#eris week 2024 day 7

[readychilledwine]

Okay I have like a slightly out of pocket request/idea that I don’t think I’ve seen before and if this is not your cup of tea you can straight up IGNORE but it’s taken over my brain 😂 let’s pretend in this story that eris and mor are mates but it’s a rejected situation bc obvs mor isn’t into males. And helion and the lady of autumn are also mates. This is post Hybern, maybe during or after ACOSF. Beron (I know ew right but stay with me now) ends up finding HIS mate. And she’s like the sweetest thing ever and she’s terrified of him. (Beron is infatuated with her because of whatever power she may have but he’s still an asshole don’t get me wrong this is not a beron redemption request) It becomes public knowledge that beron found his mate and he plans on marrying her. eris REFUSES to let another female be subjected to what his mother went through so this is what spurs the whole murder beron and become high lord plot. I have no thoughts on what happens between but eris succeeds and becomes high lord in the end, but falls in love with beron’s mate during the process and it’s mutual love and it’s angst with a happy ending. Usually fated mates is my jam but I just needed every mating bond to go wrong in this one LOL. Except for Helion and LoA of course 🫡

A Game of Fate

Eris Week - Day 7 - Free Day

Summary - After the bond between Beron Vanserra and Eris's hidden lover makes itself known, the cycle of tyranny in Autumn is put to the test

Warnings - assassination, poison, Beron, mentions of abuse, food and sleep deprivation, beron x reader mating bond.

A/n - I've been holding on to this, and I am so sorry 😭. I played with it a little bit, but I this ultimately was the version I am happiest with! Happy last day of @erisweekofficial . It feels like I'm like leaving a long-distance friend after too short of a visit.

🍂Eris Week Masterlist🍂Eris Masterlist🍂Master Masterlist🍂

The Cauldron was wrong. Eris understood Azriel's claim in every sense now. The Cauldron had to be wrong.

There was no other explanation for why his father was currently signing papers to end his marriage because you were his mate. Sweet, kind, soft spoken you. You dreamed of far-off places, peace. You once told Eris you liked to imagine what the stars whispered to each other late at night.

You were a dreamer, and you were his. Eris had hidden you in plain sight since you became his peace. You were there for him after Mor rejected the bond. You were there for him after every beating, and you loved him through everything.

And now your father had to go and ruin it. You were 505 years old, and he finally felt the need to present you as a lady to the court to be married off however Beron saw fit.

If it was a massive payout your father wanted, he had it. Everyone knew what had happened the second the High Lord of Autumn laid eyes on you. The reactions ranged from jealousy to sympathy to shock. And now, two months later, the reaction was silence.

Without even speaking, you had changed the course of Autumn's history. You had ruined Helion, Rhys, and Eris's plans. You had freed his mother at the cost of yourself and your safety. Your words behind those closed doors would haunt Eris until he died, "I will marry you only if Lady Autumn is freed and allowed to leave to wherever she sees fit, safely and with your blessing."

Eris sighed as the other two High Lords, the inner circle, and his brothers all sat in Helion's war room. Eris's boots banged with each anxious and angry step, "Any ideas," he asked. "I would have to outright declare a blood duel now, which requires gaining the support of the rest of the courts beforehand, and we do not have time for that."

"We can not declare war," Rhysand contemplated. "No other court had claim to the girl, and you have no known claim to her."

"Even if he did, Autumn court law says the mating bond trumps it," Eris's mother, Anala, said. "Especially when it is between two members of the Autumn Court. Our laws allow males to claim their mates without her accepting the bond."

"Well if that isn't misogynistic-"

"Let me know when you actually ban wing clipping, and you can bash my court's laws," Anala spat at Rhysand. "You know, as well as I do change doesn't come overnight with a dictator."

Rhysand blinked at the former Lady of Autumn before glancing at Helion. You entered the room at that moment. The air seemed to tense as you did, but Eris rushed to you, holding your elbows. "Are you alright?"

Beron has been trying to manipulate you for weeks. He played games with your mind no long talks with Eris could prepare you for. Beron was a monster, and this was only your second week continuously being with him.

Helion stared to his love, his long lost mate, and stood, "Give me a week with your mother, and I will do it." The silence was screaming as the former Lady of Autumn shook her head. "There are no other answers, my love." Helion knew the look in Eris's eyes, the ache, the desperation, and the struggle.

He knew immediately what you were to Eris and what you could be to Autumn. Helion, much like Eris, knew he could not let you fall victim next, but you had no intentions to. He had watched his mate suffer for far too long, and the rumors of Beron's so-called adoration for the female in front of him did not mask the concern the Lord of Day felt.

You and Eris held eye contact. The room noticed the wordless communication. It was a bond that could only have been built through love, trust, and years of understanding. "I can not risk you like that."

"I would be careful," your reply was so soft but filled with confidence. "He won't even know if we use small amounts."

Eris couldn't help but hold your arms a little tighter, "I will not risk you." His eyes were pleading for you to reconsider to think this through.

"Would anyone mind including the rest of us in this... touching conversation?" Rhysand picked a piece of lint off his jacket before crossing his arms.

You spoke before Eris could, "There is a plant that grows in a certain place. It is highly poisonous and undetectable. The symptoms are no worse than an allergy. It can cause death within 2 weeks."

You watched as Anala shook her head at Helion, "I know of no such poison."

"That's because I made and grow it," Eris flinched at your admission and the questions it would bring.

Helion started to laugh, "You made it?"

Eris glared at the Day Lord, "y/n has a certain.. gift.. from the Mother."

"I can combine poisons," you rolled your eyes at Eris playfully. "Create new ones with no antidote or cures." Rhys and Helion turned to each other, clearly not assumed by the new information. "I only used it once. And they deserved it."

Anala's whiskey eyes went wide, "The human smuggler. You killed him?"

"Eris did. I just provided the supplies."

Rhysand pinched the bridge of his nose. "Eris, why was this information not provided to any of us earlier? Do you understand how useful she is?" You shook your head toward the red-haired male. He seemed to calm down instantly at the sight of you. "Ah, I see. She's your lover. Not just your friend."

His mother seemed stunned at this information, "But Morrigan?"

You flinched at the mention of her name. "Has the same taste as I do, mother," Eris was only looking at you. "And I do not support this idea," his grip on your arms grew tighter. "He is not a common idiot."

"Nor am I," you declared. "I would be smart. I'll be close enough to him to make sure he gets it every day. Even after just a week-"

Rhysand finished, "He'd be weak enough to call an emergency meeting or for one of us to declare the blood duel."

You nodded at the Lord of Night, not even stopping to admire his dark beauty with the grace of Autumn and Mother Nature stood before you in Eris's eyes. There was no world where you planned to be without him, no world where you could see yourself in arms besides his.

But for a week you would not have a choice. For a week, you would play the part you were expected to, and it began before you even had breakfast the next day. You were woken up by two handmaiden ripping you from your bed in the former Lady of Autumn's private chambers and throwing your half awake and now naked self into a bath.

Every inch of you was scrubbed almost raw before your hair was washed and scented to Beron's preference of roses. You were dried and dressed in almost no time, the heavy traditional gown feeling like shackles on your figure.

No cotton dresses if this failed.

No more nights in Eris's sweaters and nothing else.

Once your hair and makeup we're finished, you were not taken to breakfast. You were taken to lessons. Beron had assumed you knew nothing of formality, nothing of etiquette. You had not been presented to his courts, so what other assumption could he have made as you were retaught the differences in dinning utensils.

You would not see food until that even came, and then the mood quickly fizzled away as the table for two was filled. The only sound in the room was meat being cut, your breathing. You knew not to speak before the High Lord addressed you. You knew he was testing you with silence.

You did not see Eris in this male. There was no sign of the life that burned in Eris's eyes. No freckle of Beron's seemed to mimic the night sky the way Eris's did. There was nothing special to you about Beron Vanserra. Not even the bond was strong enough to make you want him.

"How were your lessons," his voice was falsely sweet. "I assume based on your manners they went well."

"They were lovely, High Lord," you responded. "A good refresher for everything my mother had already taught me."

Beron glanced at you, "Are you inferring you did not appreciate me setting you up with the finest tutor in my court?"

Eris would be whispering to you to tread carefully. Beron's very body language told you this was beginning to enter dangerous territory. "No, my lord," you said softly, "But I would hate for you to waste time and resources on me when I am sure there are better things to put them towards."

Beron leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips as he cocked his head, "You know how to play. I'm going to thoroughly enjoy breaking you, mate."

And you thoroughly enjoyed watching him drink the whiskey laced with 3 drops of poison.

The next day was different. Beron himself was dragging you places without food right away this morning. He was showing you off to different advisors all day, bragging about your beauty, your ability to manipulate flowering and fruiting plants into harvests sooner.

You had used your magic so much to show off for him that you could hardly stand as he affectionately held your chair out for dinner. "You did wonderfully today," he began eating after forcing you to say a prayer to the Mother.

He didn't get to hear the silent plea you sent her. The silent begging for mercy.

You sid get to hear him start coughing as he drank his tainted whiskey that night, though.

Eris was worried for you the third day. You had been sent to bed late, awoken early. Once again, not allowed food. He had stayed by your and Beron's side in meeting that day.

His amber eyes never left your form. He was openly staring at the way you couldn't help but lean on Beron in your exhausted state.

And when Beron stole you for dinner, Eris made sure to add extra poison to his drink, watching as you played the part of the perfect mate, rushing to help him as he began to cough up blood.

Illness among the fae was rare, but when it struck, it was deadly. By the end of day 4, the Forest House was a much quieter place. Beron was bed bound due to Eris's choice to expose him to the poison morning, noon, and night.

You had warned him that this poison was aggressive in large doses. He had also tested it on more brutal lesser fae tracking to attack innocent children to see that. It was brutal, focusing on getting into the smallest cells of blood before shutting down major organs quickly and painfully. You were sat beside his father, crying, playing the part, and Eris beside you, a distraught son.

Day 5 Eris slipped the poison in a high dose into Beron's pain medication before finding you. He had cornered you into a hall closet. You had been forced from bed far too early again, forced to skip meals again.

Eris knew this tactic. Had Beron been healthy, he would continue this until your brain associated Beron's presence with food. It was a way to make you comply, to rely on him.

Eris put an end to it right that moment. He ordered you to be given food, then rest. His father refused the tea Eris offered him that night. Took weak to even open his eyes.

You had underestimated yourself and your powers, or perhaps the smug male above you had more to with it than he let on, bit day 7, Beron was unresponsive. Eris held you down on the bed you two had shared so many times before, kissing your neck and whispering words of how he'd move the very foundations of this world for you when the knock came on his door.

He quickly hid you, allowing a healer to enter. Eris faked his reaction perfectly. He fell to his knees with a strangled cry, hand on his heart as the healer moved to comfort the young heir.

Beron was unresponsive.

And by night fall, Eris truly fell over. His very blood felt as if liquid fire had been poured into him. His hearth grew brighter, hotter.

It wasn't until your heart-wrenching scream came that Eris knew without doubt what had happened. No one had prepared for the outcome of you losing your mate. No one had even questioned what it would do.

They had been so focused on saving you that they had forgotten the most important part of the bond, Beron was the other half of your soul. Grief. Guilt. Joy. Anger. You had never felt like this. You had never imagined a world where you could feel so deeply it ached and made you sick.

You pushed healers away as you held Beron's hand. You pushed Eris away as he came to kneal beside you. You didn't want to feel this, yet you did. You did as he forced you up and out of the room. You did as Beron's body was burned before his ashes were given to the trees. You did as you watched Eris take his place.

The grief only stopped when Eris concerned you that night, his hands on your hips, and he led you to another room where a separate celebration took place. Anala stood in Day Court attire, laughing as Helion dipped her, laughing as Lucien smiled at her from across the room, Elain safely tucked to his side.

Eris's middle brother stood dancing with his male lover, the two of them just swaying. Mor was there with Emerie, lips by her ear gossiping. "I ache too at times," Eris looked at her, a longing in his eyes as he did. "I wonder if I made the right choice to let her go on my loneliest nights. Then I see you."

Eris kissed your knuckles, "I see you, and I regret nothing. Not even what I did in secret."

You looked at him then, "Eris?"

"I stole the black poison. The one you never tested. Every time he and I ate together, I slipped him that one as well."

Your face fell, "You-"

"Weren't going to risk it. Not with the female I am in love with being involved," Eris drank his wine slowly as he studied your reaction.

"So no big fight needed?"

"Oh, trust me, I wanted that," he clarified. "I didn't realize it would work as quickly as it did. I wasn't sure what you had been crafting. He died before I could challenge him, but before he could break you."

The two of you continued watching Helion and Anala, continued watching Lucien and Elain, his brother, Mor.

The grief did linger, but as you took his hand, it faded more. "Let's go dance, High Lady," he whispered into your ear.

And with each spin, every dip, the raise in laughter, the ache continued to fade.

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[cressidagrey]

Tear the World Apart

For Eris Week 2024- Day 7 - Free Day

@erisweekofficial

Summary:

Eris’ mate decides to get rid of her father-in-law. Also known as: If Eris Vanserra married a very bloodthirsty Margaery Tyrell.

Warning:

Plotting of Murder, Poisoning, Mention of domestic violence and parental abuse, Beron ends up dead?

(Lovely dividers thanks to @tsunami-of-tears!)

The moment Wisteria Abinac met her future husband…her future father-in-law was a dead male. 

Beron Vanserra should have simply known better than to ever have laid a single finger on her mate. 

It was an open secret in the Autumn Court, after all, what exactly he did to his lovely wife and his sons. The High Lord was known for his cruelty.

So really…she was doing everybody a favour if she killed him.

Wisteria decided two things during that Masquerade Ball where she first danced with Eris Vanserra and the Mating Bond decided to snap for her: Beron Vanserra was a dead male and Wisteria Abinac was going to marry her mate. 

That marrying her mate was going to make her the next Lady of Autumn…well, that was just a happy coincidence. (Her grandmother would be very pleased indeed. This was what Begonia Abinac had always strived for, after all.) 

Wisteria wasn’t going to protest that particular title in any way. She had not been named Wisteria for nothing. Wisteria was named after that sweet-smelling vigorously climbing plant: She was rather good at climbing, especially the social kind. 

That was what she had been raised to do, hadn’t she? If the bumbling male idiots in her family couldn’t manage it, the females did.

So at that Masquerade ball…it had been the touch of a hand, calloused from sword fighting and one look into a pair of amber eyes and the Mating Bond had decided to snap for her. 

It hadn’t snapped for him. 

At least, Wisteria didn’t think so, because he spent the rest of that Masquerade Ball utterly ignoring her. 

Oh well. That only managed to light a fire under. 

Wisteria was going to procure herself the Heir to the Autumn Court as her husband. Even when it was the last thing she did. Thankfully, the situation didn’t turn out to be quite as dire. 

Actually…it was laughably easy. Wisteria had expected it to be more difficult.

A few words to her father at dinner one evening of how her older brother should really marry and finally procure an heir to their duchy…Thanks to the cauldron, her father had the High Lord’s Ear. (The fact that her family kept most of the Autumn Court provided with grain, was useful for once.) She knew that he would mention something to the High Lord about finding his eldest son a wife….and once he did…the seeds were sown. 

Then, a few words to her grandmother of how cunning and handsome the eldest son of the High Lord was…Wisteria didn’t need to say more to make her intentions clear. Begonia Abinac just patted her hand and congratulated her for setting her sights on such an ambitious target…

And once Wisteria had these two in her corner…well, then she only needed a few other well-placed words to a few other well-placed people and the next letter that fluttered into the Abinac family manor… that was all about how High Lord of Autumn had decided that his eldest son should also really get on with that heir business and that the daughter of one of his most needed allies was going to be just a good pick as any... 

The next court occasion brought with it a lovely new dark green dress that fitted beautifully with her dark hair and eyes, a gold tiara woven in her hair that looked like gold encrusted leaves and fat emeralds dripping down her throat…She already looked like the Lady of this Court, even when she wasn’t. Not yet, at least

And once Wisteria had her in…it was even easier. 

She knew what the High Lord liked. Wisteria had perfected the mask of a simpering, submissive girl. Nothing that Beron would find threatening in any way. Just about magically powerful enough that he thought she was worth it to give birth to his heir’s heir, but weak enough that he wasn’t worried that she would start a rebellion or anything like that…

A fun plaything. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

She did make sure at that ball that she caught the eyes of every available male. Waving a bright red flag in front of them that she was available, from good breeding stock and clearly knew how to behave.  She knew that she was playing with fire. 

Oh well. Wisteria had always adored flames. 

She was counting on the Mating bond-induced jealousy. Expected it in fact. 

No other male would be stupid enough to get in the way of a Prince if he did make his interest clear...and it seemed to work. After about an hour of simpering conversation and wrapping a curl of dark hair around her finger…, there he was...the Autumn Prince himself. 

He came to stand next to her, a glass of wine in one hand as he leaned casually against the wall. Wisteria took a moment to study him closer. Gods, he was certainly easy enough on the eyes. "Enjoying yourself, Lady Wisteria?" he asked a moment later, his voice casually polite, a hint of a smirk on his lips.

She turned her head to look at him fully, a polite smile on her own lips in return as she met his gaze. "Of course, milord," she said back, her own tone just as polite, even as her own eyes slid down over his body as she spoke. "I always did enjoy a good dance."

Eris chuckled and took a drink of his wine, his eyes watching her with an expression of interest. "You certainly seem used to them," he said, his tone still casual, but there was a slight hint of a question to his words. "You've already shared a dance with half of the available males within the room."

She giggled back, lifting a hand and toying with a strand of her hair. "You exaggerate, Milord," she said back, her voice still casual, keeping her mask of polite innocence on. "I think it's only been one-quarter of the available males in the room."

"Searching for your long-suffering future husband?" he asked her. There was something sharp in these words, but she didn’t let that stop her. 

"Oh, I already found him," she gave back drily.

That got him to pause, and she silently noted how his golden eyes flashed with something like surprise at her words. There was a hint of a frown on his lips for just a moment before he smoothed it back out, but he was clearly thinking furiously. "You have?" he asked his tone back to being casually polite. "Who is the lucky male, then?"

She lifted her head a little more and tilted her head to the side with a smile of innocent satisfaction on her lips. "Why, you, of course, milord," she said like it was just the most obvious thing in the world.

There it was again...that flash of surprise in his gaze, his eyes sharpening just a fraction. She wondered if he was going to brush her off as some silly, foolish, simpering female...or if he was going to take the bait...

It...it took all her willpower and hard-won experience to keep that polite, innocent smile on her lips and not smirk in victory as she watched him consider his words, his golden gaze on her face never wavering for a moment...

"...Is that so?" he eventually said, his tone still casual and polite, as if he was discussing the current weather and not her stating that he was already her future husband. "And why, exactly, am I your chosen future husband, Miss Abinac? You don't even know me."

The corner of her lips tugged up, just a fraction, at the question, the first crack in her mask, but he was sharp, his eyes noticing that, of course. "That may be true, Milord," she gave him a smile back. "But I could say the same the other way, too. You know nothing about me either...and yet, you approached me all the same."

"I do know that you are a very good dancer," he said calmly, offering her his hand.

Once more, Wisteria hid a victorious smirk, her own hand placing itself in his, her fingers curling through his. "I do like dancing, Milord," she replied calmly. "And I do pride myself on not trampling on my partner’s toes."

Her mask didn't even slip once as he led her out to the dance floor, the two of them began to dance, and it took every ounce of control in her body not to smile in sheer satisfaction at the feel of the Mating Bond in her chest burning brilliantly, as if to mark the moment as something...momentous.

He proposed 3 days later.

She knew that Eris didn't propose to her because he wanted to. His father ordered him.

A fact that Wisteria knew and thoroughly loathed and which gave her all the more motivation to make sure that she would be the one truly pulling the strings come the day she married him.

Eris may not want to marry her, but he was her mate. 

And Wisteria had secured that ruby ring set into gold...well, she could have laughed at how easy it was to get what she wanted. Her entire engagement to the High Lord's son had been as simple as a flutter of her eyelashes and a few choice words.

Actually marrying Eris...well that was another thing entirely.

He seemed utterly uninterested in her. Which stung and made her seethe more than a little if she was being honest with herself.  After all, he was her mate...and yet, he gave her nothing. Not a hint of the bond between them...not an inch past polite courtesy and duty. 

Granted, he didn’t treat her badly. Wisteria just was certain that there were inanimate objects that got more of his attention than her. Not even to speak of his whole horde of dogs. 

Well, at least the dogs liked her, she supposed. Probably helped by the fact that she was not above some well-intentioned bribery and fed them bits of her breakfast. 

(Though if she had hoped that maybe once the dogs liked her, Eris would warm up to her…well, that did not come to pass. He was more likely to glare at the dogs than he was to look at her when they played with her.) 

It had been nearly three months. And her husband had not given her a single damn thing to work with…

In fact, he hadn't touched her at all. Other than that one kiss at the altar to seal their marriage, that was. 

Eris had not shared her bed once. Had never even tried to touch her at all. 

How exactly was Wisteria supposed to give him an heir, if he didn’t lay with her? 

Her mate was infuriating. 

Eris was her mate for Cauldron’s sake...he should want her, should seek her out...so why wasn't he doing that?  It was making her furious. 

And when Wisteria was furious…she did one thing and one thing only: She plotted. 

In this particular case, Wisteria plotted the downfall of her father-in-law. 

Beron Vanserra was a brute of a male...and yet, it was laughably easy to figure out how to manipulate and play him. After all, he wanted the same thing all males like him wanted. 

He wanted to be flattered and praised, to be told that everything he said was correct and he was doing the right thing. It was all just a matter of careful flattery, of sweet words said at the right moment, and it was all too easy to gain his ear and attention...

Beron Vanserra was not only a dead male, but a stupid one, as well.

And that…that suited Wisteria’s plan just so well. 

Just as she had plotted to marry Eris…she plotted to make Eris High Lord. 

After all, Beron was doing nothing more than slowly destroying the strength and power of Autumn. He was destroying the lands...he was wasting all the resources that the court had...and he was doing all of it as he drank himself into oblivion on a nightly basis. The whole thing was an excellent opportunity for her to carefully slip a few words into the right ears, to whisper about better ways of doing things...to suggest Eris as a better leader...

And well, if she joined her parents-in-law at their nightly dinner, with a bottle of Apple Cider in tow...a wedding gift from the ancient Duke Hector who sadly died just days after their wedding...that was simply what a good daughter-in-law did, right?!

(And if that meant that she gave the long-suffering Lady of the Court a break from having to soothe some of Beron's...tempers...well, even better. Amara had always been lovely to her after all. And Eris did adore his mother, seemingly the only person who managed to make him show any feelings at all.)

Amara, in turn, had seemed to grow quite fond of Wisteria, taking it upon herself to teach her the way of the court, who to turn to for what…for a girl that hadn’t had a mother since her own had succumbed to illness when she had just been a toddler…it was foreign to have that again. Wisteria’s grandmother had never been particularly maternal. But Amara was. 

And just because of that, Wisteria wanted to shield her from Beron’s outbursts and his tempers. 

It was a good thing for the Lady of the Autumn Court to catch a break from Beron on some level, and if it helped to strengthen Wisteria's bond with Amara and Eris, well, all the better.

(Or at least, Wisteria told herself that that was the only reason why she enjoyed spending time with Amara.)

Wisteria knew two things: One, in a match of magic, she would utterly lose against any High Lord. And two...Beron was stupid to actually drink that damn apple cider every night.

(Thank god, the late Duke Hector had been gracious enough to give them three whole boxes of it to their wedding…nobody would notice if she started…adding something to the last batch of it…)

Wisteria hadn't been born an Abinac for nothing. Her knowledge of botany was...extensive. Extensive and well-known. 

Well known that she tended to the Palace Gardens and even planted medicinal herbs to stock up the infirmary of the Forest House guards…

The knowledge of herbs, plants, and nature in general had certainly helped Wisteria a great deal, in all sorts of different ways. The knowledge of some particularly useful plants and herbs...well, the knowledge had certainly come to good use. After all, it was only sensible to try and learn how to better aid her people...

And it made for some rather handy tools to have at her disposal...should the need for them ever arise.

And if she snipped off a few sprigs of hemlock every day...oh well. Nobody needed to know. 

She wasn't stupid enough to only poison the High Lord‘s glass. She would be found out in a heartbeat.

Wisteria poisoned that whole box of Apple Cider.

She was also very careful to build up an immunity to Hemlock for both her and Amara over three months. There was no antidote for Hemlock after all…

Like any good planner, Wisteria played the waiting game, playing the dutiful new wife and daughter-in-law by day, planning and plotting for her husband's coronation by night.

Safety first. Making sure to cover her tracks. 

She wasn't stupid enough to take the risk of being found out. The poisoning of the High Lord needed to be done, but her own safety and the safety of Amara needed to be considered first.

And when Eris told her that he would be away for a week or so, tending to Autumn’s army...well...

Wisteria decided that Beron's time had come.

She behaved just like she had done for three months. Following the routine she had established.

Wisteria played her part as perfectly as always, her routine just as precise and on point as it had always been. Just that the drink she poured her father-in-law that night…it was lethal. (For him.) 

It was so easy to keep the mask of the dutiful daughter-in-law on as she made sure that Beron's meal for that evening was prepared on time, and she even kept it in place as she followed the long-established ritual of handing Beron his nightly drink afterwards, a kind smile on her lips.

Granted, her own drink was just as hemlock-infused. As was Amara's.

There was to hope that she didn't absolutely fuck this up.

Wisteria was careful, after all. She wasn't taking any chances, not by a long shot. Beron, for a High Lord, was surprisingly stupid in so many ways...

As he took his first drink, she brought her own glass to her lips, not drinking a single drop. 

The sudden gasping after breath...the fact that his whole face turned purple...The panicked scrabbling at this face and neck as he tried in vain to get anything, any air at all, into his body...Beron Vanserra...he didn't even manage to take a single step in her direction, or to even reach for the magic...he fell dead before he could even make a move to reach her.

He just fell to the floor, dead before her eyes as his own wife watched on in shocked horror as the life left her husband's eyes, but Wisteria didn't allow herself to look at Amara, keeping her eyes fixed steadily on her father-in-law as his final breath left his body.

And then she started screaming for the guards.

(Really, her acting performance was on par with the Royal Theatre, if she said so herself!)

Her performance was perfect, her screams and sobs of horror were enough to draw a great many guards, several of them coming running into the room quickly, clearly alarmed at the loud sounds, their eyes turning to look at the scene in the room in front of them.

They froze in place for a moment as they took in the sight of the late High Lord on the floor, his face a purplish shade of colour and his dead, unblinking eyes staring up at them, but their attention then turned to the sobbing, hysterical Wisteria, who was in the middle of sobbing and crying as her trembling hands clutched at the fabric of her dress...

And Amara, who just stared, shocked into silence.

Wisteria did feel horrible for traumatising her like that. But it was the best way to make sure that the Lady of Autumn would be seen as innocent.

Amara’s usual gentle and kind demeanour was nowhere to be seen at this moment, her face utterly pale and her dark eyes as wide open as they could go, her hand clutched tight against her chest as she stared down at her dead husband, her mouth moving as she tried to speak, tried to say something, anything...and yet, she was still too shocked to make a single sound beyond a strangled gasp.

The guards that answered Wisteria's screams and came rushing into the room stood there for a moment in shocked and horrified silence, their eyes frozen on the body and the sight of the High Lord dead on the floor, dead by...he was poisoned.

And then, as if on cue, they all as one seemed to realize that Wisteria and Amara were still alive and standing in the middle of the room, and their gazes moved to look at the two females, their eyes taking them in and trying to assess the situation.

She had counted on them thinking that females were weak.

She had been right to count on that. The moment she started stuttering about the apple cider that had been a wedding gift from a dead male...they had found their culprit.

Too bad for the late Duke Hector...but then, the male had hated Beron with a passion, so Wisteria thought that he probably wouldn't feel too bad that she used him as her scapegoat.

Her stuttering and sobbing were enough to confirm the guard's belief that the late High Lord had been poisoned by the apple cider...and not a single one of them thought of any other culprit than the late Duke Hector. After all, he had given the gift, and he was dead.

The perfect crime.

Wisteria was sobbing loudly the entire time the guards were in the room, her expression one of perfect distress and shock as they all discussed the 'crime', and it was only after the guards had picked up Beron's body to take it away and prepare it for the funeral rites, that Amara finally seemed to regain herself.

She turned her head to look at Wisteria, her face still deathly pale and one hand moving to clutch tightly at the younger female's arm. "You're unharmed...?” she whispered, her voice trembling from the shock.

"I'm alright," Wisteria replied shakily, her own voice trembling just as much as she turned her head to look back at her mother-in-law, her eyes red from the sobbing, a very convincing picture. "I'm alright...thank the Mother," she whispered, her voice still shaky as she took a few steps closer to the Lady of Autumn Court and gripped the older woman's hand in hers.

"I am so sorry," Wisteria apologised. She wasn't. Not really.

"It's alright," Amara whispered, her hand squeezing Wisteria's own hand so tightly they felt as if they were crushing her fingers. "You're...you're alright," she repeated again, as if the words were a mantra to comfort herself. Wisteria squeezed Amara's own hand back, her other hand moving up and wrapping around the older female's shoulders, hugging her.’

Poison was found in the glasses of all three and in the bottle. Clearly Duke Hector had wanted them all dead.

The guards had bought it, hook line and sinker. After all, the duke was dead...there was no need for further investigation beyond that, and the belief that the Duke had wanted to poison everyone present during the meal was more than enough for them. They were just so sure of themselves after all, and the case was wrapped up neatly, and nobody was going to bother to investigate further beyond what appeared to be the obvious conclusion.

Her plan…it had gone off without a hitch.

Now to deal with the fallout.

"Let's go sit down," Wisteria told her mother-in-law softly. "Why don't you come stay in Eris and I's rooms tonight?"

Amara shook her head faintly, but it was more of an instinctive, thoughtless action rather than an answer to the suggestion, and after a moment she whispered out a weak, "Please." It was the most vulnerable that Wisteria had ever seen the older female act as they began making their way towards the Heir's room.

She kept an arm around Amara at all times, murmuring gentle reassurances as she led her towards her and Eris' room, doing her best to reassure her mother-in-law as best she could. Amara was in shock, that much was obvious. 

She helped Amara sit down on an armchair once they reached the room, one of her own hands moving to take the older female's hand again and holding hers in hers, gently rubbing her thumb across Amara's knuckles in what she hoped was a comforting gesture.

"Just try and take a few deep breaths," she spoke in a gentle, soft murmur, her eyes watching the older woman closely as Amara sat there, all too aware of the fact that it could very easily go downhill if Amara didn't get herself back in control soon. "I'm right here," she reassured. "You're not alone. You'll be alright. Just try and breathe."

Amara obeyed, or at least, she tried, taking in a few shaky, gulping breaths that shook her body as Wisteria continued to speak in a soft, gentle voice, the young, inexperienced Lady of Autumn Court doing her best to help her in-law and maintain her own mask of concern and distress, all too aware that if her mask slipped even a little...if Amara so much as suspected something, her meticulously planned charade could come tumbling down around her.

It took a few minutes, but eventually, Amara finally managed to get herself a bit more together, her own grip on Wisteria's hand loosening and her breathing becoming less shaky and ragged as Wisteria continued to hold the older female's hand and murmur soft assurances to her, taking her time and letting Amara calm down at her own pace.

"I never thought..." Amara said, shaking her head.

"Nobody could have predicted this," Wisteria murmured back, squeezing Amara's hand gently. "It can't have been easy for you," Wisteria told the older woman gently. "Dealing with him, I mean. You're a much better wife than he ever deserved," she continued, squeezing Amara's hand in her own. "You're strong...and good," she continued, her voice soft and gentle, her expression one of sympathy and concern over what she was saying. It was the complete and total truth, after all, which made it all the easier to act like she was feeling bad for the older woman's plight.

Beron had been a brute and an ass...and it had made it so much easier to poison his drink. "All he ever did was hurt and belittle you," Wisteria continued softly. "Nobody deserves to be treated that way, certainly not by one's own husband...especially not one as gentle and kind as you," she said, one of her thumbs rubbing slowly over the top of Amara's knuckles. "All he ever did was hurt and belittle you," Wisteria continued softly. "Nobody deserves to be treated that way, certainly not by one's own husband...especially not one as gentle and kind as you," she said, one of her thumbs rubbing slowly over Amara's knuckles.

She was supposed to be naïve, inexperienced, clueless...yet it seemed she had outplayed them all...and she had won. With her mask in place and Amara starting to pull herself together more with each passing moment, it was starting to look like she had gotten away with her planned crime...

Now...the only thing she needed to do was wait until Eris came home so she could start the second phase of her plans.

"What did you use?" Amara asked her, her voice even.

Wisteria blinked a couple of times, surprised by the blunt question. From her experience, Amara had never asked a question so bluntly before...or a question with such a dark and difficult topic. "Pardon?" she asked, her head tilting to one side as her own fingers continued to gently rub at the top of Amara's knuckles.

"To poison him," Amara clarified, looking directly into Wisteria's own eyes as she squeezed back the younger female's hand in hers. "What did you use?"

Wisteria's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say, her hand tightening around Amara's own as her mind worked desperately to find a believable answer, a lie that sounded plausible. And then, her eyes dropped down to stare at Amara's own hands, and a thought came to her mind.

“I have no idea, what you could possibly mean,” she said carefully. “But it did look like Hemlock poisoning to me.”

Wisteria felt her heart rate quicken in her chest, but she forced herself to remain outwardly calm, her eyes lifting up so she could look at Amara again. Amara was looking straight back at her, her own eyes sharp and perceptive, the older female's expression carefully neutral. She could see that she had caught on to something...had perhaps even caught on to the truth. But Wisteria could deny that, she could deny it, and she could play it off.

Amara just huffed.

“Why?” Amara asked her. “Why take that risk?”

Wisteria swallowed hard, her heart racing even faster in her chest, but she forced herself to keep her face calm and neutral, her eyes still fixed on Amara's own.

She couldn't falter, or make any kind of mistake. If Amara decided to pursue this, if she continued to pry...her entire plan could be destroyed, all of her work and planning for nothing.

There was no mistaking the question. Despite her mask, and her neutral expression, there was something in Amara's eyes, something in her tone that made it clear to Wisteria that she knew. Amara had guessed what she had done - and she most likely suspected even more besides.

And now, Wisteria needed to answer her, and she needed to answer in such a way that would make the Lady of Autumn Court stop asking further questions about what had truly happened in the dining room tonight.

“Nobody lays a finger on my family without answering to me,” Wisteria said simply.

***

“Are you sure?” Villard, one of his commanders, asked him quietly.

Eris was standing by the tent doors, one hand bracing himself as he silently stared out over the field in front of him.

Was he sure? No. He was not sure...but he was very much afraid.

But fear, just like any other emotion, was useless to him. He clenched his fingers briefly before he spoke, his voice quiet and controlled. "I have to be sure," he said to the General.He could be afraid. He could be full of dread...but there was no turning back now.

His men, along with the men of the Autumn Court army, were waiting at camp for orders. They were waiting for him to give the orders to march. The entire army was relying on him.

He could not show them any fear. He could not show them any doubt.

And so, he took in a slow, deep breath and tried to force himself to appear as if he was completely confident in what he was about to do...even if he was far from confident. It was a risk. A gamble. He knew that.

But he needed to make it.

He needed to. The clock was ticking.

Ever since three months ago.

Since he had stood in that temple and married his mate and had pretended that she wasn’t that. He pretended that she was the wife his father had forced onto him, that he wasn’t interested in the slightest. Which was a lie. It was the biggest lie of his whole existence.

Pretending that he wasn't interested, pretending he didn't care for her...every day had been getting harder and harder.

These dark brown eyes looked at him, belying shrewd intelligence and he often wondered if she didn’t know much more than she let on.

He closed his eyes briefly and clenched his jaw, a sharp pang of pain shooting through his chest at the memories...but he could not think of that now. He had more important things to focus on.

“Yes,” he answered, grounding out the words. “I am sure.”

Sure to carry out the plan they had made…sure in the military coup he had planned. Sure to show up at the forest house gates with an army in tow and kill his father, take that crown that was his by right through blood.

“But it feels like a mistake.” He admitted, his voice just loud enough for the commander to hear his words. “That I'm leading us all to our deaths.”

His head turned slightly, enough so he caught a glimpse of the expression on Villard’s face while still staring out over the field.

He saw worry, and concern...but he also saw loyalty and determination. Loyalty to him.

"You're overthinking this, General," Villard said, and the firm, quiet tone in his voice caused Eris to turn his head fully and look at him. "You're leading your men into a battle. You're preparing yourself for a war. Any General in your position would feel the same as you do. This is how it's supposed to be. But this coup is our best, our only option. And you've never gone into a fight scared before-" because he had never had anything to fear at all before, "...and you're not going to start now. 

"But I-" Eris tried to speak, but his protestation was cut off by Villard’s next words, as blunt and serious as always.

Villard didn't bother to mince his words. Never had. "If you continue to doubt yourself and hesitate, then you're going to get your men killed, General," he said bluntly. "Your army is waiting for you to lead them. You are one of the best Males I have ever served under, and I have faith in you...and they do, too. Do not make me doubt my faith in you."

Villard was right.

"Tomorrow," Eris finally said. "Tomorrow at dawn."

Villard nodded his head once in agreement.

Tomorrow at dawn. Tomorrow, they would be marching. Tomorrow, they would be riding to the Forest House...to confront Beron.

Eris took in a deep, shuddering breath as if he was trying to convince himself that he was really going through with it. He could not back down now. He couldn't second-guess himself anymore. They were doing this, they were actually doing this.

And then...then he felt it.

Felt the whole foundation of Prythian shudder and shake...could feel the magic in the air.

The High Lord's Magic fell onto his shoulders like a ton of bricks.

The reality of what had happened, of what this meant hit him, and for a moment, he didn't breathe.

His father was dead. The power and the magic that came with that fact were now his. That crown that he had dreamed about for so long, that crown that had eluded him for centuries was now sitting on his head.

Eris Vanserra was the High Lord of the Autumn Court.

He tried to breathe, tried to make himself feel steady again. He couldn't falter. Not now.

He clenched his hands briefly, his shoulders rolling back as he tried to adjust to the new, sudden power that he could feel thrumming inside him, the magic flowing through him in a way he hadn't known was possible.

It was both thrilling and terrifying. Thrilling in the power itself...and terrifying for what it now meant.

He had no time to adjust, though, and no time to marvel. They had to ride. They had to get to the forest house and get there now.

"You felt that," Villard spoke beside him, a near imperceptive shake in his voice "Didn't you?"

The question caused Eris to snap back to the situation.

His eyes met Villard’s own for a brief moment, his head moving down in a short, nearly imperceptible nod. “I did,” he spoke, his voice just loud enough for the man next to him to hear.

There was little point in trying to hide the fact that he had just felt the power that came with becoming High Lord. There was little doubt that the whole army had...that the entire forest had just felt that sudden change.

A murmur ran through the army behind them, an ever growing, steady hum of voices and whispers, a murmur that had started the moment the shockwave of magic had raced through the camp.

There could have been no doubt who that earthquake of magic had been. Nor who had just become High Lord as a result of it.

"High Lord," Villard murmured, dropping to his knees before him.

All around them, the entire army was dropping to their knees, the soldiers in the army lowering themselves onto the ground as the murmur of voices became a steady, quiet chant of the title.

High Lord. High Lord. High Lord…

Eris stared out over the camp as his men, his soldiers, knelt before him.

High Lord. High Lord. His mind repeated the words as he swallowed hard.

He felt a little like he was floating. A little like this was all a bad dream, and that any moment he was going to wake up and find it all a lie.

High Lord of the Autumn Court. This was the dream that he had longed for. This was what he had been working for, planning for...and it was here, now.

It was time now. Now. They wouldn't wait until Dawn.

That first action of that High Lord's magic thrumming underneath his skin was to winnow a whole legion of warriors straight to the doorstep of The Forest House. It was a drop in the sudden ocean of power at his disposal…to winnow a group of his most trusted soldiers.

The Wards bend for him with nary a thought.

They and Eris himself appeared at the entryway of the Forest House, standing in front of the imposing building as his eyes immediately shot to the top of the building as if trying to spot a light in a window, or a silhouette behind the window panes of the second floor.

He wondered if she could feel it if she was watching from a window.

He turned and looked at Villard - his General now - and gave a short, sharp nod. The first step in this coup was to secure the Forest House. And then, the rest could happen.

There was no time to linger. No time to look over the house or let the enormity of the situation hit him. They had to move now. Every second counted.

The army rushed forward, the legion splitting up through the doors of the house. They needed to secure every room in the house. Every hallway, every room, every possible place his brothers could be hiding in, preparing for a fight.

Eris stayed behind in the main hallway, staring up at the grand staircase in front of him as his magic thrummed in his veins, waiting for one of his brothers to try and do something stupid.

None did.

It was actually...surprisingly easy.

Servants and staff fell down to their knees as they passed him, as he made his way upstairs...

Hemlock poisoning, one servant had blurted out. The healer are already seeing to…the body. The poison was in the Apple Cider you received as a wedding gift from Duke Hector, High Lord… 

Eris tried not to let the easy way in which everything was working out bother him, tried not to let the calm and quiet of the house make him more suspicious...and tried to not think about the easy death his father had ended up having.

Hemlock poisoning.

He clenched his hand into a fist at his side, the only outward sign he let himself show as he headed up the stairs to the second level of the house.

His wife and his mother were sitting in their living room. Having tea. Like they hadn't just witnessed the death of his father not even an hour earlier.

Eris paused in the doorway, a frown on his normally impassive face as he took in his mate and his mother - sitting on opposite couches in the living room with tea between them.

There was a calm air about both of them as if they hadn’t just felt the house shudder from the death of his father, as if they hadn’t sensed the change of High Lord. 

A faint sense of bemusement filled him as he watched her move, as Wysteris' dark red dress swished around her legs as it nearly skimmed the floor.

Wisteria's head snapped towards him and she gained her feed. Long brown hair fell down her back, pins straight as usual, a golden crown weaved during the chocolate tresses. Dark brown eyes were mustering him, the dark red velvet gown she wore contrasting sharply with her ivory skin.

And then his wife, his mate, sunk into a picture-perfect curtsy. "High Lord."

She had been beautiful the very first time he had seen her, at that Masquerade Ball. One dance… one dance and he had felt the Mating Bond rippling through him. And at that moment the only thing on his mind had been that he needed to protect her. 

He had utterly failed at that. 

Because Wisteria Abinac, his mate, had been offered to him by his father on a silver platter as his future wife. 

He had tried everything to get out of marrying her. Everything to keep her as far removed from himself as he could. And he had failed. Failed, because fundamentally, Eris was a selfish male. He had told himself that disagreeing too much was just going to result in people giving Wisteria a second look, and so had only groused and complained enough not to have it be completely out of character. 

And then he had married her. 

Eris had married her. And he had known that if anybody found out that Wisteria was his mate…she was the easiest way straight to him. The easiest pressure point to exploit. 

Eris couldn't have that. Not right now. So instead of actually being a proper husband to his mate…he had just started plotting right then and there to finally get rid of his father. 

Wisteria didn't look surprised to see him here or to see the army of soldiers that filled the halls behind him. No, when she had turned to look upon him, all he had seen in her eyes was knowledge. She knew exactly why he was here.

"Wife," he answered her, a quiet acknowledgement of her words and her curtsy, his own eyes sweeping over her form. "Are you...well?" he asked her. It wasn’t everything he wanted to ask her. It was so far from what he wanted to do. 

What he wanted was to sweep her up in his arms and whisper apologies against her skin, admit everything to her and… He couldn’t do this right now. 

"I didn't drink any of the Apple Cider," she answered. "It was a wedding gift from Duke Hector...apparently seasoned with Hemlock. Thank the cauldron that neither Amara nor I drank any of it."

Hearing that his mate and his mother hadn't drunk any of the Cider was pure relief. His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, and the tension that had been wound tightly in him began to loosen just a little.

"Thank the Cauldron," he murmured quietly, taking a few steps into the room. Behind him, the army was still swarming into the second level of the house.  As he moved further into the room, his eyes swept over to his mother, taking in the picture of calm she presented as she sat sipping her tea from the couch.

"Mother," he greeted her, a slight incline of his head to the female. "Are you unharmed?"

The older female nodded at his question, sipping her tea again before she spoke in a calm, measured tone. "I didn't drink any of the Cider either," she told him, and the knowledge that she hadn't had a sip of the Hemlock-spiked drink helped set his mind at ease, at least somewhat. Even when she seemed nearly…absent. At least she was alive. At least she was safe.

Everything else…they could deal with everything else. 

It was probably the shock, he reasoned. It was probably…

Eris inhaled a breath, trying to take a moment to steady himself. He needed to be calm, he needed to be emotionless. Which was seemingly impossible, because Wisteria grasped his hand in hers.

"You will need to appear in the Throne Room," she said calmly. "For the proclamation. Let me find you something to wear."

He paused when she grasped his hand, his eyes flickering to her face with a bewildered expression for a moment before he managed to shove that expression away behind his mask again. Wisteria seemed all too calm for the circumstances as if everything going on was a minor event instead of what it really was.

"Throne Room," he confirmed, squeezing his wife's hand back once before releasing it. "Yes, I need clothes."

Wisteria let go of his hand, and he mourned the loss of her touch, as she headed towards the bedrooms, probably to rummage through the clothes in there.

Meanwhile, his mother continued to sit there, sipping her tea like nothing was happening at all.

Eris paused, standing in the middle of the room and staring at her for a few seconds. Something was off...there was something odd about how she was sitting there like she wasn't the least bit bothered by the fact that there was an army in her house and her husband had just died. Did she...did she know what was happening?

His mother raised her eyes up to meet his gaze, a hint of sadness in her eyes to tell him that she did, in fact, know what was happening. Of course, she was sad...and yet, there was a slight sense of understanding as well.

"Go," his mother said, resting her cup on the saucer as she spoke. "Let Wisteria get you ready. Your brothers will soon realise what is going on. You don’t have time to linger here."

Eris’ eyes flickered back to where his mate had disappeared. Wisteria reappeared moments later. She moved efficiently, seemingly uncaring about the fact that an army was in the house, or that her father-in-law was dead. That she had watched him die. 

His mother didn't move, didn't even rise from her spot by the couch, continuing to sip her tea as if it was a normal afternoon. 

Eris forced himself to turn, his teeth clenching together tightly.

His wife held out the jacket for him to slip into. She had chosen a deep red brocade jacket for him to wear, one edged with golden thread at the wrists and the collars. He was quite certain that he had never seen it before. 

Wysteria slipped the coat around his shoulders, pulling the jacket around his form and buttoning it closed. Her touch was grounding, even as he needed to hold himself back. It was the most intimacy he had ever allowed himself to have with his mate. 

The brocade was heavy, the cut of the material clearly made for a High Lord. His wife fussed with the jacket for a few moments as he stood and watched her, before she stepped back with a small nod, looking him up and down.

"How do I look?" he asked her, a note of dry humour in his voice even as he spoke the question, even as he allowed a small, sardonic smirk.

He was to go and make his formal proclamation as High Lord, and here he was with his wife fussing over him, straightening his collar, adjusting the way his jacket sat on his shoulders, pulling at the end of his sleeves to adjust the fit. He could almost say the situation was bizarre if it wasn't so damn serious.

Wisteria tilted her head to the side lightly, her lips tilting up in a small smile that damn near took his breath away as she took him in from head to toe, looking him over.

"Like a High Lord," she finally spoke. Wisteria took a step in closer to him, reaching up and tucking a loose piece of hair back into his hairstyle. "Like you were always meant to be."

She took his arm before he could offer it, the perfect Lady at his side.

She was the picture of a perfect wife as she moved to stand at his side, and as he looked down at her, he knew that they would look every bit the High Lord and Lady as they strode through the hallways.

This was where they were both meant to be. This was who they both were, down to their bones.

That proclamation went painlessly.

He had expected something....but nothing happened. Absolutely nothing.

Even his brothers behaved. Though that may was thanks to Wisteria’s eyes that were keeping them pinned in place as she sat on the throne beside him. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, at his wife, his mate, at the long, pin-straight hair, her spine held straighter than a rod of iron, the elegant arch of her neck and cheekbones. She looked so regal, so composed...She was beautiful.

The dark red velvet sharply contrasted with her skin, with the flowers that grew up in gold thread over her skirt and sleeves...

Flowers. Flowers. Flowers for a female who had been born into the Abinac Family. Known as the Grain Keepers of Autumn. Known as...known for their keen interest in botany.  The garden that Wisteria kept...the garden she kept to have medicinal herbs grow, all tucked away in the little glasshouse that had been his wedding present for her…

The one thing he could give her that...that was just a hint of his feelings for her. For this beautiful being that had come into his life when he had least expected it.

But the herbs…the…

She wouldn't have done this…Right?

She wouldn't have. There was no...Just because his father had been poisoned by Hemlock...that wouldn't...

A frown pulled at his lips as he took in the serene expression on his wife's face, the soft smile that was there as she sipped on her drink.

She was calm, composed, and perfect. Just like the Lady of the Court was supposed to be.

Hemlock Poisoning…Hemlock Poisoning in the Apple Cider that had been a wedding present to them…From the Ancient Duke Hector that had ended up succumbing to his fever weeks after their wedding…

That…

Duke Hector had disagreed with his father politically on numerous occasions. But he had been a good male. Too good a male for the treacherous Autumn Court…He wouldn’t have….Eris could simply not imagine that he would attempt an assassination. 

But apparently he had. 

His mother. His mother knew.  She was too calm. Too collected. Too…

His wife was too relaxed. She was too at ease. She had seen his father die in front of her, yet there was barely a flicker of emotions on her face.

But why. Why would...

But that was the question, wasn't it? Why would his wife conspire to kill his father, the High Lord?  Only to put him on the throne?

And it had been stupidly dangerous what she had done. Hemlock was fatal. There was no antidote. If she or his mother had drunken even a drop of that Apple Cider…they would have both died. 

Why take such a risk?!

That was the question, wasn't it? That was the question that was running through his mind, over and over again.

Why?

Why had Wisteria done this? Why had she poisoned the Apple Cider, knowing that all of them would be drinking it? That she herself had almost drunk from it?

Why.

There was no clear reason, no possible answer that came to mind...unless...

It made him want to get up from her throne, scoop her in his arms, and get her as far away as he could.

Unless this wasn't because of a clear-cut desire for power. Unless this was something more personal, more...driven. Unless there was a deeper motive behind this.

He kept his mouth shut. 

Eris waited until the night wore on until the night was late when they retired to their room for the night. They had always slept in separate rooms, a custom that they had followed even when they had shared a bed the night of their wedding.

Tonight, however, he had no intention of following that custom. He was going to find out why his wife had poisoned the cider, why his mother seemed so unsurprised at his father's death, and why everything had been so damn easy for him to become High Lord.

He followed her to her room, and if she was surprised by his act...she didn't show it.

They had never shared a bed. He had never laid a finger on her. There were some lines that even Eris wasn’t willing to cross. Not when she didn't even know that they were mates. Not when...

He threw up a shield, encompassing just the two of them and then grasped her hand tightly, pulling her to him so that she needed to face him.

Her dark eyes widened, the first sign of surprise he had seen on her face in hours. The look of surprise didn't linger for long as a mask of composure slipped back into place, and the calm gaze was back on her features, watching him emotionlessly.

Still, he had to give her credit for managing to school her expression so quickly.

"You killed him."

He wasn’t quite sure what he had expected. Wisteria to stare at him wide-eyed, for her to become hysterical, for her to assure him that she hadn’t…

But he hadn’t expected the confirmation. “Yes,” Wisteria said, meeting his eyes, her chin held high. There wasn't even the slightest hint of remorse on her face, not a sliver of guilt anywhere in her features as she confirmed his accusation. “And I would do it again.”

"You poisoned the Apple Cider," he half-snarled at her, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "You poisoned it with Hemlock."

She shrugged her shoulders lightly, almost like this was a normal conversation to her. 

"I did," she answered his accusation. No excuses, no explanations, just flat confirmation.

Eris gritted his teeth together, his muscles tensing with barely concealed anger as he listened to his wife speak with such a calm tone. 

"Why," he bit out in a low, strangled voice. He needed an explanation, a reason, anything that might give him some idea as to why his wife had murdered his father.

She looked him in his eyes again, her gaze unwavering as she stared at him unblinkingly. For a moment, he thought that she wouldn't give him an answer, that she would simply stand there, staring him down in her usual, calm manner.

But she spoke, her voice as emotionless as her expression.

"Because you were too sentimental," she said. "He was bleeding our court dry. He was hurting your mother. He was hurting you."

A shocked breath left him. His hands relaxed slightly, the muscles in his shoulders loosening a little as the rage within him simmered. "What if my mother had drunk that apple cider?" he hissed at Wisteria. “What if you did? You could have killed both of you! There is no antidote to Hemlock.”

"There isn't," Wisteria agreed. "But you can grow an immunity to it."

"Are you telling me that you have been slowly poisoning yourself and my mother for the last 3 months?!?!" He asked incredulously, disbelief and horror colouring his wife. She had knowingly poisoned herself?! 

She had...she had slowly been building an immunity to Hemlock. 

"You were poisoning yourself" he managed to croak out, disbelief and anger mixed in his tone. "You were poisoning both of you!”

Her lips tugged into the hint of a smirk at his words, a reaction she never showed usually.

"Yes." Her voice was as emotionless as ever as she spoke. She could've been talking about the weather, it was almost eerie. There was no hint of regret for poisoning her and his mother, not a hint of remorse for the way she had planned his father's death. "I fed your mother and me tea spiked with a tiny amount of Hemlock so if we ingested a bigger amount, nothing would happen.” 

"Why, in the Mother's name, why would you do that," he managed to half-yell out, his hands clenching into fists again.

"Well, only like that I could fault Duke Hector for it," his wife answered, like the answer was obvious. "He's dead, so nobody will get his head cut off for treason.” She said that, like clearly that was the perfect, reasonable answer. 

Eris stared at her, dumbfounded, trying to string together everything she had just told him, trying to make sense in his head.

She had poisoned his father, using a method that only she could survive, and then left a paper trail to frame Duke Hector for the murder. It was...it was brilliantly done.

The level of planning, of patience, it had to have taken her months to plot all this out.

And she had been quicker than him. He wasn't sure if he should be furious at her, or impressed.

It was a perfectly executed, perfectly planned scheme. She had poisoned his father, knowing that she and his mother were the only ones who could drink the poisoned Apple Cider and survive it, and had set up the path so that it ended in Duke Hector being framed.

"Why," he asked her in a strangled tone, his tone strangled with conflicting emotions as he desperately tried to make sense of what had happened. "Why go through all this trouble? Why, in the Mother's name, why go through all this? Why kill my father?"

She just looked at him for a moment. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, mate."

His breath stopped in his throat as he stared at his mate in shock, his eyes widening as she spoke.

"What did you just say?" He asked her, half-expecting her to change her answer, to give him a different response.

Her lips tugged up in a slight, crooked smirk as she looked back at him, her eyes flickering with a hint of...something that he couldn't put his finger on. "You heard me, mate." She stepped in, moving closer towards him, her footsteps silent against the carpet. "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, even if it meant killing your father."

"You knew," he croaked out.

Wisteria knew. She had known...since gods only knew when. When he had tried to keep away from her...when he had tried to get out of that arranged marriage…

His back tensed and his muscles clenched as he stared at his wife, every single moment he remembered of the two of them from the last three months running through his mind as he listened to her words.

Wisteria had known. The whole time, she had known that they were mates.

"Since that Masquerade Ball, actually," Wisteria admitted brightly. "I decided that I was going to marry you then."

The words stunned him, the statement stealing the breath from his lungs and causing his muscles to tense with surprise.

She had known.

Since the moment they met…it was…She had planned and plotted out everything since then. And he had had no idea.

"You knew." Eris could only stare at her in wonder.

"I knew I was going to marry you and that I would kill your father," she said with a shrug. "He deserved worse."

"Why," he asked again in a strangled tone, his mind still reeling, trying to process the information that she had given him. "Why, in the cauldron’s name, would you go through all this trouble, all this damn planning, simply because you knew that we were mates?"

***

It had been a long time since she had seen him look so...baffled. She always enjoyed it when she managed to get a reaction out of him, and this was the best one to date.

Wisteria reached forward, resting her hand on his chest, feeling the hard muscle under his shirt, feeling the steady thump of his heart. She could feel the tension in him, the way his muscles were tensed as he stared down at her with an expression that was so deliciously lost.

"I told you, there is nothing that I wouldn't do for you."

Her fingers curled slightly against his shirt, resting atop his beating heart, feeling the steady thumping of his heart against her palm.

"You were too sentimental." She reminded him, staring up into his eyes, into his beautiful, green orbs. "You wanted to spare your father, despite all the suffering he put you through. You wanted to let him live, despite how he had made your and your family's lives a living Hel."

"You were being too damn soft, too nice." She told him with a slight, crooked smirk, pressing her body closer to his, closing the gap between them until their bodies were pressed together. She could feel the heat of his body against hers, feel the way his muscles tensed as he stared back at her. "That is what made me decide to murder that worthless bastard."

"I was going to slice his throat tomorrow," Eris said suddenly, catching the back of her head, making it impossible for her to get out of his grasp. "I was planning a military coup. It would have been perfect. If somebody didn't decided to ruin it for me."

Her lips twisted into a smirk at his words, her dark eyes flashing with a hint of challenge as she looked up at him. She didn't try to struggle or break free, enjoying the feel of his fingers digging into the back of her hair, the warmth of his body as he kept her from escaping.

"Like I said, too sentimental," she drawled at him, her smirk widening when she saw his expression flicker.

"Says the female that said she would do everything for me," Eris disagreed. "Who killed my father because she didn't like the way he talked to me in public."

She arched her eyebrow at his words, her smirk widening yet again when she saw him grit his teeth together in irritation. She leaned in, her body flush with his chest, her nose almost touching his chin as she looked up at him.

"That's because you're mine," she told him fiercely. "You don't think I would kill him for insulting you? For the way he abused both you and your mother?"

Her breath brushed against his chin, her body pressed tight against his, feeling his fingers dig into her scalp as he held her tight.

"What, do you think I'm just going to sit there and let somebody insult my mate?" She asked him in a tone that was barely above a hiss, her eyes narrowing slightly in irritation.

He growled, the low sound echoing through his chest, and she couldn't help but shiver involuntarily in response. The sound he made was deep, primal, possessive, and it made her shiver all the way down to her core.

"I'll kill anybody that ever insults you," she told him in a low tone, the words almost a promise, and she felt his body tense even more in response to her vow.

It was a true statement too. She fully intended to kill anybody that insulted him. Her mate. She would tear apart anybody that put even a single, verbal finger on him.

His fingers tightened yet again against the back of her head, his hold on her almost painful. She didn't try and loosen his grip, but instead, her lips tugged up in a crooked smirk as she angled her chin up to look into his eyes. Her whole body was pressed against his, her skin burning wherever his hard chest pressed against her.

Their faces were only mere inches apart, her breath brushing against his chin, her mouth a hair's breadth away from his. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her body tingling wherever he touched her, wherever his body was pressed against hers.

It was a wonder that her legs didn't give out under her. She was burning, her body practically buzzing with heat, her blood singing with something primal, something almost feral. Everything about him in this moment seemed to overwhelm her, seemed to consume her.

"If you ever, ever do anything as idiotic as dosing yourself and my mother with Hemlock again, I'll kill you," he breathed.

Her breath caught in her throat at the low threat in his voice, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked up into his eyes. There was a dark, almost dangerous look in his eyes as he stared down at her, the threat in his voice sending a shiver down her spine, making her breath catch yet again in her throat. It was enough to make it feel as though she were drowning in something almost primal, something that she had never felt before. Her whole body was thrumming, her muscles tense, her blood singing.

"You are my mate." And finally he said the words she had longed to hear from him for months. "You are my mate. The next time you plot to kill anybody, you'll come to me so I can help you hide the body."

Her heart thundered in her chest at his words, the possessiveness in his tone making her head swim, making her body burn as a shiver ran down her spine for a completely different reason.

And for the first time in her life, she actually felt like the world paused for a moment, like time itself had froze around her, as she looked up at her mate and her mind struggled to process the fact.

She had, actually managed to make her mate declare her as his.

Her plan had worked. "Do you understand me, Wisteria Vanserra? You are my wife, my mate, the Lady of this Court. You'll come to your High Lord and you'll tell him all about your homicidal plans."

Her mind was still reeling from his words, her eyes wide as she looked up at him, but she managed to nod in response to his order. Her muscles trembled slightly, her heart practically hammering in her chest. 

"Good."

The praise made her breath catch in her throat, her body trembling slightly as she stared up into those beautiful, green eyes of his. Her blood was singing, her body practically trembling with the need to get closer to him, to feel his hands, his body against her own. 

And then he kissed her. There was nothing sweet about the way he kissed her. It was teeth and tongue and heat and...

Yes. This was what she wanted, what she had been aching for months to feel. His mouth on hers was like fire, his tongue hot and desperate against hers as they kissed each other. It was like a dam had broken, like all the tension, all the frustration was finally being released through this kiss. 

The world melted around them, the world faded into nothing, all her senses, all her focus zeroing in on the feel of him, of the hard planes of his chest against hers, of her own body feeling like it was vibrating, like she was burning up from the inside out. Everything faded away into this burning, beautiful, heat with his hands on her, with his mouth against her's, nothing mattering but the two of them. 

The world melted around them, the world faded into nothing, all her senses, all her focus zeroing in on the feel of him, of the hard planes of his chest against hers, of her own body feeling like it was vibrating, like she was burning up from the inside out. Everything faded away into this burning, beautiful, heat with his hands on her, with his mouth against her's, nothing mattering but the two of them. 

A gasp escaped her as she felt his mouth on her throat, his tongue tracing over her, burning a trail down her skin as he spoke against her. She arched her neck instinctively, letting him have better access to her neck, her breath catching as he spoke.

Her fingers reached out, desperate, her hands grabbing at his shoulders, his back, her fingers digging in and curling, grasping at him, trying to pull him even closer to her, trying to feel more of him, more of his hard, muscled chest, more of his hot skin against her's. 

She was drowning in him, in the heat that was burning them both, in the fact that he was actually holding her, actually holding her like this, that he was actually her's just as much as she was his. Her mind was practically incoherent, her whole body burning, her blood singing in her veins with a primal, possessive need. 

And the look in his eyes as he looked at her...he was beautiful, he was wild, and he was hers. And she would slaughter anybody that got in their way. 

She'd tear the world apart for him and with him. 

[littlest-w01f]

Sleepy

Eris Vanserra x Reader

For @erisweekofficial

Eris week 2024 Masterlist

Day 7: Free Day

Summary: Eris wakes up in the middle of the night aroused from his newly accepted mating bond with Reader.

Cw: M!Masturbation, consensual somonophilia, F!Fingering, Dom!Eris, MxF, Kinda lesser fae reader based on phrasing, Smut 18+ MDNI

The night was at its peak, the moonlight streaming through the red silk curtains illuminated the room with a soft, ethereal glow. You lay nestled within the warm embrace of Eris, his strong arms cradling you close as if you were the most precious thing in his world. His body pressed intimately against yours, radiated heat from his fire, providing a comforting contrast to the coolness of the sheets beneath you.

Eris' heart pounded steadily against your back, each beat a silent declaration of his affection for you. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he savoured this moment.

Eris watched you, curled with your legs pressed to your stomach, your back against his chest, purring in your sleep, you looked beautiful asleep, his little bunny, wearing his tunic to sleep because you liked how warm it was after he wore it all day.

His gaze traced the gentle rise and fall of your chest as you slumbered peacefully in his arms. He couldn't help but marvel at your beauty even in your sleep, your face peaceful and relaxed, your skin glowing under the soft moonlight.

His heart clenched, seeing how vulnerable you looked, how trusting you were of him, to keep you safe in your deep cat nap that Eris was sure not even a hurricane or harsh thunderstorm could wake you up from, you'd wake up from sleep only whenever you wanted.

Eris groaned slightly, feeling himself harden at the sight of you, like he had almost every night. The bond the two of you shared kept him in a constant state of arousal around you. Before tonight he used to sneak away to take care of himself if he ever woke up with the need for release, as to not disturb you, but last night, you had worked up to his absence, a pretty frown on your plump lips, claiming you got cold while he was away.

Eris had laughed softly cuddling you again, admitting to what he had been up to, he hardened further at the memory of you shyly telling him you didn't mind if he used you while you slept, not wanting him to be away from you.

With one hand still holding you, Eris used his other to move his sleep pants down until his hard cock sprung free, soon kicking it off from his legs, your words playing in his mind, he pushed his arousal down the bond to you, making you whine.

He slowly moved his tunic up your body till your ass and cunt were exposed to him, breath hitching at the scent of your arousal that he caused by your shared mating bond.

He could feel your arousal spike as soon as he touched you, and he let out a low growl, his cock twitching with need. Slowly, he slid his hand down between your thighs, his fingers finding your slick entrance. He gently rubbed your slit, teasing you as his other hand continued to hold you close. He pushed his arousal down the mating bond once more, watching as you squirmed in his grasp, your cute mewls echoing in the otherwise quiet room, twitching in your sleep.

Eris gave a satisfied grunt as he moved his hand to stroke himself, his hand wet with your arousal moving up and down his cock in a steady rhythm. He let out a low moan as he imagined thrusting into you, filling you up over and over again. He loved the way you would tighten around him, gripping his cock so deliciously. The thought alone made him moan loudly.

As he continued to pleasure himself, he sent wave after wave of arousal down the mating bond, tugging at it, feeling how hot it burned between you, watching as your sleep became increasingly restless. Your hips twitched, your legs pressing together as if trying to ease the ache between them, your toes curling in arousal. He wanted to have you dripping for him before he filled you up to the hilt with his cock.

With a smirk, Eris pulled you closer, nuzzling your neck as he continued to stroke himself. He could feel the power he held over you, the ability to make you squirm and whimper in your sleep. He loved the control, the dominance, the way you surrendered yourself to him completely. He leaned down, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispered, "You're mine, my sweet bunny. My mate. And I'll never let you go." His voice was husky, laced with desire and domination. He knew you heard him, felt him, in your sleep and it only heightened his arousal.

The fire in his blood was undeniable, coursing through his veins like liquid lust. His heart hammered in his chest, pounding with need and desire for you. He wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep inside you, to feel you squeeze him tightly as he spilt his seed within you. His mind swam with thoughts of you, your body writhing underneath him, taking every inch of his cock.

Beads of sweat precipitated on his forehead, on his pale body, "I'm going to fuck you so hard," he murmured, his hot breath ghosting over your skin as he aligned his cock to your cunt, the urge to get off using you making his ears ring.

Your body was still warm and wet from the passionate lovemaking session earlier, he had been so sweet then, he didn't want to be now. Every inch of you called out to him, begging for more. His thick cock slid easily into your cunt, the sensation sending jolts of pleasure coursing through his body.

"You're so fucking tight," He groaned, his grip tightening on your waist as he began to thrust into you. His balls slapped against your thighs with each forceful push.

With a growl, Eris gripped your hips tightly, dominating your body with his powerful thrusts. Each movement was forceful, leaving no room for resistance or escape. His cock buried deep within you, hitting all the right spots as he fucked you senseless. "Mine," he grunted, his hands roaming over your body possessively. He owned you, he knew it, body and soul, and he wasn't afraid to show it.

Eris pinned you beneath him, thrusting deeper, his movements rougher, faster, asserting his dominance over her smaller, drowsy body. The slap of flesh against flesh echoed in the room along with her desperate cries and mewls.

With a start, you woke up, mind still clouded by sleep, and your body instinctively thrusting back into his. A soft gasp escaped your lips as you realized where you were, and who was on top of you. But instead of pushing him away, your body welcomed his intrusion, craving more.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against your ear as he growled, "Who do you belong to, my sweet bunny?" He waited for an answer, knowing she'd say his name but wanting to hear it all the same.

"Mmm... You, Eris..." You purred, moving your hand back to grip the triceps he had around you, holding you still.

A pleased rumble resonated from Eris as he heard your response, his thrusts becoming even more forceful. He liked how easily you submitted to him, how easily you loved him, how quickly you had accepted your place as his mate.

His hand moved inside the tunic you wore, from your waist to your breast, squeezing roughly as he continued to fuck you. His other hand moved to your hair, pulling it slightly as he drove himself deeper into your welcoming cunt.

With a soft cry, you arched into his touch, your moans growing louder with each thrust of his cock. Your cunt clamped down on him, milking his throbbing cock. Legs curling under your stomach, you spread them further apart, presenting yourself for his pleasure, rutting against his thrusting cock.

Your hips ground into his lap, riding his thick cock as he pounded into you relentlessly. He watched as your breasts bounced and shook with every harsh push under his tunic, his hand groping one while the other pinched and rolled your nipples from under the tunic.

With each thrust, you found yourself waking up more, your body responding to his touch and movements. You moaned loudly, your cries echoing throughout the room as he used you. Your cunt clenched tighter around his cock, milking him as he pounded into you. The feeling of his hands on your body, touching and groping you, sent shivers down your spine. You felt desired, wanted, and needed by him. And you loved every second of it.

"I'm close, bunny," He groaned. Eris was close, so very close. His balls tightened, his thrusts became erratic as he fucked you senseless. His cock throbbed inside you, ready to explode. "Tak me, take all of me!"

He could feel the pressure building, the impending release just moments away. With a final, powerful thrust, he came, filling you with his hot release. His roar of pleasure filled the room as he emptied himself into you.

"High Lord-" You whined, feeling his hot cum deep inside you, panting softly, a line of sweat on you both. Eris panted, breathing heavily as his fire calmed down.

As the last waves of pleasure washed over him, Eris collapsed onto you, panting heavily. His fire slowly receded, leaving behind a satisfied smile on his face as he watched you twitch from his warm cum inside you. He stroked your cheek gently, his fingers tracing your features lovingly.

"You're amazing," He murmured, kissing your forehead before rolling off you. He pulled you close, tucking you safely against his chest as he lay there, spent but content.

He pulled you on his chest, "Thank you, sweet bunny... I needed that." He sighed, his fingers going down your body, finding your core to stroke softly, "Now, let me help you cum."

A low chuckle rumbled from Eris' chest as he felt you squirm above him. His fingers found their way to your sensitive clit, beginning to stroke it gently. He knew just how to touch you, how to pleasure you, how to make you release. "I'll take good care of you, my sweet bunny," he whispered, nipping at your earlobe as his fingers continued their delicious assault on your clit.

"Er... Eris..." You moaned his name, arching into his touch as his fingers pressed into you, filling your cunt, his cum forming a white ring around his fingers. His fingers were skilled, knowing exactly how to tease and please you. They delved deeper into your cunt, curling to hit that sweet spot inside you. "Please... Please..."

"Does my bunny like this?" He asked, his voice husky with desire. He continued, his thumb circling your clit as he drove you closer to the edge as you nodded and begged for more.

Eris continued to finger your dripping cunt, his movements steady and sure. His thumb circled your swollen clit, the stimulation driving you wild. Every thrust of his fingers brought you closer to the edge, your walls clenching around him as you neared your climax.

"Come for me, my sweet bunny," he cooed, his breath warm against your neck. He quickened his pace, driving you towards your orgasm.

You came hard, your whines echoing through the room as your cunt spasmed around his fingers. Your walls clenched tightly as wave after wave of pleasure coursed through your body. Your hips bucked against his hand, chasing the intense sensations. "Good girl," he murmured, kissing your neck as he withdrew his fingers from your quivering cunt.

Eris kissed your cheek gently, "Why don't you relax and prepare to rest up, huh, bunny?" He chuckled deeply, seeing your dropping eyes, watching you yawn softly, "I'll clean you up. You shouldn't be up at this hour." He cooed, massaging your shoulder with his clean hand, kissing your nose softly before making his way to your shared bathroom.

{General Taglist - @nox-ceur @lilah-asteria @paleidiot @dee-writes-smut @adalia-jaycee @anarchiii @alwayshave-faith @velarisnightsky444 @minnieoo}

{Eris Taglist- @fxckmiup @slut4acotar @secret-third-thing @shadowsingers-mate @fieldofdaisiies @st4r-girl-official}

[lady-of-tearshed]

Do not disturb

Eris Vanserra x Reader

Eris Vanserra Week 2024

@erisweekofficial

Day 7: Free Day

Summary: You and Eris get a little overexcited and decide to blow off some sexual tension in-between two meetings. Will the new High Lord manage to thoroughly please his wife and High Lady with barely half an hour? Let's hope so.

Word count: 728 words

Warnings: Smut, voyeurism, impregnation kink, begging, praise kink

Dividers made by @tsunami-of-tears 🤎

As soon as the doors had been closed, and everyone that had attended this finance meeting had exited the throne room, Eris pulled you up onto his lap.

Clothes flew to the ground, piling up here and there. One of your hands went to hold tight onto Eris’ shoulder while the other gripped onto his throne armrests as you sank down on him.

“Eris,” You whined, trying to push yourself down onto him despite his strong grip on your hips, keeping you steady. “Please,”

Eris purred against your neck, moving into you unbearably slowly. His tongue and teeth scraped against your skin, relishing on the idea that he had all of the time in the world to worship what was his.

“Patience, beloved,” He nipped at the skin of your neck, his cock twitching inside of you at every little gasp you make. “We have all the time in the world,”

“We're supposed to meet your emissary in half an hour-”

You were cut short by Eris' hips roughly slamming home, his fingers dug so hard into the flesh of your hips you knew it would leave marks. Your head tilted back from the intense sensations, but Eris fisted your hair and brought it back straight to force your eyes to stay on his.

“I don't see the issue there,” Eris answered, his eyes shining with pure Fae male arrogance. “I can thoroughly and properly fuck my mate with half an hour ahead of me,”

“What if–” You swallow thickly, trying to form coherent sentences and concentrate on something else than the sounds your bodies made as they collided restlessly. “We're going to get caught,”

“Then be so,” He slowed his pace, one of his hands tracing a path from your pelvis to your chest. His thumb gently grazed your right nipple. “It's not like we're doing something… naughty,”

You raised an eyebrow and rolled your eyes, the mimic only fuelled Eris' desire.

“I'm being completely serious right now. We're technically fulfilling our duties,” His nose brushed against your cheek, taking in your addictive scent. “We're making an heir,”

“I'm sure this could be done in a bedroom,”

“Are you complaining, beloved?”

All you could do was shake your head from side to side as he hit that spot deep within you, again and again. Your bodies were sticking together from the sweat coating your skin. Eris magic was dancing all around you, little sparks of fire flickering in the throne room.

“Good. Then stop whining and ride my cock like a good girl,”

You obeyed, your vision started to fade to black. The coil in your stomach tightened as you did as Eris ordered, your quivering thighs moving you up and down on his cock, faster. The pace of his thrust was erratic.

“Eris- I'm going to-”

“I know,” He growled against your skin and nuzzled in the crook of your neck. His voice was barely over a whisper as he added, “Let go, my beloved. Come for me. I’m almost there, too,”

Time slowed, all of your muscles contracted, and your inner walls clenched around Eris as your orgasm rippled.

Eris gave a few more thrusts, more sloppy than the others, and roared against your skin when release rushed through him. He emptied himself inside of you, holding your hips tightly and tilting them to reach the deepest spot he could. You shivered at how exquisitely full and warm you felt in this moment, wishing you could just stay like this forever. But-

The door clicked open, and Eris snarl was animalistic. “Get out,”

“M-M-My apologies, High Lord,” the flustered emissary stuttered, “Should I come back l-later?”

You couldn't see Eris’ emissary from where you stood on Eris thighs, but you could smell and feel the raw terror through his voice.

“No,” Eris' arms tightened around your body. His teeth nibbled the skin of your jaw, and you could already feel him hardening again inside of you. “Not today,” He snapped at his emissary, clearly dismissing him.

The poor male didn't hesitate to run away with his tail between his legs. Eris’ attention returned to you completely as soon as the massive wooden doors shut.

A wicked grin was plastered on his lips, his cock, still buried deep inside of you, was already ready and hard with desire once again.

“Ready for another ride, High Lady?”

Taglist: @lilah-asteria @mybestfriendmademe @acotar-lover

[erisweekofficial]

Announcing Eris Week 2024 Prompts

🔥 Get excited, everyone! The Eris Week prompts have been selected. There were many common themes among the suggestions, so we tried to capture as many as we could on a broad level. And some fan favorites returned for a round two! 🐶

📝 Like last year, there are two prompts per day (except for day 7) that you may choose from. Ultimately, these prompts are optional, so if neither of them resonates with you, feel free to do your own thing!

��� And lastly, we'll be providing some prompt guides to help you brainstorm for each of the days! Keep an eye out for those posts.

Needs a Rules Refresh? Read on.

Eris Week supports all mediums of creativity (art, fics, moodboards, playlists, incorrect quotes, headcanons, drabbles, theories, etc).

You can ship Eris with anyone and everyone. This blog is ship-neutral and will support all works. Eris x OC and Eris x Reader are welcome, too! You also don't have to ship him with anyone. General Eris content is encouraged as well.

Be as creative as you like! As mentioned above, every day has two optional prompts! We’ll provide some additional guidance and questions per prompt to help you brainstorm ideas! 

We do not tolerate hate. Please do not argue or spread negativity on other creators' content this week. We are here to support one another and 🎉celebrate 🎉 one of our favorite characters! If you are not a fan of Eris, you are welcome to block this blog! Your peace of mind is important, as is that of our creators.

We will not reblog or interact with any AI art.

We have a Collection (ErisWeek2024) on AO3! Do some double duty and post your masterpiece there too!

[chunkypossum]

Eris Week 2024 Master List

I knew I wanted to participate in @erisweekofficial this year but I think I went nuts. I did surprise myself at only making complete things this time. NO WIP YAY! I have also decided that I hate everything I have ever written but you’re getting it anyway 🤣

Going through the final edits in the next couple of days. Here's a rundown….

*Summaries if the summaries were written by Bad Lip Reading ...

⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄

Day 1: Bonds and Bargains || Under the Weeping Beech

22k words || READ ON AO3 || Eris X Azriel

PLUS AZRIS ART

I made Mor's power of truth more interesting, got carried away, bon appetit.

*Disclaimer DO NOT actually read this one. Major Character deaths, hurt NO comfort, You're not going to like Mor or what I've done to her etc etc

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Day 2: Childhood and Legacy || Patience of Princes

6k words || READ ON AO3 || Background AZRIS

PLUS ERIS ART: Legacy of Autumn

Prince Eris has a tough day, his momma tells him a story.

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Day 3: Healing || Mother Save us from Your Twisted Fate PART 2

4k words || READ ON AO3 || Azriel X Eris

PLUS AZRIS ART

Eris is alive but at what cost to his soul? Can Azriel and Eris bring each other back from the edge of the void they have spent the last few months lost in?

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Day 5: War || Wings and Steel

2k words || READ ON AO3 || Implied Azris

PLUS ERIS ART: Atop the Knoll

Eris successfully holds up his end of the bargain and manages to bring aid to the Hybern battle in ACOWAR.

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Day 6: AU || Travelers in the Bayou

6k words || READ ON AO3 || Azriel X Eris

PLUS AZRIS ART

Eris is trying to live a quiet life in the backwaters of a forgotten town, hoping himself to be forgotten when trouble walks in.

*This is an excerpt from a full fic I am working on that I managed to turn into a one shot from Eris' POV

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Day 7: FREE DAY || ERIS ART

Surprise Surprise... I somehow managed to make them all involve AZRIS in some way soooo...

Holla at ya boi if you want on or off the Azris tag train :

@talibunny30 @iftheshoef1tz @born-to-riot @fell-in-luvs @fieldofdaisiies @aktrain @honeysuckle-daydreams13 @secret-third-thing @acourtofladydeath @pippsmcgee @youvereachedthenearest-lovergirl @baileybird71 @skyesayshi @yanny-77 @areyoudreaminof @unanswered-stars @futurehunt @ninthcircleofprythian @matrixsss @going-through-shit @c-starstuff-man0 @jules-writes-stories @the-darkestminds @krowiathemythologynerd @cauldronblssd @hieragalbatorixdottir @yourlazykitkat @hellolordling @climbthemountain2020 @lilah-asteria  @shadowsandlint @acourtofbatboydreams @theeternalstruggle @christeareads @molcat07 

[surielstea]

Sureilstea: Eris Week 2024 Masterlist

Day 1, 9/8: Bonds or Bargains

Ensnaring Marks | Eris x Fem!Reader

-> In which Eris traps Reader into a bargain over her families peace and her freedom. (Enemies to Lovers)

Day 2, 9/9: Childhood or Legacy

Puppy Love | Eris x WinterCourt!Reader

-> In which the Winter Court Princess teaches a seventeen year old Eris how to hunt game during winter months. (Fluff)

Day 3, 9/10: Healing or Betrayal

Life Debts | Eris x Healer!Reader

-> In which Eris gets injured on the battlefield and his personal, overworked healer must tend to his wounds. (Fluff, slight angst, smut)

Day 4, 9/11: Tradition or Hounds

-> Hounded by Love| Eris x Fem!Reader

In which Reader overcomes her fear of large dogs with Eris at her side. (Fluff)

Day 5, 9/12: War or Adventure

Nobody’s Soldier | Eris x Lieutenant!Reader

-> In which Reader and Eris spend their night before the war together going over battle plans, and distracting themselves from the bloodshed with other tactics. (Slight angst, Smut)

Day 6, 9/13: AU or Retellings

Bloody Besottedness | Vampire!Eris x Human!Reader

-> In which Eris and Reader are trapped together in a house during a blood shortage, and reader is the only source of blood around. (Fluff, slight smut, vampire AU)

Day 7, 9/14: Free Day

Move me, Baby | Eris x Fem!Reader

-> In which the newly weds dance and slowly fall in love with the music, and the movements of each other. (Arranged Marriage, smut)

Comment a “🧡” if you’d like to be added to the Eris Week taglist.

Or comment a specific title you’d like to be tagged in.

[mcuamerica]

One Day | Eris x Reader 

For Eris Week 2024 - Day 7: Free Day @erisweekofficial

Summary: You see Eris again after he saved you. 

Warnings: Rhys being a jackass, (let me know if I forgot anything!)

Dividers by @tsunami-of-tears for Eris Week.

“I’m telling you no.” Rhys said, hands in his pockets as he stood in your doorway. “You won’t go to this announcement. I will not have you see him.” 

“I need to, Rhys. The bargain-“ 

“I know the bargain isn’t pulling you to him.” He said. “And I know the bargain you made with him isn’t time constrained. So as long as I’m around, you won’t be seeing him.” He said. 

“And what if something goes wrong with Kier and you? Or Mor? Or Feyre, now that she’s pregnant-“

A low growl came from his throat and you rolled your eyes. “I’m not threatening her… but Nesta’s going to be there. I should be there.” You said. 

“There is no reason-“

“I am in the Inner Circle. I am your sister. I deserve to be there. Especially when my sister is announcing her pregnancy to half our Court.” You said. “I’m coming. Whether you like it or not,” you said and turned around, grabbing your shoes. “You can’t force me to stay here.” You said. 

Rhys let out a frustrated sigh. “You’re not to leave Azriel’s side, understood?” He asked. “And you are not allowed to talk to Eris.” 

“You’re not my keeper, Rhys.” 

“I am your High Lord,” he said, seriously. 

“You’re my brother.” You said and crossed your arms. “You won’t stop me from doing anything.” You said. 

“I swear, sometimes you’re worse than a teenager.” He grumbled before turning on his heel and walking out of the room. 

The Court of Nightmares was just as you remembered it, exactly as it had been when Azriel got the Orb in secret. You were honestly surprised Eris even agreed to show up here… but you weren’t going to question it. You missed your mate. Yes, you’d been communicating down the bond as best you could with tugs. And sometimes you were able to get letters to each other. But it wasn’t the same as being here. With him. 

Rhys had been too protective of you for the past centuries. And you haven’t seen him once since those two weeks you were healing. 

And by the Cauldron did you see him. He aged just slightly, having a larger frame and slightly longer hair. While you thought he would’ve been clean shaven, he has a slight stubble neatly trimmed. His red hair glowed in the faelight, standing out amongst the heads of darker hair. 

His eyes were immediately locked with yours, his breath hitching in his throat. Eris hadn’t seen you since that night either. You weren’t even at the High Lords meeting those few months ago. But here you were, in all your glory. Your violet eyes, twin to your brothers, widened as he locked eyes with you. 

As much as you wanted to go straight to him, Rhys was on alert. Cassian and Azriel flanked your sides like sentinels. Cassian’s gaze was on Nesta, and Azriel was watching Elain. Though, you knew if you asked enough, Azriel would distract Rhys so you could speak with your mate. He was the only one that knew, much to his dismay… 

You paced in your room, waiting for Rhys to tell you if you could go back to Autumn for their celebration ball of the beginning of the season. It had been two years, and every year he said no. Baron alone would be furious that you were there. But you were the Princess of Night. You needed to be there. You needed to see your mate. 

“I can hear you in the living room, why are you so nervous? You know he’s going to say no.” Azriel said, leaning against the doorway. You were dressed and ready to go, a navy blue dress your mother made for you hung from your shoulders and cascaded all the way down to the floor. You were stunning. “He doesn’t want you to see Eris.” 

“I know that. And it’s ridiculous. If Eris wanted to hurt me, he would’ve let me die.” You said, sitting down on the bed. “He would’ve had his healer tell you there was nothing else to be done and killed me then and there. And he didn’t.” 

“For his own motives… having the Princess of Night die in his court-“

“It wasn’t for the Court. Or for his own motives.” You whispered, tears pricking your eyes. 

“Then what was it?” He asked. 

Your eyes came up to his, taking a shaky breath. “You have to promise… make a bargain… if I tell you this… you will never tell another soul. In any way.” You said, searching his eyes. 

Concern peaked in his mind. Did Eris do something to you? Did it have something to do with the bargain tattoo on your forearm? The one you shared with the heir to Autumn? 

“I promise. I will never tell another soul. In any way.” He said, kneeling in front of you. He felt a small tattoo appear on his shoulder blade, he’d look at it later. “Now what is it?” He asked. 

“Eris is my mate.” You whispered, taking a shaky breath. “And this bargain is a promise that we will go back to each other… one day.” You said. 

You winced when you looked up and saw the rage on Azriel’s face. “You made me- how could you make a bargain with me to keep this secret? Rhys will kill me-“

“He won’t. Not when there’s a bargain in place. I needed someone to know, Az. You’re my best friend. You’re my brother. And I need you to help me convince Rhys that Eris is safe. I’m safe around him.” You said. 

“No, no there’s plenty of males that are horrible to their mates. Eris could be one of them. I will not help you.” 

Azriel may not have helped you for the first few months, but then he found a letter that was from Eris to you. And he gave it to you. He didn’t comment or say anything, only that next time Eris wanted to contact you, to address it to Azriel. That way, it would look like court correspondence and not two mates exchanging letters. 

He helped you distribute them more and more. And helped you when the bargain tugged at you to see him. Or the bond was too much to manage. Azriel was your best friend, your brother. And he would help you carry this burden. 

You made sure Eris knew about it too, because you couldn’t have Eris eternally pissed at the male that was helping you. 

So when you looked up at Azriel, eyes wide with desperation, he knew what you wanted. “I’ll give you one dance.” He whispered, nodding as he walked towards Rhys and Feyre. 

You took a shaky breath, noticing Cassian was too busy watching Nesta to notice you as you walked into the crowd. You made your way to the head of red locks, finding yourself in front of him sooner than you expected. 

“Hi.” You whispered, hands trembling at your sides. 

“Hello,” he drawled, causing you to almost collapse on your knees. “You are gorgeous.” He whispered, leaning down to your ear. 

Your hands reached for his arms, needing to be connected to him in someway. “So are you,” you whispered back, tears welling on your eyes. “I’ve missed you.” You whispered. 

“You have no idea,” he responded, pulling back and taking your hands in his. “May I have a dance?” He asked. 

You didn’t even need to respond before he whisked you away on the dance floor. The entire room turned their attention to you, but all you saw was Eris. His amber eyes glowing as he gazed into your violet ones. His hair slightly disheveled atop his head. The way his near permanent smirk was slightly softer. All for you. 

“Stop.” You heard a commanding voice- your brother’s voice say. You paused, turning around. Eris kept a hand on your hip as you both faced the High Lord. The rest of the congregation paused, all taking at least three steps back from you all. “What are you doing?” He simply asked. 

“Dancing.” You responded, your chest puffed and your eyes deadlocked on his. “As people do at a celebration. Why don’t you try it sometime, Rhysand?” You asked. 

You felt the fury ripple off him, but it calmed as Feyre set a hand on his arm. She knew. The look in her eyes… she knew about you and Eris. 

You noticed them stare at each other for a moment before a slight chuckle came from Rhys’s lips. You heard the entire court let out a sigh of relief. “The Princess of Night, everyone, always once for the dramatics.” He said. “Resume.” He said. Everyone went back to mingling, expect you and Eris. 

Rhys motioned for the two of you to approach and you sucked in a breath. “I don’t know if I can do this here.” You whispered to Eris as he walked with you to the dais. 

“You tug and I’ll take us away immediately.” He responded, a hand resting in the small of your back. 

“Well… it seems like we have secrets.” Rhys said once you were in speaking distance. 

“Please, Rhys, let’s do this at home.” You said. 

“You decided to make it very public. You don’t think everyone can smell your scents?” He asked. 

“You’re a High Lord and Lady. You know you can detect more…” you took a deep breath. “I’d like to discuss this somewhere private. Since this is the only time I’ve been allowed to see Eris, I didn’t have much of a choice.” You said. 

Feyre stood up, a hand on her belly and the other on Rhysand’s shoulder. “We will go home. As soon as we see… Nesta is back.” She said and nodded. “Dancing with Cassian, after all.” She said and you turned, smiling gently as you saw your brother dancing with her.

“Thank you, Feyre.” You said. “We’ll be happy to speak with you both at home-“

“There is no we. Eris is going to report back to his father.” Rhys said. 

“He will come home with me whether you like it or not, Rhysand.” You said, dark tendrils of your power rippling from your feet. 

“Do not test me, (Y/N). You will not like the outcome. Eris will go to Autumn, report to his father that all is well, and we will have a discussion about what to do about your… predicament.” He said. 

“Our ‘predicament’ is just that. Ours.” Eris said. “If you wish to keep my mate from me for any longer, Rhys, you may just find me invoking the Blood Duel.” He said. 

Your breath hitched and you looked to Eris. “You would-“

“I would do anything for you, my love.” He said, staring deep into your violet eyes. He broke his gaze to look back at Rhys. “We will speak about this together or not at all… or Autumn will be of no help to you in this war.” 

“We might just go to Beron and tell him of your treason instead.” Rhys said. 

“You wouldn’t dare.” You said. “Rhys, he’s essentially your family now.” You said, taking Eris’s hand. “You do anything to betray him and I will go to Autumn and be mated to him to prove where my loyalty really lies.” 

Rhys took a deep breath. “Fine, we talk about this at home.” He said and stood up, not even bothering to announce the departure before he left the dais with Feyre. 

You let out a shaky breath and looked at Eris. “You would really invoke a Blood Duel? For me?” You asked. 

Eris rested a gentle hand on your cheek. “Of course I would, darling. I’d do anything to keep you with me. To bring you back to me.” He said. 

You shook your head. “Who new the heir of Autumn could be so sentimental.” You teased, squeezing his wrist. “Let me take you to my home.” 

A/N: My final submission for Eris Week. This has been so incredible! Thank you so much for all the support and a special thank you to @erisweekofficial for hosting this week.

If you wish to see more of this couple, don't hesitate to ask!

[daycourtofficial]

Daycourtofficial’s 1k Celebration Masterlist 🍾

A week of a different genre fic every day!

Date: Week of March 11, 2024

*this will be updated as things change/are requested

Day 1: Fluff - It’s so quiet in the world tonight (Lucien x reader)

Summary: You and Lucien are having a quiet night at home, soaking in the peace, discussing how things will change when your baby arrives.

Day 2: Angst with no happy ending - You’re losing me (Azriel x reader)

Summary: Azriel has always put his duties as spymaster above his own needs and wants. How long can you let him keep putting work over you before boiling over?

Day 3: Hurt/comfort - I am ash from your fire (Eris x reader)

Summary: Surprising Eris one evening, you’ve turned up in the dead of night to let him know that your brother had figured out your secret relationship, offering you an ultimatum.

Day 4: Angst - My love should be celebrated (Nesta x reader)

Summary: Despite your best efforts, Nesta continues to push you away. All you’re trying to do is help her, but her self-hatred is all consuming, causing her to lash out at those that try to get too close.

Day 5: Smut - I pretend you’re mine all the damn time (Azriel x reader)

Summary: on a mission Azriel ingests the powder from an experimental breeding program. you offer to help him release, forcing Azriel to confront his feelings for you

Day 6: Angst with happy ending - Forever is the sweetest con (Cassian x reader, Azriel x reader)

Summary: the war with Hybern claimed the life of your husband. Reeling with grief, you discover that you’re pregnant. His brother and your friend, Azriel, begins spending more and more time with you, finding solace in each other amidst your shared grief.

Day 7: Angst with happy ending - Come back, be here (Azriel x reader)

Summary: It’s the anniversary of your mating bond ceremony and despite his reassurances, Azriel is nowhere to be seen. He shows up to your home hours after the fact.

[ninthcircleofprythian]

🔥- Smut 💕- Fluff 🙈- Angst 🩹- Hurt/Comfort

Masterlist Header by @saradika-graphics

Please read all warnings on fics - some fics contain heavy emotional topics and explicit descriptions. All fics will be appropriately tagged at the time of posting. Please read them carefully before diving in. Your mental health matters.

Azriel

🔥 Winner Takes All - After returning from a girls retreat weekend at the cabin, Nesta and Celeste find out the Bat Boy husbands have made a bet they are sure to lose. (Azriel x OC Celeste)

🔥Here Comes The Sun - When the Spymaster of the Night Court discovers your little crush, you end up crossing a lot of firsts off your list. (Azriel x You/Reader)

🔥💕Dinner and Dessert - As his mate's due date approaches, Az can't handle the sight of her pregnant body in a sundress without going a bit feral. (Azriel x OC Mira)

Continuing Series

Unbound - Not having a mating bond didn't stop the love Azriel and Celeste have for each other or their commitment. When an unknown magic lingering from Celeste's past causes her to lose all memories of the last century, will they be able to rebuild their life without a bond tethering them together? (Azriel x OC Celeste)

💕🙈 Part 1 - They Don't Know About Us

🙈 Part 2 - Don't Pull Away

💕Part 3 - We're Going to Solstice Dinner -- and We're Gunna Get Married

🙈🩹 Part 4 - Dancing With Your Ghost

🙈 Part 5 - As The World Caves In

🙈 Part 6 - Numb, But I Still Feel It

🙈 Part 7 - Putting on a Brave Face

🙈 Part 8 - Take Me To Church

Cassian

🔥 Kiss - Don't Tell - Cassian/Azriel - M/M - after a wild threesome months ago - Cas and Az get a little curious what things would be like without a third party involved

Eris

🔥 Make It Hurt - After a truly terrible day you come home only to be surprised by the one and only Eris Vanserra and he knows how to make it all better. (Eris x You/Reader)

💕 Stuck in the Middle with You - Eris relents to participate in a throuples Halloween costume contest at your insistence. (Halloween modern AU) (Eris Week 2024 - AU day) (Azris/Reader)

Continuing Series

The Bird and The Badger - a series of interconnect one shots told in non-linear order detailing the life of Eris x OC (Bryn) --- eventual Azris x OC (Parts will be listed here in chronological order)

💕A Matter of Trust - Eris needs to find someone he can trust to help with part of his secretive plan against Beron.

🙈Keeping Up Appearances - Eris and Bryn travel to Night Court to enact the bargain with Rhys.

Azris

💕A Pocketful of -- Ragweed? - (Short little drabble for Azris week) Eris might be snide and snarky with his words, but he sure knows how to surprise his mate with his actions.

🙈 May Her Memory Be a Blessing - no summary. please read the authors notes. this will hurt. emotional damage.

💕 When You Wish Upon a Star - just a little slice of life and domesticity for dad!Az and dad!Eris.

Elucien

💕 Scrabble Drabble - Family game night after weekly dinners tended to get a little contentious. It wasn’t unusual for someone to quit midway through or to accuse another of cheating. It was no different now that Lucien had joined in the weekly tradition with his mate, Elain.

💕Icing Is The Spice Of Life - Elain may have slightly over-commited her famous holiday cookies to friends and family. But her mate Lucien comes to the rescue. Cuteness abounds.

Headcanons

💕 In which the fae of Prythian discover bubble gum - (Feysand, Nessian, Elucien, Azris, Mor)

Corner Productions

(Collaborations with Chaos)

🔥 Gold Star for You - silly NSFW smut headcanons of everyone and reader - Reader introduces gold star reward system in the bedroom.

💕 With This Ring - Headcanons about Eris Vanserra and his affinity for jewelry - especially after a certain Shadowsinger enters his life.

[azrisweek]

Azris Week 2024 Prompts & Rules

We are delighted to announce the prompts for Azris Week 2024! Each prompt is accompanied by a few suggestions to help spark creativity. Don't feel obligated to follow the suggestions. We intentionally kept the prompts very open to interpretation this year and can't wait to see where the inspiration leads.

Day 1: Contrasts

The chilled darkness of the night, the warming glow of a fire's light. One spends his life pulling strings behind the curtain, and the other is center stage dancing to several tunes beyond his own. Born to privilege, born to poverty. One's family found, the other's fractured. "Contrasts" is a broad theme, how will you explore it?

Day 2: Familiars

Take it to mean the noun—hounds, shadows, horses, other pets, maybe sentient little flames, companions, friends, family, etc—or expand your interpretation to the adjective and see where it takes you.

Day 3: Contact

How do the heir of Autumn and the Shadowsinger communicate? Through letters or texts, maybe, or through heavy gazes and the brush of fingers on exposed skin. Have they always spoken with each other this way?

Day 4: Free Day

This is self-explanatory.

Day 5: Slice of Life

So much of this enemies-to-lovers ship is full of strife, pain, and betrayal. But what about the quiet moments? Whether in the midst of chaos or with lower stakes, how have they learned to love each other?

Day 6: Changes

What changes? What remains the same? Change for the individual, change for the pair. Think of shifting opinions, a changing world, personal growth, and developing relationships. One of the reasons we ship Azris is our love for their dynamic. How dynamic can they be?

Day 7: Solstice & Equinox

Autumn Equinox, the shift in seasons from light to darkness, a time of harvest and plenty. Winter Solstice, the longest night, the turning point. One can predict that the Autumn Equinox in the Autumn Court is as grand of a celebration as the Winter Solstice in Night. We're closing out the week with a hearty dose of holiday spirit.

1) Be respectful. We're here to celebrate Azris and appreciate the creations made in their honor. This is a positive, inclusive space which won't stand for bashing of any kind.

2) Please direct any event-related questions to this account, not to the mods individually.

3) Tag us and use #azrisweek2024 when posting here or on Instagram so that we can reblog/repost. If you are posting a work to AO3 add it to the event collection here.

4) Creations of all kinds are welcome and encouraged! Fics, fanart, mood boards, headcanons, incorrect quotes, edits, playlists, etc. We will not be promoting AI generated/altered images or fanworks.

5) A caveat to the previous rule. This event won't tolerate characters being warped to fit heteronormative roles and/or relationship stereotypes. For example (thanks to @cauldronblssd for putting it so clearly,) fem Eris or Azriel as queer identities or gender non-conforming characters, yes—fem Eris or Azriel as a substitute for a straight woman, no. With this in mind, we reserve the right to use our discretion and not engage with content, regardless of how it is tagged, if said content perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

[readychilledwine]

Eris Vanserra Week 2024 Masterlist

A soon to be happy @erisweekofficial.

** - indicated for sure smut fics

Day One - Bonds/Bargains:

**A Page From Another's Book:

“It turned out well for me,” Rhysand picked at his jacket. “Make a bargain with her, force her to spend time with you.”

Eris x Azriel's sister Reader

Day Two - Childhood/Legacy:

Love in the Kennels:

Eris shook his head. "We were closer to 50 when that happened. We became rivals after we met right away. I couldn't train the hounds the way she could.”

Eris x OC

Day Three - Healing/Betrayal:

Tainted Love Pt 2:

He just needed you to breathe. To open your eyes and wake up. He held no concerns in the world other than you and you alone. Regardless of what you had done to him.

Eris x Reader

Day Four - Traditions/Hounds:

**The First Hunt:

“Now, now, my pretty bunny. Silence is the most important part of the hunt. The hounds can't find their prey If you sit here huffing.” Amber eyes stared at you, a pleased smirk on his face as you crossed your arms. “I warned you, little wife. I said this would bore you.”

Eris x Reader

Eris and his Doggos Headcanons

Day Five - War/Adventure:

**Peace in the Violence:

Hands. Hands touching your thighs, your hips, your back. Hands roaming every inch of you. Desperate. Aching. Yearning. This wasn't the trip he had planned for your anniversary, but war waits for no male.

Eris x reader

Day Six - Au/Retellings:

The Cursed Ballet

Of the 7 courts, Autumn was your favorite to dance in. The beauty of the leaves, the crisp fresh air, the well maintained stage. It was all enough to distract you from why you were truly here. From the magic the plagued your body. You finished tying the slippers around your ankles, mind trying not to linger on the curse you and your older sister now shared. “It's fine,” you whispered. “You've danced in front of thousands of fae.”

Eris x reader (Swan Lake Retelling)

Day Seven - Free Day:

A Game of Fate:

Your words behind those closed doors would haunt Eris until he died, "I will marry you only if Lady Autumn is freed and allowed to leave wherever she sees fit, safely and with your blessing."

Eris x Reader (requested)

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

03/15/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Cast & Crew; Samba; Guz; Lube As A Crew; GLAAD Awards; Fan Spotlight; Ari Azure's Renew As A Crew (Act Of Grace); Big Gay Energy Podcast; Cast Cards; SchadenFreude; Watch Parties; In Soup Now; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

== Samba Schutte BTS ==

Samba was kind enough to grace us with more BTS today. Some pictures and a lot of videos!

CW: Fake Blood and Gore

Video 1: Vico Freaking out over the outfittings

Video 2: Cursed Ship On Deck

Video 3: Revenge Crew Jumping On Deck from Back

Video 4: Bloody

Video 5: Geo-met-ery

Video 6: More On Deck

== Guz Khan ==

Guz Khan's got some upcoming shows! If you're in NYC or LA, feel free to check him out this April! Tickets

== Final Lube As A Crew ==

It was a fun and sad day with our crewmates over at @astroglideofficial. The Social Media conductor was having a lovely time, but obviously was bittersweet with it ending. Here's some highlights from the watch party. To see more visit their twitter. If I get some time this weekend i'll try to put all the lube as a crew stuff together on the repo so you can see it all, just not gonna get to it tonight. I tried to get the timeline in order.. if not, apologies!

== GLAADforOFMD==

So in case it comes up.. there was some drama with some other fandoms regarding GLAAD today on Twitter. The TLDR; version is, some tweets went out regarding how disappointed we were about Ted Lasso winning out over Our Flag Means Death for Outstanding Comedy Series. Somehow, Yellowjackets fandom, who won a different category Outstanding Drama Series somehow got the idea that OFMD fans were complaining about Yellowjackets winning. It was corrected multiple times by multiple people but they kept coming. So yeah, twitter being twitter, not a great time. Sending love to @koneko_army and any other crewmates who had to deal with it.

If you wanna see the GlaadWinners visit The Hollywood Reporter

If you really wanna see the whole thread, you can visit Koneko's Twitter but honestly I don't recommend it, I wasn't even part of it and it stresses me out reading it.

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Ari Azure's Renew As A Crew =

Ari Azure's Renew As A Crew (Act of Grace) song came out today!

Tumblr Post

= Big Gay Energy Podcast =

New Big Gay Energy Podcast dropped!

= Cast Cards =

Our crewmate @melvisik has spotlighted one of our dearest friends Dominic Burgess this time! Starting to round out the collection! Thanks hon!

== Schaden Freude ==

Still trending downward! Great job fam!

== Watch Parties ==

Mar 17th: The Boat That Rocked AKA Pirate Radio Watch Party

7:30 pm GMT / 3:30 pm EST / 1:30 pm CST

Watch Party Hashtags:

PirateRadio 

AdoptOurCrew

SaveOFMD

OurFlagMeansWatchAlong

Mar 18 - Mar 22: Wrecked Season 3

Season 3 watch from March 18th to March 22nd. 

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST. Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each. Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags: 

#WreckedPirates

#SaveOFMD

#RhysDarbyFaction

== In Soup Now ==

In Soup Now is back! Post your soups/stews/recipes with!

#InSoupNow

#SaveOFMD

#LongLiveOFMD

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies. Another week has passed. I really hope it wasn't too hard on you-- and if you're off to work tomorrow too, that you get some semblance of rest soon. Sometimes it feels like we're too small to make a difference, or we don't know enough, or we're not pretty enough, or we're not strong enough. Or we're not enough of something, whatever it happens to be. But you know what? You do plenty. You are plenty. You are plenty beautiful, and plenty strong, and plenty full of life, and plenty knowledgeable, and you make plenty of a difference. You make a difference every day, in our lives, and the lives around you. I hope you get some rest and tomorrow you get to see even a glimpse of awesome you truly are. Take care lovelies <3

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's theme is DRINKIES!

Darby Gif Courtesy of @fandomsmeantheworldtome

Taika Gif Courtesy of @caribbean1989

[littlest-w01f]

Pregnancy Roulette

For @polyacotarweek

Poly Acotar Week 2024 Masterlist

Day 7: Free Day

Summary: After discovering that Rosalie can safely have their children, Rhysand and Eris compete to see whose heir she would carry first

Cw: Breeding/Pregnancy kink, MxFxM, Smut 18+ MDNI

Rosalie sighed, laying on Rhysand's bed in Night Court, a smile on her face as she lay in her lingerie, eyes watching her two High Lords, two High Lords with lust in their eyes, the sight of them had her arousal flowing.

"Are you sure?" Rhysand asked, his voice dropping as he moved between her legs, his body bare, she didn't know what they had decided for their little experiment, but she nodded quick.

They had a small argument about who would father the first heir with her, and they had come to the conclusion to let her body decide, taking her one after another till she was with child

Eris watched, leaning against one of the dark walls, naked himself, a smirk on his face as Rosalie nodded to Rhysand's question. "Hurry up, Rhys," Eris rolled his eyes, "We're not here to make sweet fucking love tonight."

Rosalie lay on the bed, a pillow under her hips, lifted up, the threads of her slip barely tied. Rhysand grinned at Eris, "Fine, little fox," He turned to her again, gripping her garments and ripping them off her body, "You ready?" He whispered, throwing her legs over his shoulders, his own knees opposite to her waist.

He leaned to kiss down, her hands in his hair as she pulled him in, laughing slightly at the feeling of his hard cock curling up between both their stomachs, he kissed down her throat and she gasped as his teeth grazed her throat, biting and sucking to mark her.

"Rhys..." Rosalie groaned as he began to stroke her clit, adding more to the arousal she was already feeling.

Rhysand smiled, his fingers circling her dripping entrance, thrusting in to stretch her, "Good girl."

Eris swore from the side, the bed dipping as he got on it himself, to see them at a better angle, he kneeled down to kiss Rosalie softly as she groaned at the stretch of Rhysand's fingers.

Eris kissed down her breasts, nipping and sucking on her breast, using his hand to play with her other, Rosalie moaned softly, thrusting her hips against Rhysand's hand, her hand in Eris' hair to pull him closer to her chest.

"Rhys..." She moaned, feeling his cock probing at her cunt, pushing in.

Rhysand's cock was fully inside Rosalie's cunt in one thrust, as he slowly began to move in her. He could feel her walls gripping him tightly, making it hard for him to move his hips easily. But he didn't care about that right now, all he wanted was to bury himself as deeply as possible within her warmth. He groaned, bottoming out fully, as Rosalie groaned and gasped at the fullness.

Eris drowned her noises with his tongue, slipping past her lips to kiss her, every whimper from Rosalie's lips mixing with Eris'. The sound of Rhysand's voice seemed to echo through the room, causing her walls to quiver around him. Every time his cock hit her cervix, she would let out a soft cry of pain and pleasure, which only served to further ignite his desire.

Eris moved his hands between his two mates' bodied to stoke her clit as the male deep inside her took her harshly, as Rhys continued to fuck her, he could feel her inner walls stretching and clenching around him, making him feel as though he were on fire. Each thrust was more intense than the last, leaving him no choice but to pick up the pace, pressing her down harder, her legs holding him closer by her grip on his shoulders. His hands grip her hips tighter, trying to hold himself still while he adjusts to the new angle. The sound of his laboured breathing fills the air as if he were struggling for air.

At this point, Eris had been watching them intently, his cock already hard due to the sight of Rhysand and Rosalie together, leaking already, in need of being buried in his mate. He reached out and took hold of her hand, guiding it towards his cock. Rosalie instantly began to stroke his cock, making him groan her name.

"Mmm... oh..." She heard Rhysand panting, his words laced with an undercurrent of lust and desperation. Rhysand's voice grew deeper and rougher as he continued to fuck her, his words filled with a sense of urgency and longing. "Fuck, I need to get you pregnant," he growled, his eyes locked onto hers. "I need to fill you with my child, make you carry my heir." He leaned forward, pressing his lips against her neck, kissing her tenderly. The gesture was sweet and passionate, yet there was also something possessive and demanding about it. "You'll look so pretty, all round with our heir."

"You are so perfect, Rosa," he said, his voice deep and rough. "You're the most beautiful female I've ever seen, and I going to give you my child." He bit her neck, leaving behind a small mark. "God, I love you so much." As he spoke, he pulled out of her, his cock slick with her juices and precum. He then lifted her off her knees and positioned her so that her ass was in the air, allowing him to line up perfectly with her entrance once again.

"Rhysie... Rhysie... Fuck." Rosalie whimpered when he pulled out, Eris was busy prepping her neck and shoulders with kisses, pinching and stroking at her clit, groaning as he pushed back in. Both of them close to tipping over the edge.

With a final, forceful push, he slammed his cock back into her, feeling the walls of her pussy clasp down upon him. A low moan escaped his lips as he began to fuck her again, his hips working frantically to try and impregnate her. The sensation was intense, almost overwhelming. He could feel his balls slapping against her thighs as he moved, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to last much longer without coming. "I'm going to put my heir in you." He growled, thrusting in and out at a fast pace.

As he continued to pound away at her, he felt her body respond to his every thrust, her muscles tensing and clenching around him. The sound of her cries filled the room, echoing off the walls and filling both her mates' ears with a symphony of pleasure, cumming around Rhysand's cock as Eris stroked her through her high. "Er... Rhys..."

"Oh, fuck," Rhysand groaned, his voice strained. "I'm close." The moment his cock filled her completely, he shot his load deep inside her, filling her womb with his seed.

Rosalie groaned and whimpered at the fullness, her eyes closed slightly, Rhys pulled out, holding her legs up to keep his cum inside her, "Stay like that, don't want any of me to go to waste." He smiled, yelping as Eris shoved him out of the way.

Without hesitation, Eris lowered himself onto her, his cock slamming into her. The sensation was electrifying, sending shockwaves throughout her body. He began to thrust furiously, his hips slapping against hers with each movement. Not letting Rosalie adjust to him, fucking Rhysand's cum back in.

Eris could feel the heat radiating from his cock as he moved in her, Rhysand laying beside her, stroking her face as she twitched from the pleasure and pain, and he could tell that it was burning her insides, the possessive fire in him crazed at the thought his mate with his child. He was careful not to hurt her, but he was also determined to make sure that he was buried as deep as he possibly could be.

The mates moaned each other's names, kissing messily as Eris continued to fuck her, he could feel his balls slapping against her thighs, and he could hear his own harsh breathing echoing through the room. The sound of the wet, sloppy noise of their bodies colliding. He had a possessive hold on her hips to pull her closer.

They continued to move together, their bodies moving in perfect sync. He could feel her inner walls clamp down around him, making him feel like he was drowning in her warmth and wetness. And despite the intensity, he couldn't help but smile. "You look so beautiful."

"Oh, baby," he groaned, his voice thick with desire. "You look so fucking hot right now." He reached down and cupped her chin, lifting her face up to meet his gaze. "Tell me how it feels, darling." He let go of her chin and grabbed her hips, pulling her up against him. Then, he slid his hands beneath her, gripping her hips tightly, holding her in place as he resumed his relentless thrusting.

Rosalie cried, hand digging into Eris' shoulders to hold him close, "Er... Er... please. It feels amazing, so good."

Rhysand kissed her lips, tongue slipping into her mouth, softly sucking her tongue into his mouth, Eris gripped Rhysand's hair to pull him off her and kiss him hard. Rosalie groaned, watching them kiss while Eris brought her closer to her edge again.

"I'm close, pretty..." Eris growled pulling away from Rhysand. "I'm gonna fill you up, put my babe in you."

And he did, he filled her up, pressing into her till the hilt, his cock throbbed, pulsing within her, and he felt the warmth of his seed pouring into her womb, his cum mixing with Rhysand's. He kissed her softly.

"Alright get off, my turn." Rhysand demanded, Eris rolled his eyes, flipping Rhysand off while he kissed his mate.

A few weeks later, congratulations were in order when Rosalie carried a sweeter scent of Rhysand, a scent caught by the High Lords.

{General taglist - @nox-ceur @sonics-atelier @lilah-asteria @paleidiot}

{Eris taglist- @fxckmiup @amygdtjhddzvb @slut4acotar}

[climbthemountain2020]

Eris Week Day 7: Free Day

A fun little dark academia Eris for this final day of @erisweekofficial

I cannot believe I managed to do something for every single day of this week, but when I tell you I have had SO much fun and genuinely felt so supported and surrounded by amazing creators the entire time. The Eris community in this fandom is a collection of absolute gems, and each and every one of you deserve all the forehead kisses, accolades, and praise for your kindness, joy, amazing work, and just general loveliness.

The biggest thanks ever to the people behind @erisweekofficial y'all made this just the most wonderful event week imaginable. I'm already brainstorming for next year and looking forward to making my way through every single 2024 creation!

Cheers to our Heir of Autumn!

Taglist: @chunkypossum @clockwork-ashes @acourtofladydeath @secret-third-thing @the-darkestminds

[erisweekofficial]

FINAL CALL / WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Hey everyone, what an amazing week! We're currently putting together the complete 2024 masterlist, but we need your help! This year's content was over double that of last year. 👀 We had an amazing mod team this year, but mistakes can happen, and we want to make sure these masterlists are as accurate as possible and reflect all the hard work y'all put in!

Please review each masterlist for the following:

Is your content listed on the correct day?

Is your content listed under the correct media type?

Is your content spelled correctly?

Is the link to your content functional/correct?

If this is your first Eris week, do you have a crown next to at least one of your submissions?

If there are any mistakes (and there are bound to be some), please let us know by Sept 17 at 10am ET / 4pm CET / 11:59pm ACT via the ask function so we can make the necessary updates before releasing the official 2024 Masterlist. Please don't dm the mods bc we will lose track of your corrections <3

Day 1: Sunday - Sept. 8th, Bonds | Bargains

Day 2: Monday - Sept. 9th, Childhood | Legacy

Day 3: Tuesday - Sept. 10th, Healing | Betrayal

Day 4: Wednesday - Sept. 11th, Tradition | Hounds

Day 5: Thursday - Sept. 12th, War | Adventure

Day 6: Friday - Sept. 13th, AU | Retellings

Day 7: Saturday - Sept. 14th, Free Day

Pssst if you're submitting something late, this is your final deadline to be able to sneak that in. 😇