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A Court of Flames and Sorrow || Eris Vanserra || Chapter 5

Synopsis: Lynette Vesper. Daughter of Winter and Night. Lover of a problematic red head who used to be engaged to her best friend.

Series Masterlist

Taglist: @baebeepeach @marigold-morelli

***

Lynette focused on anything besides the male that sat across from her, the swirls the cream made when it hit the tea, the crackle and pops of the fire next to her, the feel of the soft velvet on the chairs, the smell of cranberries that was brought in from the autumn breeze. She felt his fiery gaze on her the entire time, trying her best to not meet his gaze.

“Are you seriously not going to talk?” Eris asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

She drank deeply from the tea cup, letting the spiced tea hit her lips once again, signing in content at the taste. “This tea is absolutely delightful. What kind is it?” Lynette asked, finally looking up and making eye contact with Eris, a fake look of curiosity on her face.

She noted the clenching of his jaw, she was infuriating him. “Chai.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Mmm, it is very good. Will definitely need a few crates of this sent with the next trade shipment.” Lynette smiled wide as she brought the small cup to her lips once again, draining the last of the tea from the cup and placed it back onto the saucer. “May I have some more?”

“Enough about tea!” He blurted out and hastily got up out of his chair, starting to pace in front of the fireplace.

“What else would we talk about?” She asked with feigned confusion, enjoying the effect she had over him a little too much.

“Do you get a kick out of playing the dumb blonde?”

“Do you get a kick out of acting like an ass?”

“You’re impossible.” Eris said while running a hand through his hair, shaking his head at her antics, eyes closed as he breathed deep and slow. Now that she had fully taken him in she couldn’t keep her eyes off him, the fire was casting a glow over him and he looked … godly. That was the only word deemed fit enough to describe him, he looked godly. Bathed in the fire light, he looked too good not to look at; but, she found the last of her self control and turned away from him, instead looking at the decorated walls of the drawing room. She mentally cursed the bond for giving her such an infuriatingly attractive mate.

“You know I can feel your attraction right now.” He said, his tone turned smug as he walked back into her line of vision, smirking down at her no doubt flustered state. “Can sense it,” Eris inhaled deeply and took a step further, “can smell it.”

Lynette snapped her legs together tightly, ignoring the warmth and throb she felt between them. “That’s just the mating bond trying to pull us together. It says nothing about how I truly feel about you.” She hissed out at him. “You are nothing but a cruel, smug, bastard.”

He leaned over, hands gripping the sides of the chair she sat in, trapping her between the back of the chair and his body. “Is it just the bond or is it the bond amplifying feelings you already had?” Eris threw out the question like it was nothing.

“The only feelings I have for you are anger and hate.”

“You really need to get better at lying.” Eris said, unwavering smirk still plastered on his face as he noticed the slight change of color in her cheeks. Standing back to his full height he made his way back over to the chair across from Lynette, staring and waiting for her to do anything. “When did you find out?”

“What?” Her head snapped back to look at him, shocked by the question.

“You probably already know when I found out, when did you?” He asked again, elbow coming to his knee as he rested his head on his hand, head cocked to the side, waiting.

She hesitated to respond, not sure if she should let him know that she’s known for centuries and left him in the dark. “Do you remember when you were first introduced to Mor?” He nodded in response. “I had no knowledge of the meeting beforehand since I had just gotten back from a month of training with my uncle in the Winter Court. I had finally mastered winnowing and was so excited to tell Mor, I ran all the way to her family's apartment.” Lynette smiled fondly on the memories of her training.

“I remember, you burst through the doors like a lunatic. I thought the doors were gonna fly off their hinges.” Eris snickered at the memory.

“Keir was fuming when he saw me. He tried to convince my parents to have me lashed for my behavior.” Lynette laughed at the thought until she noticed the small look of concern Eris gave her. “He failed, my parents are respectable, most of the time.” She reassured him. “Anyway, I was looking for Mor, then saw you and it just … snapped. It felt like time stopped, I could barely hear Keir as he introduced you as Mor’s betrothed. I was frozen in shock. I had a mate. When I finally realized who you were I cursed the Mother for mating me with someone so--”

“Cruel.” Eris cut her off.

“Unattainable.” She corrected him. “My best friend was supposed to marry you, what was I supposed to do? Sure, I knew of her dislike towards you but I didn’t think you were too bad. I thought that deep down you were good.”

He scoffed, “Really?”

“Truly.” Lynette reaffirmed her answer. “I didn’t want to believe that the Mother would pair me with a horrid soul. I was young, naive, still had hope in the world.”

“And now?” Eris asked, his face softening at her confessions.

“Now? Now I believe that the Mother laughs in my face.” Lynette said through gritted teeth as she looked across at him with distaste.

He straightened back into the chair, no longer eager to hear her recount the events.

“Your turn.” Lynette said, causing Eris to look back confused. “I know when you found out, but I want to hear it from you.” A raised eyebrow let him know that she was waiting for him to speak.

Eris closed his eyes, breathing deeply as if readying himself to recount a painful memory. Lynette almost took offense that the memory of the bond snapping was a painful one, as if being mated to her was the horror of the pair. Then, just as he opened his mouth to speak a knock rang loudly through the quiet room. “Thank the Mother.” He whispered under his breath before hastily making his way to the door, opening it only enough to see who knocked. “What is it?” He hissed out at whoever stood on the other side.

“A letter for you, sir.” said a small voice that Lynette could only assume was Muriel. She heard the paper being ripped from the poor girl's hand before the door was slammed in her face. He stalked back over to his chair, examining the letter on the way over.

“Must you be so rude to the girl, she’s just doing her job.”

“So am I.” Eris said, not even throwing a look in her direction, still focused on the letter.

“What does it say?” She asked.

“My father wishes to meet you for lunch tomorrow to talk about the trade between our courts.” He handed her the letter so that she could read the letter for herself. She hummed in reply as she scanned over the paper.

“Whatever will you do until then?” Eris said with a smirk on his face.

Lynette sent him a chilling glare before responding, "According to Rhysand, babysitting you."

"But we could have such other fun together, little lynx. Don't feel like playing?" He raised his eyebrow with the question.

She looked over at him and could see the fire behind his stare, the dare to give in to the pull of the bond. "Not with you." She hissed back at him.

“Pity.” Eris dramatically pouted. “Anyway,” he said with a small slam of the hands to arm rests as he got up, “I’m off to training. I suppose you can busy yourself till then?”

“I suppose I can.” Lynette said with a fake smile.

“I’ll be back around lunch.” He stalked back over to the door, only looking back at Lynette as he closed the door ever slowly, just to secretly get one more glance at his mate.

***

The drawing room got boring fast. There was only so much Lynette could do in there. She’d looked over the bookshelves, trying to find any hint of personality in the room. Books on battle strategy, past wars, past High Lords, and Autumn Court politics were the only subjects littering the shelves of the room. Disappointment evident on Lynette’s face at the lack of anything of substance. Not only did Eris wear a mask of cruelty and disinterest but he lived it too, careful not to show his true self even in the objects of his living quarters.

Lynette then wandered over to the double doors on the other side of the room, pressing her ear up against the door, listening for anyone in the room. After hearing nothing she cracked open the door to find a grand bedroom, much nicer than the one she had been given. The room was a large, extravagant, fit for a king bedroom. The crimson red walls with gold painted designs surrounded her as she stepped further into the room, she had no doubt that the gold paint must've had actual gold in it from the way it shimmered in the daylight coming through from the balcony window.

The glittering room was perfectly put together. Books and papers neatly placed onto a cherry oak desk, clothes perfectly folded and hung up, everything categorized by type of clothing and color. Then there was the bed on a large dais on the other side of the room. Lynette walked up the steps to find a king sized bed carefully adorned with a multitude of blankets in varying hues of red, orange, and gold; fluffed pillows and soft furs carefully placed, just like everything else in the room. Lynette couldn't tell if it was like this due to Eris' instructions or if the maids were just that good at their job, making the room look like it had barely been lived in. She still couldn't find any trace of an interest or hobby in the room, nothing to tell her that there was in fact a decent person underneath the mask that he showed to the world of the cruel heir, nothing to show her that she had a mate worth fighting for.

Lynette started to make her way out of the room when she felt one of the floorboards move, stepping back and forth a few times confirmed that the floorboard was indeed loose. It didn’t fit the clean and precise room she had just surveyed. She crouched down and moved the rug back to reveal the floorboard right at the bottom of the dais, a step so close that it’d hardly be noticed. Lynette raced over to the desk to find something to lift the floorboard with, spotting a letter opening knife, she grabbed it and rushed back over to the dais. Falling to her knees and eagerly shoving the knife between the boards and wiggling the blade until the board popped up.

A small, black marble chest lay between the boards. A smirk graced Lynette’s face as she shimmed the chest out of its hiding spot, eager to discover what secrets lay inside it. The smirk fell however when she realized the chest was locked and wouldn’t budge open. Examining the box further caused the notice of the small vile on the side of it. Did it require blood? Of course it would, how else would he keep his secrets safe, the floorboards weren’t enough safety. Lynette cursed quietly as she threw the box back down onto the floor, causing the loud thump to sound. The box showed no signs of cracking. It was charmed, impenetrable without the blood of the owner.

She sat back on her heels, glaring down at the box that possibly housed the answers that she desperately wanted. It confirmed one thing though. There was a hidden side to Eris Vanserra, one that he’d probably be punished for in this ruthless court. Lynette sat there for a while longer, silently pondering what could be laying inside the chest. Minutes ticked by turning into hours, locked in a trance of staring at that damned box. She was finally broken out of it by the distant sound of footsteps coming near to the drawing room. Lynette rushed as she put the chest back under the floorboards, smashing the loose board back into the floor and covering it with the rug. The steps were closer now, right outside the doors now. She had no time to put the knife back, instead choosing to stuff it down the front of her dress, the handle snug between her breasts. The knob was turning now. Lynette launched herself towards the plush bed, falling onto her side, propped up by her elbow. The door opened.

Eris walked in. Hair slick back with sweat, shirt tossed over his shoulders, sweat making his skin shine in the light, warm muscles flexing with every step. He looked towards the open doors to the bedroom and a feline grin took over his features as he noticed Lynette laying on the bed.

“I have no complaints about you being in my bed, but little lynx, what are you doing over there?” Another step and he was fling the shirt towards the chairs they sat in that morning, stepping closer to the bedroom.

“Having a little cat nap, obviously.” Lynette replied while slowly moving into a more comfortable seat.

Eris hummed in response, slowly stepping closer and closer, abs now fullying shining in the light. Lynette let her eyes linger downwards, watching as the sweat rolled down and down his torso until her eyes met the waistline of his pants. Clearing her throat she shifted in her seat and turned her gaze away causing a laugh to erupt from Eris. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?” Now at the bottom of the dais he gazed up at her on the bed, a wicked gleam in his eye.

“Don’t know what you mean.” She said, still gazing off at one of the walls of the room.

Another laugh came from him. “Be like that then.” A step up onto the dais and he was towering over her now, on his bed. He leaned down, lips to her ear causing a shiver to run down her spine. “You stay here while I go freshen up, then I’ll take you on a nice lunch. Yeah?” He pulled back with a smug expression, knowing the effect he was having on her and taking great pride in it. She glared up at him, unable to refuse since she had no other business to attend to. Eris grinned as he backed away from her and made his way to the washroom.

***

Eris came back dressed in a matching set of dark red slacks and a buttoned up jacket, gold threads making designs of leaves at the seams and cuffs of the jacket. His hair no longer slick back with sweat, loose waves of hair now falling down right below his ears, framing his face nicely. He looked almost respectable, almost, there was still the unwavering smirk on his face. His mask never dropping for a second, even within the safety of his rooms.

Lynette was sitting at the desk now, specifically denying his request to have her stay on the bed. She flipped through a random book on the desk, not even reading, just mindlessly scanning the pages.

"Would you like the scenic or quick route to lunch?" He asked as he finished folding the cuffs of his jacket back.

She pondered the question for a second. "Scenic." If she had to be stuck with him for the day she may as well see some of the Autumn Courts beauty. She had heard of the glorious waterfalls, lakes, and trees that belonged to the Autumn Court; it'd be nice to see them before having to deal with Hybern.

Eris walked over to her, slightly extending a hand for her to take. She ignored it, instead walking past him and to the double doors connecting to the drawing room. Turning back to him slightly, waiting for him to lead the way to wherever their lunch was.

He shrugged it off and walked past her, to the other pair of doors. "May I hold the door open for you? Or is that too much as well?" He asked in a mocking tone, already opening the door for her. Lynette threw him a sarcastic smile as she walked through the doorway and back into the stone corridor. “This way.” Eris said, pointing down the long corridor. The door slammed shut behind them as he already started making his way down the hall, not waiting up for her. She hurried her feet and caught up to him.

“Where are we going anyway?” Lynette asked as they continued down the what felt like a never ending corridor.

“You’ll like it, don’t worry.” He sharply turned, leading her down an identical hall. Another sharp turn, another identical looking hall. She could’ve gotten lost in here for days if she had been alone, the house was a never ending maze.

Lynette then suddenly left dizzy, the walls were closing and opening. The stones were rushing by here, a mile a minute. She barely even recognized that she was moving, feeling like she was stuck in place and that the house was moving. That was until she looked down and realized her feet were moving, she was running over the cobblestone floors. She was lost in the house, trapped in the house. The walls were still moving. Lynette willed her feet to stop moving, collapsing onto the cobblestone. Hyperventilating on the floor, everything still spinning.

“I held out my hand for a reason.” A voice broke through the illusion, the room slowly stopping. She looked up to see Eris towering over her, a hand held out for her. This time she accepted it, letting him haul her up onto her. With shaky legs she leaned on him, hands on his chest as she slowed her breathing, gaining back her strength. “The house protects itself, it doesn’t like strangers.”

“I see.” Lynette huffed out.

Eris carried Lynette over to a stone bench, letting her sit down for a minute to reorient. “If you don’t have an Autumn Court smell then the house will try to trick you. It’ll slowly make you go mad.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” She panted out, still calming down from the mind games the house played on her.

“If you had taken my hand when I offered it you would’ve been told.” He shrugged, like it wasn’t that big of a deal. Knowing she wouldn’t have even believed him if he had given her a warning, she had to learn by experiencing it firsthand.

“I was fine walking from my room to yours!” Lynette refuted. Her body finally recovering enough for her to breathe easily now.

“You weren’t going far. Now, will you hold onto me?” He held out his hand. She grabbed onto his elbow, linking their arms as she raised from the bench. “Good enough.” Eris pulled her down the corridor, a series of turns once again before they stood in front of a stone archway leading outside.

She stepped out and looked up at the leaves gleaming in the light, various shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple leaves surrounding them. Trees lined from the archway all the way down a path of mossy step, the trees arching inward to create a tunnel. The light seeping through the leaves creating a kaleidoscope of colors all around them. “This isn’t even the scenic part of the trip.” Eris whispered behind her.

Lynette whipped her head around in shock at what he said, there was something even better than what laid in front of her.

“There is much beauty to be found here.” He gently lifted a hand to her face, cupping her cheek. “It all pales in comparison to you though.” Eris let his hand fall away from her face, stepping down the steps, gently guiding her down by their linked arms.

Lynette continued down the tunnel in confusion, he just let the house try to kill her and now he was calling her beautiful. If he was trying to win points with her, he was failing.

As they got closer to the end of the stairs Lynette could smell what waited for them. The smell of apples was brought up by a breeze, getting stronger and stronger as the steps went by. She stepped off the last step, Eris finally letting go of her, taking in the gorgeous orchard that greeted them. The red and yellows glimmering, inviting her to pluck the ripe fruit off the tree.

She followed Eris as he continued walking through, only waiting a minute for her to take in the scenery. A small dirt road laid just ahead, he walked across it though, going straight into the forest instead.

"Need a quiet place to murder me?" Lynette asked in a mocking tone from behind him.

"Yeah, I'll just throw your body off a cliff. Let nature take care of you." He shot right back at her, earning a small laugh that made him smile ever so slightly.

They continued the trek up into the forest, moving deeper and deeper, surrounded by the autumn trees. Lynette found herself slowly becoming mesmerized by the beauty of the Autumn Court. While it had a bad reputation for how it was run, no one could deny that it had beautiful scenery.

“We’re here” Eris announced as they came up to a cave. He extended a hand towards the cave, letting her walk through first. One step into the cave and the smell of iron washed over her, the fresh scent of dirt and water being present as well as she made her way through. The cave shortened, Lynette squeezed through to continue on. She could hear the crashing of water on the other side, a waterfall, he led her behind a waterfall. In the middle of the cave a large flat rock with lunch on top, two smaller rocks on each side for chairs.

“Some like to watch waterfalls from below, I think this is a better experience.” Eris said as he came up behind her, laying a hand on her waist carefully, watching the awe in her face as she watched the water rush and crash below them. She let him stay close, just for a minute, to let him know she appreciated being brought to such a place. Leaning head on his shoulder as she continued to watch the waterfall, sighing as her face was misted. “I knew you’d like it.” He whispered to her. Lynette hummed in response, closing her eyes and breathing in the sweet smell of her surroundings.

The lunch was ate in silence, only focusing on the food that their stomachs were grumbling for after the long hike. Lynette was lost in thought as she mindlessly stirred her soup, thinking on if this is what she’d be agreeing to if she accepted him as her mate. Breakfasts in his rooms, hikes to have lunch in mysterious caves, the guilt constantly racking her body of being with him. She wanted this. She wanted the company of her mate, and she hated it, loathed herself for feeling like that for even a split second. The last of the soup and bread was gone now, nothing left to distract herself with. Her disgust, shame, and guilt must have found its way down the bond because hurt flashed in Eris’ eyes for just a second.

“If you think this will make me accept the bond you’re wrong. I can never accept it.” Lynette stated, turning on the rock to face the waterfall, not being able to bear seeing her mate's face as she rejected him.

“I have no intention of you accepting it.” She turned her head to him, eyebrows raised in question. All of his actions said otherwise, why else take her here. “At least not yet. Not while my father sits on the throne.” He added on. “I would never willingly subject my mate to his rule.” It surprised her, he wanted to protect her from Beron. She knew that he was hungry for the throne but it never occurred to her that he wanted to protect people from his father, she only thought of his greed for power, to rule an already fearful people.

“With that plan, maybe you'll have me in, hmmm, a few eons.” Beron was older than any other High Lord in Prythian. He was cruel, but smart, there was a reason why he had been on the throne for so long. He would not be taken off it so easily. Eris knew this.

“Such little faith in your mate. A pity.” He tutted at her, shaking his head. Eris then suddenly straightened, eyes on guard as he scanned the room. “Someone is near.” He whispered, walking towards the cave entrance. “Stay here.” Eris turned his head to her, “Please.” He said sincerely. She nodded, staying in her seat but now on guard, eyes glazing over slightly, a spark of her power behind them. He left.

An icy fog started to leak out of her hands, ready to strike at the first sight of a perpetrator. She stood at the edge of the cliff now. If someone came she could stun them and then drop down into the water, she had no idea how far the fall was or if the water was shallow or deep but she had the better guess that she’d survive the drop. She had to, it was her only exit.

The minutes passed by and Eris still hadn’t come back. She started to get nervous, debated on going after him, debated on even tugging on the damn bond to make sure he was alright. She took a step away from the edge of the cliff, making her way towards the entrance, stepping off to the side so as not to be seen. Then a smell suddenly filled the cave from behind her, someone was behind her causing her whirl around. A sinister grin graced the male’s face, fiery red eyes stared at her, his hair the same shade as Eris’. A Vanserra brother, which one, she had no idea.

“Has no one given you a warm welcome yet?” His eyes flickered to her hands still encased in the icy fog. “Well, let me be the first.” A flame erupted in front of her face. She ran to the other side of the cave, trying to get back to that edge of the cliff, but he stood in her way. He tutted at her as he walked closer to her.

She could either turn and run out into a forest that she had no idea how to navigate or she could fight her way past the Vanserra brother and jump off the cliff. She didn’t know if she could find her way out of the forest, for all she knew there was another brother waiting for her outside. The watery depths however, he would not be stupid enough to follow. She weighed her options for a moment before sprinting right at him, a strong icy wind blowing out his flame. An icicle formed in her hand, she swung it at his ribs but he jumped back, barely missing it. So close now to the edge, just a few more feet before she could freefall and be rid of the fiery male. He was close to the edge too. Maybe she could just push him off, but that could cause even more issues for her stay. She had to get around him and leave him unharmed. Lynette lunged for one side then ran the other way to fake him out.

Successfully she leaped from the edge, ready to be encased in the waterfall and crash down along with it. He grabbed the bottom of her skirts, yanking her backwards, with just barely having enough time to register it, she shielded her face with her arms as her body slammed into the side of the cliff.

“You won’t get away this time.” He hissed out from above. This time? He must’ve been at the border when Feyre crossed over from Autumn to Winter. What did he want revenge for? She only attacked Eris, she didn’t touch the other two. Rhysand messed with their minds, they may think Feyre’s ice powers were actually Lynette’s.

Lynette dug her hands into the rock, steadying herself as there was an attempt to yank her up. Her fingers dug deeper into the rock, small jagged pieces piercing her skin but she barely felt it, too focused on getting away. She kicked her foot up, aiming for the hand wrapped around the cloth of her dress. Looking down she could tell that the water was deep, if she could free her leg she could dive and swim off.

She kicked up again, pulling herself towards the rock even more, desperate to get away from the male. He dodged it, instead shaking the bottom of her dress and slamming her back into the cliff. Her hip throbbed in pain but she buried it down, not having time to worry about the injury. He dislodged something in that movement though, the hilt of the knife fell out from between her breasts, now balancing between her chin and chest. She had forgotten that she had stuffed in there earlier when Eris surprised her.

Steadying herself on the rock with one hand she quickly took one hand off the rock and grabbed the knife. Turning her head she could see where his hand was bunched into her skirts, with one swift movement she sliced the knife clean through the fabric. Lynette heard him crying out in pain as she plunged down towards the water, splashing into the embracing cold depths.

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