. “I bet that felt good to get out,” Rhys murmured to our son, who clapped a pudgy hand on Rhys’s face seeming to say, Yes! It did!

Rhys winnowed, leaving only the lingering stench behind.

Cassian waved at the air in front of his nose. “On that note, I’m going back to Windhaven for a few hours. I need to brief Devlon on Bryaxis’s return, and establish additional patrols to monitor for any enemy movement. Especially any hint of trouble from Hybern.” He jerked his chin to Nesta as he got to his feet, flexing his powerful wings. “Want to join, Nes?”

I could guess what might happen while the two of them were in the air. That is, if the deepening chill didn’t prevent them from getting certain parts naked.

“After yesterday,” Nesta said, blushing slightly, “I need a bit of a rest.”

“What’s got you feeling so sore?” he teased. “Finally got in a good workout?”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

Nesta’s blush deepened. But she lifted her chin and said to her mate, “If you see Emerie, check on her. She was rattled after yesterday and I didn’t get the chance to speak with her before she left.” Right—because my sister had been with Madja, getting her bones pieced back together.

My stomach twisted. Nesta had acted as if it were nothing, but she had done it without thought. To save us. Save my son.

Cassian nodded, a general receiving orders from his queen, and leaned to press a kiss to the top of Nesta’s head. Then mine. “See you at dinner.”

With a salacious wink at his mate that implied she would be his dinner, he shut the door behind him. I immediately whirled to my sister, grinning.

“Don’t even start,” Nesta grumbled, but a brightness remained in her eyes. Happy—at least about this. I held up my hands in acquiescence. Nesta’s mouth quirked to the side, attention going to the windows and the sky beyond. Her amusement faded, replaced by contemplation.

She clearly wanted to say something, so I let her gather the words.

“I think you should go see Azriel,” she said finally. “Someone should talk to him.”

I weighed the worry on her face, so surprising to me, even now. The Nesta I’d grown up with, even the one of a year ago, wouldn’t have thought twice about anyone other than Elain.

So I asked as casually as I could, “Why don’t you?”

“You’re his High Lady,” Nesta said, brushing off my question. “Rhys acted like a tyrant last night”—fair enough—“and it might help Azriel feel . . . less alone if his High Lady talked to him.”

“All right,” I conceded. “But you—”

The door cracked open, and I was instantly on my feet. Elain entered, as tired and haggard as I’d ever seen her. She wore a simple pale rose gown, her hair tied back.

Elain shut the door with barely a click. Her voice was utterly empty as she said, “I’m going to finish preparing the garden for winter, but first I wanted to apologize for any disgrace my actions have brought upon my family and friends.”

“Disgrace?” I blurted. “Elain—there is no disgrace.” I looked to Nesta, but my sister had remained seated, and was watching Elain with the grave intensity she usually reserved for people not in her family.

Elain’s eyes met Nesta’s. Noted that expression. And Elain said in a tone I hadn’t heard her use before, “What?”

Nesta was clearly considering her words very, very carefully. Likely to avoid hurting or distressing Elain any more than necessary—

“Your mate was in this house, and you couldn’t even give him the dignity and respect of keeping your hands off Azriel.”

I choked at Nesta’s sharp words. At the fact that Azriel was somehow extended her grace and concern, but our own sister was not.

Elain’s mouth thinned into a straight line. “Lucien is nothing to me.”

“That’s not fair,” Nesta said with quiet venom. “You haven’t even tried to get to know him.”

“Why should I bother?” Elain’s laugh was vacant. Awful. “I didn’t want the mating bond with him. I’m not like you two, who just so happened to fall in love with the males who are your mates. I was given to him, like some piece of property, without any will or desire of my own.”