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a-court-of-fics-and-errors · 10 days ago

Text

Red to Entice You

Sequel to Part 3: Yearning

ALL ABOARD THE SMUT TRAIN - CHOO CHOO. Don’t worry. Typing that was just as cringy as reading it, if not more. THIS IS JUST SMUT. THIS IS ACTUALLY ONLY SMUT. MINORS DNI. THIS SMUT TRAIN NEEDS TO BE 18+ TO BUY A TICKET AND YOUR PARENTS DIDN’T SIGN THE PERMISSION SLIP.

Hey friends. There’s a lil fluff. Mated Eris and Reader. Unprotected sex (male and female receiving). MAJOR voyeurism in this one. I’m gonna continue to add breeding because that’s literally what this series is. Light choking and hair pulling. Teasing and angst. Oral, vaginal, fingering—lil bit of a lot.

Word Count: 6,008

Summary: As we continue the saga of the court without an heir, you’ve hatched a sneaking plan to try and get Eris as pent up as possible. Perhaps this time all it will take is a little red dress and some pointed disregarding. You know how Eris hates when he can’t get what he wants.

SMUT BELOW THIS LINE. DO NOT CLICK UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE ABSOLUTELY, DIABOLICALLY OVERCOME WITH SMUT.

Eris emerged from the bathing room, his hands vigorously rubbing a soft, white towel over his fiery red mop of hair, which still dripped with glistening droplets of water. When damp, his hair took on a more pronounced curl, the strands framing his face in such a way that accentuated his boyish charm. With a casual toss, he flung the towel into the laundry hamper beside the wardrobe and shook his head energetically, water flinging about the room. Your fingers were delicately poised on the worn pages of the book resting on your torso, yet your eyes hadn’t read a single word since he had reappeared, peering over the top as your mate sauntered around the room with an effortless grace. His bare chest was exposed, and his pajama pants hung loosely around his hips, teasingly revealing the alluring V-line that tantalizingly disappeared beneath the fabric.

Eris moved to close the large balcony doors, effectively shutting out the gentle, crisp chill of the late-night air that had begun to seep in. He turned back into the room, seemingly oblivious to your lingering gaze that had been fixated on him for more than a few minutes. His fingers combed through his damp hair with as he meandered back into the bathroom.

You shifted beneath the soft, warm blankets, attempting to redirect your focus back to the intricate words on the page, though it was an arduous task to banish the vivid vision of his deliciously toned abdomen from your mind's eye.

You hadn’t disclosed the plan you had devised earlier that week to your mate. Yet, he seemed to have an uncanny sense that something wasn’t right when you had pulled away from his affectionate morning kiss at breakfast, earlier than your usual lingering embrace. His suspicions only grew when you didn’t dissolve into a delighted puddle at his feet as his fingers grazed lightly over your bare neck during a committee meeting. That intimate gesture was intended to coax you to follow him to a more secluded corner of the grand manor for some private discussions of court matters.

You had, in fact, kept Eris purposely at an arm’s length for the last three days, the longest period you had ever endured without caving and letting him ravish you. This was, of course, excluding the times when either of you were away on diplomatic missions. Yet even then, Eris had a way of flooding the bond with tantalizingly sinful images, vivid fantasies of all the pleasures he would bestow upon you while he indulged himself in your absence.

His concern was great enough that he began to think you were feeling unwell. He pressed the back of his hands to your cheeks to gauge your temperature, only for you to brush him off and scold him for being overbearing.

As Eris emerged one more from the bathroom, his gaze seemed lost in thought, his eyes trailing along the polished wooden floor as he moved towards the large canopied bed. He exhaled softly, a gentle sigh escaping his lips as he raised his arms languidly above his head, baring even more of his hipline in a way that screamed for your attention. It required every ounce of your willpower to stay focused and not become ensnared in the distraction.

Eris tossed back the blankets and his eyes immediately locked onto the enticing slit of the crimson silk nightgown you had slipped into before he had come to the bedroom. The luxurious fabric nestled in the small crease between your hip and thigh, a spot Eris particularly delighted in nipping playfully with his teeth. The gown concealed enough to let the imagination wanter about the skin it barely shielded.

A low, primal growl rumbled from Eris as he fixed his gaze on you, yet you endeavored to dismiss it, pretending the seductive gown was your usual nightly attire. Yet as you continued to feign indifference, he pulled the blankets back even further, unveiling the intricate lace ties that framed the side of your body, connecting the front and back panels of the dress. It left tantalizing glimpses of skin visible through strategic gaps, while still keeping the most delicious parts of your body covered.

"This is new," he purred, his voice like warm honey.

You glanced at him from beneath your lashes, a subtle smile playing on your lips. "Mm?" you murmured, pretending not to hear him fully. Deliberately, you extended your exposed leg, the movement slow and graceful. Your foot flexed, causing the smooth, supple skin of your thigh to stretch around the muscle, drawing his eyes irresistibly back to your hips.

Eris remained standing by the side of the bed, his gaze devouring every inch of you with an intensity that seemed to heat the air. "This—" he paused, his words thick with longing, "Rather delightful gown." His voice was laced with a breathless admiration, as if the sight of you had stolen the air from his lungs.

Casually, you let the book slip from your fingers, landing softly on your stomach and revealing the deep, daring cut of the dress. The fabric cinched your breasts together in a way no other gown you owned ever had, creating a sight that made Eris visibly weak, a light groan of desire escaping his lips.

You tilted your head, a playful challenge in your eyes, "I've had this, my love."

"Then why," Eris managed to choke out, his voice strained with yearning, "Have you never worn it before?"

A light shrug lifted your shoulders, feigning nonchalance. "I suppose it was just buried at the bottom of the drawer." You didn’t spare him a glance, closing the book and rolling onto your stomach. The hem of the gown crept upwards, teasingly revealing the bare skin of your backside as you slowly crawled towards the nightstand to replace the book. Eris watched, a predator on a leash.

You sighed, settling onto your stomach, one leg bent at an enticing angle, offering Eris an even more tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath—or more accurately, what didn't—underneath his new favorite outfit.

"Fuck," he whispered, the word barely audible, thick with desire.

Taking a deep breath, you released it slowly, nestling a pillow under your head and tucking it beneath your body as though preparing to drift off into sleep at any moment.

The bed subtly dipped beneath you as Eris slid in beside you, his presence immediately tangible as his hands wrapped around your waist. His fingers flexed against the thin fabric of your nightwear, and he nestled his face into the tender curve of your neck, planting light kisses that sent gentle shivers down your spine. Though he couldn't see it, a smile crept across your lips. Everything was unfolding perfectly, just as you had hoped.

From behind, you sensed Eris's growing arousal pressing insistently into your rear, moving in a rhythmic dance against you while he continued to nip and bite playfully at the sensitive skin just below your ear. You turned your head slightly, allowing a teasing lilt to color your voice, "Can I help you?"

Eris responded by running his tongue languidly up the side of your neck, igniting a warmth deep within you. "You have something that I want," he murmured, his voice a sultry whisper in your ear.

"And that would be?" you inquired, feigning innocence despite knowing full well the effect you had on him and the hunger that drove him.

"You possess this exquisite body, wrapped in a beautiful package that's just begging me to unwrap it," he replied, his voice filled with desire.

A light giggle escaped you, "I hadn't realized my pajamas could provoke such a response."

Eris growled low in his throat, pressing himself even more firmly against you as his fingers expertly massaged your breast, circling your already sensitive nipple. The sensation was intoxicating, a temptation urging you to lean your head back and moan, but you resisted, not wanting to surrender too easily.

"You drive me wild even when you're bundled in seven layers," he murmured, gently biting your earlobe and grinding against you with increased fervor. "But this little bit of cloth is delicious."

You pressed your body back into his, feeling the heat radiate from him as he let out a light, breathy groan. You stretched your arms out in front of you, feigning a yawn that echoed softly in the quiet room. “Mmm, I would love to, but I’m feeling pretty tired,” you murmured, your voice teasingly lazy.

Eris's hands froze, and for a brief moment, it seemed like he had stopped breathing entirely. His voice was filled with playful disbelief. “So, you didn’t wear this for any reason at all?”

Shaking your head, you nestled your face deeper into the pillow’s comforting embrace. “Just thought it would be comfortable since it was going to be warmer this evening,” you replied, the fabric of your clothing whispering softly against the sheets.

Eris groaned again, a soft sound of reluctant resignation, as you felt him carefully pulling his hardened erection away from your body, shifting onto his back. Your mate was nothing if not respectful of your boundaries, and when you said no, it was a firm line he would never cross. Yet, you sensed the internal struggle, the absolute torment it was for him to hold back.

“Nooooo,” you whined playfully, inching back towards him, seeking the comforting warmth of his presence. “You’re so warm!”

Eris growled lightly, a deep rumble that vibrated through the bed. “Just give me a second,” he managed, his voice strained with restraint.

The mattress shifted beneath you as he attempted to discreetly reposition his hardened length within his pajamas, trying to conceal the evident proof of his arousal. But with a swift motion, you flipped over, draping a leg over his torso, earning a choked gasp from him. His hands hesitated, then settled tentatively on your leg, the warmth of his touch sending a thrill through you. You could feel the insistent throb of his arousal just beneath your thigh.

His fingertips traced a slow, deliberate path along your thigh, and you could almost feel the internal torment he endured beneath your touch. For only a brief second, you allowed his trembling form to linger, until you shifted your position entirely. Now, you straddled him fully, your arms sliding around Eris’s neck as you pressed a featherlight kiss against his cheek, before settling in to nestle against the sensitive hollow of his neck.

Eris’s hands, raised in an almost instinctive gesture of caution, hovered above himself as if fearing a touch that might ignite a burning desire. You felt his jaw clench tightly as you undulated your lower body against him, every subtle movement designed to entice and tease. A soft, almost imperceptible moan escaped his lips as you nonchalantly adjusted your position, your body grinding intimately against his.

“Put your hands down, hold me,” you murmured into his ear, your voice a quiet yet pleading whisper that sent shivers along his skin.

Almost reluctantly, Eris allowed his hands to fall. The first delicate landing point was the gentle curve of your ass. He appeared to battle an immediate urge to grip the soft, yielding flesh beneath his fingertips, yet he restrained himself, letting his hands wander upward along the curve of your lower back to secure you close.

Your fingers wove tenderly through Eris’s hair, lightly tugging at the damp strands and twirling them between your fingertips, as if trying to recapture the fervor of earlier moments when you’d playfully pulled at his hair while he thrust into you. It seemed your subtle touch rekindled a familiar spark, for he let out another strangled, guttural groan.

Beneath you, you felt his arousal twitch in reaction, instinctively pressing upward into the growing heat between your thighs—heat that promised to make your skin slick and glistening with increasing desire. You knew well that eventually, Eris might catch the scent of your passion and question your teasing intent.

After several minutes, when it became evident that the pleasure was edging into discomfort for him, he leaned in and whispered with a hint of reluctant regret, “My love, as much as I enjoy you being so close, I’m going to ask you to move.”

Lifting your head, you peered down at him through the soft darkness of the room, your hair cascading like a shadowy curtain around the two of you. “Why?” you asked in a pouting tone, your voice feather-light yet laced with curiosity.

With a palpable gulp, Eris’s eyes drifted briefly to the gentle swell of your breasts, which rested invitingly just below your chin. His eyes then rolled back ever so slightly, and he swallowed hard to stifle another moan. “Because this nightgown—and you—are an exquisitely painful combination for me.”

Your eyelids fluttered in surprise. “What? Why?”

He hesitated, pain seemingly written across his features as he tried to explain. “Well, my love, to be perfectly honest: I’m harder right now than I think I’ve even been. And since we haven’t been fucked in a few days, I haven’t found time to get any relief. And I know you’re tired so I can obviously take care of my problem on my own. So, as much as I adore the way you look, and as much as I want to keep you snuggled here, I am going to have to go and take care of it before I just cum right here.”

You settled back to sit above him, the full weight of your body pressing down onto Eris’s hardened cock. Indeed, he was right; this was the hardest you had ever felt him, and as you straightened, dragging your heated core over him, a soft moan escaped his lips with parted only slightly in response. “But I don’t want you to go,” you said, your voice carrying a bit of playful defiance as you crossed your arms, causing your breasts to press together even more tightly.

Eris’s hands hovered uncertainly over your hips, his teeth sinking into his lower lip as he fought to remain still beneath you. “Look love,” he began, straining under the effort, “I can promise you that it will only take me maybe five minutes and I’ll be right back.”

You let your own lip fall into a dramatic pout, shifting slightly so his erection slid underneath you, eliciting another deep moan from him followed by a sharp hiss. His hands quickly found your hips, locking you in place with a firm grip. “If you move again, there’s a very real chance we’ll both need to change, and I will ruin that nightgown before I have a chance to ruin it the way I would prefer.”

“You mean, don’t do this?” you teased, pushing against his restraining hands, allowing your body to trace languidly over him. His grip tightened instantly, a hiss escaping through his clenched teeth.

“Yes,” he winced. “Just like that.” He pressed his hands against yours in a futile attempt to stop you as you pilled one more deliberate stroke over him. His eyes widened in desire and then panic, throwing you from the top of him and onto the bed next to him.

You burst into a fit of laughter, hands flying to your chest to try and contain yourself as Eris shot up and stared at you with a glare. “You’re a little minx, you know that?” he accused, running a hand through his hair.

You stifled your laughter, looking at him with a wide, unabashed smile plastered across your face. He studied you intently. “You enjoy torturing me?” He asked, a brow cocked as he seemed to be slowly unraveling your plan.

With a playful sigh, you threaded your fingers through your hair, the strands slipping through like silk as you nestled deeper beneath the blankets. “Of course not,” you drawled with a feigned innocence. “I would never do that to you.”

“Mm,” Eris murmured, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully before shifting his attention toward the bathroom. “So I guess you won’t mind if I go and finish myself without you?”

Your head snapped up, the word “No!” escaping from your lips in a rush, the urgency in it betraying too much of your true intentions.

He turned back to you with an incredulous look on his face. “Would you like to help me?” he asked, challenging.

You hesitated, pondering the question, but that fleeting pause was enough. Eris was already sliding out of bed, and you couldn’t help but notice the prominent outline of his desire pressing against the soft fabric of his pants.

As he made his way towards the bathroom, you were quickly out of bed and chasing after him. Your hand reached out to stop him, but he caught your wrist and responded with a swift tug, pulling you to his front. In one fluid motion you found yourself pressed against the wall, hands pinned above your head under Eris’s right hand. He loomed mere inches away, his expression hungry and his breath mingling with your own.

“Can I help you with something?” he asked, his tone laced with the same playful challenge you had issued earlier. His grip of your wrists shifted subtly, his fingers flexing against your skin, sending a ripple of warmth that ignited the fire in the depths of your stomach.

“I think you can,” you replied, your eyes burning with the same intense hunger that burned in his.

Eris moved his left hand to cradle the side of your voice, his presence so tantalizingly close yet keeping a deliberate distance.

“What would that be, my mate?” he inquired, his voice a smooth whisper.

You blinked slowly at him, your teeth grazing your lower lip in a teasing gesture. His gaze was captivated by the sight of your lip slipping free from your teeth, and you could scent his deepening urge to sink his own in.

“You could come back to bed with me?” you suggested, your words an invitation wrapped in a sultry package.

He released a deep, rumbling chuckle. “Well, you see,” he began, blending amusement with frustration. “You’ve put me in quite a predicament. As much as I’d love to lay with you, kiss, and hold you close, you’ve chosen to be a little brat. You’ve got me all worked up, hard as a rock, and now you’re actively standing in the way of me alleviating the situation. So, my love, I find myself unable to come back to bed until I can release the entire contents of my balls in one way, shape or form.”

There wasn’t a chance that his release was going anywhere but coating your cervix. You dragged your thigh up lightly, caressing over his cock with a feather-light touch as you let your body weight hang down under his firm grasp. Once you made contact, Eris’s hand immediately came down with authority, pressing your thigh to the side and opening you wider against the cold, unyielding wall. He pressed his heated body against yours and you could feel the warmth radiating off of him.

“You foul, dirty creature,” he moaned into your ear. “Is this what you want? You want to be a little tease?” he questioned, his eyes dark.

You turned to face him directly, even when the cold breeze that teasingly danced over your exposed core made your eyes want to roll back in your skill. You eyed him, smoldering with desire, and let your gaze travel down to where his cock was pressing insistently against your lower stomach. A hungry moan escaped your lips, filled with yearning.

Eris followed what had attracted your attention and let out another low laugh. “Oh no,” he whispered. “There’s no way you’re getting it now. Not after you’ve been such a problem for me.”

You whimpered slightly, a soft, plaintive sound. “But you want to give it to me,” you offered.

He cocked a brow, a sardonic smile playing at the corners of his lips, his hand dropping from your thigh and moving to your chin. His grip was firm but not harsh, holding you to meet his gaze. “Do I?” he asked, challenging you. “Is it something you deserve?”

You swallowed against his grip, your breath hitching and moaned softly again, “Yes.”

His face was so close that you could feel the warmth of his breath as he whispered into your ear, his entire body pressing insistently against yours. "Then why did you decide to slip into that delicious that little dress, in the color you know drives me wild, and tease me by shaking your hips in my face, rubbing yourself against me, and then pretending you didn't want me?" His voice was a low, teasing murmur as he took your ear between his teeth, applying just the slightest pressure.

A small, involuntary moan escaped your lips, and if your hands were free, you would have eagerly stripped him bare and taken him into your mouth in that very instant. "Because—" you managed to whimper.

"Because why?" he urged, his body moving rhythmically against yours. "Words, my beautiful girl."

A light moan escaped as your head fell back, exposing your neck to Eris, who took the opportunity to suck gently at your skin, leaving a trail of heat. "Because I wanted to make you crave me," you confessed breathlessly.

Eris lifted his gaze to meet yours, his eyes intense and focused. "My love," he murmured, his voice a deep, resonant whisper. "What part of you being the air I need, the reason I wake up, and the greatest love in my life, would make you think I could want you any more than I already do?" His words were both a declaration and a question.

You swallowed gently. "Because the healers told me I’m at my most fertile yet, and that the best way to get me pregnant would be to have you wait as long as possible and then take me.”

The growl that rumbled from Eris's throat was the deepest, most primal sound you'd ever heard, reverberating through you with a raw, untamed ferocity. “You’re at your most fuckable and you’re teasing me like this?”

You gave him a coy smile, your lip once again caught in-between your teeth. “I just thought the longer you would have to wait the more you could reward me with.”

Eris tilted his head back and let out a laugh. “You are such a delicious temptress, aren’t you?”

Before you could conjure a response of your own, his strong hands released their grip on you to glide possessively under your thighs, hoisting you against the wall. Somehow, he managed to also free himself from his pajamas. The slick evidence of his desire gleamed at his tip. “Think you’re deserving of all of this?” He asked, his gaze searing into yours as he positioned you over him, pressing lightly on your entrance.

“Yes—yes, I deserve it,” you asserted confidently, fingers tracing patterns over the firm planes of his shoulders.

“Tell me what you want,” a heady command and anticipation.

A wicked grin appeared on your face. “I want you buried deep inside of me.”

“Yeah?” Eris queried, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “You want me to pound you hard and fast enough that your screams echo through the hall?”

With a vigorous nod of affirmation, stifling your words as you felt the initial pressure of him against you, breaking the first threshold to your desire.

Eris continued his interrogation. “You want it right here? Aching to ride me? You want to cum for me?”

“Please,” escaped from your lips as a pleasurable moan. He continued to lower you down, a tantalizing millimeter at a time.

Eris rasped, his breathing growing ragged with each passing second. "I could smell your longing from miles away. Even a few days ago, it clung to you like your favorite perfume. And I couldn't figure out why I was so desperate to take you, bend you over every surface and lose myself in you. But now it all makes sense - you've been aching for me just as intensely.”

Your hands found their way to his hair, fingers tangling in his auburn locks as you took him in fully, setting a rhythm that had you both gasping for breath.

"And every time I saw you," Eris continued, his voice barely a whisper against your skin, "your body was practically begging for me. Aching for my touch. Craving my embrace like a parched male craves water in the desert. It wanted me for me to claim it, to fill you with the babe that your body wanted so badly."

Each word he spoke was like gasoline on the blazing inferno of your desire, stoking the flames higher and brighter. His every touch sent wave after wave of electric pleasure crashing over you.

You finally found yourself at the base of him, completely encased by his pulsing warmth. He started at a torturous pace, each shallow thrust making you arch against him as your nails raked over his broad shoulders.

“Harder,” you pleaded, an illicit moan escaping from your lips as he expertly angled his hips to brush against that divine spot within you.

A low grunt escaped from him, “Why should I give you what you want when you’ve kept me on edge for so long?” He teased with a wicked smirk.

You looked at him through flirtatiously half-closed eyes, trying to suppress another moan threatening to slip from your lips. His teasing was maddening. You shot him a glinting glare in response. “Because of what I can offer you in return.”

His hand slid up to your throat fingers applying pressure to the side of his face as he drawled, “Are we negotiating terms now?”

A laugh bubbled from your lips, a brief distraction that didn’t buy you enough time before Eris withdrew from you. His strings hands clutched the softness of your thighs as you let out a surprised gasp. In mere moments, he had you grounded, one had curling around your delicate throat, the other pressed possessively over your stomach, anchoring you to the broad expanse of his bare chest. You were reflected back to yourself in the floor-length mirror and you could feel his unforgiving hardness pressing into you.

“Look at you,” he murmured into your ear, “such a tantalizing beauty.” His reflection in the mirror showed him trailing his fingers torturously slow down your stomach, seeking out the daringly short hem of your crimson gown while he peppered kisses along your temple.

As he hiked up your dress, his fingers found their way to your heated core, parting you gently with his touch. His voice dropped an octave lower as he growled into your ear, “Look at yourself,” he growled, each word dripping with desire. He ground himself against you, hard even as his fingers flexed softly against your throat. “You really thought I could resist you?”

Your lips curled into a knowing smile, hoping he caught it in the mirror’s reflection—victory—as you raised a brow and turned towards him. Your noses lightly brushed together as you whispered back, “I knew you couldn’t. I just wanted to see how long it would take you to crack.”

Eris responded with a low purr that sent shivers down your spine before sliding one finger inside you. It was nothing compared to having him fully encased within you, but any touch was enough to send sparks of pleasure coursing through you. His lips found yours in a demanding kiss that left no room for argument, pushing deeper into your mouth as his finger explored you—deeply. He added another, then another, each addition sending a swift pulse of pleasure that left you gasping and arching up to your toes. Eris’s only response was a chuckle and an excited squeeze at your throat.

The room was filled with an intense mix of hunger and anticipation, the air thick with the lingering scent of your arousal. Your eyes were nothing more than darkened pools of desire, shining in the low light that reflected off the balcony nearby. The mirror reflected back at you two bodies, illuminated by the moonlight, lost in passion.

As Eris withdrew his teasing fingers from your burning core, he let out a throaty growl. He slowly trailed them upward, pressing them against your parted lips, an invitation you accepted without hesitation. You teased him by slowly grazing them with your tongue before taking them into your mouth entirely—tasting yourself on him. Each lick sent shockwaves of pleasure through Eris that manifested in low moans as he watched you in the mirror.

It appeared that even he was teetering on the edge of the delicious agony that his tantalizing teasing elicited as he forcefully led you backward, a few steps towards the fringe of the bed. His palm, firm and commanding, pressed into your back, bending you over the silken sheets. “Stay put,” he rasped. You braced your forearms on the sateen comforter, craning your neck to keep track of Eris’ movements. He intended for you to be a voyeur in your own pleasure.

The mirror was set beside you, allowing you the full view of your body’s display, curved over in crimson—vulnerable. Eris sidled up to the mirror, shoving his pants down in one hurried sweep, freeing his throbbing erection as he drank in your finger with hungry eyes.

Feeling bolder, you reached forward with your arms, pressing your backside higher towards the ceiling. Your hair fell like a curtain onto the bed as you playfully shook your hips for him. His response was an approving growl that stirred something carnal within you.

Eris took his position behind you, hands grasping onto your hips as he pushed up the gown that barely covered you, gathering it under his strong palms to bare his you entirely to him. He took his time exploring every dip and curve of your lower back and full rear with a gentle yet possessive touch. His gaze was fixated on your via the mirror’s reflection; admiration and lust written all over his features as his teeth bit into his lower lip, fingers fondling your soft flesh with passionate fervor.

You gyrated your hips a little, allowing your slick core to lightly brush against him; pulsing with anticipation. This fleeting touch sent him spiraling as he steadied himself between your legs—his solid cock straining with desire.

As he breached through the entrance of you, he drove himself in completely, filling every inch of you. The sight of him throwing his head back in pure ecstasy was mirrored before you; his grip slackening and mouth slightly agape, eyes shut as if to commit the feeling of your warmth around him to memory.

He pulled out slightly, a hiss escaping through gritted teeth as he plunged into your depths once more. He repeated this rhythm for a few more times before releasing a heavy grown and meeting your gaze in the mirror.

“Enjoying the show?” His words were punctuated by another thrust that sent tingles down your spine and pushed you further onto the bed.

A moan was all you could manage as an affirmation.

“Like watching me fuck you?”

Another needy moan.

“Enjoying the sight of me pushing in and out, filling your cunt to the brim?”

“Yes—“ escaped your lips in a gasp as your fingers gripped the sheets.

“Keep your eyes on me, my love,” he demanded. “I want you to watch the second I fuck a baby into you.”

With those final whispered words, he was off, pounding relentlessly into you. His powerful hands firmly gripped your hips, steadying you against the onslaught of his passion. Each thrust pushed you further into the silk sheets, the peaked buds of your breasts teasingly scraping against the fabric within your thin gown. The sensation was overbearing, all-consuming, absolutely shattering you piece by piece.

Your eyes remained on the mirror, unwilling to miss a second of the sight of him retreating only to penetrate back into you again. It was as though desire itself whispered to him—erotic and feral.

Eris’ gaze lingered on the curvature of your backside, taking delight in his own reflection glistening more and more from the wetness he urged from within you. Every now and then, his eyes would wander to yours, a devilish grin stretched across his face as he savored the sight of your pleasure-drenched features, gasping in anticipation.

One exploratory hand abandoned its post at your hip only to trail downwards towards the onslaught of your arousal. He slipped his hand between your trembling thighs, fingers dancing over your pulsating clit in quick circles—sweet torture.

Enraptured in passion, Eris growled out between labored thrusts, “Come on, my love,” he pleaded. His eyes, dark with desire, never left your face—which begged for release. “Let go for me. Cum for me.”

His fingers quickened on your clit, pounding into your heat with an intensity that caused your toes to curl into the floor. Then, like a lightning bolt, pleasure tore through every inch of your body—from the top of your head right down through the soles of your feet. Your neck arched back as a throaty scream of a moan escaped your lips. Caught in the throes of ecstasy, the image reflected in the mirror as your climax shook your body.

Eris drank in even, his hand leaving your back to thread through your hair, pulling back with a fervor that made your back arch beautifully against him. His eyes glazed over with lust, lips slightly agape as his own orgasm shot through him. You felt him come apart inside you—ropes of warmth coating your inner walls as he delivered pulse after pulse of molten desire deep within you. The gentle throne of him filling you was mirrored in his reflection—a rhythmic beat that echoed in time with his heart.

He grunted, his body taught as the spasms worked through him. His pent-up need after days of no release was finally sated. He bore a look of gratitude for you as though you had freed him from invisible shackles.

He released your hair from his fist, leaning forward and pressing a soft, lingering kiss into the curve of your shoulder as his warm breath panted against your skin. “I love you,” he whispered.

Your own chest rose and fell rapidly, still feeling the small, intoxicating ripples of pleasure coursing through your body. "I love you too," you replied, your voice a soft echo.

Eris withdrew slowly, his hand guiding his cock from within you with careful tenderness, and in the reflection of the mirror, you saw what resembled a glistening thread of his pleasure, a shimmering connection between the two of you. With a delicate swipe of his finger, he gathered it and gently pressed it back into you. Before he finally let out a final breath.

“Here,” he murmured, his hands providing support as he helped you turn onto your back with careful ease. His hands cradled the underside of your thighs as he guided your knees to your chest, bestowing light, tender kisses on both of them. His eyes, filled with deep longing and unwavering love, gazed down at you. “You’re so, agonizingly beautiful.”

You looked up at his face, radiant with pleasure, his hair tousled into charming disarray, cheeks flushed with a rosy hue. Your mate, enveloped in complete bliss.

Eris's fingers trailed down your calves, tracing the contours of your legs with delicate touch, before caressing up over the tops of your feet. He pressed soft, adoring kisses into your toes, each one imbued with reverence as though an act of devotion. It was not a gesture of lust, but one of pure intimacy, as though he was worshiping. His fingers skillfully kneaded the arches of your feet in a gentle massage, and you let your gaze drift upward, eyes falling closed in utter contentment.

Part 4: Dandelions

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redheadspark · 5 months ago

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Revenge Part Two

Summary - Sequel to Part One of my Ocean Eyes Series I fell a bit behind in writing the second part of this little one shot, but now I wrote it out! I hope you like it!

Warnings - Mix of angst with a HINT of fluff

Azriel’s P.O.V

“He’s in here,”

Azriel walked behind the set of Autumn Court guards, High Lord Brennon leading the way as the narrow hallways were chilled to the bone and the lanterns that were light barely had life in them. His leather tight against his body, his Truth Teller tight against his hip and thigh, his mind clear with one objective:

End Eris

Landing in Autumn Court with Cassian and Rhysand at his side, it was clear he was leading the charge. The colors of red and orange illuminated in the setting sun as Lord Brennon met the two Illryians and Night Court High Lord in front of the holding quarters. With one look from the Autumn Court High Lord, Azriel knew he was not there for pleasantries. He saw remorse in Lord Brennon’s eyes, remorse and regret mixed in with his own anger and rage. Yet he simply lead them to the prison cells that were tucked away below the ground, stairs zigzagging back and forth along deep cold boulders and rocks. Such a contrast to the Court above them as they were descending lower and lower. Even the wind licking against the walls and howling within the caverns brought dread.

All Azriel thought about as he took every stone step was his wife and son. His mate, who nearly died at the hands of the Autumn Prince simply because of her love for Azriel, he missed his mate and wished that her warmth would fill the bitterness that he was harboring. Then his son, such a innocent young boy who would never hurt a fly and bring joy to Azriel’s days just by his laugh and smile, Alec was his main priority and his safety will no longer hang in the balance.

“We relocated out current prisoners to our new set of cells on the other side of the prison. Eris is the only soul on this side, and we’ve done that deliberately.” Berron explained, “I would rather not have my prisoners be exposed to his ill doings since most of them are on the mend of being released on good behavior,”

FInally, at the end of a long hallway that had cells left and right, the last cell on the left already radiated deep energy, deep and dark that seeped of rage and horror. The other cells were empty, a sure sign of the seriousness of the situation. Azriel didn’t need his shadows to tell him that Eris was there, Brennon stepping to the side swiftly as the guard moved to flank both sides of the cell in quick obedience. Rhysand and Cassian stayed behind Azriel, both were silent and just as focused as the Shadowsinger. They too were filled with Anger towards Eris for bringing harm to Azriel’s family, their family.

But their anger was nothing compared to Azriel.

“My guards will stand by, but they will not interfere,” Berron explained as he turned to speak to Azriel, whom was watching him intensely with his hazel orbs and his shadows licking against his arms and legs. Begging to start the torture, pleading to inflict pain on Eris as soon as they could. Yet Azriel was composed, standing beyond still and stiff as if he was on one of his missions. He was, and this mission was one of the biggest ones he would ever be on.

“There will be no need to tell me when you are finished, my guard will do that for me. All I ask, is that once you have completed what you wished to do, our alliance stays the same and remains strong.” Berron explain, then looking past Azriel to Rhysand. Azriel looked too, seeing his High Lord remain composed as he stood next to to Cassian. HIs violet eyes were almost illuminated in the latter lights of the dim prison hallway, even his dark hair shined as his stare was intense. He nodded once, not saying a word. Azriel was grateful that he came along, though he would have asked him to stay behind in Velaris. But deep down, he knew Rhysand and Cassian were his brothers, they would do anything and be anything for him and keep him alive by any means necessary.

Berron started to walk past Azriel, then stopping in his tracks to look at the Shadwosinger with his haunting eyes. Azriel didn’t want to look at him, his was already waiting on pins and noodles to finally come face to face with the one fae who almost took the life of both his wife and son. Yet he still watched Berron, seeing the ruler of Autumn Court give him a sincere gaze. No wall around him, no look of superiority either.

Simply one being looking at another. One father acknowledging another.

“I’m sorry about your family,” He said to Azriel, whom drank in those five words slowly. Hearing those words from him seemed like a trick of his mind, knowing how stern and unmoving he was as a High Lord. Knowing his past allegiance and who he used to be aligned with, this was new for Azriel to hear it in his tone of voice, to see it in his eyes.

He felt how Azriel felt in that moment, and he was letting him know.

High Lord Berron walked on before Azriel would say anything, both Rhysand and Cassian moving to the side as the High Lord ascending the stairs. The three of them were watching one another with a moment or two of silence, only the soft flickers of the latter flames and dripping water was evident. Azriel realized that he was about to do, and having his two oldest friends with him almost brought him peace. Almost.

“Are you two going to stay and watch?” He asked the pair of him, not in a calloused manner and with no bite to it. Cassian rolled his shoulders as Rhsyand flicked off some lint from his shoulders. Azriel watched them both, another beat or two of silence hung in the air as Rhsyand was the one to finally speak up.

“We’re simply here to be with you,” Rhysand replied, Cassian nodding in agreement as Rhsyand gave Azriel a kind look, “You’re our family too, Az. If you want us here, we’ll be here. If not, we won’t.”

He knew where they were coming from. Growing up together, suffering together through battles and blood, being happy together in their growing families and finding love for one another. They were all brother first, then lovers, and now fathers. The bond they all had together always thickened and grew over time, with no signs of separation or dismemberment.

They would got through hell for him. And he would for them too.

“I’ll take him on my own,” He replied calmly, his voice remaining soft since he could feel the bitterness want to come through in his tone. Cassian gave him a hesitant look, almost worried in leaving him alone with Eris. But then again, he took in a long inhale and nodded once, Rhysand nodding as well.

“Contact me when you’re done.” Rhysand replied as he pushing himself off from leaning against the wall.

“You two don’t need to wait for me” Azriel reason, but Cassisan scoffed and shook his head.

“We’re not leaving this place without you,” He replied wholeheartedly. Azriel looked from him to his High Lord. Rhysand eyed him, love was laced in his violet eyes as he rubbed his fingers together.

“I swore to my cousin to stay for you, and make sure you stayed yourself,” He explained, Azriel shifting in his stance from the mention of his mate and wife, “I won’t break my promise to my family, and you’re my family,”

Azriel felt it in his chest, the mention of family. For so long he was always looking for a place to belong and a family to cling to. But his family was standing in front of him, willing to walk though fire for him to keep him in the light and keep him sane.

Deep down, he was grateful for the pair of them since they were his first true family.

With that, Rhysand and Cassian turn on their heels and walked down the hallway, Azriel watching them as they were ascending the stairs and out of his vision. He was left alone in the nearly abandoned hallway. Hearing nothing else in the area but only his labored breathing. He was left alone in this thoughts, in the motives that he was experiencing. All this time, those long nights of worry and paranoia mixed in with moments in time where he thought of the worst. It all came down to that moment, seeing the occupied cell that was shut tight and waiting for him.

Coaxing him to murder.

Kill the man who threatened his family. Who almost took his son and wife away, who thought of It was a game of sorts. Fear occupied his life and his home thanks to the man who was locked up, and now he had the opportunity to take care of it once and for all.

HIs shadows move along the walls of the hallways, touching the open prison cells and itching along the stone ground, perhaps surveying the area for Azriel as he was walking slowly towards the one shut cell door. Thoughts were flooding his head now that he was utterly alone, moments away from opening the door and letting his shadows take over within a millisecond.

He placed his hand on the cell door handle, his shadows licking against his fingers as if they were begging him to open. Do it, open it now. Now…NOW!

Finally with a gentle push, he opened the door. Darkness as already in the cell with only a singular light coming from a window that was hight above near the ceiling. A stone bed agains the wall, one bucket with barely any water or what could be piss in the other corner.

And there was Eris, sitting on the bed and looking almost on the brink of death.

HIs red hair that used to have shine was now matted against his head, even the warmth that hr would have as the Prince of Autumn Court was stripped away. He already looked like a hollowed shell, the glow on his skin was now replaced with ash and paleness as if he was hidden away from the sun for far too long. He was no longer the Eris Azriel thought he knew.

This was a shell. A shell of someone who was defeated.

Azriel stepped into the cell, his shadows closing the door behind him with a “pop” of the lock activating. They instantly got to work, pressing along the walls and floors as if to inspect the room itself as Eris took in a shallow breath. His eyes flickered up to Azriel, even the glow they had before when he felt on top of the world was no longer evident. His eyes were dull, almost in defeat.

“Are you here to finish me, Shadowsinger?” He asked dully, his voice laced in hurt and almost pain as Azriel’s shadows were still clicking along every surface in the small room. Azriel kept his composure as he watched the Autumn Prince, seeing how crumbled he was facing him and showing no attitude or cockiness. Not like before, now he was different. His shadows cam back to him, moving along his arms and neck to signal Azriel there was no other threat in that cell, no tricks and no weapons.

Eris was utterly at his mercy.

He thought about his home back at Night Court, the small little cottage that was tucked away in the fields that only brought happiness and joy to his family of three. He thought of the Inner Circle, whom has come to his aid and provided him with all of their own abilities and knowledge.

Most of all, he thought of his wife and son, the two joys in his life that meant for to him than his own life.

“No,” he replied coldly, Eris barely raising a brow as Azriel kept his stare on him. With a simple twist of his wrist, his shadows engulfed the space of the cell, shutting out any light that was seen within the four walls. Just like before, what seemed like such a long time ago, when Azriel filled the meeting room with darkness when Eris first threatened his family.

This time, he wouldn’t let Eris leave that cell willingly.

Your P.O.V

Your son was in a deep sleep, snuggled into the sheets with his black hair blocking his eyes. With the starry night high above your home, it cast a tint of blue over the fields into Alec’s bedroom. You leaned back from your perch on the bed, watching Alec for a moment or two as he snored against his pillow. The window was slightly opened, bringing in the sweet scent of lavender from the garden along with the strong scent of mint.

His room glowed with warmth and familiarity: his toys tucked away in his toy trunk, his dresser against the wall that now had a new set of clothes given his recent growth spurt, and even the mural that was painted on the walls and ceiling showed warmth and peace that you knew this was a safe space for your son. It always was, since you brought him home as an infant. After watching Alec for another moment or two, you finally leaned over to kiss him on the forehead, moving out of the room to let your room get his sleep after worrying over his father for the past few hours.

Ever since Azriel flew off with Rhysand and Cassian, Alec was filled with worry and concern for his father. You tried your best to keep him busy during the sunset. Alec still thought of his father throughout dinner and his playdate with Nyx and Rose after dinner. But still, in the back of his mind, he was thinking of Azriel.

You were too, and you could only hope and pray that he was going to return the same Azriel you knew and loved.

He’s inflicted torture in the past on those who threatened harm to Night Court, even specifically to those he loved. You knew that about him, ever since the beginning when he started working for Rhysand. He had the power and ability to bring pain and horror to those who deserved it, and who were you to deter him from it? Azriel told you plenty of times in the past that you have saved him from completely losing himself within his work and the pain he would bring on others.

It was hard to see it at the time, but you knew it to be true.

Closing the door to his room behind you, the rest of the cottage was quiet. The once roaring fire in the fireplace was now dwindling to embers. You started tidying up the living room, the few pieces of Alec’s shirts and socks all over the place, some of your cross-stitching yarn that you’ve started using after a recent shopping trip in the city, and a few blankets that you and Alec used to wrap up in while you read him his favorite book. After placing the last bit of the small trinkets away in their proper place, you paused and looked at your home, you could have sworn you heard something high above your cottage. A familiar sound, yet it still made you stand stiff. Instinctively, you rushed over to reach behind the couch amongst the cushions, a dagger now in your hand as you listened for the sound again.

There was: the sound of wind shifting. Almost like wings…..

Wings.

My love?

You panicked, hearing it and feeling it in the bond as you rushed out of the cottage so abruptly that the front door banged against the wall. Inwardly you were cursing at yourself for perhaps waking up your son, but you didn’t care. You took a few steps out into the long grass before a being landed right in front of you with such force that the grass around you bent backward. You knew who it was within moments, the familiar scent that he would harbor on his skin, the shadows that swirled around him along his wings and arms, and his bright hazel eyes that looked on the verge of tears.

The dagger that you had clutched in your hand dropped into the grass, forgotten as you finally said his name.

“Azriel,”

You both met in the middle of the field, his arms around you as his shadows melted away while his arms clung to you in such an intimate and death grip. Sighing in relief, you held him close as well, then realized after a second or two that you were feeling a thin shirt. Not his leathers. Your fingers moved along his arms and backside, feeling the soothing material against your fingertips and then panicking as you pulled away to look at his appearance.

A thin gray shirt, dark pants, and barefoot.

“Your leathers,” You gasped, looking back at Azriel, finally seeing his face and how he looked changed. Drained, almost like he lost so much energy. You were glad he was there and he was alive, but you knew that he had changed. You cringed, reaching up to cup his face in your hand as you scanned his eyes, “Azriel, where are your leathers?”

He would never go on a mission without his leathers. It was a second skin for him, something he fought for and taken care of ever since he was given his first set of leathers. He would fix the broken seams himself before he would ask for your assistance, taking hours on end to select his new set. Those leathers were part of his life, and yet he stood in front of you now as if he was robbed of them.

You didn’t like the view.

“I didn’t want you to see how bad it was,” He mumbled against your palm that was against his cheek, you hearing the pain in his voice and seeing how close he was to being in tears. Somehow you felt it, deep within the bond that you both had and relied on for your love for one another, he was both broken and yet relieved.

No longer was he going to be haunted by Eris, thinking of the worst that could happen to either you or Alec. He could stop his paranoia in your safety and thinking of the future. His shoulders were now sagging and he leaned heavily against your palm as you gave him the softest smile. There was so much you wanted to say to him, wanting to ask him even, but that would be for the morning.

All you did was hug him again, feeling his head dig into your shoulder as he breathed you in. Even his inhale sounded and felt broken.

You both walked back into the cottage, shutting off the lights as the pair of you walked down the hallway. Azriel poked his head into Alec’s room, seeing his son fast asleep and curled into the stuffed owl that he’d had since he was a baby. Seeing that look in his eyes, the look of pure relief and finally having peace for his son, providing it for him. You could see tears in his eyes, falling over his eyelashes and hitting his cheeks as you ushered back away and over to your bedroom.

Azriel nestled his head against your chest, hearing your heartbeat through your shirt as his arms were around you protectively. Questions were still reeling in your head about what happened. What came of Eris? Was the threat completely gone? Can the three of you finally breathe? But those questions were merely lingering now as Azriel fell asleep. Your fingers in his hair, his nose barely touching your collarbone, you felt that bubble again.

The bubble that both yourself and Azriel always wanted when you two mated. The bubble that brought the pair of you pure happiness with long days and cool nights. The bubble that made you sincerely hope for a great future.

You still held a secret from your mate, feeling his fingers sprawled out along your lower stomach. He wouldn’t be able to feel or see a bump yet, given the fact that you recently got the news from Madja herself. But you were inwardly glad he came home in one piece, knowing in a few months, your house was going to be officially crowded.

But in the best way.

The End

Tagged - @valeridarkness @impossibelle @acourtofbatboydreams @prettylittlewrites @fxckmiup @alwayshave-faith

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earthtoharlow · 7 months ago

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Don’t Like The Lights

Sequel to Flashing Lights series, must read Flashing Lights first to understand

Series Masterlist

10. Easier Said

Healing and patience are lovers. Don't place the blame on your heart, just to shut 'em up. There ain't a rush to recover

“It looks like he’s been stalking you for months, sending you threatening messages. He was outside your home for hours before breaking in, waiting for the right moment. In his backpack he had a knife, zip ties, mace, and duct tape….”

Jack immediately started to turn pale. Without a word he pushes away from the table abruptly, excuses himself and leaves the room.

Once in the hallway Jack leans against the wall taking deep breaths to calm himself down. The more details that came out the sicker he felt.

He stumbles to a nearby trash can and empties his stomach. His body was shaking with anger and fear. Jack just couldn’t believe how close they had come to something bad happening to the love of his life.

Jack pulls out his phone and dialed his mom’s number, needing the comfort of her voice. It rang a few times before she answered.

“Hey, baby,” his mom said warmly. “How are you holding up?”

“Not great, Mom,” he admitted, his voice shaky. “I feel so guilty. Maryse hasn’t been sleeping, and I just… I should’ve been there. I keep thinking about what could’ve happened if Maryse didn’t escape or if he chased after her…”

“Oh, honey,” she sighed. “This isn’t your fault. You’ve done everything you can to keep her safe. Sometimes, bad things happen no matter how much we try to prevent them.”

“I know, but it doesn’t stop me from feeling like I failed her,” he said, his eyes welling up with tears. “She made me barricade the doors of the hotel last night. That’s the only thing that makes her feel safe enough to sleep, and even then, it’s not much”

His mom’s voice softened, filled with empathy. “It’s natural to feel that way, but you need to remember that she needs you to be strong now. You’re her rock. And it’s okay to feel scared, but don’t let it consume you. Talk to her, let her know how you’re feeling.”

Jack nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “I just want her to be okay, Mom. I can tell she’s still terrified.”

“She’s been through a lot,” his mom said gently. “It’s going to take time for her to feel safe again. Be patient with her, and with yourself.”

“Thanks, Mom,” he said, feeling a small sense of relief. “I really needed to hear that.”

“You’re welcome, baby. Just remember, you’re doing your best, and that’s all anyone can ask for. Take care of yourself too, okay? She needs you to be strong, but you can’t do that if you’re running on empty.”

“I will,” he promised. “I love you, Mom.��

“I love you too. And tell Maryse I’m thinking of her.”

“I will,” he said, taking a deep breath. “Thanks again.”

He took a moment to get his emotions together before returning to the room. Maryse looked up from where she sat with the officer.

“Are you okay?” She asked softly.

Jack took a deep breath, crossing the room to sit beside her. “Yeah, I just needed a minute,” he told her.

“Thank you for always being there for me,” Maryse whispered. “Especially now.”

Jack gently took her hand, his thumb brushing over the promise ring on her finger. “I promised you, didn’t I?” he said softly. “You’re my world. I’ll always be here for you.”

Maryse pressed a small kiss to his lips, before turning back towards the officer.

“We’ll be taking this to court,” the officer said firmly. “Given the amount of evidence we have, it shouldn’t be a long process.”

She let out a shaky breath, relief and anxiety mingling in her chest. “So, there’s a chance this will be over soon?” she asked.

“Yes,” the officer assured her. “We have more than enough to make a strong case. The restraining order will stay in place, and we’ll ensure you have the protection you need.”

Jack squeezed her hand, offering silent support. “Thank you, officer,” he said. “We appreciate everything you’re doing.”

The officer nodded. “We’ll keep you updated on every step. In the meantime, make sure to reach out if you need anything. Your safety is our priority.”

As the officer left, Maryse turned to Jack, her eyes searching his. “I hope this really is over soon,” she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.

“It will be.” Jack told her just as quietly, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

***

Maryse was bouncing her knee nervously as the courthouse buzzed as it was the final day of trial. She looked back towards Jack and Urban who were sitting behind her for support. Neither of them had missed a single court date. The months leading up to this moment had been a whirlwind of fear, and anxiety, Now, it was all coming to a head.

The fan was seated a few feet away from her, being so close to him still sent chills down her spine. This whole trial he sat with an indifferent expression, like he knew his fate.

The judge cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. “After careful consideration of the evidence and testimonies presented, this court finds the defendant guilty of stalking and breaking and entering. It is the judgment of this court that the defendant be sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 15 years of probation.”

As the words hung in the air, Maryse couldn’t help but feel relief but frustration as well. Fifteen years of prison meant the fan would be off the streets for a significant period, but the probation period meant he would still have some freedom after serving his time.

The judge continued, “During the probation period, the defendant is to have no contact with the victim, and any violation of this order will result in immediate re-incarceration.”

As the gavel came down, signaling the end of the trial, Maryse exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The fan was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs, his expression still unreadable.

Maryse felt a tear slip down her cheek as the weight of the verdict settled in. It wasn’t the life sentence she had hoped for, but it was a step towards reclaiming her peace.

Jack immediately joined her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close. “It’s over,” he whispered. “We can finally put this behind us.”

As they walked out the courtroom, the sun seemed to be shining brighter, warmer. There was a long road ahead but for the first time in months, Maryse felt like she could breathe again. The nightmare was finally over.

Jack gently held Maryse’s hand and guided her to their car. “You up for a little trip?” he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Maryse looked at him curiously. “Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise,” Jack replied with a wink, opening the car door for her. “Trust me.”

The drive was short, Maryse watched the scenery change from the urban landscape to rolling hills and open fields. As they pulled up to an empty plot of land, Jack parked the car and turned to her with a smile.

“Come on,” he said, getting out and walking around to open her door.

Maryse stepped out, looking around at the vast, open space. “What is this place?” she asked, confused.

Jack took her hand, leading her a few steps forward. “I bought this land,” he said, his eyes shining with anticipation. “I thought we could start building our forever home here.”

Maryse’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? You bought this for us?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Our current place has a lot of memories, but after everything that’s happened, I think it’s time to make new ones. A fresh start.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, but this time they were tears of joy. “I love it,” she whispered, hugging him tightly. “I can’t believe you did this.”

Jack held her close, feeling the relief that was finally setting in. “We’ve been through a lot, but this is our chance to build something beautiful together. Our own space, filled with nothing but good memories.”

Maryse pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. “Thank you. I can’t wait to see what we create here.”

He kissed her softly, a promise of all the good things to come. “Me too. This is just the beginning.”

After spending almost an hour talking about all the things they wanted in the new house they made the trip back home.

“So, when we left the courthouse today I had Urban drop something off here.” Jack told her with a mysterious grin on his face.

“Oh god. I don’t like the look on your face.”

Jack ignored her and guided her to the couch and gestured for Maryse to sit down. “Close your eyes.”

She complied, covering her eyes with her hands. She heard him walk away, then return a few moments later.

“Okay, open your eyes,” Jack said softly.

Maryse opened her eyes and gasped. In his arms was a tiny, wiggling puppy with big eyes and a wagging tail. She covered her mouth in shock, tears springing to her eyes.

“Meet Lou Lou,” Jack said, placing the puppy gently in her lap. “I know how much you’ve always wanted a puppy. I thought this little one could keep us company, especially when we’re missing each other.”

Maryse's heart melted as she gently stroked the puppy’s soft fur. “Oh my god, she’s perfect,” she whispered, looking up at Jack with a grateful smile. “Thank you so much. This means everything to me.”

Jack sat down beside her, watching as Lou Lou nuzzled into Maryse lap. “I know things have been tough, and we both get lonely when we’re apart. I thought having her around would make things a little easier.”

Maryse leaned over and kissed him. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe you did this. I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “And now, we’ve got our little family started.”

Maryse settled into the couch and watched as Jack played around on the floor, laughing a bit when Lou tried to grab at Jack’s hoodie. Happy that what happened was all behind her now.

***

Couple weeks later Maryse was finally back in the studio for the first time since the incident. She had traveled alone for the occasion, something she hadn’t done since everything happened. She had written a song for the soundtrack of the Color Purple and the producers of the film loved it so much that they asked if Usher could be part of it. The collaboration was also set to appear on his upcoming album.

Her nerves went away as soon and she walked into the recording booth, it was like she never left. The sight of the mixing board, and the hum of quiet conversations around her brought back memories of her life before she had to constantly look over her shoulder.

Maryse was supposed to stay the night in Atlanta but she couldn’t shake the discomfort she felt from being in a hotel room alone at night. The thought of sleeping without Jack by her side felt unsettling. As soon as the session wrapped up, she wasted no time booking the earliest flight back home.

Arriving home in the late hours of the night, she quietly unlocked the door and slipped inside. The house was silent, a comforting contrast to the loud studio. She headed to the bedroom, eager to see Jack.

As she pushed the door open, a heartwarming sight greeted her. Jack was sprawled out on his stomach, mouth wide open, sound asleep. Lou Lou, was curled up on his back, equally as peaceful. Maryse couldn’t help but smile at the adorable scene.

Moving quietly, she set her bag down and approached the bed. She gently placed a hand on Jack's back, careful not to disturb the puppy. He stirred slightly but didn’t wake. She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, whispering, “I’m home.”

Jack mumbled something incoherent, his eyes fluttering open for a brief moment. “Hey, babe,” he slurred, barely conscious. “You’re back.”

“Yeah,” she whispered, stroking his hair. “I missed you.”

He smiled sleepily, his eyes already closing again. “Missed you too.”

Maryse carefully climbed into bed, trying not to jostle Lou Lou. She settled in beside Jack, her hand resting on his back. The warmth of his body and the soft breathing of their puppy eased the tension that had built up over the past few days.

As she lay there, listening to the quiet sounds of the night, a sense of peace washed over her. She would get through her fears of sleeping alone one day at a time. Being home, with Jack and Lou Lou, was all she needed.

And for now, that was enough.

***

an: thank you for reading as always let me know your thoughts 🫶

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callsigns-haze · 8 months ago

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Lock it in

Eris x Rhysand's Sister!Reader Summary: Y/N and Eris solidify their bond through an intimate meal, leading to a passionate night that deepens their love and connection. In the quiet of their cabin, they find solace and joy in each other's embrace. Chapter Warnings: Sexual content, Mild language, Brief mention of light spanking

*Serves as a one-shot but can be read as memories fade or the sequel loves haze series

Four months later after they rose, Eris sat in his office, the weight of his responsibilities as one of the Phoenii leaders bearing down on him. The stacks of papers before him seemed endless, each document a reminder of the vast duties that had fallen upon him and Y/N since their miraculous resurrection. His ginger-red hair was slightly dishevelled, and faint lines of exhaustion marred his otherwise handsome features.

Eris sighed, rubbing his temples, his mind drifting momentarily to the life they had been building together. The lands beyond the forest were thriving under their care, but it was a monumental task, one that required constant attention and effort.

Just as he began to immerse himself back into his work, the door to his office swung open with a sudden force. Y/N stormed in, her expression a mix of frustration and determination. She carried a stack of thick, ancient-looking books, which she promptly slammed down on his desk, causing papers to scatter and leaving Eris in a state of shock.

"Y/N, what in the name of the Cauldron…?" Eris began, his eyes wide with surprise.

Y/N, her hair slightly tousled from her evident irritation, placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. "We need to talk, Eris. Now."

Eris blinked, quickly recovering from his initial shock. He leaned back in his chair, giving her his full attention. "Alright," he said, his voice calm despite the abrupt interruption. "What's going on?"

She took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto his. "These books," she began, pointing to the stack on the desk, "contain records about Wyrdmarks. I’ve discovered that they originate from the old kingdom known as Erilea, the very kingdom that brought back magic."

Eris frowned, his curiosity piqued. "Wyrdmarks? And Erilea? Go on."

Y/N opened the top book, flipping through its yellowed pages with a practiced hand. She stopped at a section filled with intricate illustrations and dense text. "Erilea was a kingdom containing courts steeped in ancient magic. These Wyrdmarks are powerful symbols, capable of extraordinary feats. They’re scattered throughout the kingdom, and I believe they’re connected to our revival and the magic we now possess."

Eris leaned forward, his interest growing. "What does this mean for us?"

Y/N's expression was serious, her determination unwavering. "It means that our power, our very existence as Phoenii, is linked to these marks and the magic of Erilea. We need to understand them, Eris. There could be untapped potential or unforeseen dangers we haven’t even considered."

Eris reached out, taking her hand in his, his expression thoughtful. "And you think these Wyrdmarks could help us harness our abilities more effectively? Or protect us from threats?"

Y/N nodded. "Yes. But more than that, we need to understand the history and the magic of Erilea. It’s a part of who we are now. Ignoring it would be foolish."

Eris squeezed her hand gently. "Then we’ll study these books together. We’ll learn everything we can about Erilea and the Wyrdmarks. Whatever you wish."

Eris tapped his lap, inviting Y/N to sit down. She hesitated for a moment, then moved to settle herself comfortably against him. He brushed her hair aside gently, exposing the curve of her neck, and leaned in to place soft kisses along her skin. The warmth of his lips sent a shiver down her spine, and she relaxed into his embrace, feeling the familiar comfort and love that had blossomed between them.

"Y/N," Eris murmured against her neck, "you've been working so hard on this. I’m amazed at your dedication."

She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "It's important, Eris. For us, for our family, for our people."

He nodded, his expression serious. "I know. And I’m proud of you."

A soft smile touched her lips, but it was tinged with a hint of melancholy. "Eris, we never properly mated. With everything that happened… we never had the chance to complete the bond."

Eris's eyes softened, and he tightened his arms around her. "I know. There’s been so much going on, and I regret not giving us that moment."

Y/N reached up, cupping his cheek. "I want to make you the mating meal. I want us to have that bond, to be truly connected in every way."

Eris's heart swelled with emotion. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a tender, lingering kiss. When they finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers. "Then let's do it. Tonight. I’ll take care of everything else; you focus on preparing the meal."

Y/N's eyes sparkled with determination. "Tonight," she agreed, her voice filled with a mix of anticipation and love.

Eris helped her off his lap, watching as she moved to gather her thoughts and plan the evening ahead. He felt a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that their bond would soon be complete. As Y/N disappeared into the kitchen, he couldn’t help but smile, the weight of their responsibilities momentarily lifted by the promise of their deepening connection.

Y/N stood in the cozy kitchen of their cabin, the soft glow of the evening sun filtering through the windows. She took a deep breath, steadying herself for the task ahead. Tonight, she would make the mating meal for Eris, a tradition that would cement their bond and bring them even closer together.

She gathered the ingredients she had carefully selected, each one chosen for its significance in the ritual. Fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, all imbued with the magic of the land they now protected. The scent of wild strawberries filled the air as she chopped them, their sweetness a reminder of the simple joys they shared with their children.

Next, she prepared a tender piece of venison, marinating it with a blend of herbs that Eris loved. As she worked, she couldn’t help but think of their journey together, from the pain and loss they had endured to the love and hope they now embraced. Each slice of her knife, each sprinkle of seasoning, was infused with her love for him.

She moved on to bake a loaf of bread, kneading the dough with care. The rhythmic motion was soothing, and she found herself humming a soft tune as she worked. The kitchen was filled with the comforting aromas of home, a testament to the life they had built together.

While the bread rose and the venison cooked, Y/N prepared a salad with fresh greens, edible flowers, and a light vinaigrette. She arranged everything meticulously, her heart swelling with the significance of the meal. This was more than just food; it was a promise, a vow of eternal love and partnership.

As the final touches were added, she set the table with their best dishes and lit a few candles, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. The meal was ready, and she took a moment to appreciate her work. Everything looked perfect, a reflection of the love she held for Eris.

Eris entered the kitchen, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. The table was beautifully set, the aroma of the meal making his stomach rumble in anticipation. Y/N stood by the stove, a soft smile on her lips as she met his gaze.

"Y/N," he breathed, walking over to her. "This is incredible."

She blushed slightly, her heart fluttering at his praise. "I wanted it to be special," she said softly. "For us."

Eris wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "It’s perfect. You’re perfect."

They stood there for a moment, holding each other, before moving to the table. Y/N served the meal, each dish a labour of love. As they ate, they talked and laughed, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment.

When the meal was finished, Y/N took Eris’s hand and led him outside to the deck by the lake. The stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky, and the water shimmered in the moonlight. They sat together, wrapped in blankets, the warmth of their connection keeping them close.

As Y/N and Eris sat at the beautifully set table, the warm glow of candlelight illuminating their faces, she smiled softly and picked up a forkful of the tender venison. She leaned in closer, bringing the bite to Eris’s lips. His eyes sparkled with affection as he accepted the offering, savouring the rich flavours.

"Delicious," he murmured, his voice husky.

She blushed, her heart swelling with pride and love. "I’m glad you like it," she replied, feeding him another bite of the perfectly seasoned meat.

With each bite, their connection deepened, the simple act of sharing food becoming a ritual of their bond. Y/N picked up a piece of the fresh-baked bread, slathered with honey butter, and brought it to Eris’s mouth. He took a bite, his lips brushing against her fingers, sending a shiver down her spine.

"This is amazing, Y/N," he said between bites, his gaze never leaving hers.

As the meal came to an end, the table now filled with empty plates and satisfied sighs, Eris leaned back, his eyes darkening with a mischievous glint. "You know," he said, his voice low and teasing, "I think I might still be a little hungry."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh? And what do you have in mind for dessert?"

Eris grinned, his eyes roaming over her with a hunger that had nothing to do with food. "How about you?" he suggested, his tone laced with desire.

Before Y/N could respond, Eris stood up and, in one swift motion, tossed her over his shoulder. She let out a surprised laugh, her hands coming to rest on his back. "Eris!" she exclaimed, half-laughing, half-protesting.

He slapped her behind lightly, making her squeal. "You asked," he said, his voice filled with laughter as he carried her towards their bedroom. "Now, I’m going to enjoy every bite."

Y/N couldn’t stop giggling, her heart racing with excitement and love. "Put me down, you brute!" she said, though her words held no real anger.

Eris kicked the bedroom door open, stepping inside and gently lowering her onto the bed. "Not a chance," he replied, his eyes dark with passion. "I’ve waited too long for this."

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss, their bodies melting together as the night wrapped them in its embrace. As they made love, the bond between them solidified even further, a testament to the strength of their love and the magic that had brought them back together.

In the quiet of their cabin, surrounded by the whispers of the forest and the soft glow of the moon, Y/N and Eris found solace and joy in each other, their hearts beating as one.

Tagging some:

@callsign-magnolia

@kmc1989

@hardballoonlove

@senawashere

@hookslove1592

@marvel-molly

@lucky7rosie

@daughterofthemoons-stuff

@lilah-asteria

@crossfandomslut

@pit-and-the-pen

@inky-sun

@the-sweet-psycho

@why4anne

@bunnyredgirl

@rcarbo1

@pandabiiissh

@adalia-jaycee

@swiftie-4-lifes-stuff

@minaethrym

#eris vanserra #eris x reader #eris acotar #eris x you #eris x y/n #autumn court #eris fanfic #eris imagine #eris vanserra x reader #eris vanserra x you #eris vanserra acotar #eris vanserra fic

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cressidagrey · 8 months ago

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AO3 Masterlist

All of these link to my AO3, mostly because that's my personal favorite site to read fan fiction on, and it's much easier to make multiple stories into a series!

Unless otherwise noted, all my series/stories are ongoing, which means…if you have a prompt for any of them, shoot them my way.

The Court of Gold and Shadows*

you'll be made of ashes too

Elain Archeron makes the most beautiful bride.

Azriel copes.

for the first time, what's past is past

Of all the ways, Azriel expected to meet his mate, this wasn't it.

something good and right and real

Azriel had spent centuries believing that he of all people didn't deserve a mate. And if anything, the last three years had just galvinised that particular belief. And then he meets her.

The first time Oriana met Azriel, she thought that he reminded her of a skittish cat. Shy and a little bit broken. Good for him that she absolutely excelled in fixing the things around her.

Romance is not dead if you keep it just yours

5 Times Cassian thought that Azriel had feelings for somebody and then the 1 time he finally met the girl his brother was in love with.

I breathe flames each time I talk

The story of how Oriana Fireborn Belmont, Third Daughter of the First Daughter, met her mate's family.

Also the story of how Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court finally recognises that by the cauldron, there is no fury like that of a female scorned.

Meanwhile, Azriel would just like everybody to get along.

The Unexpected Series*

“If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her.”

What if… Azriel actually takes Rhys at his word? And does exactly what his High Lord ordered? With unexpected consequences.

Unafraid

Azriel does exactly what his High Lord ordered him to do. (Well, kinda.)

Unprecedented

This is Azriel finding out about said unexpected consequences

Unknowing

This is the Inner Circle finding out about said consequences. Azriel is very good at keeping secrets

Indelible*

Indelible Scars

Azriel knew pain. So did Galena.

Also known as: Azriel’s mate is a healer and the first time they meet, he nearly dies on her.

Glorious Sunrise

So what happens after the mating bond snaps?

Well-meaning interfering family members, deep conversations and nights spent brooding on the roof like some kind of gargoyle…this one has it all.

(The Smutty Sequel y’all asked for ;) )

A Pocketful of Stars*

New Pursuits

The shadows decide that Azriel needs a hobby.

5 times when said hobby-related shenanigans didn’t end so well…and the one time where it may end up better than Azriel could ever have imagined.

Welcome to the World

The quickest turnaround time between finding your mate and having a kid anybody in the history of Prythian has ever managed

The Starlight Princess*

The Starlight Princess

There is a Pool of Starlight in the Spring Court. A piece of the Night Court that has no business being in the land of Eternal Spring. So how did it come to be?

Or: How the Spymaster of the Night Court starts hearing a voice, realises that no, he is not insane after all, frees a princess, kills a High Lord…and finds his mate all at the same time.

The Prophecy

Lightning in a Bottle

Eira Archeron was neither a Valkyrie, nor a Seer, nor the High Lady of the Night Court. She was actually pretty much useless. The only thing she wanted was to be somebody's first choice for once in her life.

Also known as: Azriel's shadows decide that if he doesn't treat his mate right... they'll just do it for him.

Looked to the Sky

Eira Archeron was neither a Valkyrie, nor a Seer, nor the High Lady of the Night Court. She was, however, Azriel‘s mate with her own mysterious, untrained powers.

Also known as: Azriel tries to court his mate the human way.

Recipe for Love

Peach Cobbler

Azriel finds a bakery and creates his very own reward system.

Honey Cakes

The Beehive Bakery is out of Peach Cobbler. This leads Azriel to make some very impulsive decisions.

Don't wait for the Sky to Clear

The Fourth Archeron sister makes herself a life in the Dawn Court.

dust of your highest hopes

Eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves, goes the idiom.

When Solana hears an admission from the High Lord of Day, she’s ill-prepared for it. She doesn’t believe in fairytales any longer, but maybe there was a happily ever after for Solana and Helion somewhere

The Ties that Bind

Shadowsingers were made, not born. Made out of trauma and loneliness and desperation.

So when Cilla and Azriel meet and their shadows entwine, they both meet the only other person that could understand these particular childhood scars.

The last thing Azriel had ever expected from his mate, however, was for her to have a surprising connection to his brother.

The Witching Hour

5 Times members of the Inner Circle get absolutely terrified by Azriel's...whatever she is, and 1 (of many) times Azriel thinks that his witch was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Bound by Blood

Azriel's witch has some very smutty plans for Samhain.

Tear the World Apart

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

Brighten Up the Sky

A Mating Bond between her younger sister and the Night Court’s shadowsinger was the last thing Feyre had expected to spring up…but then, maybe it did make sense.

Stars all aligned

If there was one thing that both Azriel and Zahra Archeron had in common, it was that they were both very good at blending into the background.

It's a Love Story

Azriel's shadows find their master a wife.

Azriel would just really like his heart not to get broken again.

And Sky...well, she's just really surprised that that far too handsome male is interested in her at all.

Holy Ground

Nobody knew that Azriel found his mate. Until she nearly died. This is the aftermath.

(Super pretty dividers thanks to @tsunami-of-tears !)

#Masterlist #acotar fanfiction #my writing

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bittercape · 6 months ago

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TJA Sequel Exchange Masterpost

What is a sequel exchange, you may ask?

Well, when you have a ship-focused server full of writers and artists, there will be so many people who want more of that one specific fic (or, as it turns out, so many specific fics). And what better way to motivate people to write than an exchange?

Here's what we did (in alphabetical order):

@araydre made this gorgeous art for Skalidra's fic More Chances Than Deserved:

set in chapter 3, Jason and Slade sparring before Billy arrives

@arkhammaid wrote Fangs and Claws (sinking into me) , a new work in the Fangs and Claws series for @bittercape:

Theory says both the Alpha and Omega must consent to entering a mating dance for it to even have a chance in being succesful. Reality proves once again that theory can be fucking bullshit.

@bittercape wrote Midnight at City Hall, a sequel to 4am at Denny's for @safelycapricious:

“What’s wrong?” he asks, because obviously something is wrong for Roy to be calling like this. “Jason,” Roy says, sounding a little faint. “Stay put,” Slade says, and then he calls in the big guns.

@darbydoo22 wrote Happy Birthday Steve, a sequel to Sit By the Fire for astranne:

Dick Grayson introduces the family to his boyfriend, Steve Rogers, during the Wayne family’s annual Fourth of July party.

@katzynia wrote Piece by piece, a sequel to Every piece of you for littledevilbean:

A month after their last encounter, Slade shows up to see how the life has been treating Jason. And to show him a thing or two.

@lisholoz drew Slade in Red Hood's gear as a sequel to Jason in Deathstroke's armour:

Boyfriend hoodie? Pfft. Steal your BFs vigilante gear

@littledevilbean wrote Bad Habits (and how to share them), a sequel to in the office ( 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘺) for @notherdeadrobin:

In Slade's defense, it wasn't like he was trying to create a pattern.

@marquisedesaad wrote Turning the Advantage, a new work in the Taken Advantage series for @paprikadotmp4:

Dick and Bruce investigate in the aftermath of Jason's abduction. Meanwhile, Slade turns the situation to his advantage.

@marirah wrote two fics for darbydoo, candlelight and good morning, new works in the of Year of the OTP/Year of Jason and Slade 2023 (combined) series:

Dick and Tim have a date night in

Jason and Slade (and Peter and Damian) start to adjust to their new apartment

@safelycapricious wrote BE TRUE?, a sequel to BE MINE? for GavotteandGigue:

In an event that honestly Jason doesn’t foresee, the next day doesn’t bring him the chance to go out and figure out what the fuck Deathstroke is thinking. Not just because the idiot hadn’t cleaned up the crime scene and Bruce had taken the “BE MINE, RED HOOD?” as a threat instead of a courting gesture. But also because his cramps are persisting. Which is just. Fucking. Perfect.

Life happens, so there are a couple more sequels coming in a later reblog, but in the meantime: read, look, and remember to keep your fancreators fed and watered (commented, reblogged and kudos'd).

#sladejay #jason todd x slade wilson #dicktim #dick grayson x tim drake #dick grayson x steve rogers #jason & slade #roy harper x jason todd x slade wilson #sequel #sequel exchange #fanfic #fanart

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spaceyaceface · 2 years ago

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Hogwarts Legacy Masterlist

Link to blurb masterlist for Sebastian, Ominis, and Garreth

Sebastian Sallow

Snow, Scarves, and Schemes - Oneshot. Y/N is sick of Leander Prewett trying to court her. Luckily, she has a best friend named Sebastian Sallow who would love to help put an end to it. They devise a plan to pretend to court up until the Yule Ball. Should be simple, right? If only. Or, the classic friends to lovers, idiots in love, fake dating scenario. Warnings: None.

What Could Have Been - Twoshot. She had been in love with Sebastian Sallow for some time. And she was afraid of having something to lose. After all, she knew all too well that good things always came to an end.Now it was their last night together. What were they willing to lose? Warnings: Heavy Angst.

What We Are Now - Twoshot. Sebastian Sallow went to America for a year in hopes to find a cure for Anne. As he returns home, he faces the possibility of seeing the girl he loves again. Part two to “What Could Have Been,” but could also be read alone. Warnings: Some Angst.

Losing Patience - Oneshot. Ominis is sick of seeing his best friends pine for each other, so he takes it upon himself to force them to get together. Warnings: None.

A Little Reminder - Oneshot. After a big fight, Sebastian and her haven’t talked for almost a week. Rumors have started to go around that they’ve broken up. Warnings: Possessive!Sebastian.

I’m Right Here - Oneshot. Just before Sebastian killed his uncle, she was injuried. Now Sebastian has to deal with the guilt of not only the life he took, but the life he almost couldn't save. Warnings: Murder, Guilt, Injury, Depression.

Ominis Gaunt

you are a wildflower garden growing in my head - When she learns that Ominis Gaunt is well versed in floriography, she insists on him giving her lessons to learn the language of flowers. Thankfully, he ins't too hard to convince. Warnings: None.

Right Direction - Oneshot. After defeating Ranrok, MC is riddled with guilt over the pain they caused and the lives sacrificed to save them. They've cut themselves off and refused to heal their injuries. But perhaps Ominis was the one person who could understand the pain they've gone through. Warnings: Minor Injuries. Self Destructive Behaviors. Survivor’s Guilt.

One Day At A Time - Oneshot. Sequel to Right Direction. Mc has been improving, but still has bad days. They find comfort in going to Ominis for help. Warnings: Self Destructive Behaviors/Tendencies. Feelings of Guilt. Brief Mentions of Minor Injuries.

Flustered - Blurb. After living with Anne for the summer, MC has heard a lot of stories about her, Sebastian, and Ominis. When Ominis and Sebastian come to reconnect with Anne, MC is eager to ask Ominis about some of the stories she's heard. Warnings: None.

Only In Dreams - Oneshot. She spent her days in love with him, and her nights wishing they were together. But she knew it would never be---Ominis Gaunt had sworn off love for the sake of ending his family's legacy. She knew she wouldn't be an exception to that. Warnings: Angst (with a happy ending).

You Were The First - Oneshot. Ominis Gaunt has never known affection. He has never known how it felt to love---to be loved. She came and changed all of it. Or, Ominis gets love because by god does he deserve it. Warnings: Implied/Referenced child absuse.

Safety - Series. Ongoing. Y/N L/N had always despised Ominis Gaunt. He was everything she hated about her life. As the only daughter to a wealthy pure-blood family, she knew it was inevitable that she would someday find herself in an arranged marriage. But why did it have to be him? Warnings: See individual chapters.

Prove You Wrong - Oneshot. After being stood up on a date, Ominis decides to prove MC wrong when she feels like no one will ever love her. Warnings: Being stood up, feelings of inadequacy.

A Black Walnut Wand - Oneshot. A wand made of Black Walnut can be a finicky thing---if the wielder isn't truthful, whether with themselves or with others, it's power diminishes. So it's just absolutely perfect when her wand starts acting up right before N.E.W.T.S., isn't it? Warnings: None.

Sebastian Sallow x MC x Ominis Gaunt (Platonic)

All I Need - When MC was injuried, she knew her two best friends would get after her for it. But they’ll always be there for her. Warnings: Injury.

Sebastian Sallow x Ominis Gaunt

Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow - Oneshot. Sebastian can't give up. Not even after he's killed his Uncle. He's determined to save Anne, and won't take no for an answer. Or, a brief exploration into the broken(?) friendship between Sebastian and Ominis after everything happens. Can be read platonic or romantic. Warnings: ANGST

#Sebastian sallow x reader #masterlist #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy masterlist #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #sebastian sallow #Ominis gaunt #ominis gaunt x reader

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frownyalfred · 11 months ago

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Am currently rereading Borderline and on chapter 17 and it's just now hitting me (or it did before and I just forgot) how much they knew about the bond. If I'm remembering correctly they got their info from the court and they should've only had that one night, Night of Justice (lol), to study the bats. So that basically implies that they were super possessive of each other that it was picked up or the court had seen this happen before and knew what they were seeing.

The first makes me really know how crazy the bats were that night. I know everything did, but the enemies being able to do that and then use it effectively against you? The bats were wild your honor.

The second has me wondering what they did to the last group who had a mental bond. Unless it was already said the bats were the first then whoops! My memory really is my worst enemy.

Any who, thanks for such a delicious fic!

You're right on, the Court only had that one night to see what had happened with the Bats and then react. But yeah, it had to be so out there -- so markedly different and extreme -- that they would be concerned.

In borderline, I never explicitly mentioned how the Court/League found out about the bond but I always planned on it being a combination of them seeing the Night of Justice and going what the fuck and also the League being contacted by someone (Circe? someone else with foresight?) who bargained that information to them, knowing that Ra's and Talia would be possessive over what happened with Bruce and/or Damian.

But yes. What exactly happened that night, outside of what we see? Because they essentially went into a trance, disconnected from what was actually happening outside of the bond. They hit vulnerable points in Gotham's criminal empire all in one night, all on their own. They struck fear into the heart of Gotham for the first time since Batman entered the playing field.

That's another outside!POV I wanted to hit on for this series, before the sequel. This night, the public perceptions, and also that pivotal scene where the Batfamily goes up to the Watchtower and the JL sees them for the first time.

#thank you so much for reading!#asks #anon #borderline #myfic #theresurrectionist #batfamily

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secretswiftymarvelfan · 1 year ago

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Court Of Public Opinion - Andy Barber x Reader (Part 4)

A/N: This is the sequel series to Memory Served and will contain major spoilers for that series so go read that one first if you haven’t already!

Summary: As news breaks about who your abductor was, things get more complicated

Word Count: 6.1k

Warnings: Angst! Language! Gas Lighting!

Dividers by me!

Series Masterlist / Masterlist

Chapter 4

Staring up at the trees you watched as the small amount of light dabbled through the leaves, many of which were beginning to take on an orange hue. The last time you’d been in this part the path was covered in blossom, the sweet smell of spring wafting through the air. Now dead leaves littered the floor, the air was turning chilly.

You had missed the entirety of summer. You didn’t see all the kids out on summer break running around and playing. You didn’t see the many, many barbeques that filled the park during the 4th of July weekend. You experienced a summer, but not the summer you knew.

“I’m so glad my nausea is gone but dog shit is gross at the worst of times” Carrie grumbled as she stepped back towards you.

You shook your head slightly to rid yourself of the fog that clouded your mind “Oh sorry I should have offered” You apologise.

Carrie gives you a small kind smile “It’s okay, I could tell you needed space for a moment”

You let out a long guilty sigh as you look down at your feet, kicking some of the leaves “I’m sorry” you apologise.

“Nope, we aren’t doing any of that apologising bullshit,” Carrie says looping her arm through yours as you began to walk “I get it, what happened doesn’t just go away and if you need to talk about whatever you were just thinking about then we got you” she continues nodding down to Nova who wagged her tail.

“I was just-” you start before taking a deep breath “It's weird, to me this place has gone from spring to autumn, there’s a whole four months missing, but I remember summer I was just another person… I dunno I don’t think I’m explaining it well” you sigh shaking your head.

“No I get it, I understand how disorientating it must be, coming back and so much has changed in an instant, it’s like you time-travelled or got stuck in a quantum realm or something” Carrie reassures you.

You couldn’t help but let out a small snort “Quantum realm?” you questioned to which she let out a long and dramatic sigh.

“Harrison won’t let me watch Rom-coms or anything like that because I’m getting too emotional and it’s not fair on him to constantly console me, which I get, I’m a fucking mess at the moment because of these hormones, I cried at a diaper advert yesterday” she explains.

You bite your lips to stop yourself from laughing “A diaper advert?”

“It had a cute baby which made me excited for our cute baby and then sad because it’s still ages until we meet our cute baby” Carries explains making you chuckle “Anyway, so in the meantime we’ve settled on sci-fi movies, they’re not that bad to be honest”

You could no longer hold back your laughter and a real smile appeared on your face “Well you’ll have to give me and Andy some recommendations” You smiled.

“I’ll have a list ready for your next date night” Carrie winks.

Your smile falters for a moment as your mind goes back to your date nights with Andy. Things had been getting better and it felt more normal but still just felt incredibly delicate. You felt like you were just waiting for the moment that he would break and the illusion would shatter. It was why you were trying so hard to be normal, stop letting the shadow of Ransom loom over you. Because in those normal moments, Andy still loved you, you weren’t tainted if he could forget what happened for just a moment then the chances of him leaving you were smaller.

You clear your throat as you pick a straw fibre from your jacket sleeve “Thank you, so what are you planning to do for Halloween?” you ask desperate to change the topic.

Carrie’s eyes instantly lit up because Halloween was her favourite time of the year, she and Harrison always killed it with their costumes. You and Andy tried to compete one year but it was pointless, Carrie and Harrison were the king and queen of Halloween. She then goes on to explain in great detail that the party is called ‘things that go bump in the night’ and that her costume is Kane from Alien.

As she talked you tried to focus on everything she was saying but you began to feel your ears burn and gazes on your back. You glanced over your shoulder a couple of times to see a pair of joggers behind you whispering, they both quickly jog past the two of you though. You shake your head slightly, they were probably just keeping their own conversation low as they passed you so they weren’t rude, not because they were talking about you.

You returned your attention back to Carrie and her elaborate plans to decorate her house for the party. However, you began to notice more people sparing glances your way as they passed by. It made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up from all the attention.

You knew it was inevitable though, this was a small town so people talked, you were still the big news story. You were just glad it seemed to be getting better though, people were calling by the house less. You preferred curious glances over continual questions and having to relive it all over and over again, putting on a brave face when all you wanted to do was tell them to fuck off and mind their own business.

“Oh and we got Nova the coolest spider costume too, you know from that viral video” Carrie continued.

You were about to respond when two teenage girls just appeared out of nowhere in front of you “Oh my god it’s you! You have to tell us everything about him!” One of them said, starstruck looks in their eyes.

You and Carrie exchanged a confused glance, even Nova tilted her head “I’m sorry who?” You ask.

“Harlan Thrombey!” The other girl exclaims, one of Harlan’s books now obvious in her hand.

“Oh… I um-“ you stutter taken aback “he was nice, I only met him a few times”

The girls in front of you continue to fangirl, bombarding you with questions that left both you and Carrie in a state of shock.

“Did he tell you about his new book?”

“What about that Netflix series?”

“Is it true he has a massive collection of knives?”

“Who does he think the watcher is?”

“And ohmygod his Grandson Ransom is so hot! What was he like? I bet he’s so dreamy!”

That last question snapped both you and Carrie out of your shocked states. It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water had been dumped on you, while you could practically feel the heat of Carrie’s anger.

“Excuse me? You do know he abducted her and held her against her will?” Carrie seethes.

“How- how did you even know?” You mutter feeling your stomach turning.

“They announced it on the news this morning,” one of the girls said with a look that said ‘obviously’.

Had you known that? You weren’t sure. The detectives must have let Andy know that they were going to finally name Ransom today. Had he told you last night or this morning and you had just blocked it out? Or had he purposely not told you because he hated that you were tied to Ransom?

“Honestly I don’t blame you, I couldn’t think of a man better than Ransom, he has the looks, the money, the family” the other girl continues and the hearts in her eyes made you want to vomit.

Carrie absolutely exploded after hearing that, she already had the protective mama bear instinct and being pregnant just made it so much stronger. You knew she was completely ripping into the two girls and letting them know exactly how wrong they were but you couldn’t hear her over the ringing in your ears.

You blinked a couple of times when you felt someone tugging your elbow. Your vision refocused and you could see the girls were long gone and Carrie was leading you out of the park and back home. As you walked the ringing in your ears slowly began to subside and be replaced with Carrie muttering about how twisted those girls must be to see Ransom as a hero.

“You okay?” Carrie then asked fully snapping you back into the moment.

You blinked a couple of times and realised you were back home, standing outside your front door. Carrie must have been waiting for you to unlock it when she noticed you weren’t completely there.

“Yeah,” you managed to say fishing your keys from your pocket and unlocking the door.

“Don’t listen to those girls okay, they’re clearly just crime fanatics who refuse to see their hero as the person they really are” Carrie tells you as she follows you into the house, letting Nova off her lead.

You just nod as you walk into the kitchen. As you pass the island you spot a note from Andy saying he’s gone out for groceries and to donate the last of the pasta dishes to the homeless shelter. You breathed out a sigh of relief that he wasn’t in, you didn’t want him to hear about what had just happened. What happened wasn’t normal, you needed normal.

“Do you want me to call Andy?” Carrie then asks gently.

You shake your head “No it's okay” you tell her “I’m fine, he’ll just worry and come straight home when he doesn’t need to”

“Okay, are you sure you’re okay? It's okay if you’re not” Carrie reminds you.

You force a brave smile “Yeah it just threw me that's all like you said they’re immature girls with an unhealthy obsession with a celebrity” you tell her “I just have to remember I have the evidence on my side”

Carrie gives you a proud smile “Exactly, no amount of fangirls will be able to protect him” she says as she wraps her arm around you.

“Thank you though for getting me out, standing in my corner and getting me home,” you tell her with a grateful smile.

“It's nothing just give me and Nova a shout whenever you need it, I should probably get her home now but if you need us to stay we can stay” Carrie offers as she scratches Nova behind the ear.

“No I’m good, you get on home so Nova can have her post-walk treat” You smile down at Nova who was wagging her tail excitedly.

“Oh yes can’t forget about that” Carrie grinned as she put Nova back on the leash.

You follow Carrie back to the front door, as you did so you thought back to those girls in the park. If Andy had been there it would have gone down so much worse, hearing about how people fawned over Ransom, remind him of how you’d been with him, slept with him. You didn’t want those reminders.

“Don’t tell Andy about today” you suddenly say as Carrie opens the door.

Carrie freezes and looks back over at you, her eyes studying you for a moment “I won’t but… I think you should” she says gently

“I will I promise, I just want it to come from me” you lied, you would avoid telling him for as long as possible.

“Good,” Carrie says watching you for another moment before smiling “Just ring me when you need me”

“I will thank you” You smile giving her a small wave before closing the door and heading back to the kitchen.

You moved to make yourself a warm drink to warm yourself back up but then spotted a pile of mail beside the note Andy had left. One of the jobs that had kept you busy was going through all the mail that you missed while you were gone. Andy had already sorted the bills you had but there was still lots left over so dealing with mail as it came helped.

Flipping through the pile you saw a lot of it was for Andy anyway but at the end was a letter for you. When you saw the handwriting you instantly felt sick, your legs feeling weak as you just about managed to sit down. It was Ransom’s handwriting.

Your first instinct was to call Andy but just as you reached for your phone you froze. You had no idea what was in this letter, it could be a confession, a threat, or it could detail everything you did with Ransom. You knew that Ransom liked to play mind games, he would want to get under Andy’s skin.

No, you needed to find out what was in here first, then you would decide if you would show Andy or not. With shaking hands, you ripped open the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Kitten,

I don’t understand what happened. I thought you were happier. Happier with me. I’ve been lied to all my life by my parents, I know how to spot a lie. So I know it wasn’t a lie when you told me you loved me. I’m sorry though I should have told you the truth, but when they told me that you lost your memory I saw my chance. You promised you were going to leave him anyway so I thought that it would be easier for you if I didn’t remind you of him. I see now that it was wrong and I’m sorry, we can fix this and get through this together. I can’t wait to have you back in my arms, my house, my bed, where you belong. I love you kitten and I won’t stop fighting for us.

Love Ransom x

The letter fell out of your hands as you stumbled back struggling to take a breath. Your hand cupped your mouth as you gagged, your legs feeling weak. You couldn’t believe the lies Ransom was trying to sell, how he was trying to convince you that he was telling the truth. You would never leave Andy, not for anyone or any reason.

You couldn’t show this to Andy, you couldn’t have Ransom’s lies poisoning him. You could already feel the doubts and the hesitancy, you couldn’t make it worse by showing him a letter that would remind him of all the horrible things you did.

You had to act fast, you had no clue when he’d be home, you had to destroy this letter. Your hands were still shaking as you picked the letter back up and rushed over to the fireplace. Grabbing some kindling you got the fire going, using a match to set the letter alight and throw it into the fire.

A heavy feeling settled in your gut as you watched the letter burn. It was guilt, guilt that you were even in this position to begin with, the guilt of all the things you did with Ransom, guilt that you were hiding this from Andy. You thought for a second that maybe you should have shown it to him, the police could have done something, but it was too late the letter was just ash now.

The sound of the front door opening had you quickly standing up, Andy poked his head into the living room his brows furrowed slightly “Why’s the fire going?” he asked.

“Oh um it was quite cold after the walk with Carrie so I thought I’d make it nice and cosy” you lied brushing dust off of your hands.

A smile tugs at Andy’s lips “Sounds nice, let me put this away and I’ll make us some hot drinks too” he offers.

“Sounds great,” you say with a sigh of relief that he didn’t question it further, he gives you another smile before going to step away.

All of sudden you considered telling him the truth even calling out to stop him, but when he looked back at you his brows now furrowed slightly in concern you couldn't do it. So instead you walked the short distance towards him, gently cupping his cheek and reaching up to kiss him.

“I love you Andy” you whisper.

Andy tilts his head slightly but still smiles “I love you too honey” he says softly.

Andy let out a long sigh as he set another pasta dish on the draining board to dry only to look over and see so many more left to wash. He’d finally managed to get on top of all the food the neighbours had been dropping around, he took most of the excess to the homeless shelter, some were still in the freezer and the rest had been eaten. He swore if he ever saw another pasta dish for the rest of his life it would be too soon.

He decided to leave it there for now, the draining board was full anyway, grabbing a cloth he began to dry his hands. As he did so his eyes landed on his laptop, he’d been trying not to do much work on the case since all it did was make him feel angry and inadequate. Every time you’d seen him work on it too he could see the look of sadness in your eyes.

But you were out today, over at Carrie’s for the afternoon so it would be the perfect opportunity to do it. Maybe he could continue looking into businesses that were near the site of your crash, ask if any of their employees had seen a damaged car drive past.

He was just making his way around the kitchen island to his laptop when his phone started ringing. He paused throwing the towel on the counter before grabbing his phone and pulling it out to see it was Frank calling him.

Andy didn’t even get a chance to say hello before Frank was ranting down the phone at him “Whoa, whoa, Frank slow down I can’t hear you, what are you saying?” Andy says plugging his other ear trying to hear Frank better.

He heard Frank take a deep breath before starting again “I just picked Mary up from her university class and she’s in an absolute state over Y/N” Frank explains.

Andy’s brows furrow in concern “What? Why?” he asks.

“Some kids in class were talking about Y/N and she got all upset over it, Mary still hasn’t told me exactly what they said but she said it was mean and they said Y/N must be lying” Frank explains.

“Shit is Mary okay now?” Andy curses running his hand down his face.

“She’s calmed down a bit now but she was in floods of tears when I picked her up, I hadn’t told her much about the case because she’s only 8 but I had to explain it all to help her understand it, now she’s upset and wants to talk to Y/N” Frank explains with a heavy sigh.

“Sure, Y/N’s out with Carrie at the moment but tell Mary that she’ll call as soon as she gets home” Andy promises, worrying about how you’d feel having to talk about all this with Mary.

“Thanks, I just can’t believe the nerve of those girls how did they even come to that conclusion…shit” Frank mutters “Have you watched Fox News today?”

“No we don’t watch that bullshit, do you?” Andy huffs shaking his head.

“No but I just turned the TV on and you might want to turn it on, I think I’ve found out why those girls said what they did” Frank says.

Andy frowns walking into the living room and turning on the TV, he quickly changes the channel to Fox News a curse falling from his lips when he sees what Frank meant. Fox News was doing a report on your case but it wasn’t complimentary towards you. The anchors were discussing the case and how they just couldn’t believe Ransom would do what he did. It only got worse when they cut to an interview with Ransom’s parents.

“So what did you make of the allegations?” the broadcaster asked.

Linda shook her head “Unbelievable, my son would never do anything like that” she said playing the part of a shocked parent well.

“Ransom may have made some mistakes when he was younger but he’s not a criminal, he loved Y/N” Richard continues rubbing Linda’s back soothingly.

“So you don’t believe Ransom held Y/N captive against her will?” The broadcaster asks.

“No, she was never held against her will” Linda states with a definitive shake of her head “That’s all lies she’s told”

“When we first met her we were suspicious of her, the romance was such a whirlwind with her pushing Ransom to get married, but we said nothing because he was so in love with her” Richard adds “Now our poor son is in jail for a crime he didn’t commit”

“What the fuck is all bullshit! They can’t be saying this can they?” Frank exclaims.

“It's not a police interview or court testimony so yeah they can” Andy grumbles barely containing his anger.

“So what is Ransom’s side of the story?” The broadcaster asks leaning forward.

“He’s still not entirely sure what happened, he said they got into a fight and he threatened to call off the wedding and that’s when Y/N stormed out of the house and went to the police and made up this whole story about him abducting her, claiming he used her amnesia against her” Linda exclaims, dabbing her dry eye with a tissue “I knew she only wanted him for his money, we’ve told him this and he still loves her”

“Amnesia?” the broadcaster presses.

“Yes 4 months ago Y/N was in a terrible accident and lost her memory, she was already planning to leave her partner Andy Barber so Ransom thought it would be easier on her to just pretend she already had” Richard explains with a long sigh “he explained it all in this letter” he adds leaning forward to pass the broadcaster the letter.

“I can’t believe this, god this family is fucked up” Frank mutters but Andy wasn’t paying him much attention.

All Andy could focus on were the letters now being shown by Fox News. All of them, while addressed to his parents, were love letters to you. It made Andy sick. He knew he shouldn't but he ended up pausing the screen on one of them to read the letter. He read the way Ransom lamented to his parents, how heartbroken he was. He was trying to win the court of public opinion and relying on his grandfather’s fanbase to do so, it must have already gone viral if Mary had heard about it.

The sound of the front door opening had Andy looking over his shoulder “I have to go” Andy muttered to Frank who was still ranting on when Andy hung up.

You had a small smile on your face when you walked in but as soon as your eyes landed on the TV it quickly faded “What is this?” you whispered, your voice breaking.

“Ransom’s parents went on Fox News to tell his side of the story, it’s ridiculous they must have some connection with the owner or something, they even gave them letters from Ransom” Andy explains with an irritated huff shaking his head, beginning to pace back and forth beginning to rant.

“How- how did they know about them?” you whispered.

It took Andy a moment to fully process what you said, and when he did he froze and slowly turned back around to face you “What do you mean how do they know about them?” he asks.

Your eyes widened and you took a small step back “I-I-I- um- I-” you stuttered suddenly getting really flustered.

Andy’s brows furrowed in confusion as he watched you stutter and panic, it was like when he caught a defendant out on the stand. He thought for a moment replaying what you said in the context of the letters, glancing up at the TV he could see that the letter he had paused on didn’t show who it was addressed to.

“Wait” Andy says holding out his hand “Have you been sent letters from Ransom?”

You start fiddling with your fingers, looking down at the floor. It was an answer already but Andy was still praying you hadn’t.

“Yes” you weakly whisper, not looking up from the floor.

“Why didn’t you tell me!” Andy exclaims in disbelief.

“I’m sorry I-I thought about it, I wanted to but I just couldn’t” you apologise.

Andy lets out an irritated huff, he was furious that Ransom had found a way to send letters to you. Prisoners were not allowed any communication with the victims, he must have found a loophole and gotten his parents to forward it on to you.

“Where are they? What did you do with them?” Andy demands, he needed to shut this down now by taking the letters to the police.

“I-I burnt the first-” you started before Andy interrupted.

“You burnt them!” he practically shouted in disbelief “Why would you do that? It’s evidence! They’re going to use this against you and say you have something to hide!”

“Andy I’m sorry i-i-” you stutter shaking your head.

“He’s already doing everything he can to try and get out of this! We can’t be giving him more ammunition!” Andy roars, his anger and fear getting the better of him.

“Please stop shouting- I’m sorry- I’m so so sorry” you sobbed completely breaking down.

Andy’s shoulders dropped as he watched you sob “shit” he muttered to himself walking over “I’m sorry honey I shouldn’t have shouted, I’m angry at him not you” he apologised wrapping his arms around you, breathing out a sigh of relief when you didn’t push him away.

“I regretted it straight away, I didn’t burn them all just the first, the rest I just hid” you admit looking up at him, tears still streaming down your face.

Andy let out a sigh of relief, they still had something to go to the police with “Okay, why didn’t you tell me about them?” he asked carefully.

You took a long, deep, shaky breath before answering “I- I didn’t want you to see them” you whispered.

Andy let out a long sigh “Okay, well we can take those ones to the police because this is witness intimidation and they can put a stop to it, take away his privileges, it’s all going to be okay I promise”

“They can?” you ask, doubt clear in your voice.

“Yes it’s all going to be okay I promise” Andy swears kissing the top of your head.

“Okay I’ll- I’ll go get them,” you say wiping away the last of your tears and stepping out of Andy’s embrace.

You felt sick as you made your way upstairs to the bedroom where you had hidden the letters. You had received one every day since the first one, and each time a new one arrived you considered telling Andy but they kept getting more and more graphic and detailed and you just couldn’t bring yourself to.

You knew it was a mistake now, if Andy was right the police could have put a stop to this already. You just didn’t want him to read all the horrible things you had done. Read how dirty and tainted you were.

Walking back down the stairs you handed Andy the 6 letters you had received from Ransom, brushing your hands down your arms once he had taken them. He quickly flicked through them and you watched anxiously as his eyes darted over the pages. Thankfully he didn’t read them for long so you hoped he hadn’t read the worst of them.

He gave you a tight smile as he reached out to take your hand “We’re going to fix this I promise” he says kissing the top of your head quickly “c’mon let’s go”

You follow after him, nervously picking at your coat that you still wore as Andy pulled his on. You gave him a small smile when he gave you a reassuring one and took your hand. As you stepped outside you spotted a couple of news vans parked outside, Andy must have done too because he picked up the pace towards the car.

He opened the car door for you but as he did so you noticed something had been spraypainted on your garage door. You quickly tap him on the arm and point it out, his back straightening as he turns and spots the words ‘cheating whore’ written in red spray paint.

“Fuckers” he growled “I’ll deal with that later I promise,” he says gently pushing you to get in the car, shutting the car door a little harder than he probably meant to.

As Andy made his way around to the driver's seat, you kept your head down brushing your hands down your jeans and picking at your nails. You kept your head down the entire drive to the police station, not only to avoid the press outside your home but to avoid the stares of passersbyers. It felt like everyone you passed was judging you, no longer trusting your side of the story. Glancing up at Andy you began to worry if he was doubting it too.

Pulling up outside of the police station you could see there was press here too and you suddenly felt sick, your body beginning to shake as you stared up at the building.

“Hey,” Andy says softly reaching out to take your hand “It’s going to be okay, I promise”

You nod your head “Won’t this look bad? Us going to the police?” you ask quietly.

“No, it would look worse if the police came to us, by doing this it’s showing we have nothing to hide and we don’t” Andy explains gently squeezing your hand.

You force a small smile before moving to climb out of the car. Andy followed after you, gently taking your hand as you walked into the police station to hand over the letters. You were surprised to find Inspector Blanc putting on his jacket about to leave.

“Ah I was just about to come find you” he smiles when he spots you.

“You saw Fox News?” Andy asks.

“Yes, it’s a dangerous game they’re playing” Blanc sighs “I was coming to ask if you had received any letters, the others doubted it but if they can get themselves on the news, they can pass on a letter” he shrugs glancing over his shoulder.

“Well it was a good hunch” Andy says passing the letters over to him “There were 7 in total”

“Seven?” Blanc says his brow arching “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” he asks glancing over at you.

You shrugged your shoulders “I dunno, i-i- panicked- didn’t realise it was something you could stop” you admit “I only told Andy after he saw the news”

Blanc nods as he flips through the letters, reading each one, you nervously gulp as he does so, trying to read the expression on his face “Well given the contents it's understandable” he says “There’s only six here, you said there was seven” he then points out.

“I burnt the first one it- it was a mistake I know but- but those are the more…graphic ones… each one got more intense” you swallow looking down at the floor unable to bring yourself to see the look on Andy’s face.

“We’re guessing he sent them to his parents and they forwarded them on, which is witness intimidation” Andy suggests his hand squeezing yours slightly.

“Damn right it is” Blanc grumbles “C’mon let's talk about this more upstairs,” he says gesturing for you to follow him deeper into the building.

“Thank you” Andy sighs placing his hand on the small of your back to guide you.

You wrap your arms around you tightly as Blanc leads the both of you through the precinct towards the other detectives who instantly stand to attention when they notice you.

“It’s a good thing we didn’t settle on a wager” Blanc states as he slaps the letters into Detective Elliot’s hand.

Elliot quickly flips through them his eyes widening before he passes them over to Wagner to read, you shift uncomfortably as they do so worried that maybe Ransom was planting seeds of doubt in their minds.

“Were you really not going to check if she received any letters?” Andy demands hands clenched into fists by his side.

“We’re sorry it won’t happen again” Elliot promises holding his hands up to placate Andy, he then turns his attention to Wagner “Get in contact with the prison and shut this down, take away all privileges if you have to” he orders.

Wagner nods passing the letters back to Elliot before stepping away to make the call “We’ll be submitting these to evidence, see if we can lift any fingerprints” Blanc reassures you “We can promise he won’t be able to contact you any more”

You breathe out a shaky sigh of relief “Thank you” you manage to say.

“It's the least we can do, have you guys experienced any other negative attention following the news?” Elliot asks grabbing a notepad.

“Yes our garage door was graffitied” Andy sighs glancing down at you, you immediately advert your gaze and look down at the floor.

“Okay we can station an officer outside to prevent any more vandalism, is there anything else?” Elliot asks.

“No” Andy states as you say “I-”

Andy’s brows furrow as he turns to look down at you “Honey? What is it?” he asks placing a calming hand on your shoulder.

“I-” you start again before screwing your eyes shut and shaking your head “It’s nothing” you mutter.

“Honey if it’s worrying you it can’t be nothing” he says softly turning you to face him, hands running up and down your arms soothingly.

“The same day the first letter arrived these girls ran over to me and Carrie at the park, it was all a bit of a blur but they were fans of Harlan and Ransom and said they didn’t blame me for being with him” You admit quietly, looking down at the floor.

Andy’s hands tense for a split second around your arms before relaxing and returning to their soothing rhythm “Why didn’t you tell me?” Andy says his tone soft.

“I didn’t want you to worry” you whisper finally looking back up at him and seeing the pained look on his face “I’m sorry” you apologise as tears collect in your eyes.

“It's okay, it's okay” Andy sighs wrapping his arms around you, pulling you into his embrace and rubbing your back soothingly.

You let out a shuddering breath as you buried your face into his chest and deeply breathed in his cologne which always seemed to calm you. Closing your eyes you could almost pretend none of this was happening, that you weren’t in a police station handing over letters that detailed everything you were guilty of.

“We promise we’ll try and get on top of the press, we can release a statement and do a press conference to dispel the rumours” Elliot promises “The preliminary hearing is in two weeks so hopefully we can collect the final bits of evidence we need to ensure he goes down for this”

“In the meantime, it might be good to get away” Blanc suggests “Stay with a family or-or a friend and have some peace and quiet before the ruckus of the trail starts” he says gesturing with his hand.

“Won’t that look like we’re running away?” you ask glancing up at Andy.

He lets out a long sigh considering it before shaking his head “No because we have nothing to run from, they can try and paint you as the villain all they like but we know you’re innocent and the evidence shows it too” he states “we can go visit Frank and Mary” he suggests.

A smile involuntarily creeps onto your lips at the thought of heading down south to see Frank and Mary “Yeah.. That sounds nice” you nod.

Andy gives you a soft smile before leaning down to press a kiss to the top of your head “Great, I’ll give Frank a call”

You give him another smile hoping that maybe this getaway would be what fixed everything between you. Time away from the press, nothing to remind Andy of everything you’d done.

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evajackslover · 1 year ago

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MY THOUGHTS ON ACOMAF AS A FIRST TIME READER 🌌✨🏔️🌙

**this review will contain spoilers for acotar and acomaf**

my rating: 4.7/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

spice level: 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

summary: Feyre has undergone more trials than one human woman can carry in her heart. Though she's now been granted the powers and lifespan of the High Fae, she is haunted by her time Under the Mountain and the terrible deeds she performed to save the lives of Tamlin and his people. As her marriage to Tamlin approaches, Feyre's hollowness and nightmares consume her. She finds herself split into two different one who upholds her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court, and one who lives out her life in the Spring Court with Tamlin. While Feyre navigates a dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms. She might just be the key to stopping it, but only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future-and the future of a world in turmoil.

i finished reading book 2 in the acotar series (a court of mist and fury) a few days ago, and it’s safe to say acomaf is an amazing sequel to the first book!! i absolutely adored how sjm developed the characters and love where book 2 has brought the plot!

here are my thoughts:

- feyre’s character development in book 2 was just *chef’s kiss*! her deal with rhys in acotar was the perfect set up for acomaf because with each visit feyre made to the night court, she slowly begin to heal from her trauma under the mountain. this was a huge contrast from whenever she returned to the spring court; you could tell she immediately began to relapse into a bad mental and physical state, and was clearly feeling trapped.

- this brings me to tamlin… who finally showed us his true colors! i could not STAND how overprotective he was of feyre upon returning from under the mountain. like, i get the guy had some traumatic experiences, but those were no excuse for TRAPPING FEYRE IN THE HOUSE upon so much other physical and emotional abuse! the moment mor came to whisk her away to the night court had to have been one of the best moments of relief in acomaf.

- morrigan!!! i absolutely LOVE her as a character and her relationship with the other members of rhysand’s inner court! i can’t wait for her and feyre to become even closer bffs :)

- cassian and azriel 🥰🥰 my babies protect them at all costs (also am i right in guessing a cassian nesta relationship coming soon?! because i can totally see it!)

- and finally rhysand!! i cannot express how much i love how his story has expanded throughout acomaf; from teaching feyre to read to confessing his undying love to her, he is the most perfect MMC 🥹

i wish i had room to discuss each and every character, but this post has already gotten so long!

my final thoughts: amazing and can’t wait to keep reading! my only complaint is the spice (i prefer slightly less in my books) but i understand that it is not a YA series and the level of spice was to be expected before starting the series! i’m in the middle of acowar right now and can’t wait to continue feyre’s story!

beautifulll feysand art by the lovely jrtart_ on instagram 💓

#rhys acotar #acowar #a court of thorns and roses #acosf #acotar #acomaf #sjm universe #sjm books #sjm #sjmaas #sjm fandom #rhysand x feyre #feyre x rhysand #feyre cursebreaker #feyre archeron #rhysand

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achaotichuman · 3 months ago

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I'm yearning for something a lil sapphic but I'm scared what will I see when I open your fics

Whaaaaat? Don't be scared. Come, I shall show you what I have to offer in terms of sapphic

If you're lookin for a longer story with a deeply complicated plot, a butch lesbian main character who lost her wife in the heat of battle and years later finds herself lost in love with a bisexual woman who has a curiosity for all things new and darker secrets than anyone could have predicted. As well as several other love stories in the background, revolving around solving the mystery of a rampant serial killer, who may be closer, and far more powerful, than they think, then A Witch A Warrior And A Reckoning is the one for you!

Currently sitting at 44,181 words with seven chapters, set to have around 37 chapters. This is the story of Dahlia Gladiolus Fairburn, daughter of the High Lord Tamlin. If you want to know more about her past and what led her to the point she is now, you can also read the prequel The Gardens, The Fruit And The Serpent, which features her former love and the story of how she lost her.

These stories are part of my series The Many Adventures Of Tamlin's Daughter Dahlia, and it is planned to have two other sequels.

Now if you're lookin for something that's shorter, I also have this fic, A Field Of Dahlias. Now, it's main couple is Tamlin and Lucien, it's mpreg, with Feyre being the bio mom. But don't let the silly premise fool you, this one is filled with heartbreak, betrayal and grief. In the background, while the main story plays out, we have our sapphic story. Picture, a woman who is on the run from her past that she has desperately buried, she has devoted her life to the Goddess, and wants to atone for all she has done. Only to have the Mother send her a figure of her own to worship. This is a character rewrite of Ianthe, pairing her with Elain, who becomes a religious icon in her own way.

Or if you're lookin for somethin a bit more *creative*, I have a character switch AU where Feyre was born as the Heir of the Night Court. The first chapter covers her ascension to the throne, but because of the people not wanting a female on the throne, Tamlin helps to shapeshift her to male, so she can rule without an uprising. In the second half, we see Rhysand enter the picture, an exiled Prince from the Hewn City, he now lives in the slums of Velaris with Cassian and Azriel. But, when the chance arises to try and win back some of his former glory and get a better situation for him and his brothers, he goes to Tamlin and asks to be shifted to female. Its a story with a lot of silliness, a combination of a lot of my personal headcanons. And did I mention this also includes Morrigan and Nesta as a featured love story?

Those are all the sapphic ones I currently have published. Let me just preface as well, none of them are completed. However, if you want to have some more options, I can try and make a list of my favourite sapphic stories!

#acotar #tamlin's daughter #elain archeron #ianthe #feyre archeron #tamlin #pro tamlin #rhysand #lucien vanserra #nesta archeron #morrigan acotar #mor acotar #a witch a warrior and a reckoning #acotar au #acotar headcanons #acotar fanfiction

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draguta · 2 years ago

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.a court of fate and fortune | one.

pairing: lucien vanserra x fem!reader

summary: | book two | lovers separated, powers that won't be controlled, a doomed wedding. with the threat of war looming over prythian, lucien, Y/N, tamlin, and rhysand's inner circle must scramble to find allies and prepare themselves for what is to come. but Y/N only has one aim; to find her way back to lucien, and protect him at all costs.

chapter warnings: smut, 18+, minors dni, unprotected sex, p in v, fingering

chapter word count: 3747

a/n: chapter one of our sequel! yessssss! (side note: forgot to add my taglist for the entirety of a court of ash and smoke, so we're back with the taglist for the sequel lol) for this series i will be posting if and when chapters are ready rather than on a schedule (i'm moving across the world this month so keeping up with a schedule is going to be hard)

🔮 series masterlist 🔮

please remember to reblog, like, and share a comment if you enjoy this series - it is always appreciated by writers to see their hard work valued.

🔮 tip jar 🔮 tag list 🔮

Missing

Hands caressed bodies. Some falling to the hair of the other, tangling and twisting at the roots. Some pressed against chests, rising and falling with laboured breathing. Some travelling down, past the point of no return, to where each of you needed it the most. His lips were on my neck, sucking at that spot just under your ear that made your head fall back in pleasure, made your toes curl in anticipation.

“I missed you so much,” he said as his lips traced lower, over your collarbone, nipping slightly at the skin there, down past the crevice between your breasts, turning to pull each nipple into his mouth. The only sounds that you could form were breathy moans, whispers of his name, a pleading to show you just how much he had missed you.

A hand pressed down over your dripping heat, the heel of his palm pressing fervently to that spot that caused you to shudder irrationally. Then a finger was dipping inside, bringing with it a wave of pleasure unlike any you had experienced before. Time made the heart grow fonder, and distance made the pleasure grow stronger.

“How perfect you are,” he whispered against your skin, breath hot as lips caught with each movement of his hand inside you. “How perfectly made, just for me.”

Because you had been made for him. And he for you.

His fingers disappeared, and you whined at the loss. Until, that is, you felt his tip nudge against you, gathering your wetness. His forehead pressed against yours, and as he pushed in, the pure euphoric bliss almost overwhelming, you allowed your eyes to open. They caught his in a second, and you didn’t let them go. You watched every ounce of pleasure that etched itself into the colour of his eyes.

One russet. One golden.

“Never leave me again,” he said, voice almost breaking.

“I will never leave you,” was your reply. And you knew that was the truth.

“I love you,” he huffed out, close to a beg, as if he were pleading for you to accept it, to let him love you. Little did he know that you had accepted it a long time ago with open arms. “My mate.”

His mate.

Your mate.

You woke with a start, so fast that you could barely grasp your surroundings. Your skin was hot, clammy and sweaty, and there was a fire burning in the pit of your stomach, one that you doubted could be doused in any kind of water.

There was only one way to put out those flames, to dull them to nothing more than embers. Only one person. But he wasn’t there, he never was. That dream wasn’t real, a monstrous lie told by your own traitorous mind to keep you from going crazy. From losing it entirely. Your mattress was cold, your bed empty, and your heart aching for that one soul that you couldn’t see.

The door swung itself open, revealing the High Lord of the Night Court himself leaning against the door frame, hands in his pockets. “Again?” He asked. You could do nought but nod, running a hand through your sweat-drenched hair. He meandered inside, closing the door behind him, and perched on the end of your bed. He could no doubt scent the arousal in the air, but he didn’t comment on it - he never did. That was an unspoken rule between you.

He mourned the curse-breaker. You mourned the emissary. And you did so, each and every night, in each other’s company. You never spoke of it, never discussed the things that hunted your nightmares or his, but you were there for each other when the ones you both really wanted could not be. So you would sit, curled up in front of the fire, tea appearing before you as a courtesy of the very house that you lived in. And you would wallow in silence.

Dreaming of your mates.

Fate was a fickle thing.

You had never been one to believe in fate. For as long as you could remember you had scoffed at the idea that there was some higher power setting out a plan for your life. You preferred the idea that the things that happened to you were the outcome of a butterfly effect; that a decision you had made, however long ago, had led you to that particular moment, for whatever reason that may be. It wasn’t fate leading you there; it wasn’t the Cauldron or the Mother making those decisions on your behalf. It was you. Your strength. Your determination. Your courage. Your conscious choices.

Although you knew that choice wasn’t something that everyone was granted without hesitation. You weren’t given the choice to become High Fae. You weren’t given the choice to keep these powers. And you weren’t given the choice to have Lucien as your mate, although you would have chosen him regardless.

Even as a child you clung to the belief that your life was solely controlled by you. But that had been before, when you were mortal, naïve, and had thought the span of your world lay within the confines of your family’s estate in the Mortal Lands. When you’d assumed that the farthest you would ever go would be the village market, that you would never venture past the Wall, and that the male you cared for the most would be that of your blood brother, Arleon.

You knew better now.

How strange, how quickly things can change.

You could only assume that it hadn’t been your own decisions that had ultimately led you to where you were. You could only hope. Because the idea that every step you had been forced to take, every path you had been pushed to follow, was somehow due to something you had done, was all-but sickening to you.

Every life lost. Every battle fought in that cold, cavernous mountain. Every memory that haunted your each and every waking moment.

Every dream of him.

But that was the thing, you supposed; it had been worth it, you were certain of that. Whether it had been fate, or the will of the Cauldron and the Mother, or your own choices alone, those steps had brought you here, to Velaris. They had found you Feyre, had taken you to Prythain in the first place. And they had united you with Lucien, even if he was not so very far away.

It was all worth it.

Weeks had passed since Rhysand had first brought you there. The Night Court had been nothing at all as you had been expecting. When you had pictured torture chambers, instead sat plush bedrooms and studies and libraries. Where you had imagined the streets run red with the blood of victims, you had alternatively found cobblestone streets where the laughter of children bounced and echoed from the walls. It all seemed so lively. No bloodshed. No pain. Just pure, undiluted happiness radiating from the very streets of this city. How wrong those rumours in the Spring Court had been.

You had found yourself feeling strangely at home there, and you were certain that it wasn’t solely because of the city itself, but rather because of the people that you had found yourself surrounded with there. The Inner Circle of Rhysand’s court, his brothers, his cousin, and that terrifying black-haired female, had all welcomed you, regardless of where you had come from, and who your brother was.

Tamlin. You would have been lying if you said his name hadn’t crossed your mind on more than one occasion since your arrival there. You wondered if he might have been looking for you, if he knew who had taken you in the first place, if he had worked out that you had come willingly. That you had wanted to leave him behind. It was the least that he had deserved.

Perhaps Lucien had told him of your letter. No, surely Lucien wouldn’t do such a thing, not when that letter had been for his eyes and his eyes only. You hadn’t felt the need to include that; you knew all too well that he would understand the implication without it needing to be explained.

Lucien. Cauldron, how you missed him. Your entire body ached for him, for his touch. Each and every night he would visit you, and his hands would caress your body, his lips would brush against your skin, and everything would feel so right once more. Until you woke up, that is, and realised that it had all been in your head. That bond inside you, the one that was still entirely one-sided, that tied you to him, drew you back to him, to find him and never leave his side again. But you knew that you couldn’t. Not until you knew that you were no longer a threat to him, and for that you would risk missing those days with him. For that you would risk him falling back into resentment against you for leaving. You would never hurt him, even if it meant he hated you for it.

Your training had been going well. Each and every morning was spent in the ring at the House of Wind going over your manoeuvres with Cassian, who seemed more than impressed by how much you had already managed to grasp in the short time that you had been training. You cited Silas - your teacher - as the sole reason for that, although Cassian had been quick to shoot down the idea.

“Nah, that’s all you,” he had said, thumping you hard on the shoulder. Not hard enough to leave a bruise, but rough that it left a lingering pain.

Your afternoons were usually spent with Rhys going over the training of your powers. Even in just the few short weeks that you had been practising, you had already managed to get a grip on how to swell and shrink your power if and when you needed it - to bring it to the forefront and hide it away to lie in wait, only at your non-verbal command. Loosely was the optimal word, however; you still hadn’t quite perfected it just yet.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Rhys’ crooning tone sounded from behind you. He had found you in the spot that you seemed to have taken residence in more than anywhere else during those first weeks. The very corner of the balcony where you had spotted your first glimpse of Velaris, where the stone met at a point, providing you with the perfect place to lean into and simply look out upon the city that so few dared to venture into. Rhysand copied your stance, bringing his forearms up to rest against the stone of the railing, clasping his hands together, violet gaze trained on you. “You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?”

“I’m never not thinking about him,” you admitted, refusing to meet his stare for fear that, should you see those eyes filled with a knowing sympathy, the very walls that you had built to keep yourself guarded might crumble, leaving you a weeping mess at his feet. You hadn’t divulged to him that Lucien was your mate - hadn’t even mentioned that you loved him - but Rhysand had garnered that there was at least something there, some sort of feeling that made you ache for him the way that you did.

“I know a little of what that feels like,” he said, his lips pulling into a sorrowful smile. And there you remained, as you had for so many nights, standing in silence, lonely but not alone, staring out across the city that he called home.

Mourning those you could not have.

The Spring Court had never felt so…empty. It bustled around Lucien at a never-ending pace, preparations readying for what Ianthe had begun calling the wedding of the century. Everyone was in high spirits - even Tamlin, to a degree. That stoic demeanour was still just as it had been on the day Y/N had left, yet there was a glimmer in his eye at the thought of what lay ahead. A lifetime with the female he loved.

Lucien couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy that ricocheted through him at the very idea.

Feyre, he had noticed, seemed to be the only person who wasn’t excited for the upcoming nuptials. Well, the only person besides himself. She had closed herself off, more so with Y/N’s departure to the Night Court. It had left her with no one, not really. She had Tamlin, and his arduous mood swings, and Ianthe who seemed to be trying to paint her into the portrait of an obedient High Lord’s wife. And she had him, but he couldn’t deny that his heart simply wasn’t in it anymore.

There was no more teasing from him, no more humoured lilt in his tone when he spoke to her. He too, it would seem, had become closed off since Y/N had left, for a different reason, of course.

Because his heart longed to be with her, to be near her, and no matter what distractions he might find for himself - training with Silas and the sentinels, or heading out on hunts, or lending a hand to Tamlin with the court’s paperwork - that need for her never dissipated. It was always there, bubbling under the surface.

Tamlin hadn’t given up searching for her. Sentinels had scoured every inch of the Spring Court in search of anything, and Lucien himself had been sent to damn-near every court in the hopes of retrieving her safely, or of at least finding a clue as to where she might actually be. Lucien knew, of course, although he wouldn’t share that information with his High Lord. He knew for certain that it was Rhysand and his Night Court goons who had ‘supposedly’ stolen her away in the night. Tamlin knew that too, although he was woe to believe it; he had scented that male in her room that night, and had pieced the puzzle together. Silas had even said as much, having stated with such conviction that it had been them. But Tamlin knew better than to go storming into the Night Court and risk starting an all-out war between courts without proof that she was even there, and Lucien was doing everything he could to make sure that didn’t happen.

And so, it remained, Y/N in the Night Court, Lucien in the Spring Court; two lovers trapped miles, and multiple courts and territories apart. Tamlin continued scouring every book that held any information about the laws of Prythian, and still sent his sentinels out in search of clues. Lucien kept his friend distracted from invading Night Court lands, did his best to keep Tamlin focused on the Spring Court and Feyre and the upcoming wedding. And the best that he was able to do was dream of her, to think of her when he closed his eyes, and to imagine that she was there by his side.

He felt her in every Spring breeze blowing the scent of jasmine and lavender from the gardens; her scent. He felt her in every kiss of sunlight that fell against his skin as warm as her lips, every click of blade against blade when he sparred with the sentinels. In the birds that chirped that reminded him of that night Under the Mountain when they had stared out of that little window in his chambers for hours. In every smile that he saw plastered onto the faces of passing village fae, beaming and glowing and beautiful.

He felt her everywhere, except beside him.

“That was good,” Rhys said with a small chuckle. “Although next time, please try not to go for my face. You nearly took my head off.”

You rolled your eyes and unwrapped your legs from their seated position. You had been at it for hours, trying to get your powers to reveal themselves in a non-threatening way. Rhys had said that this was the obvious next step - to learn how to let them out, to breathe, even when there wasn’t a threat. Until now, it would seem that anytime you let your powers out, they would immediately lunge for whomever else was present, as if their sole reasoning for being was to kill. And all of your previous lessons had forced Rhys to place a protection shield around himself. But now, it would seem, he was willing to take the risk. Perhaps he trusted you enough now to not let them hurt him. You weren’t sure you trusted yourself with that though. Until that point, the only person that the red smoke hadn’t tried to harm was you.

You had been perched on the rooftop of the House of Wind, away from any civilisation that may have been caught in any destruction your power might have made should it not go to plan, for what seemed like forever. Every ticking second only stood to remind you of how little you really knew or understood of these powers, and how little you were able to control them. They had already lunged for Rhysand well over ten times, and you could only assume that they would try again.

“It’s not working,” you muttered, wrapping your arms around yourself to protect from the sharp chill of the mountaintop. “It’s pointless. I’m never going to be able to control these fucking powers.”

Rhys frowned. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit. These powers that you have are strong, and the way that you’re able to wield them already, to let them out and reel them back in on command, is already showing a lot of restraint.”

“Not enough. They still try to kill you every time.”

Rhys sighed, rising to his feet and shoving his hands in his pockets, allowing his shoulders to shrug ever-so-slightly. “We’ve not been doing this for long. You need to have patience.”

“Because it’s not going to happen overnight, right?” You scoffed, echoing the words that he had told you countless times already, spinning on your heel to look back at him. His lips went thin in what you could only assume was pity.

“Exactly,” he affirmed. “You think I was able to control my powers immediately? No, it took me centuries to get this kind of grip on them, and even still, there are aspects that I haven’t perfected.”

You winced. Centuries. Centuries away from Lucien. You weren’t sure you could make it that long without him. You were sure you would go mad from want long before that. “I just feel…useless,” you admitted, kicking at the snow on the rooftop with the toe of your boot. Rhysand sighed once more, moving to clap a hand on your shoulder.

“You’re definitely not useless,” he said quietly. “Have more trust in yourself than that. I know that you’re eager to get it right, but don’t push yourself.”

“What would you suggest instead?” You asked with a raised eyebrow. He chuckled, turning and wrapping an arm around your shoulders, pulling you back toward the door. You relished in the warmth that his arm provided; it seemed any training that you had been doing was finished, for now.

“Patience,” he said again. He looked at you from the corner of his eye, watched the way your shoulders slumped, and your breath clouded in front of you as you exhaled deeply. “I have to admit, these few weeks I’ve been watching you train, I’ve noticed some similarities between your powers and Azriel’s shadows. They’re not the same, far from it, but they act in a similar way. Maybe he could be of some help to us.”

The only thing you could do was nod.

Patience. You had to be patient. But if you were being honest with yourself, you weren’t sure how long that patience could last.

It was quite a scene, really, that Lucien had stumbled across. He rarely found himself in the rose garden - preferred to leave it as a place for Tamlin, a place where he could feel closer to his mother. But for some reason, in the weeks since Y/N had left, he had found himself drawn to that little rose garden, the flowers that bloomed there year-round reminding him of her. Of the rose he had gifted her for Solstice that had been more of a jibe against her than a real gift.

He regretted that now.

But as he wandered the gravelled path, the little stones crunching and sinking beneath each step of his boots, his eyes fell on Feyre. Her familiar haunch was perched on the edge of one of the stone benches. Lucien couldn’t deny in that moment that she looked rather angelic - golden-brown hair amidst blood-red roses. The scene would be like that of one of the paintings that Feyre loved so much, if it hadn’t been for her ghostly pale skin, paper-like from endless days trapped in the house.

As he grew closer, he noticed that she held a rose in her hand, twirling it between her fingers. Each thorn was gone, ripped from the stem with what he thought looked like almost angry intent.

He cleared his throat, and she looked up, catching his eye in surprise.

“Didn’t think I’d find you out here,” he said, finally coming to a stop at the bench and taking a seat beside her, stretching his legs out straight against the gravel.

“I could say the same thing,” she muttered with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She drew in a sigh, turning away from him and glancing back down to the rose in her hand, to the way it twirled, the sunlight bouncing off each petal. “I wish Y/N was here.”

Lucien blinked slowly. “Me too.”

“She loves you. You know?” Her words were so quiet, almost a whisper, barely audible above the gentle breeze that rustled the leaves above. Lucien wondered, for a second, if the words were being uttered without her permission or forethought.

“I know,” he replied as gently as he could.

“She’s lucky.” He watched as Feyre tossed the rose back into the bush, turning in her seat to stare at him intently. “Don’t let her forget how important she is.”

Lucien opened his mouth to speak, but before he had the chance, she was rising to her feet and floating back down the gravel toward the manor in eerie silence.

Lucien didn’t stop her.

Taglist

Complete: | @loveshineslikethesky | @elleclairez | @lostpirateinwonderland |

Lucien Vanserra: | @luna-foxglove |

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