𝓶𝔂 𝓰𝓸𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓻𝓮 DIVINE

And you could not be more grateful about it because you were more than happy to not spare a single thought on it. But as you walked the castle grounds you prayed to the Mother for her to just shut her mouth for a single moment.

Having been reinstated in his court duties due to the 'mercy' of the High Lord your father had been busier than ever, so he made sure to take an evening walk with his family everyday before dinner.

However today the meetings had run a little longer than the others so Myhir who always accompanied him during court matters had also joined the walk. With a strong grip on your hand he helped you through a particularly treacherous path in the garden. You grabbed his arm a tad tighter with every step you took, allowing yourself a moment of happiness amongst everything.

You could also see it on Myhir's face how much these small moments meant for him. Having to see your lover get married and not being able to do a thing surely couldn't be easy. Had it been you in his place you would have crumbled with heartbreak.

--

Eris yearned for a warm bath in his chambers after the exhausting day he just had. Having to play all these mind games along with endless court posturing for years without a crack in his mask truly did manage to suck the soul out of him.

As he made his journey back to his private chambers his mind managed to wander off to thoughts of a certain sharp tongued beauty. His thoughts seemed to do that a lot these days. Revolve around you.

You were strong, that he'd give you. Having endured the scorn of the court for decades without so much as shedding a single tear. But that is where his admiration of you ended because due to some unfortunate reason you managed to bring out a part of himself that he had long thought buried.

You always said the right words with enough bite for him to lose control of his emotions. There has always been something lurking beneath your eyes ever since he saw you in the garden at the gala. If it was hunger for vengeance or something else he was not sure.

And you being aware about his association with Lady Alena Velon certainly didn't help with matters. For the last few days he has tried thinking of all possible ways you could use that information to your advantage but he has failed in reaching to a conclusion.

Unpredictable and disastrous.

Truly someone that tore through all his walls and left him utterly unarmed.

As Eris looked out towards the royal gardens which shined golden under the setting rays of the sun through the glass windows, his thoughts suddenly died in his mind.

There you were. Looking graceful as ever walking with your family, your arm around that damned advisor.

Again.

Smiling and looking up at him as though he held the stars in his hands.

Eris Vanserra thought himself a novice when it came to matters of the heart but he knew in his heart at that moment, it was a look between lovers. Hanging onto every word, grabbing each other a tad closer and gravitating towards each other no matter where.

At that Eris began closing the space between you before his mind could come up with a reason for it.

--

You allowed yourself this one moment of reprieve from all your burdens, walking alongside Myhir. The day had not yet ended and it had already tired you out. Your parents had managed to walk quite a bit ahead of you, so you let yourself look at Myhir unbashedly.

"Is there something on my face?" Myhir said as he bent down to pluck a rose from the garden.

You took the flower from his hands as he held it out to you ."Can I not look at you just because I want to?"

"Is that so?"  He watched as you put the flower in his hair.

You mimicked the smile on his face."Yes because it is quite beautiful."

"What is?"

It took all your strength to not let out an annoyed groan at the voice of the person you wanted to get away from the most.

"Your grace ." Myhir greeted him.

However Eris only glared at him with annoyance on his face before turning to watch you with his keen gaze.

" I will escort the lady from here. Leave us." Eris finally spoke with a cocked head in the direction of the palace . Without even sparing Myhir a second glance.

Myhir opened his mouth as if to protest but thought better of it and bowed his head in farewell before walking off towards your parents.

" Walk with me." Eris commanded before you offering his arm. He always sounded like that.

Authoritative and entitled.

"And pray tell me why should I do that ?" You grit out with venom in your voice and you hated yourself for it. You should know better than show him how much his presence affected you. This simmering enmity between you both had managed to invade your life and lodged itself deep in all aspects of it.

Eris managed to take a hold of your hand and played with your fingers absent-minded. Your breath caught in your throat.

"Do not look so upset princess. You were smiling to your heart's content just a moment ago. Surely you could manage taking a walk with the one you are set to spend the rest of your life with."

Your lips pressed themselves into a thin line. "That is a hard thing to do , don't you think? Since neither of us are each other's choice."

" Yeah I can see that." He scoffed as if finally remembering the reality of the relationship between you both.

"What is that supposed to mean?" You ask narrowing your eyes at the harsh tone in his words.

"Do you take me for a halfwit? Surely you did not think I wouldn't find out about your secret lover. For a lady who was so vexed about my relations I expected you to hold yourself to the same standards but alas I was wrong."

Your bones went gelid right where you stood. This would be the information that you would wish to share with anyone but him. “It is none of your concern,” you replied rather blandly.

Eris is all stormy anger and volatile fury at your words. None of his concern? Is that to say he was right in his assumption. He did not have the name for it but he felt extremely unsettled at the thought of your heart being occupied by another. At you not looking at someone with hatred shining in your eyes.

It was unnatural and utterly selfish.

"None of my concern? I think it is especially my concern to know who my soon to be wife is entertaining herself with." He gritted out as if he would start breathing fire.

You stood there with your hands still in his gentle grip wildly different from his harsh voice and the world melted around you like ice facing fire.

"Entertainment?" You could not believe the word. "Is that what everything is to you ?"

"Do tell me what it is then? Do not tell me it is true love?" Eris didn't quite understand where the question came from but it left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Jealousy is not a good look on you darling."

You say all amused smiles and cheeky voice. You looked like you were enjoying yourself, like a predator toying with it's prey.

"Why would I be jealous of your little boy toy? Though I expected much more honour from you."

It is truly pressing how affected he is at your words.

The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and red as if your mere presence made the Autumn Court dance, Eris thought to himself. With fire beneath his skin Eris Vanserra truly was the Prince of Autumn but you were Autumn incarnate with your fiery smiles and cinnamon fragrance. However the breathtaking scenery did not alleviate the tension surrounding you both.

"You speak to me of honour? You? Son and heir of High Lord Beron Vanserra? Where was this so-called honour of yours when your subjects were dying? Where was your honour when you burned my brother at the stake?" You pinned the words with your blood singing in fury. "But do not worry my prince I would make sure that you would at least see an honourable death."

You gritted out with all bared teeth and venom before shaking your fingers out of his grip and making your escape towards the castle.

Your furious words and the resentment in your eyes woke him up as if he was slapped in the face and made him remember how you were the last two individuals that would find  comfort with each other.

Because the blood on his hands had never birthed something as remarkable and pure as love.

--

Despite your mother having declared herself the sole decision maker on matters regarding your nuptials, you were not spared from the tediousness of it all.

Every day, tailors from all over Pyrthian come and go to have you try out their designs. It was the same with Eris but you believed it was more nerve-wracking on your end .After all he was the beloved prince of Autumn .He did not have to cater to anyone else's wishes. Which you could definitely see him having a hard time with.

The present day was no different than the last others as you were ushered out of your chambers into the parlors where you pushed into multiple dresses, having to hold your breath and arms up for long hours.

Upon your arrival, you were greeted by a bustling room with multiple seamstresses biting needles and toiling away at their tables .But the moment you entered the room they all turned to greet you. Flustered at the sudden attention you took some time before nodding your head at them.

And it began: the unending fitting and picking at you.The seamstresses tried their best to be delicate with you but sometimes they pricked you by mistake having been pressed for time.

"Your grace." Everyone greeted in unison.

You inhaled sharply before turning to face the least appealing person at the moment for you.

Unlike from your last encounter, there was not a trace of emotions on his face. Although when his eyes locked with you something unnamed stirred underneath it.

He studied you head to toe. You were wrapped up in the finest white silks with your house's cloak cascading from your shoulders.

You only inclined your head in greeting deliberately trying to avoid any kind of conversation with him but it would seem everyone else in the room was awaiting with scrutinizing eyes for your interaction with the prince.

With a forced smile Eris strutted his way towards you and the faes helping you took a few steps back to give you some privacy.

You studied your intended as he stopped in front of you. He was in his usual court garbs with his cropped red hair slicked back to reveal a little of his forehead. But it would seem on the way here he had managed to undo a few of the top buttons of his shirt revealing some of his defined tanned chest to the room.

He captured your cheek in his hands and pressed his lips firmly on your forehead.

"How are you this fine day, princess?"

The nearby faes swooning as though Eris was declaring his eternal love for you.

"Better now that I have seen your beautiful face my sunshine." You replied with the fakest smile adorning your face as you gripped his hand.

"That endearment is surely a choice."

The familiar weight of his gaze settled on you as the seamstresses finally excused themselves from near you.

At that you dropped his hand immediately."Which is why we must stop calling each other these vain nicknames."

"Never." He grinned as if you served him his favourite food on a platter.

"Surely you could keep all that limited between you and your paramour." You continued with all the disgust you could muster coating your voice.

Eris Vanserra's face turned grim at that and he answered with a question.

"You would know all about that wouldn't you?"

" Know all about what ?"

The words caused both of your spines to snap straight as you turned to face the Lady Aelia of Autumn. When did she arrive? Surely you would have noticed the sound of her footsteps before she entered the room?

"Mother I didn't expect to see you here." Eris stammered out the words.

"Know all about what?" She pinned, perfect brow lifted while studying you and Eris.

Lady Aelia remained clueless to the rift between you and Eris pertaining to the matters of your respective secret lovers. And you would like her to continue remaining unaware of it.

Though how Eris had managed to keep Lady Alena Velon and his relation a secret under his mother’s watchful eyes was certainly impressive. What would happen if you’d reveal it to the Lady of Autumn? Not only would you have her on your side, Eris’s action would be reprimanded. But what is the surety of Eris not doing the same with you? It was too great of a risk and it would certainly destroy you -a female much more than it would destroy him.

You were to be husband and wife now. There was no need to drag Lady Aelia to your arguments. You shall hold this secret close to you and use it to your benefit in the future.

"It was of no importance mother." You jumped to save both of you. Eris pivoting to look at you with shock having heard the way you addressed his mother.

"We were merely talking about each other's interests." You finished.

At your words Lady Aelia's eyes softened on your face as though she knew of something you didn't but had spared you of it.

"That gives me comfort my dear ."she answered before taking a seat near the refreshments table and declaring to the room.

"Let us proceed with the fitting ."

As you walked away from him, Eris was left puzzled as to why you did not expose him to his mother. Eris watched your back as you walked away towards the waiting seamstresses. You always carried that ruthlessness in your stride— spine straight, chest pushed out, eyes straightforward.

A shudder snaked down his spine and in between his legs, where it had no right going to.

--

You glimpsed at Lyna through the gilded mirror as she finishes lacing up your dress.

It has been quite a few days since your last dispute with Eris. You remained in the Forest House restless and short tempered most of the time and your concerns regarding the lack of contact between you and Senkas surely did not help with matters.

"My lady let us go for a walk." Lyna suggested as if she could see the war inside your head. She was lovely. She had been your closest female companion since your childhood. Growing up there were not many people who you could call your friends and the bad name to your family certainly didn't help. Therefore Lyna was someone you cherished with all your heart.

So when she asked for your company you agreed immediately. Moreover being confined in your chambers and worrying yourself to death surely aren't going to help with your uneasiness.

--

On your way to the open courtyard, servants and sentries alike greeted you here and there. Everyone working in the palace had some kind of chore to do. Whether it be buying ingredients for the grand feast for royal wedding that had been promised to the members of the court or be it decorating every nook and corner.

Even with magic it was a tedious job due to which even Lyna was pulled from your side.

In the golden hour The Forest House was truly a sight to behold. The red splashed leaves created a picturesque beauty all around. You allowed yourself to bask in the tranquility of it but like always the cauldron's fate was never on your side.

"Lady Tarsa. Join us." Someone bellowed from the open courtyard.

Right there, smack dab in the middle of it stood the Autumn princes beckoning you towards them.

You looked at them through narrowed eyes before schooling your features into an amiable expression and walking towards them.

You gathered that they were about to set off for hunting in the forest from their bows and arrows.

"Am I to still call you that or something better? Like sister? Or perhaps Princess." It was Prince Blaze ,the second youngest and definitely the most disgusting son of Beron Vanserra. Rumours of him being a sadistic bastard were not uncommon in court. Thus the grin on his face certainly did its job of making you feel uneasy.

"Don't be an ass Blaze." Surprisingly it was Drystan, the second eldest who came to your defence and you found yourself gravitating closer to him.

"Come on brother surely she can take the heat. I just assumed hailing from the traitor's family should have made her thick skinned."

Your nails tattooed crescent shaped marks onto your palms as rage and bloodlust rushed through your veins. Don't kill him.

Do not kill him.

Just then Eris stepped away from his horse and strutted closer to you.

Eris stared at you blankly."What are you doing here ?"

You exclaimed with your hand on your chest. "It is a beautiful day is it not your grace. I am not a prisoner am I? Surely I am allowed to roam the palace grounds to my heart's content."

"You know that is not what I meant."He pushed closer to you instinctively.

A saccharine smile was what he received as you snaked your arms around his neck. "I know darling."

"Whatever you are planning y/n you better stop." He whispered so low that only you could hear his warning.

"You wound me my love. I would never."

Eris narrowed his eyes at that.

As you felt everyone's eyes on you, you leaned in and kissed his cheek fondly.

You could hear his bastard brothers laughing themselves to the ground at the action.

" Have a safe hunt."you smiled up at Eris.

Eris stared at you stunned by your open affections ,no matter how fake they were.

"Forgive me my lady but the Lady Aelia has asked you to join her for afternoon tea in her solar." Lyna spoke softly behind you in order to preserve the tranquility surrounding you.

"Is my mother going to be there Lyna?"

"No my lady her grace has only asked for your presence."

For the last few days the lady of autumn court, Lady Aelia Vanserra has extended her gracious invite to you and your mother to join her and other ladies of the court.

And unsurprisingly your mother has managed to turn every single conversation towards boasting about your pending nuptials in front the other ladies in waiting so may the mother forgive you if you wish to avoid her because of it. But it seems like Lady Aelia shares the same thought as you.

"Accompany me will you Lyna."

---

Making an exit from your room you followed Lyna into the open hallway. True to all its praises The Forest House was a sight to behold in the golden hues of the afternoon sunlight. Golden carpets made from the finest of materials lined the pathway.

As your nose took in the smell of sandalwood and burning wood, your eyes found themselves observing the numerous paintings nailed to the gilded walls. There between the paintings of life and death lay a family portrait of the High Family dating back to about 500 years.

You could gather that the painting was to commemorate the birth of the exiled prince of the court - Lucien Vanserra held by his mother with the High Lord sitting beside her. Behind him stood Eris Vanserra , your betrothed with a rehearsed smile on his face. Regal and youthful. Despite the appealing faces of the rest of the princes surrounding the High couple , your eyes found themselves incapable of straying from the captivating allure of your soon to be husband.

Your husband. You forced yourself to tear your eyes away at the thought. You turned to look for Lyna and continue your journey to your afternoon plans but had found yourself alone in a secluded part of the palace. Having been left behind as you admired the portraits, you took your steps forward.

"Is this what we are now?"

A hushed voice halted you in your path as you strained your ears to listen to the seemingly secret conversation wishing to gather any information that could be beneficial for your use.

"It does not have to be if you give me some time and space to set things right." came in reply by a deep positively masculine voice.

"Set things right? You mean give you time so that you can walk away towards the altar with Lady Tarsa of all people."

You knew that the other houses held no fondness for you but there was no reason why any of them should speak of you in such a manner.

"What would you have me do Alena? Run away with you ? Is that what you think is proper?"

At that you gasped, if it was Lady Alena Velon behind those walls then you had a pretty good guess who the male in question was.

"Would it be so bad to get away from all of this with me?"

"All of this? You mean my entire life ? Everything that I have endured for my end goal?"

At that a sob escaped her throat .

"Eris then what would you have me do? Stand by as you take that female with the traitor's blood as your wife?"

"Alena please don't cry it breaks my heart to see you like this. I wish I could do something about the engagement but father has all but declared his surety on the matter. I am sorry. I am sorry for the pain I have caused you. For what it's worth I would have loved to have you as my wife but this is something that is out of my control."

You scoffed at that. How lovely being painted as the wicked villain in their tragic love story. Typical.

As you leaned your head into the corner to catch a glimpse of their faces , you saw Eris lean in to capture her lips in a searing kiss as Alena leaned into his touch. Their kiss was fierce and loud as if they were about to go off to war. As if nothing mattered but them.

You were shocked and horrified at their lack of discretion. Disrespectful halfwits. Not a single thought about what could happen if they got caught in this compromising position.

You had to escape . But in your haste of wanting to get away as far as possible your hands bashed into a sculpture and knocked over a sculpture by the wall. You scrambled to prevent it from falling but the damage had already been done.

As you turned you saw Lady Alena and Eris looking at you as if all their nightmares had come true. But before anyone could utter a single word, Eris rushed towards you and dragged you into an empty room by the end of the hallway.

You snatched your arm free but before you could afford the luxury of putting some distance between your bodies, he pressed your back against the wall with his strong muscles. He was breathing heavily as he came to rest his arms beside both sides of your head. A cold and calculating expression staring back at you with his warm body pressing onto you.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times as if unable to settle upon the words he wanted to speak. But it didn't matter because his stupid excuses held no value for you.

"If you dare speak of what you saw- "

"Mother above. Spare me with your nonsense. Though I must applaud your audacity to treat me this way even after l hold your deepest secret to my heart." you spat out vexed by his actions.

"So what? Are you going to rat me out princess?" He gritted out , his composure slipping out of his control as he pressed himself closer to your body.

You were shaking in your knees but you could not afford showing your weak hand to Eris. You will never show him your weakness.

"I won't rat you out as you put it because I know it would only delight you having the engagement broken without you having to lift a finger."

Your body trembled as you tried to keep your anger at bay. You could feel your sharp nails digging crescents into your palms. Maintaining a calm countenance had always come to you as easily as breathing but something in Eris just managed to make you volatile.

" But you are so unfair my darling betrothed. I know this is not a love match but I at least expected you to keep your illicit affairs under wraps and not flaunt them in broad daylight. Well I suppose you need to have half a brain for that." you continued with a sharp grin adorning your face in order to not expose your true nervousness.

"Whatever could you mean ?" You watched as a vein twitched on his forehead. He was furious but had somehow managed to hold himself back.

You could barely gulp with how dry your throat had become. But with all the strength you could find in your voice you whispered out.

"What I mean to say your grace is that when I do bed another male I would not be as foolish as you to have my clandestine meetings out in the open for all to see."

You had no knowledge about how your faces had migrated closer to each other during the heat of the moment. Despite Eris' body heat pressing onto you due to the proximity a shiver slithered down your spine and with a hairsbreadth between your lips he whispered

"Is that a threat Tarsa?"

"No, it's a promise Vanserra."

You watched as fire stirred beneath his gaze as if trying to breach his carefully crafted mask. You watched as his gaze moved towards your lips. You watched as his lips-

"My lady I have been looking for- Oh forgive me my lord I did not know i was intruding."

It would have shocked you less if someone doused you with a bucket of ice water than Lyna's intrusion. He flinched away from you as if he would burn merely by touching you.

"Pardon me my lady I will be in the hallway if you need me."

"No, let us go."

You needed to escape. Escape before you did something that you would truly come to regret.

Grabbing Lyna's hand you rushed out of the room without even sparing a single glance at Eris.

----

"Does something bother you y/n?"

A shudder fluttered to the tips of your body as Lady Aelia's question pulled you away from thoughts of closed rooms and smoke and honey lined red hairs.

"It is nothing that should worry you your grace I was merely lost in thoughts about my wedding preparations." you somehow managed to utter with performative excitement coating your voice.

"Oh yes how are they coming along. I actually invited you to tea today to ask if there was anything you needed help with."

Her hand flexed as she lifted the cup to her lips.

"You are too kind your grace."

The Lady Aelia of Autumn screamed of elegance and royalty. Through your life you had met her only a handful of times but everytime she managed to leave you starstruck with her beauty. Many saw her as this quiet and submissive wife but with a bit of closer inspection you saw a woman hardened by the years she lived as Beron Vanserra's wife and lady of the court. With her regal beauty and resilient nature she truly was the Lady of the court.

"Oh none of that you can refer to me as your mother y/n. " Over the chirping of birds, she chuckled softly.

"So have you and Eris managed to have some time to know each other?"

The sudden question regarding the root of all your musings stunned into silence and the ever so quick eye of the Lady of Autumn managed to pick up on it.

"Y/n I can tell this marriage is not your first choice and I see questions in your eyes so trust me when I say that I know how painful this is." she continued her dulcet voice managing to lull you into a sense of security.

"So you must speak your mind."

You put your cup down as you sat up straight to stare into her eyes.

" I am afraid that is a luxury that I cannot afford mother. Sitting here with you had already managed to seal my mouth shut."

If your words managed to put her off she did not show it.

"We can pretend that all is good but it would not erase the decades of bad blood within our houses. It cannot undo all the sufferings we had to endure and it cannot restore my family back. So I hope you do not find me brazen when I say that I cannot fathom why I have to enter into a marriage with a family that brought the doom upon us."

Lady Aelia eyes sparkled at your words.

"Tell me something dear do you think your brother was right in his actions?"

Your jaw dropped for a moment. Was this some sort of trial? To test your loyalty to the throne. But her countenance held no animosity rather only plain curiosity.

So with all the courage you could muster you simply replied, "I believe he did the right thing."

"And I believe so too little dove."

You forgot yourself for a moment with her words.

"But I also believe we had no choice in our actions too. He saw something wrong and opposed the throne but it also caused unrest in the people in a sensitive time and we as the high family had to put an end to it. So believe me when I say this y/n you could do so much for the people if you are in power than what you do when you are a rebel."

You knew that she held no love for the High Lord. You were not deaf to the whispers regarding Lucien Vanserra and his parentage. But one thing stuck with you.

"Do you think of me being capable of revolting against the court?"

At that she smiled. Razor sharp. And you saw the true strength and cunning beneath her slip out a little.

" I think you are the poster child of a rebel. You certainly have the motive and fire for it but do you know what makes you different little dove?"

She paused a moment as if letting you agonize over the words.

After the tragedy upon your family you saw no point in moving forward in life. It was the loss of your greatest ally. So when the pain got unbearable you had vowed to put an end to it forever.

But it seemed the cauldron had different plans for you.

You had even jumped off the cliff into the ocean but before you could rest in death's embrace you were pulled out of the water onto a fishing boat by strong hands marred by years of hardwork . The boat that helped you stay afloat in the darkness of life.

That's how you had met Niyam. Your dearest friend. He was a fisherman's son from one of the rural parts of the court where only the lower faes dwelled. His father had caught a deadly disease and was bed ridden. Niyam had therefore had taken up his father's fishing business to keep his poverty stricken family alive in the cruel court of autumn.

Over time having shared the same morals and ideas you both developed a friendship dear to your heart.

"How are you y/n?" His words pulled you out of the trip down memory lane.

"Better now that you are back" you said as you let go of him and reached for Myhir as he came near you after tying the horse to a tree.

"Now that is a lie because you have been having a merry time in my absence if the scent from both of you is something to go by." you chuckled as Niyam's teasing caused Myhir to hide his face in your neck with embarrassment.

" That I cannot argue with."

"Well as much as I would love to tease Myhir let's go inside, the others were just starting to get restless." Niyam threw the words over his shoulder as he started walking towards the dark and decaying house in front of you.

It was shrouded in the darkness of the night hidden behind the many trees surrounding it. It looked abandoned as usual with no sign of life around it.

As Niyam opened the makeshift door to let you all enter, the damp smell from years of negligence rushed into your nose.

Lighting a fire torch your group of three proceeded further into the run down house before coming to stop in the middle of it . Lifting the mouldy carpet from the wooden floor Niyam heaved a wooden door from the ground that had been made to look as inconspicuous as possible.

The existence of the numerous hulking caves in the Red forest of the Autumn Court was common knowledge through all of Pyrthian but most were unaware about the labyrinth of underground passageways that snaked beneath most of the court. Many human bones had been found down here and you reckoned they were probably from the humans trying to escape the war between the faes and humans.

"You know sometimes when I navigate these passages alone I hear sounds of crying." Myhir whispered near your ear with his tone purposely lowered to scare you to your grave.

You smacked the back of his head as a reply as Niyam chuckled at your antics.

You were no stranger to the idea of mythical creatures having lived a long life as a fae but the matter of your engagement looming over your head did not let you spare a single thought about anything else.

As the caves closed in, you grabbed Myhir a bit tighter in response.

Finally you came across the makeshift door at the end of the pathway and Niyam entered by ducking his dead down.

A lamp burned in the centre of the room bathing the room in a warm glow and illuminating the familiar faces of your comrades.

"Took you three long enough. "Aedan commented from his seat by the corner of the room.

Aedan was an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop and thus very talented in all kinds of weaponry. Beside him was Zion, a lower fae who had moved to the court from the outskirts of the court after his wife died during a plague that took many lives due to the ignorance of the high lord. Then there was Verena who was the jack of all trades.Having worked under a sketchy high fae most of her life she had mastery over spying, fighting, assassination etc. You name it .And sitting on the rickety table was Calia a healer, silent as usual. They were the oldest members and leaders of Senka. The rebellion to overthrow the Vanserras.

Years after your brother's unjust execution when sorrow had turned into anger and need for revenge you had vowed to yourself you would see the throne burn even if you had to lay your life for it. So you had become a rebel . Faes from all over the Autumn land who had suffered enough at the hands of a tyrant found themselves joining your cause. To bring an empire built upon the broken backs of the innocent to its deserving end.

You took a seat by the lamp on one of the spare chairs that Myhir had pulled out for you, your jumping at the action. But acknowledging your betrothal was of grave importance, so you steeled yourself to drop the news.

Clearing your throat you spoke with a steady voice "I am to marry Eris Vanserra,the heir of the Autumn Court in a fortnight."

As soon as the words broke free from your lips a stunned silence fell over the room.Niyam's face was coated with sympathy as he looked at you and Myhir who stood behind you holding onto your shoulders.

"Y/n this is no time to jest." Verena was the one who broke the tense silence that had settled upon the room .Looking devastatingly beautiful even under the dim light of the lamp.

Your sad smile cleared any doubts she could have about the truthfulness of the statement.

"Then this is a death sentence y/n not an engagement." commented Zion worries about the dangers of the engagement lining his tan face.

"Yes it could be dangerous but it might turn beneficial for us if we play our cards right." Aedan drawled from his seat without even taking his eyes off you."Because they would never expect the leader of the rebellion to walk right into their home."

Aedan had always unnerved you with his contradictory opinions. You both were always at each others throats whenever you both disagreed with each other's beliefs. But he was knowledgeable about matters of battle for which you held a lot of respect for him as a friend and as a fellow comrade.

"Whatever could you mean Aedan?" questioned Verena.

"What I mean is having one of us acting as our eyes and ears could help us bring the Vanserras down earlier than we planned."

Niyam hummed and you could not for the life of you figure out whether it was in approval or disapproval.

"It is dangerous but if we are to bring a tyrant and his blood soaked dynasty to its knees this is our best shot." Calia spoke for the first time.

At that everyone turned to hear what you had to say. And the unspoken question stirred in the air: Were you willing to walk into the fire in order to have the new kingdom rise from its ashes?

"I....I do not know if I could go forward with the engagement." Your head throbbed with pain from all possibilities.

"You need not decide whether you would marry him right now. Just attend to all the preparations and study your circumstances." Niyam encouraged you, worried about your wellness before all.

But before you could get a word out someone burst in through the door.

" Fire.... Fire ."panted one of the younger Senkas having rushed to the meeting place.

"Fire at the Tarsa estate."

--------

"Mother! Mother." you shouted as soon as you got off the horse.

"Y/N" cried your mother as you rushed to her wading through the crowd gathered around your house.

"Mother are you hurt? Where is father? What about the servants? Is everyone out?" you were frenzied with worry.

"Oh thank the mother you are safe. Where have you been? Everyone has been searching for you? Your father has gone out to get help." came your mother's reply with sobs racking through her body.

" I escaped from the window as soon as I smelt the fire." you lied as easily as you breathed not wanting to tell your mother about your true whereabouts.

"From the window! Y/n have you lost your mind that is not ladylike. What if something happened to your face? The high lord would have ended the engagement."

"Mother now that I see you are alright enough to spit useless sentences, I am going to help the others." came your scathing reply, tired from the long day.

As you walk away from your mother your heart broke into pieces watching your childhood home burn. Memories of hundreds of years turning to ashes right in front of your eyes. You had lived your entire life here. All the good and bad. Despair wracks your heart in its cage of bones.

You were tired. Tired from having to rise again and again from the ashes. Tired from patching your scars and picking up the pieces .

Still you did your best to salvage whatever you could. You didn't even notice when tears started rolling down your eyes as you saw the hurt the fire had caused.

By morning your hands were black with soot from helping with putting down the fire , your body ached all over and you just wanted to close your eyes and never open them again. But even that seemed like a luxury as your father who had returned from mother knows where ushered your family and all his workers into carriages. In all the frenzy you caught a glimpse of Myhir as he climbed into the carriage with your father.

Apparently the High Lord had extended the courtesy of letting your house stay in the Forest house.

You let yourself rest your head on the window of the carriage as the horses dragged it towards the palace.

---

"Lord Tarsa I am so relieved to see you and your household unharmed."Beron said with not even a drop of emotion in his words. Insincere and indifferent as ever. You could not believe this. What kind of high lord summons the victims of a deadly accident to the throne room instead of letting you rest and seek a healer's attention.

"Thank you, your grace. Though I would request an investigation about the cause of the fire." your father replied submissive infront of the high lord as ever.

You watched as Beron turned to his advisor behind him to consult about the matter. As your eyes roamed around the room you found yourself looking at Eris Vanserra sitting beside his father's throne who smirked as soon your eyes met as if this was a joyous occasion. He did not even bother hiding his true thoughts about this accident from his face.

"Lord Tarsa as much as the accident grieves me I believe an investigation to be totally unnecessary it was probably some drunk sentries who caused the fire. So it is best if we let this matter go." Beron's words pulled your attention from Eris.

And you knew right then it was no accident that your house caught fire. It was Beron's work .. You had seen your mother cry through endless nights. You had watched as your father drowned himself in several bottles of wine. The Vanserras would not let your family take a single breath of relief as long as they had power. They would banish you to the end of the world if they thought it would hurt you but they knew the humiliation in the court was a better punishment.

"You couldn't have said it better my lord." drawled Eris with that damned smug expression still on his face.

With everyone's attention on him he said "I think it would do all of us good if we bury the matter and invite the Tarsas to stay with us till the marriage so that they will return after the repairs are done. Well except Lady y/n of course who would be staying here forever."

He was taunting you. Poking at your wounds to see how much more you could take.

A monster. Monster from your scariest and darkest nightmares. As if your misery awarded him delightful pleasure.

Well two could play at this game. If he loves the company of misery so much misery is what he will get and by the time you are done with him he will be begging for you to let it end. At that moment you made your decision, you would marry him. You would marry him and walk into the fire. But you would not do it alone, you will drag him too into the burning embers with yourself.

So with your chin held up high and back straight you let the damned words escape your lips.

"You honour me my prince and I cannot wait to spend more time with you my betrothed."

Allying himself with a "ruinous family" at the expense of his son and heir what was he thinking. His father had truly mastered the art of being a thorn in his son's side.

It has been hours since Beron put all Eris had worked himself to death for, into a precarious position with a single announcement of marriage.

As he snaked through the labyrinth of halls in the Forest house with long strides against the marble floors moonlight entering through the glass walls bounced off his auburn hair creating an image that would inspire the ire of the most talented artists of Pyrthian .Even with distress lining his face Eris Vanserra was truly a sight to behold. Unearthly even .

Betrothed.

Mother above he couldn't even bring himself to say it. No matter how much his body compelled him to just give in. To put an end to all these political scheming and take the beauty chosen by his father as his wife.

His bride to be .Y/n Tarsa. Truly temptation of the deadliest kind.

But Eris has stayed awake through far too many dark nights, working towards the throne just to let everything go to waste at the first sight of trouble. Nevermind the breathtaking packaging it came in. He could subject himself to endless whippings from his father if it would enlighten him about the intention behind this untimely betrothal.

As his father's study came into view he schooled his features into neutrality because even a glimpse of weakness can land him in the dungeons for days. When the heavily gilded doors are opened by the sentries letting him enter the room, Eris comes face to face with the monster in all his nightmares.

Beron Vanserra.The High Lord of Autumn Court. A man responsible for centuries of cruelty and bloodshed.

Eris bowed his head before his father as a greeting.

"My Lord. "

"Eris I did not expect to see you tonight .But then again you truly manage to surprise me with your every action." came Beron's reply without even looking up from his papers as Eris braced himself from any verbal lashing that he may receive.

"One would expect a male of your standing to spend the rest of his nights as a unmarried man drinking and fucking your way through the Crimson street. You know so that the rest of your days don't go to waste before you are shackled in the matters of marriage .But here you are bothering your father about some insignificant matter."

A vile male who didn't see women as anything other than wombs for breeding.But Eris ignored the vomit inducing statement .

"I do not believe the matter of me wanting to know the reason behind my engagement, to be an insignificant matter." Eris manages to reply with a steady voice.

But despite that, Beron's face hardened from his usual indifferent features at the mention of the engagement.

"What about it? Is your bride to be not to your liking?Is she not pretty enough for you to put a child in her?"

"Father you know very well that is not what I meant. What I don't understand is why her. Every single fae in our court knows you despise the Tarsas. And if my memory serves me correct you sentenced their son to death but now you want me to take their daughter as my wife? What would the other houses think about this? What would they think when the lowest of them are rewarded with the highest of honour?"

"They would think of their high lord being merciful and forgiving. But what about you son I thought that's what you wanted. To bind yourself with filth."

An unsettling feeling stirred in Eris' stomach. And he found himself praying to anyone who would listen.

"Do you truly think I am unaware about you dallying with The Night court ? You forget yourself my dear son. You forget I have lived through wars before you even took your first breath." Beron's words loud enough to rattle the glass windows as blood roared in Eris' ears. Did Beron know of all his plans? About his proposal to Rhysand for the eldest Archeon sister's hand so that he could secure himself an alliance? So that he could put himself on the throne.Was this truly the end of all his plans?

" If you are so eager to associate yourself with filth I thought it best for you to have the worst of it. And what could be better than a ruinous insolent woman with a traitor's blood pumping through her. So I called in a favour from an old acquaintance of mine who is desperate to climb the ranks again." continued to the furious high lord.

Eris could see that his father looked utterly satisfied at having outmaneuvered his son. Therefore he couldn't stop himself from blurting out.

"What if I do not wish to get married?"

"Then your wish must be buried this instant because you are to take Y/n Tarsa as your wife in a fortnight. And I will see it happen even if I have to drag your bloodied body to the altar."

Eris knew the sentence for what it was. A threat and a promise.

And he knew there was no arguing if he wanted to leave this room unharmed. Perhaps it was unfair of him but he couldn't help thinking that he would not be in this deep mess if it weren't for the Tarsas. And the one he blamed the most was Y/n Tarsa.

Though his father definitely got one thing wrong.

Traitors? The Tarsa's were no traitors. Because Elias Tarsa did not turn to ashes for treason.It was simply his father's cowardice that put Elias to fire. And brought doom upon the House Of Tarsa.

What a fucking irony.

Eris could laugh himself to the ground because Beron Vanserra had gone blind. Blind to the treason taking life right under his nose.

--

You and Myhir rode through the silence of the night, the clacking of hooves against the road ripping through the air.Having your arms around his stomach had you feeling the muscles in his abdomen underneath his shirt.His scent was as familiar as the back of your hand but it was the underlying scent of your union that tinted your cheeks scarlet.

How many times have you let yourself imagine a life with Myhir-far away from all your problems? If only you met as different people.

But there is no point in pondering upon the what if's because fate had never been on your side.

Especially when you both were trying to leave this world a better place than you found it. Not to coin yourself a poet, but there was something so tragic in overcoming a deadly destiny of trying to oppose a great dynasty.

"Y/n we are here." Myhir softly whispers.

You were so lost in your thoughts that you hadn't noticed the horse stopping.

As Myhir helped you jump off the horse you let yourself drown in the warmth of his embrace. And it seemed you were not alone in that idea because he pulled you closer to him as if allowing himself a moment of happiness before facing the harsh truth of life. As if your time earlier made him a bit more vulnerable and in love.

You cradled his face in your hands as he leaned down for a searing kiss. Unfortunately for you, before it could get any further someone seemed to clear their throat behind you.

The sound caused you to let go of each other with haste and had you both whipping your heads in the direction of it.

"Long time no see lovebirds."

"I am not a princess."

"Not yet" he teased as he bent himself to whisper on the skin of your neck.

You wanted to bite back but your eyes locked on to your parents faces and the words died in your throat at your father's stern eyes as if telling you to not blow this up but it was your mother's teary face that made you return your eyes to Eris. But you couldn't bring yourself to look at him so you settled on looking at his auburn hair.

Best behaviour.

"Are you so intimidated by my beauty that you cannot even bring yourself to look into my eyes?"

Mother help you.

"Forgive me, your grace. Your repulsive nature that is truly reflected in your eyes flusters me too much." was your reply as you spun in a circle.You let yourself feel a sliver of glee at insulting the crown.

Eris though shocked, let out a chuckle. The sound honey-dipped but you knew better than to believe in that sweet poison.

"You are bold I take it. Though I suppose it is necessary to reach the heights you have managed to reach despite a traitor's filthy blood running through your veins, princess." His words were like a dull knife on skin trying to cut through flesh.Painful enough for you to wish your flesh to be cut and done with.But the image of your mother's tears stopped you from choking the life out of him.

Best behaviour. You will be at your best behaviour.

"My brother's name was Elias. Elias Tarsa"

You met his eyes and held your chin up, all the lessons from your priestess coming into effect.

" All right but riddle me this princess.How did your ruinous family manage to arrange an engagement as beneficial as this for you ?" He pulled you flush against his chest as the music neared it's climax.

"You might find it difficult to believe but I despise this engagement with my whole heart and I am as clueless as you about the intricacies of this matter, your grace."

He peered at you as if you trying to solve the puzzle that was you.You don't know what conclusion he reached but it couldn't be in your favour as you watched his eyes harden.

The music stopped and you could feel every single fae's eyes on you as they waited to see if you would crumble under their stare.

"Well then I can't wait to explore our mutual disgust for this doomed relationship for the rest of our married life my lady."

He bowed his head as you both curtsied in your place. Then he did the unexpected as he bent his head down to place a searing kiss on your head. A sign of devotion and affection. But you knew for what it was - a promise of pain.

__

As soon as you reached your family estate you ran upstairs despite your parents' calls of your name.

You couldn't get out of this suffocating dress any faster. Ripping your jewels from your neck you got into a comfortable shirt and pants. Grabbing a cloak you climbed down your window and ran towards the stable. In the dark autumn night you rode your horse away from the High lands and all your problems for a night.

--

As you walked down the cobblestone path your breath came out in puffs of cold air. You could hear the boisterous laughter coming from Mell's tavern before you even entered the alley it resided in. Drawing the hood of your thick cloak further over your head to cover your face, you push open the door with a sharp sound from its rickety hinges. Inside the tavern the pungent smell of fae wine and vomit wafted into your nose and almost gave you a whiplash. Though you suppose the warmth from the burning fireplace was a good change from the rather chill night.

You walked to a table in a dark corner, not wanting rumours of you in a common tavern to float the grapevines of the court and creating further shame for your parents. As you sat down and listened to the musician playing "Bones for those who don't grow old" a folk song passed down generations in your lands, you couldn't help but let your thoughts run wild about your impending nuptials. But before you could immerse yourself in your musings a cup of wine was put in front of you with a thud.

"I didn't expect to see you here tonight y/n."

As you looked up your eyes met Mell's face, lined with the result of years of hardwork.

"Well I can't blame you because I too didn't expect to see myself here tonight" was all you could bring yourself to say in reply.

"Is something wrong?" came her worried query.

Mell was a sweet old lady. She and her husband Briar were mates and had owned this tavern for the last 500 years.You and your brother always had your dinner here after your little horse riding contests at the end of the week and you were always welcomed by the couple despite knowing your true identities. It had been your little secret from your parents and overly strict priestesses who took great pleasure in beating you into becoming the proper submissive member of the court.

When Elias died you couldn't even bring yourself to step foot at Mell's for years. But you couldn't keep yourself away for long because they had always been one of the few people who truly cared for you.

"Even I don't know Mell if something is wrong so this is something I must work by myself" was all you could say.

"You know you are always welcome y/n"

"I know" and you smiled your first genuine smile of the night.

"Well then I hope the wine is of help to you and I will bring your food right out as you talk with Myhir"

"I am not meeting him tonight Mell"

"If you are not meeting him sweet y/n then why is he coming towards you with that stupid smile on his face" came Mell's cheeky reply.

The tavern sounded as if it would collapse from how loud the jeers and the buoyant hollers of the drunk fae were but you couldn't care less.

Myhir walked gracefully between the tables with a cloak covering him but being between all these drunk males who wouldn't remember a thing about the night gave him the confidence to pull his hood down to reveal his charming smile to the dim light of the room.

Myhir with his dark hair and black eyes was beautiful in a way that made even faes who were known for their beauty turn their heads to have a glimpse of him.

"Hey! I couldn't find you at the esta- " but he cut his words short as he saw the look on your face.

"What's wrong my love?"he muttered with a serious tone.

Time has never been kind to you both and his worried face only brought tears to your eyes.

"I am betrothed" you managed to get out of your throat. If your words hurt him he did not show it but the smile on his face did disappear into the night.

"That much was expected, given your status in life. But I can't say I am not upset about it."

"Myhir I am promised to Eris Vanserra" you said with tears of anger and helplessness welling up in your eyes.

After Elias' death Myhir had been your rock in an endless ocean of despair. You both had found each other broken to pieces and soaked to the bone in pain that would put the world to shame. You had helped each other rise from the ashes despite the pain from your own burn scars and thus falling for him had come as natural as breathing to you.

"Do you want to leave y/n?"

"Yes that shall be for the best"

He grabbed your hand in his rough ones and said goodbye to Mell and Briar before opening the door into the cold night.

Darkness had embraced the sky long ago. The stars twinkled reminding everyone about the might of the cauldron.As Myhir began readying his horse you looked around yourself. The Autumn Court was breathtaking during the day with its crimson leaves bathing the lands in eternal beauty but not many people appreciated it for the beauty it was at night. Soft glowing lanterns from houses illuminated the streets leading down to the Red forest. It was truly a glimpse of happiness in your otherwise miserable situation.

Myhir's hand found your hips automatically as he hoisted you atop his horse before getting on himself. He grabbed the reins of the horse before riding into the night.

--

After riding deep into the Red forest you both found yourselves at the molten lake.The banks of the lake had always been your and Myhir's getaway place as you both took a break from your mother and he from his duties as your father's trusted advisor. The lake glittered under the stars, looking like liquid fire but it had always felt cool to touch.

"Are you okay love?"queried Myhir but you were unresponsive.

"I don't know how this arrangement didn't come to my knowledge but your father must have really wanted this if he kept it under wraps."

Still no response.

"Do you want to talk about it y/n?"

"No I want my mind to forget about it and talk about anything but that "

"Oh then, I uh I was looking for you at the estate because I wanted to give this to you. " Myhir went to fished something out from his bag on the horse before returning to sit by you near the lake.

In his hand was a beautiful dagger with a red stone embedded on its hilt.

"Steel from the night court" you whispered in disbelief at the mark of a star etched on the dagger. The sharpest of weapons in all of Pyrthian maybe even in the world.

"When Niyam travelled to the night court I asked him to purchase it for you on my behalf " he said handing it over to you.

"Oh god Niyam. We have to tell the others about the engagement"

"Forget about that for now. I can tell them on your behalf if it is difficult for you, love"

"No this is something I must face myself but thank you dearest for this"

" I want you to accept it as a token of love from me and as cruel as the time is, it would give my heart some peace if you had something to protect yourself with at all times.It is not as grand as your other swords but-"

But you put an end to his ramblings with a "Nonsense, I shall cherish this with my life."

He smiled at me as if you had gifted him all the wonders of the mother. And you couldn't help yourself from asking "I wonder if you would ever take me for all I have to offer Myhir."

He was stunned and his whole body went as still as the undisturbed waters of the lake.

"F ..forget it I don't know what came over me."

But you couldn't finish your next words as Myhir kissed your lips shut. His hands cupped your face as he pulled you flush against his chest. His minty scent and a hint of sweat flooded all your senses and all you could think of was him and only him as heat coiled in your stomach. He kissed like a man starved.

Needy and fervid.

He gasped his swollen lips from your incessant kisses, "Do you truly want this? Because I don't think I would be able to hold myself back if we go further"

"Then don't for I am all yours" you whispered on his lips.

You kissed some more until all your doubts turned to ashes. He eagerly wrestled you out of your clothes before getting himself bare.

Laying you down on the damp wood, he pressed hot kisses down to your chest. He was breathless by the time he came up to your lips for another kiss and hovered over you before placing himself where you could feel your ceaseless throbing and wetness.

A silent cry escaped you as he breached your walls and held you as close as possible. He left no part untouched as he worshipped your body.

You cared for nothing else in the world as pleasured cries escaped your lips in response to Myhir's thrusts.You could only moan his name like a prayer to keep yourself sane from the onslaught of pleasure and embraced him as though he was your last lifeline.

As your mind clouded with lust and endless pleasure was the only feeling in your, you reached your pinnacle as Myhir finished inside you. You felt like you were on top of the world.

Powerful.

So under the moonlight two lovers embraced each other because in some corner of their heart they knew time would tear them apart at the first chance it got.

Giggles and excited shrieks erupted the air as noble ladies from all over the room for they were a step closer to becoming the princess of autumn court.

You could not be more indifferent to the matter if not furious for Eris Vanserra was the unfortunate and biggest contributor in the death of your brother and along with the downfall of your family.

But your attention was stolen by the high table as Beron beckoned his eldest son forward to the eyes of many. And a shiver ran down your spine as your eyes caught on to the red hair and smug smirk that had you mesmerized in the garden.

Rage and unexplainable sadness was all you could feel.

Parents moved closer to their daughters who were brought up their whole lives preparing for this single moment. You watched as in front of you Lady Alena's mother started fixing her daughter's dress. Lady Alena was from one of the oldest families of the court and the rumours were that she and Eris Vanserra have been quite close to each other .They claimed that Lady Alena’s beauty was unparalleled in the whole of Pyrthian. You'd wager all your gold on her if there was a bet on who was most likely bethroed to Eris.

But you could not help but feel pity for her. How couldn't you? She was to spend rest of her long fae life with someone as cruel and miserable as Eris Vanserra. A man who abandoned his previous bethroed to die on the borders just because she was not "pure" enough for him.

" The virtuous lady deserving of such honour is... " Beron let his words hang over the room for a minute.

Since the moment you had arrived you had one question on your mind. Why the sudden welcome of your family in the court after years of shunning you. But the next words from the high lord's mouth put all your questions to waste.

"Lady Y/n of the Family Tarsa"

The breathlessness you felt earlier was back with a renewed vigour. You turned to look at your parents and they looked like they expected this to happen. Proud even.

Betrayal.

"No" "No,you cannot make me do this" was all you could say as a sentry approached to take you near Eris and ultimately your doom.

"My dear calm down, this is for the best and your futur-"

"My future? or your greed ."

You could feel everyone's eyes on you as if asking why her? Her family is ruined right? Her brother was a traitor wasn't he?

But more than the questions, it was your parents’ betrayal that pained you the most.

"You would not have agreed if we told you" was all you got from your mother as she tried to calm you down.

You picked your skirts to escape because you would never bring shame on Elias' name, his sacrifice but your father's painful grip on your arm halted you on your track.

"Are you so weak that you would run at the first sight of things not going your way? "

" I am not weak" you gritted out.

"Yes you are and our family is suffering because of it. Sometimes I wish it was you who turned to ashes instead of Elias" your father yelled loud enough for everyone to avert their eyes from the scene.

And your mother was at his side soothing him as if he was the one who was hurt.

And the painful part was that you agreed with your father's words. You had wished upon every star that why Elias had to go for the likes of you .You recalled how the ladies avoided your mother as if she was some filth from the slums, how your father's trade lost all it had. Of how not one male thought you were worthy of even a small conversation. And how the ladies your age were ushered away by their mothers from you. Of how everyone would be happier if it was you who burned at the stake instead of your brother.

--

"Would you ever have an arranged marriage Elias?" you asked your brother as you cooled down from your sparring.

Elias chuckled as he ruffled your hair "What's with the sudden musings y/n?"

"Well my priestess said that it is an honour to marry someone your family has chosen."

"Is that so? But to answer your question yes dear sister I would because it is my duty and it is expected of me."

"But wouldn't you like to meet your mate and have love as beautiful as mother and father's?" was the question you let out because you could not believe the utter stupidity coming from your brother's mouth.

"What mother and father have is as rare as you beating me in horse riding" teased your brother."And you will know that when you are older"

"I will have you know I am going to be seventeen next month so be careful when calling me young"

Your brother let out a loud laugh at your angry words but then continued his earlier words.

"Listen y/n sometimes we have to choose between ourselves and family, and I would always choose family so that you can always choose yourself " came Elias's caring reply as always.

"Elias! " came a shout from near the gates.

"Looks like one of your choices is here brother." you said giggling as you ran back into the house .

You were pulled out of your thoughts with a sharp pain in your arm from your your father.

Was this what your brother would have done for the family? For you?Was getting married to the murderers of your brother truly your only choice?

Holding your head with your hands you released a strangled breath.

Arranged marriage. To the destroyer of your family.

You felt sick.

Felt like you could vomit whatever little food you had consumed all over the shiny marble floors as your father handed you off to the sentry taking you to your hell on earth.

As you walked towards the high family with all eyes on you, your eyes met Eris Vanserra's cold ones despite fire swirling beneath them, so different from earlier under the moonlight and you felt a sliver of cruel satisfaction when you realised that you weren't the only unhappy individual in this wretched arrangement.

"And that is exactly why you should be at your best behaviour and shall not breathe a word about the tragedy that befell us to anyone present here." was the warning that came from your mother.

"Brother suffered injus- "

But your mother's next words cleaved your heart into two as they always had "Your brother betrayed the court and we suffered for years because of it and are still suffering y/n."

You couldn't even bring yourself to look at your mother when pain and anger was flowing through your veins in place of blood.It seems anger had won cause you bit out the next words with fire in them "Brother wanted to help people. The people who were being starved and sold like livestock in the aftermath of war.An act that the cowardly high lord saw as treason"

"Your brother-"gritted out your father "made his choices when he went against the court and burned for it".

Your mouth fashioned itself shut for you knew your parents would not be swayed as they had remained unmoving on the matter for the last half a century.

A pang went through your heart. No magic in the cauldron,in this world would be able to erase the tragedy that was the death of your brother Elias. The other half of your soul.For many people that night had been the fall of one of the greatest families of the court .For you it was the loss of your heart and you will never forgive the Vanserras for it. Not being able to take any of the excruciating court posturing any longer you excused yourself to the adjacent autumn garden.

Grabbing the long skirt of your silk gown you tried to get as far away as possible from the party of pretenses. The earthy smell of the vast garden that led to a path in between trees splashed by the redness of autumn everywhere soothed the heavy feeling in your chest and made it a tad easier to breathe.

"Searching for a getaway path?"

A voice as smooth as the silk from the lands of spring court that all the girls of the court loved to rave about halted you in your path You turned back to find a High fae male leaning on one of those trees. He looked like the rightful owner of that voice. Regal, masculine, and cruel. Like he would lure you to your death with that silver voice of his. A man so beautiful that made you wonder if the mother took extra care carving him. Decked in his fine white shirt, green coat and black pants with his unbound hair as red as embers of fire, he truly looked like every young maiden's dream.

Mothers above.

"Of course not my lord, I wouldn't even dream of leaving such a wonderful gala. " you said lowering yourself into a curtsy as you took note of the red hair unique to the many sons of Beron though you could not for the life of you remember which son the one infront of you was.

"Oh really? Then why do you look like you would rather be anywhere else but here at this wonderful gala as you put it" he said with a sliver of smile tugging his lips upwards.

"I could say the same for you my prince." you fired back at him.

"I am just here to escape the stifling air"he replied with amusement coating his voice.

"Stifling air or the unbearable conversations" slipped from your mouth despite your mother's warning to be at your best behaviour.

He let out a sweet laugh into the honey lined autumn night.

"Well then it seems a truce regarding our reasons for meeting here would be the wisest course of action my lady, because we wouldn't want anyone to know about this beautiful chance meeting." he said with that damned smirk on his face.

"Yes that would definitely be for the best" you said in a whisper cause you couldn't bring yourself to break this moment with your voice.

To your surprise he strutted closer to you with grace unmatched and gently took hold of your hand.

"I would ask you for your name my lady but then again it would take out the joy from my anticipation of meeting you again."he says with a kiss pressed onto your gloved hand which might as well had been bare for the heat that ran under his skin managed to set fire on your skin too. Then he turned on his feet and returned the path he had apparently followed you into.

And you could only watch his back as he walked back into the House of Forest as you realised you never even found out who he was.

After the tragedy upon your family you saw no point in moving forward in life. It was the loss of your greatest ally. So when the pain got unbearable you had vowed to put an end to it forever.

But it seemed the cauldron had different plans for you.

You had even jumped off the cliff into the ocean but before you could rest in death's embrace you were pulled out of the water onto a fishing boat by strong hands marred by years of hardwork . The boat that helped you stay afloat in the darkness of life.

That's how you had met Niyam. Your dearest friend. He was a fisherman's son from one of the rural parts of the court where only the lower faes dwelled. His father had caught a deadly disease and was bed ridden. Niyam had therefore had taken up his father's fishing business to keep his poverty stricken family alive in the cruel court of autumn.

Over time having shared the same morals and ideas you both developed a friendship dear to your heart.

"How are you y/n?" His words pulled you out of the trip down memory lane.

"Better now that you are back" you said as you let go of him and reached for Myhir as he came near you after tying the horse to a tree.

"Now that is a lie because you have been having a merry time in my absence if the scent from both of you is something to go by." you chuckled as Niyam's teasing caused Myhir to hide his face in your neck with embarrassment.

" That I cannot argue with."

"Well as much as I would love to tease Myhir let's go inside, the others were just starting to get restless." Niyam threw the words over his shoulder as he started walking towards the dark and decaying house in front of you.

It was shrouded in the darkness of the night hidden behind the many trees surrounding it. It looked abandoned as usual with no sign of life around it.

As Niyam opened the makeshift door to let you all enter, the damp smell from years of negligence rushed into your nose.

Lighting a fire torch your group of three proceeded further into the run down house before coming to stop in the middle of it . Lifting the mouldy carpet from the wooden floor Niyam heaved a wooden door from the ground that had been made to look as inconspicuous as possible.

The existence of the numerous hulking caves in the Red forest of the Autumn Court was common knowledge through all of Pyrthian but most were unaware about the labyrinth of underground passageways that snaked beneath most of the court. Many human bones had been found down here and you reckoned they were probably from the humans trying to escape the war between the faes and humans.

"You know sometimes when I navigate these passages alone I hear sounds of crying." Myhir whispered near your ear with his tone purposely lowered to scare you to your grave.

You smacked the back of his head as a reply as Niyam chuckled at your antics.

You were no stranger to the idea of mythical creatures having lived a long life as a fae but the matter of your engagement looming over your head did not let you spare a single thought about anything else.

As the caves closed in, you grabbed Myhir a bit tighter in response.

Finally you came across the makeshift door at the end of the pathway and Niyam entered by ducking his dead down.

A lamp burned in the centre of the room bathing the room in a warm glow and illuminating the familiar faces of your comrades.

"Took you three long enough. "Aedan commented from his seat by the corner of the room.

Aedan was an apprentice in a blacksmith's shop and thus very talented in all kinds of weaponry. Beside him was Zion, a lower fae who had moved to the court from the outskirts of the court after his wife died during a plague that took many lives due to the ignorance of the high lord. Then there was Verena who was the jack of all trades.Having worked under a sketchy high fae most of her life she had mastery over spying, fighting, assassination etc. You name it .And sitting on the rickety table was Calia a healer, silent as usual. They were the oldest members and leaders of Senka. The rebellion to overthrow the Vanserras.

Years after your brother's unjust execution when sorrow had turned into anger and need for revenge you had vowed to yourself you would see the throne burn even if you had to lay your life for it. So you had become a rebel . Faes from all over the Autumn land who had suffered enough at the hands of a tyrant found themselves joining your cause. To bring an empire built upon the broken backs of the innocent to its deserving end.

You took a seat by the lamp on one of the spare chairs that Myhir had pulled out for you, your jumping at the action. But acknowledging your betrothal was of grave importance, so you steeled yourself to drop the news.

Clearing your throat you spoke with a steady voice "I am to marry Eris Vanserra,the heir of the Autumn Court in a fortnight."

As soon as the words broke free from your lips a stunned silence fell over the room.Niyam's face was coated with sympathy as he looked at you and Myhir who stood behind you holding onto your shoulders.

"Y/n this is no time to jest." Verena was the one who broke the tense silence that had settled upon the room .Looking devastatingly beautiful even under the dim light of the lamp.

Your sad smile cleared any doubts she could have about the truthfulness of the statement.

"Then this is a death sentence y/n not an engagement." commented Zion worries about the dangers of the engagement lining his tan face.

"Yes it could be dangerous but it might turn beneficial for us if we play our cards right." Aedan drawled from his seat without even taking his eyes off you."Because they would never expect the leader of the rebellion to walk right into their home."

Aedan had always unnerved you with his contradictory opinions. You both were always at each others throats whenever you both disagreed with each other's beliefs. But he was knowledgeable about matters of battle for which you held a lot of respect for him as a friend and as a fellow comrade.

"Whatever could you mean Aedan?" questioned Verena.

"What I mean is having one of us acting as our eyes and ears could help us bring the Vanserras down earlier than we planned."

Niyam hummed and you could not for the life of you figure out whether it was in approval or disapproval.

"It is dangerous but if we are to bring a tyrant and his blood soaked dynasty to its knees this is our best shot." Calia spoke for the first time.

At that everyone turned to hear what you had to say. And the unspoken question stirred in the air: Were you willing to walk into the fire in order to have the new kingdom rise from its ashes?

"I....I do not know if I could go forward with the engagement." Your head throbbed with pain from all possibilities.

"You need not decide whether you would marry him right now. Just attend to all the preparations and study your circumstances." Niyam encouraged you, worried about your wellness before all.

But before you could get a word out someone burst in through the door.

" Fire.... Fire ."panted one of the younger Senkas having rushed to the meeting place.

"Fire at the Tarsa estate."

--------

"Mother! Mother." you shouted as soon as you got off the horse.

"Y/N" cried your mother as you rushed to her wading through the crowd gathered around your house.

"Mother are you hurt? Where is father? What about the servants? Is everyone out?" you were frenzied with worry.

"Oh thank the mother you are safe. Where have you been? Everyone has been searching for you? Your father has gone out to get help." came your mother's reply with sobs racking through her body.

" I escaped from the window as soon as I smelt the fire." you lied as easily as you breathed not wanting to tell your mother about your true whereabouts.

"From the window! Y/n have you lost your mind that is not ladylike. What if something happened to your face? The high lord would have ended the engagement."

"Mother now that I see you are alright enough to spit useless sentences, I am going to help the others." came your scathing reply, tired from the long day.

As you walk away from your mother your heart broke into pieces watching your childhood home burn. Memories of hundreds of years turning to ashes right in front of your eyes. You had lived your entire life here. All the good and bad. Despair wracks your heart in its cage of bones.

You were tired. Tired from having to rise again and again from the ashes. Tired from patching your scars and picking up the pieces .

Still you did your best to salvage whatever you could. You didn't even notice when tears started rolling down your eyes as you saw the hurt the fire had caused.

By morning your hands were black with soot from helping with putting down the fire , your body ached all over and you just wanted to close your eyes and never open them again. But even that seemed like a luxury as your father who had returned from mother knows where ushered your family and all his workers into carriages. In all the frenzy you caught a glimpse of Myhir as he climbed into the carriage with your father.

Apparently the High Lord had extended the courtesy of letting your house stay in the Forest house.

You let yourself rest your head on the window of the carriage as the horses dragged it towards the palace.

---

"Lord Tarsa I am so relieved to see you and your household unharmed."Beron said with not even a drop of emotion in his words. Insincere and indifferent as ever. You could not believe this. What kind of high lord summons the victims of a deadly accident to the throne room instead of letting you rest and seek a healer's attention.

"Thank you, your grace. Though I would request an investigation about the cause of the fire." your father replied submissive infront of the high lord as ever.

You watched as Beron turned to his advisor behind him to consult about the matter. As your eyes roamed around the room you found yourself looking at Eris Vanserra sitting beside his father's throne who smirked as soon your eyes met as if this was a joyous occasion. He did not even bother hiding his true thoughts about this accident from his face.

"Lord Tarsa as much as the accident grieves me I believe an investigation to be totally unnecessary it was probably some drunk sentries who caused the fire. So it is best if we let this matter go." Beron's words pulled your attention from Eris.

And you knew right then it was no accident that your house caught fire. It was Beron's work .. You had seen your mother cry through endless nights. You had watched as your father drowned himself in several bottles of wine. The Vanserras would not let your family take a single breath of relief as long as they had power. They would banish you to the end of the world if they thought it would hurt you but they knew the humiliation in the court was a better punishment.

"You couldn't have said it better my lord." drawled Eris with that damned smug expression still on his face.

With everyone's attention on him he said "I think it would do all of us good if we bury the matter and invite the Tarsas to stay with us till the marriage so that they will return after the repairs are done. Well except Lady y/n of course who would be staying here forever."

He was taunting you. Poking at your wounds to see how much more you could take.

A monster. Monster from your scariest and darkest nightmares. As if your misery awarded him delightful pleasure.

Well two could play at this game. If he loves the company of misery so much misery is what he will get and by the time you are done with him he will be begging for you to let it end. At that moment you made your decision, you would marry him. You would marry him and walk into the fire. But you would not do it alone, you will drag him too into the burning embers with yourself.

So with your chin held up high and back straight you let the damned words escape your lips.

"You honour me my prince and I cannot wait to spend more time with you my betrothed."

"Forgive me my lady but the Lady Aelia has asked you to join her for afternoon tea in her solar." Lyna spoke softly behind you in order to preserve the tranquility surrounding you.

"Is my mother going to be there Lyna?"

"No my lady her grace has only asked for your presence."

For the last few days the lady of autumn court, Lady Aelia Vanserra has extended her gracious invite to you and your mother to join her and other ladies of the court.

And unsurprisingly your mother has managed to turn every single conversation towards boasting about your pending nuptials in front the other ladies in waiting so may the mother forgive you if you wish to avoid her because of it. But it seems like Lady Aelia shares the same thought as you.

"Accompany me will you Lyna."

---

Making an exit from your room you followed Lyna into the open hallway. True to all its praises The Forest House was a sight to behold in the golden hues of the afternoon sunlight. Golden carpets made from the finest of materials lined the pathway.

As your nose took in the smell of sandalwood and burning wood, your eyes found themselves observing the numerous paintings nailed to the gilded walls. There between the paintings of life and death lay a family portrait of the High Family dating back to about 500 years.

You could gather that the painting was to commemorate the birth of the exiled prince of the court - Lucien Vanserra held by his mother with the High Lord sitting beside her. Behind him stood Eris Vanserra , your betrothed with a rehearsed smile on his face. Regal and youthful. Despite the appealing faces of the rest of the princes surrounding the High couple , your eyes found themselves incapable of straying from the captivating allure of your soon to be husband.

Your husband. You forced yourself to tear your eyes away at the thought. You turned to look for Lyna and continue your journey to your afternoon plans but had found yourself alone in a secluded part of the palace. Having been left behind as you admired the portraits, you took your steps forward.

"Is this what we are now?"

A hushed voice halted you in your path as you strained your ears to listen to the seemingly secret conversation wishing to gather any information that could be beneficial for your use.

"It does not have to be if you give me some time and space to set things right." came in reply by a deep positively masculine voice.

"Set things right? You mean give you time so that you can walk away towards the altar with Lady Tarsa of all people."

You knew that the other houses held no fondness for you but there was no reason why any of them should speak of you in such a manner.

"What would you have me do Alena? Run away with you ? Is that what you think is proper?"

At that you gasped, if it was Lady Alena Velon behind those walls then you had a pretty good guess who the male in question was.

"Would it be so bad to get away from all of this with me?"

"All of this? You mean my entire life ? Everything that I have endured for my end goal?"

At that a sob escaped her throat .

"Eris then what would you have me do? Stand by as you take that female with the traitor's blood as your wife?"

"Alena please don't cry it breaks my heart to see you like this. I wish I could do something about the engagement but father has all but declared his surety on the matter. I am sorry. I am sorry for the pain I have caused you. For what it's worth I would have loved to have you as my wife but this is something that is out of my control."

You scoffed at that. How lovely being painted as the wicked villain in their tragic love story. Typical.

As you leaned your head into the corner to catch a glimpse of their faces , you saw Eris lean in to capture her lips in a searing kiss as Alena leaned into his touch. Their kiss was fierce and loud as if they were about to go off to war. As if nothing mattered but them.

You were shocked and horrified at their lack of discretion. Disrespectful halfwits. Not a single thought about what could happen if they got caught in this compromising position.

You had to escape . But in your haste of wanting to get away as far as possible your hands bashed into a sculpture and knocked over a sculpture by the wall. You scrambled to prevent it from falling but the damage had already been done.

As you turned you saw Lady Alena and Eris looking at you as if all their nightmares had come true. But before anyone could utter a single word, Eris rushed towards you and dragged you into an empty room by the end of the hallway.

You snatched your arm free but before you could afford the luxury of putting some distance between your bodies, he pressed your back against the wall with his strong muscles. He was breathing heavily as he came to rest his arms beside both sides of your head. A cold and calculating expression staring back at you with his warm body pressing onto you.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times as if unable to settle upon the words he wanted to speak. But it didn't matter because his stupid excuses held no value for you.

"If you dare speak of what you saw- "

"Mother above. Spare me with your nonsense. Though I must applaud your audacity to treat me this way even after l hold your deepest secret to my heart." you spat out vexed by his actions.

"So what? Are you going to rat me out princess?" He gritted out , his composure slipping out of his control as he pressed himself closer to your body.

You were shaking in your knees but you could not afford showing your weak hand to Eris. You will never show him your weakness.

"I won't rat you out as you put it because I know it would only delight you having the engagement broken without you having to lift a finger."

Your body trembled as you tried to keep your anger at bay. You could feel your sharp nails digging crescents into your palms. Maintaining a calm countenance had always come to you as easily as breathing but something in Eris just managed to make you volatile.

" But you are so unfair my darling betrothed. I know this is not a love match but I at least expected you to keep your illicit affairs under wraps and not flaunt them in broad daylight. Well I suppose you need to have half a brain for that." you continued with a sharp grin adorning your face in order to not expose your true nervousness.

"Whatever could you mean ?" You watched as a vein twitched on his forehead. He was furious but had somehow managed to hold himself back.

You could barely gulp with how dry your throat had become. But with all the strength you could find in your voice you whispered out.

"What I mean to say your grace is that when I do bed another male I would not be as foolish as you to have my clandestine meetings out in the open for all to see."

You had no knowledge about how your faces had migrated closer to each other during the heat of the moment. Despite Eris' body heat pressing onto you due to the proximity a shiver slithered down your spine and with a hairsbreadth between your lips he whispered

"Is that a threat Tarsa?"

"No, it's a promise Vanserra."

You watched as fire stirred beneath his gaze as if trying to breach his carefully crafted mask. You watched as his gaze moved towards your lips. You watched as his lips-

"My lady I have been looking for- Oh forgive me my lord I did not know i was intruding."

It would have shocked you less if someone doused you with a bucket of ice water than Lyna's intrusion. He flinched away from you as if he would burn merely by touching you.

"Pardon me my lady I will be in the hallway if you need me."

"No, let us go."

You needed to escape. Escape before you did something that you would truly come to regret.

Grabbing Lyna's hand you rushed out of the room without even sparing a single glance at Eris.

----

"Does something bother you y/n?"

A shudder fluttered to the tips of your body as Lady Aelia's question pulled you away from thoughts of closed rooms and smoke and honey lined red hairs.

"It is nothing that should worry you your grace I was merely lost in thoughts about my wedding preparations." you somehow managed to utter with performative excitement coating your voice.

"Oh yes how are they coming along. I actually invited you to tea today to ask if there was anything you needed help with."

Her hand flexed as she lifted the cup to her lips.

"You are too kind your grace."

The Lady Aelia of Autumn screamed of elegance and royalty. Through your life you had met her only a handful of times but everytime she managed to leave you starstruck with her beauty. Many saw her as this quiet and submissive wife but with a bit of closer inspection you saw a woman hardened by the years she lived as Beron Vanserra's wife and lady of the court. With her regal beauty and resilient nature she truly was the Lady of the court.

"Oh none of that you can refer to me as your mother y/n. " Over the chirping of birds, she chuckled softly.

"So have you and Eris managed to have some time to know each other?"

The sudden question regarding the root of all your musings stunned into silence and the ever so quick eye of the Lady of Autumn managed to pick up on it.

"Y/n I can tell this marriage is not your first choice and I see questions in your eyes so trust me when I say that I know how painful this is." she continued her dulcet voice managing to lull you into a sense of security.

"So you must speak your mind."

You put your cup down as you sat up straight to stare into her eyes.

" I am afraid that is a luxury that I cannot afford mother. Sitting here with you had already managed to seal my mouth shut."

If your words managed to put her off she did not show it.

"We can pretend that all is good but it would not erase the decades of bad blood within our houses. It cannot undo all the sufferings we had to endure and it cannot restore my family back. So I hope you do not find me brazen when I say that I cannot fathom why I have to enter into a marriage with a family that brought the doom upon us."

Lady Aelia eyes sparkled at your words.

"Tell me something dear do you think your brother was right in his actions?"

Your jaw dropped for a moment. Was this some sort of trial? To test your loyalty to the throne. But her countenance held no animosity rather only plain curiosity.

So with all the courage you could muster you simply replied, "I believe he did the right thing."

"And I believe so too little dove."

You forgot yourself for a moment with her words.

"But I also believe we had no choice in our actions too. He saw something wrong and opposed the throne but it also caused unrest in the people in a sensitive time and we as the high family had to put an end to it. So believe me when I say this y/n you could do so much for the people if you are in power than what you do when you are a rebel."

You knew that she held no love for the High Lord. You were not deaf to the whispers regarding Lucien Vanserra and his parentage. But one thing stuck with you.

"Do you think of me being capable of revolting against the court?"

At that she smiled. Razor sharp. And you saw the true strength and cunning beneath her slip out a little.

" I think you are the poster child of a rebel. You certainly have the motive and fire for it but do you know what makes you different little dove?"

She paused a moment as if letting you agonize over the words.

And you could not be more grateful about it because you were more than happy to not spare a single thought on it. But as you walked the castle grounds you prayed to the Mother for her to just shut her mouth for a single moment.

Having been reinstated in his court duties due to the 'mercy' of the High Lord your father had been busier than ever, so he made sure to take an evening walk with his family everyday before dinner.

However today the meetings had run a little longer than the others so Myhir who always accompanied him during court matters had also joined the walk. With a strong grip on your hand he helped you through a particularly treacherous path in the garden. You grabbed his arm a tad tighter with every step you took, allowing yourself a moment of happiness amongst everything.

You could also see it on Myhir's face how much these small moments meant for him. Having to see your lover get married and not being able to do a thing surely couldn't be easy. Had it been you in his place you would have crumbled with heartbreak.

--

Eris yearned for a warm bath in his chambers after the exhausting day he just had. Having to play all these mind games along with endless court posturing for years without a crack in his mask truly did manage to suck the soul out of him.

As he made his journey back to his private chambers his mind managed to wander off to thoughts of a certain sharp tongued beauty. His thoughts seemed to do that a lot these days. Revolve around you.

You were strong, that he'd give you. Having endured the scorn of the court for decades without so much as shedding a single tear. But that is where his admiration of you ended because due to some unfortunate reason you managed to bring out a part of himself that he had long thought buried.

You always said the right words with enough bite for him to lose control of his emotions. There has always been something lurking beneath your eyes ever since he saw you in the garden at the gala. If it was hunger for vengeance or something else he was not sure.

And you being aware about his association with Lady Alena Velon certainly didn't help with matters. For the last few days he has tried thinking of all possible ways you could use that information to your advantage but he has failed in reaching to a conclusion.

Unpredictable and disastrous.

Truly someone that tore through all his walls and left him utterly unarmed.

As Eris looked out towards the royal gardens which shined golden under the setting rays of the sun through the glass windows, his thoughts suddenly died in his mind.

There you were. Looking graceful as ever walking with your family, your arm around that damned advisor.

Again.

Smiling and looking up at him as though he held the stars in his hands.

Eris Vanserra thought himself a novice when it came to matters of the heart but he knew in his heart at that moment, it was a look between lovers. Hanging onto every word, grabbing each other a tad closer and gravitating towards each other no matter where.

At that Eris began closing the space between you before his mind could come up with a reason for it.

--

You allowed yourself this one moment of reprieve from all your burdens, walking alongside Myhir. The day had not yet ended and it had already tired you out. Your parents had managed to walk quite a bit ahead of you, so you let yourself look at Myhir unbashedly.

"Is there something on my face?" Myhir said as he bent down to pluck a rose from the garden.

You took the flower from his hands as he held it out to you ."Can I not look at you just because I want to?"

"Is that so?"  He watched as you put the flower in his hair.

You mimicked the smile on his face."Yes because it is quite beautiful."

"What is?"

It took all your strength to not let out an annoyed groan at the voice of the person you wanted to get away from the most.

"Your grace ." Myhir greeted him.

However Eris only glared at him with annoyance on his face before turning to watch you with his keen gaze.

" I will escort the lady from here. Leave us." Eris finally spoke with a cocked head in the direction of the palace . Without even sparing Myhir a second glance.

Myhir opened his mouth as if to protest but thought better of it and bowed his head in farewell before walking off towards your parents.

" Walk with me." Eris commanded before you offering his arm. He always sounded like that.

Authoritative and entitled.

"And pray tell me why should I do that ?" You grit out with venom in your voice and you hated yourself for it. You should know better than show him how much his presence affected you. This simmering enmity between you both had managed to invade your life and lodged itself deep in all aspects of it.

Eris managed to take a hold of your hand and played with your fingers absent-minded. Your breath caught in your throat.

"Do not look so upset princess. You were smiling to your heart's content just a moment ago. Surely you could manage taking a walk with the one you are set to spend the rest of your life with."

Your lips pressed themselves into a thin line. "That is a hard thing to do , don't you think? Since neither of us are each other's choice."

" Yeah I can see that." He scoffed as if finally remembering the reality of the relationship between you both.

"What is that supposed to mean?" You ask narrowing your eyes at the harsh tone in his words.

"Do you take me for a halfwit? Surely you did not think I wouldn't find out about your secret lover. For a lady who was so vexed about my relations I expected you to hold yourself to the same standards but alas I was wrong."

Your bones went gelid right where you stood. This would be the information that you would wish to share with anyone but him. “It is none of your concern,” you replied rather blandly.

Eris is all stormy anger and volatile fury at your words. None of his concern? Is that to say he was right in his assumption. He did not have the name for it but he felt extremely unsettled at the thought of your heart being occupied by another. At you not looking at someone with hatred shining in your eyes.

It was unnatural and utterly selfish.

"None of my concern? I think it is especially my concern to know who my soon to be wife is entertaining herself with." He gritted out as if he would start breathing fire.

You stood there with your hands still in his gentle grip wildly different from his harsh voice and the world melted around you like ice facing fire.

"Entertainment?" You could not believe the word. "Is that what everything is to you ?"

"Do tell me what it is then? Do not tell me it is true love?" Eris didn't quite understand where the question came from but it left a sour taste in his mouth.

"Jealousy is not a good look on you darling."

You say all amused smiles and cheeky voice. You looked like you were enjoying yourself, like a predator toying with it's prey.

"Why would I be jealous of your little boy toy? Though I expected much more honour from you."

It is truly pressing how affected he is at your words.

The setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and red as if your mere presence made the Autumn Court dance, Eris thought to himself. With fire beneath his skin Eris Vanserra truly was the Prince of Autumn but you were Autumn incarnate with your fiery smiles and cinnamon fragrance. However the breathtaking scenery did not alleviate the tension surrounding you both.

"You speak to me of honour? You? Son and heir of High Lord Beron Vanserra? Where was this so-called honour of yours when your subjects were dying? Where was your honour when you burned my brother at the stake?" You pinned the words with your blood singing in fury. "But do not worry my prince I would make sure that you would at least see an honourable death."

You gritted out with all bared teeth and venom before shaking your fingers out of his grip and making your escape towards the castle.

Your furious words and the resentment in your eyes woke him up as if he was slapped in the face and made him remember how you were the last two individuals that would find  comfort with each other.

Because the blood on his hands had never birthed something as remarkable and pure as love.

--

Despite your mother having declared herself the sole decision maker on matters regarding your nuptials, you were not spared from the tediousness of it all.

Every day, tailors from all over Pyrthian come and go to have you try out their designs. It was the same with Eris but you believed it was more nerve-wracking on your end .After all he was the beloved prince of Autumn .He did not have to cater to anyone else's wishes. Which you could definitely see him having a hard time with.

The present day was no different than the last others as you were ushered out of your chambers into the parlors where you pushed into multiple dresses, having to hold your breath and arms up for long hours.

Upon your arrival, you were greeted by a bustling room with multiple seamstresses biting needles and toiling away at their tables .But the moment you entered the room they all turned to greet you. Flustered at the sudden attention you took some time before nodding your head at them.

And it began: the unending fitting and picking at you.The seamstresses tried their best to be delicate with you but sometimes they pricked you by mistake having been pressed for time.

"Your grace." Everyone greeted in unison.

You inhaled sharply before turning to face the least appealing person at the moment for you.

Unlike from your last encounter, there was not a trace of emotions on his face. Although when his eyes locked with you something unnamed stirred underneath it.

He studied you head to toe. You were wrapped up in the finest white silks with your house's cloak cascading from your shoulders.

You only inclined your head in greeting deliberately trying to avoid any kind of conversation with him but it would seem everyone else in the room was awaiting with scrutinizing eyes for your interaction with the prince.

With a forced smile Eris strutted his way towards you and the faes helping you took a few steps back to give you some privacy.

You studied your intended as he stopped in front of you. He was in his usual court garbs with his cropped red hair slicked back to reveal a little of his forehead. But it would seem on the way here he had managed to undo a few of the top buttons of his shirt revealing some of his defined tanned chest to the room.

He captured your cheek in his hands and pressed his lips firmly on your forehead.

"How are you this fine day, princess?"

The nearby faes swooning as though Eris was declaring his eternal love for you.

"Better now that I have seen your beautiful face my sunshine." You replied with the fakest smile adorning your face as you gripped his hand.

"That endearment is surely a choice."

The familiar weight of his gaze settled on you as the seamstresses finally excused themselves from near you.

At that you dropped his hand immediately."Which is why we must stop calling each other these vain nicknames."

"Never." He grinned as if you served him his favourite food on a platter.

"Surely you could keep all that limited between you and your paramour." You continued with all the disgust you could muster coating your voice.

Eris Vanserra's face turned grim at that and he answered with a question.

"You would know all about that wouldn't you?"

" Know all about what ?"

The words caused both of your spines to snap straight as you turned to face the Lady Aelia of Autumn. When did she arrive? Surely you would have noticed the sound of her footsteps before she entered the room?

"Mother I didn't expect to see you here." Eris stammered out the words.

"Know all about what?" She pinned, perfect brow lifted while studying you and Eris.

Lady Aelia remained clueless to the rift between you and Eris pertaining to the matters of your respective secret lovers. And you would like her to continue remaining unaware of it.

Though how Eris had managed to keep Lady Alena Velon and his relation a secret under his mother’s watchful eyes was certainly impressive. What would happen if you’d reveal it to the Lady of Autumn? Not only would you have her on your side, Eris’s action would be reprimanded. But what is the surety of Eris not doing the same with you? It was too great of a risk and it would certainly destroy you -a female much more than it would destroy him.

You were to be husband and wife now. There was no need to drag Lady Aelia to your arguments. You shall hold this secret close to you and use it to your benefit in the future.

"It was of no importance mother." You jumped to save both of you. Eris pivoting to look at you with shock having heard the way you addressed his mother.

"We were merely talking about each other's interests." You finished.

At your words Lady Aelia's eyes softened on your face as though she knew of something you didn't but had spared you of it.

"That gives me comfort my dear ."she answered before taking a seat near the refreshments table and declaring to the room.

"Let us proceed with the fitting ."

As you walked away from him, Eris was left puzzled as to why you did not expose him to his mother. Eris watched your back as you walked away towards the waiting seamstresses. You always carried that ruthlessness in your stride— spine straight, chest pushed out, eyes straightforward.

A shudder snaked down his spine and in between his legs, where it had no right going to.

--

You glimpsed at Lyna through the gilded mirror as she finishes lacing up your dress.

It has been quite a few days since your last dispute with Eris. You remained in the Forest House restless and short tempered most of the time and your concerns regarding the lack of contact between you and Senkas surely did not help with matters.

"My lady let us go for a walk." Lyna suggested as if she could see the war inside your head. She was lovely. She had been your closest female companion since your childhood. Growing up there were not many people who you could call your friends and the bad name to your family certainly didn't help. Therefore Lyna was someone you cherished with all your heart.

So when she asked for your company you agreed immediately. Moreover being confined in your chambers and worrying yourself to death surely aren't going to help with your uneasiness.

--

On your way to the open courtyard, servants and sentries alike greeted you here and there. Everyone working in the palace had some kind of chore to do. Whether it be buying ingredients for the grand feast for royal wedding that had been promised to the members of the court or be it decorating every nook and corner.

Even with magic it was a tedious job due to which even Lyna was pulled from your side.

In the golden hour The Forest House was truly a sight to behold. The red splashed leaves created a picturesque beauty all around. You allowed yourself to bask in the tranquility of it but like always the cauldron's fate was never on your side.

"Lady Tarsa. Join us." Someone bellowed from the open courtyard.

Right there, smack dab in the middle of it stood the Autumn princes beckoning you towards them.

You looked at them through narrowed eyes before schooling your features into an amiable expression and walking towards them.

You gathered that they were about to set off for hunting in the forest from their bows and arrows.

"Am I to still call you that or something better? Like sister? Or perhaps Princess." It was Prince Blaze ,the second youngest and definitely the most disgusting son of Beron Vanserra. Rumours of him being a sadistic bastard were not uncommon in court. Thus the grin on his face certainly did its job of making you feel uneasy.

"Don't be an ass Blaze." Surprisingly it was Drystan, the second eldest who came to your defence and you found yourself gravitating closer to him.

"Come on brother surely she can take the heat. I just assumed hailing from the traitor's family should have made her thick skinned."

Your nails tattooed crescent shaped marks onto your palms as rage and bloodlust rushed through your veins. Don't kill him.

Do not kill him.

Just then Eris stepped away from his horse and strutted closer to you.

Eris stared at you blankly."What are you doing here ?"

You exclaimed with your hand on your chest. "It is a beautiful day is it not your grace. I am not a prisoner am I? Surely I am allowed to roam the palace grounds to my heart's content."

"You know that is not what I meant."He pushed closer to you instinctively.

A saccharine smile was what he received as you snaked your arms around his neck. "I know darling."

"Whatever you are planning y/n you better stop." He whispered so low that only you could hear his warning.

"You wound me my love. I would never."

Eris narrowed his eyes at that.

As you felt everyone's eyes on you, you leaned in and kissed his cheek fondly.

You could hear his bastard brothers laughing themselves to the ground at the action.

" Have a safe hunt."you smiled up at Eris.

Eris stared at you stunned by your open affections ,no matter how fake they were.