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[phant0mth1ef]

i kissed the scars on her skin, i still think you’re beautiful.

-

can be read as part 3 to this boy’s too young to be singing the blues, or as a standalone :3!

-

empty. your hospital room was empty. void of all life. the sheets were as if nobody had slept there in years, the window shades were put back to their normal, idle position, and all the decorations that class a had put up for you were now gone.

but he was still directed to the room where you were supposed to reside. he stood at the doorway, his jaw open as he stared inside, trying to look for any signs of life. because why else would they send him here if you weren’t there? you were still alive. right?

he was worried, to say the least, until he heard quiet muffled sounds coming from behind him, you were standing, your iv was right next to you as you looked up at the boy with half-lidded eyes.

“hi katsuki.” you yawned.

“you spent all that time asleep and you’re still tired?!” there was the snarkiness and attitude you knew and loved.

“exhausted really. come in.” you motioned for the boy to follow you as you made your way to your bed, sitting down and patting the space next to you.

“why’s it look like a grey’s anatomy scene in here?” he was always so blunt, even if you were currently in the worst shape possible.

“didn’t wanna get too comfortable. i don’t plan on living in here any longer than i have to.” something was off. you didn’t have that stupid happy go lucky smile on your face.

“my quirk. they took my quirk.” you looked down as the tears welled in your eyes, trying to smile but it was quickly broken.

you never knew what to do with your hands, so you just played with your fingers whenever you were scared.

“that’s what you’re so upset about?! you almost died.” even when you’re feeling down he still manages to scold you.

“i know but,” you sniffled.

“i just-. i really wanted to become a hero with you katsuki.” the boy was never one for emotions, choosing to hide them rather than showcase them.

but in that moment, he slowly felt his hard exterior crumbling as he swore his heart begun to break, you had meant every word you said to him, your tears were real tears.

“tch. you’re real dense, ya know that?! you’re already a hero dumbass. you fought in that stupid war. you earned the right to be called a hero.” he looked away from you, not meeting your eyes because he refused to let you know he was crying.

until you heard him sniffle, and you pretended not to laugh even though your own eyes were filled to the brim with tears.

“you cryin’ katsuki?” a laugh had slipped out as he angrily snapped his head back to face you.

“hah?! no! it’s just stuffy in here.” it was hard to watch him pretending to be tough while he had a tear falling from his eye.

“s’okay to cry, y’know.” you leaned your head on his shoulder, and he turned at your sudden action.

then proceeded to put his head on your head, making mitsuki nearly jump at her son’s sudden actions, and yet she was quick enough to grab her camera, quickly snapping a photo.

the same photo that bakugou had looked back on after eri had successfully rewinded your body to the time when your quirk was still a part of you.

the same photo that was on display at your wedding, along with about a gazillion childhood pictures of you both, you both had been in the background of many pictures despite never knowing each other, it was as if an invisible string had tied your souls together.

and sure enough, the photo was hung in your shared home, along with another picture of you both as pro heroes, your children walking by it every day on their way to school.

[thehighladywrites]

— “ an unexpected twist ”

⋆˙⟡ pairing: professor eris vanserra x reader, part 3

⋆˙⟡ summary: you spend every weekend at eris’s mansion, what happens this time? Who is Eris Vanserra and how come he is so rich on a professors salary? GASP A PLOT TWIST

⋆˙⟡ warnings: mentions of smut, tw talks of beron vanserra🤢, abusive childhood, eris dropping huge stacks of money on you, eris channeling his inner sugar daddy, you call him daddy for the first time ever, mentions of an unalive body.

⋆˙⟡ amara’s note: i’m not going to lie the plot twist is either a banger or the messiest thing i’ve ever written (pls be a banger)

part 1, part 2

In the gentle morning light, you lay there in his bed, your lover's bed, serenely unaware of him, enchanted by the sight of you.

Eris had been awake for hours, yet the idea of leaving the cocoon of your warmth never crossed his mind. He marveled at the sheer luck of having someone as incredible as you in his life.

Last night, he came to the realization that he had started to feel mushy and in love with you. The thought still rattled him, and he couldn't shake the slight wariness that you held the power to influence his feelings.

Feelings, thoughts, and open discussions were never entertained in the Vanserra household. Eris and his brothers had been raised by their abusive father, who subjected them to verbal, physical, and emotional abuse. Their father manipulated them into accepting and believing whatever suited his agenda.

Through the passing years, Eris had finely tuned his act as the heartbreakingly cold and scornful eldest son. The mask of cruelty clung to him so persistently that he found himself questioning if it was a facade or a painful reflection of his true self.

When his old man kicked the bucket, Eris felt like a ton of bricks was off his back – turns out, it was just an act. Now, with the nosy observer out of the picture, he went all out decorating his room, something he couldn't do growing up. At firat he felt stupid for being happy about being able to change his room because it was something so normalized but he realized how much it healed his inner child. No more walking on eggshells; he could finally kick back. Where did he celebrate his first taste of freedom? The same bar where he first bumped into you.

Grinning at the notion, Eris not only shed a heavy burden but also welcomed newfound brightness into his life. He was determined not to mess things up in any way.

Fully aware that his actions were objectively wrong, Eris couldn't muster the will to change course. He had succumbed to love, a fertile ground for obsession. While he concealed that side for now, he knew it would eventually surface.

The gentle stir in his arms brought Eris back to the present. A warm feeling enveloped his heart as he looked down at you, tenderly running his fingers through your hair, savoring the sweet moment.

Bending down, Eris pressed a gentle kiss on your head, catching the sweet aroma of the strawberry-scented shampoo you insisted he use. Amused by the fact that his hair had never been smoother, he looked at you with a smile.

“Good morning, sweetheart. Want to do something fun today?” he suggested.

Excited, you sat up straight, a huge grin on your face, eager for some fun. When you asked him what he had in mind, Eris leaned in, maintaining eye contact, and handed you a black card with a hint of mystery.

“Go crazy,” he smirked, settling in with his glasses, preparing to read the book laying on the nightstand.

You stared at the black card and then at him. The question lingered – how did a professor end up with a black card? Weren't those reserved for big spenders and invite-only privileges?

“There's no need to be shy, love. Ask whatever it is you want to ask,” he reassured you, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Your cheeks warmed at how well he seemed to know you.

“How are you so rich? I mean, no offense, but I thought professors and teachers weren’t really that... well-off,” you inquired, genuine curiosity in your voice.

“I'm not only a professor, beautiful. I worked at my father’s company before he passed, and now I’m the owner and the CEO. Teaching is just a side job,” he explained, shedding light on his financial standing.

“Oh, I didn’t expect that. So what do you do?” you asked.

“Investment banking,” he replied quickly, not seemingly open to having a conversation about it.

You didn’t really know what that meant but you also really didn’t care. He had money and you were gonna spend it.

“Huh, okay. Does that mean I can buy whatever I want?” you tilted your head at him, a teasing expression on your face with slightly raised eyebrows.

“You can buy whatever you want. Start off by adding the card to your Apple Pay wallet. I want to pay for whatever it is you need. Don’t worry about anything anymore, my love.”

He kissed your forehead, and the gesture made your vision slightly blurry. Eris took such good care of you, and the desire to make him proud lingered in your heart. Wanting to lightheartedly joke with him you tell him how much he reminds you of a dominating sugar daddy.

“Yeah? A dom sugar daddy, huh? How about you come here and give me something sweet, then?”

His taunting voice almost turned your brain to mush. This dynamic was entirely new and felt amazing. Eris embodied a provider, protector, and lover, all in one. No more worrying about the bare minimum or small things – he treated you like a queen. Unlike people your age, he didn't play games or ask for something in return for his gestures; it was a standard for him, a refreshing change.

You were well aware that Eris's fucking would leave you in need of a nap, so you decided to playfully tease him now, saving the rest for later.

“I promise to give you something real sweet after I’m done shopping, daddy.”

Damn. You knew you should’ve saved it for later. The man grabbed your giggling form and quickly turned it into moans, whimpers and sobs.

—

Obviously and sadly you couldn’t go outside together and shop so you had to order things online, but it was fine because it was so much more convenient this way. With a few clicks, your numerous packages arrived. Was it rude to order so much on someone else’s card? Hmm… maybe for regular people, but not for you. The man had a black card aka no fucking limit. You could buy literally anything and it would go through. So you did what any sane person with an unlimited budget did.

You shopped your ass off.

Clothes, makeup, skincare, books – you turned his doorstep into a glam runway. Nails, lashes, hair appointments – basically, you scheduled a spa day for yourself via delivery. Waxes, new phone case, upgraded computer – you were basically giving your whole life a makeover. Better shoes, nicer bag – You didn't just shop; you leveled up your entire wardrobe.

When you saw the damage of your shopping spree in his living room your cheeks heated as you looked at him with an apologetic smile.

But Eris wasn’t mad, not in the slightest. There was truly no better feeling than being able to spoil you. He loved your facial expressions when you saw something that caught your eye, loved the way your eyes sparkled when you saw a cute piece of jewelry that you just had to have. Your unapologetic way of spending his money was such a turn on for him. You sure showed him how much you appreciate him…

—

The weekend with Eris was almost over, and the thought of going back to school didn't sit well with you. Being with him felt comfortable and safe, away from potentially judgmental eyes and consequences. Now, you had to act like he's just another professor, dealing with thirsty whispers from fellow students that made your fists tighten. And don't get started on Professor Jensen – despite your warnings, she still managed to hover around Eris. Guess you’d just prove your words weren’t just words and that being around Eris would give her consequences. The return to the school routine felt like a looming storm, and you weren't looking forward to it.

You voiced your concerns to him and he gave you comfort and promised that you’d be spending more time with each other next weekend and all weekends forward.

After your final night routine, you fall asleep together, finding comfort and warmth in each other's embrace. The room quieted down, and your drift off into a peaceful slumber.

—

However, the peace was short-lived. Hearing a muffled thud, you attempted to snuggle closer to Eris, only to find his heated presence absent. Sitting up, you assumed he might be in the bathroom. As minutes passed without his return, worry crept in, and the realization hit you – you had grown accustomed to his warmth, and now, sleep seemed impossible without him by your side.

You got a blanket and wrapped it around you, got into the fuzzy slipper he got you and went to look for him.

Shirtless, Eris stood there, speaking harshly into his phone. Another male voice emanated from the speaker, filled with concern and fear.

“I won't repeat myself. The deal happens tomorrow night, or you will face consequences. Inquire with your father. Oh, wait, that’s right, you can't.”

Eris's voice turned taunting and cruel, unlike the playful teasing you were familiar with. This was a cold demeanor you hadn't seen before, a stark departure from the Eris you had grown accustomed to.

“Eris?”

His entire body froze, not expecting to see you awake. He prayed to every god and whatever people prayed to these days that the man on the phone didn't hear your voice. Because there was no telling what he’d do if he found out Eris had a weak spot. He reminded the man of what he said and hung up before turning around and going back into the warm Eris you knew.

“What are you doing up, princess? It's 2 in the morning,” he smiled so warmly and softly at you, it nearly made you forget your words.

“I couldn’t sleep without you. What’s going on? You sounded angry, is everything okay?”

He looked at you with tenderness, grabbing your cheeks before kissing you softly.

“It was just one of my employees at the company who had been slacking off a bit. Don’t worry about me, my love. Let’s get you back to bed.”

You nodded at him, lifting your arms in a sleepy gesture for him to lift you up. With a chuckle and no difficulty, he complied.

Eris cradled your head in the crook of his neck, strategically shielding your view. Unbeknownst to you, his men worked silently in the background, discreetly cleaning up the dead body. He fervently prayed that your drowsiness kept you oblivious to the grim details.

Crossing his fingers, Eris also hoped the presence of his gun on the nearby table escaped your notice in the dimly lit room.

🏷️ taglist: @teenageeggscissorslawyer @daycourtofficial @nocasdatsgay @vellichor01 @daughterofthemoons-stuff @rowaelinsdaughter @meshellexplosionmurder @honeysuckle-daydreams13 @candyjaypoppins @natashachelsea @whatthefuckshappeningrn @acourtofbatboydreams

[lucienarcheron]

Spirit Meets the Bones XXXIV

Genre: Angst/Romance/Drama Warnings: Mentions of physical abuse. Author’s Note:  Thank you for reading <3 I hope you enjoy this next chapter and where the story is going :)

thank you @riorsonxaden for always being my beta <3

tagging: @climb-the-mountian / @vanserrass / @positivewitch / @animezinglife / @zenkindoflove / @rosewood-cafe / @clockwork-ashes / @carnythian / @secret-third-thing / @runningwiththeoceans / @that-golden-lyre / @thedarkinmansfield / @readychilledwine / @goldenmagnolias / @mali22 / @readthelastpaage / @maidr-00 / @electromagnetic-waves / @eastofatlanta / @moobell55 / @bibliophiliaxvignette / @devilsfoodcake22 / @weesablackbeak / @ladywhilemia / @alohaangels / @feysandfeels / @corcracrow / @dawneternal / @gracie-rosee / @mage-neve / @illyrianvalkyrie / @saint-stella / @carolynmezzosoprano / @rainbowsnowflake / @queenoftheworld1998 / @wolvesnravens / @lalaluch /

Find it all here.

The morning had arrived in a blink and proceeded to be a whirlwind. 

The Forest House was fueled in chaos as final preparations for the Autumnal Equinox ball took place, and the house staff and sentries were coming and going to make everything perfect. 

Eris had never been this on edge in his whole life, and he had survived Under the Mountain. A mix of dread and restrained panic pumped through his veins, but the leash he had on himself was held tight. He and his brothers had one moment this morning—they shared one glance across the room to ensure everything was going accordingly, that Mikel's signal ensured Theo, Cosette, and Helene were fine, and then dispersed to go about getting ready. 

Now, Eris stood in his bedroom, fixing his cufflinks as he glanced at himself in the mirror then smoothed his hair on the side and adjusted his crown. He looked every bit of the favored Prince of the Autumn Court in a fitted dark maroon suit, golden embroidery decorating the sides of his coat. A suit he wore like armor, that told the people of his court that he may follow his father’s every word but he was power. His suit, the crown, and the devilish smile he wore like a mask – one he wore so well to hide the true purpose of this night. A purpose he’d prepared for in three different ways: a bandolier under his jacket, the Made dagger given to him long ago by the Night Court sheathed at his side, and his magic. Did he truly believe he needed weapons when his magic thrummed so violently beneath his skin, itching to be released? No. But when it came to taking down Beron Vanserra every moment, every measure counted.

He made himself take a deep breath. He would dress to impress, regardless of how many people he’d run his blade into tonight. 

“Help me with my dress?”

Eris turned and at the sight of his wife, his head emptied. 

His beautiful, beautiful wife. 

She knocked the wind out of him on any given day but gods fucken damn it, did she look magnificent dressed up. 

Iris stood before him in a beautiful maroon A-line dress. It was lace covered in a mix of sequins and beading with full sheer sleeves and if the cinched waist didn’t do him in, the modest sweetheart neckline giving him a teasing glance at her cleavage certainly would. She smiled at his reaction and Eris took another moment to admire the light makeup dusting her face and the styling of her hair. Her eyes were lined with light kohl, her blush giving her a lovely glow, and the terracotta shade coloring her lips made him want to desperately ruin it. His eyes zeroed in on the delicate necklace of olive branches he had left as a suggestion with her dress and his wretched heart swelled that she had actually worn it. 

Eris was certainly particular about his appearance and his wife matched his vision exactly. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you with your hair up,” he commented quietly. 

“Do you like it?” she asked shyly and Eris’s smile was soft in a way it only was with her, especially when his eyes locked on the tiara he had chosen specifically for her to wear. 

“Oh, I love it,” he replied, his soft smile blooming into his signature smirk. “Dare I say, you look absolutely delicious.”

Iris flushed prettily, lifting her nose in the air. “Only delicious?”

Eris chuckled, a hand reaching out to gently touch a curl framing her face. “You look like a goddess of autumn,” he murmured, his smirk softening again. “And I am but your humble devotee.”  

Iris couldn’t help the rapid beating of her heart at his compliment, her flush deepening. “If you keep being nice to me, I’ll be forced to be polite to you.”

“Heaven forbid you be polite to your mate. How dare I,” he said with a snort and Iris flipped him off, earning her a chuckle. He gestured for her to turn, regretting it almost immediately at the scooped neckline of the back as well, more of her skin on display. Before he could stop himself, Eris traced a hand down the bareness of her back and Iris shuddered beneath his touch, glancing at him over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing playfully.

“Don’t you start touching. We won’t be able to stop,” she warned and Eris’s grin was full of male smugness.

They had spent last night all over each other and this morning, Eris had awoken to Iris’s hand sliding down his body and they lost another hour exploring each other. 

It had been very hard for them to stop.

And now, like any respectable husband, he couldn’t help but leave a featherlike kiss on her exposed skin before calmly zipping up her dress. 

When she turned back to him, the two stood face to face, taking each other in quietly, and the longer he looked at her, the harder he had to fight the anxious dread wrapping around his chest like barbed wire. Gods, he had so much to lose. 

This day may have been a long time coming for Eris but he had never thought he’d have someone by his side through it all. Someone who was all his. His Iris, who watched him with that knowing look, read into his emotions better than anyone else. 

He never thought he’d be understood. And yet, as Iris stood before him, despite all that would happen today, the tentative smile she gave him soothed his jagged soul. He felt a fluttering of peace in his chest. He felt her. 

This was the closest to heaven Eris knew he’d ever be. 

“You really do look beautiful,” he said softly and the smile bloomed further on her face. “A crown suits you.”

“Thank you. My husband has a good eye,” she said, taking in his suit and how it lined his body so well. She couldn’t help but reach a hand and run it down his arm and somehow, Eris felt his body relax. “You look…”

“Handsome? Dashing?”

Iris rolled her eyes. “If you’d give me a second to compliment you, you’d know,” she said and swatted his chest gently. His answering grin was so boyish, she wanted to kiss him senseless. “But you do look very handsome.”

“And dashing?”

“Very dashing,” she confirmed and let her gaze slide over his body again. “You look so very royal.” 

“I am a Prince, you know,” he said and Iris snorted.

“A prince of being a pain in the ass.” she muttered and his answering smirk made her blood heat.

“Well, we haven’t really had a chance to explore –”

“Do not finish that sentence.” 

Eris couldn’t help his wicked chuckle and Iris shook her head, fighting back a smile. 

The words that had sat on the tip of her tongue for weeks now threatened to burst out of her but Iris held, even as her cheeks flushed lightly. She wasn’t foolish. She’d read stories upon stories of what love felt like. She’d yearned for years. Never truly believing love would find her or something she would experience. 

Yet, Iris knew exactly where her heart stood and despite how their story may have begun, she knew there was no doubt in her mind of what she felt for her husband. Her husband who would be walking into a battlefield at this ball, who could use a moment of peace – a little distraction. 

Eris’s brows furrowed as he looked at her but Iris only leaned up to give him a chaste kiss before pulling away. She couldn’t stop herself from running a hand down his suit again before clearing her throat and giving him a small, shy smile. “I have a gift for you.” 

He blinked in surprise. “A gift?”

“Yes,” she said with a chuckle and turned to walk over to their vanity, pulling out a small box from the top drawer. “It is the Autumn Equinox and regardless of what is happening today, it is a day to celebrate so I wanted you to have a little something.” 

She turned to find his expression carefully blank as color spread across his face and Eris cleared his throat before quietly saying, “You didn’t have to do that.” 

“I know.” she replied then licked her lips before continuing, “But you…you give me so much. I wanted to give you something from me.”

Eris felt his heart nearly crumble. He didn’t know what to do with himself. What to do with his hands. In the middle of all this chaos…she had thought of getting him a gift. Eris had certainly gotten her a gift but hadn’t expected anything from her in return. His windpipes threatened to crash on him.

He glanced at the rectangular box and said so quietly, “I can’t remember the last time I received a gift.”

Her expression softened. “Well, I hope you’ll like this one then,” she said and Eris slowly took the box from her, his eyes never leaving the gift. “I had it custom-made from your mother’s favorite jeweler.” She waved her hand excitedly. “Open it!”

At her tone, he finally looked up from the box she’d given him to catch her wide smile and Eris felt his heart spasm at how beautiful she truly was. Gods…he had to be so pathetically obsessed to feel a little breathless at how her face seemed to brighten when she looked at him. How she kept smiling at him. At him, of all people.

He couldn’t stop his mouth from curling upward as she watched him and Eris took a breath as he slowly, almost reverently, opened his gift and then blinked rapidly before glancing up at his wife.

Iris’s smile turned sheepish. “I know you usually wear your insignia on your armor but I wanted to give you something a little more…subtle to wear for nights like these,” Iris explained, blushing slightly. “A way to keep the pups with you.”

Eris felt the tips of his ears heat as he glanced down at the gold chain lapel brooch. The two pins were adorned with leaves, one engraved with his initials and the other had his insignia of two baying hounds. “Iris…”

She shrugged, her blush deepening. “It’s not easy to get a gift for someone who pretty much has everything but I hope you find it worthy of your fashion sense,” she said and let out a little chuckle but Eris had to swallow hard, emotions bubbling in his chest. 

He was going to vomit.

“Thank you,” he whispered and Iris felt her chest ache.

“You're welcome,” she said with a smile. “Consider it a good luck charm.”

Her tone was as quiet as his own and Eris felt himself drowning. He had woken up overwhelmed – his head had barely been above the water for weeks. The night had barely begun and this unexpected gesture was the one threatening to send him over the edge. 

“I think…” he began then paused. Eris felt his face heating and he had to clear his throat as the words he never thought he’d live long enough to confess to anyone slowly formed in his mouth, “Marrying you seems to be all the good luck I need.” 

Color stained her cheeks as Iris’s heart beat to an erratic rhythm that seemed to match his own. She had been nothing important to anyone. She had lived her whole life as a ghost, alone. 

And now she was supposedly a prince’s good luck. She was the wife and mate of a future High Lord. Iris couldn’t put into words just how much this meant. How it made her swell with pride to be held in such high regard to him. So she gave him a half smile and said, “Even with the constant stabbing threats?” 

His chuckle was breathless, his throat tight. “I think you’ll find I don’t mind a little knife play.” 

“Kinky.” she whispered and the corner of his mouth lifted in a wry smile.

He held up his box. “Will you do me the honor of putting it on for me?”  

Iris grinned, taking the box from his hand, and gently started pinning it in place. Eris stood still beneath her touch and tried not to be too obvious as he breathed in her scent. Tried to keep his stupid hands from shaking as she focused on pinning the brooch into his lapel. 

It didn’t help that he scented himself all over her. To know how their scents mingled in the one place he didn’t have to glamour them.

He had to breathe deeply to calm his raging heart, to resist the urge to wrap himself around her and not let go. All that was to come…there were so many things that could go wrong. So many ways she could get hurt –

“There. All set.” Iris ran a hand over his jacket and stepped back with a knowing smile.

Eris watched her for a moment and he couldn’t help the heat rising through him, his blood set aflame at her smile. At her thoughtfulness, knowing today would be hard enough as it is. And though she was barely a step away from him, he gestured with a finger for her to come closer, “Come here.” he murmured and the blush in her cheeks deepened as instead, she took a step back.

“I don’t trust that tone.” she said, her eyes narrowed in suspicion and he huffed out a dark chuckle, his gaze turning molten. 

“You don’t trust your husband?” he teased in a low tone that made her pulse race.

“Not when he’s talking to me in a tone that suggests whatever he’s going to do will ruin my hair or makeup.”  

At that, Eris couldn’t help his quiet laugh, making Iris’s lips twitch and it never ceased to amaze him how she could ease him in moments like this; the way she always knew what he needed to calm his raging head and heart. “What if I promise not to ruin either of them?” he asked, his small smirk sending a thrill down her spine.

“You are saying words but the tone of that promise suggests the opposite,” she said and narrowed her eyes again, pointing at him. “You have your lying face on.”

He snorted in disbelief. “My lying face?”

“Yes. It’s when you smirk and look like a posh princess. You’re lying.” she said matter-of-factly. “You will ruin my hair and makeup and I will not stand for it.”

His smirk widened and Iris’s toes curled at the sheer arrogance in his gaze. “Fine,” he said and Eris took that little step closer to her until they shared a breath and Iris had to tilt her head to meet his eyes, her lips twitching. “I will keep my hands and mouth to myself and you can kiss me.”

“Oh? Is that all you were going to do?” she asked a tad breathlessly and the slight roguish smile was like a branding on her skin. Gods, she wanted to tackle him. 

“Of course,” he said and his tone was so sincere, Iris’s lips twitched again. “I only want a kiss for good luck.” 

Iris pursed her lips, trying not to laugh at the devilish look on his face, heat pooling low in her stomach. “Well, how am I supposed to deny you that?”

“The idea here is that you won’t.” 

“Ah, but what if I did – to make you pant a little?” she teased and he made a displeased noise.

“But what if you don’t, and in return I give you the gift I have for you?”

Iris blinked then flushed happily. “You have a gift for me?” she asked in a hushed tone and her fingers went to the necklace at her throat. “I thought the necklace was a gift!”

He shrugged as nonchalantly as possible and without his eyes leaving hers, slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a square velvet box. “Our first Autumn Equinox together and you think I didn’t prepare a gift for you?” he said with a chuckle. “I’m not one to spit on traditions. You just stole my thunder, little gazelle.”

Iris sucked in a breath, her eyes widening, glancing at the box and then back at him. Another beat of silence passed before she whispered, “And what might that be?”

Eris felt the tip of his ears heat again as he swallowed. “You made a comment a few weeks ago about how I never proposed to you,” he said and the corner of his mouth curled up as color stained her cheeks. “Many things about how this marriage began were stolen from us but…I don’t want this to be one of them.” 

And Iris felt herself softening all over again. “Eris…”

He shrugged one shoulder. “You and I have the basic traditional bands but I wanted you to have a ring worthy of your healer hands,” he said and Eris had to work his throat before continuing, “I daresay I think it’ll sparkle nicely as you play the piano too.”

A choked laugh slipped from her lips and she shook her head in disbelief. He hadn’t even opened the box and Iris already knew she’d love whatever kind of ring was in there. 

“We could’ve waited on that,” she said but Eris only hummed. 

He didn’t want to ruin the moment by explaining that he had also wanted to wait on it. His original plan was to propose to her after he became High Lord, starting that new chapter of his life with her the right way. In a way she deserved.

But nothing was guaranteed. And Eris didn’t want to have any regrets when it came to her. 

“Why wait when we already know your answer?” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as Iris huffed out a laugh.

“That is not a proposal.”

He lifted a brow. “And how is this not up to your standard?”

“You holding out the box and telling me you already know the answer is not a proposal, Eris.” she said with a choked laugh. 

“Are you really going to say no?”

“Well, I might now.”

Eris couldn’t help his eye roll despite the twitch of his lips. “Your resistance is pointless. We both know you can’t live without me.”

“Wow,” she said with a hum. “There you go projecting your delusions again.”

Eris was fighting back every instinct in him not to laugh as he cooled his expression, grateful — always grateful for these moments with her. Moments when he could laugh. “If that’s your answer, the ball will be filled with quite a few potential brides I could —”

Her hand flew out to yank him by his lapel and his answering smirk was filled with male satisfaction. “Don’t you dare finish that thought,” she warned. “Continue with your botched proposal before I pull out my knife and stick it somewhere you won’t like.” 

Eris’s eyes lit with delight. “I think I like this color on you, wife.”

Iris shook her head, the beat of her heart as wild as his own and as she shared a breath with her very annoying husband, it struck her that this was exactly the kind of proposal they would have. 

“Aren’t you supposed to be down on one knee?” she asked with a raised brow and Eris’s gaze turned molten.

“You’d like me on my knees, wouldn’t you?”

“Just as I think you like to be there.” 

Eris had to restrain himself from leaping at her for the way she knew exactly how to tease him, how to distract him. Gods, he really was in love with her. 

And so he did something he’d never really imagined himself doing at any point in his life.

Without breaking her gaze, Eris slowly slid to one knee and held up the box. His hand was somehow steady as he opened the lid and relished in Iris’s small gasp. 

“Oh. Oh, wow.” 

The ring was exactly what he had imagined for Iris. It had been custom-made and Eris had nearly sent the jeweler into cardiac arrest with how picky he had been. Given how his wife was staring at it in delight, he knew it had been worth it. 

He wouldn’t have settled for anything less. 

Iris couldn’t help but feel her emotions bubbling inside as she stared at the ring. All at once, she was equal parts thrilled and pained, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears threatening to escape. All because this male – this male who she was once so terrified of being in the same room as, had somehow by the fate of the cauldron, become much more. Had remembered a throwaway comment of hers and hadn't hesitated to make it a reality. 

For most of Iris's life, she had been neglected. Never taken seriously, never worth anyone's time, barely thought of. Until Eris. Until this time with him. 

She would never take a moment of this for granted. 

“Well?” he asked her and the look he gave her made Iris’s heart unfurl in a type of joy she had always yearned for. Today would be hard and what came after was unknown. But this, here with him? This would be the constant. Now and forever. 

“I thought you knew my answer.” she said with a small smile that he returned. 

“All that complaining and yet you still won’t actually say yes.” he teased quietly and Iris couldn’t help her soft laugh, brushing her thumb to his cheek. 

“How could I say anything but yes with such a handsome male on his knees for me?”

Eris’s gaze was smoldering as he stood and again, the heat pooling in Iris’s stomach tightened.  They watched each other quietly and despite the feverous energy between them, it always did soften in the silence. Eris could read all the emotions crossing her face and knew his wife’s internal struggle matched his own; it was all too much. There was too much at stake. Too much on the line but this ring…he wanted her to know just how much of a choice she was. And that bridge between them – it had held strong despite how long it had taken them both to find each other. 

It held as they chose each other over and over again. 

Iris held out her hand and slowly, Eris slid the lovely ring on her finger.

Their mating bond seemed to vibrate at their shared smile and Iris couldn’t stop herself from finally leaning in and kissing him quickly, a hand touching his face.

And as it fell silent between them again, her thumb continued caressing his cheek, the words – those feelings that had been haunting Eris for weeks, clogged his throat. He took in her beautiful face and as desperately as he wanted her to know, he wanted to savor it a little longer. For a moment better than this.

But he could hear it in the silence between them. He knew she could too.

Eris glanced down at his hand in hers, the ring gleaming, and the corner of his mouth lifted. “I told you it would suit you,” he said quietly then looked up. “Do you like it?”

“It’s stunning, Eris,” she replied and squeezed his hand. “In fact, it’s almost too nice for me.”

His brows flattened. “And why would you think that?”

“Daughter of a fiend, remember?” she said with a weak chuckle and Eris’s gaze narrowed. 

“You have nothing to do with that fucker anymore,” he said firmly. “You’re my wife. You are mine. And once a Vanserra, always a Vanserra.” 

Iris couldn’t take her eyes off him, his expression so serious and gods, her heart wanted to leap out of her chest at how he claimed her. Someone who cared for her this deeply was all she ever craved, all Iris had ever wanted. And he was standing right in front of her. 

She knew what this gesture meant to him – those words  — that no matter how this night ended, she was his and he would be hers. In actions, in words, and with a bond that wrapped around them as lovingly as the ring on her finger.

“Once a Vanserra, always a Vanserra,” she repeated softly then took a breath, straightening her shoulders. “And as a Vanserra, am I as demure as usual or do we get to be ourselves?”

Eris watched her carefully for a moment then squeezed her hand in his. “If by being yourself you mean tossing a chair at someone, I’d ask you to refrain from that,” he said and Iris swatted his chest gently. Despite the heaviness of what was to come slowly tightening his chest again, he focused on his mate. “But if you mean, we try to enjoy being dressed up and dancing as we execute a murder, then yes – let’s do that.”

Her lips twitched. “So no cowering wife today?”

“Never again,” he promised solemnly. “Today…we ignite.” 

And as they watched each other once more, the silence between them slowly shifted, sobering, as the minutes ticked by. Iris’s expression dimmed and she forced herself to take a deep breath.

She squeezed his hand and Eris glanced down at the ring shining on her finger, working his jaw as he held her hand tightly. “Whatever happens tonight, we will be alright.”

Eris couldn’t help how his expression tightened and without words, Iris knew he was thinking of the exact opposite outcome; it was almost as if he couldn’t help but expect the absolute worst and Iris couldn’t exactly blame him with so much on the line.  

She opened her mouth to ease the tension, to bring back a little of that earlier distraction but Eris rolled his shoulders back, shifting gears.

“Your dagger is with you.”

“Yes.”

“Should anything happen, you use it. This night will be full of snakes. You will not be afraid and you will not hesitate,” he said, his expression darkening. “You will not worry about anybody else. Make anyone in your way bleed and run. I will find you.”

“But –”

“I will find you,” he repeated firmly, and then his tone softened. “I need you to take care of yourself.”

“I need you to take care of yourself too,” she whispered. “Promise me. Promise me you’ll do whatever you can to stay safe.” She gripped his arm, the sight of her pleading gaze a punch to his gut. “Please, Eris.”

His mouth went into a thin line before he sighed, knowing if she hadn’t been holding him, his hands would be trembling. “You know what we’re up against…but I will do my best,” he said quietly and though the answer made her chest feel tight, she nodded.

“That’s all I can ask.”

[azrielslightintheshadows]

Hello. I hope all is well. I love your work. I was wondering if u could write something for me.

So reader and azriel are mates and az is really protective of her especially near a male he is not familiar with. And when he sees her with eris is so damn protective but reader and eris are childhood best friends. Something in that plot. I don't really know but this is the main gist. Thank you and have an amazing day!

Untouchable.

Azriel x f!Reader

Warnings; angst, swearing.

Masterlist.

Thank you! <3 Hope this is what you had in mind!

Untouchable. That’s how every male in Prythian saw you and not just because you were cold and feisty, they mostly feared the dark handsome Illyrian with the deathly glare that followed you everywhere. Your mate or as everyone else knows him the night court’s shadowsinger, spymaster, Azriel and sometimes God of death at least that’s what you have heard over the decades you two have been together. It wasn’t that Azriel didn’t trust you, he knew that you would never even look at another male, he just didn’t trust them and being raised in Illyrian camps where the females were considered breeding machines made him even more scared that someone would try to hurt you. The only two males he trusted with you were his brothers Cassian and Rhysand, anyone else would have to survive his iconic death stare in order to talk with you.

At first you thought it was really charming and always clung to his side to show everyone that you belonged to him but after nearly 6 decades it was getting really annoying and you knew that your biggest fight was coming soon, specifically at the ball Rhysand planned in Hewn city where your childhood best friend Eris would be. You and Eris met when you were 5 years old and spent the next 92 years clinging to each other until your family decided to move to the night court in fear of what Beron could do to you knowing how much Eris loved you. You still kept in touch with frequent letters, and you even visited him at his cabin in the Autumn woods twice. Azriel of course knew about this, yet his opinion about Eris wasn’t good and you knew that he would be furious if he saw you together.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

“Are you ready?” your mate’s deep voice chimed from the hall.

“I’ll be there in a sec” you shouted and hurried to put your heels on.

You had decided to wear a midnight black sparkly gown that had a split that reached to your hip, the upper part hugged your body like second skin and had a cut that ended just bellow your breasts.

You walked into the dining room where Azriel, Cassian, Nesta and Mor were waiting. Mor saw you first and whistled.

“Damn girl, if you ever get bored of him, you’re welcome in my bed” she spoke and you blushed.

Azriel gave her a vulgar gesture and turned to look at you. His breath hitched and a rosy shade appeared on his cheeks.

“You look amazing” he said and opened his arms in a silent invitation.

“Thank you” you replied and walked into his arms before giving him a soft kiss.

“Alright let’s go” Cassian said, and Mor offered her hand to winnow you.

The huge throne room was decorated with expensive stones and the best musicians in Prythian were playing on top of a dais at the right side.

“This screams Rhysand” you rolled your eyes and Nesta snorted.

Mor guided you next to the throne and the three of you waited for Rhysand and Feyre to make their appearance. They arrived a few minutes later and walked to the throne smirking at the sight of everyone bowing. Azriel and Cassian were walking behind them, their hands resting on top of their swords and their eyes scanning the room. The cold expression on your mate’s face made your knees tremble and you thought about all the things you would do to him tonight.

You’re drooling. Rhysand’s voice rang in your mind, and you blushed.

When everyone got comfortable in their seats you scanned the room trying to find your best friend.

“Looking for someone?” you span around and almost shrieked when you saw Eris there.

“Foxy you're here” you chirped and pulled him for a tight hug.

“Hey little mouse” he murmured in your hair and caressed your back.

“Cauldron it’s been so long since I last saw you” you said when you pulled away.

“I know! I guess Azriel doesn’t allow you to visit me.” He teased you.

You scoffed and shook your head “I don’t ask for his permission.” “He is glaring at me” Eris nodded to the direction, and you glanced at your mate, he was gripping the handle of Truth-Teller so hard that his knuckles turned white, and his face was even colder than before. When your eyes met, he marched to you, his hand instantly went to your waist, and he pulled you closer.

“Lordling” he said as a mock.

“Little mouse I suggest putting a leash on your guard dog” Eris smirked, and his eyes flashed with mischief.

Azriel growled and pressed you harder on his side while his shadows floated around you protectively.

“Enough, both of you.” you scowled at them and turned to your mate.

“Eris is my best friend, and I will spend some of my time here with him catching up.” Then turned to Eris “Azriel is my mate, and you will speak to him with respect.”

“Alright” Eris said and offered you his hand to guide you away.

Azriel’s eyes moved from Eris’ face to his hand, and he tightened his hold on you.

“Then I will stay with you” your mate gritted his teeth.

“Az…” you tried to reason with him, but he shook his head and his shadows engulfed both of you. When the darkness disappeared, you were back into your shared bedroom.

“What the fuck did you do?” you yelled and clenched your fists.

“I’m keeping you safe, we can’t trust him” Azriel’s face was red now and all the veins in his neck popped as he screamed.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” you threw your hands in the air “He is my best friend! My. Fucking. Best. Friend.”

“And I. Don’t. Fucking. Care.” He copied you.

“You’re unbelievable” you scoffed and opened the closet taking out some of his clothes. “What are you doing?” he panicked.

“You’re not sleeping here tonight” you grabbed a bag and started filling it with his clothes.

“This is my room” he stated, and you paused.

“I thought it was our room but okay I’ll go” you took his clothes out and started putting yours in the bag.

“It is our room I meant that it used to be mine” he sighed and pushed his hand through his hair.

You shrugged and entered the bathroom to gather your stuff.

“Are you serious right now?” Azriel raised his voice and followed you into the bathroom.

“Yes I can’t be with you tonight or ever again. If you can’t respect my choices, then I think we should end this now.” Your heart ached at your words, but you ignored it.

“I just…” his voice broke, and a few tears escaped “I only wanted to protect you” he stared at the ground. He looked so defeated and vulnerable, like a small child.

“Azriel… I don’t mind when you act like that with strangers, but Eris is like a brother to me, how would you feel if I kept you away from Cassian and Rhys?” your voice was soft now.

“Cauldron I’m awful” he breathed and rubbed his face.

“No you’re not… I know how they treat females in the Illyrian camps, and I get your fears, we just need to find a way that will make us both feel comfortable” you cupped his jaw and caressed his cheek.

“You’re right. Would you like me to take you to the Autumn Court tomorrow?” he asked, and your eyes widened. “I would love that!” you grinned. “Okay then.” He gave you a tight smile. You could see how uncomfortable he felt by the way his shadows slithered around him.

“You can invite Cassian and stay close if you want to check on me” you offered and noticed how his whole body relaxed.

“Thank you” he smiled and wrapped his arms around your waist.

“I’m so sorry for the way I acted” he mumbled and kissed your head.

“I forgive you” you said and kissed his chest.

[ellievickstar]

Between Two Worlds (Chapter 2) DISCONTINUED

Summary: After fifty years of being under Amarantha's reign, Your brother has found his mate, and as you prepare for a meeting with the High Lords of Prythian, you realise something utterly terrifying and yet so curious at the same time.

Request: N/A

Pairing: Azriel x Reader, Eris Vanserra x reader

Warnings: This is….long. I got a little carried away with the High Lord’s meeting.

Between Two Worlds / Part 2 / Part 3 / Discontinued

~*~*~*~*~

It had been a few months before Feyre had finally returned from the Spring Court, rumours of it collapsing from the inside travelled across the country, and you could still recall the absolute joy on Rhysand’s face when he had chased everyone out of the room to spend time with his mate. Giggling, you had led Azriel to do a bit of shopping, feeling like you should be compensated for rudely being kicked out of your own home. However, your spending barely made a dent in Rhys’s money pile.

Azriel had refused to spend so much money, but delighted in the fact you were happy. Well, it was a little short-lived when you realised your favourite bookstore had closed you had begun to cry. Azriel swore under his breathe and promised to bring you 20 books if you stopped crying. That had been a pretty sweet deal, so you had stopped.

Now, here you were, getting ready for the High Lord’s meeting. For the occasion you had chosen a light yellow gown that you had bought because the entire design was a map of prythian, well the versions of the map without Velaris that is. It saddened you that you could not tell others about this sanctuary that they could run to, but you knew that it was for the safety of the city, your father had taught you that.

The gown was off the shoulder, small flowers decorated the sides of the neckline. The bone bodice was beautiful as it extended into a flowing skirt with a slit right up your thigh. A knock on your door caught your attention.

“Come in,” Calling to whoever knocked, you smiled at the shadow singer who gingerly stepped into your room. Twirling in your dress, you asked if he thought you looked decent. “You’re beautiful,” Azriel assured you, before joking, “Ten bucks says Helion asks us to sleep with him again.” You grinned, “Twenty bucks says Beron will start the fight,” “I’ll raise, thirty, Tamlin hauls ass and magically shows up so he can throw a tantrum,” Shaking hands with each other, an agreement was made, Azriel believed there was no way Tamlin would show up after Feyre blew up his court like hat, you believed that he would, but only to humiliate her and convince the rest that he was the good guy.

You looked forward to the meeting.

~*~*~*~*~

You were right. Absolute Silence. Absolute stillness as everyone took in the High Lord of the Spring Court who had just burst in through the balcony.

You looked to Feyre as she looked back at you, not quite sure what to do as shield after shield locked into place around each High Lord and his retinue. You could feel Rhysand's anger rolling off of him in waves, after five-hundred years, you knew that the bored expression on his face was just another mask.

You took a deep breathe as you relaxed into the chair, ever the cool and collected second in command of the High Lord of the Night Court. You spied the vague distaste from Mor's face, and took pride in the cold caution that you had told Nesta to regard Tamlin with. You glanced at Feyre as you watched her expression morph from shock, to complete wariness. She was the only one here who would know Tamlin better than anyone else. And you were good enough at reading people, that you knew exactly which one of the Tamlin's mood you were going to be dealing with.

You smiled at the Spring Court's High Lord, trying to make your expression as passive aggressive as possible. After all, it was just like the asshole to show up unannounced, just like when he showed up unannounced all those years ago to slaughter your mother and sister.

You grit your teeth at the memory.

Thesan rose, his captain beside him remained stiff, his hand on his sword. “We were not expecting you, Tamlin,” He gestured towards his cringing attendants, cowards, “Fetch the High Lord a chair.”

In your ever so humble opinion, Tamlin the tool did not need a chair. He could stand. You huffed impatiently as you watched the High Lord stare at your sister-in-law. You were about to throw up, what form of 'running away from you' screamed: I want to be with you every waking moment. He was either dense, or straight up naive if he actually thought Feyre went running back into his arms. He doesn't even have the right to be pissed off.

Beron drawled, “I will admit, Tamlin, that I am surprised to see you here.” You exchanged looks with Eris. Little to your family's knowledge, you and Eris were actually good friends. After Mor was left for dead you actually tried to kill him, in which you eventually reconciled, however, you will always push him to sincerely apologise to Mor after Beron kicks the bucket once and for all. You were both worried about the fact that Beron would say something extremely stupid, but also looked forward to the fact that there was a huge chance Beron would be absolutely sassed by the other High Lords. Your bet with Cass was on Helion, or your brother.

“Rumor claims your allegiance lies elsewhere,” Beron continued as Tamlin paid him no mind, his gaze seeming to shift over Feyre. Feyre seemed like a deer in headlights under his gaze and you prayed that someone would break the tension because you certainly wasn't going to do it yourself.

The attendants dragged a chair and placed it in between Helion's entourage and Beron's sons. Though, both didn't seem pleased with it, they didn't show any reaction when Tamlin settled himself down. Helion waved up a hand as he spoke, “Let's get on with this, then.”

Thesan cleared his throat and you tried not to groan as everyone gazed at Tamlin, who refused to do anything except keep staring at your brother and sister-in-law. Creepy.

Tamlin finally spoke and you nearly rolled your eyes as his words finally rang out, “It would seem congratulations were in order.” Everyone knew that he was itching to say something terrible about them. Where was the fighting and brawling that your brother said would happen? He knew you despised meetings because of the sheer boredom you had to go through, but you were starting to get restless. You wanted to hit something, and you wanted it to be at least Tamlin.

Rhys only held Tamlin’s stare. Held it with a face like ice, and yet utter rage roiled beneath it. Maybe, just maybe, you would finally witness your brother lose his cool. He has been rather out of sorts with Feyre by his side, and he did promise a fight…

Your thoughts were interrupted as Rhys seemed to address Thesan, who had reclaimed his seat, “We will discuss this matter later.” Tamlin scoffed and you shot him a look as he spoke, “Don't stop on my account.”

It was then that you finally decided to speak up, “Forgive us for not being in business of discussing plans with enemies,” Helion grinned as he seemed to nod slightly in approval. You were quite close with Helion, when you were younger and your brother did not have time to take care of you, he would just send you to Helion for a ‘formal’ visit. Those visits often ended up with you and Helion falling on your asses after doing something incredibly stupid. He wasn’t the most responsible, but the High lord knew mischief, and he was good at it.

Tamlin replied with equal ease, “No, your court is just in the business of screwing them.” You paused as you took a deep breathe, trying to soothe your growing anger. You felt something tingle in your chest, making you glance down at the various inks that decorated your arm. All bargains, all promises.

Rhysand smiled faintly, ignoring the fact that Mor, Cassian and Azriel were about to try and commit murder after Tamlin decided to speak to you in such a…crude manner, “Seems like a far less destructive alternative to war,” “And yet here you are, having started it in the first place.” Your brother's blink was the only sign of his confusion. A claw slid out of Tamlin's knucle as he dragged it down the arm of his chair.

He smiled and said to Rhys, “

“If you hadn’t stolen my bride away in the night, Rhysand, I would not have been forced to take such drastic measures to get her back.” You wanted to say something in return but was interrupted as Feyre said quietly, “The sun was shining when I left you.” Tamlin's eyes slid to Feyre, he let out a low snort then looked away. The absolute audacity to dismiss her, that was some guts he had for a dead man walking.

Kallias asked, the first of which he'd spoken since Tamlin arrived, “Why are you here, Tamlin?” Tamlin went to go on about his sob story, and you wanted to scoff as you listened to his poor twisting of the actual events of what happened. As he spoke, you realised that this was no meeting, no this was a careful shredding of Feyre's dignity, and you were not going to sit back and watch.

“Be careful how you speak about my High Lady,” Azriel said, his voice like cold death. Your heart melted as Azriel finally showed that fierce protectiveness in him, protectiveness over his family. Surprise flashed in Tamlin’s eyes — then vanished. Vanished, swallowed by pure fury as he realised what that tattoo coating Feyre's hand was for. “It was not enough to sit at my side, was it?” A hateful smile curled his lips. “You once asked me if you’d be my High Lady, and when I said no ...” A low laugh echoed from him and it chilled your spine. “Perhaps I underestimated you. Why serve in my court, when you could rule in his?”

“Well, why be trapped and locked away when she can spread her wings and fly? Why don’t you tell all of them how you locked her in that house, refused to let her out even when she told you she felt like she was drowning!” You snapped. Tamlin then muttered, “Why don’t you ask your brother how he was being so happy, after all, he did serve Amarantha in many ways,” Tamlin deadpanned.

Rhys let out a dark laugh, “Well played Tamlin. You're learning.” You wanted to say more but a Rhys ordered you to stop with a quick message to your head, it echoed up and down your mental shields and you could not refuse his wishes, for this came from the High Lord, not you brother. Having no choice, you sat up straight as your eyes remained trained on Tamlin, silently contemplating just how much you'd like to watch him scream.

Tamlin turned to Kallias, as he spat out every word, “You asked why I’m here? I might ask the same of you.” He jerked his chin at the High Lord of Winter, at Viviane — the few other members of their retinue who had remained silent. “You mean to tell me that after Under the Mountain, you can stomach working with him?” You stared at Vivian, one of your closest friends, confused, and for the first time she only looked at her mate as something in both of them seemed to dim, “We came here to decide that for ourselves.”

Rhys said to them softly, “I had no involvement is that. None.” Kallias's flared like blur flames, “And what about the fact that you sat next to that throne when the order was given.” You paled as you realised what Kallias was talking about. The massacre of the children in the Winter Court.

“She wanted to kill you Kallias. I convinced her not to but if I pushed any further she told me that she had full control over the curse on my sister, I tried as much as I can but you have to understand that I have family too,” Kallias softens for a moment, as he looked at you apologetically.

“Forgive me, it was…insensitive. I did not mean to bring up the suffering that you endured,” You simply sat still, unable to move. You felt a polite knock on your mental shields as Rhys tried to check on you. You just looked down, clearing your throat as you blinked back tears.

Rhys’s mouth tightened. “There is not one day that passes when I don’t remember it,” he said to Kallias, to Viviane. To their companions. “Not one day.” You look up, breathing in as you mask your sadness, nodding to your brother's sentence. There was so much more truth to that than anyone could imagine, Rhys tore himself apart about their deaths, blamed himself everyday.

“Remembering,” Kallias said, “doesn’t bring them back, does it?” “No,” Rhys said plainly. “No, it doesn’t. And I am now fighting to make sure it never happens again.” Viviane glanced between her husband and Rhys. “I was not present Under the Mountain. But I would hear, High Lord, how you tried to — stop her.” Pain tightened her face. She, too, had been unable to prevent it while she guarded her small slice of the territory you wanted to grasp her hand and squeeze it tight, assure her that she had done her best. Rhys said nothing.

Beron snorted. “Finally speechless, Rhysand?” You glared harshly at Beron in which he grinned back like a wolf. Eris shot you a warning look and you rolled your eyes, perhaps you could deliever an early birthday present to Eris and murder Beron right here right now. Feyre placed her hand on Rhys's as she breathed the words that you knew he needed to hear, “I believe you.”

“Says the woman,” Beron countered, “who gave an innocent girl’s name in her stead — for Amarantha to butcher as well.” You snorted as you bit back the insult that would have rolled off your tongue on any other occasion: Says the coward who beats his wife and kids.

Rhysand and Kallias began to reason with each other, the rest listening intently. Kallias asked questioned and Rhysand gave answers, truthful, real answers. No more masks, no more lies, you were showing your hands, and they were tied. That’s when Rhysand mentioned that Amarantha had held him captive and you really perked up as you sat forward and listened, would he tell them?

That was when Vivian asked the question, “Where did she confine you,” Your breathed hitched, bracing yourself for the terrible truth that would be revealed here, to be criticised and speculated, not in front of a warm fireplace with expensive wine like it should have been. “Her bedroom,” Rhys said. Your family didn't hide their sadness, their utter grief at what Rhys had kept from them.

“Stories and words,” Tamlin drawled, “Is there any proof?” “Proof!?” You choked out, standing from your seat, hand slamming against the table as you readied yourself to tear Beron and new one. “No,” Rhys cut in, reaching an arm out to block you. “But I swear it, on my mate's life,” You slowly sat as Rhys rested his hand again on Feyre's.

Tamlin rolled his eyes but his smugness was short-lived as Kallias pinned Tamlin with a hard stare. “Why are you here, Tamlin?” Tamlin clenched his jaw as he gritted out, “I am here to help you fight against Hybern.” “Bullshit,” Mor and Cassian echoed and you nearly choked on laughter. Tamlin glowered as you settled back into your chair, offering him a small smile.

“You will forgive us,” Thesan interrupted gracefully, “if we are doubtful. And hesitant to share any plans.” “Even when I have information on Hybern’s movements?” Now, you had to give Tamlin where credit was due. That was a pretty good move, but this was chess, and he had long lost his king. Making a mental not on how, Tarquin, besides being the youngest High Lord, watched and listened, you decided that perhaps, he understood that there was some advantage lay in letting them battle it out themselves.

Tamlin smiled at Feyre. “Why do you think I invited them to the house? Into my lands?” He let out a low snarl, and you froze as Tamlin turned and spoke to all of you, “I once told you I would fight against tyranny, against that sort of evil. Did you think you were enough to turn me from that?” His teeth shone white as bone. “It was so easy for you to call me a monster, despite all I did for you, for your family.” A sneer toward Nesta, who was frowning with distaste. “Yet you witnessed all that he did Under the Mountain, and still spread your legs for him. Fitting, I suppose. He whored for Amarantha for decades. Why shouldn’t you be his whore in return?”

“Watch your mouth,” Mor snapped. You wanted to rip his throat right then and there. Tamlin ignored her wholly and waved a hand toward Rhysand’s wings. “I sometimes forget— what you are. Have the masks come off now, or is this another ploy?”

“You’re beginning to become tedious, Tamlin,” Helion said, propping his head on a hand. “Take your lovers’ spat elsewhere and let the rest of us discuss this war.”

“You know what enough!” You finally stood, fully, wings flaring as you banged your fist on the table, sneering at the seven, fully grown males who were all more childish than you were as an actual child. “If you are against Hybern, prove it. Show us something tangible. No beating around the bush, no insults and arguments, we do not have all day so enough is enough! You can mock us all you want, twist the bloody story, but show that you will at least fight for Prythian,” Tamlin quickly shut up as a stack of papers appeared. “Charts,” He said, “All of Hybern's plans, armies, ammunitions, caches of faebane…Everything carefully gleaned these months.”

“And who's to say the information isn't to mislead us,” Helion went on. Happy that you had finally sped up the conversation, you sat back down again. You listened as they droned on with more insults, more arguments, more discussions.

You know when you finally buckle down and get serious, I find that I can really believe that you are only just 40 years younger than me. You nearly yelped at the voice in your head, but as your head shot up Eris grinned. You rolled your eyes. When I made that bargain with you to form that connection, I didn’t make it so you could abuse the link.

How dare you! Such serious allegations? I would never dare misuse such a sacred link between the two of us!!! You rolled your eyes. However, as you noticed how they still argued and insulted each other, you couldn’t help the feeling of melancholy that took over you. What’s wrong, little flame?

It’s just- I wish we could all get along, all learn to look at each other’s perspective, see that we can work together to fight because we all have something to lose, but- You winced as Tamlin spat out that he didn’t want spoiled goods returned to him and had his ability to speak ripped away. A part of you wished that they would see that the Night Court wasn’t so different from the rest.

There was no smile on Rhysand’s face, not a glint of that irreverent amusement as he rested his head against the back of his chair. “The gasping-fish look is a good one for you, Tamlin.” Maybe, you should have been laughing. It just hurt, to see everyone at the table start stealing glances at you in pity or disgust, and as you felt ill to the stomach, you were surprised when the link between you and Eris began to warm, comforting, making your lips curl upwards.

“If you want proof that we are not scheming with Hybern,” Rhysand said blandly to them all, “consider the fact that it would be far less time-consuming to slice into your minds and make you do my bidding.” Only Beron was stupid enough to scoff. Eris was just angling his body in his chair—blocking the path to his mother. “Yet here I am,” Rhysand went on, not deigning to give Beron a glance of acknowledgment. “Here we all are.”

This was when you noticed a small shadow curling around you foot, you turned your head slightly to Az to see him give you a small reassuring smile, one that said that he would always be there for you. Your heart fluttered and warmed once more. you turned back around to keep him from seeing the blood rise to your cheeks, stealing a glance at Eris who now looked, angry. You brushed it off, but when you tried to speak to him through your mental link, your realised he had blocked you out. Odd.

That was when Tarquin cleared his throat. You waited for the words that would have truly doomed you, and he had good reason to. You remembered that you all had gone to his court and deceived him, stolen from him like thieves.

But Tarquin said to Feyre, to your brother, “Despite Varian’s unsanctioned warning ...” A glare at his cousin, who didn’t so much as look sorry about it, “You were the only ones who came to help. The only ones. And yet you asked for nothing in return. Why?” Rhys’s voice was a bit hoarse as he asked, “Isn’t that what friends do?” A subtle, quiet offer. Tarquin took him in. Then Feyre. And the others. “I rescind the blood rubies. Let there be no debts between us.”

“Don’t expect Amren to return hers,” Cassian muttered. “She’s grown attached to it.” You could have sworn a smile tugged on Varian’s mouth. However, your brother turned to Tamlin, “I believe you, that you will fight for Prythian,” Kallias looked like he wanted to disagree, so did Helion. That was when Rhysand loosened his grasp on Tamlin, a low snarl rippling out of him.

“War is upon us, I have no interest in wasting energy arguing amongst ourselves,” Rhysand spoked sombrely. But Beron said, “You may be inclined to believe him, Rhysand, but as someone who shares a border with his court, I am not so easily swayed.” A wry look. “Perhaps my errant son can clarify. Pray, where is he?” Even Tamlin looked toward you all toward Feyre. “Helping to guard our city,” was all she said. Not a lie, not entirely.

Eris snorted and surveyed Nesta, who stared back at him with steel in her face. “Pity you didn’t bring the other sister. I hear our little brother’s mate is quite the beauty.” Shooting him a warning look, you knocked against his mental shields. What the hell was he doing!?

But Mor replied smoothly, “You still certainly like to hear yourself talk, Eris. Good to know some things don’t change over the centuries.” Eris’s mouth curled into a smile at the words, the careful game of pretending that they had not seen each other in years. “Good to know that after five hundred years, you still dress like a slut.”

ERIS VANSERRA WHAT IN THE MOTHER ARE YOU DOING!? you practically screamed down that bridge.

One moment, Azriel had been seated. The next, he’d blasted through Eris’s shield and tackled him backwards, wood shattering beneath them. “Shit,” You swore as you were instantly there, and was met with a blue wall.

Azriel squeezed, Eris thrashing beneath him. No physical brawling, there had been a rule against that, but Azriel, with his shadows… “Enough, Azriel,” Rhys ordered. Perhaps those shadows that now slid and eddied around the shadow singer hid him from the wrath of the binding magic. The others made no move to interfere, as if wondering the same.

Azriel dug his knee—and all his weight—into Eris’s gut. He was silent, utterly silent as he ripped the air from Eris’s body. Beron’s flames struck the blue shield, over and over, but the fire skittered off and fizzled out on the water. Any that escaped were torn to shreds by shadows. Your head eddied out as you approached the two males gently.

Placing a full palm on the shield, you whispered against the shield of blue light, “Azriel, come back to me,” Azriel stopped. As Azriel turned to you slowly, you froze at the rage. Now, I could see the memories that still haunted him. Haunted all of us. Mor was pale, shaking in her chair as Feyre pulled her in for a hug.

“Please, sit,” You motioned to the chair that Nesta had placed next to yours, and as Azriel’s eyes slid from Eris, the shadow singer whispered something that made him blanch. The shield finally dropped, and shadows lighted as Azriel stepped towards you and grasped your outreached hand. However, his eyes remained on Mor, and you couldn’t lie and say that your heart didn’t break just a little.

Beron struck—only for his fire to bounce off a hard barrier of my own. I lifted my gaze to the High Lord of Autumn. “That’s twice now we’ve handed you your asses. I’d think you’d be sick of the humiliation.”

Helion laughed. And you took the opportunity to shoot Eris a hard look. He had explaining to do and he was delusional if he thought that he was going to get away with that particular stunt.

Pouring a glass of wine, you handed it to him before making the bottle vanish, it was some of Rhys’s finest which you had stolen, and Azriel gracefully accepted it. Every raised brows at, curious on how the Lady could help the spy master. “He is my family,” You said firmly, turning to Eris, “And if you insult my friend again I won’t stop him next time,” Eris nodded.

I’m sorry, I went to far. He said against the bridge but you sighed. I’ll deal with you later, Eris.

Mor was staring and staring at Azriel, who refused to look at her now, who refused to do anything but give Eris that death-gaze. Eris, wisely, averted his eyes. And said, “Apologies, Morrigan.” His father actually gawked at the words. But something like approval shone on the Lady of Autumn’s face as her eldest son settled himself once more. That was a start, you just wished that once it was revealed that Eris was secretly your friend the whole thing wouldn’t blow up in your face with your family.

Thesan rubbed his temples. “This does not bode well.” But Helion smirked at his retinue, crossing an ankle over a knee and flashing those powerful, sleek thighs. “Looks like you owe me ten gold marks.” It seemed like you weren’t the only ones who’d placed bets. Even if not one of Helion’s entourage answered his mocking smile with one of their own.

Helion waved a hand, and the stacks of papers Tamlin had compiled drifted over to him on a phantom wind. With a snap of his fingers — scar-flecked from swordplay — other stacks appeared before every chair in the room. Including your own.

“Replicas,” he said without looking up as he leafed through the documents. He had tried to teach you this spell before, you had failed, utterly, but given that at the time you were only 9 it was on him for trying to teach you any magic at all. You had accidentally duplicated a whole couch, which appeared in the space of a huge bookcase, which was then knocked over, books scattered everywhere.

As you all proceeded with the meeting, you began berating Eris over the mental bridge, you went off on him, making sure to still be reasonable, but eventually it turned into how you were stressed and you hated life itself, he winced when you scolded him at first but as you continued to talk about yourself his face morphed into concern, well, not reall, but you could see in his eyes. Azriel happily sipped his wine as you both played footsie under the table, hopping that any sudden movements wouldn’t be noticed.

You weren’t really paying attention anymore, but did as Eris suddenly spoke. “Father.” Beron lifted a brow. “You have something to add?” Eris didn’t flinch, but he seemed to choose his words very, very carefully. “I have seen the effects of faebane.” He nodded toward me. “It truly renders us unable to tap our power. If it’s wielded against us in war or beyond it—”

“If it is, we shall face it. I will not risk my people or family in testing out a theory.”

“It is no theory,” Nuan said, that mechanical hand clicking and whirring as it curled into a fist. “I would not stand here unless it had been proved without a doubt.” A female of pride and hard work. Eris said, “I will take it.”

You whipped your head around, eyes flashing with worry. This way, you don’t need to be concerned over allies, I can convince my father of this working, little flame. You sighed. There’s no stopping you is there? He smirked. Consider it a self-punishment, little flame.

Beron studied his own son with a scrutiny that made me pray to the mother that Eris would not get himself beaten once more. You had had enough of him coming to you in the forest with scars. It hurt every time to see him that way. But Beron also said, “No you will not. Though I’m sure your brothers will be sorry to hear it.” Indeed, the others seemed rather put-out that their first barrier to the throne wasn’t about to risk his life in testing the tinker’s solution

I am so taking it secretly. You blincked at him. No you will not, are you crazy!? You almost yelled. Nope, but you are taking it, so I’m taking it.

As Tamlin ‘explained’ — more like all out complained — about his situation. Beron tried to say that he had no room for the running villagers. That was when Vivian piped up once more.

“Right,” Viviane said, “because everyone’s too busy polishing every jewel in that trove of yours.” Beron threw her a glare that had Kallias tensing. “Wives were invited as a courtesy, not as consultants.”

Viviane’s sapphire eyes flared as if struck by lightning. “If this war goes poorly, we’ll be bleeding out right alongside you, so I think we damn well get a say in things.” “Hybern will do far worse things than kill you,” Beron counted coolly. “A young, pretty thing like you especially.” Kallias’s snarl rippled the water in the reflection pool, echoed by you and Mor’s own growl.

Beron smiled a bit. “Only three of us were present for the last war.” A nod to Rhys and Helion, whose face darkened. “One does not easily forget what Hybern and the Loyalists did to captured females in their war-camps. What they reserved for High Fae females who either fought for the humans or had families who did.” He put a heavy hand on his wife’s too-thin arm. “Her two sisters bought her time to run when Hybern’s forces ambushed their lands. The two ladies did not walk out of that war-camp again.” You shuddered at the memory. You had only been born after the first war, but I remembered the horrors that were described.

When your father died you had been barely 10 years old. And even then he never failed to tell you that if you had been alive during the first war, men would see you as someone to use and discard as a form of warning. Your stomach churned to think about it, but you stopped short when Azriel’s hand came into contact with yours, holding it gently. His soothing presence helped you relax into your chair.

Eventually it descended into the arguments again. You refused to pay attention. Everyone was giving you a headache and it was all overwhelming. You watched silently as Feyre tried to kill Beron, watched even as others yelled and screamed, even as Eris began to tell you to help down that mental bridge. You just couldn’t.

It wasn’t until Nesta stood and spoke her piece was the meeting finally over, Eris tossing a look over his shoulder as he saw your empty expression. He mentally told you that he would send you a letter. But you couldn’t bring yourself to respond.

Not now anyways.

But as I stared at Eris, into his warm amber eyes, as I felt myself squeeze the scarred hand that intertwined with mine, my heart warmed and my blood went cold as I realised….cauldron help me, I was in love with the shadow singer and the High Lord’s son.

Well shit.

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A/N: I feel like this was partially self-indulgent. The first few parts of this series is very self indulgent :D. I hope you all liked it though, I really did work hard....worked very hard. Worked so hard dreaming about Azriel and Eris fighting over me :)

taglist: @positivewitch @bubybubsters @a-frog-with-a-laptop @artof-aristocracy

[clockwork-ashes]

All You Have Is Your Fire - Part XXIV

Find all previous parts on Ao3 :)

Summary: 'I can hear your heart beating through the stone.' For the briefest of moments, Lucien wondered if his mate would know exactly when his heart’s steady rhythm came to a sudden stop.

Note: A huge thank you to the lovely @sad-scarred-sassy who deserves all the credit for the post that inspired me to start writing this :) Another huge thank you to everyone reading! ALSO please look at this post, I gasped it's so lovely. All of @teddyhoneybear's moodboards are stunning <3

Tag List: @anishake / @nocasdatsgay / @mybestfriendmademe / @talibunny30 / @halfbutneverwhole / @wishfulimaginings / @goldenmagnolias / @emmers-bens123 / @cauldronblssd / @xirose / @rarephloxes / @thehighlordishere / @the-darkestminds /

Lucien watched his mother carefully. 

The Lady of Autumn was leaning forward in the comfortable armchair opposite his own, emerald skirts flaring around the cushioned seat, a river of fabric along the stone floors. Her auburn hair fell in loose curls to her waist, held away from her face with golden clips fashioned to look like oak leaves. 

She hummed softly, the rubies on each of her fingers flashing in the light of the dancing flames within the fireplace. Her hand hovered above the chess pieces, pausing over the black rook. 

Lucien bit the inside of his cheek as his mother took another of his pawns. She raised a brow at him in challenge, sparks in her russet eyes. 

Lucien huffed a sigh, staring at the red and black board, at all of the remaining pieces on each of their little squares. He crossed both his arms, considering. “You’re really quite good at this,” he mumbled. Lucien decided that both Eris and Callum were going easy on him, perhaps throwing games on purpose. He would have to ask them to stop, he thought. 

The Lady of Autumn laughed, the sound soft as it fell from her lips. She smiled at her youngest son in a way she did not at the rest of her children — unguarded. It always managed to make Lucien feel special. “When you’re as old as I am, I suspect you’ll be just as good.” 

Lucien wondered how many years it would take to reach his mother’s age. At just over half a decade, he wanted to know how much more chess he would need to play. He moved one of his pieces, wincing as he saw the easy opening to his king. 

The High Lord’s wife clicked her tongue, reaching across the coffee table to ruffle Lucien’s hair. Everything about the gesture was tender, and Lucien leaned into the touch. “Little sunbeam,” she started, a small smile on her youthful face, “you know I don’t play to lose.” 

Lucien guessed he was about the age his mother had been at the time of his memory, and while he had changed much since then, the Lady of Autumn remained the same. 

She held onto his arm gently, long fingers pale against the brown velvet of his jacket. They were walking back to his and Elain’s shared chambers, and while Lucien was glad to be spending time with his mother, he hated leaving his mate alone for too long. The sound of their combined steps were loud in the empty hallway, soft echoes ringing around them as she spoke about the wedding. 

Lucien could hear the excitement in her tone as she told him about the decorations and the food they planned to serve. Cora had been helping with the floral arrangements, and his mother seemed to be quite fond of the Night Court female. The Lady of Autumn thrived at organising court events, and she was very pleased to have been given so much freedom when it came to the reception. Lucien could not help but feel a bit guilty that she did not know the truth of it all, but he did not want to upset her, or risk his father finding out. 

“Elain will be having her dress fitting tomorrow as well,” his mother continued. “And she insists on keeping you far away, you know, since she was a human, of course.” 

Lucien had no idea what tradition she was referring to, and briefly wished Jurian and Vassa were both there to help him. He had sent them a few letters, and had received no response. He guessed correspondence was simply being controlled by Ronan’s sentries, and while he was frustrated with the fact, he had come to accept it. He nodded absently, still wondering what human customs Elain had been adding to the wedding ceremony, barely listening as his mother began to recite a list of those who had not yet accepted their invitation. 

Lucien would ask Elain about it when they were alone. He found her easy to talk to, and he hoped she felt the same. He wanted his mate to share more about her life, both before and after she had been made fae. There was still so much about her that he wanted to learn, could spend a lifetime learning. 

Little sunbeam. 

Lucien remembered the childhood nickname, and yet he was unsure when it might have been the last time he had heard it. Eris used to scowl whenever it was uttered, despite how much affection was usually hidden beneath the words. He almost winced as his mother said it flippantly, realising she had asked him a question and was waiting for an answer. 

Lucien cleared his throat, patting his mother’s hand apologetically. “I wasn’t paying attention,” he cringed, adding a quick “sorry.” 

The Lady of Autumn raised an auburn brow, the expression all too familiar. “Thinking about your mate?”

Lucien sighed, offering his mother a sheepish smile. “Always.” 

She pulled him to a stop. Her brows knit together, her eyes going over him, searching. She held his gaze for a moment, pausing at his scar. His mother reached for him, hand resting on his cheek as her lips tilted up slightly. “I’m very happy for you.” 

The pride he heard in her voice was enough to make Lucien emotional. He would have pulled her in for a hug had he not spotted Cora rushing towards them. Elain’s friend seemed to have appeared out of thin air, her footsteps silent as she held her skirts in her hands. Her long hair was like a flag, dark and loose as she approached. 

Lucien frowned as he noticed the tightness around Cora’s mouth, at the tenseness of her shoulders. Unease washed over him, and his mother turned around as she sensed it. 

“Lucien,” Cora said, slowing down to quickly curtsy at the Lady of the Autumn Court. “Lucien, if you could come with me?” Beneath the veneer of her polite and courtly attitude, was concern. 

Lucien took long steps towards her, his heartbeat racing as worse case scenarios flashed into his mind. “What’s happened?” The female’s dark eyes flicked briefly to his mother and he redirected her attention. “Cora?” 

Her explanation was hurried and his mother watched with interest as she shared how Elain had crashed into Eris roughly. As soon as Lucien heard his brother’s name, all he could see was red. “Is she hurt?” He snarled, quickly losing all of his patience. 

“She hit her head on the doorframe and fainted,” Cora winced, glancing at the stone arch next to them. “She’s resting in my room, with the prince watching over her.” 

Lucien had not felt anything along the mating bond, and he could not understand why. He should have known if something was wrong.

“It must be the stress of the wedding, Lucien,” his mother reassured. She placed a soft hand on his back, the action grounding him as the bond urged him to run to Elain and protect her from all harm. “I’ll have someone send coffee to your rooms,” she continued, pushing him lightly in Cora’s direction. 

Cora grabbed onto his sleeve, winnowing them both seamlessly to a different part of the Forest House. Lucien had not known she was capable of such magic, but he was too consumed with thoughts of his mate. 

“What did Eris do?” He asked, voice low and accusing. Cora gripped his jacket tightly and dragged him towards the stairs that led to a different floor. “I swear if he—”

Cora interrupted him swiftly. “He did nothing but bump into Elain.” Lucien let her continue, frown deepening as he considered her statement. “She should’ve been fine, anyone else would have been.” 

Lucien was becoming increasingly frustrated and confused. “Cora, please tell me what happened.” 

“For a moment she was fine, I saw her, ready to give Eris a piece of her mind.” The lady’s maid bit her lip, shaking her head as she forced Lucien to turn a corner. “And then there was wind in a room with no windows, all of the torches went out, and Elain…” Her words trailed off.

Lucien felt panic choke him, “What about Elain?” 

Cora ran a hand through her hair, fingers getting caught in the strands. “Elain’s eyes rolled back until only the whites could be seen, I swear they were glowing, pale as moonlight.”

Lucien swore under his breath. 

Cora shook her head again. “She would have fallen if Eris hadn’t not caught her. He carried her to my bed with her eyes still open, I’d never seen anything like it.” 

Lucien finally understood why the bond between them had stayed silent. If it was simply a result of Elain’s magic, she would be completely fine. He glanced at the female still pulling him along, wondering how much information Elain had revealed about her visions and abilities. Cora had been looking for books on deciphering dreams with them, but he was still not entirely sure if she knew why. 

“It’s nothing,” Lucien said quickly, hoping Cora would not question him. 

She raised her brow, daring him to repeat himself. “I know what it is,” she declared, waving him off as he opened his mouth to respond. “Don’t bother lying again,” Cora stopped in front of the carved wooden door leading into her room. She shoved it open, and Lucien slipped past her to enter. 

Lucien did not know what he had been expecting, but it certainly had not been to see a very alright looking Elain chatting with his brother. He paused at the sight, shocked to see his mate sitting cross legged on the bed, skirts fanning around her. There was a glass of water in her hands, and they were steady as she held it in front of her chest. Despite looking slightly dishevelled, her hair falling from its pins and her dress wrinkled, she looked perfectly fine. 

Lucien halted to a sudden stop in the centre of the small space. Elain’s entire body relaxed, a lovely smile gracing her features as her eyes fell onto him. She said his name, and through the bridge between their souls, he knew she was glad to see him. He mirrored her expression, forgetting that others were there entirely. 

Eris cleared his throat, the sound breaking the silence. He stood up from his chair, patting the bed once. “Hello, little brother.” 

Lucien had to fight back a snarl at the taunt in his tone. “You don’t watch where you’re going?” There was still a small part of him that blamed his carelessness for Elain’s current position. 

Eris shrugged, eyes falling to Cora where she still stood by the door. He raised a brow as he turned his attention to Elain. “She’s so very small I suppose I didn’t notice her.” Elain’s mouth fell open in mock offence, but her gaze was still on Lucien.

He decided Eris was not worth his time, especially when all he wanted to do was take Elain back to their chambers so they could be alone. “You alright?” 

Elain nodded, placing her bare feet onto the floor. “I am, thank you.” She kicked at her slippers, putting them on as a blush rose to her cheeks. “Thank you for coming so quickly, I mean,” she added, breathing a small laugh. 

Lucien offered Elain his hand, and when she held onto him, she flashed a grateful smile. She stood up shakily, losing her balance. Lucien wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her. “Need me to carry you?” He was only half joking. 

Elain leaned into his side, lacing her fingers with his own. “I think I’ll be alright.” 

“Take it easy, Elain,” Cora said, walking up to them so she could rub a friendly hand on his mate’s shoulder. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Elain told both her and Eris. Lucien could only guess how worried they had been witnessing the vision.

They left and Cora shut the door with Eris still inside her room. Lucien frowned, knowing his brother would question the female and hoping she would be able to hold her own against him. He was quite confident Cora would do just fine, but a part of him was troubled when he thought about Eris knowing Elain was a seer. 

Lucien turned his attention to his mate, searching for any hint that she might not be alright. He tugged on the bond to check, and she tightened her hold on him. He chose not to winnow, deciding it was best if she was still a little unsteady. They walked in comfortable silence back to their chambers. Like his mother had promised, there was a tray with coffee, sugar, and cream on the table by the sofa. 

As soon as the door closed behind them and Lucien checked to ensure the wards were in place, he spoke. “You had a vision?” 

Elain nodded as he helped her to the couch. He added a teaspoon of sugar to her coffee, stirring as she ran a hand through her curls. “I didn’t like it.” 

Lucien handed her the mug, sitting next to her. She described her vision — the golden knife, the rose petals, and the howling wolf. Lucien agreed that it did not sound very good, but he did not know what it meant any more than she did. 

“You were right,” Elain added. “Holding back the visions isn’t working, and this one was stronger than the others.” 

Lucien rubbed a hand over his face. “I’ll handle Eris, he won’t believe a thing we say unless it’s the truth.” Perhaps it was his place as the eldest brother that made him very good at sensing nonsense. He knew from experience that Eris would not let it go if he suspected something was being hidden from him. 

Elain blew a stray curl from where it had fallen over her eyes, setting her mug next to the one Lucien still had yet to touch. “I told him.” 

“You told him?” Lucien felt like the stars had fallen out of the sky. He took a moment to spin the words in his mind, swallowing as he stared at a very calm Elain. “You told Eris about your visions?” He could barely believe it, hoping that she was making a joke. 

“It’s alright, Lucien,” she said seriously, placing a hand on his thigh. She inched closer so that their shoulders were touching. “I tried lying, but,” she shrugged, “he’s going to help, and I already made him swear not to tell anyone.” 

Lucien coughed, trying his best not to show Elain how anxious it made him that Eris knew. “What, exactly, did you tell him?” 

Elain looked up into his face, her dark brown eyes bright in the light of the flickering fireplace. “Everything. I told him about the Cauldron, and its gift to me, and my visions during the war.” 

Eris could not be trusted, it was something Lucien had strongly believed for centuries. He could already imagine Eris spinning this situation to suit him. “Elain,” he sighed, “I don’t know…”

She smiled and he paused. “I know.” Elain looked so confident, he could hardly argue. “And he’s so old, I’m sure Eris knows more about seers than the two of us combined,” she added, squeezing his leg.

“Alright.” Lucien returned her smile, taking a loose curl and tucking it behind her pointed ear. “I trust you,” he murmured, the pull of the bond magnetic. He leaned towards her, and she did the same, eyes fluttering shut. 

Elain brushed her lips against his, her hands rising up to grip the lapels of his jacket. Drawing him closer, she relaxed into his touch. Lucien kissed her more fully, cupping her head while tracing the smooth skin of her cheekbone with his thumb. 

Elain’s full lips parted beneath his, tongue slipping past them to ease a small sigh from the back of her throat. Lucien attempted to slowly move away, but she followed him, breaking their kiss to throw her arms around his neck in a tight hug. 

“I trust you, too,” Elain said softly, holding Lucien close. 

[profound-imagination]

Rose Gardens - Part 3 - Eris Vanserra

A/N: Here's part 3! I hope you enjoy! A massive shout-out to @swansworth for helping me plan this fic! ❤️

T/W: Mention of injury and blood - it gets angsty besties.

Part 1 & Part 2

W/C: 3.9K

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"YOU'VE BEEN WHAT?!" Okay, so maybe asking Cassian for help wasn't your best idea. "Be quiet!!" You hissed at him as you shoved him further into his bedroom and closed the door. "You've been writing to Eris Vanserra and you want my help to sneak you into Autumn so you can go to some festival with him? Have I got that right?" He hissed back, pulling the bun out of his hair and running a frustrated hand through it. "To sneak me to the border, not into Autumn" You corrected him sheepishly as he spun to face you. "Don't get smart." He snapped. You sighed. "Please Cassian?" Some of the rage ebbed from his eyes. "Why? Why Eris Vanserra?" You shrugged and sat on the edge of his bed. "I…I don't know, Cass." He continued to pace the room. "Rhys and Az would kill me!" You snorted. "No they won't. Not if you don't tell them! Besides, Rhys won't even notice I'm gone." He joined you and sat on his bed. "They'll kill Eris though, if they find out." You shook your head. "They won't know I'm gone! Az is too busy scouting for Hybern and Rhys is too busy with his child bride." A warning rumbled from Cassian's chest. "Feyre is not a child. She's our High Lady and you will show her the same respect you show Rhys." You held your hands up. "Please Cass, I want to live before I die in this war that's been started over Feyre." He sighed and ran his hands down his face.

"Fine." Your face lit up but he carried on before you could get ahead of yourself. "But I have conditions." You nodded. "Name them." So he did. "Eris is to guarantee your safety, from himself, from his father and brothers and whatever other dangers lurk in the Autumn Court, you are to be returned to where I drop you off by midnight, where I will wait for you and he will do it in the form of a bargain with me." You raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like a bargain." He gave you a wolfish grin. "In exchange, I won't kill him. When Mor eventually grants Azriel and I revenge, I won't take it." You shoved his shoulder. "Those are my terms. He accepts them and makes the deal or when you inevitably sneak out on your own, I'll go straight to Rhys." You glared at him and he shrugged. "Take it or leave it."

You wrote back to Eris that evening and told him of Cassian's terms. His reply came almost immediately.

Dear Y/N,

He's smarter than I gave him credit for.

Tell him I accept his terms.

Tell me, which of the dresses did you choose and was the mask to your liking? I ask so I can dress accordingly.

Yours,

Eris.

You hadn't opened the box yet. The contents still a mystery. But Cassian had agreed. He was going to help you and you were going to see Eris again. So you finally opened the box.

Lying inside were three dresses and a mask all carefully wrapped in tissue paper. The smell of burnt sugar, cinnamon & fire wood invaded your nostrils, a smell that was so unmistakably Eris that you knew he'd wrapped them himself. You carefully unwrapped the first dress. A beautiful velvet gown of forest green. Gold thread decorated the neckline and the skirt in swirling patterns. The second was a deep red gown of silk and gossamer. There were no patterns decorating the gown but it was beautiful, timeless. The third was more practical, a cream wool dress with a roll neck and long sleeves. You couldn't help but think how nice it would look with the new boots you brought from the rainbow. Brown, knee high, leather. Comfortable, cute and practical.

The mask, the mask was something else entirely. A bronze coloured metal twisted into a beautiful deer. The antlers formed of twisted maple leaves. A deer you mused. Unassuming. You'd assumed he would've gone for a fox but it seemed he had his ways of taking you by surprise. You hurriedly wrote your response to Eris.

The full moon came quicker than you thought. You'd spent the morning training with Cassian and Azriel. The former kept shooting glances at you that you ignored. The latter still wasn't overly keen on speaking to you after your disagreement in Dawn. When they'd finally relented in your training in favor of Feyre you slunk back to your bedroom, where a note was waiting for you.

My Dearest Y/N,

I simply cannot explain how much I am looking forward to seeing you this evening. I have been counting down the days since you accepted my invitation.

I'll see you at sundown petal.

Yours,

Eris.

You grinned down at the letter and the rose petals that fell out of it when you opened it.

Sighing in contentment as you sunk down into the hot water of your bath, the aches in your muscles ebbing. You picked carefully through the selections of soaps and shampoos on the side of the bath, picking out your favorites to use. Soaking in the hot water, you allowed your mind to wonder what tonight would hold.

By the time Cassian knocked on your door that afternoon you were grinning at your reflection in the mirror. "You look beautiful, Y/N." He smiled down at you and you back up at him. You'd chosen the wool dress and knee high boots. Your hair cascaded down your back in gentle curls. A soft pink blush had been added to your cheeks along with a nude lipstick. You hadn't bothered with eyeshadow or khol due to the mask you'd be wearing. "Are you really sure about this?" Cassian questioned, he knew the answer from the smile on your face. "Yes Cass, I'm sure." He nodded once. "Let's go then, everyone else is down at the town house."

Cassian landed on the border a short time later. A fire had been set up, along with a basket of wine, cheese, bread and dried meats. You grinned up at him. "Looks like you've got an admirer." You teased the general. "I wouldn't go that far." A voice purred from behind you. Cassian tensed as your face split into an ear to ear grin. "Eris." You breathed as you turned around to face him. You suddenly understood why he'd asked which dress you'd chosen. There he was in a cream wool jumper that matched your dress and a pair of dark trousers. Hunting boots on his feet as was Eris' usual style. His red hair hung unbound as it was the last time you saw him and his mask was also of a deer. His antlers were bigger and you made note to make a joke about it later when Cassian wasn't around to hear it.

"Vanserra." Was Cassian's only greeting to the Lordling. "Cassian." Eris greeted him back. "Thank you for doing this Lord of Bloodshed." Cassian crossed his arms across his chest. "I'm not happy about it." He huffed. "You know my terms? She's to be back here by midnight. She's to be back here at the first sign of danger. You are to guarantee her safety from yourself, your brothers and your father and whatever other dangers lurk in this court. In exchange, when Mor gives Azriel and I permission to make you pay for what you did to her, I won't harm you. You'll die, but not by my hand." Eris nodded once. "I accept your terms." Cassian held his hand out to Eris who took it in his own and shook.

Cassian turned you to face him. "Have fun. Be safe. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, you come running straight back here." You rolled your eyes at him. "Yes dad." Cassian's lips didn't so much as twitch at your joke. "I'll be okay, Cass. You trained me, remember?" He nodded and looked at Eris over your head. "You remember that too. I trained her." You stood on your tiptoes and placed a kiss on Cassian's cheek. "Thank you for this. I know you hate it." He met your eyes and whatever he saw there must've given him some comfort that you'd be okay. "Go." Was all he said as he pushed you gently towards Eris' waiting hand.

Eris had pulled you to him and winnowed you a short distance away from Cassian. If winnowing with Rhys was darkness incarnate, then winnowing with Eris was like walking through the fires of hell itself. Not one flame touched you, the sensation was warm and comforting. "You look resplendent." Eris told you when you found your feet and you grinned at him. "Thank you, for the dresses and the mask. I'll return the other gowns." He shook his head. "The gowns are yours to keep, petal." You took his hand in yours. "I'll wear them to Starfall and to Court meetings, see if I can make that vein in Rhys' forehead pop." He laughed, his genuine laugh. "I've been trying to do that for centuries!"

The Lordling led you into a clearing decorated with tents, little balls of Fae light hung in the trees giving a soft glow. A huge bonfire was placed in the middle of the clearing. Fae were throwing pieces of glowing parchment into the bonfire and watching them burn into embers before they floated to the skies. Others were dancing around it. "What are they doing?" You breathed. "Wishes." Was all Eris said.

The tents around the clearing were filled with an assortment of things, spiced cider, hot chocolates, roasted meats, bread, toffee apples. "Do you like it?" Eris spoke softly into your ear. "It's amazing." He gripped your hand a bit tighter. "Would you like a drink, my lady?" You snorted at him. "Stop calling me that!" He smirked. "Never! Now a drink?" You rolled your eyes. "The spiced cider smells incredible." He pulled you towards the tent. "It is, it's my favourite." Eris handed you a cup of the warm spiced cider.

Eris proceeded to pull you around the festival, making sure you'd tried everything on offer, never once did he let go of your hand. When the two of you stood to watch performances or in queues for treats he stood behind you, his front pressed to your back, his arms wrapped around your middle. You were ever thankful for the mask you wore and that it covered the blush that was constantly on your cheeks. The two of you had taken a seat under a big oak tree, drinking hot chocolates and eating the caramels you'd begged him to get from a stall run by some of the children of the court. Your feet sore from dancing with Eris for what felt like hours. Every nerve ending in your body was on fire from how close he'd been, how your body fitted against his like it was made to do so. Your cheeks flamed again at the thought.

You were giggling at some witty comment he'd made, curled into his side, his arm over your shoulder, pulling you closer when a shadow fell over the two of you, blocking out the Fae lights. "Hello brother." The voice purred. One of his brothers. "Fathers been looking for you, The Hunt starts soon." Eris tensed, his spine straightening as he leveled his brother with a gaze. "I'm busy, Hawk." Hawk scoffed. "You and I both know you don't refuse Father. But it seems you've already found your chosen maiden for the night." He said with a vicious purr, one that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. You felt sick as Eris' brother roved his eyes up and down your body like you were some kind of prey. "That is, if you get to her first, brother." Hawk smirked at his older brother, desperately trying to get some kind of rise out of him. "I said, I'm busy, Hawk." Eris' tone had changed, he was back to the cocky, arrogant Lord that the rest of the world knew and feared. His brother held his hands up. "I'm going, I'm going, I'll see you real soon darlin'." He winked at you as he turned and left.

Eris said nothing as he watched his brother disappear into the crowd. He didn't move as he took in his surroundings looking for any other members of his family. "Stupid, stupid." He was muttering to himself. You reached out and touched his shoulder. "Eris?" He flinched slightly at your touch. "You need to go." Was all he said. "What? Why? We have until midnight!" You protested. Eris stood and pulled you up with him. "It's not safe for you here, I never should've brought you here." He breathed as he started pulling you through the trees, back towards Cassian.

You pulled your hand out of his grip just before you reached where Cassian was waiting and stopped. He spun to face you, pulling the mask off of his face as he did so. "Y/N, please!" You took your own mask off. "Not until you tell me what's got you so spooked." You said calmly as you crossed your arms. "And while you're at it you can tell me what The Hunt is." You added. Eris ran a hand through his hair and you tracked the movement. "The Hunt is a ritual that's part of the Festival, the females run and the males hunt them. Once caught they claim each other. It's how we give the magic back, as the heir I'm always expected to start The Hunt but I wasn't going to this year, I was going to show you other parts of the court while it happened, have you far away from it. But then Hawk saw you with me and it all became so much more complicated." You tried, you really did try to stop the laugh that was bubbling in your chest but it escaped anyway. You clasped your hands on your knees as you continued to laugh. "You…you invited me to some kind of magical orgy?" You gasped out. "It's not funny, Y/N! It's not safe for you here, not now Hawk has seen you!" You calmed yourself and straightened. He was reaching for your hand again to keep you moving through the woods but you ignored it. You walked right into him and placed a small kiss on the corner of his mouth. A move that took him by surprise. "You stupid, overprotective male." You giggled your mouth brushing his again as you spoke. He seemed to fight with himself for half a second before his right arm wrapped around your waist, the left curling into your hair as he slammed his lips onto yours. "Have to keep you safe." He murmured between kisses. You separated and you were sure your face was the colour of his hair. "Now please let me take you back to Cassian." You nodded and took his hand.

Something was off with Cassian, you could see it in his body language when you approached him. Before you could open your mouth to ask him what was wrong, shadows shot towards Eris, wrapping around his neck, his wrists, his middle and they slammed him to the floor and Az was on him. "Azriel!" You gasped as Eris' hand was ripped from yours. "Get off him!" You took a step towards the males before a hand caught your wrist and you were enveloped in darkness. When the light returned you were in Cassian's arms. Rhys was leaning against a tree, Azriel was delivering punch after punch to Eris. "What do we have here then?" Rhys purred. He nodded at Az who pulled Eris to his feet, one of his arms wrapped around his neck, the other holding Truth Teller to his ribs, positioned to be a straight shot to Eris' heart.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him, Y/N?" Rhys asked, pushing himself off of the tree. "Then you get Cassian to lie for you and sneak you here?" You didn't answer him, trying hard to fight the tears in your eyes. Rhys nodded at Azriel again and Eris hissed as Truth Teller pushed into his ribs, puncturing the skin. You tried to force down the bile that rose in your throat at the smell of his blood. "Is this to get back at me? For choosing Feyre?" Eris' eyes widened. "What?" He choked out. "Oh yes." Rhys purred. "Has she not told you everything?" He pointed his question at Eris. "Rhys, don't!" You fought against Cassian's grip on you. "She's not what she seems, Eris. You weren't her first choice of High Lord." Rhys continued. "Did she tell you she's a witch?" Eris flinched at the word. Witches weren't something that was openly accepted in Prythian. "She loved me long before she met you, because of the power I have, it makes hers stronger. Just like yours would." Something like betrayal flashed through Eris' eyes and his face gave away everything he was feeling, Rhys had crushed him. You had crushed him. Rhys nodded again and Azriel twisted Truth Teller in his side. "Please!" You sobbed. "You're being used, Eris." Rhys continued. "You've also been working beyond what we've negotiated." Rhys purred at him, a talon scraping down Eris' face, splitting the skin as it went. "That's not something I can let go."

"I'll never see him again!" You thrashed against Cassian. Eris was a mess of cuts, bruises and blood. "Rhys please don't kill him! I'll never see him again, I swear it!" Rhys ignored you. "Azzie, please." Azriel faltered at his childhood nickname, the broken tone of your voice. Rhys turned then and looked at you. "You swear it? Never again?" You nodded. "Never." Rhys hummed. "I will kill him, Y/N." You pushed against Cassian again, he let you go this time and you fell to your knees in front of Rhys. "I swear it, Rhys."

Rhys looked over his shoulder at Azriel and nodded. Azriel let Eris go and he slumped to the ground in front of you. His eyes looked broken, betrayed. You reached a glowing palm towards him and he flinched. "Don't.Touch.Me.Witch" He gritted out. You in turn flinched at his tone, so full of venom and hatred. You felt your heart crack and fizzle into nothing. You hadn't even realised until that moment that you'd been giving pieces of it to Eris Vanserra. Rhys placed his hand on your shoulder and winnowed.

You were on your knees in the dining room in the House of Wind. Feyre and Mor were looking down at you with disdain as you sobbed. Rhys poured himself a drink as Azriel and Cassian walked through the balcony door. "You've ruined everything!" You sobbed. It was Nesta who wrapped her arms around you as you cried. "Come now girl, let's have some tea. It won't seem so bad in the morning." Amren ordered as Nesta pulled you to your feet. You didn't so much look at the others as you followed them out of the room.

Amren had been wrong. It seemed worse in the morning. You didn't go to training. You didn't leave your room or your bed. Crying to yourself, still in the dress you'd worn last night. It still faintly smelt like Eris which cracked your heart even more. You'd written to him, or you'd tried too. The paper never leaving your palm when you thought of him like it used to.

The following week was much the same. Cassian tried to speak to you everyday, to explain. Rhys had began screaming in his head and eventually he had no choice but to tell him where you both were. Azriel had arrived first and it had taken all Cassian had to stop the Shadowsinger from marching straight into Autumn to get you back. Nesta had walked straight into your room on the third day and run you bath. Once she'd coaxed you into it she washed your hair and brushed it out. You'd lost it again when you returned to your room with her and the dress was gone, along with the other two. Power had exploded out of you in a darkness that could've envied Rhysand's. "You tricked me!" You sobbed at Nesta. "Y/N, I didn't! I'll get you the dresses back!" Feyre had burst in then, Rhys on her heels and ordered her sister out and told her not to come back. She leveled you with a glare as she followed Nesta out the room. Rhys stayed.

"Are you really doing this to yourself, Y/N?" He asked, arms crossed. You didn't answer him, nor did you meet his eyes. "You haven't left your room in three days, you haven't eaten or slept. You haven't talked to anyone. Not even Azriel." You scoffed at him. "Are you really going to destroy yourself over this?" Your head snapped up to him. "Don't worry, Rhysand. I'll still fight in your war over Feyre." He bristled at your comment. "You're one to talk about destroying yourself though aren't you? A bit hypocritical. You're many things, Rhysand, but not a hypocrite." He uncrossed his arms. "I'm Rhysand now?" "You're lucky I'm speaking to you at all!" You snapped back. "You want to fight Y/N? Do you want to scream and shout at me? Throw your powers at me? Will that make you feel better?" You let out a humourless laugh. "You aren't worth my time anymore, Rhysand." Darkness crept into the edges of the room. "Even so, I am still your High Lord and you will respect me as such or you can find somewhere else to live." He growled in his most commanding voice. You glared at him as a shadow wound its way around your ankle. Keeping you planted where you were. "Fine. Done. I'll be gone by dinner." Rhys' face blanched for half a second before the uncaring face of the High Lord returned. "I'll see you on the battlefield then, Y/N. Find somewhere else to live but you swore and Autumn won't take you now. I'm sure your undelivered notes told you that." The shadow on your ankle tightened. "Get.Out." You gritted out through your teeth. Rhys turned on his heel and left.

To your surprise it wasn't Azriel that entered your room next. It was Mor. "Why?" Was all she asked quietly. "He makes me feel seen." Was your quiet reply. She hummed. "I know what he did to you, Mor. What you've told me. If I could change it, I would. If I could make it better I would." She wiped a tear off of your face with her thumb. "I can't get him out of my head, my soul. I should hate him for what he did to you but I can't." She held you as you cried. "I've lost everyone, including him." She ran a hand through your hair. "I'm sure you haven't." She tried to comfort you. "Rhys told him I was a witch, that I was using him for his power. Azriel hates me-." She cut you off. "Azriel does not hate you! Azriel hasn't come to see you because he thinks you hate him. For what he did to Eris." You sniffled and then admitted what you hadn't even admitted to yourself. "I felt it, Mor, everything they did to him, I felt it."

[itsphoenix0724]

I love your writing. I'm excited your asks are open and I hope you like this idea. I really love Leander and Reader. I was wondering if you could do one where he's asking Rhys for her hand. Eris and Feyre are there because of the intercourt implications, but Leander knows the one he really needs to impress and convince is Rhys because Reader had told him many times how sad Rhys has been getting about the kids growing up and he won't be so happy to let his baby girl go. Especially since she'll have to go to Autumn since Leander is the heir. A second part with their mating ceremony, because of course they're mates, would be so sweet.

Forever After All~(Leander Vanserra x Reader)

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: tooth-rotting fluff

A/N: Hi love! Thank you for visiting my inbox! I loved this request, and I hope you love it just as much <3 I combined it all into one fic instead of two separate parts I hope that's okay. Enjoy and please feel free to visit again!

Leander Vanserra often considered himself a brave male. He was the heir to the Autumn Court, a decorated general, and he regularly faced down his explosive sister which is a feat in and of itself. But here, sitting across from the High Lord and High Lady of the night court he felt like a child caught sneaking sweets before dinner. He didn’t tell you he was coming, and he thinks maybe that had been his first mistake as the bond pulls curiously in his chest. He almost keels over with the rush of emotions. You’ve been together for a few years now, but the mating bond is still relatively new. He tries to lock down the bursts of anxiety as he meets Rhysand’s violet gaze. Thankfully his father is there too, offering his quiet support as he battles the snakes coiling in his gut. He’s here to ask for your hand, he’s made his intentions clear from the beginning, but Night’s High Lord doesn’t seem to want to budge. 

“They’re too young.” Rhys rumbles glaring at Leander from across the sitting room. Feyre shoots him an incredulous look as his father rubs out the crease between his eyes. 

“They’re mated.” Feyre offers, staring at the Autumn family with an apologetic smile. Rhysand scoffs and paces in front of the roaring fireplace. You warned Leander something like this might happen. You’ve been complaining to him for weeks about your father being “an overbearing illyrian baby” and that he’s been hovering around you. Leander had laughed you off, it had been funny at the time, but now that he’s sitting across from Rhysand that overprotectiveness seemed much more threatening. 

“They’re barely into their fifties, Feyre darling,” he replies and Feyre rolls her eyes. The High Lord of Autumn finishes his wine before refilling his glass, patting his son on the back sympathetically. 

“Need I remind you, Rhysand, that Feyre was barely 20 when you mated.” Eris offers, and Rhysand turns that fury-filled gaze onto his father, but Eris doesn’t balk he simply just tilts his head and sips his wine. Rhys snarls a terrible thing, night-kissed powers rushing through the room. Leander’s father just sighs again. “We’re too old for showboating, come now, enough with the bullshit power waves.” Feyre looks like she’s trying to choke back laughter. 

“Darling,” Rhys tries again again. “Our baby girl will no longer be a citizen of the Night Court as soon as she’s married off. Are you ready for that?” It’s Feyre’s turn to shoot out of her chair, looking accusatorily between the two High Lords 

“No longer a citizen of this court?!” She prods angrily. “She is our daughter. She will always be a citizen of this court.” Her blue eyes glare at her mate to further explain, but Rhysand remains tight-lipped with a white-knuckled grip against the mantle. Leander mainly wants to disappear, he feels like a child listening to his parents' hushed arguments from the top of the stairwell. He averts his gaze from the silent argument of Night’s Royal family. His eyes dart around the study, and when he sees the portrait of your smiling face hanging above the hearth he remembers what he’s here for. Eris clears his throat making Feyre turn her icy fury onto him. 

“She’s marrying my heir. It’s customary that she would become a citizen of the Autumn Court. That way there can be no biases. She would become my son’s responsibility, where she would take on whatever role she desires.” Eris rumbles, and Leander wants to shrink in his seat. 

His father could have put things more delicately. It made it sound like he owned you and the prospect of that makes his skin crawl. He talked to his grandmother enough to know that he never wanted to be anything like the man who sired his father. 

“Why?” Feyre spits. “Why can they not be citizens of both courts?” She turns her gaze back to her mate. 

“It’s just not how it’s done,” Rhys responds. 

“Well, I seem to recall that there was no such thing as High Lady either,” Feyre replies. “Yet here we are.” Rhysand starts to reply again, but Leander cuts in. 

“If I may. Lord and Lady, I love my mate with everything in my soul. She is my light, and I don’t care what I have to do to marry her officially, but I would never want to take her away from her family.” Leander directs this part specifically at Rhys who gives him a respectful nod. Rhys and Feyre’s eyes go glassy in a way that lets him know they’re having a conversation. He’s seen you and your siblings have that look, and he’s reminded of your smooth voice purring into his mind whenever you feel like causing mischief. 

“It’s settled then,” Feyre says after a short while. “You have our full permission to marry, but both of you will be full citizens of both the Night and Autumn Courts.” She holds her chin high, there is no room for arguments as the High Lady’s eyes drift to his father who smiles in agreement. 

“Well then,” Rhys claps his hands together, “I guess this calls for me to open a bottle of my good wine.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You could tell Leo was nervous. You’re wandering down the streets of the Autumn Court pressed close to his side, he seems like the picture of a male at perfect ease, but the flames in the lanterns keep flickering with waves of the power that’s radiating off of him. The stars are winking brightly as he leads you to the top of a hill where he had set up a picnic blanket with enchanted stained glass orbs floating and glimmering with warm candlelight. You almost keel over at the sight as you gasp, your hands shooting to your heart as the bond in your chest thrums with joy. 

“Is this why you’ve been so jumpy today?” You question as you hook your arms around his neck. His cheeks flood a delightful shade of pink that you want to drink down, but you settle for pressing your lips to his allowing that pleasant dizzy feeling to flood your veins like slow-moving honey. With some effort, you break apart from the kiss and look over at the spread of food he has laid out for the two of you. Plates of fruit and cheese, decadent chocolate, and a bottle of mulled wine rest atop the blanket. You turn back to Leander, “This is making me think you’re apologizing for something?” You raise a brow and he looks alarmed for a second before laughing and shaking his head. 

“No Fawn, I’m not apologizing for anything.”  He leads you over to the blanket and allows you to dig into the mountains of different foods, eyes softening as he contentedly watches you fill your plate. You have your fill, sipping on the mulled wine and admiring Leander as the candlelight bounces off his copper hair, you notice he’s barely picked at his own food as your stomach gives an awful twist. 

“Something is the matter. Why aren’t you eating?” Your brows furrow as you cross the picnic blanket to settle into his side. Leo’s eyes dart nervously to the basket, and you follow his eyes before attempting to reach for it. His hands grab your hips and you stare at him with wide eyes. 

There’s something in that picnic basket. 

“Nothing’s wrong. Why don’t you go back to your chocolate cake my love it’s your favorite.” Leander attempts to sway you, reaching out for your plate and offering it back to you, but you lunge for the basket again. “You’re a mad woman, stop it!” He’s laughing, as he tries to wrangle you back in his lap. 

“What’s in the basket?” You question. He rolls his eyes, but you can feel his fondness radiating down the thread connecting your hearts. 

“You couldn’t just be patient,” he laughs and shakes his head, pulling a small velvet box from inside the picnic basket. He guides you to your feet before dropping down to one knee infront of you. “Fawn, my mate, my heart, will you make me the luckiest man in Prythian and do me the honor of marrying me?” He looks nervous, your confident proud mate looks as if you might actually say no. That thought makes you laugh around the budding tears that flood your eyes, as you frantically nod your head throat clogging around unsaid words. 

“Yes! Yes of course I’ll marry you!” You yank him to his feet, hauling your mouth to his in a fervent kiss before he slips the ring on your finger. It fits perfectly, a delicate gold band circles your finger and you admire the massive sparkling ruby that sits in the center framed by delicate golden leaves. It takes your breath away as you watch it sparkle under the moonlight. Warm hands wipe away the tears that flooded your eyes before pulling you into a kiss again. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆. ───

The silk of your dress glides against your skin as your mother laces the ties of the ribbons in the back. Your sister and cousins are fussing with their own hair and makeup as you try to calm your racing heart. 

You’re a bit worried that the anxiety might make you hurl your guts out before you make it down the aisle.

“You look beautiful,” your mother promises as she threads the pins into the intricate style of your updo. They resemble stars and moons, the glimmering diamonds scattering constellations across the crown of your head. “Don’t stress.” Her lips press into your cheek as she admires you in the mirror. 

“I’m not nervous,” you promise, even though her blue eyes lock with yours with that motherly look that says she can see right through you. Your bridesmaids all leave their compliments to you as they leave your suite to walk to the altar. There’s a knock on the door and Eris announces his presence before your mother calls him into the room. 

“There’s my beautiful daughter-in-law.” He presses a kiss to your cheek before pressing a kiss to your mother’s hand. “Leander won’t know what to do with himself when he sees you.” That sends a herd of wild horses stampeding through your heart at the thought of your mate waiting for you. A bell rings somewhere in the chapel, signaling from the priestess that the ceremony is about to start. Eris links arms with your mother, leading her to the ceremony. Your father enters the room a moment later, looking the picture of night-dark royalty. His violet eyes well with tears as he takes you in. 

“I can’t believe you’re all grown up.” He sighs, wiping his eyes. “I remember when you were barely taller than my knee, and now look at you.” You blush as he wraps you in his arms, trying not to cry yourself. “Just one more finishing touch.” He winks and with a wave of his hand a sheer cape of shimmering starlight drapes off your shoulders. “Your mother wore it on her wedding day, and my mother wore it on hers, so it’s only right that you wear it today.” You do start crying then, big crocodile tears like the day he first dropped you off at school. “Come now, no tears.” He produces a handkerchief and dabs at your eyes. “Let’s go get you married.” 

You loop arms with your father as he leads you into the chapel and every nervous melancholy thought drains out of your head when you see Leander standing next to the priestess. He’s a vision in his burgundy waistcoat, auburn hair pulled back and styled. You walk to him slowly, your friends and family gasping as you pass them in the pews. Tears well in Leo’s eyes as you reach him and your father presses a kiss on your forehead before sitting down next to your mother. 

“Hello Fawn,” he whispers, reaching to grasp your hands between his. 

“Hello Lion,” you whisper in return, a warm steady feeling falls over you as your stomach flips. You both turn to the priestess and she begins the ceremony, but you’re not even listening. You’re too busy staring at the male standing across from you. You only zone back in as the priestess ties your hands together with the ceremonial ribbon, the symbol binding you together for the rest of your lives. 

“You may now kiss the bride,” the priestess proclaims and cheers pound against the stone, echoing to tenfold the volume. Your mother sends a beam of light that causes the stained glass to send a myriad of colors. Leander hauls you to him dipping you low as he finally draws your lips to his. You all head to the reception, where a feast big enough to feed both your courts awaits. Finally, after dancing into the early hours of the morning you head back into your room and you collapse into the bed. 

“How does it feel to be officially married, My Lady?” Leo purrs, pressing kisses into the crook of your neck trailing your bound hands to rest between your hearts. 

“Perfect My Lord” You mumble into his mouth and that warm comforting feeling settles into your chest, permanently.

[subbmissivesuccubus]

Lumine's Harem (If Aether allows it) - Heizou

Summary: There is a case of serial robberies that has the detective stumped but luckily, he has the twins to help. But when they manage to find an important clue, how far will they go to help the man solve the mystery? Disclaimer: This chapter contains incest, exhibitionism, public sex, filming/photography (with and without consent), blackmailing.

The new chapter of the series is up on my P&treon! The link is in my bio if you'd like to read it (and many other stories) and support me and my writing <3 here's a sneak peek!

Misaki double checked that the cookies was secure in the box, a smile on her face as she was quite proud of her baking skills. Closing her front door, she quickly started to skip over to her destination: the neighbour’s house. All day she was watching furniture and luggage be brought into the newly bought house and from what she gathered, a married couple had moved in. There was finally a pause in the moving to break for lunch and so she thought it would be nice to go over and say hello with a fresh batch of cookies.

Definitely not for any other reasons. And definitely not for some juicy gossip.

She rang the bell once she was by the front door, having weaved through boxes and furniture that was yet to be placed into the house.

A handsome young man opened the door, his looks taking away Misaki’s breath. With short layered black hair, his eyes a deep blue and a piercing on his left eyebrow, he was easily one of the more handsome men to live in the neighbourhood. But what stunned her the most were his arm tattoos. The sleeves of his Yukata were bunched up a bit, his body a bit sweaty from moving, and it showed off his various tattoos. Misaki could barely make out what was on him but it looked like a mix of different things. From words to art- his arms stunned her, having never met somebody with so many tattoos.

“Hello.” he said, breaking her out of his trance, “May I help you?”

“Oh! Excuse me-” Misaki said cheerfully, a bit embarrassed by her silence, “My name is Misaki. I’m your next-door neighbour! I saw you moving in and thought I'd come by and introduce myself.”

“How thoughtful of you.” the man said with a kind smile, “Just one second.” he turned around towards the house before calling out:

“Sweetheart! Come here for a second.”

A woman’s voice immediately responded: “Coming!”

The two of them waited as the sound of footsteps got closer, the third party quickly joining them. Misaki once again felt her lungs stop working as she came face to face with a beautiful young woman. With chocolate brown hair decorated with small flowers, plump pink lips and wide, adorable green eyes, all complimented by the pink and flowery kimono she was wearing- she looked like a walking angel. Her appearance and demeanour were the complete opposite of the mans and yet, they looked even more attractive next to each other. “This is my wife, Eri and you can call me Nathaniel.” the man introduced as the woman bowed, his hand gently placed on the small of her back, “Sweetie, this is our neighbour, Mrs.Misaki.”

“Oh, hello!” Eri responded, “It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for coming by.”

“Likewise.” Misaki responded, getting a hold of herself as she bowed as well. “Here, I've made you some sweets.” she said, handing over the box to Eri, “I’m quite good at baking if I do say so myself.”

“Thank you so much!” Eri said, gratefully accepting the box, “My husband and I have big sweet tooths. We’ll enjoy this a lot, I'm sure.”

“We don’t have many people in this neighbourhood who aren’t Inazuman locals. Are you perhaps from Mondstad?” Misaki asked, looking at Nathaniel.

“I am.” the man responded with a nod, “I moved to Inazuma once we got married.”

“Oh, how romantic! So, how long have you two been together?”

Eri giggled, gracefully covering her mouth with her sleeve, “I’m sorry, I'm afraid we’re still quite busy with setting up our home. But perhaps, once everything is finished, I can invite you over for some tea and we can get to know each other?”

“Oh? Oh! Yes, of course.” Misaki laughed, a bit embarrassed by her need for some gossip, “I’ll leave you two to it. If you need help with anything, I live right next to you so feel free to call me.”

“We’ll keep that in mind.” Eri smiled with a bow. With another goodbye, she gently closed the door, the sound of the lock latching audible to Misaki’s ears. She stood by their doorway for a second, blinking before she started to giggle.

She couldn’t wait to get to know them better and share all of the gossip!

On the other side of the door, the couple waited until they heard footsteps retreating from their front yard before they let out a sigh of relief, some of the stress leaving their body.

“...Do you think she bought it?” Eri- or rather- Lumine asked, looking over at her ‘husband’.

“I think that was good.” Nathaniel- or rather- Aether responded, giving his sister a nod.

Lumine let out a loud sigh, hand on her chest as she released her breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “It’s been a while since I’ve needed to act like this. I forgot how nerve wracking it is!”

“Don’t get cold feet now. We’re going to have to sell this for a while.” Aether reminded.

“I know, I know.” Lumine said, waving away his concern, “I’ll be alright. Just need to get used to it.”

Her brother gave her back a reassuring pat, “Come on. Let’s continue unpacking.”

“Sure.”

~~~~~

[vulpes-fennec]

A Return to Autumn's Roots (1/3)

Summary: Eris Vanserra, the new High Lord of Autumn, has extended a Solstice ball invitation to Elain Archeron and Gwyn Berdara. Will a Court frozen in perpetual change break the stagnant mating bond between Elain and Lucien?

A lil @acotargiftexchange present for @sunbrightheart! I hope you enjoy this as much as I've enjoyed writing this for you! 🎄

Read on AO3

***Winter Solstice | Location: Velaris***

Elain managed to time Feyre’s cake perfectly, leaving at least an hour to get ready before the Solstice party started. It was chilling in the icebox as she took a hot bath in her suite. The warm water soothed her tired hands, hands that had been busy putting up finishing decorations and baking the last 24 hours. 

She washed her hair carefully with sweet-smelling soaps, and climbed out of the tub wrapped in a soft pink robe. As she waited for her curls to dry, Elain placed her presents in the basket for Rhys to hold onto. A sleek onyx fountain pen for Rhys, three pots of shimmering paint “dust” for Feyre, and a knitted cap with bear-shaped ears for Nyx’s first Solstice. An embroidered ribbon bookmark for Nesta, wool scarf for Cassian, a gold-embossed mystery classic for Emerie. Gold hooped earrings for Mor, perfume for Amren, special treats for Varian’s pet fish. Azriel would be receiving an exfoliating scrub for calluses, Gwyn a seasonal assorted chocolate basket. Elain hadn’t felt like giving Azriel a gift, and felt even more ill at ease when it came to choosing Gwyn’s.  

Elain had never given everybody presents before. Something curdled inside her when she looked at the final present. Buying everybody a present was the excuse for this particular gift. It was a fox plushie for Lucien, awkwardly wrapped because of its shape.

She picked it up and placed it into the basket. It was such a stupid present. Grown males had no need for stuffed animals. She barely knew Lucien, so it was difficult to think of something for him. 

Elain had mainly gotten the stuffed animal because it was something that could keep him company. Her note had said, “So you’re never truly alone.” She’d loved playing with dolls when she was young, would bring her stuffed bear into the garden and imbue it with its own personality to feel less lonely. 

Maybe she was making a mistake…Lucien was closely associated with foxes, but he’d been stuck with a fox mask for 49 years…perhaps he didn’t like foxes so much anymore. Drat. She couldn’t not give him anything now. Maybe she could replace the fox stuffed animal with something else in her room. Elain scanned the shelves, which were filled with small plants and trinkets. 

But the basket was gone. Rhys must have thought she was done and whisked it away. Elain sat down on her bed, fighting the urge to cry. Did Lucien feel this stressed when he was deciding which present to give her last year? And the year before that? If he didn’t like the fox, or worse, if he laughed at her, she’d truly cry. 

Glancing at the amount of time on the clock had her wiping the tears away. There were only thirty more minutes until the party, and crying would only make her eyes red and puffy. Elain sat at her vanity and carefully applied some color to her eyes, cheeks, and lips. She enjoyed using orange and reddish colors to bring out the different hues in her brown eyes, eyes that were more warmly colored compared to her sisters’ blue-gray. Though, looking at orange and red makeup only seemed to remind her of her mate’s home court. She sighed. 

After twenty minutes had passed, Elain was satisfied with how she looked. Her lilac-purple dress had flowers embroidered with silver threads, staying in-theme with the winter color palette. It hugged her bodice well, but flared out gracefully with long sleeves and a floor length. She’d purchased it two weeks ago specifically for Solstice. Her soft curls lightly cascaded down her back. Elain was always a little vain when it came to her hair; she liked it long and loose, and felt it looked best that way. Again, so different from Feyre and Nesta, who preferred to have their more golden locks up in braids or buns. 

Elain padded downstairs in her silver heels. Mor, Amren, and Varian were already in the large sitting room, drinking wine. “You look so pretty!” Mor exclaimed. Elain blushed. A compliment from the glamorous Morrigan always made her feel special. “Care to have some wine?” 

“No thank you, maybe later,” Elain declined. She sat down next to Mor, facing the doorway. The door opened, revealing Rhys with Nyx in his arms. 

“Feyre is still getting ready,” Rhys explained. There was a knock on the front door down the hall. Elain sat up a little straighter. If it was Lucien…

Her hopes were dashed when Cassian and Azriel bustled into the room, both Illyrian warriors wearing black. “Nyxie!” crowed Cassian as he ran towards Rhys, his arms outstretched. “Your favorite uncle is here!” 

Azriel only rolled his eyes as Nyx let out a burst of bubbling laughter at Cassian’s goofy expressions. Elain noted that the shadowsinger’s black shirt was cleanly pressed, his shoes polished clean. Interesting. And Azriel’s shadows, always wreathed around the top of his wings, were on full display tonight. They always unnerved Elain a bit, even as he offered the group on the couch a small smile. 

It was five minutes until 7 in the evening when the door knocked again. Elain snapped her head to the hall, holding her breath. But her Fae ears picked up three sets of feet walking towards the living room, and she tried not to appear too disappointed. 

The Valkyries. Nesta was wearing a holly red dress that matched Cassian’s red Siphons. She had her arm hooked around Gwyn and Emerie’s arms, as if to provide assurance, for it was Gwyneth’s first time meeting the Inner Circle.

Gwyneth’s coppery red hair shimmered in the warm faelight. It was long and straight, almost like Lucien’s…except Lucien’s hair was a more vibrant, ruby red. Two small braids framed her face, which was freckled and pale. The teal dress she wore almost matched the shade of her round, saucer-like eyes. Elain glanced at Azriel. He was standing across the room, holding Nyx, but looking at Gwyneth with admiration and a hint of pride. 

“Everybody, this is Gwyn,” Nesta announced. 

Varian politely shook Gwyn’s hand, and Amren gave the priestess a rare smile. Mor beamed, “Hello Gwyn, please call me Mor. I’ve heard so much about you!” 

Gwyn’s smile was charming. “I’ve heard so much about you as well, it’s nice to meet you.” Her slightly nervous gaze turned towards Elain. 

Elain struggled to find her words. “Hi,” she began lamely. “I’m Elain…Nesta’s younger sister.” She felt self-conscious. Did she have a judgemental look on her face? 

“Hello Elain. It’s good to meet you at last,” Gwyn replied with a shy smile. Elain returned the smile nervously, wondering how much Gwyn knew about last year’s tension between her and Azriel. 

Gwyn and Nesta moved on to talk to the Illyrian warriors. For once, Elain paid them no mind. Her stomach was making somersaults as she glanced at the clock. It was time for the party to start, and Lucien wasn’t one to be late. She tried to engage in the small talk with Amren, Varian, and Mor, but found it hard to concentrate on the topics at hand.

It was usually this way whenever she anticipated Lucien’s arrival. Elain would pretend not to know when he was coming, but would always closely track the time. The fated mates would glance at each other quickly, then avert their gazes. Thus began the dance of avoidance, where Elain and Lucien, acutely aware of each others’ positions in the room, would navigate to be furthest away from each other. The heavy awkwardness would drag on and on, until Elain or Lucien decided to take their leave. 

Tonight, however, she felt strangely giddy with anticipation.  

At ten past 7, Feyre breezed in, looking magnificent in a rich navy gown and tiara. “Sorry I’m late, darling,” she said, pressing a kiss to Rhys’s lips. 

“Happy birthday!” everybody exclaimed. Feyre’s eyes grew bright with emotion. 

“Thank you, thank you,” she said, clapping her hands. “I love each and every one of you all. Let us have some cake before dinner, shall we?” 

“Oh!” Elain blurted suddenly. Everybody in the room swiveled their heads to look at her. “I-I think we’re missing someone? Lucien?” 

“Elain, I’m so sorry I didn’t have a chance to tell you this earlier. Lucien sent a message saying he wasn’t coming,” Feyre looked at her apologetically. 

Elain was stunned. “Oh…Did he say why?” Feyre shook her head. “That’s alright. I just…I just wanted to make sure before we cut the cake. In case he didn’t want to miss out…” she felt herself rambling so she quickly closed her mouth. 

As everybody bustled into the dining room, Elain couldn’t help but feel hollow inside. And worried. Lucien wasn’t coming. Surely he was not in any grave danger if he could send Feyre a message…which meant he probably didn’t come because of…her. And Azriel. Though, judging by how closely Azriel drifted to the young priestess, there was nothing for Lucien to worry about. Nearly everybody in the room had found the people and place they’d belonged with…except for her. 

***One year later | Location: Forest House, Autumn Court***

“Oh!” Elain let out a small gasp as the door swung open to reveal a shirtless Lucien lounging on a bed. For a split second, he was a creature of myth: eyes half-closed with rest, molten-red hair, his angular face soft with the kind of rest that only privacy could bring. Lucien sat up immediately, his eyes wide. Elain quickly averted her eyes from the broad, dusty brown expanse of his bare chest, her heart galloping fast as a horse. 

“I-I’m sorry!” she stammered. “I forgot which room was mine and I was testing the spelled locks and I—” She stole a look at Lucien’s tight-lipped expression. “I didn’t mean to intrude,” she finished.

“No need to be sorry, my lady,” he said quietly, his voice low and stiff. Lucien quickly pulled a shirt over his head, and the sudden urge to pout at the loss of his sculpted body left Elain reeling. But how could she think such scandalous thoughts in the midst of this social blunder? 

She stepped back into the long hallway, unsure of how to extricate herself from the situation. It was her first time in the Forest House, first time in the Autumn Court, really. It was the Autumn Court’s first Winter Solstice under its new High Lord, and Eris Vanserra had invited both her and Gwyn Berdara for the Winter Solstice. Gwyn, because her grandfather hailed from Autumn. Elain, because she was Eris’s supposed sister-in-law. 

Eris had also invited Helion Spellcleaver. The revelation that he and the former Lady of Autumn were mates, and the fact that he was Lucien’s true father, sent shockwaves throughout all of Prythian. The gossip was still going strong after all these months—every time Elain went to the market, there was always someone chattering about it. Lucien Spellcleaver, Elain had whispered to herself whenever she was alone. Lucien Spellcleaver. Her mate’s true name. 

Lucien had arrived with Jurian and Queen Vassa in tow last night. Aside from a swift look and cordial “my lady” that sent Elain into a flushed mess, Lucien had not interacted with her since. And now, she had stumbled into his room. 

Lucien eyed Elain’s flushed cheeks warily. She was in a simple cotton dress of plain yellow, her brown curls pulled back with a sage green scarf, and yet she was still the most beautiful female he’d ever seen. 

Lucien had scoffed when Eris informed that he’d invited Elain Archeron to the Autumn Court’s Solstice Ball—his brother was being his usual meddling self. What shocked him more was that Elain had accepted the invitation. 

Now that he thought about it, she was much more present during his short visits to Velaris this past year, even going so far as to initiate small talk. And the way she’d openly stared at him last night seemed promising…but Lucien didn’t want to get his hopes up. 

He decided not to mention that this was not just some random room he’d been assigned; this was his old room in the Forest House. A room that he’d carefully spelled to allow only him through the threshold. It was likely that the wards recognized Elain as his mate, recognized the imprint of his soul on hers, and let her in unexpectedly. She’d likely have an aneurysm after hearing that, so he kept his mouth shut. 

“Would you like me to accompany you to your room, my lady?” he offered.

“It’s alright, I don’t want to impose…” she trailed off, biting her bottom lip subconsciously. Lucien glanced away quickly, fighting the urge to kiss her on the mouth and take that plush bottom lip between his teeth. Touch her, smell her, taste her, his instincts urged. 

“It’s not an imposition. I’m taking Helion on a short tour of the forest in ten minutes anyways.” Lucien hoped it didn’t sound like he was pressuring her into spending time with him. 

“Actually, I am supposed to meet your mother for tea in the Maple Room and I’m not too sure where it’s located,” Elain said softly. After a moment of hesitation, she added, “you may call me Elain.” 

“Do you dislike it when I say ‘my lady’?” Lucien asked. 

“No, no, I do!” She blinked rapidly, flustered at her admission. The tips of Elain’s pointed ears turned pink. Oh, she definitely likes it, Lucien thought to himself with a satisfied smirk. “I just feel it’s too formal.” 

“As you wish. I can take you to the Maple Room, it’s on the way to Helion’s guest quarters.” It was still hard to refer to Helion as “his father”, Lucien thought. Over the last few months, he’d become more familiar with Helion’s boisterous, joking side. And Helion’s affectionate side that came out with him and his mother, as if to make up for 400 years of lost time. But…father? No, that was a term more closely associated with Beron. 

Elain kept a measured distance from her mate as they walked down the Forest House’s corridor. Acorn-shaped glass sconces filled with faelight cast a golden light, the hall was padded with soft burgundy carpet, and the walls were tastefully decorated with wood carvings and oil-painted art. 

“How’s it going with your father?” she ventured after a few moments of silent walking. 

“What do you think of the Autumn Court?” Lucien asked at the same time. 

“No, you go first,” they both said in unison. Elain and Lucien glanced at each other, doe brown eyes meeting mismatched amber and gold, before chuckling softly. It eased some of the tension between them, softening the tightness in Elain’s chest and making the corners of Lucien’s eyes crinkle. 

“Ladies first.”

“So I get my question answered first,” Elain prompted with a small smile. 

Lucien sighed, with somewhat of a dramatic effect. “It’s going well,” he said. “Helion is…he makes my mother happy. And he’s been good to me, but of course the bar was always low with Beron in the first place.” 

“You just call him Helion? When you’re with him?” Elain was taken aback by how directly she was speaking to Lucien, given how short and tidy their previous exchanges were.

“No…I call him ‘Dad’ but it feels strange in my mouth.” Lucien shook his head. “I don’t know what a normal relationship between sons and fathers should be. To be honest, I don’t think any of us do.” Elain’s fists clenched, as if readying to fight a long-dead and buried High Lord for the pain he inflicted upon her mate. She trembled slightly, reminding herself to calm down and take some deep breaths. 

“It’s only been a few months,” Elain said softly. “Relationships take time.” Our relationship has been in a gray area for almost three years, she realized. Lucien must think I’m wretched for saying that to him.

If he thought there was an underlying meaning to her words, he did not show. “Well, what do you think of the Autumn Court?” he asked again, switching the subject. 

“It’s beautiful, I wish I had more time to explore the woods,” Elain replied. As much as she’d tried, she couldn’t keep Lucien out of her mind when taking in everything. She walked the halls imagining how his younger self would have roamed, touched the trees so similar to the ones he saw every day, savoring the constant chill he would have felt on his skin day in and day out. Did he jump into piles of leaves? Play hide and seek behind statues? “Everybody has been very kind. I was expecting…something worse. More stiff and traditional.” 

Lucien shrugged. “Eris has done a decent job of changing the atmosphere of the court with his leadership. How is Gwyn? She came here with you, right?” 

“Gwyn is off visiting her cousins…she’s very excited to meet them. She misses Azriel, but they talk every night through the scrying mirror.” Truth be told, Elain was a bit stressed that Gwyn had a full itinerary of plans during their visit. She’d grown close with the priestess, and was feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of interacting with Lucien’s family on her own.

“We’re here,” Lucien announced as they rounded the corner. A light brown door with a simple placard that said “Maple Room”. He knocked, and proceeded to open the door for Elain when Daphne Spellcleaver’s lilting voice beckoned them in. 

***

“Elain Archeron,” Daphne Spellcleaver greeted her warmly. The Maple Room, like all other rooms in the Forest House, was excessively grand. It was meant to be a sitting room, but the massive rugs, the vaulted glass ceiling, the literal maple trees growing in the corners of the room, and the plush furniture elevated it beyond just a sitting room. Unlike some of the other rooms, however, the Maple Room was filled with plenty of natural light. Two massive windows opened out onto one of the Forest House’s many gardens, filling the air with the smell of roses and dahlias.

“Lady Spellcleaver,” Elain murmured, dipping into a curtsy. It was her first time interacting with Lucien’s mother, the former Lady of Autumn. She had met Graysen’s parents before, but this felt different. 

“Oh Elain, no need for formalities. Please, call me Daphne.” Elain rose to see that Lucien had gone straight towards his mother for a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “My sweet boy,” Daphne murmured, ruffling Lucien’s hair as if he were a youngling. “Shouldn’t you be meeting with your father at this time?” 

Lucien grinned wryly, making Elain’s heart flutter just slightly. His demeanor had switched instantly, becoming more easy-going around his mother, all loose shoulders and shining eyes. “I was escorting her to you,” he replied. “I’ll be on my way now.” He stepped back, dipping his head towards Elain. “My—I meant—Elain.” Shit. There went another skip of her heart when he said her name. 

That russet and gold gaze met hers briefly, before he turned and left swiftly. 

“Let’s have some tea. Although I am no longer Lady of Autumn, old habits of welcoming dignitaries are still difficult to break. Especially when we are hosting the High Lady of the Night Court’s sister.” 

A female well-versed in court maneuverings, Elain noted. By regarding her as Feyre’s sister, Daphne had indicated she wasn’t here to talk about Elain’s mating bond with Lucien. Despite this formal acknowledgement, the genuine kindness in Daphne’s russet eyes putting Elain immediately at ease. It was easy to pick out what traits Lucien inherited from his mother: her red hair, obviously, her russet eyes, those high cheekbones, and the easy grace. 

The maple-flavored tea and selection of desserts were delicious, and Elain found Daphne exceedingly easy to talk to. They had a shared love for baking and fine clothing, which made for easy conversation. Daphne asked Elain questions about her human life, how she was adjusting to being Fae, what Velaris was like, and if she had anything interesting planned for the upcoming year. 

Elain was dying to ask Daphne about Lucien, but since Daphne did not bring up a single thing about her son, Elain was hesitant. Since Elain and Lucien’s mate status was a fraught relationship, it was possible that Daphne did not want to make her feel uncomfortable. Still…there had to be a way to pivot the subject…

“What was Lucien like as a child?” 

The Lady of Day smiled fondly. “He was a mischievous and observant child,” she replied. “Always running around, playing little tricks. Asking a million questions, chattering with anybody who would give him a minute of their time.” 

Elain found herself smiling as well. Lucien seemed to be that precocious boy who would ruffle her feathers at the formal events her parents used to bring her to. “I’m sure those played a part in how he became a courtier.”

“Oh yes,” Daphne agreed knowingly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about my son so much…”

“Oh no,” Elain reassured her. She smiled conspiratorially at the Lady of Day. “In fact, you should tell me about his most embarrassing incidents…”

Read Ch 2

[lucienarcheron]

Spirit Meets the Bones - XX

Genre: Angst/Romance/Drama Warnings: Mentions of physical abuse.

Please note: Chapter 20 was previously much longer (30 pages, I was literally nuts for that) and since I have been editing and reuploading the chapters, I decided to split it into two. Enjoy! 

shoutout to @abruisedmuse for being my beta reader through this all <3

tagging: @climb-the-mountian / @vanserrass / @zenkindoflove / @readthelastpaage / @animezinglife / @positivewitch / @krem-does-stuff / @clockwork-ashes / @carolynmezzosoprano / @carnythian / @runningwiththeoceans / @secret-third-thing / @readychilledwine / @goldenmagnolias / @thedarkinmansfield / @mali22 / @maidr-00 / @electromagnetic-waves / @devilsfoodcake22 / @moonfawnx / @weesablackbeak / @ladywhilemia / @alohaangels / @moobell55 / @bibliophiliaxvignette / @eachies / @feysandfeels / @thelovelymadone / @corcracrow / @dawneternal / @teddyhoneybear / @sinnerrsworld / @gracie-rosee / @stormycleric / @queenoftheworld1998 / @wolvesnravens / @theeternalstruggle / @the-midnightwriter / @illyrianvalkyrie / @that-golden-lyre / @ladystarrynight

Find it all here.

Annoyance was the only emotion Eris felt when he opened his door to find his stupid brother, Finn, standing there, leaning against the doorframe with a smug smile. His younger brother had been born with the heart of a warrior and had been the first of his brothers to pick up a sword and never look back since his youth. It still didn’t stop Eris from wanting to punch him in the face as Finn ran a hand through his shoulder-length flaming-red hair, his broad shoulders filling up the doorway.

“Brother.” Finn said and Eris immediately scowled.

“Whatever it is, no.”

His brother snorted and attempted to step inside but slammed into Eris’s shield instead and Eris smiled smugly at Finn’s scowl.

“Really?”

“Really.” Eris confirmed. “Goodbye.” 

Finn’s hand flew out, halting Eris’s attempt to close the door once more, his expression darkening. “We need to talk.”

“And you choose now? So late in the evening?”

“You’ve been gone all day with your pretty little wife, brother,” Finn said and Eris’s eyes narrowed. “When else was I supposed to reach you?”

“Whatever it is, tomorrow.” Eris said flatly and again, aimed to close the door but Finn’s hand stood firm.

“You think I’d be here if it wasn’t something we needed to talk about today?” Finn snapped and Eris ran his tongue over his teeth, praying he didn’t break his brother’s hand on the door. He did not want Finn here. He did not want Finn anywhere near his bedroom, much less near Iris who he sensed was walking towards them.

“What is this about?” he demanded but Finn’s eyes had shifted behind Eris and he turned with a frown to find Iris standing a few feet away.

“Ah, my sister-in-law.” Finn crooned and Eris turned back to his brother, his expression full of contempt. “So nice to finally meet you through this very extensive shield in place.”

Irrational anger surged through his whole body at the stupid smile Finn aimed towards Iris and if he didn’t take a deep breath, Eris would be inclined to potentially murder another one of his brothers in one day. “Don’t speak to my wife.”

Iris stopped next to Eris, a hand reaching out to gently touch his arm, her gaze locked on Finn. “With so many people eager to be friendly, an extensive shield seems like a necessary addition to the decor,” she said dryly as she squeezed his arm. Eris spared her a small glance, his lips almost twitching at her response but instead, kept his focus on his brother, his expression bland. 

“Iris, you know of Finn. Finn, you know of my wife.” he said, his tone sardonic.

Finn’s gaze had fallen to where Iris’s hand rested on Eris’s arm then up to Eris’s face, a small smile blooming that Eris didn’t like one bit.

“She’s funny.” Finn said, his gaze darting between the two. “I like it.” 

Eris fought not to glare at his brother and forced an eye roll. “Well, unlike it.”

Ignoring Eris, Finn smiled at Iris. “We should definitely spend some time together, Iris. I can tell you all the things no one has already told you about my brother.”

Eris let out a quiet breath and Iris squeezed his arm again. He didn’t glance at her — wouldn’t give Finn the satisfaction, and willed the murderous feeling in his chest to calm as he gave his brother another blank stare. “She’s not interested in spending time with you. Leave.”

Finn’s expression shifted into wicked amusement as his gaze flickered between the two of them again. 

“Do you always let your husband speak for you, Iris? From what I’ve heard, you’ve got quite the tongue on you and that’s why Eris keeps you so close.” he said and Eris felt his body tense, his vision going red at the innuendo behind his brother’s words but then — his heart stuttered as he heard the words again. It was impossible that Finn had picked up on their bond —

He took one step towards his brother but Iris had tightened her grip on his arm as she stepped closer to him and Eris flashed her a look.

“When it comes to sifting between people who deserve to have a conversation with me and those who don’t, I trust my husband’s judgment,” she said, the pleasant smile on her face edged in violence. “After all, he knows you all better than I do. I’d rather not waste time on people who barely deserve to breathe, much less speak to me.”

Finn blinked in surprise then let out a low laugh. “Such a polite way to tell me to go fuck myself.”

“I have no idea what you could possibly mean.” Iris said pleasantly and Eris finally looked away from her and the hand gripping the folds of her dress — the folds too close to her favorite weapon.

“She has no qualms telling you to go fuck yourself if she wanted to and neither do I.” Eris said and Finn glanced at his brother with a small smile. “So go fuck yourself and stop talking to my wife.”

“So possessive, brother.” his brother replied. “I’m only trying to be welcoming even though it’s a few months too late.”

Iris glanced at Eris and he marked her expression, the tug on his ribcage drawing him into her. He could see her curiosity about Finn and while he wanted her to know him, it wasn't time. Not like this. He let his gaze scan her face once more then turned back to his brother. 

“Still too soon. Go wait in my office.” he said and promptly shut the door. 

A moment of silence passed between them and Iris’s brows rose in amusement at Eris’s intense gaze. “Well. That was subtle.”

But Eris could only look at his pretty, pretty wife. They hadn’t finished their conversation. There were many truths he needed to spill and would. But it seemed fate would have them wait a little longer for him to claim her fully. For now…

Eris closed the space between them. His hand cupped the back of her neck and pulled her into him until they shared a breath. A smirk bloomed on his face as her breath stuttered and her eyes widened. He was being incredibly foolish letting Finn see how he watched his wife but it was only Finn. They had an understanding.

It didn’t matter that his brother wanted nothing from Iris, Eris didn’t like his gaze on her. Didn’t like him speaking to her because Eris…Eris needed her to himself for as long as possible. Where he could taste and touch her all he wanted. He didn’t even want anyone scenting her and while this would present a very big problem if he didn’t get his shit together, for now — for now, he just wanted to kiss her. Needed to kiss her. 

And so he did, tasting her as his thumb caressed the pulse point at her neck. It satisfied him to no end how wildly it beat.

“When I come back,” he murmured against her lips, trying to ignore the way the swell of her breasts brushed against his chest. “I want to see you wearing something indecent in bed.”

Iris flushed deeply, her body pressed against his, and managed a small noise in return when he squeezed the back of her neck gently.

Eris’s smirk turned deadly and he pressed another hot kiss to her lips before pulling back again. “Use your words, wife.”

“That’s — a bold request.” She breathed, her hands finally moving from hanging limply at her sides to fist the front of his shirt. 

Eris lifted a brow, his gaze never leaving hers as his free hand moved to brush back her hair and he murmured against her lips again, “Is it? I’ve asked before.”

“Well. You didn’t a-ask politely.” She said breathlessly. “And I’m supposed to be teaching you better manners.”

“Ah, I see.” He said and tugging gently on a strand of her long luscious locks, he pulled her even closer and nipped at her lips again. “In that case, if you’d be so kind, may I request you wear something indecent to bed for me when I return, wife?”

Her flush deepened and Iris had to swallow and quickly detached herself from him, taking a step back that made Eris’s expression shift to amusement. “That was better.” She replied, smoothing down her dress. “Your request is under consideration.”

He snorted, his eyes watching her, picturing a thousand ways he could pull more of those delightful noises from her. “What’s the point of asking politely if you’re not going to give a clear answer?”

Iris narrowed her eyes and watched Eris and the way he watched her. She knew there was more to their conversation. More to be asked and more to be said. She knew it was hard for him to share things and explain. He’d been patient with her, so Iris would grant him patience as well. Even if it made her want to lose her mind. Whatever it was that he was holding back on, she knew he’d eventually tell her. But for now…with the way their kisses seemed to intensify, with the way he had nearly ripped his brother’s head off for simply speaking to her…they needed a moment. 

So they could both remember how to breathe properly.

“Your brother is waiting for you.” she finally said but her husband only rubbed a finger to his bottom lip as he watched her.

“I’d rather stay here.” he murmured but Iris shook her head, lips twitching. 

“I’m sure you would but we wouldn’t want your brother thinking I kept you away, would we?” she said then gave him a pointed look. “Don’t think we’re done talking either. You will answer my earlier question and then I have more questions that I will not let you avoid answering.”

“I have no doubt.” he said with a low chuckle. “Wear something indecent and I’ll answer any questions you have.”

“You’ll answer my questions regardless of what I’m wearing, be it nothing or every article of clothing in my closet.” she said and gently shoved him toward the door. 

Eris gave her a wolfish grin. “Please let it be nothing. I would love for it to be nothing.”

Iris rolled her eyes. “Every piece of clothing in both of our closets it is then.”

“Mmm, I’ll enjoy peeling off every single piece.” he said, his grin sharp and Iris could only bring herself to open the door and shove him right out.

–

Any trace of humor was wiped off his face as he stepped into his office and closed the door behind him. He found Finn seated in his chair, tossing a dagger in the air and catching it. The scowl on Eris’s face deepened.

“You’re already on thin ice for showing up to my rooms and now you’re sitting in my chair. Get up.”

Finn caught the knife and smiled knowingly at his brother. “Touchy, touchy, aren’t we.” he said and slowly sat up. “Your wife is prettier than I remember from the wedding.”

“My wife is not your business.” Eris said and jerked his chin towards the chair. “You have five seconds to move or the second-degree burn I will give you will be very uncomfortable.”

Finn snorted but stood and Eris waited, watching as his brother moved to a seat in front of his desk and flopped dramatically in it. “You forget that I also like it to burn a little.”

“Not as much as I do.” Eris said with a thin smile and slowly walked to his chair, sinking in it with his eyes on his brother.

The room fell silent between them and Eris blinked when a moment later, he noted that his brother had put up an additional shield alongside his own. 

“You must be desperate to seek me out at this hour and at my rooms nonetheless. Especially when you know better.” Eris said quietly.

For it had always been that way between them. Their father raised them to compete. To strive to outdo each other. Maim each other as needed and later on, kill if necessary. Two of his brothers had gleefully enjoyed this — the two that were now dead. The other three…Eris watched Finn carefully as his brother silently watched him.

The other three knew to fall into place. Knew that Eris would be the next High Lord, come hell or high water. Finn, Emil, and Izak knew he had everyone’s best interest at heart and knew their father…did not care about any of them at all. They were all spares. They did not really matter to Beron. But to Eris? To their mother? They mattered and Eris had forced them out, had kept them away.

Eris had stayed and took the brunt of their father’s bullshit while nurturing— a term he used very loosely — his relationship with his brothers as well as he could. They each took care of a territory. They each had their own lives. When it came to pretending for their father, they pretended to be at each other’s throats. Pretended they all wanted to be the High Lord. Pretended they’d kill each other to do it. 

Finn was the brother closest to Eris within the court. They weren’t what anyone would describe as friendly but Eris could, reluctantly, count on Finn to do what needed to be done. To not stab him in the back. The two had a very clear understanding of where they stood with each other.

Eris watched his brother swallow and instantly, every nerve in his body went on high alert. “Finn.”

“We have an issue.”

Eris narrowed his eyes and reinforced the shields around his office. “What kind of issue?”

Finn straightened and fixed his collar. “Do you remember when I told you about Izak’s interest in Lord Marcus’s daughter, Helene?”

“His commander’s daughter?” Eris said with a blink. “Yes. I thought we told him to keep it to himself until the right time.”

“We did.” Finn said and gave Eris a thin smile. “He did not listen.”

Eris’s fists clenched and he closed his eyes to take a deep breath then met his brother’s gaze. “What did he do?”

Eris usually prided himself on being able to make his brother fidget with only a look in any other instance except now. Now, he braced himself.

Finn worked his jaw for a moment then quietly said, “He married her in the dead of the night before anyone could stop him. She is now officially a Vanserra.” 

A tense silence filled the room and Eris closed his eyes, taking another deep breath as he slowly clenched both of his fists. Of all the stupid things his brothers could do…

“I’m going to kill him.” he swore.

Finn’s chuckle was dry. “I told him you would and that I would pitch in but…” he paused and waved a hand with a grimace. “He…loves her. You know he’s been in love with her for years.”

“Of course.” Eris said with a snort and let out a noise of distaste. “Loves her enough to condemn her to this fucken family.”

Finn grunted in agreement. “Her father isn’t thrilled about it either but he is loyal to Izak. And to you. Despite his reservations, he is honored. He knows she’ll be taken care of.”

“Will she?” Eris hissed. “Izak has lost his mind if he thinks father won’t snap his neck and hers for doing this without his permission.”

“I know.”

“She’s lesser fae. Your father barely acknowledges Marcus as the commander of Izak’s legion.” 

“I know.”

“Father will make Izak kill her to prove a point. He will kill her for fun.”

“Do you think we don’t already know this?” Finn snapped. “Why do you think I’m here?” 

“He couldn’t come to show his face and tell me himself, could he?” Eris growled. “This is not the kind of shit that should be kept secret from me.”

“I found out yesterday.”

“How long has this imbecile been married?”

Finn’s lips twitched. “Two days.”

Eris growled and sat back in his chair, suddenly very tired. “That piece of shit. I can’t believe he would —”

“There’s more.” Finn said quickly and Eris braced himself again.

“What else?” he asked through gritted teeth and Finn fell silent before swallowing and breaking the news.

“She’s…with child.”

Silence filled the room as Eris let himself process the words. Process what exactly was happening with his brother.

His brother was going to have a child. A baby.

He was going to be an uncle. 

A small, small feeling of joy bubbled in his chest that quickly disappeared. If he was to be an uncle, his father would become a grandfather.

To a child with a mother the High Lord would never approve of. A wedding he hadn’t given permission for. A relationship he would never acknowledge. 

Beron would kill her and the child just for Izak’s nerve. He would take it out on all of them for Izak’s nerve. Starting with their mother. 

Eris ran a hand down his face. “Fuck.” 

“I know.” Finn said gently. “I came to tell you as soon as I found out.”

“How far along is she?”

“Barely six weeks. Very early on but…” Finn shrugged, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “He…he’s happy.”

And Eris tried not to envy his brother’s happiness. It wouldn’t last long. 

“Father will see to that as soon as he finds out.” Eris snapped and sat up. “Who else knows?”

“Just the two of us and her parents.”

“No one else can know.” 

“And when she starts showing?”

“No one else can know.”

“Izak doesn’t want to deny her or his child. He married her for Cauldron’s sake.”

“Well, if he wants them to live, he will have to shut the fuck up for as long as possible.” Eris snapped. “There’s only so much I can do here.”

“We’re not looking for you to produce a magical solution, Eris. We’re only informing you.” 

Eris glanced at his brother who, for once, let his expression be unguarded. Let his concern show. Eris had taught him to hide that quickly. 

“You say that but we still have to plan for it.” he said quietly. “I…we can’t let what happened to Jesminda happen again. We can’t.”

“I know.” Finn replied. “He’s been masking her scent and keeping a shield but…they already live together. Father rarely asks for Izak as it is. It should be fine.”

Eris shook his head. “That’s not a risk we can take but fine.” he said. “Let him know I’ll visit him soon. He is to tell no one.”

“He wants mother to know.”

Eris pursed his lips. His mother would be both thrilled and sad. “Fine.” he muttered again. “But you let that imbecile know I’m going to give him a proper thrashing when I see him.”

Finn’s lips twitched and he nodded. “Will do.”

It fell silent between them again and Eris eyed his brother and the nonchalant energy he tried to give off. He watched the tap of Finn’s finger to his thigh and then met his brother’s gaze.

“Is there anything you need to tell me?”

“No.”

Eris folded his arms on his desk and leaned in. “Finn.” he warned.

“Nothing.” Finn said with a sigh. “You…you already know.”

Finn sat back, observing his brother once more and the color now staining his cheeks. 

Oh, Eris knew very well.

“And has something…more happened?” he asked and watched a muscle twitch in Finn’s jaw.

“No.”

Eris waited. He knew about Finn’s friend-turned-lover, Theo. A blacksmith known for his handiwork that Eris himself commissioned blades from. His brother had guarded that friendship so closely. Until Eris had noticed how Finn glanced at Theo and how Theo glanced at Finn. The day Finn realized that Eris knew had changed things between them. Eris liked to think it was why they had an understanding. 

“You know you can admit to me that you’re together,” Eris said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle with his brother. “I have nothing against you.”

Finn’s face flushed harder and his mouth went into a thin line. “I’d rather not talk about that here.”

“We have two extensive shields in place.” 

Finn fell silent again and Eris waited — waited and watched his brother fidget with his collar and wondered what other awful thing would fall into place. 

“Father has…asked about him.” 

Eris immediately straightened. “Asked how?”

“Asked in a way that makes me think he knows more than I want him to,” Finn said and Eris watched his fists. “I met with him to give him updates and he seemed more aggravated than usual. Do you think he knows?”

“I think that has more to do with me beating the shit out of my father-in-law than you,” Eris said calmly. Finn gave him an incredulous look but Eris waved a hand. “The only thing he knows is that I commission my blades from him and that you two are close friends.” 

“You’re seriously not going to elaborate more on the father-in-law thing?” 

“No,” Eris replied and folded his hands on his desk. “As I said, he’s aware you two are friendly and nothing more.”

“He said the word ‘friends’ like it was a disease,” Finn said through clenched teeth. “I know he would never accept us so I won’t bother telling him or trying to convince him but if he comes near him I — I —”

“He won’t,” Eris said firmly and Finn swallowed. “I’ll redirect his attention.”

Like he always did and would continue to do. Except now…

Eris ran a hand through his hair, his mind drifting back to Iris waiting for him. His wife. His mate. His mate who still didn’t know she was his mate. 

The urge to stab himself was growing stronger. 

He felt Finn’s gaze on him and narrowed his eyes toward him. Finn only gave him a small smirk.

“What.”

“You seem to like your wife.” Finn said carefully.

Eris let them sit in silence for a moment, watching him and debating. They had an understanding, sure. But…

“She’s acceptable.”

Finn snorted and Eris’s expression turned thunderous. 

“Acceptable,” Finn repeated with a laugh and Eris’s expression flattened. “You let her touch you in front of me. I’d say she’s more than acceptable.” 

“She’s my wife.” he snapped. “Touching is part of the deal.”

“Mmm.” Finn said with a knowing smile. “If you say so, brother.”

“I do say so. Stop talking about my wife.”

“Let me spend time with her then.” his brother asked and had the audacity to give him a cheeky grin. “That way I’ll talk to her and not have to talk to you.”

“No.” he said calmly. 

“Oh, come on! Mother adores her, I’m sure she’s a delight.”

“She’s none of your business. End of discussion.” Eris stated and looked Finn straight in the eye. “And if you speak to my wife with innuendos like that again, she’ll punch you in the face.”

“Oh, she’ll punch me in the face? 

“Or stab you. She does like her knife.”

Finn’s brows rose and let out a little snort.  “I thought she was a dainty little wallflower.”

Eris let a beat of silence pass before giving Finn a pointed look and saying, “We pretend how we need to. We do live here.” He waved a hand. “You have something else to say. Stop deflecting and spit it out.”

His brother’s expression sobered at the reminder and then Finn let out a sigh. “Father has asked for you. I don’t think it bodes well.”

Eris rolled his eyes. “When does it ever bode well for me.” he muttered and tapped his fingers on the desk. “He knew I would be out. He can wait until tomorrow.”

“I don’t think that’s wise.” Finn said carefully and Eris gave him a thin smile. 

“It’ll be fine. What’s he going to do? Beat me?” he asked with a snort. “He can summon me tomorrow for our father-son bonding session.”

Finn grimaced and paused for a moment before adding, “He wants you today. And he wants Iris with you.” 

His fingers froze and though he didn’t let his expression shift, Eris knew the beating of his heart had quickened. 

“He asked for her?”

“Yes.”

“And he asked you to come tell me?”

“He said ‘Whenever your brother comes back from fucking his wife in the woods like an animal, tell him to bring her and come to me’,” Finn relayed. “That's why I don’t think it’s wise to wait. He wasn’t really asking.”

Eris let his hand rest on the desk and forced himself not to clench his fists again. Or break the objects that were so neatly placed in front of him. Or break his brother’s nose.

“Father and I have an understanding when it comes to my wife.” Eris finally said. “He needn’t worry about her. I’ll see him tomorrow.”

“Eris.”

At his tone, Eris stiffened. “Yes?”

“Don’t wait until tomorrow.” Finn said quietly. “He should not be kept waiting.”

Eris clenched his jaw as he watched his brother’s expression and knew, deep in his bones, that this particular visit to his father would be one worse than usual.

“I see.”

Finn fidgeted with his collar once more. “Now that I know you fucked up your father-in-law, it makes sense why Father is on edge.”

Eris made to reply but his eyes fell on Finn’s collar and all at once, he felt the air choke out of him. “What’s wrong with your neck?”

His brother froze for a moment then his mouth went into a thin line. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“Finn.”

“He was pissed off, Eris.” Finn snapped. “And I happen to be there at the time, simple as that.”

Eris swore and glared down at the table. “Was it before or after I was brought up?”

“What does it matter? It’s not like it was your fault.” Finn asked quietly then reconfirmed, “It’s not.”

“What about mother?”

“She wasn’t there. I saw her after I met with him and she was fine.” Finn said and seeing Eris’s expression, he sighed and added, “It’s not like he ever needs a reason, Eris. He just does what he wants.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“It never does but I’m fine. Mother’s fine.” Finn insisted and rolled his eyes, color staining his cheeks. “Don’t get fucken sentimental on me now. Just…prepare yourself.”

Eris shot his little brother a glare but Finn only waved his hand in salute. He took a breath and slowly let it out. “You relayed your messages. Don’t worry about what happens now.” he told Finn firmly. “Get out of here before he decides to bring you back in for another round.”

Finn winced. “Are you —”

“Yes. Don’t say anything else.”

Finn twisted briefly in his chair and after a moment of tense silence between them, sighed softly. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

Eris blinked. “For?”

Finn waved a hand, his gaze flickering around the room and Eris noticed the way color lightly stained his cheeks again, refusing to look at him. “For…everything. We know what you do.”

Eris felt the back of his neck heating immediately. This…was unusual. Gratitude between them wasn’t…common. He wasn’t sure how to feel. How to process it. Love must be making his brothers soft and considering the way he had to force them to shove any positive emotion down as they grew up, maybe it was a good thing.

“Did someone poison you on the way here?” 

The corner of Finn’s mouth lifted. “No. Seeing your pretty wife must’ve made me lose my mind for a moment.”

Eris scowled, his fist clenching. “Bring up my wife one more time and I’ll slit your throat where you sit.”

Finn had the audacity to bark out a laugh and finally stood. “Always a delight, brother.”

“I do not share that sentiment.” 

He gave Eris a wry smile and stood. “You’re a liar, big brother but I’ll take it.” 

Eris shot his brother a look of disdain that Finn bowed graciously to before turning towards the door. He paused right before he opened it.

“If you need me, just ask.” Finn said quietly. “I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

Eris eyed his brother and gave him a clipped nod then watched as Finn took a breath, straightened his shoulders, and swaggered out of the room with an expression that no doubt meant trouble. 

Eris waited five minutes. Then ten more in complete silence. He wouldn’t think about the slight tremor in his hands or the slight panic that was bubbling up to the surface. He simply did not have time for any further emotions. 

After another long moment, he finally took a deep breath and slowly rested his forehead on his desk. It was only in the quiet of this room that his expression fell and he gripped the edge of his desk with still trembling hands. This day…had been the longest day of his fucken life. If things didn’t stop piling onto his plate, he was going to raze this house to the ground. Or burn himself from the inside out. 

If his father had already lashed out at Finn and wanted Eris with Iris…he was taking the beating to his father-in-law personally. His mother may be fine for now but — but that wouldn’t last long if Eris waited any longer. 

But Iris…he wouldn’t be bringing her anywhere near his father. He’d have one of his sentries stand guard until he came back. Finn could handle himself and Emil stayed away as it is but Izak…Izak would suffer once his father found out. It made Eris want to scream. As if he didn’t have enough problems to worry about. 

Eris finally took a deep breath and stood wearily to his feet. He would go to his father, get his thrashing over with then return to his wife and it would all be fine. Then this day would be over and everything would be fine.

It had to be. 

[sunshinebingo]

Here is Chapter 3! @thelov3lybookworm I know you write Eris x reader fics so I included a bit (a lot) of him in this chapter. I love Eris too and I had fun writing him. I hope you like it! - for @acotargiftexchange

***

Synopsis: Two months into their convenient marriage and Gwyneth and Azriel still have very strong feelings for each other. Is it really the hate that they claim it to be, or something else? Not even they can tell.

However, another chance at tackling the failed mission that has led them to where they are will make the two spies face something that they have both been afraid of. After all, the line separating hate from desire can be very thin.

Word Count: 3.3k

Warning: None

Find the Masterlist here

Read on Ao3 here or proceed below the cut

Returning to the Autumn Court after two whole months of being away did not feel as Gwyn had expected. The scents were the same, as were the colours. Even with the extravagant decoration of the grand ballroom and the abundance of the feast laid out for the celebrants of Solstice, everything here was still familiar. Yet something felt utterly different.

Perhaps having been used to living at Rosehall estate in Night was the reason why returning here had not feel like coming back to her home. Or perhaps it was the eyes turned on her that made her feel different, like she was an outsider in the court that she was born and raised in. One pair of eyes in particular had made Gwyn clung to her husband’s arms like a vice ever since they had stepped foot in the Forest House.

Catching the attention of the High Lord of Autumn was never a good omen, especially for a female. It was worse when Beron looked at someone like he had unfinished business with them.

“Can you look a little more tense? I don’t think it’s noticeable enough how nervous you are right now,” Azriel muttered, his lips so close to Gwyn that it brushed the tip of her pointed ear.

She pinched his arm hard, hoping that it would leave a nasty bruise underneath his clothes. Azriel’s free hand moved at the speed of light to pull hers away from his arm. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, but not before he bit one of her fingers hard enough that she had to suppress a yelp.

“Focus on me. Not them.”

Gwyn held his gaze as he spoke. The shadows brushed her cheeks and offered her some comfort. The strange fear Azriel had injected in her earlier suddenly felt like a welcomed distraction from everything around. She took slow and deep breaths, using his hazel eyes as an anchor and focusing on the whirl of feelings it brought her. She hated that she could not pinpoint what they were – dread, concern, more things that she could not name – yet all of it felt better than facing whatever was not him.

“I think I might throw up,” an approaching voice pierced Gwyn’s bubble of confusion.

“Eris,” Gwyn smiled at the male who strolled towards them with his hands in the pockets of his impeccable green and gold jacket. The warm lighting around the room danced in his red hair and made the colour akin to the flames that the Prince wielded.

“Gwyneth,” Eris smiled at her when he reached them. That smile lost all of its warmth when his eyes landed on the Shadowsinger. His head dipped in a small bow. “Azriel.”

Azriel returned the gesture with no words. One of his hands wrapped around her and settled on her waist. Gwyn convinced herself that the sudden burst of heat that ran through her and the way that her heart picked up in speed was only because all of this was new and unexpected. She resisted to urge to think deeper into it because she knew that her mind would make things worse by imagining things that she should not.

“Congratulations on your wedding,” Eris drawled as if he was seeing her for the first time since, his eyes roaming over the pair.

Gwyn thanked the Prince. She had learned a lot from him about keeping up appearances and how to be someone else when the circumstances required it. It was impressive how Eris could act just like the others around the room with his probing looks at them and the curiosity that shone in his eyes.

Although it disturbed her from the others, Gwyn did not mind it when it when it came from Eris. The silent questions in his expression as he looked at the hand Azriel was tightening around her waist and the one she had placed on his chest might have been real, but it all helped in solidifying their image.

Her husband however did not seem to appreciate Eris’ wandering gaze. The shadows stayed closed to their master like snakes ready to attack at the first offense. A low growl rumbled from Azriel’s chest as his hazel eyes narrowed on Eris. A smirk slowly spread on the Prince’s lips, making him look as evil as his father.

“Stop that,” Gwyn gritted out behind a smile at the two males.

Neither of them backed down from their staring match. Gwyn’s hand tightened into a fist on her husband’s chest. She shifted until her foot not so accidentally stepped on his. The low heel of her shoe pressed on the tip of his black one.

“It’s not a pissing contest, so both of you stop.”

Azriel pinched her side hard until Gwyn finally lifted her foot. He looked down at her with a smile that made the fire inside her run hotter.

“Of course it’s not sweetheart. It if was, I would have won.”

Eris’ chuckle could only be described as derisive.

“Don’t flatter yourself, my dear.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her husband on the cheek. “You’re not that scary,” she added when she pulled away. She could have sworn that a blush warmed his face more and more the longer she looked at him.

Eris laughed louder, causing some Fae to look in their direction.

“It seems someone has finally managed to tame your brutish side, Shadowsinger,” the Prince said.

Gwyn’s head whipped towards her cousin and gave him a slight glare. “Don’t you dare take that tone with my husband.”

The Prince lifted a brow. Azriel pulled Gwyn even closer while smirking at him. Before the pissing contest could begin again, the loud clashing of cymbals resonated around the room, announcing the traditional song of harvest played at every solstice.

Eris offered his hand to Gwyn with a low bow as an invitation to the dance all faeries of Autumn learned as soon as they could walk.

Gwyn looked up at her husband without knowing what exactly she was asking of him. Azriel kissed her forehead and slid his arm away from her. She had not realised how warmed she had felt in his arms until she stepped away from him and followed Eris towards the other dancers. It had been an odd sort of warmth, Gwyn realised. Different from the ones caused by her fire. It was new and puzzling to feel that way, especially because of Azriel.

The dancefloor seemed to part around them as Eris expertly led her through the dance. Her feet followed the Prince’s on instinct, each movement so natural that no thought was required. That was a good thing since her body might have been here, but her mind was still stuck with her husband.

Focus on me, he had said. Gwyn forgot about everyone in the room, including the High Lord who still occasionally spared a few glances at her. She only focused on Azriel who looked at her from across the room.

She made small talk with Eris while they danced, each of their words heavily hiding things that could not be said out loud, lest the mission she was on tonight ended before it could even start.

Through it all, she remained so focused on Azriel that she did not need the shadows turning her head in his direction to notice someone approaching him. The brown-haired female, Clarisse, was a lady that Gwyn knew well. They had often attended garden parties together with the Lady of Autumn and the other reputable females of the court.

Gwyn kept dancing but her eyes were glued on the one who had been the first, beside Eris, to seek any conversation with them since their arrival. None of the others had dared approach the couple before, preferring to whisper about them instead. 

The shadows which usually surrounded Azriel had retreated behind his large wings, allowing the other female to stand close to him without fear while also giving Gwyn a clear view of their interaction. Every smile and exaggerated blink that Clarisse gave Azriel made Gwyn tense. This female could ruin their image if she did not do anything. She released a sigh of relief when the final notes of the song finally approached.

“Excuse me,” Gwyn said when Eris pulled her close with a hand on her back for the last twirl, “But I have important matters to attend to with my husband.”

Eris’ brows raised with clear amusement.

“You mean interrupting your lover’s conversation with this female?”

Gwyn was so stunned by the term lover that she had no words to respond to that. The thought alone was so...vexing. She huffed. “I mean plotting the demise of your father, future High Lord,” she whispered so that only him would hear.

The song ended and Gwyn curtsied to her dance partner. When she looked up at Eris, the Prince smiled and wiped fake tears from his dry eyes. “I taught you well,” he said.

“Gods, you are such a drama queen,” she replied with a roll of her eyes and a shake of her head.

As gracefully as she had danced, Gwyn glided between the crowded dancefloor towards Azriel. The moment she reached them, Gwyn inserted herself in the space between Azriel and Clarisse and wrapped both arms around her husband’s waist.

“Hello again, my dear,” she said to Azriel. She might have batted her eyelashes too.

All the shadows left their hiding place behind their master and started circling Gwyn. Azriel cocked his head and looked at her as though her hair had suddenly turned black. He then uncrossed his arms and brought them back they where they should be, around his wife.

“Hello again, sweetheart.”

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Gwyn knew that the heat creeping up her face was causing her to blush. Just for this time, she told herself that it was a good thing since everyone was watching, especially the female who stood there.

“Lady Gwyneth,” Clarisse greeted her with a half-smile.

Gwyn turned to her with a hand on her chest as though she was only noticing her presence.

“Oh hello. Lady Carla, right?”

“Clarisse,” she corrected.

Azriel snickered. When she looked up at him, Gwyn saw him pursing his lips to suppress a smile. She honestly did not know what he found funny in this situation.

“Have you met my husband?” she addressed Clarisse again.

“I was just making his acquaintance.”

Clarisse smiled and looked up at Azriel. It frustrated her that he returned the female’s smile. He was ruining their ruse with that damned smile. Gwyn cleared her throat, causing Clarisse to lower her eyes at her. 

“The Night Court is treating you well Gwyneth.”

Gwyn wrapped her arms tighter around Azriel and rested her head on his chest. “Well, my husband treats me even better.”

Her grin turned wider when Azriel kissed the top of her head. “Liar,” he whispered against her.

“My husband is an exceptional male.”

Exceptionally annoying and infuriating. Exceptionally handsome too judging by the googly eyes Clarisse was sending his way as though Gwyn was transparent.

“I’m sure he could make any female happy,” Clarisse said.

“Well, he is all mine now.” Gwyn lifted her head at him. “Isn’t it right, husband of mine?” And her eyelashes fluttered again.

Azriel leaned down until his lips brushed her ear. “I think she gets that I’m your husband, wife.” His low voice was laced with mirth.

“Do you get it?” she gritted out.

Clarisse’s eyes went back and forth between them. Azriel nuzzled Gwyn’s neck and whispered again, “I didn’t know you were this jealous, sweetheart.”

Instead of punching his face in front of everyone, Gwyn laughed at how ridiculous he sounded.

“My husband is a funny male too,” she added, looking at Clarisse.

Azriel grabbed her chin and made Gwyn look back at him. “Not as much as you, my love,” he said with a smug grin.

Curse him for making her blush so easily. Curse him for being so damn good at pretending to be in love with her.

A bell chimed 10 o’clock somewhere around the room and announced the time that the guards would change their shift. Eris had informed them that it would be done more often than usual to ensure that all of them could be fully aware at all time and avoid that anyone slacked while on duty.

It was time for Azriel and Gwyn to move as well. But there were too many eyes on them, starting with Clarisse’s. Gwyn wracked her brain for a minute until an idea hit her. She opened her mouth and faked a yawn.

“My apologies,” she smiled and said bashfully, “I am getting a little tired already.”

Azriel tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Would you like to go home, love?”

She pretended to think it over for a few seconds before she nodded. “It has been a long night.”

He took one of her hands in his larger one. “Would you mind waiting a minute? I need to use the washroom first.”

Gwyn nodded again. “Let me show you where it is. This place is a literal maze. I don’t want you to get lost.”

Azriel turned towards lady Clarisse and offered his goodbyes. Gwyn wanted to roll her eyes at the way the female blatantly sighed. She pulled on their linked hands and led Azriel right outside the massive door of the ballroom until they reached an empty hallway.

“We are changing the plan,” she said as soon as the shadows surrounded them to block any visible and audible sign of their conversation.

Azriel crossed his arms and lifted his brows. “Since when are you in charge?”

“Since I realised that the plan you suggested is shit,” she hissed. “There’s too many eyes on us. We can’t go together.”

“Gwyneth –“

“Don’t call me that,” she stomped her foot down.

He narrowed his eyes on her and huffed in annoyance. “That’s your name.”

Gwyn crossed her arms and pouted. “I know but it sounds like you are scolding me when you use it.”

Perhaps all the pet names were a bad thing after all. Azriel closed his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. She knew that the look on his face meant that he was running out of patience.

“Gwyn, wife, light of my life, the possible cause of my early death...,” he removed his hand from his face and looked down at her again with a heavy sigh.

“Let’s just get the damned thing and get out of here then.”

Gwyn exhaled a hard breath. It was her turn to ask the Gods for the patience to deal with this male.

“I can’t be waiting for you here while you are supposed to be in the washroom,” she explained. “This is not my home anymore in case you forgot and people here are already treating me like I had been exiled. Wandering outside the party will only feed the rumours that I’m being sketchy. I have to wait for you in there,” she pointed towards the door.

Azriel pondered on it for a second too long. They were running out of time.

“Fine,” he finally replied. “I’ll get in with the shadows and meet you back inside.”

“Fine.”

He would do what he did best, as would she. She would remain in plain sight, keeping up the appearances, while he would sneak inside Beron’s quarters and retrieve what they came for.

They nodded once to each other. Gwyn started to turn in the direction of the ballroom but suddenly stopped. She grabbed Azriel by the wrist before he could even make the first step forward.

“Be careful. Please,” she said in a breathy voice.

Although she would never tell this to his face, she knew that Azriel was smart and strong. He was more than capable of doing this. But still, a pang of guilt hit her at the thought that she was making him go there alone.

He lifted their hands. His eyes remained locked on hers as he placed a kiss on her wrist, on the pulse point right below her palm.

“You too. A shadow will remain with you.”

One of the shadows that surrounded them immediately rushed towards her and wrapped around her forearm like a bracelet of smoke.

“You better not make me a widow tonight, Shadowsinger,” she warned him.

He walked towards her until he stood so close that she had to lift her face to look at him. “Never,” he said with another one of his smug grins. “You will never get rid of me, my dear wife.”

Gwyn wanted to get rid of that grin so much that she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close enough for their lips to almost touch.

“Then come back to me, husband.”

With these as her parting words, she turned around and walked to the ballroom. The party had somehow turned even more animated with more pairs on the dancefloor and the chatting around the room having increased with everyone starting to become slightly intoxicated.

She found a corner close to a group of females. She had not notice that Clarisse was among them until the female called for her.

“You are back already?” Clarisse asked without hiding her disinterest.

Gwyn smiled at her in a way that she hoped would make her look tired. “I am waiting for my husband. We will go home in a few minutes.”

One of the ladies - whom she had forgotten the name of – took a step forward and asked about Gwyn’s home. She took that as an opportunity. And for the next minutes, she stood among the ladies of Autumn and vaguely answered to all of their probing questions about her new life. Their curiosity ranged from the colours of the carpets of Rosehall to things that she quickly had to make up in order to convince them that she was having a blissful time with her new husband.

The talking made her less nervous as she waited for Azriel. And waited. And waited. She forced herself to keep her eyes on the people in front of her instead of glancing at the table where the High Lord and his family sat. She also forced her mind to remain positive instead of thinking about whatever Azriel must be facing.

The shadow at her wrist started swirling frantically after fifteen minutes, though it felt more like fifteen hours.

She looked at the door and found Azriel strolling in with his shadows lazily hovering around him. He looked as impeccable as he did before, except for the black jacket that he had removed and was now carrying on his arm. Looking more closely, she realised that something was odd about him. There was a slight wince on his face that was not there before. Gwyn bid goodnight to the ladies and walked to her husband.

“Ready?” she asked when she met him halfway.

The smile he gave her seemed pained. It made her worry.

“Let’s go.”

He kept the arm with the jacket close to his middle and guided her outside with his free hand on the small of her back. The walk outside of the Forest House was quick and silent. They did not even talk when he took her hand and winnowed them to Rosehall.

The moment their feet touched the grass of their garden, Azriel let go of his jacket and gritted out a, “Fuck.”

The fabric of his black shirt was soaked on the right side of his lower abdomen. Gwyn realised with dread what it was when Azriel pressed his hand there and red coated his fingers. It was blood.

To be continued...

[prythianpages]

ACOTAR Tag Game

Thank you for the tag! @ninthcircleofprythian (you tagged my main but I'll post it on here <3 I also promise I didn't just copy & paste, we just have very similar minds bc I agreed with you on most of these lol)

Answer the questions below & tag whoever you want, or make it an open tag!!

Who's your favourite ACOTAR character?

Do I have to pick? It's so hard! But since I'm in my Eris era, I'll go with him rn.

Who's your least favourite character?

It's between Mor or Amren. Idk, I just don't really vibe with them as much.

Say something nice about your least favourite character.

I did like that Amren gave Feyre that ruby or jewelry to give her the courage to go back to the prison. That was sweet of her 🥹 & Mor for taking Feyre away from Spring.

Who's your favourite High Lord? (If you picked one for your fav character, then who's your second fav!)

It's also Helion. He seems like such a good time (; like mans has the best library in prythian and glorious thighs??? c'mon now

Favourite MINOR character?

The Suriel. I loooooove gossip and would literally just summon them for the tea.

Favourite ship? (Crackships included!)

Azris hehe. They'd be so hot together.

Favourite court and why?

This is hard to answer when SJM hasn't given us much info about other courts 😭 So I think I'd have to pick Summer Court because I love the ocean and if there are mermaids, it's over for me there. I love them!

Make up a brand new court RIGHT NOW, NO PREP JUST VIBES.

OOhh! Umm...idk what I would name it but it would be nice if there was a court inspired by Dia De Los Muertos/ Day of the Dead. Like an underworld type of court where the High Lord/Lady there can helping the souls of prythian after they die and somehow it's associated with Starfall. Marigold Court? idk lol Like I said lame name but cool concept.

What relationship would you have wanted to see more of in the books?

Honestly, I would sell my soul for a pre-ACOTAR book that focuses on the Bat Boy friendship. Like when Cas mentioned waking up naked with some decoration around him? And Az hiccuping when drunk?? I NEED to know more.

What's your unpopular opinion?

Idek if this is unpopular but I do feel for Tamlin. He did fuck up but given other characters have also fucked up, I really hope he gets a redemption arc or is able to pick himself up. Like dude is really going through it and so are his people, someone pls save Spring I also kinda wished Amren had stayed dead. I don't hate her character but it felt too good to be true when both her and Rhys died and then they came back to life. It would've had more impact if one of them stayed dead.

What's your favourite headcanon/fan canon?

Right now? These body headcannons from @readychilledwine

If you were to be swept away to Prythian, what's ONE thing you would want to do?

I would want to experience Starfall with the IC. I love looking at the sky, especially stars and the moon and with all those hotties? Sign me tf up.

If you could have ONE faerie ability seen in the books, which would it be?

I would love to control water! Blame my mermaid fascination & h2O tv show addiction for this haha. But also making water wolves sounds so cool.

no pressure tags: @stormhearty, @daycourtofficial, @milswrites, @sarawritestories, @sillysillygoose444,

@acotarxreader, @pit-and-the-pen, @lady-of-tearshed

[elliemarchetti]

The Snake and the Wolf

Chapter 4 - Dancing

The ending is rushed, I did little to no proofreading but I have to go to work in like ten minutes so here's the last chapter of this story for @erisweek2023. See you tomorrow (which already is in Italy but shh) for the first chapter of my modern AU.

Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Words: 1.802

He transmuted as soon as he held her in his arms, heading for the village he protected from his father’s wickedness and Amarantha’s cruelty for all these years. The cluster of houses greeted them with its lights and colours, welcoming in the way only secluded places can be. It was almost dinner time, and a riot of appetizing aromas came out of the open windows, but Eris wouldn’t have been able to ingest even a spoonful of soup, his stomach twisted with terror. The mere possibility that Nesta might not wake up gnawed relentlessly at his heart, so he lifted her legs up in one fluid motion, resolute in wanting to carry her quickly to the modest residence he purchased at nearly double its value after Jesminda’s death. At first, no one in the village trusted him, and on the rare occasions he left the domestic walls, he had been regarded with suspicion and a good dose of resentment. Not that he blamed them, after the misery his father reduced them to. Ironically, he started to make friends only thanks to his hounds, the first people who smiled at him a handful of children dressed in rags who wanted to pet them. They were all adults now, two of them dead because of Cassian and Azriel, their loyalty and gratitude towards him yet another condemnation to which all those he loved were subject.

“I’m sorry...” he murmured to Nesta as he laid her down on the bed, unsure as to why he was apologizing. Perhaps he felt guilty for leaving her in the Night Court for so long, despite being aware of the injustices she was facing, or perhaps he wanted to make amends for having kept the secret about their connection to himself, even though he was still convinced he was in the right. After all, Rhysand and his friends hadn’t given her enough time to adjust to her new condition, hadn’t supported her after the war, after she’d seen her father die, and these were the consequences, so he could hardly imagine what reaction she could’ve had if she’d discovered she had a Mate too. No, Eris wanted to go slow, allow her to heal and make her own decisions, even if he didn’t like them. A part of him would’ve died forever if he had to watch her go away, thank him for his generosity but still turn her back on him to return to the human lands, or leave for the Continent, but he would’ve accepted  it, because there was no point in trying to control a spirit like hers. Of course he still wanted to be the reason why she rediscovered her passions and how beautiful life could be, even if the Autumn Court as it was at the moment could be a little dangerous to explore. If the other High Lords had trusted him more, perhaps he could’ve taken her on a visit elsewhere, where she could’ve danced in halls decorated for the holidays and ate exotic delicacies, but for now he could offer only boring simplicity, although he had every intention to gift her even the Moon, if she asked.

“Wet her lips,” a voice suggested from the doorframe, making him jump in surprise. It was rare to see a Fae old enough to have wrinkles and greying hair, but in that very village lived one of them, a somewhat nosy wise female who had taught him to cook and take care of himself when there were no servants around.

“Will she recover?” he asked, hating the fragility in his tone, the fear showing in his gaze and the agitation making his hands tremble.

“Only if you take care of her and allow us to do so as well,” she replied, with a solemnity that made him wonder if she weren’t a Seer, and hadn’t glimpsed something in the pages of a future he hoped would be long and prosperous. It took a couple of days before Nesta managed to sit up again without any help, and almost a month before she rudely chased him away.

“I’m not dying, and I only got up to get an apple,” she blurted out angrily when he found her in the kitchen and ordered back to bed. When she’d regained consciousness and realized what happened, she was perplexed by his intervention, and although he explained with his usual detachment that it was his dog who’d found her and he had merely exploited an opportunity that could play in his advantage, she hadn’t believed him, going damn close to discovering the truth.

“She says you’re not as bad as they describe you,” the old woman told him one day, but he knew she’d only did it to mess with him, not because she would’ve reported the content of their conversations. Almost all the villagers brought food, clothes, books and every sort of pastime they had, but the thing Nesta seemed to prefer were his hounds. In no time she’d memorized almost all the names and after about ten days she already distinguished one dog from another, although her favourite was Dysomnia, to which Eris had to gave up ownership rights when he saw her curled up at his guest’s side, with Nesta reading her a bedtime story.

 “It took me decades to train them and you’re undoing it all in less than a month,” he’d told her, and Nesta did nothing but smirk, making his knees feel like jelly. In her presence, he was an insecure and inexperienced schoolboy, but nothing could’ve prepared him for what he witnessed on Samhain night. As usual, he’d celebrated the festivities at the Forest House, but before anyone could approach him, when his father and brothers’ attention were on the countless females waiting to be chosen, he’d transmuted to the village, suppressing all carnal desires and jealousy, but still determined to make sure no one tried to get close to his Mate. He’d expected to find her home, perhaps annoyed by the noise, instead he’d seen her silhouette stand out  in front of the bonfire, her arms raised above her head as she moved sinuously with the only other young female present. Eris knew that dance: two steps forward and one step back, then three forward again until the couples were eye to eye. Loose and harmonious, the girls twirled in frenetic pirouettes, their voluminous skirts rising to their knees like bluebells shaken by the spring wind.

“Enjoying the show?” she asked once she’d reached him, leaving the General speechless in front of such disarming beauty. Some locks escaped her usual, rigorous hairstyle, falling to the sides of her angular face like a frame of burnished gold, and her usually icy eyes shone with ecstasy, her cheeks, rosy and sweaty, fuller since the day he’d saved her.

“Incredibly,” he confirmed, his mouth strangely dry.

“I thought it was customary for a gentleman to ask an unaccompanied lady to dance,” she teased him, when the musicians resumed their playing. The instruments were out of tune, and the players certainly lacked the technical skills to perform that specific song, but Eris would’ve danced even without music if it allowed him to held her in his arms again. He took her hand with a half smile, placing the other on her slim waist, and she lifted her chin, looking straight into his eyes just as the first drumbeat rang out, her breaths one with the music. He accompanied her, his body at once tense and relaxed as his Mate bent and took shape with the rhythm. It was as if the music burned inside Nesta, as if it filled her veins and flowed there instead of blood. There wasn’t enough space in the small square for the pirouettes she should’ve performed, but Eris took his hand off her back anyway, and she managed to follow the series of notes with ease, returning her gaze to him at the exact moment in which the music returned to the central melody. Smugness wasn’t enough to describe what he felt as she swirled like a nocturnal storm, wild and indomitable to the point of making him drunk with a single smile. He wasn’t sure he was able to hold back the wild desire he felt for her much longer.

“You never told me you loved dancing so much,” he murmured to her, on the last notes of the song.

“It’s been a long time since I last did it,” she admitted, letting herself be led away from the festivities, into a dark alley that reduced everything else beside them to a distant buzz.

“It didn’t seem like it,” he replied, leaning his back against the damp wall. In another life, she would’ve been in his place, and he would’ve had a firm grip on her thighs.

“There are things that are hard to forget,” she went on, moving so close to him that Eris felt his heavy breathing on his exposed chest. He wanted to touch her like he’d never wanted anything in his life, wanted to feel her heartbeat, see what was inside, make sure she was aware of what she was doing.

“We should go home,” he finally suggested, making the animal inside him hiss with disappointment, although he was sure it was the right thing to do. A little over a month had passed, she could neither be ready for whatever she was looking for from him, nor she loved him as he already loved her. It was strange to say, even to himself, for Eris had never been in love. Infatuated, maybe, when he was still too young to understand he had to put a certain distance between himself and his lovers, but with Nesta it was different, regardless of the Mating bond. She saw beyond his mask, she knew his weaknesses and not for an instant she used them against him. Together they discussed politics, laughed and faced the ghosts of their past, without ever being intrusive, without ever feeling the need to distance themselves from each other.

“Or we could stay here,” she suggested, brushing his fingers with hers.

“Your every wish is an order,” he tried to joke, but when she put her other hand on his chest, sliding up to his neck, he couldn’t resist any longer. He stood trebling like a tree struck to breaking point, but now his lips were on hers, soft and full and hungry. In the back of his mind he realized he took her face in his hands and pushed her into the barn, their bodies pressed together, her nails leaving mark on the pale skin of his back. She moaned, cursed and murmured his name between kisses, a completely new music to which Eris would’ve danced all night long, if she asked him to.

[shrimplymoray]

HEHEHE TENA im coming in with another bimbovirus scenario request <3 Eri and Cody celebrating her birthday together in the lab, she’s blowing a small cake and making a sweet wish with him!! thank uuuu <3 (happy birthday to me)

HIHI ERI!!! HOPE YOU WAKE UP TO A GREAT DAY SINCE IT IS YA BDAY!!!!

I had wild ideas for this since u asked, but I think I found the perfect one AKA the one I drew for you. By the way, why don't I share that drawing?

Birthday surprise - BimboVirus (and BEN)

It was coming the day, Cody knew it, and that made him nervous. What day? His stupid assistant's birthday. Eri was not the brightest person, by far, but she was still one of the closest person he had, though not by his choice, per say.

Cody had thought of multiple things he could do for her. Maybe actually teaching something, but that was gonna probably cause the 5th lab fire this week, and the fire extinguisher was running low already. He also could try preparing something for her, but his skills on the kitchen were not as good as one would expect. He was running low on ideas each minute that passed, until he remembered the person that was most likely able to help, much to his displeasure.

"So... You came here to ask me for help, huh? What will I get in return?" BEN asked, with his arms crossed and a grin on his face.

"Listen here I am not asking for help, I am asking for advice, fucknuts. You are one of the only person who know her good, since you track her phone. What do you think would be a good birthday gift?" Cody was red from embarrassment of just having to ask BEN of all people.

"She is a bimbo, dude. Anyone with more than two braincells can think of a pink dress to give her. Unless..." The elf boy went closer to Cody, nudging him with his elbow "you like her, dontya big guy? I can help plan a party for her if I can have a piece of cake too."

"WHAT NO I DON'T. YEAH SHE IS CUTE AND KINDA ABOVE AVERAGE STANDARDS ON APPEARANCE AND IS ENTERTAINING AND... oh shit I really like her..." Cody had to hide his face in his hands " fine you get a piece of cake, just help me with this shit."

.

.

.

Eri had gone back to the manor after going out with Nina, Clockwork and Zero to a birthday shopping spree. Though none of the girls shared the same aesthetic, they managed to have fun shopping each time, which always brightened the bimbo girl. She even bought this super adorbs frilly dress that she thought would look good with the lab coat Sir Cody got her.

Talking about it, she needed to get to the lab, she IS Sir Cody's super adorbs assistant, and he probably was having to handle all that brain consuming paper work. It's her birthday, but she needed to work. And maybe Eri really just wanted to be near Cody, but who could say?

When the girl reached the Lab, though, she heard another voice inside. Was Sir Cody doing an experiment on Toby again? No, the voice was different. Sounded like... BEN?

Cody opened the door to find Eri, which lead him on a spiral of thoughts before he mustered. "Finally you're here. I've been waiting for you to show for... Work. All day. I need you to come with your eyes closed. Don't ask questions."

"Oh okay Sir Cody! Did you... Prepare a surprise for little ol' me? Oh sir Cody..." The girl continued to blabber happily with her eyes closed, while Cody carefully guided her to a spot in the lab. He hoped she wouldn't burn everything accidentally this time.

He had to motion for Ben to put stuff at the right place quietly while he guided her to a beautiful cake that Cody bought.

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Yeah just don't-"

Eri opened her eyes and let an excited happy scream of the lab being totally decorated in pink and with the beautiful pink cake. Omg did sir Cody do all of this for her? Oh and Ben is there too, what is he doing in here?

"... Overreact." Cody sighed "Me and BEN put this little party to you. For your birthday and stuff... And, uh..."

"Oh sir Cody I loved loved it!! Everything looks amazing! Oh i could give you a kiss from how happy I am!!"

Cody almost choked with what she said, and stood his hands up "not necessary."

"Hey, where is my payment for the help, 'Sir Codyyy~'?" BEN mocked, with a shit eating grin. Oh how Cody hated him right now.

"Ugh, fine, I'll cut the cake, let me just do something real quick." Cody, as quickly as he could, gave a kiss to Eri's cheek and but his mask up to hide his blush.

Eri... She was on the clouds and felt as if she was gonna faint from how much blood run to her face. He just... She...

"Dude you are going to kill her this way..."

"Shut the fuck up and get your cake"

"Can I blow the candles first?"

"Oh, uh, sure."

Eri held a deep breath before quickly yelling "I want sir Cody to kiss my cheek again!!" And blowing the candles.

"Oops, I guess now Sir Cody will have to kiss my cheek again..."

"... You have to wish in your head for it to come true, Eri."

Happy bday Eri, love uu/p and hope we will share more BimboVirus content with each other!!!

[acourtofladydeath]

🎵💚 There’s frost on the moon and snow on the ground, but with you around there’s spring in my heart ❤️🎵

Hi it’s Santa!

I hope you’re doing well 🥰 Did you get up to anything for Halloween? (and if so what did you dress up as?)

Now that it’s November I’m personally so ready for it to be Christmas and I’ve been daydreaming about your gift.

I wanted to ask if you have any headcanons about the other Vanserra brothers, their relationship with Eris, Eris’s relationship with Beron and with his mom, Eris’s hounds?

And regarding Azriel, your headcanons about his shadows, his childhood, his mother, his time working under Rhys’s father, his relationships with Rhys and Cassian?

Lay it all on me. Do not hold back. Feel free to deviate and elaborate to your heart’s content. Your responses are what I’ll be harvesting details of their backstories from (I want to incorporate as many of your headcanons as possible since it’s your gift after all.) I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to ramp up the angst!

— Santa ❤️

Hi Santa!! So nice to hear from you!

I dressed as Peter Pan for Halloween this year, went to my lectures on campus, saw my professor's baby (he was dressed as an adorable little dragon. His parents were very excited for my costume but he, as a 10 month old, did not get it), and then did meal prep while watching ghost hunting videos.

It is 100% Christmastime, with a 3 day break for Thanksgiving mid-November and I'm so ready. I may start decorating this weekend.

Santa, I'm gonna need you to buckle up for the answers to these questions cuz HERE WE FUCKING GO.

**note that these headcanons do not always work together, at the same time, or in the same fic. I just have lots of feelings on how this could/would go. I have many thoughts on many characters, and my interpretation of a character tends to change from fic to fic. Personification is different between fics and I love exploring different histories and interpretations of characters to see all of the "what ifs" and "okay buts" of fandom. This exploration and variety is part of what I love most about fanfiction. Below are some of my recurrent headcanons for these characters and their history, again these are my own opinions and not mean to be taken as the only interpretation or even the only interpretation I like to read/write.

Eris & The Vanserras

Eris and LOA are very close in age, leading to a very close relationship between the two of them, but also a lack of parenting in favor of friendship.

Eris is considerably older than his other siblings, or at least much more mature, and basically had to help raise them. This led to animosity between the brothers due to his having to order them around for their own damn good and to protect them from their father. He did whatever he could to shield them from Beron. I love exploring how this plays out. If they reconcile, then how? (I think so, and I hope so. I personally explore some of this in my fic And So Our Life Begins, and more so in the ASOLB spin off A Second Chance. They all have names and personalities and ).

He has done more to protect his mother and brothers than they will ever know, and he would rather that they didn't know because he doesn't want them taking pity on him. (I explore this a bit in my fic: The Soft Heart & The Shadow)

Eris basically raised Lucien himself, but instead of animosity, it lead to a very close relationship between the two despite the age gap. I also HC that Eris saw Lucien had power that was definitely not of Autumn, and he and LOA got in a fight about it. Not because he's mad she did it, but because he's scared about protecting them both.

Eris loves his hounds. He's very strict with them, but they're also some of the only people (besides Lucien and occasionally LOA) that Eris can let down his mask around, and they're some of the only living things that have seen the real him before he eventually opens up to Azriel. Because of this Azriel interacting with the hounds allows him to see more of Eris when he's still very skeptical of the male, and is part of why he's convinced to trust him and be his mate. I feel like the hounds are trained similarly to service dogs. When they're outside Eris's personal cabin/room, they're constantly working and putting on their best behavior, but when they're in that personal space, they're the most loving little affectionate puppies that ever existed.

Beron hates his son. Let's get that straight right now. HOWEVER I wonder if he respects the lengths Eris is willing to go to maintain his own power and protect his brothers, even if he hates that he's doing it. Like he might hate what Eris is doing with that power, but at least Eris has the wits and desire to USE that power. Just food for thought there with that one.

Azriel & his past

Azriel hates his father and brothers, and I think this is likely a large part of why he feels about Illyria as strongly as he does. He saw the worst of Illyria in those males, and I wonder if he has a hard time dissociating that awful image from the image of what Illyria could be, and the positive males that already do exist within it (people like Balthazar).

Azriel was a pawn for Rhys's father. He wasn't a person, just a tool to be used, and I think he still sees that interpretation of himself and his worthiness to this day. I think it greatly affects his self worth and his humanization of himself and his feelings. He struggles to see his value as a person with valid thoughts and emotions, because for so much of his life his value was that of a "thing". He sees himself as a weapon because it's what he had to be to survive within Rhys's father's court. I don't think he's ever had time, opportunity, or even a thought that he could be something else. I feel like his experience going from prisoner to training camp to expendable Night Court tool has greatly affected his mental health and his ability to stand up for himself. He will do what's asked of him because it's what is expected, even if it will break him in the end.

Azriel's Shadows came to him to protect him from the shadows and to protect him from himself. I think the darkness he had to get to in his own mind to pull those shadows to himself is deeper than he will ever admit. I love seeing the shadows have their own personalities and actions separate from what Az asks them to do. They're pesky little beasts that he loves dearly, but also can annoy the shit out of him when they don't do as they're told.

Azriel loves his mother and will do whatever he can to protect her, but neither feels like they can fully open up to the other. They're so worried about protecting each other they don't feel like they can truly reveal their feelings. She won't talk about her traumas, and he wont' talk about his because they don't want to burden each other. But they both know the traumas exist and want to try and help the other the best they can even without having the full story.

Azriel is a chronic pain sufferer from his hands. He doesn't say anything to anyone, and he only goes to Madja when it's so painful he literally can't function. I feel like he hides this too well, and even if he didn't hide it, he wouldn't accept help. I don't think he knows how to accept help.

Azriel & The Bat Boys (& Nesta)

I feel like Azriel feels like an outsider in most relationships of his life because of his past, but truly loves his found brother. I wonder if because of Az's relationship with Rhys's dad, he sometimes struggles with the dichotomy of working for someone who does actually care for him and sees him as a person.

I'm not sure Rhysand actually knows the extent to which his father used Azriel, and I wonder if this affects their working and friendly relationship. This is not a fully fleshed out headcanon for me, but it's an idea I keep coming back to.

I definitely think that Cassian and Azriel are closer to each other than they are to Rhys. I don't think this necessarily in a bad way, but with the power/boss dynamic and the fact that Cass and Az spend more time out in the field, in Illyria, and spent the entirety of UTM together there's a closeness there that they don't have with Rhys.

Look, y'all can disagree with me on this, but Cass and Az have most definitely fucked. It's canon that all 3 fucked people in the same room together, but I feel like Cass and Az have fucked each other and fucked other people together. IDK how you're a 500 year old anything and aren't very sexually open.

If Azriel is going to open up to anyone emotionally it's going to be Cassian or Nesta.

Nesta is not a bat boy, but I HC that she and Az are best friends. I think they are the only two in the IC who can truly understand the depths of each other's pain. Their traumas are so deep and profound, and neither really wants to admit their weaknesses, but together they don't feel so alone and can maybe start to heal. I think Eris can also be this person for Az and Nesta. I'm so here for any type of fic that discusses their pain (I regularly inhale @kale-theteaqueen's fic The Whole Truth because it gives me all of the feels and is so accurate to how I see Nesta and myself in Nesta. The way Azriel and honestly most of the IC are depicted in that fic. I also feel like their fic Burning From the Inside Out also depicts them (Nesta and Azriel specifically) closely to how I view them. And as a chronic pain sufferer myself, it's near and dear to my heart. Basically just read their masterlist, because I also reread Of Death and Resurrection regularly for the same reasons listed above, and I love the Rhysta friendships they develop as well.

Okay. Could I keep going? YOU FUCKING KNOW IT. Should I? Probably not, I've spent way too long writing this up already and I've gotta cut myself off so I can work on my WIPs. I'm still probably forgetting something I'll remember later on...

Please let me know if it's okay to keep recommending you fics when I answer your questions, sometimes it just feels like the best way to address them. As usual, please let me know if you'd like me to further describe/elaborate on anything here! I hope you're doing well, and it's so great to hear from you!! I'm really looking forward to this reveal and the fic!!