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artethyst · 1 year ago

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~ Leaves In A Sky Full Of Stars ~

Eris Vanserra x Rhysand’s Sister! OC/Reader

Little Silas Vanserra had Eris vowing to never have anymore children.

He thanked the Mother that his daughter was a little angel- still at the age where she wanted to be carried everywhere, snuggled peacefully in an adult’s arms.

Her pale hair and violet ringed autumnal eyes reminding him so much of the woman he loved.

Her older brother was the complete opposite.

He wondered if this was his punishment, a cruel joke played upon him by the Gods for having such a carefree life since his father died and reminding him that he needed to keep his faltered guard up.

And that’s how he felt in the early hours of the morning, with little hands patting at his face and excited little feet hopping on the oak floors of his bedroom.

Tired.

He cracked one amber eye open- unceremoniously meeting a matching golden flecked iris, one full of wonder and guiltlessness, as he supposed his own once were.

He closed it as quickly as it had opened, letting a wry smirk take over his ostensibly lazed features.

“Daddyyyy I know you’re awake-“ the little boy began incredulously before shrieking in glee as Eris swooped him onto his chest with ease, tickling his son mercilessly as his Mate softly slept beside him.

After the boy had relented, his rounded cheek flushed with the childish mirth of giggles, Eris couldn’t help but chuckle to himself at the boy’s wild red locks.

As expected the boy’s mother was still soundly asleep, Eris had always been a light sleeper, in fact having his Mate beside him and children down the hall only worsened the fact, even though his father was no longer a threat- to him or his loved ones, simply having them in such a place always had him on high alert.

Even though he had done his very best to rid the Autumn Court of longtime Advisors, the types of men that would love nothing more than to see the Night Court Princess with a Fae bane arrow through her much too large heart, he knew there was no good in him-undeserved of him in ever feeling content.

It had the opposite effect on his wife, who admittedly had never slept better than when she was in the comforting arms of her husband- the natural warmth emanating from him lulling her into such ecstasy she wished she never had to be cruelly ripped away from by the chill of the Autumn morning.

She had never really slept well in the Night Court, the pain of living there without her mother sister always too much to bear.

Eris was her new home.

Since having children- her body still not quite having recovered from their second and Eris insisting she get as much rest at she could, even the joyous squeals of her firstborn still wouldn’t- couldn’t make her budge.

“Daddy Uncle Lulu said you p-pwomised-“

“Promised,”

“Promised to show me m-my fire againnn!”

The boy was practically trembling with excitement, his father’s hands coming to steady him as his little body wriggled with joy, perched on his father’s raised knees who raised a slim digit to his smaller lips, reminding him to remain quiet as possible.

Not that it would have made a difference to the blissfully knocked out woman beside them.

“Did he now?” Eris withered, the thought of his brother- knowing just how much he treasured the few late mornings a High Lord might have, had told his son- who’s adorable little face noone could deny, that those small, valuable hours were reserved for “magic time”.

It took only a brief moment, a fleeting fall of Silas’ dimpled grin- his mother’s grin, to have the High Lord swinging his legs from the refuge of his silken sheets, his boy held firmly in his strong hands.

“Then I think it is best we get dressed appropriately, what do you say Little Flame?”

The boy simply cheered in response and Eris couldn’t help the grin on his own face at the feel of chubby hands around his neck in a makeshift embrace, carrying him down the hall as his son rattled on in half nonsensical toddler speak about how he was going to ‘beat his Uncle Lulu in a duel’.

The Maids cooed as the little Prince raced down the hall in his teeny tiny Autumnal uniform- gifted to him by his Aunty Elain who thought they were the cutest thing ever.

The boy stopped when he reached the top of the grand staircase, skidding to a halt with a nervous expression on his little face.

The same staircase his Mummy always carried him down, the same staircase he had been told to scoot down on his bottom in case he tripped, the same staircase she had been slowly helping him descend himself (holding his hand tightly and giving up halfway as he took nearly a whole minute per ten steps)

Eris watched him amusedly- a miserable jutted lip and a coy flush on his baby cheeks.

“Umm Daddy, M-Mummy said I am not s’pose to go down m-myself in case of ouchies…”

That was not what she had said.

“I thought you were a big boy now, hmm?” Eris teased as his son pouted, just as his mother would have.

“I-I am…” Silas’ point was refuted with the small grabby motions his little arms made to his father who looked down at him with a smirk.

“Do big boys get carried down the stairs?”

“Ummm…Yes?” The boy widened his glimmering autumnal eyes, “pleasies?”

And so with a roll of his eyes, all in good humour, Eris fastened his excitable son against his chest as they began to exit the grand estate, heading into the vast, luscious gardens where they would begin their training.

Lucien could only laugh when found his brother- sincere and unbridled joy dancing in his otherwise piercing gaze, watching his son chase after the little flames he made for him.

“Uncle Lulu!” The boy squealed, barrelling into the male who swung him atop his shoulders with ease.

“I’d be careful if I were you,” Eris warned, “he has quickly figured out how to control his magic, you might end up with that treasured hair of your singed at the root.”

Silas nodded furiously, his little feet hitting the floor as he flexed his small palm as proof, and to his pure wonder, delicate embers- faint as they were, twinkled at his will.

“Look Daddy! I did it! I did it!” Eris couldn’t help but chuckle softly as his son danced with not only with the little flicker he had mustered with his father’s help, but larger wistful wisps that flowed around him with delicate care.

Eris couldn’t help but feel his heart constrict, wishing nothing more than to give his children the childhood he had wanted- deserved.

He took one look at his son and wondered how anyone could ever hurt him, let alone do it himself.

He wondered what he had done to make his own father hate him so, vowing to never once make his own offspring feel even a fraction of the way he had.

For what seemed like hours Lucien and Eris entertained the little boy, sometimes engaging in a silent battle between one another who could impress the young heir the most.

Lucien eventually was called away and Eris wondered if his years were finally catching up to him, small burn marks littering his clothes from his son’s inexperienced hands and an ache in his legs from chasing after him.

After Silas’ giggles had dissipated along with his energy, Eris suggested they head back, the boy agreed sleepily, the thrum of magic still alive in his little body as Eris made a mental note to keep an eye on his budding powers.

“T-Thank you for giving me my fire,” Silas mumbled, stumbling over to his father “love you Daddy…”And as a pair of all too familiar amber eyes met the High Lord’s blurring own, he bent down and received his greatest gift in his trembling arms.

A reminder he would never be the man who had damned him, a reminder that he was a good man- a good man that was loved.

#fanfic #eris vandaddy #eris vanserra x oc #eris acotar #eris vanserra x reader #eris x oc #eris vanserra #eris x reader #acotar x oc #acotar x reader #acotar fanfiction #acotar fic #acotar

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azsazz · 1 year ago

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Bleed for Me

Vampire!Azriel x Reader

Summary: for @hyemishii “I love it !! Maybe a next part with overprotecting Az at the meeting ??”

Warnings: blood

Word Count: will fill in later I wrote this on notes lmao

Notes: a lil vamp az is the perf bday treat, also not edited cuz I wrote this at work 😳

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“Hello there,” a soft voice greets.

You flinch, your nearly empty wine glass slipping from your fingers. You and the male who’s snuck up on you watch as the glass shatters on the ground, the dark red of the wine splashing against the bright stone floors like blood.

The room goes silent, and you’re entirely sure that the only sound in the room right now is the frantic pounding of your heart.

Glancing at the male, you take in his auburn hair, unruly and hanging slightly in his eyes in a way that looks so well practiced. His skin is pale, paler than most of the vampires in this room, making his freckles stand out across his strong cheekbones. It looks a little too closely like the wine splattered on the floor, and he takes you in with a hungry gaze, iris’ so burnt they almost look red.

“I—um, I’m so sorry,” you stutter. You don’t like the way that he’s staring down at you, tracing the lines of your body and pausing intently at the necklace of Azriel’s blood around your neck. He smirks and it makes your heart drop. “Let me…”

You trail off, sinking down to clean up the mess you’ve made. The male is wearing fine shoes, pristine and you want to hide, heat burning your cheeks because you see the flecks of wine on the caramel leather, and on the deep navy cuffs of his pants. You peek up around the room, grabbing blindly at chunks of glass as you search for Azriel.

You told him you’d be okay—demanded it really—while he went to speak to Rhysand and Cassian about some important manner. He’d wanted to take you with, but you refused. You don’t need his protection, you don’t want it. You thought it would be the perfect chance to escape, but now you just feel like a deer surrounded by bloodthirsty wolves.

Pain flashes through your finger and you hiss, jerking your attention back to the broken glass on the floor. You’ve nicked your finger, and a bead of red pools at the tip, your mouth parting in a curse as your body and all of the others in the room straighten and zero in on your wound, undoubtedly smelling the faint metallic that you can’t.

You shoot to your feet, searching the room for Azriel. He’s not here, you know it. You’d recognize the wings, the malicious aura that’s been pooling off of him since you were met at the door and he’d jokingly not been invited inside. You curse, wishing he were he now.

“Hurt yourself, did you?” The male asks, head cocked to the side. You catch the slight flare of his nostrils as he breathes in the scent of your blood. His pupils are pinpoints and his smile scares you. Taking a step back he’s already there, catching your wrist in his cold hands and bringing your hand up to his face, studying the wound. “Clumsy, little fawn.”

“Stop,” you plead., trying to pull your hand from his but it’s no use, you’re nowhere near strong enough. He brings you in, flicking his tongue against the crimson coating your finger and hums with pleasure.

“So sweet,” he answers, wicked grin flashing sharp fangs. “Has Azriel gotten a taste yet?”

You open your mouth to speak, to scream, but you flinch at the figure that appears over your shoulder, a dark mass that commands the attention of the room, even if he’s only a warrior and holds no power over courts.

“Yes, he has,” Azriel growls, a lie. “Unhand her. Now, Eris. Before you lose yours.”

Eris’ smirk widens for a moment, a tease, but he releases you and you fall back into Azriel’s chest. He tucks you into his arms and you hide your bleeding finger in the thick fabric of your skirts, feeling embarrassed and exposed in a room full of vampires.

“Azriel,” the male greets, smile turning salacious, “Don’t want to share like we did all those years ago?” The question makes your stomach twist, but you shove the feeling away. You don’t feel anything for the male who stills against your back.

He flashes his fangs at Eris, a warning. He won’t let anyone else touch you, that you know, but you can’t help but to think that there was a time when he’s let others play with his human companions. You’re not sure how to feel about the information, but you keep quiet.

Two more males flank his sides, and you recognize Cassian and Rhysand, the Night Court trio at your flanks. You belong to Azriel, to them, to their court. There is no doubt about that.

“We’re leaving,” is all Azriel says, before he’s taking your arm in his and guiding you through the crowd, glaring at every male who you cross paths with. His grip is firm on your arm and you wince, but you can feel the anger radiating off of him and keep it to yourself.

But, always attuned to you, he catches your flinch and lightens his grip on you, eyes going soft as you look over your shoulder at him but harsh again when Helion smirks your direction. He growls at the elder vampire, not giving a single fuck if it makes them enemies. You are his.

***

“You bled for him,” Azriel states. His attention is focused on the cut on your finger. It’s not deep and it’s already stopped bleeding, but he’s made it his mission to clean and wrap it for you, the image of your finger in Eris’ mouth burning behind his eyelids.

“I didn’t mean to,” you answer softly, because you don’t know how he’s going to react. Azriel is a ticking time bomb of anger and hatred, crazed and possessive, and you don’t know why. He could explode on you at any moment, even though you were trying your best to pull away from Eris at the party.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” he answers gruffly, refusing to meet your gaze. He stands, placing your wrapped hand back in your lap as he turns to leave the room. He can’t look at you right now. His hands are nearly shaking with anger. He hasn’t even tasted you yet, and Eris took that moment from him.

You shove off of the counter, following him into your room. “I didn’t do it on purpose!”

And he knows this, he does, but he doesn’t care.

“Doesn’t matter,” he hisses, charging for the door. He needs to fly it off or something, he can’t be around you right now.

Apparently, it does matter.

“Azriel, please,” you scoff, “It’s not a big deal, it was an accident.”

He spins on his heel and is on you before you can gasp. His body is a freight train against yours, grabbing your hands in one hand and locking you to his front. He hopes you realize right now that this is what could’ve happened to you at the party. Eris could’ve grabbed you and taken you and you wouldn’t have been able to do a fucking thing about it because you’re weak. Just a human. He wants to yell, hiss at you for being so careless in a room full of vampires. He wants to scream because he put you in that position, and he hates himself for it.

“When you bleed,” Azriel growls in your ear, tracing his fingers across your neck with his free hand. His blood has long since dried there and it flakes off under his tender touch. He leans in, his lips a whisper across the pulse in your neck that’s pounding so damn fast you almost don’t hear his next words. “You bleed for me.”

You gasp, his fangs scratching your skin. He holds you tightly to his body and you can feel the blood bubbling up from the shallow cut he’s given you. You squeeze your eyes shut tight as his tongue lathes across the wound, hot and demanding, owning. You bite your lip, holding in the moan at the feeling of him humming against your skin, tasting you, but you let your body melt into his front, the vampire holding you up with ease.

It’s like he’s set fire to your body, his touch blazing under your skin. You pant, lifting your chin to look up at him through thick lashes.

He’s already looking at you, staring down at you in a way that makes you feel naked. Warmth buzzes between your legs.

You open your mouth but he’s shoving you gently away, and you stumble before righting yourself, hands planted on the soft comforter of your bed.

“Az…” you turn your head to speak but your room is empty, Azriel gone.

#azsazz #acotar #acowar #acomaf #azriel #azriel x reader #azriel/reader #vampire!azriel

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daycourtofficial · 6 months ago

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The uncertainty of Spring

Pairing: Eris x OC | WC: 1.7k | Warnings: Eris is a bit bitchy

Summary: a son of Autumn makes a deal with the daughter of Spring in hopes for a watchful eye over Lucien

Author’s note: happy Eris week @erisweekofficial 🥳🥳 this is for the ‘bargains’ prompt of day one. Wanted to try something a bit different and use an OC for the first time.

The stars shown above Iris, the air unseasonably warm around her. She held the piece of wood in her hand as she scraped her knife against the bark, letting the shavings fall at her feet.

Iris’s eyes scanned the area every few minutes, searching the darkness for signs of life, returning to her whittling when her eyes came up empty.

“Is that not blasphemy? A child of spring hurting a precious plant?”

Iris couldn’t control the scowl she sent in the direction of the voice, the sound grating on her nerves. She searched the woods for signs of him, not seeing him anywhere in the moonlight.

“What do you want, Eris? If you linger too long surely Tamlin will catch your scent on the wind and come to dispose of you like he did with Asher.”

He waved a hand as if the thought of his brother’s death was nothing more than the wrong shade of fabric, the action the only way she could make out where he was. “Any fate my brothers find themselves beholden to is none of my concern.”

She arched a brow, her movements against the wood halting. “And does that attitude extend to baby Lucien?”

Eris looked at her, a darkness to his gaze she had never seen before. He straightened his jacket, the brown coloring much less ornate than the greens and reds she was accustomed to seeing him in, but the neutral color suited him quite well.

He truly resembled an oak tree in the middle of losing its leaves.

Iris smiled, “so this is about Lucien.”

He breathed deeply, a slow exhale from his nose. “And if it were?”

“I would consider listening.”

He stepped closer to her, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body from several feet away. His eyes raked over her, taking in her appearance. ‘The seed of Spring’ they had called her, long blonde waves trailing down to her hips, flowers entwined with small intermittent brands. A long, pale green dress reached to mid-calf, allowing brown boats slightly caked in mud to be seen.

Her green eyes glowed unnaturally in the moonlight, resembling the way morning dew clings to grass and gives it a glassy appearance.

“I can’t linger here long. I do not have time to repeat myself.”

Iris nodded, Eris’s cryptic way of speaking leaving her uneasy.

She had known Eris for a long time, running into him mostly at High Lord meetings, or whenever the families of their respective courts would visit each other. Centuries of knowing him in the peripheral and she hardly knew anything about him. No one had a read on him or knew anything about him.

The juiciest piece of information was his failed engagement to Morrigan, Night Court nobility who slept with a lesser fae during her engagement, either in a bid to end it or because she couldn’t help herself, no one knew.

Rumor was neither her father nor Beron responded well to her actions. Rumors swirled of the failed engagement’s end - Morrigan was shipped to the continent until the war when she would be useful, Eris stabbed her out of jealousy,

Most rumors held some version of truth to them, but any and all gossip around the Vanserras felt too exaggerated to be real. Iris’s favorite rumor was that the manor they resided in had a secret tunnel system connecting to the far reaches of Autumn, so Beron could pop up anywhere in the Court with no one knowing.

The rumors were either grandiose ideas (that Eris was a shapeshifter and frequently shifted to run around the land with his hounds) or unsurprising tidbits about a family of seven sons (a Vanserra sleeping around, each of them supposedly incredible lovers).

Then again, rumors only grow.

“I need a bargain.”

That she was not expecting.

“My mother needs assurance that Lucien will be taken care of here.”

Iris stalked around him, her skirts moving in the darkness, the green chiffon swishing with each step.

“And how is your grieving mother? Three sons in one day, that’s half the family.”

“You’d be wise to bite your tongue, flowers are easily crumpled, as Rhysand knows first hand.”

Iris put her hands up in mock surrender, wondering just how much Eris truly cared for his fallen brothers.

Wondered if his feelings mimicked the ones inside her chest about the demise of her own brothers.

“Pray tell, Eris, why would I tether my soul to yours?”

Surely Eris had lost his wits to visit her about this.

“I know you wish to leave Spring.”

She halted, breath catching in her throat, eyes assessing him as he continued. “I know you have been sniffing about the Autumn borders for some time. I know you spend considerable time in my court. No one in Spring able to catch your eye?”

She scoffed, the male before her unseeing of the real truth to her visits.

“I don’t think safe passage in Autumn is good enough. If I’m going to be sticking my neck out for little Lu, I need something to sweeten the deal.”

His gaze felt burning as his attention focused on her, the longest time she had spent conversing with him prior to this was filled with insults and barbed snipes. This conversation had almost an air of vulnerability to it, something she didn’t know Eris could be.

“When I am High Lord, I will ensure you will live a comfortable life in Autumn, if you wish to leave the neverending life of Spring.”

Iris looked at him, an amusing grin on her face.

“And when do you plan on being High Lord? What if the magic skips you?”

He didn’t bother answering either of her questions, they already both knew the answer to the second one: it wouldn’t. His gaze was penetrating as he looked at her, his features sharp in what little light they had.

She stretched out her fingers, looking at her nails to get away from his gaze. “I want something else.”

“I’m not in the interest of ruining other males for you. I won’t be warming your bed as part of the deal.”

Iris gritted her teeth at the smugness in his tone.

“I want a secret from you. Not now, but whenever I call on you. I want you to tell me a delicious secret that no one else knows.”

“You always were nothing more than a bored gossip.”

Her smile was lupine, “and your family has always been a most interesting topic. Seven sons all interested more in getting their dicks wet than being competent rulers. There must be an overabundance of bastards in Autumn.”

The smell of blood was in the air, a slight tang as her words hit their mark. His demeanor doesn’t falter, though.

“I will agree, if this bargain remains between the two of us.”

He stretched his arm out, long fingers adorned with rings presented to her.

She had an out.

She could say no.

But having Eris Vanserra indebted to her was worth the risk.

She slid her hand into his, taking in the freckles dotting the outside of his hand, the gold ring on his middle finger with a bright orange gemstone set in it.

“Fine, I will see that your precious Lucien is attended to. However I cannot protect him from any trouble he goes out searching for on his own.”

“And I will take over Autumn, making it a better court for you to live in, should you wish.”

Her brow rose before he added, “and a secret for you to collect, however anything I tell you is not to be spoken of to another soul.”

Their hands glowed slightly, and she could feel the magic spreading up her arms and through her body. It felt like a wave in the ocean - strong but quick, gone before she could do anything. The ground in between both of them shook just before a young tree sprouted from the ground, the two of them stepping back and away from it. Pink petals exploded from the tree, bursting over the pair, several getting caught in her hair as they fell to the ground.

Eris looked at the plant, dusting the petals from his jacket. “Flowers, for spring. How original.”

He held up a petal, watching it catch in the moonlight. The action drew her attention to his hands, deep brown gloves adorning his fingers.

She wasn’t sure she had ever seen him wear gloves before, keeping his hands bare even at the most formal of gatherings.

“Does Autumn have any traditions around bonds?”

He shot her a look of exasperation before answering. “You get a burn mark. Its size is relative to the severity of the bargain.” He continued twisting the petal between his fingers, bored of the conversation already.

At his words, she began rotating her arms, searching for any new scarring. “Should I be concerned?”

“Shouldn’t you have asked questions beforehand?”

She tucked her hair behind her ear, not wanting to admit that he had a valid point with that.

“No matter. It will ache on occasion if you go too long without thinking of it.”

The Autumn Court truly was a whole new style of warfare. Iris looked at him, uncertain of what kind of creature could survive in such conditions for so long, wondering how long looking into the darkness it took to have the darkness etch itself into your bones.

“What should I tell Tamlin about this scar? Surely he’ll see it?”

Iris looked back, a sharp pain now shooting from her right wrist. She looked down, watching as a burn mark etched itself into her skin.

Eris shrugged, gazing at the tree between the two of them before he turned, long legs carrying him into the trees. The wind blew around him, as if they too tried to get answers from him. “It is no matter to me what the beast thinks. Perhaps you could convince him the monsters of the night dared to be near his darling sister.”

She looked at the burn mark on her skin, the texture catching the light. The scar was roughly the size of a gold mark, and she wondered if this was meant to be a small bargain. As she rotated her wrist, the scar seemed to disappear in the light. Iris looked back up to where Eris had last stood to find him gone, her wrist aching in remembrance.

Permanent taglist: @vanilla-seabass @cyrygher @lees-chaotic-brain @topaz125 @chessebookgirl @fides25 @lady-of-tearshed @ashbatz @fxckmiup @lilah-asteria @justvibbinghere @daughterofthemoons-stuff @mybestfriendmademe @heartless-tate @tsunami-of-tears @idrkwhatthisisimsorry @olive-main @azrielsmate3 @pit-and-the-pen @durgenyx @dee-writes-smut @chairofchaos @thelov3lybookworm @berryzxx @throneofsmut @kennedy-brooke @prythianpages @itsswritten @acotarxreader @milswrites @the-golden-jhope @hannzoaks @secretlyhers @tothestarsandwhateverend @sarawritestories @chxosangxl

Eris taglist: @magicstrengthandcourage @panther-girl-124

#eris fanfic #eris vanserra #eris vanserra x oc #eris x oc #eris vanserra fanfic #acotar fanfiction

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spiritedstars · 6 months ago

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Roots In My Dreamland [ Eris x OC - Eiris ]

Happy @erisweekofficial ✨ Eris finds himself being followed in the forest by someone unexpected, leading to an unexpected bargain / A Spirit Meets the Bones AU where Iris seeks Eris out before the wedding. / Find it also on AO3!

Hope you enjoy this little spin on bargains! Divider by @tsunami-of-tears

He was being followed.

It was early, the sun had barely awoken as the crisp air of the morning whispered around him, and Eris had hardly begun his stroll with one of his hounds when he felt the presence of another.

His hand had rested on Lyra’s head to soothe the hound and immediately placed a shield around their bodies, while his strides continued evenly. There was no need to fret when they were in his forests. A forest he knew every inch of. Where he could hide a body and no one would find it.

But he couldn’t think of a single person in their court who would be foolish enough to dare tail him. Whoever it was certainly had a death wish, because Eris Vanserra didn’t take anyone infringing on his privacy or personal space lightly.

But he allowed the stranger to follow, his shoulders braced for a strike – any kind of movement to indicate an attack; but as Eris cocked his head to listen, he only heard even breathing. He could only sense slight anxiety. It made him even more curious.

So he continued to say nothing, walking leisurely, deeper into the trees, until he finally reached the secluded corner of the forest that no one would find them in. Eris made himself pause.

The footsteps behind him stopped a few feet away and Eris debated for a moment how to proceed when the scent of vanilla hit him —mixed with...some kind of floral? A hint of raspberry?

A scoff of disbelief slipped from his lips. A female had followed him.

Oh. This would be an exciting morning.

Eris glanced down at Lyra, the hound silently watching her master and the corner of his mouth curled up. “I have to say,” he finally said into the silence. “I’ve had many females try to catch me alone, but you’re the first to follow me so far out here. I’m incredibly flattered.”

A sharp intake of breath had Eris slowly turning, ready to see just who this foolish girl was and –

Eris blinked. Then blinked again.

He felt a part of his brain short circuit because standing before him had to be the most beautiful female he’d ever seen.

And he’d seen his fair share of beautiful people.

She was a few inches shorter than him, dressed in a fitted long-sleeve burgundy dress, a cloak covering most of her body but her face – a full set of lips set in a small frown, hooded hazel eyes with a sharp nose…this face was an unforgettable one, and Eris was surprised to find himself momentarily speechless.

He could only stare at her in silence, confused by the way his body was reacting, the way his brain felt fuzzy.

Was this some sort of black magic? Surely Lyra would’ve sensed something sinister afoot –

But the girl was now glaring at him.

His eyes narrowed a fraction. Her anger confused him. Nothing about her was familiar and yet…there was something about her.

It was impossible she was a jilted lover. He’d never forget a face like hers so why was she angry? Angry enough to have followed him out here, alone?

He watched the bob of her throat as she faced him.

“You are very bold to have followed a male like me into the forest by yourself.” He said and straightened, clasping his hands behind his back, his hound standing alert beside him. “Who are you and why are you following me?”

The girl blinked, seemingly surprised by his question, before her face set back into that anger Eris didn’t understand.

“Haven’t you gotten my letters?”

Eris blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“My letters.” she said more sharply. “I have requested a meeting with you for weeks now, and you’ve been ignoring all of them, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

Eris’s brows furrowed. He did not recall receiving any letters. It made him pause once more. “There seems to be a misunderstanding,” he stated. “I don’t even know your name so I’m afraid a meeting with you isn’t in the books, especially at this hour.”

The girl flushed, blinking rapidly. “You – you don’t know who I am?”

Eris’s amusement grew as her flush deepened and he watched her take a deep breath, squeezing her eyes shut before letting out a harsh laugh.

“Typical.” she spat. “You ruin my life and don’t even know it’s me.”

Eris opened his mouth to answer when a flash of silver caught his eye and he let out a snort of disbelief. “Is that a knife?”

She pointed the dagger at him accusingly. “Don’t worry about it,” she stated. “Is the female you marry so irrelevant to you that you didn’t even bother to know what she looks like? I’d at least think they showed you a picture of me from the hat you pulled my name out of!”

Again, Eris was stunned into silence and her words hit him all at once.

Ah, yes. The sham of a marriage he was being forced into by his father. Truth be told, he’d done his absolute best to ignore that it was happening.

It wasn’t like his father had given him a choice. Eris had been ordered to get married and so married he would be. All he knew was her father was in the High Lord’s pocket and that could only mean he was as big of a piece of shit as his own father. His father had merely informed him that she was supposedly ‘quiet’, ‘easy to manage’, and a ‘looker’. Considering the nasty way his father had said the word ‘looker’, Eris didn’t find himself interested in knowing more. He would marry her, fuck her, and then keep her at arm’s length as expected.

But if this was the female he was meant to marry…Eris suddenly wasn’t so sure of his plan.

“So…” he began, his eyes carefully cataloging every inch of her. “You must be Iris.”

She scowled, her grip tightening on the hilt of her dagger. “Unfortunately.”

Eris let out a low laugh. “This is the first time you’re meeting your fiancé and you’re threatening me with a knife.” he said, amusement dripping from every word. “Bold.”

“You wouldn’t answer my requests. I did what I must.”

“I never received any letters.”

“Then someone is getting into your business.”

“I’d worry less about that and more about the act of treason you’re committing holding that knife.”

Iris scoffed. “I haven’t stabbed you with it so it’s hardly treason,” she said and straightened, holding her chin up. “I only came here to say one thing and then I hope never to see you again.”

Eris raised a brow, a smirk blooming on his face as he watched the bob of her throat and the slight tremor in her hand. “Color me intrigued.”

“Pick someone else.”

“Excuse me?”

“Pick. Someone. Else.” she snapped. “I don’t want to marry you. Find another person to make miserable in marriage. I want no part in it.”

Eris fought back a laugh. Who was this girl? Because Eris couldn’t imagine anything about her was easy to manage.

“And here I thought you were seeking me out for a little romance,” he said and his grin widened at the way her expression flattened. “I’m curious. Do you really think ambushing me with a knife is the way to go about requesting such a thing?”

“Given what I’ve heard about you, I wouldn’t be surprised if you considered this a romantic gesture.”

Eris’s lips twitched but he couldn’t stop his chuckle. She was certainly unexpected. “A romantic gesture while asking me to call off our engagement?”

Iris rolled her eyes and Eris was thrilled to see her so annoyed. “We both know nothing about this is romantic. You don’t even care who you marry. So pick someone else.” she said. “I’m sure you have a long list of females who would die to be graced by your presence. Choose one of them.”

Eris made a humming sound and took a step towards her. “But in all fairness, your name was the one that was pulled from the metaphorical hat. We must respect the invisible string of fate.”

She glared at him, her grip tightened on the dagger. “Fuck you and fuck fate. I had no choice in this and I’ll be damned if I let my wretched father sell me off like this.”

“And how do you think your wretched father would react if he knew you were here, threatening me, trying to call off a deal he made?” Eris mused and watched her lovely skin pale.

“He doesn’t need to know I was here.” she said and swallowed. “You’re the Prince. If you decide you don’t want me, he will have to deal with it.”

“And who said I didn’t want you?” he said, amusement dripping from his tone and Iris’s glare intensified.

“You don’t even know me!” she snapped. “You clearly don’t care about who you end up shackled with so let it not be me. Let it be someone else.”

Eris watched the slip of her expression, where the rage turned into desperation. She was truly terrified of the prospect of marrying him. Could he be worse than remaining under her father’s thumb? Was he truly that awful to be around?

He supposed his reputation hadn’t helped but he’d never been horrible to previous partners. He was mostly uninterested outside of the bedroom, and anyone he allowed under his sheets knew that upfront.

How awful did she deem him that marrying him would make her this distraught?

Any lingering amusement faded as Eris watched her. Maybe it had been a mistake to not ask further questions about her. To avoid meeting her. It felt pointless when he had so little choice in the matter that meeting her before the wedding felt like pouring salt into an open wound.

And yet, when he looked at her standing before him, it felt different. She wasn’t a viper after his money and wealth or a cowering thing that cried at the sight of him. She was as trapped as he was and lashing out.

“I regret to inform you, fiancé, that I had as little say in the matter as you did.” Eris finally said with a thin smile. “My father was the one who decided you would be the right fit and I must obey.”

Iris blinked then scoffed. “You truly think I would believe the High Lord wouldn’t listen to his Crown Prince wanting a different body in his bed?”

Eris crossed his arms and said, “He’d only tell me that the bed is big enough to fit three.” Shrugging, he took another step towards her. “Unfortunately for you, what the High Lord says, goes. You and I will marry and there is nothing either of us can do about it.”

He could only watch as her fists clenched and her bottom lip began to tremble. Eris could almost taste her panic, the anxiety flooding through her and how potent it was slammed into him. It made his chest tighten.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” he said sourly. “You can calm down.”

His words seemed to have the opposite effect and before Eris could take his next breath, her knife flew past him, landing with a thud in the tree trunk behind him.

Eris blinked once, then twice, lifting a hand to touch his face.

She had grazed him. Her dagger had actually grazed him. He glanced at the droplets of blood on his fingers in disbelief before his gaze found hers again and she had the audacity to be glaring at him.

He couldn’t help but laugh. A belly laugh that had him doubling over and Eris couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed like that.

“Don’t laugh at me, you heathen!”

Her insult only made him laugh harder and it took him a moment before he could straighten, running a hand down his face, Lyra anxiously moving around his legs. He patted her head gently before letting out a sigh.

He was suddenly so very exhausted.

“Thank you for that laugh. I truly needed it.”

“Normal people don’t laugh when someone throws a dagger at their head.”

“If you think I’m normal, surprised is all you’ll ever be around me.” he said with a snort, glancing back at the knife before he returned his gaze to Iris. “That was bold of you. And very stupid.”

His eyes didn’t leave hers as he reached to yank it out of where it struck then glanced down at it with a hum. “Now you have committed the act of treason. I could have you hanged for that.”

“Marrying you would be a death sentence regardless.” she said with a sniff, lifting her chin. “At least this way I went down with a fight.”

And everything about his life was already a fight. Gods knew he didn’t need his marriage to be another one.

He truly was exhausted.

“And what if this didn’t have to be a fight?” he said before he could stop himself.

“What?”

“What if we didn’t have to fight?” Eris said, twirling her dagger between his fingers. “Neither of us want this but it is something we must do regardless.”

“Not if I –”

“If you run, I will be forced to find you and drag you back,” he interrupted. “And then you’ll have embarrassed your father and my family and I will again, be forced to treat you horribly in front of them as punishment.”

Her expression tightened. “But I could –”

“Don’t even think about harming yourself. No one would mourn you and your entire existence would have meant nothing if you killed yourself out of spite.”

She glared at him so viciously, Eris was sure if she had another dagger, it would be lodged in his throat. “I was not going to say that, you pompous piece of shit.” she snarled. “You said it doesn’t have to be a fight but given the nonsense coming out of your mouth, I find it hard to believe.”

“You threw a dagger at me.”

“And I’d throw another one if I could.”

Eris snorted. “I fully believe that.” he said then shook his head. “This marriage doesn’t have to be a fight if we come to an agreement.”

Iris shifted on her feet. “And what agreement would that be?”

He pursed his lips. Eris knew he wasn't thinking this through but something about her…he knew he couldn’t let her go. He didn’t trust that she’d stick around and not do something rash until the wedding. He probably shouldn’t have cared — his father would easily find him another wife but this female…Eris may not have cared or wanted her before this but now? Now, he was intrigued. He was attracted. And he was slightly aroused.

She felt different in a way he couldn’t put his finger on it and Eris was always a curious male. He needed to find out.

“We will marry but it’ll be on the terms we agree on here. We will stay together until I take the throne and then you are free to leave me if that is your wish.”

Iris’s eyes narrowed. “You becoming High Lord could take decades.”

Eris shrugged. “Maybe,” he said carefully. “But if we agree on terms together, it shouldn’t be too difficult of a marriage. I am very rich and very well-endowed.”

Iris’s expression flattened. “And fucken insufferable, I see.”

He grinned. “I’m handsome. Being insufferable is part of the deal.”

“Good gods.” she mumbled and rubbed her forehead then held up a hand before he could say anything else. He watched as she worked her jaw, her cheeks flushed slightly before she straightened and met his gaze.”You do not touch me without my consent. You do not lay your hands on me in any way that will hurt me. You allow me the freedom of choice in our daily lives.”

Eris stared at her. Her demands made his chest tighten again. It seemed her life had been as pitiful as his own. But he was not a monster. He was not his father.

“I will not touch you without your consent or lay a hand to ever harm you.” he repeated then carefully said, “I will allow you the freedom of choice in our daily lives on the condition that we discuss it first.” She opened her mouth to clearly object when he lifted his own hand. “You will be living with me in the Forest House where snakes are everywhere. We make our choices within the limits we live in. I will honor your choices as I can but my condition is that we have to make them together. I am the Crown Prince. You need to understand whatever choices you make will always impact me and I need us to be united, especially in front of others.”

She fell silent and he could hear how quickly her heart was beating. Eris found the terms to be more than agreeable; she was a caged bird in this situation. It would be the sensible thing to take his offer. Then again, given the way this particular interaction was going, his gut instincts told him her stubbornness may have her picking the wrong battles.

He found himself silently praying to the Mother, the Cauldron, and the godsdamned leaves around them that she would be sensible enough to not fight him on this.

For some reason he didn’t understand, Eris didn’t want to be disappointed if she did.

Iris swallowed then nodded. “I have one more request.” she said and Eris raised a brow, gesturing with his hand to continue. She bit the inside of her cheek and let a heartbeat of silence pass before continuing, “You will court me properly in the months leading up to the wedding.”

He blinked then chuckled. “Is that so?”

Despite the flush deepening in her cheeks, Iris stood her ground. “I may have been sold off to you, but I will not be made to feel like cattle.” she said. “Court me and pull out all the stops.”

His mouth curled into a smirk. “And what makes you think I’d agree to that?”

“I didn’t take the Crown Prince as someone cheap with his time and affection.” she mused and gave him a tight smile. “You did say you were very rich.”

“And very well-endowed.”

Ignoring his additional comment, she gave him a pointed look and said, “So put your money where your mouth is.”

“I’d much rather put my mouth somewhere else.”

“Do you mind giving me back my dagger? I’d like to stab you with it.”

Eris chuckled. “Rookie mistake. Always keep more than one dagger on you.” he said then pointed at her with the dagger in his hand. “I agree to your terms.” he said and then straightened as he said, “You will keep anything and everything you see, hear, find out about me and my family a secret and share with no one. You will respect our relationship, especially in front of others, and put in the effort to make it work until we otherwise agree.”

Iris furrowed her brows, seemingly surprised that these were his only requests, but Eris didn’t need to worry about anything other than privacy. Everything else didn’t matter.

She took a breath. “I agree to your terms as well.” she said quietly then licked her lips and Eris tried not to watch the movement too closely. “Where do we go from here?’

“You and I both know how the Autumn Court seals a bargain, little gazelle.” he said and smirked when she scowled at him for the nickname. He chuckled and began to walk towards her, striding leisurely as she walked towards him. He couldn’t help the pet name. It had slipped from his mouth before he could stop it, and given that she had tried to run from her fate tied to him, it fit her perfectly.

Meeting in the middle of the field, Iris thrust her hand out to him as Eris fought another smirk. His eyes never left hers as he took her hand in his and as gently as he knew, slit her palm with the dagger. He watched her fight a hiss, grimacing slightly but made no noise and Eris didn’t wait to do the same to his own palm.

“By blood we bargain, until we agree on these terms no more.” he said.

“By blood we bargain, until we agree on these terms no more.” she repeated.

And Eris slid his hand in hers and pressed, a flame emitting from their joined hands as blood dripped to the ground beneath them. They both took a sharp breath as the magic seared between them and when they finally pulled apart, they each found a tiny golden leaf on the inside of their ring fingers.

“A little on the nose with that mark.” Iris mumbled with a small frown.

“The magic always knows.” Eris said, the corner of his mouth curling up. “Though I do hope you’re more agreeable after marriage.”

“Don’t count on it, asshole.” she snapped then glanced down at the hound who had watched this all unfold quietly before glancing back at him. “Give me my dagger back. I have to return before my father notices I sneaked away.”

“Oh no, I get to keep this.” he said then laughed at her outrage, holding up his hand. “In return and as a gesture of good faith, you can have one of mine.” Reaching to his side, he pulled out one of his favorite daggers with a gorgeous golden hilt and handed it to her. “Consider this my first attempt at courting you.”

Iris narrowed her eyes at him before slowly reaching out to take the dagger from him. He watched her examine it and could tell by the way her eyes lit up that she liked its design; it had been his favorite for a reason.

Squaring her shoulders, she tucked it away then met his gaze one last time. “As a first attempt, I’ll award you two out of ten points. Do better not to steal from me first before gifting me something.”

With that, she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head and turned on her feet, disappearing back into the woods faster than Eris expected.

He stood in silence for a few moments, letting his thoughts wander. His soon-to-be wife was a beautiful enigma and he wondered if he had just made a huge mistake.

Glancing down at Lyra, he asked his hound, “What do you think of her?”

His hound barked enthusiastically and Eris couldn’t help his chuckle. “Agreed. There is definitely more to her than meets the eye.” And he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this eager about anything. Or felt someone planting roots into him so deeply, so quickly.

Eris Vanserra wondered if maybe, just maybe he had finally met his match.

#eris vanserra #eris vanserra x oc #eris vanserra fanfic #erisweek2024 #eris x oc #smtb #gfics #fic:roots in my dreamland #eris x iris #hope y'all enjoy hehe

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