#eiris snippets

“Steady, steady.” Nevien said slowly and Iris focused on the Head Healer’s words as she let her magic flow through. “You want it to feel soft, like the wind is caressing the skin when you’re healing a flesh wound like this.”

Nodding, Iris continued slowly mending the soldier's wounds. He had gotten injured on the border — some beast had attacked and sliced his arm. She watched, and it never ceased to amaze her how magic mended, ensuring the wound had been thoroughly healed. Sitting back she glanced at Nevien, who inspected her work then smiled warmly.

“Excellent work, your highness. Feel free to wash up.” 

Iris returned the smile and nodded to the soldier who bowed his head in return. She knew he was one of Eris’s men based on where he was stationed and hoped whatever beast roamed had been thoroughly dealt with. “Rest easy.”

She quickly walked over and carefully scrubbed and washed her hands, counting in her head to ensure her hands were squeaky clean when it fell silent around her.

“High Lord.” Nevien’s voice greeted and Iris turned to find her husband standing in the doorway of the infirmary with a thin smile. 

“Nevien.” he nodded and gestured with his chin to the soldier Iris had just treated. “You’re all patched up, Percy?”

Percy stood and nodded, bowing to Eris, then to Iris and then leaving. Nevien nodded her head to him and moved on to her next patient as Eris stalked over to his wife.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him, her eyes roaming over his clothing, noting the weapons on him. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh, you didn’t hear? I was gravely injured and needed to see my wife so you can heal me immediately.” he said quietly and Iris felt her heart stop.

“Injured where?” she said as calmly as possible, her hands sliding all over him, sensing and seeking where he needed fixing. She would not panic. If he was still standing, he had to be fine.

Eris’s lips twitched and he grasped her hands in his, leaning closely to whisper, “On my lips. I’m in pain and I need you to make it feel better with your lips.”

Iris’s expression flattened and she shot him a glare. “You bastard.” she snapped. “I thought something was actually wrong with you!”

“There is. I wanted to kiss my wife and she was far away. That seems very wrong to me.”

Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her raging heart. She didn’t think it would look too well if she throttled the High Lord in front of people. 

“You are a piece of work.” she muttered and yanked her hands away from him. “Get out of here so people who actually need help can find it.”

“Wife.” he said indignantly and crowded her space once more, backing her against the sink. “Don’t ignore my pain. I need you to fix it.”

“We are in the middle of the infirmary, you pig. Have some respect.” she hissed, and tried to push him back. “People can see us.”

“I assure you no one is paying any attention to us.” he said, the corner of his mouth curling up. “I have my shields in place.”

Iris rolled her eyes and hesitated for a moment before leaning up and quickly pecking his lips. “There. Now go away.”

But Eris only smirked and shook his head. “You do love to play games, wife.”  he said and Iris knew his shields were gone when he stepped back and Nevien’s eyes flickered over to them for a moment. Right before Eris unsheathed a dagger and opened his palm. Before Iris could stop him, he had sliced open his hand and sheathed the dagger once more, giving her a look of complete innocence. 

“I’m injured, wife. Won’t you treat me?”

Iris made a noise of disbelief, her hands frozen in midair when she had tried to reach out to him. “Have you lost your mind?” she whisper-shrieked. 

But Eris only grinned and stalked over to the nearest empty bed and flopped rather dramatically on it. “I think I’m going to bleed to death. Whatever am I going to do?”

Iris shot Nevien an embarrassed smile that the healer pretended not to see and grabbed a small cleaning kit before she stalked over to her idiotic husband’s bed and nearly ripped the curtain closing it around them. 

“I have one question for you.” Iris started and Eris grinned at her.

“Yes, I would delight bedding you right here, right now, little gazelle.”

“Are you insane?”

“Probably. In some capacity, I’d say.” 

Iris glared at him and dropped next to him on the mattress, shoving him back. “You’re an idiot, is what you are.”

“Your bedside manner needs work, wife.” he said as she yanked his hand towards. “Then again, you being mean to me worked out well for us.”

“I am going to truly injure you if you don’t shut your mouth.

“Oh, yes. Keep being mean to me. It gets me worked up every time.”

“If you want attention next time, just say so.” she muttered and even though her tone was violent, her hands were gentle as she cleaned his hand and healed it. “You giant child.”

Eris’s lips twitched. “I did. You ignored me.”

Iris shot him a murderous look that had him clamping his lips together, fighting back a laugh. He stayed silent until she had gently wrapped a bandage around it.

“There. Your unnecessary injury is all patched up.” she said and sat back. “Even though you are fully capable of healing it yourself.”

“Why would I do that when I could have the prettiest healer’s hand on me?” he said with a smirk that had Iris rolling her eyes. 

“You’re an idiot.” she muttered again and watched him for a moment more, as he watched her. And just as Eris aimed to open his mouth and say more, Iris had leaned closer and yanked him by the front of his shirt. She kissed him furiously and Eris immediately cupped the back of her head with his uninjuried hand and kissed her as intensely as she kissed him. 

Only when they finally needed air and Eris began to do things with this mouth that would make Iris’s clothes disappear too quickly, did Iris pull back with a deep breath. She swallowed and adjusted his shirt then smoothed down her own dress before glancing at him.

“Hurt yourself on purpose again like that again and I’ll skin you alive.” she deadpanned and for good measure, kissed him quickly once more then stood, and yanked the curtain open to walk away from him. “Idiot.”

He gaped at his wife, who had walked out of their bathroom with Sirius at her heels, and could only watch in silence as she paused at their vanity and began to apply her nightly lotion routine.

But tonight — he could see every inch of her skin beneath that sheer gown. That lovely little gown that was going to be ripped off immediately. 

“What are you wearing.” 

And his tone had her look over her shoulder at him, her hands sliding down her arms as she smoothed the cream.

“This?” she said with a small smile. “I found it in the closet and didn’t want it to go to waste. ”

“Right.”

“Do you like it?” she asked and tilted her head, turning back to watch him through the mirror. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

Pretty. She thought it was pretty. He thought it was magnificent. 

“I like the material. It’s very soft against my skin.” she continued and Eris was rock hard as he watched her.

“Mm.” he could only say.

“I need to visit the modiste and see if she can make me more like these.” she said distractingly and Eris knew he would pay thousands to get her an endless supply of gowns like this.

But first. He would play.

“Iris.”

She looked back at him with a smile that made him nearly come right then. “Yes?”

“Get over here.” he demanded and the voice he used had Sirius immediately finding a corner of the room to settle down far away from them.

Iris quirked a brow and turned back to the mirror, the corner of her mouth ticking up. “I’ll come over when I’m done.”

A smirk slowly appeared on Eris’ face, his gaze predatory as he watched his wife. “Oh, you’ll come when I tell you, wife.” he said and fought back a grin at the gooseflesh he could see already erupting on her skin. “You know what happens if you don’t listen.”

Iris bit the inside of her cheek and met his gaze again. “I must’ve forgotten. What happens, husband?”

And Eris’s cock hardened further. “I make you beg for it.”

"Did you hear about Lord Braham's engagement? He's going to wed Lady Arabella. I met her once. She seems nice."

Iris's voice floated over to him from where she sat at their shared vanity and he lowered the reports in his hands to gaze over at her. He watched her silently for a moment, his lips twitching as she slathered the lotion all down her arms and up again, sliding to her shoulders. He continued to watch as rubbed gently beneath the straps of her lilac-colored gown, the strap slipping down for a moment until she adjusted them again. 

Eris really did like that color on her. It looked so lovely against her skin. He’d tear it off later.

His gaze focused back on his reports. 

"I did hear. Braham came to me first to indicate his intentions and invite us to the party." he said absently. "Lady Arabella will be good for him."

"But is he good for her?" Iris asked and Eris glanced up again as she started to shuffle over, Lyra wagging her tail at her feet before settling at the foot of the bed. He watched his lovely wife climb their bed and crawl over to him until she was seated on her knees in front of him with a scowl.

"What did we say about this?" she asked, pointing to the papers in his hands and Eris glanced down then back at her with a sigh.

"It's just a short report."

"Yes, but what did we agree on?"

"I'm almost done reading it through."

"That's not what I asked." she said and flicked the sheets in his hand. "What did we agree on?"

He pursed his lips then let out a rather dramatic, long-suffering sigh. "No work in our chambers."

"No work in our chambers." she repeated and gestured for him to the papers. With a wave of his hands, the report disappeared to his office desk and instead, he focused on his wife.

"You're so pushy."

“I wouldn’t have to ask twice if you had listened the first time.”

Eris snorted. “Don’t blame me for having an excellent work ethic.”

“I will if it comes at the expense of everything else.” she said with a firm look. “Specifically when every other aspect of you is in abysmal condition.”

Eris made a disapproving noise. “I am offended, wife.”

“Kiss my ass, husband.” she only said and shifted so her back was to him. "Now be quiet and help me with my hair." 

Eris couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him and sat up, giving Iris room to shuffle back until she sat between his legs and handed Eris her brush.

"You didn't answer my question about Braham." she asked and closed her eyes as his fingers began a gentle massage through her hair. "Will he be good for Arabella? I heard he's a rake."

"Rakes make the best husbands." he said quietly, focusing on the strands of her silky hair between his fingers. 

"Not when they're cheating on their wives."

"Ah, you are correct." he said and leaned in to place a delicate kiss on the tip of her ear and grinned when she shivered. “I should say reformed rakes make the best husband. Look what you’ve done to me.”

“Because you knew better and I know how to use a knife.” Iris said and shot him a smile over her shoulder that had him chuckling.

“Oh absolutely,” he said and brushed her hair gently. “But yes, Braham will be good for her. He’s only been in love with her his whole life.”

“I heard he waited this long because she was promised to another.” Iris asked in a hushed whisper.

Eris tsked as he placed the brush down and split her hair into three sections to start braiding it. “I didn’t know my wife subscribed to the gossip of this court.”

“You told me to learn about my people.” she said and gave him a smirk over her shoulder before facing forward again. “Besides, this is how Mother knows everything about everyone. We listen for it.” 

Eris shook his head with a snort and finished off her braid with a tug. “Trust my mother. She never says a word about anyone but knows everything there is to know.”

“The key to knowing all the gossip is to be a great listener.” Iris confirmed and turned to face him. “We listen and then only share with each other. You wouldn’t believe the things you’d hear if you just remained quiet.” 

“Well, I find everything out because people are scared not to tell me.” he said with a smirk that had Iris rolling her eyes. “You wouldn’t believe how afraid they are that I hear about something from anyone other than the direct source.”

Iris snorted. “You love gossip as much as anyone else.”

“It’s not gossip when I have to know things to protect my people.”

“And knowing about the reformed rake's love stories is vital to safety, how?”

“It is when the jilted fiance Arabella left for Braham is threatening to murder them both at their engagement.” Eris said and laughed at Iris’s dramatic gasp.

“No!”

“Oh yes.” Eris said. “But we settled it before it got out of hand. She never wanted him anyway so it’s about time he moved on.”

Iris’s face lit up in curiosity and she quickly slid Eris’s glasses off his face and reached across him to place them on the nightstand. Pushing him down rather roughly, she tangled her legs with his, and settled with her chin on his chest. “What else did you hear? I want to know everything.”

Eris let out a low laugh and wrapped an arm around him, squeezing. “Nosy, are we?”

“As their future High Lady, I need to be informed about these things.” she said matter-of-factly. “Tell me so I can tell you what I found out about Lord Piers in my lessons today.” 

Eris shook his head, his lips twitching as he brushed back her loosely braided hair. “You’re turning out to be just as sneaky as my informants.”

“Maybe.” Iris said with a grin. “But I don’t think they get to kiss the Prince while giving him reports.”

“I think we should go back home.”

“I think we should knock on the door instead.”

“No, I really think we should leave.”

Iris rolled her eyes and brought a hand to her hip, turning to her husband. She pointed with her other hand. “We are already here and we were invited,” she said. “What could possibly be the problem?”

Eris grimaced and then scowled, his eyes drifting to the front door of Lucien and Elain’s home. He could already hear the commotion. “The problem is that I have changed my mind. I don’t want to see these people.”

Iris shoved his shoulder and he glared at her. “You’re being childish. I want to meet everyone.”

“Why? They’re all obnoxious and infuriating.”

Iris narrowed her eyes and her lips twitched before she cleared her throat and said in the most serious of voices, “Are you worried that I’m meeting the two females you were trying to marry before me in one place?” she asked innocently. 

“No. That has nothing to do with —”

“Because it’s okay, I’m not jealous. I’m very curious to meet them.”

“Which is something I don’t understand —”

“I know they must be very beautiful.”

Eris closed his eyes and hoped someone would assassinate him on the spot. After a deep breath, he opened his eyes to glare at her.

“Are you fishing for compliments? You already know that I think you’re more beautiful than any other female I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Iris fought back a smile and sighed dramatically instead. “It definitely doesn’t bother me that it took only three dances for you to propose to Nesta.” she said and pouted slightly. 

Eris’s hands twitched at his sides. “That is completely beside the point. I was a different person at that time.”

“Maybe.” Iris said quietly, looking down at her feet sadly for good measure. “I never got a proposal.”

“I met you the day of the wedding.” he said, a hint of desperation in his tone. “That doesn’t mean that I —”

“If anything, I should be the one feeling awkward to meet the two females you were interested in.”

“I was never interested in Mor that way —”

She glanced up at him, all earnest and sad. “Do you know what it feels like to be compared to two of the most devastatingly beautiful females that people mention all the time?”

“Iris —”

“If only you would take my feelings into account —”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to by having us go back home —”

“So you don’t think I can handle being in the same room with them?”

“I never said —”

“Of course, you wouldn’t. I must be a wilted weed next to those two blossoming flowers.”

“Iris —”

“I thought you had more faith in me but I guess against two of your old flames, how can I compare?” she said with another dramatic sigh. “I guess if you don’t think I measure up against them, we definitely should go back home.”

Eris let out a growl and firmly gripped her by the shoulders, particularly slamming her against him and Iris looked up at him with a wide grin. “If you say one more negative word about yourself I will tear off your clothes and fuck you right on that dinner table so everyone knows exactly how fucken beautiful I think you are and how you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. So help me, Iris I will do it!” he snarled and then glared at her. “Why are you smiling?!”

Iris finally let out a laugh and easing out of his grip, she yanked him down by his shirt and pulled him in for a soft kiss even as he scowled at her. She pecked his lips gently, over and over again, only easing back when he had finally calmed down.

“I’m glad to know where I stand.” she said softly, a little smile on her lips.

“You were teasing me.” he accused softly but Iris shrugged, pulling away.

“You were getting worked up for no reason,” she said then swatted his stomach. “We’re here to have a good time so pull your High Lord pants up and stop worrying for no reason. We’re going in and that’s final.”

Eris grimaced then sighed. “Fine.” he growled.  “Your methods are evil and I don’t appreciate it.”

Iris smirked up at him. “I do like to keep you on your toes.”

~

Elain and Lucien had welcomed them so enthusiastically and Elain particularly had a blast introducing Iris to everyone, especially because Iris was a little shy. Mor was very nice though distant (as expected), Nesta and Feyre were very welcoming (they know how close she is to Elain and know enough about her to be friendly), Gwyn and Emerie were very sweet, Rhys had already met Iris prior to this (so had Feyre when Eris became High Lord) and was gracious as ever, Cassian was too friendly for Eris’s liking, and Azriel was quiet but calm. Jurian was annoying per usual and Vassa loud and proud. 

Everything was going well! They were having a great time!

Until Cassian, who was already tipsy had given Eris a shit-eating grin that only meant trouble and said, “I wonder if Iris and I could’ve been friends before she met you. In another lifetime, I bet her and I would’ve —”