#gfics

The High Lord choked and sputtered, trying and failing to spit out the liquid. But with Eris’s blade still buried in him, and Eris’s fist digging into his skull, the High Lord was held in place and the room seemed to hold its breath as his father’s fire weakened and then disappeared entirely. 

A breath and then another as they watched the High Lord cough up blood, steam the only evidence that fire had run through his veins. 

And it was now, that Eris could see the flicker of uncertainty in his father’s gaze. The very slight panic. 

“Look at you now, High Lord,” Eris spat. “On the same power scale as a lowly human.” 

The taunt made Beron’s eyes flash and he staggered back, trying to throw Eris off, swinging blindly but, nothing would get through to Eris now.

His entire body was vibrating and he felt a crazed smirk on his face. Even with his blade in his father’s back, the High Lord was swinging and Eris was eager to meet him hit for hit. 

“Your crown is falling, father.” Eris breathed and slammed his fist of fire into the High Lord’s face. “It’s about time I caught it.” 

No one stopped him. No one interfered as Eris battered every inch of his father with his magic and fists. Swing after swing. Hit after hit. 

This was personal. 

This was retribution and revenge. This was a score that had long needed to be settled and Eris was a volcano that erupted. Every terrible memory he had of his father – of his family being chipped away and pulled apart replayed in his mind. 

He swung for the little boy he had once been. The little boy who had wished for a day when his father’s hand had been soft. Who had craved a world where his mother didn’t die a thousand deaths a day. Where the sounds of a whip didn’t haunt him. Where he didn’t have to hear his baby brothers suffer for breathing the wrong way.

He swung for the life he had lost, for the time that had passed, that had left him with a broken back, carrying this mountain of a weight. 

Eris’s grin was maniacal as the sound of bone crunching became a symphony to his ears, the feeling of his father’s blood coating his knuckles a soothing balm, his father sinking to his knees, weak, as broken as he had made Eris feel, his fist collided again and again and again. Nothing would stop him. He would let his magic consume him as long as it meant he could end his father here. As long as he could make this fucker feel a drop of what he had made them feel. Eris would burn himself to a crisp to end this. He wouldn’t stop until —

“Eris.”

That voice.

The only voice that could say his name like that. That could pull him out of anything.

A gentle hand touched his shoulder and he knew it could only be the one person who would break through his flames, his flames that would burn anyone but her. 

And the scene felt familiar as he paused, a hand gripping his father’s collar, his other fist posed to slam into the bastard’s face again. But he paused, breathing hard, and glanced over his shoulder to find his Iris standing by him.

Without using words, her expression said all that he needed to know, Don’t lose yourself now. This is not how it’ll end.

His gaze returned to his father’s face, bloodied, barely recognizable. He wanted to do more. He wanted to unleash his rage and pain more – return it to the bastard tenfolds. This was nothing. 

But Eris also knew this vengeance wasn’t his alone. With his expression full of disgust, Eris spat at his father’s feet then released his his body, leaning to yank his sword out, relishing in the wet sound of the blade leaving the High Lord’s body and the grunt of pain. 

Eris’s gaze landed on his mother. “Put him in his favorite place.” 

Lady Enya had been waiting. The magic she had been taught to fear, the same magic he had smothered out of her, was now vibrating through her skin. Like a beam of light, her fire wrapped itself around the High Lord and slammed his body into the throne he had stepped on his family to keep. 

Finn didn’t wait for a signal – twin daggers in hand, he leaped onto the dias and slammed a blade in each of his father’s arms, locking him in the throne. “This – this is for all the nightmares, you motherfucker.” 

Emil’s bow and arrow seemed to appear out of thin air as he docked an arrow, then another firing both in succession, in each of his father’s legs. “May your pain follow you into the pits of the hell you’ll rot in.”

Izak’s steps thundered as he swung and then rushed forward to bury his sword in his father’s stomach. “I look forward to pissing on your corpse, you piece of shit.” 

And Lucien – Eris watched as Lucien walked up to the High Lord’s bleeding body and with an expression of no remorse – buried his blade right into his father’s heart. “This is for Jesminda. I never forgave and I never forgot.” 

Eris’s body shook as he watched his father’s whole being tremble, the attacks catching up all at once as the High Lord shook pitifully. He glanced at Iris once and she lifted her chin, a nod of encouragement that made Eris reach for the Made dagger on his side. 

He’d been holding on to the blade, saving it for just this moment. 

He spat blood as he made his way to the dias, his brothers stepping back as he reached it. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Eris had been on his knees here, locked in by his father’s magic. 

Eris stood before Beron, bringing the Made dagger to his throat and the High Lord let out a ragged breath.

“Know that you did this to yourself and males like you will always be your own downfall,” Eris said, his voice like venom. “Rot in hell, father.”

Eris buried the blade in the High Lord’s throat and Beron could do nothing but choke – on his blood, his unspoken words, his rage. Eris stepped back, the garbling of his father’s life leaving his body like a melody to his ears. 

He refused to look away from the High Lord’s struggling body as he allowed his mother to step around him, slowly climbing the dias until she stood in all her fiery glory in front of the male she hated most.

“You will die as you lived,” she began, and though her voice was quiet, it carried across the hall, which still held its breath. “A foolish male with misplaced arrogance, suffering the wrath of your cruelty. You will be missed by no one.”

“E-Enya –” Beron gasped and Eris’s fists clenched but his mother didn’t shift.

“You no longer have the privilege of saying my name.” she continued. “May pain follow you in every lifetime, you bastard.” 

And the Lady of Autumn brought her hands together, eyes locked on Beron, and unleashed a burst of her flames straight into her husband, setting fire to the throne and the male locked in it.

With no magic to protect him, the High Lord’s body burned, his screams echoing in the halls he had haunted for as long as they could all remember. The fire that he had always used as a weapon, that had scorched everything for him, was now the very thing eating away at him.

The brothers stood and watched, bleeding and beaten, and yet could no one move away from this scene. Lady Enya took one step back and when the High Lord’s screams finally died down, she released her magic.

Eris swallowed hard at the sight of what was left of his father. Most of his body was gone and the bastard still wheezed. His body remained pinned by his son's weapons, half of Beron's face ravaged by the fire, yet his one brown eye fixated on Eris.

Eris’s expression was set, his footsteps firm as he moved to the dias. He would not be swayed by the sight and forced himself to feel nothing for his father. Not even an ounce of pity as he stood before the ruined throne, the crown meant to be his gleaming, unscathed upon what remained of his father’s head.

He didn’t let the sight of the decaying body deter him. The end was coming closer with every wheezed breath of the dying High Lord. 

Eris only took another step closer, and with his fist aflame, he gripped the crown off his father’s head, careful not to touch the High Lord himself whose breaths had started to come in quicker, as though he was fighting against the final moments of his miserable life. 

But Eris paid him no mind and turned back to face the room. 

The fighting had ceased, and all who remained stood facing him, watching as the current High Lord took his final breaths, the ending of the blood duel clear. He saw that his sentries had flooded the room, holding down the traitors. His hounds were scattered among the bodies, teeth bared as they waited for his command. He saw his remaining General, Serphan, alongside Henry Adler and the rest of his rebels. 

Forcing himself to take another breath, his eyes found his family, scanning his brothers and mother and finally, his gaze landed on the most important person in the room.

His wife.

His Iris.

Standing there, looking as exhausted as he felt, battered and smeared with blood as he knew he was but she had been there. Through this whole ordeal, she had been here. And they had both made it.

The thought slammed into him so suddenly and Eris sucked in a breath. 

They had made it. 

And it was like Iris could see the thought on his face because her lip trembled and she gave him that same encouraging nod that had spurred him through this fight.

They had made it and the Autumn Court would be given the chance to bloom in different hands.

And it was like the magic of the court heard his thoughts. He felt the ground beneath him thump. 

Glancing one final time at the nightmare of a father that had plagued his life, he didn’t break his gaze as the High Lord took a final breath and Eris fought the feeling of pity. For the male who had lost it all and would die hated. Who would be mourned by no one. 

He didn’t want to allow the feeling and yet, his father was the one who didn’t acknowledge emotions – who beat them out of his sons. And Eris was not his father. 

So he allowed the pity he felt to be fleeting. Only for a moment, as a reminder of what would become of those who succumbed to the dark.

Eris waited, as they all did, as time stood still. No one dared to move.

One final breath and then – he felt it. A slight shift in the very air that surrounded them. 

His father…was finally dead.

The High Lord of the Autumn Court was gone.

Eris’s grip tightened on his father’s crown as he turned to face the room once more, a deafening silence surrounding them. He looked to his family – to his wife.

He glanced at the people of his court now watching him with bated breath and his gaze dropped to the gleaming gold in his hand before holding it up, his fist still aflame. 

Eris swallowed, his mouth bone dry as he spoke, calmly, in a quiet tone that vibrated throughout the room, “I take this crown by blood and only by blood will I abandon it.”   

A breath – a heartbeat and Eris who was as ready as he’d ever been for the title he had coveted, felt the ground beneath his feet thump again. He felt it in his head. In his heart. He felt his entire body begin to beat in time with a magic they couldn’t see – a sacred power he could sense flooding the earth beneath him, traveling at the speed of light and — 

A shuddered breath slipped from the Crown Prince’s lips as the ancient magic of the Autumn Court line slammed into him. 

He gasped as the glorious magic of his court rushed through him and Eris felt his body become weightless. He was everything and nothing all at once as the magic filled his veins, his very blood singing at the sensation of power rushing through him. 

He was the Autumn Court – the High Lord who would bring a new dawn. He would change it for the better. He would be good and just and someone who cared. He would be the High Lord his people needed. 

The High Lord his family had needed. A leader he had needed.

And the magic seemed to hear his thoughts as fire burst out of him, engulfing him and Eris felt himself leave the ground, his body floating as flames licked every inch of him and buzzed beneath his skin.

The Autumn Court would be reborn and like a phoenix that rose from the ashes, so would this court and it would be his hand that led the way. 

Wings of flame burst out of his back and a small sound of surprise slipped from Eris’s lips as the crown in his head burned hot. He released it and before his eyes, the crown shifted then changed shape – no longer resembling the crown his father had worn.

No, this royal adornment was his, made for him and he would carry the weight of this court in his crown. 

Slowly, the magic that had lifted him released him to the ground and he stood aflame, the entire court watching as the ancient magic settled the newly formed crown on his head. 

Eris no longer had power. He was power. 

Power that would serve. Power that would protect. Power that would lead.

And power that would give them all a fighting chance against anything that was to come. 

All the exhaustion he had felt, his well of power that had been depleted – all of it was gone. Replaced with the magic that he had been born for. He felt renewed. Reborn. As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes found his light that had helped guide him to the end of the road. 

Iris stood next to his mother, her expression filled with awe and Eris wanted nothing more than to run to her. He wanted her in his arms where he could breathe her in and kiss her senseless but the ancient magic hadn’t fully released him yet and as Eris took him in the room around him, he knew his next step.

He straightened and addressed the room. “Our court’s magic has chosen me as your new High Lord and by this magic that I have been blessed with, I vow myself to this land and its people. I ask you all to follow as I lead.” 

Without a second of hesitation, his brothers sank to their knees one by one, each thumping a fist against their chests. He watched as his sentries and the rebels who believed his vow for change followed, pledging themselves to their new High Lord.

A wave of mixed emotions unfurled in his chest as his mother gave him a warm smile and bowed her head to her son and finally, Iris stood alone, glancing at him with such pride that it made him want to vomit. 

She moved closer to him and when she was a few feet away, Iris bowed with a hand to her chest. 

And Eris couldn’t take another moment where he didn’t touch her. He closed the distance between them and gently lifted her chin, aware of all the eyes and ears around them. 

“Never you,” he whispered and as Iris slowly stood, she gave him a dazzling smile that had his chest tightening. And what a pleasant surprise for him to find nothing but pure joy coursing through his veins as he looked at her. A feeling he wasn’t particularly familiar with and yet, expected nothing less every time he glanced at his mate.

They now had a lifetime to find more of it.

Taking his hand in hers, Iris shifted so she stood by his side as he faced the crowd. Eris gestured with his hand for his people to raise and as he moved, the flames from the ancient magic dimmed but did not extinguish as he addressed his court.

“Many changes will unfold in the days to come and there is much work to be done.” he began, his gaze sweeping the hall as he licked his lips. “I trust I can count on your cooperation and continue earning your loyalty.”  He allowed the weight of his words to settle before his tone hardened, for everything spoken here would be echoed throughout the land. “And those who decide to foolishly cling to the old way will find out just how swiftly the Vanserra line will be thrilled to eradicate them.” 

At the threat, the room stilled once again. Eris had fulfilled this vow many times as the Crown Prince. As High Lord, the consequences of this promise would be far greater.

It was Finn who spoke first. His second brother grinned, the fresh scar their father had given him adding to the menace in his expression as he thumped his fist to his chest again, and exclaimed loudly, “To the High Lord. May he live long and prosper with our court.” 

The hall echoed the words and Eris was grateful for the flames hiding the shaking in his legs, bowing his head as graciously as he had been taught. 

As he glanced around the room at the noise – the cheers, Eris took a shaky breath. This was it. 

His father was dead. They were all, by some incredible miracle, alive. And quite suddenly, Eris was overwhelmed. As much as he had longed for this moment, he hadn’t allowed himself to believe in it. He hadn’t let himself get too hopeful. His eyes swept the room again and he was filled with a sense of relief so vast, it almost made him stumble. 

There was much to be done. Find that troublesome daemati, free Mikel, clear out the traitors – 

And though Eris hadn’t allowed himself to be too hopeful, he had not wanted to go into a new regime without a plan. He had his new processes ready to go – but gods he could barely believe it. Barely breathe as the magic of High Lord thumped through his veins. He soaked in his people before him, in the various states they were in. His people. His court.

He watched as Izak ran up to Lucien and crushed him in a hug that had Lucien clearly struggling for air, a surprised expression on his youngest brother’s face. He saw Emil and Finn exchange – of all things – a fist bump and then his eyes found his mother again, standing with silent tears streaming down her face, surveying the court she was no longer the lady of.

She met Eris’s gaze and smiled. “I am so very proud of you, my son.” she said softly. “I can’t wait to see what you do.” 

A warmth that had nothing to do with his flames spread across his body, a small smile on his face. “And I look forward to showing you,” he said then nodded towards Lucien. “But I do believe there is someone very eager to see you and your escort is already here.” 

His mother flushed lightly, a small smile blooming on her face. “So quick to ship me off.” she teased, wiping at her face. As though they weren’t all aware of how desperately she had wanted to leave this prison. Even if her jailer was no longer here to haunt her. 

Eris couldn’t help his very tired chuckle. “I’d rather Day didn’t storm my court so soon after I took it.”

Lady Enya laughed softly, her eyes on Lucien as she said, “No, I’d rather we didn’t have that either.”  

Eris could already hear Izak rapidly making plans to join Lucien and his mother to get to his wife but no sooner had he tried to tune into the conversation than he saw Emil run towards the hall entrance.

He had Cosette in his arms faster than Eris had blinked and his brother who never showed his hand was now cupping his lover’s face reverently, as tears streamed down her face. 

Behind Cosette was Theo, his eyes scanning the room wildly, looking for Finn, who for once in his life, stood quietly, almost frozen to his spot. His brother had barely taken a step when Theo launched himself at Finn and it took his brother a few moments of shock before he finally wrapped his arms around the blacksmith and buried his face into his neck.

Eris felt himself about to collapse. 

The vulnerability in the air seemed to stun everyone in the room, especially its new High Lord. 

This was unprecedented. A territory no one in the Autumn Court had ever ventured into. 

All these disgusting feelings surrounded them and Eris wondered what everyone in this fucked up court would do when they didn’t have to be as repressed as they had been. 

But despite that, Eris knew what a lasting image this would leave. He knew this was what they had bled for. This was hard won and this joy was heavily made. He could lead them forward and show them how a blade could be of steel or silk and how both would help this court prosper. 

He would make sure of it. And as he watched everyone around him forget about their new High Lord for a moment to rejoice in this new sense of freedom, he couldn’t stop himself from blinking rapidly, his throat suddenly tight – 

“This is real, right?” he rasped to his other half, his mate, his love, and Iris squeezed his hand until he allowed himself to glance at her. 

“It is real. He’s gone.” she reassured him and Eris allowed himself another breath. 

“And everyone is –”

“Everyone is alive. We are alright.” 

Eris shook his head almost helplessly as he soaked in the sight of her, as if seeing her for the first time. He had almost lost her. He could still see the blood and bruises that had adorned her body. His hands began to shake again. “But you –”

“I am here. I am alright. What you see is real.” Iris confirmed again, feeling her heart break at his expression, squeezing his hand once more.

“I’m –”

“The new High Lord.”

“Because –”

“Your father is dead. You all won the blood duel against him. You took the crown.” she calmly stated. “The Autumn court is yours.” 

“The Autumn Court is mine.” he repeated faintly and Iris’s expression softened. 

“Yes. Yes, it is.” 

“Wife.” he said and the word was so soft, so heartbreakingly tender that Iris felt herself the one about to crumble. 

“Husband.” she whispered back and the bond between them sat there, bright, holding steady as they watched each other, the chaos around them going quiet. 

“I’m going to throw up.” he whispered and Iris couldn’t help her teary-eyed laugh as she took his other hand and held both tightly in hers.

“No, you most certainly will not,” she warned. “You’ll have to wait until we’re alone to do that. For now…let yourself soak it in.”

“Soak it in?” he repeated, almost in a daze and Iris couldn’t help allowing her feelings to finally get the better of her as tears filled her eyes and began to fall.

“Eris.” she began in that tone that always made his wretch heart tremble. “I have never in my life been as terrified as I was watching you today. Nothing could have prepared me and if I spend the rest of my days never seeing you fight again, it’ll still be too soon.” she said and gave him that smile she only ever reserved for him, gently touching his face. “But you kept your promise. You were the one left standing and you were extraordinary.” Her lips trembled and Eris’s heart wanted to cave in on itself, especially when she added, “I am proud of you and proud to be next to you as you move forward.”

Eris’s hand brushed away her tears, the corner of his mouth lifting as every part of him deflated with ease at her presence, at her words. “I told you, nothing would hold my body from crawling back to you and I am grateful to have you with me.” he murmured, nuzzling into her hand, pressing a kiss into it. “My wife. My friend. My mate.” 

Iris’s hand didn’t move from his cheek, the other resting on his chest as she finally, finally said the words she’d been holding onto for him. “Eris,” she began and when his expression shifted, Iris knew he was bracing himself for her next words. The ones he had wanted to come back to. “I love you. I love you and I am proud of you and honored to be here with you,” she whispered, her eyes locked on his. “You are my friend, my husband, and my home. With everything that I am and will ever be, I love you.” 

He let the words wash over him and for the first time in a long time, Eris felt his lips tremble, his face heating, the words he had craved to hear from her echoing through his bones. 

She loved him and gods, did he love her. Eris yearned for nothing more than to be standing here, with her hands touching him, her words warming him, and for the rest of the world to fade away. 

He wanted to kiss her senselessly. Eris wanted nothing more than to sink into his wife and everything else be damned. He wanted to taste her and love her – to cherish her with everything he had. But not here. Not now. 

When he kissed his wife, he needed them to be alone. Because the moment Eris’s lips touched hers, he would shirk all his duties and nothing would pull him away. It would be filthy, just the way he liked it.

As if she heard his thoughts, Iris’s face flushed beautifully. “Scoundrel.” 

Chuckling, Eris allowed himself to rest his forehead against hers, closing his eyes to do as she suggested – soak it all in. “Careful wife, you sound like like you’re obsessed with me.”

Iris smiled, her hands clinging to the front of his tunic. “How embarrassing, I think you found me out.” 

There was so much to be done. So many tasks to be handled. His mind was already creating list upon list of things to be managed. The next few weeks – months would be full of trials and for anyone else this might seem daunting but for Eris, it was all he ever wanted. 

He had everything he had ever needed. He could handle anything that was to come. 

They were all safe. They could have a moment of peace. 

Eris barely had a moment to breathe through the effects of the faebane when his father’s fire slammed into him and propelled him through the glamour hiding them, straight across the room. He landed with a grunt among the startled crowds as they gasped – even screamed at his sudden appearance.

He didn’t give himself a moment to let his father catch him in this vulnerable position and quickly twisted on his knees, slowly standing and trying to get a sense of his magic; the deep well he had been storing for months – all of it in was empty. 

Eris had deeply miscalculated. 

He should’ve drank his antidote sooner and now he didn’t have time to grab it as the High Lord began his casual stroll down the dais, his eyes never leaving Eris as the crowd slowly parted in shock, backing away from father and son.

“In the last few days something truly harrowing has come to my attention.” the High Lord said, addressing the room as he walked toward Eris. “And it pains me to share this news with you all on what should be a celebratory night.” 

The High Lord spoke in an airy tone and Eris bared his teeth as he braced himself against his father. “Why did you bother standing? Traitors kneel.”

And his father had certainly been holding back earlier because when he slammed his magic into Eris, it made him double over in pain that he hadn’t felt in a long time as the High Lord forced him to his knees. “Father.” 

Beron stood before his son, grimacing down at him then glanced at the crowd around them. “I can see how confusing this must be, to watch your High Lord bring your crown prince to his knees.” the High Lord continued. “But you see…my sons have betrayed me and the people of this court. There has been a plot for my demise.” 

Eris struggled against the force of his father’s magic, his muscles straining as he glared at the High Lord. “Do not twist the situation!” Eris seethed. “You are the only one who betrayed this court.”

Beron scowled, waving his hand as his magic wrapped around Eris’s throat and squeezed. “As your High Lord, it is my duty to protect this court from those who try to undermine its stability. My sons have threatened to do just that,” he said, still in that light tone that made Eris’s blood boil and glanced at the crowd. “They have plotted against me and in doing so, broke my heart and cast light on the unfortunate reality of traitors amongst us. And as you all know, I do not take treason lightly.” 

Whispers traveled among the crowd as they watched this unfold in shock and disbelief, unease spreading but Eris paid them no mind. He only gritted his teeth, his mind racing for a way to break free of his father’s hold but didn’t dare glance at the archers or his sentries who should’ve been infiltrating the room. 

Beron raised a hand, silencing the hall with a single gesture. "My loyal subjects," he began, his voice carrying across the room. “It grieves me to reveal the betrayal that has festered from within my family but rest assured, no one is above my law, not even my own flesh and blood and I will purge this court of their poison.” His gaze swept the room before landing back on Eris who was panting, fighting to escape the contained bubble his father had him in. “Starting with my eldest son.”

Eris’s gaze was livid as Beron stepped closer to him. “After everything I have given you, you still conspired against me and dragged your mother and brothers into it, breaking this family apart.” 

“That is not –”

His father’s magic slammed into him and Eris groaned as the High Lord gripped him by the collar and slammed his fist in Eris’s face. “I hereby strip you of your title as crown prince.” His father’s fist slammed into his throat and Eris wheezed as he felt his airway close. “Your assets.” Another fist slammed into his chest. “Alongside any and all privileges you had as my son.” 

Eris knew just how personal this moment was for his father to use his own fists to beat him. To try and break him in front of the court. He knew just how angry the High Lord was as blood clogged his throat from the fist of fire his father landed to his gut and he wheezed a breath as Beron pulled him up by the front of his shirt. “You are no son of mine and will rot as a traitor in our dungeons. Your wife will share your fate and so will whichever of your brothers side with you.” 

The High Lord dropped his son and Eris felt himself sag on his knees, breathing heavily as he braced himself on shaky arms. It was fine. He’d taken beatings. He’d bled like this before. He would be fine.

Especially because his father’s magic had released him and Eris spat blood, his ears ringing as the High Lord continued to give his speech. He blinked his watery eyes, every inch of him in pain, wheezing another tight breath through his achy throat and he raised a shaky hand to his jacket, patting for the antidote. If he took it now, he would be fine. He could get back on his feet and launch his attack. 

“Ah, my other sons.” 

Eris’s head snapped to the side and he watched as Finn and Izak staggered to a halt, both slightly battered as though coming back from a fight themselves; Izak’s sword was coated with blood as were Finn’s twin blades. 

“You come with raised weapons and expect me to believe you haven’t betrayed me.” The High Lord mused but there was no light in his eyes as he observed Izak and Finn slowly walking around him to reach Eris; only hatred shown in the High Lord’s dead gaze – only promised violence.

“We were attacked by soldiers that were not our own.” Finn spat. “Who would’ve ordered that hit, Father?” 

The High Lord merely lifted a brow. “If you weren’t slinking around like thieves, this wouldn’t have happened to you.”

“Enough is enough.” Izak snarled. “You need to –”

“Ah, I see even my beast has turned on me,” Beron said, chuckling lightly and Eris felt his vision go red as Izak flushed deeply, anger rolling off his brother in waves. “I can’t count on you to gut your brothers for me now, can I?”

Before Eris could force himself to take a breath, the High Lord’s magic lashed out and threw him into his brothers, the three of them staggering back. Izak quickly straightened and shielded them. “The only person I am itching to gut here is you.”

“You threaten your High Lord so easily,” Beron said quietly, yet that promised violence in his tone carried throughout the room. “You are what I made you and yet, you bite the hand that fed you after all these years.”

Eris mustered his rage and again, tapped his jacket quickly. He needed that fucken antidote now and before his father noticed. 

Finn carefully stepped in front of him, next to Izak as Eris’s hands shakily closed around the vial. Carefully uncorking the antidote, he swallowed it in one shot and felt his whole body shudder as his magic coursed through him almost explosively, awakening through his veins. Eris panted, gave himself a moment to be overwhelmed then rolled his head back as he slowly rose, turning to face his father, moving in front of his brothers who flanked him.

Eris’s glare was a fiery branding standing before his father, his chest rising and falling as he tried to continue his breathing. “How can you stand there and say everything you’re saying in front of the court and think they won’t see you for who you are?” he snarled. 

Beron spared a glance to the crowd that was still watching this all unfold with bated breath. He let a heartbeat pass for a moment before glancing back at Eris. “And who am I, Eris?”

“A plague that’s rotted this land for far too long.” he spat and finally allowed his fists to burst into flame. “Tell me where the fuck my wife is.” 

Beron watched his sons stand together and tilted his head, seeming to weigh his next steps – his next words, and Eris’s chest tightened when a dark smile formed on his lips. 

“Ah, yes. My surprise.” the High Lord said and Eris’s heart sank. “Take a look. We are about to begin.”

Turning back to the crowd still helplessly watching this unfold, Beron waved a hand, his eyes never leaving his sons. “So that you all know that I am fair in my punishment, I want you to bring your gaze towards the dance floor and see for yourselves what becomes to those who even think to challenge the High Lord.”

Eris whirled and nearly choked as everything in him stilled. 

He felt his magic snuff out.

He forgot where he was. He forgot everything that was happening. His wrath. His father. His very breath. 

Everything before him slid away and he felt nothing but that thread at his ribcage. It ached. It burned.

His wife.

His mate. 

His worst nightmare was unfolding before him and Eris felt his body begin to shake at the sight – his wife and three others had appeared battered and bruised. 

He felt Finn’s rage behind him. He heard Izak’s sharp intake of breath.

But Eris felt nothing but sheer agony at the sight of his wife strung up on that fucken flogging pole and her bastard of a father standing beside her, smirking, a bloodied whip in his hand.

“No.”

The word slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it and if Eris had thought he had felt desperate before, it was nothing to the desperation clogging his throat right now.

“No.” 

Eris barely had the chance to take a step when his father’s magic slammed into him yet again, forcing him once more to his knees and he roared against it. He knew his brothers were right by him and Eris strained to crack it – to break against it as he desperately tried to get to Iris.

His father came into view, smiling his cruel smile, yanking his head back. “Should you try to fight against me, your wife’s skin will continue to bleed.” he sneered quietly. “Remember how powerless you are against me and how every bit of pain she will receive – and she will receive much more of it – is all your fault.”

Eris snarled as his magic tried to burst out of him but his father only chuckled, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him so he could face his wife.

He felt bile rise in his throat at the sight of her unconscious body, sagging against the flogging pole, his eyes cataloging the skin marred with bruises – the blood was trickling down her temple.

“Iris.”

His call was as frantic as he felt and Eris shuddered as his magic rolled through him but his wife didn’t move. He wasn’t even sure if she was breathing and Eris wanted to die.

But the bond – surely if she had — if something had taken her away — 

His gaze snagged on her dress and how it slipped down her shoulders, exposing the skin of her back but the thought left his mind as his father dropped him to the floor and then walked towards his wife. Panic unfurled in his chest as he tried to adjust himself, watching Beron observe Iris with a predatory look and that panic increased tenfold when his father met his gaze across the room.

“She’s so pretty tied up like this, is she not.” he taunted and Eris’s vision went red, steam rising from his hands.

“Don’t fucken touch her.” His demand was guttural, forcing himself not to lash out. His father was too close to his wife – he was too close to touching her –

The High Lord chuckled and Eris let out a wheezing sound as his father’s magic tightened on his windpipes, dread pounding beneath his skin. Because Beron took another step towards Iris then another, and Eris watched furiously as his father, as though he had all the time in the world, slowly ran a finger down Iris’s exposed back.

“How exciting is it to ruin what once was such soft skin.” the High Lord said quietly, glancing at the blood coating his finger and then smiling at Eris. “How lovely she will be with scars.”

“I said don’t fucken touch her.” he snarled wildly then choked as the High Lord squeezed hard enough, black lined his vision. “I will kill you I will —” 

Even across the room, the High Lord’s magic tightened his grip on Eris’s throat as they watched each other and the High Lord tsked. “Don’t be selfish, Eris. Your wife isn’t the only one here. Think of how your brothers must be feeling.” 

The rage of a thousand suns rushed through him and he knew his glare was spitting fire as his father smirked at him, knowing how badly the bastard had crossed a line. 

Because Eris saw how Theo was barely breathing and knew Finn was frozen in place watching in disbelief. He knew the kind of thoughts that had to be crossing Izak’s mind watching his father-in-law lying lifeless. He could only imagine what Emil would do to see Cosette trembling in tears, blood coating her skin. 

The urge to kill kill kill kill pounded through him like a symphony. 

And Eris’s whole being began to shake again as the High Lord’s fire held him in place, forcing him further to the ground. Eris struggled against it but something was different about his father’s magic this time. It was more vicious – more brutal and it seemed to attack him with every breath he made as the High Lord waved a hand to Aron who stepped back.

“I knew you were a coward,” Eris spat venomously. “I didn’t think you’d need to have us held down to overpower us you filthy piece of shit. I will –”

“Did you know?” Beron said, ignoring Eris’s rant, his eyes darkening as he stared down at his son. “Apparently your wife so graciously volunteered to take all the lashings for the other three,” As his gaze returned to Iris’s bloodied back, the cruelty of his smile boarded on mania. “And just for your lip, I’ll begin the punishment myself.” 

Eris lost whatever air he had left. “Don’t you dare –”

“Unless of course, you’d like me to begin with the others? Spare your wife a little longer at the expense of your brothers watching people they care about suffer?” Beron asked mockingly. “We can make you dread the anticipation of what’s to come, hm?”

After all this already, his father had the nerve to toy with them even more. Despite how badly he was shaking, Eris felt just how tense Finn and Izak had gotten next to him. Ash clogged his throat and just as he was about to open his mouth, his father beat him to it. 

“But no. I’ve longed to make her bleed. To give her scars twin to yours,” he said and let out a chuckle that made the hair on Eris’s body rise. “I will finish what your father-in-law started and I will enjoy it.”

“You so much as touch that whip –” Eris threatened, panting, sweat pooling as his fire boiled beneath his skin and his father made the mistake of smiling.

Beron made his second mistake by taking another step toward Iris and Eris finally let himself detonate, consequences be damned. 

Every bit of self-restraint he’d had, every bit of calm and logic he had held to, came unloose — his roar sounding through the hall as the ground shook.

Beron’s magic tried to latch onto him again and he felt the High Lord’s power slam into him but Eris was too angry, too lost in his own rage – his magic held, shielding him.

He had enough of thinking logically – holding back for the sake of avoiding collateral damage. He would not stand there and let his wife take any more than she had already taken. 

Without a second thought, his magic flared and Eris sent a wave of his fiery magic straight for his father’s chest, and in the same breath, his hand lifted to give his archers their signal, sending ashwood arrows tipped in faebane for his father.

Then Eris paid it all no mind. He didn’t hear Finn’s roar or see him finally charging at their Father. He wasn’t truly aware of Izak’s bellow at their sentries to move forward. 

Everything around him was hazy. Eris felt detached from himself as he turned back towards his wife. He saw nothing but her – his fucken mate strung up and bleeding and Eris ceased to feel anything at all.

His head had never been quieter even as the world around him was so loud. 

People were yelling. There was rushed movement and the clashing of swords. But Eris heard none of it. He couldn’t focus on anything but Iris.

His Iris.

His wife.

The – the love of his wretched life. His light at the end of this very long tunnel.

What was the point of him and all his planning if she still ended up here? Hurt? Strung like a lamb for sacrifice? 

What was the point?

He wanted the sound of his dagger to sing with his father’s blood but first –

Eris took a step, then another, trying not to run as flame licked each footstep, tugging on the mating bond. He tugged and begged her to move, to look at him, to even shift her fingers as he moved closer. 

His hands began to shake as he kneeled before his wife and as gently as he could ever bring himself to touch her beautiful face, Eris lifted her chin.

The sight nearly broke him. 

The bruises on her face...gods they were far worse than he could have imagined up close. They peppered her beautiful face in splatters of dark reds and purples from the corner of her temples to her jawline and what parts of her face weren't covered in bruises, were covered in ruffled tendrils of hair. Gone was the tiara he had given her – Eris had no clue where it was and didn't care as he gingerly brushed her hair to the side, his palm brushing along a swollen cheek and the ugly warmth that accompanied it. Her beautiful dress had tattered edges near where the whip had touched and Eris didn’t want to look too closely at what he’d find on her back. He didn’t know if he could handle it. Even if it was all his fault this had happened. 

It was his fault for bringing this kind of pain into her life. He should’ve let her go sooner. He should’ve forced her to leave. 

He should’ve done so many things differently and now she was paying the price. 

So he forced himself to take a step around her and bile rose in his throat again at her exposed back, his shaking hands fisting at his sides.

His father hadn’t given an empty threat; her bloody scars would certainly match his own. 

The silence that had been in his head was now filled with roaring. Anger surged through him, his vision blurred, and the dormant volcano he had kept on his magic was thumping violently in his veins. He was primal fury and if Iris didn’t wake or move or react to him in some way, he was going to kill everyone in this room then himself, starting with his fucken father. He tugged on the bond again and returned to her side, kneeling once more.

“Little gazelle,” he whispered and everything in him ached – everything hurt. She had been going through this while he had been here. He had left her to this fate. “Please tell me you can hear me.” He begged softly. “Please tell me you haven’t left me.” 

But Iris didn’t respond and Eris’s hands started shaking again. “Iris, love. Please.” he pleaded. “Anything – give me anything, Iris. I can’t do this without you, please –” 

“He – he went hard on her.” 

Eris whipped his head to the voice that had spoken and found that it was Theo on his knees, chained a few feet from his wife. “What.”

Theo licked his lips and Eris noted the blood dripping from a cut on his cheek and how roughed up he looked, bruises all over him. “Her father. He wasn’t supposed to touch her until we got here but he – he enjoyed it too much. The fucker wouldn’t stop.” he said hoarsely. “She did it to save us. She took the brunt of it so Cosette and I wouldn’t.” 

And Eris could see the shame in Theo’s eyes at the thought that he couldn’t have stopped the pain she was going through. “I’m sorry, Eris.” the blacksmith rasped. “I’m so sorry.” 

Eris didn’t have it in him to do more than shake his head, sending a burst of his magic to cut through Theo and Cosette’s chains. “Take Cosette and Marcus and try to get out of here while they’re distracted. For Finn’s sake. Leave now.” he commanded then turned back to Iris and forced himself to swallow, taking in her state. 

Gods, he had never hated himself more. 

“Wife,” he whispered and desperation clogged his throat, fighting at the anger even as he started to feel his body go aflame. His voice was guttural as he begged again, “I need you to come back to me so I don’t kill everyone in this room. Please answer me.” 

Eris tugged on the bond again, trying to send his love – his affection – his adoration for her, anything to get her —

She needed a healer, badly and his gaze filtered around the room. If he could find Nevien. If he could even try to heal her himself – his hands already brushing against her face and sending whatever healing magic he had to lessen the bruises. 

But her back – his gaze drifted to the wounds he found there and the urge to vomit returned in full force. This was all his fault. He had done this to her. 

He shouldn’t have let her stay. He should’ve shipped her to Lucien weeks ago –  

The thought had barely left his mind when he heard a tiny whimper and Eris nearly fell over as his head snapped back on his wife and relief washed over him as she tried to open her eyes.

“Iris.” he breathed, his hands gently touching her face and again, he watched her with bated breath as Iris's eyelids fluttered, her consciousness waning as she struggled to focus on Eris's voice. The pain radiating through her body threatened to pull her back into the depths of unconsciousness, but his voice, the desperation in it reached her through the haze.

He needed her and Iris had to answer him. 

“Eris…” Her voice was barely a whisper, raw with agony. Each breath felt like shards of glass against her lungs and everything fucken hurt as the echo of her father’s laugh rang through her ears – the sound and sting of the whip made her involuntary shudder. The movement caused a groan and another whimper slipped from her lips as she felt Eris finally release her from where she’d been strung. His hands warmed her lifeless arms with soft touches and Iris tried not to cry, tried to hold back tears at the sheer amount of relief that washed over her as Eris held her, his nose in her hair.

“I’m here, love," Eris murmured, his voice trembling with contained rage, letting his fire warm her clammy skin. “I’m here now. I’ve got you, little gazelle.”

Iris struggled to swallow – struggled to say more. She had tried not to scream, had tried not to give her father the satisfaction of knowing how much the whip had hurt and her throat felt too raw from holding back. But Eris was here with her. It was his tender touch on her body and Iris wasn’t sure which of them was trembling.

“It’s okay –” she whispered and tried to shift to meet his gaze. “Are you – are you okay? W-what’s happening?”

“Too much is happening. Everything went to shit and I –” he began then growled, every stress weighing on him. But she was awake. She was talking to him. She was alright. “I’m sorry, Iris. I should’ve sent you away sooner – I’m so sorry –”

“Eris, no.” she immediately chided hoarsely and struggled to sit up in his arms. Her back felt on fire, her arms felt useless and she tried to focus on her own healing magic, letting it work but gods, everything ached. “Don’t apologize. You did nothing wrong. Look at me –”

“I should’ve sent you away sooner.” he mumbled again, his gaze finally meeting hers and at her wince, his anger returned in full force. “You’re hurt.”

“I know but it was worth it – it –Theo! A-and Cosette!” ”she rasped and swallowed, hissing slightly as Eris shifted her. “We have to – and Lord Marcus! We can’t let them –”

“I already released them.” he said and cupped her face. “Wife, I need to focus on you. You’re hurt.” 

“What about you?” she whispered. “Look at the bruises on you. Let me –”

“Iris.” he begged. “Focus on healing yourself, please. Take whatever of my magic you need –”

“No.” Her tone offered no argument as she forced herself to sit up even though every inch of her was screaming in agony. “You will not use any of it on me. You need it.”

He wanted to argue with her but he took in her disheveled appearance and what Eris really wanted to do was get her out of here. He ran his tongue over his teeth, his hands gently on her body even as they shook. “Fine, but let me help you. Let’s get you out of here.”

“And go where?” she breathed. “You think after all this I’m going to leave you?” 

His expression hardened. “You think after what they already did to you I’d let you stay?”

“I have a score to settle,” she said and despite every inch of her skin screaming, she straightened in her husband’s arm. “And you will not deny me of it.”

Eris’s mouth went into a hard line. The sounds of fighting continued around them and yet, he could only focus on her. “You know I wouldn’t deny you anything but you can barely heal yourself, Iris.” 

“I’ll manage.”

“Don’t be stubborn about this, wife.” 

“I don’t care –”

“You’ve already been hurt enough for me – for others –”

“And I’d do it again.” she seethed. “Do not take this away from me. I couldn’t let them get hurt. I had to protect them.”

“Iris.” he said and couldn’t even chide her when he saw the earnest expression and her lip trembled. 

“I never had people to protect or who would fight to protect me.” she whispered. “This is my family too now. I don’t care that I’m hurt.”

“I do.” he snapped then worked his jaw as he softened his tone. “This is my worst nightmare, Iris. I’m watching it play out and my father was about to start doing more.” he licked his lips. “Do not put me in a position to worry about you. I don’t even know what happened to my mother or Emil and –”

“I do. Before my father took me, they had been cornered by him in the guest wing but I healed them.” she said quickly. “They should be fine but I don’t know what else –”

“Eris!”

Izak’s roar had both of them turning and a shield of fire burst out of Eris to stop the attack of arrows that were aimed at his head. His eyes narrowed, assessing the chaos in the room.

He watched as Finn’s twin blades sank into every enemy that passed, trying to make his way to their father, who observed it all unfold in relished amusement. Eris watched as Izak shoved a group of five grunts off him, the swing of his sword sounding across the room. The blur of uniform colors fighting against each other and as more of his father’s bribed soldiers descended into the room, Eris knew the only way he could focus was to get Iris out of there.

“I need you to be safe, Iris. I can’t –” 

He had barely turned, his body still facing the chaos and his distraction had cost him. Before Eris could move another muscle, the High Lord’s magic had shot out, hitting him square in the chest. 

“Eris!” Iris shrieked, trying to move to get to him, wounds be damned. The High Lord only chuckled and Iris let out a groan as his magic slammed into her, pinning her where she sat. 

He staggered back, clutching his chest at the assault but forced himself to stand between Iris and his father, and without waiting for his father to continue, he lashed out with his magic. His father met his flame with his own and Eris fumed at having to be further distracted from getting Iris out. 

“Did you think you could sneak away, boy?” Beron snarled quietly as his flames surrounded them, cutting them off from their surroundings. “Slither away without paying the price for your treason?”

Eris’s eyes remained on his father and he allowed himself a breath then another and then, he let his mind go blank. He let his emotions cease. All his emotions except for his rage. 

What was the point if he didn’t let go? 

People thought him a monster anyway. Perhaps the only way to take out a monster was to become one. 

For his mate. For his mother and brothers. For himself. 

Eris straightened as he stood before the High Lord. The fire beneath his skin was scalding as it bubbled to the surface and slowly Eris let his wildfire reach his eyes. 

“I will give you one chance to release my mate and step out of the way.”

“Or?” the High Lord taunted. “Are you finally working up the courage to kill your dear old father?”

Eris smiled humorlessly. “Killing you has always been the endgame, High Lord.” he said. “It was a childish dream to have hope for you.”

“Ah,” the High Lord mused. “And I suppose now that all of you have suddenly become knights in shining armor, you think to be better than I was?”

“We were always better than you,” Eris said, lifting his chin. “Our mother saw to that.” 

“I left your mother for dead so a great deal that will do her.”

Eris forced himself not to flinch. “Or so you say,” he replied curtly. “Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time things have slipped out of your control or right under your nose.”

The High Lord flushed, anger overtaking his expression, as he glared at Iris and then back at his son. “You mock me and yet, you are barely holding it together because of a good-for-nothing female.”

Eris felt his magic thump beneath his veins. “You will not speak of her that way. Release her at once.” 

“She will be the reason for your demise if you stay so focused on what happens to her.”

“You will be the reason for yours if you do not stand down.”

They stared at each other in silence for a moment or maybe a lifetime – Eris wasn’t sure. All he knew was that the male who was supposed to be his protector had died years ago and it was about time the walking corpse that had replaced him be gone.

Eris allowed himself a moment to mourn what could’ve been. He allowed himself just one – to feel sorry for himself, for the male that was once someone he admired and loved. 

For indeed, Eris would take the bloody crown and put an end to it all. 

But Eris had barely moved when the High Lord did a double take, his expression shifting. Eris’s eyes narrowed, refusing to take his eyes off his father, not trusting that it wasn’t a trick even as Iris took a sharp breath behind him.

Instead, his father seemed to be staring at a ghost. In one breath, Eris saw the High Lord standing. In the next, his father was now on his knees, clutching his throat, the air ripped out of his windpipes. A knife was protruding from his right shoulder. 

Eris’s shoulders slackened as Lucien appeared out of the flames behind Beron, his hand gripping the handle of said knife with a small smile.

“Quite rude of you to leave me out of yet another family reunion.” 

“Lucien.” Eris breathed and spared Iris a glance to see that she’d been released from her hold and shakily trying to stand. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Lucien shot Beron a look full of loathing before turning back to Eris. “No one showed. We knew something was wrong and if I didn’t show up, Helion would’ve come and raised hell.”

Beron finally seemed to snap the leash Lucien had on his throat. “You.” he snarled. “How dare you show your face here.”

“I’m so handsome, it would be a waste if I didn’t,” Lucien said, waving a hand almost mockingly.

“I banned you from –”

Lucien waved his hand again and his magic seemed to be silencing Beron once more. “My father says hello,” he said with a smile that was anything but kind, and Beron’s glare intensified. “And by hello, he means he would love to lodge a spear in your chest.”

“How the fuck are you doing that?” Eris asked, grateful for the momentary pause, rushing over to Iris and slowly helping her stand, trying not to let the paleness of her skin worry him. “How did you even winnow within the walls?”

“I am a Spell-Cleaver, after all. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.” Lucien said and this smile was more genuine if not a little smug. “The binding spell won’t hold him for long but it helps that I had the element of surprise.” 

“Will you be able to stay and help?” Iris asked breathlessly. “Your mother –”

“I’ve come to help in any way that I can.” Lucien answered. “Helion is waiting to –” 

“Lucien. Take Iris and go.” Eris commanded. “Take her out of here and have her healed then find mother.”

“Eris, no –”

“Non-negotiable.” he snapped and at the furrow in her brow, he cupped her face, meeting her gaze. His touch was gentle, to not aggravate the still-healing wounds and Iris’s grip tightened on his arm as she shuddered. 

“Eris.”

“Please.” he only whispered and Iris’s expression tightened despite the tremble in her lip but she knew what that word cost him in front of others. She knew she couldn’t argue with him, not as her shaky legs barely held her up. 

Eris glanced at Lucien who was still watching the High Lord with that small smug smile. “Lucien. Take Iris to the healer's wing,” he commanded again and reluctantly eased Iris into his brother’s open arms. “Then find Mother.”

Lucien’s gaze hardened as he nodded at Eris then gave Iris a thin smile as he carefully held her. “Ready?”

“No.” she answered honestly and her eyes stayed on Eris who couldn’t look away from his wife, a muscle flexing in his jaw. It would be better this way. Let her be safe. Let her be away when he finally cracked.

But the sound of the High Lord roaring behind him, had the three of them turning and Eris put up a shield that Lucien reinforced as they watched his father pant, yanking the dagger out of his shoulder and tossing it to the side. 

“So fucken weak.” Beron spat. “With your words and your feelings. You embarrass yourself in front of me and then wonder why I always tried to beat the softness out of you.” 

Eris only lifted a brow at the High Lord’s fury. “Tell me how you really feel, father.”

“You allowed that bastard to set foot in my court.” Beron snarled and Eris schooled his expression into calm. 

“He’s a son of Autumn whether you accept him or not,” he said then tilted his head, his tone taunting, watching as his father’s face nearly turned purple in anger, sparing Lucien a glance. “Isn’t it fascinating that he’s now powerful enough to overpower you with a single spell?”

“And I haven’t even started the real fun.” Lucien added, with that smug smile of his.

“Your little party trick won’t save you when I get my hands on you.” Beron promised and Eris couldn’t help the way his body straightened, taking a step in front of Lucien and Iris. 

Enough was enough.

“Your hands will hurt us no more.” 

Never taking his eyes off his father, Eris let himself take a breath and then opened his hands, allowing him to finally unleash his own party trick. Slowly, his fire began to leak out of him and his father watched with narrowed eyes as full-fledged fire creatures started to form. 

His well of magic was something he’d very carefully cultivated and nurtured over the years. He’d had to keep it well hidden but Eris had never shied away from experimenting and testing out his limitations until he settled on a way to keep himself safe at all times. 

Inspired by his smokehounds, Eris had played with his magic until he could shapeshift it the way he wanted and now twelve firehounds stood surrounding him. Judging by the sharp intake of breath from both his wife and brother, his firehounds were just as breathtaking as his smokehounds were. 

Beron blinked in the silence as he observed the fire creatures then met his son’s gaze again. 

“You seem surprised, father.” he said and Eris couldn’t help but find it poetic that despite the sound of carnage around them and his mate still in harm’s way, he was so very calm. 

Beron’s lip curled. “Surprised that you’ve resorted to making up cheap tricks to win a fight?”

Eris shook his head with a chuckle and knew as he took another breath, his whole body was now aflame, a hand petting his fire creature next to him as he watched his father, feeling Iris and Lucien take a step back. “Your imagination has always been limited. Despite being a High Lord, you never took the time to figure out how to push the boundaries of your mind and create with your magic. You let yourself get comfortable, despite knowing I grow in power. You let yourself stay like this. You knew I’d come for your throne one day and yet, you let yourself rest easy thinking my mother was the only person you had to worry about. Thinking that after what you did to her, she wouldn’t have the courage to fight fire with fire.”

“Your mother is –”

The firehound at his side snarled, taking a step towards the High Lord and Eris’s smile turned deadly. “I suggest you watch your mouth. Your breaths are already so numbered.”

Beron watched his son with calculating eyes then straightened and it seemed the High Lord had finally reached his limit. “As you wish, boy. You want to try and kill me? Let’s make sure your demise has witnesses.” 

Unsheathing his sword, the High Lord slammed it into the ground and the hall shook with the force of it. A line of fire burst from his hand down the blade and Eris watched as the wall of flames that had been hiding them from the crowd disappeared and fire spread through the fissures of the floor, Lucien moving Iris out of the way.

He watched and waited as the High Lord took deep breaths, rage emitting from every inch of him but Eris only smiled and addressed his firehounds. 

“You know who to kill. Leave no survivors.” Eris muttered, eyes ablaze and his firehounds scattered through the screaming crowds. 

“Your fire won’t save you, boy.” the High Lord said and though his tone was quiet, Eris heard him loud and clear. “Nothing will after I run my blade through your chest.” 

“Your threats no longer mean anything to me, father. And I’m tired of your words.” 

Unsheathing his own blade, Eris ran a hand down at the length of it, his fire coating the blade. Without breaking his father’s gaze, Eris sliced his palm, gripping the blade until the scent of fresh blood filled the air. Slowly, he then raised the blade in front of him and slashed the air twice, two lines of fire appearing in the air before him. 

The world seemed to still, the room going silent at the signal. A breath, then another as Beron straightened, holding his sword and gazing at Eris with a look filled with raw hatred. Eris was vaguely aware of Iris’s beating heart, of Lucien ready to pounce, of both Finn and Izak close by, blades out and coming to stand behind him. 

“You know what that symbol is announcing, don’t you, boy?”

“I do.” Eris answered quietly. “Your reign of terror is coming to an end, High Lord and I’ve been waiting to challenge it for a long, long time.”

He took a step and lowered his blade, scraping the tip across the floor in front of him, a line of fire bursting before him.

“As a Prince of Autumn, a son of this court, and with the fire running through my veins, I challenge you to a blood duel till death,” he announced, his voice ringing across the hall. “You have dishonored the throne you sit on and its people you were meant to protect. You have dishonored the Lady of this court and your family. Most importantly, you have dishonored and brought harm to my wife, my mate and for that alone, I will have your head.” 

Beron only tilted his head, watching his sons stand before him with narrowed eyes before pulling his sword from the ground and slicing his own palm then scraping his blade across the floor, mirroring Eris’s movement and a line of fire appeared before him. “I accept your challenge.” the High Lord replied coldly. “You have chosen death, Eris. I hope your false sense of justice will be worth it.” 

Eris spared his wife and brothers one last look, jerking his head for Lucien to leave before meeting his father’s gaze once more. “Feeling my blade pierce your flesh and watching you take your last breath?” Eris murmured. “I’ve been dreaming of it.”

And there were no more words as Eris and Beron each took a step towards each other, the frenzied energy in the room increasing tenfolds, like a rope tightening around each of their windpipes. 

Pieces of her heart were being chipped away at what he was suggesting. As if Iris would be able to simply…continue with her life should he be taken from her. 

She had no doubt – none that Eris didn’t cherish having a mating bond as deeply as she did. For him to sit here and plan for her to move on…

As if she would have a life with her mate dead. 

“Are these the kind of thoughts you’ve been sitting on the last few days?” she finally asked. “This is what’s been going on in that head of yours?”

When Eris said nothing, Iris couldn’t help her scoff of indignation and she shook her head, rubbing a hand to her forehead in true exasperation, anguish clogging her throat. She was still struggling with the idea of leaving him on that cursed day and here he was, trying to find ways for her to cut her losses and continue life without him. 

“And you have the nerve to say that so casually,” she muttered and felt her chest tighten painfully. “Like the loss of my mate is something I’m supposed to accept. Like it’s so simple to…adjust.” 

He scowled, working his jaw. “It’s not simple. None of this is simple but if I can do anything to protect you, I will.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes,” he said through clenched teeth. “If everything goes well and he’s dead by the end of it, I will ravish you to our heart’s content.” 

She stared at him incredulously. “If I slapped you right now, you’d deserve it.”

“I know.”

“What happened to ‘have faith it’ll end in our favor’?” she snapped. “I know you’re worried but for you to think that I’d be able to — to just move on should something happen to you…What is the matter with you?”

“I’m trying to take all the precautions I can, Iris.” he hissed. “The mating bond is a living thing – it’s real and people can sense it if we are together. They can scent it and while I can hide it as best as I can, there is always a fucken risk. Had we gone farther this morning – had our scents mingled – the mating bond would be strong, Iris. Far stronger than what it is now and the risk will be infinitely higher. Should anything happen to me, I don’t want it to be so catastrophic for you. If we can avoid it even a little bit –”

“There is a risk for everything, Eris!” she snarled and tried not to stutter as she continued, “Whether something happened to you or not – being mates won’t go away.”

“That is exactly why I don’t want anyone to know. In the event something happens to me, you’re not hunted down like an animal.” he snapped and avoided looking at her again. “If I can’t give you peace while I’m here, at least let me give you some peace if I’m gone.”

Iris could only stare at him, her hands slacked at her sides, her chest so tight. That ache she had felt this morning while watching him sleep returned in full force and she wanted to double over at the pain. The idea – the mere thought of anything happening to him – that he would cease to exist — a panic like no other unfurled through her whole body. 

Did he truly think he mattered that little to her? That she was somehow only sticking around at the convenience of being his wife and mate? 

“You’re being mean, Eris.” she said so miserably, that it made him finally meet her gaze.

“Iris.” he said softly, grimacing and she shook her head, distress coursing through every inch of her being.

“Are you truly so unaware of how much you mean to me, that you think the idea of you dying wouldn’t devastate me?” she whispered. “That I would want to have an out if you’re not with me?” 

Eris felt his insides shrivel, his body running both hot and cold, feeling wrecked by her words. He couldn’t help but look away, down at his hands – hands that had so much blood on them and would need to be soaked in more blood to get to the light at the end of the road. And here she was, saying things that would make it even harder for him to let her go.

As she watched him process, the way she always did, she thought back to her hesitation to confess her feelings to him for fear of him not saying it back. But knowing Eris and the way he was…she knew he needed words from her. He stayed in his head so often, Iris didn’t think he’d realize just how much she felt for him unless she said the words.

“Eris,” she called to him and he couldn’t stop himself from lifting his head and sharing a glance with her. “In case it wasn’t abundantly clear, I do not want to have a life without you.”

She said it so calmly – like the words wouldn’t crush him, to hear her say that. Even if he knew – he knew how she felt – for her emotions were usually a mirror to his own, but he was hit all over again with how badly he needed to hear it and it always seemed like she knew exactly what he needed. His wife – mate, who watched him the way he watched her, memorizing things about him and his wants, his needs.

He could hear the rapid beating of her heart, the flush on her cheeks giving away how nervous she was to say those words, like Eris hadn’t been drowning in his feelings for her since their first night together. 

Like he wasn’t so very overwhelmed by the sheer force of her existence. 

As if he wasn’t fighting just how obsessed he was with having her in his life.

“I’m not going to deny how I feel when everything is on the line like this.” Iris continued and took a step towards him. “I have been having all these feelings and it scared the shit out of me. Then we find out we’re mates and suddenly, everything about us makes sense.” She paused for a moment, swallowing as they watched each other, another type of declaration sitting on the tip of her tongue but Iris wasn’t ready yet; she’d save that for another day. “I’m not going to sit here and let you make plans that separate us because of what your father could do,” she said, waving a hand helplessly. “I’m not going to let him win.”

“I don’t want him to win.” he could only bring himself to say, his voice hoarse. 

“That’s exactly what you’re doing when you sit here and say those things to me,” she said. “When you belittle what we have and how – how significant it is. I’m your wife and mate and that’ll never not be a risk. We were complete strangers yet somehow, the stars aligned and here we are. On the cusp of something that’ll change the trajectory of our lives and everything we know…” Her mouth was set in a firm line as she continued quietly, “I’ll be damned if I let you think that you can hold me at a distance because of what may or may not happen. When you try and act like it wouldn’t ruin me should something happen to you. ”

Eris felt any resistance he had start to crumble. 

“The Mother decided you and I were mates for a reason,” Iris said and gently lifted his chin with her hand. “This thing between us… this is the first thing that has ever been mine and whether you like it or not, I will go down swinging for it. For you.” Iris licked her lips before adding so quietly, “Don’t deny me of you because of him. He doesn’t get to take anything more from us.”  

“I don’t want anything to happen to you.” he whispered and hated that his voice cracked. 

Iris’s expression softened, her thumb caressing his cheek. “If something is meant to happen, then it will. All we can do is accept it and be as ready for it as we can.”

A muscle flexed in his jaw and Eris had to glance down at his clenched hands. “I have waited so fucken long for this,” he said and met her gaze. “For you.” He stood once more, his hands latching on to hers. “I have wished and pleaded and fucken –” Eris stopped himself but knew the desperation on his face must’ve shown exactly how he felt. The sheer yearning he’d had over the years. Since she married him, Iris had been by his side and yet he still craved her more and more deeply each day. He wanted to inject her very essence into his veins. He wanted a life with her. To make her laugh. To give her every single thing she ever desired. But how did he describe this to her? How did he verbalize exactly how much she meant to him? Was telling her he lo – how he felt as she did enough? 

He hadn’t used that word in years – decades. Eris hadn’t even let himself think of the word all these years because of how his father would tarnish it. He had spent his life half in agony with his hope buried so deeply beneath it that he wasn’t sure he could feel that emotion. 

But his mate was a gift. An honor. One he still didn’t believe he deserved but would hold on to for as long as he had time. She was his hope. 

Eris Vanserra had always been a broken dreamer but with Iris? His sky finally had stars. 

And Iris watched him struggle with his mind, holding onto all the things she knew he wanted to say and squeezed his hands tightly. “I may have promised you that I’d leave on the night of the ball so that you don’t have to worry about me but I am not leaving you. I am not going where I cannot return.” 

Eris swallowed hard and forced himself to take a breath. “I have wanted for so long,” he whispered. “I am terrified this will be taken from me. I am terrified of what will happen to you should something happen to me and I want you far away from here in case it does.”

“That means you have to make sure nothing happens to you.” Iris whispered to him and cupped his face. “So that nothing happens to me and then you and I can actually get to live.” 

Whatever was left of that wretched heart of his broke into a thousand pieces and Eris felt his hands start to shake, his chest caving in. Why was she so patient with him? Why was she tied to someone as inadequate as him when she could’ve had someone – anyone better? Cleaner. Less troublesome. 

But her hands were on his face and no hands – none – had ever felt so right. 

It was as if any place Iris touched, she wiped clean and Eris was stained with misery all over. The more she touched him, the more of it she seemed to clear.  

He wanted to live with her. He wanted to look forward to tomorrow. He wanted to give her a life where she had everything she wanted and more. 

Eris wasn’t embarrassed as he stumbled over his words, “You – don’t want a life without me then.”

Roses bloomed on her cheeks as she blushed so beautifully, her hands dropping to her side and nodded. “No, I don’t.” 

And it was like a puzzle piece sliding into place inside his body and mind. 

Eris stared at her as she stood before him, her heart sitting there for the taking – his taking. She let him see all her vulnerabilities and Eris’s shoulders slumped. He felt the same way, didn’t he? He had never felt this way with anyone. He – he was in love, right? This was that feeling – the one everyone whispered about.

He was in love with his wife. A slight terror coursed its way through his chest as he forced himself to swallow hard and run a hand over his mouth again, the words on the tip of his tongue. The longer he looked at her, the harder it was to choke them down. He had always promised her words and yet, he wanted to savor these specific words for a better time. When it didn’t feel like an ominous declaration. Instead, Eris found himself confessing so quietly, it was barely above a whisper, “I think…I think that I lived half a life before you and am far more attached to you than I care to admit. My world was black and white…” He swallowed and took a breath before adding, “Now it’s screaming in colors I couldn’t see with anyone else. I find that your shade of life is my favorite.” 

He felt her joy at his words through their bond, that small, shy smile she reserved for him and him alone graced her lovely face. That joy found its way to his chest and Eris could’ve sworn everything in him settled. His very spirit seemed to wrap around hers, settling deep into his weary bones, where the Prince of Autumn knew, nothing would compare to this feeling again.

Like his whole being had taken a breath of fresh air.    

Iris’s heart was thumping wildly, his confession only confirming what she already knew, knowing the way his words meant something deeper, something he was still terrified to share. But it didn’t matter.

Eris was hers and Iris was his, in every way that it mattered. 

She shifted on her feet, a hand tightening in the folds of her robe as she said, “It’s a really good thing we’re married –” 

“And mates.”

“ –Otherwise this obsession with each other would've been really awkward.” she finished, giving him a pointed look that had them sharing a chuckle. 

He stared at her for a moment too long and Iris had just opened her mouth when he finally said, “How is it you can do that?”

“Do what?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.

“Make me laugh when I – I feel like I can’t breathe.” 

“Because I see you, Eris.” she said simply and shrugged almost helplessly. “And…and I’m giving you my heart to take care of. The least I can do is take care of yours too.” 

Eris felt himself about to crumble. He would shatter into pieces all over this floor and Iris would be left with a pile of rubble for a husband. He wanted to be embarrassed. He felt his cheeks heat as she watched him process her words, a hint of amusement in her gaze. But gods, he didn’t even care. He just wanted her. 

“So it wasn’t just the puppies you were sticking around for, hm?” he finally said.  

Iris’s eyes lit up, her smile playful as she teased, “You called them puppies.”

Eris couldn’t help his own shrug, giving her a half smile. “You’re wearing me down, wife.” 

She chuckled even as she shifted on her feet and glanced at him beneath her lashes. “I haven’t even started wearing you down yet, husband.”

Immediately, the energy in the room shifted, the bond between them going taut the way it always did when they shared a heated glance.

“Is that so?” he asked carefully and Iris nodded. She placed a hand on his chest, slowly pushing him backward until the back of his knees met the bed and Eris sat, their eyes never leaving each other. “How else do you plan to wear me down?”

Iris bit her lip, a hand toying with the sash of her robe. With everything to come and all that had been shared the last few days, she knew without a single doubt, she wanted him. “That depends,” she said and straightened, her expression turning serious. “Are we going to let him ruin this for us?”

Eris’s eyes hardened. “He doesn’t get to win.” he said and his tone left no room for argument. “He doesn’t get to take anything else from me.” 

“Then I want you to forget about everyone and everything else. Stop thinking. Stop worrying.” she said softly. “Let’s just focus on you and me. Do you think we can do that?”

“Iris…”

“Because I don’t want an out, Eris. I only want you.” she said. “ Do you want me?”

“That is a ridiculous question.”

“You’ve been ridiculous all day.” Iris said with a shrug. “I’m trying to stay on theme.” 

And he realized how truly stupid he was being when he almost chuckled at her words. For someone as calculated as he was, trying to be ten steps ahead of the curve, it dawned on Eris this was something he never had control over since the beginning. She wrecked all his plans, even when he was being pig-headed trying to protect her. 

If the end was coming, the least he could do was let himself enjoy it. Enjoy her. 

He licked his lips, his heart nearly bursting out of his chest as he confessed quietly, “I have never wanted anyone the way I want you.”

A flush crept across her cheeks and Eris loved watching the way his words impacted her. He sure as fuck was not good with words but he had promised himself he’d try for her and by the gods, he would say anything to watch the way she bloomed with encouragement. 

And he watched her, like a lovelorn fool, wondering exactly how he had managed to think he knew what happiness meant before her. 

“I’ve…thought a lot about what our first time together would be like.” Iris said, gently pulling to untie her robe. “I thought about what I’d wear and have been experimenting with different gowns to get a feel for what you’d like.” 

“I like everything you wear. You looked beautiful in them all.” he said and Iris preened at his compliment but gave him a coy smile.

“But I know you’d prefer me wearing nothing.” 

Eris couldn’t help but shrug, a smirk forming on his lips. “Nothing would look fantastic on you.” 

And Iris felt her body heat. He had said those words to her before and she had recoiled, not even imagining she’d ever want him to touch her. Now, she wanted to show him exactly how fantastic she looked in nothing. 

She bit her lip, her fingers holding the robe loosely. “We didn’t quite get a normal wedding day, much less a typical wedding night.” she started, her voice low and she watched as Eris’s gaze narrowed in on the way her fingers slid against the white silk. “But it’s better late than never so…I decided to keep it traditional and go with white today.” 

Eris made a sound deep in his throat and Iris felt it vibrate through her body, heat pooling low in her stomach. The gleam in his eyes was predatory and Iris was a very willing prey as she slid the robe just so down her shoulders.

“White for my pretty, pretty bride.” he murmured.

“Oh yes.” she said and bit her lip before continuing in a teasing tone that wasn’t at all a little breathless, “Do you think you can handle it?” 

“No.” he answered much too honestly. “But if this is the way I must go, who am I to fight destiny?”

Iris’s cheeks were crimson, a quiet giggle slipping from her lips. “Ah, spoken like a valiant soldier.” she added and slid the robe a little more, the white straps of her lingerie making an appearance.

Eris straightened where he sat, the scent of their arousal surrounding them. In the distant past, he’d played with lovers. He’d teased and taunted and had them begging for mercy. His wife’s skin wasn’t even on full display and she was toying with him in a way he was enjoying a little too much.  

“Let the robe fall, Iris.” he ordered, his voice a soft caress and Iris couldn’t help but shudder as his command slid over and skated down her spine. 

She was powerless to refuse and the silk slid off her, pooling at her feet. 

The Prince of Autumn couldn’t stop the choked noise that escaped him. He had gone wholly still, his eyes raking over her very beautiful and very exposed body. 

She stood before him in a white set, the lace stretching tightly against her waist, cupping her breasts in a way that threatened to ruin his sanity. She had worn gowns before, offering him some sort of reprieve from losing his mind completely but today…today, her set displayed so much of her lovely skin and the beautiful curves of her body. Her white lace left little to the imagination and Eris…Eris was going to die. 

“You are so fucken beautiful,” was his helpless response, uttered so softly and Iris’s flush deepened. 

She glanced down with a small smile before meeting his gaze again, a finger sliding across the waistband of her lingerie. “You’re a very lucky male.”

Eris couldn’t help the tight laugh that escaped him. “Indeed, I am.” he said, his eyes sliding down her body and then back up, cataloging every inch of her. Just this morning he was telling her exactly how often he pictured feeling her body on his. How often he thought of how he’d make her shudder beneath him. How he’d savor her taste on his tongue.

He was not ashamed to admit his thoughts had gotten aggressively dirtier the longer she stood there. 

“Come here.” he commanded and the words seemed to skate across her skin again, sending a pleasant jolt right down her spine at the way his voice dropped an octave. They shared a heated glance and Iris saw the way his eyes darkened the longer he watched her, her pulse thumping wildly beneath her skin.

Iris walked over to him and slowly, without her eyes leaving his, she carefully straddled him and brought his hands that had slacked beside him on the bed, guiding them to her waist. She let her eyes roam across his face and shoulders, scattered with freckles and it reinforced her mission to kiss every single freckle she found on his skin. 

Eris couldn’t bring himself to say a word and the room was silent as she shuddered slightly, gooseflesh erupting on her skin as so much of her body touched so much of his. Her chest brushed against his and he let himself lean forward just a little, inhaling her scent and marveling at how right she felt pressed against him. 

His hands had slid down to her bare thighs and his gaze dropped to his thumb caressing her lovely skin there. He glanced back up to meet her eyes, dilated in desire that matched his own. 

They drank in the sight of each other, so close, touching so softly. 

“Look at you and your excellent listening skills.” he finally said hoarsely and the corner of Iris’s mouth curled up.

“I’m masquerading as a good wife that listens to her husband.” she replied and let her hands slide to the nape of his neck, her fingers curling into the strands of his hair. “Is it working?”

It was his turn to shudder and Eris felt his cock stir, already hard beneath her touch, especially with the way her body was perfectly lined against his. She was seated in his lap, only scrapes of fabric separating their skin and Eris had to breathe quietly through his nose to control himself. 

“You’ll be the death of me.” he whispered. “I feel like a starving man seated in front of a feast. How do I begin? Where do I even start?”

Iris couldn’t help her smile and she leaned to press a delicate kiss to the corner of his mouth. “How about you kiss me?” she asked softly, her grip tightening in his hair. “Then we can go from there.”

Eris’s mouth curled into a soft smirk, his eyes blazing as his hands slid from her thighs to her waist then up her spine. “Oh, I’m going to kiss you,” he began and Iris shifted, arching into his touch as his voice dropped. “I’m going to kiss you everywhere. I’m going to taste what’s mine. And every inch of you is mine, isn’t that right, mate?”

Iris licked her lips, the very breath between them tense in the most pleasant of ways at his claiming, different from any other time he said it. This time, heart and mind were on the same page. This time, neither of them had any intentions of stopping. 

“Every part of me is yours. Just like every part of you is mine.” 

And no other words needed to be said as they fell into each other with urgency, like a dam flooding, and everything in Iris wanted to be wrapped in Eris. His kiss was a hot branding against her lips and she moaned into his mouth as his hands slid down her body and up, touching all the skin she’d kept hidden from him before, her grip tightening in his hair. A breath stuttered out of her when Eris’s fingers weaved into her hair and gently pulled back, exposing her neck. 

“Do you understand what I mean when I say mine, little gazelle?” he said against her skin and Iris couldn’t help the shudder that went through her body when his other hand kneaded then squeezed her ass. “I have been on my best behavior with you and even if I’ve explained, I don’t think you understand what I’ve been craving to do to you.”

“Do you?” she asked, attempting a cheeky smile that immediately dropped and was replaced by another shaky exhale when his hands squeezed her ass again. “Y-you seem to be all talk.”

Eris forced himself to pull back and meet her gaze, his nostrils flaring at her taunting but he could hear how wildly her heart was beating — could feel the thump of her pulse. She was aroused and excited but he sensed the nerves beneath the lust. 

And Eris couldn’t have that. 

“Don’t underestimate how obscene my mind becomes when it thinks about you.” he warned with a pointed look and Iris felt slickness begin to build between her legs. His thumb brushed against her lower lip as he watched her swallow, the scent of their arousal almost overwhelming. “I may have given you some idea,” he murmured. “But it’s impossible for you to know just how desperately I’ve wanted to touch you and feel your wetness coating my fingers. How desperately I want to taste you on my tongue.”

A small noise slipped from her lips and Iris closed her eyes against his words, arching into him again as his mouth returned to kiss and suck on the column of her neck.

“And how do you think I’ll taste?” she whispered, pressing her chest against his, earning an appreciative rumble from him. She wanted to push him down and feel exactly how he would be beneath her. She wanted to feel every inch of him against every inch of hers, all skin with nothing else between them. She wanted — 

“Exquisite.” he purred and Iris flushed. “Like the first taste of water after being parched for ages. Like honey melting on my tongue.” He grasped her hips, guiding her body to grind against his, earning him another shuddered breath from his wife. “You’ll taste exactly what I know my favorite dessert will taste like.” 

She couldn’t help the sound that slipped from her lips, her fingers tightening in his hair. Iris wanted to tell him that she too, had thought about the taste of him in her mouth. She craved to feel exactly what it would be like to have him inside her and cursed that she had somehow waited this long. “What else have you thought about?” she asked and gingerly rolled her hips against him again.

“This morning wasn’t enough of a description?” he continued, his voice low against her burning skin and Iris’s legs tightened around him. “I know you’ll fit perfectly. I know you coming on my cock will be heaven.” 

“I’ve thought about all the things I’ve never done and how I want you to teach me.” she admitted breathlessly and rolled her hips into his once more, her core aching against his cock. 

“I already told you I’d teach you anything you want, little gazelle.” he whispered against her skin, meeting the roll of her hips with his own. “I’ll make all your dirty fantasies come true.”

“Will you?” she asked with a coy smile and pulled back on his hair gently to nip at his lips. “Or will you keep running that pretty mouth of yours?”

Eris barked a tight laugh and stood swiftly, lifting her in his arms with him and Iris could feel how his hardened length settled against her center deliciously. “You think my mouth is pretty, do you?” he teased and she sucked in a breath as he pressed her firmly against him.

“This is not the time to fish for compliments.”

“Ah, but I am nothing without my inflated ego, wife.” he said, his voice a sensual whisper and he nipped at her ear. “Indulge your husband who immensely enjoys compliments and tell me what I want to hear.”

“Your mouth is not pretty, it’s wicked. You have a wicked mouth.” she said tightly and he quirked a brow. “It’s not doing what I really want it to.”

“And what do you want my wicked mouth to do, wife?” he asked.

“Kiss me.” she demanded. “Taste me.”

The Prince of Autumn’s grin was roguish. “I’d be delighted.” 

Eris crashed his lips against hers and the feeling of urgency between them returned in full force. The need to claim had their hands roaming and Eris finally turned and laid Iris down, immediately covering her body with his and grinding.

He couldn’t touch her quickly enough. She couldn’t kiss him hard enough. 

His lips released hers and made their way to her neck once more, leaving quick kisses as he pressed himself into her more firmly, his cock so hard it was almost painful — he knew he’d be leaking as soon as he slipped out of his pants. 

She moaned and Eris had to force himself to move away from her lovely neck to meet her gaze as he rocked into her once more. Her eyes were clouded with desire and the sight of her mouth falling open as he rocked into her again had him almost combust.

“Just a little preview.” he said tightly and kissed her again roughly, his tongue clashing with hers for another taste before pulling himself off her completely to drink in the sight of her disheveled on their bed. Her hair was fanned around her head in a way that made him long to have it wrapped in his fist, the strap of her lingerie falling off one shoulder, and her legs spread to accommodate him —  she was a sight to behold and if Eris could spend the evening just memorizing her in this view, he would. But her pretty mouth was begging for more kisses and he needed to hear more of those lovely noises she kept making. 

He dropped to his knees immediately, pulling her to the edge of the bed and her head shot up. 

“Eris —” Iris started but his lips had found their way to her thighs and the feeling of his mouth on skin he hadn’t kissed before silenced her for a moment.

“I need to taste you, wife.” he whispered against her skin, as his lips kissed the inside of her knee and kept moving up, spreading her legs further until he reached the wetness coating the lacy scrap she wore. He brushed his nose against the fabric, inhaling, and Eris nearly came at the scent alone. “If I don’t, I might, quite literally, die.”

She choked back a laugh, her legs shifting as he moved between them. “So dramatic even between my legs.” she said and though he was right where she wanted him, Iris needed just another moment — just one, and reached for him. “Eris, come here please.”

Instantly, Eris moved up to meet her hands as she cupped his face and kissed him hungrily once more. He groaned into her and his fingers slid against her legs, squeezing her thighs until she pulled back. 

“Yes, wife?” 

“I want you to touch me everywhere.”

“Absolutely.”

“And I want you to taste me wherever you want.” 

“That was indeed my plan.”

“But I do need you to remember,” she said and her voice lowered as color bloomed on her cheeks once more. “That I have never done this with anyone before and I need you to be a little gentle with me.” 

Eris froze as she held his face in her hands. “Gentle.” he repeated and Iris nodded slowly.

“I may have done some…self-discovery before you,” she said with a flush. “But this is different.”

The roaring fire he had felt in his veins calmed momentarily as he looked at her. So that was what she seemed nervous about. 

He didn’t know gentle — he was not used to that approach.

Eris scanned his wife’s face beneath him. He took in the sight of her gazing up at him and saw the desire mixed in with the trust in her eyes. She wanted him but more importantly, she trusted him to take care of her. Eris Vanserra didn’t do gentle but he sure as fuck would try. 

He would be damned if he didn’t make this the most pleasurable first time a person could dream of.

Eris released a hand from her thigh and brought it to her hand on his left cheek, pulling it down to kiss her palm.

“You’re telling me this lovely hand here knows how to play with what’s mine already? It’s played with what I already know will be the prettiest cunt I’ll ever lay eyes on?” he said, his voice full of sinful promise as he smirked at her, and Iris’s body felt aflame. 

“M-Maybe.” she stuttered as he kissed each fingertip of her hand.

“Do you want to play a little for me? Do some…self-discovery to help you relax?” he asked, kissing her palm once more.

“I’d rather you played with me instead.” she breathed and his eyes darkened.

“I am physically restraining myself from devouring you,” he said. “And you say things like this.”

Iris fought a smile. “Why?” she said quietly. “You won’t hurt me.”

Eris squeezed his eyes shut, the wind momentarily knocked out of him again at the amount of trust she now placed in him. It still hit him with the force of a boulder and he opened his eyes to find her watching him with that same small smile. “You are going to kill me.” he mumbled and let a hand gently run through her loose hair. “You deserve something soft. Something sweet. Not the kind of rabid animal you make me.”

Iris laughed softly and pulled him closer, their lips only a breath away. “Then show me soft. Show me something sweet.” she said. “I know you have it in you.”

Eris faltered, a hand stilling in her hair. She really was going to be the death of him if she kept speaking to him like this. “You truly believe that?” his question barely above a whisper. 

Iris softened. “Yes.” she whispered and leaned in to brush her lips against his, causing him to shudder. “Especially because I think...I think you need that softness as much as I do.” 

Eris swallowed. “Even if my softness is wrapped in barbed wire?”

Iris bit her lip and rocked her hips against his, both of them groaning at the contact. “It’s a good thing that I love carrying a sharp knife then, isn’t it?” she whispered with a chuckle and Eris felt himself unravel. “So you can show me a little soft or a little rabid, husband, but whatever it is, it’s time you properly made me your wife.” 

Any resemblance of self-restraint that Eris had possessed until this moment, snapped and he was an inferno unleashed. He kissed her like the starved man he knew he was and Iris matched his eagerness with her own, her body pressing into his until once more, he pulled away and Iris let out a whine of disapproval.

Eris’s hands moved to the straps of her bra and he gave her a smirk. “This is lovely but I need it gone. Sit up.” he demanded and he leaned in to kiss her again as she followed his request, his hands skimming the back of her bra, undoing it quicker than she could blink. 

He tossed it to the side and Iris flushed at the way he watched her, forcing her to lay back down slowly, his eyes scanning her exposed skin. 

“Oh. I’ve dreamed about these.” he said reverently and allowed himself a moment to admire the sight of her exposed breasts and the gooseflesh scattered across her skin. 

Iris’s hands twitched by her sides as he watched her and Eris narrowed his eyes at the movement. “If you even think about covering any part of yourself, I will tie your hands up very quickly,” he said. “I want to look at what is mine.” 

“I think we should ease into bondage.” she said, her flush deepening, and the corner of his mouth curled up.

But he forced himself to relax. He had waited like a saint for this moment. To appreciate her and become well acquainted with every inch of her body. Eris couldn’t rush it or it would end quicker than he wanted it to. 

“We wouldn’t even need rope or silk.” he said, slowly settling himself between her legs once more. He kept his eyes on her face as he finally allowed himself to touch her, letting a finger circle around one breast while his free hand engulfed the other with a squeeze. “I’ll let my fire wrap around you. It’ll keep you warm and hold you in place as I feasted on you.” He leaned closer and pressed a kiss between the valley of her breasts. “What do you think of that idea?”

“Eris, if you don’t do something in the next second I’m going to — oh.”

His mouth had descended on a breast while his hand squeezed the other and Iris couldn’t help the arch of her body and the broken whine that slipped from her lips. 

The way his mouth felt on her skin was sinful. The movement of his tongue obscene as he teased her nipple and bit gently, his hand kneading and twisting the other in the same motion as his tongue, and Iris’s hand latched onto his forearm as another soft moan slipped from her lips.

“I like that.” she breathed and Eris lifted his head, his mouth making an indecent pop of noise.

“Good. I want to know all the things you like.” he said against her skin and switched, his mouth resuming its tasting and only stopped when Iris’s panting increased and was mixed with another little whine that delighted Eris to no end. 

Without taking his eyes off her, Eris kissed his way down to where he desperately wanted to be and kissed right over the slickness coating her panties. Iris couldn’t help but shiver at his predatory gaze, his hands skimming over her lacy cover and he raised a brow, hooking his fingers into the waistline. 

She wanted his tongue on her too much to form words and with a breath, nodded once.

He wasted no time. Eris kissed her inner thighs once more then shifted, finally and agonizingly slowly, he slid the lacy scrap down her legs and tossed it. 

Instinctively, Iris’s legs attempted to close but with a tsk of disapproval, Eris forced them open, his hands holding them apart with gentle firmness. 

A heartbeat of silence and Eris had to count to ten in his head to avoid coming.

“As pretty as I thought.” he mused and it was by sheer will alone that Eris hadn’t ruined his pants yet.

“Eris — I —” she began with a flush, quickly shooting up on her elbows and her husband finally ripped his gaze from the sight of her spread beneath him to look at her.

“Who is this wetness all for, little gazelle?” he asked, his voice as soft as silk, his thumbs caressing the skin of her inner thighs, his breath hot against her core, and Iris’s toes curled. “Is it all for me? You want me to know how ready you are for me, wife?”

“Y-yes.” she whispered and though a part of her felt embarrassed at how blatantly aroused she was and how Eris was staring at her bare before him, it didn’t stop her from feeding into the way she felt and how he was making her feel. Iris didn’t want to think. She wanted to feel and let herself be worshiped. She couldn’t stop the roll of her hips if she wanted to. “It’s all for you.”

Eris’s grin was a wicked promise. “I’m going to devour you.”

The first lick of his tongue set her on fire.

Iris’s head fell back with a breathy groan as Eris feasted on her. He gave an appreciative noise as his tongue delved into her, traveling in and out then sliding to her clit and back. Iris couldn’t help the way she rolled her hips into his mouth — couldn’t stop the whimper and the breathless moan that followed his actions. His mouth closed around her clit and Eris had to pin her waist down with an arm to stop her hips from lifting as he lapped at her arousal. He sucked and licked on her bundle of nerves with deadly focus, switching between fast harsh flicks to long, flat strokes before releasing it noisily. 

“Fucken divine.” he rasped and brought a thumb back down on her clit, rubbing as his tongue slid in for another taste. “You taste exactly as I imagined. Everything I wanted.”

“D-don’t stop yet.” she whispered, circling her hips with his hand movement. “I like that.”

Eris chuckled, his hot breath making her shudder, and without another word, his tongue dived deep into her once more. He groaned into her, the taste of her sweetness undoing him bit by bit as Iris’s hands fisted into the sheets and she rolled her hips to meet his licks. 

He was indeed a man starved and the only thing that would satisfy him was for his wife to come on his tongue. 

Eris lifted his head as his thumb worked her clit to watch his wife’s chest rise and fall at his movements and he wished he had more hands to keep touching every fucken inch of her. “Ready for a little something else?”

“Yes.” she nearly begged and Eris grinned. His eyes didn’t leave her beautiful face that was etched in ecstasy as he slowly slid a finger inside her. 

Iris’s head immediately lifted and Eris swore as she tightened around his finger, her pussy pulsing. He planted a kiss on her inner thigh, watching her as he pumped his finger and let his thumb continue its movement.

“Keep rolling your hips for me, wife.” he said against her skin. “I’m going to add more. And you’re going to love it.”

Iris bit her lip, her skin flushed as she watched the movement of his finger and rolled her hips to match his pumping. Just as she started to relax into the movement, he added a second finger and Iris couldn’t help the shameless noise that slipped from her lips as her head fell back on the mattress.

Never in all her self-discovery had it felt even remotely close to this. 

“You like that, don’t you, little gazelle?” he said lowly and placed a kiss a breath away from her clit, his breath hot on her skin. “Because I like seeing you like this, spread for me. I’ve dreamed about this.”

“Y-you have such perverted dreams.” she stuttered and then moaned softly as his fingers picked up the pace. 

“I do.” he confirmed and curled his two fingers at an angle that had her back arching. “I am a very big pervert when it comes to you.”

“Oh gods.” she groaned and the pace of Eris’s pumping increased, his eyes watching her like a hawk, for he would memorize every inch of her, every movement, every reaction. He would know exactly how her body would react before she came and Eris would be there to lick up every inch.

“You’re so pretty when you’re coming undone.” he continued and couldn’t stop his mouth from replacing his thumb, sucking at her clit once more before releasing it with a groan. “You’re soaking my fingers and I can’t wait until you’re dripping all over my cock.” 

Iris’s mouth fell open as a breathless noise slipped out. The things he kept saying would be what sent her over the edge. She knew her orgasm was building with the way he kept curling his fingers and working his wicked mouth. She wanted to know what that mouth would feel like everywhere. She wanted his tongue inside her again. 

“Please.” she begged. “Your mouth.” 

Eris’s face erupted in feral delight and he let his fingers work in a frantic rhythm for another moment just to listen to the quickening of her breath and to watch as Iris rolled her hips with the movement of his hand, trying to match his pace. He knew she was getting close, her walls clamping on his fingers as she neared her release. 

But he would be damned if the first orgasm he gave her was anywhere but on his tongue.

He pulled his hand away suddenly and before Iris could protest, Eris had buried his face into her pussy and his tongue moved in ways that had her brain short-circuiting. Her breathing became heavier and Iris let her hands find their way back to his hair, firmly pressing his face into her, chasing the sweet release she knew was coming.

His fingers still coated with her slickness were now pressing and rubbing into her clit as his mouth worked on her and soon, Iris’s grip tightened as she finally reached the moment of bliss.

With a small gasp followed by a soft, “Oh.” Iris’s orgasm crashed over her. Her fingers tightened on Eris’s head and she kept rolling her hips as he carried her through her release. 

Grasping her hips firmly, he lifted her slightly, burying himself further into her, drinking in her release and his tongue didn’t stop moving as he lapped every drop of her sweetness, nearly coming himself. With one final lick, Eris slowly settled her back into the bed and watched her chest rise and fall, basking in the bliss of her climax. 

He knew without a doubt that she would be his favorite feast. He would have her come all over his face for eternity. 

His thumb continued to caress her clit as Iris shuddered through the last waves of her orgasm and Eris couldn’t help the satisfaction coursing through him as he watched her. His hand spread to cover her cunt and he rubbed into her wetness, watching as she squirmed beneath the possessive touch until she met his gaze. 

Eris kept his eyes locked on hers as he slowly licked each finger clean and then licked his lips. He glanced down at her cunt still glistening with her slickness then back at her again. 

“This. Every day. Do you understand?” he said and delighted in watching the flush spread across her skin even as she nodded.

“First thing in the morning.” she demanded and Eris couldn’t help his smirk, bringing his hand down once more to play with her wetness.

“Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then right before bed again. Don’t bother with your lace scraps anymore.” he said and tested what he’d been craving to do since he had gotten her naked; he slapped her cunt suddenly and Iris’s sharp inhale filled the room. He grinned. “Do you like that, little gazelle?”

Iris rolled her hips into his touch as the light sting of the smack faded. “Do it again.” she breathed and Eris was delighted as he slapped her cunt once more with a firm hand and Iris’s skin seemed to tighten at the sensation. “I — I like that.” 

“Good. I’ll be doing it every chance I get.”  he promised then finally pulled away to stand, even as her nipples tightened at his words. “I’ve always thought you needed some spanking.”

Iris tried not to groan at the image of him spanking her and forced herself to take a deep breath before sitting up gingerly to watch as Eris finally peeled off his trousers and though she could hear how fast his heart was beating, his movements were unhurried. 

He had just sent her over a blissful edge and his movements were unhurried. She watched his face almost hungrily then her eyes dropped down to his hands and — 

“Oh.” 

The world slipped out of her before she could stop it at the sight of him in his naked glory, his cock erect and glistening with pre-cum. He was sculpted beautifully, with muscles in places she hadn’t expected – a lean, athletic build. Iris bit her lip. She was used to staring at him dressed in well-fitted attire and shirtless but she realized very quickly that looking at him naked was a much better view. 

And he looked like he needed to be licked everywhere. 

“If you keep staring at me like that, I’m not going to get to come inside you the way I want to.” he said and his grin was of pure male satisfaction as he fisted his cock. 

“Well, that’s not fair.” she said, watching his hand movement then met his gaze with a raised brow. “You stared your fill. What if I want to look…and lick too?”

Iris bit back her own grin as she watched Eris close his eyes and take a deep breath, his hardened cock twitching as he squeezed it. “Can I touch you?” she asked quietly and her husband let out a pained growl.

“You never have to ask.” he said, meeting her gaze again, the fire in it spreading gooseflesh across her skin. “I’d crumble if you didn’t.”

He was standing before her, his jaw clenched, trying indeed, not to crumble and Iris bit back a smile. She moved closer to him and bit her lip as she carefully replaced his hand, wrapping her own around his erected cock and Eris swore, twitching beneath her touch. She had no idea what she was doing but she’d read enough books, and heard enough whispered scandals that she had a general idea. She could be an apt student. She would be the best student.

“Will you show me how you like it?” she whispered as she glanced at him from beneath her lashes and squeezed his shaft then stroked it firmly. “I want to make you feel good.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes darkened at the sight of her before him. “I will show you everything,” he said tightly and Iris preened in delight as he rocked into her hand. “Everything we’ve ever done in my perverted dreams of you, I will show you.”

She couldn’t help her arousal spiking at the feeling of him in her hand, at his dirty promises. Her breasts felt heavy and she could sense wetness gathering between her legs once more as she squeezed him harder. “Do you want my mouth on you?” she asked and feeling brave from his low groan, she leaned in to kiss the tip of his cock. “Or do you want me to keep going with my hand?”

Eris swore again then grabbed her jaw in his hand firmly, pulling her up to kiss her fiercely. Iris returned his kiss with fervor, her hand still gripping his cock, pumping him slowly and she let her thumb brush his pre-cum over the tip.

“I’m going to come by your hand and then come in that pretty, pretty mouth of yours soon enough.” he said hungrily against her lips. “I’m going to cover you in come, little gazelle, but first, I need to be buried inside you. I want that cunt of yours clamped around my cock milking me for all I’m worth, yes?”

“Yes.” she breathed and gave his cock another firm squeeze. “I want you to give me everything. Come undone inside me.”

He growled as he kissed her fiercely again, thrusting into her hand once more. “How do you want me?” he asked. 

Iris licked her lips, his question unleashing image after image of all the ways she could have him. All the ways she wanted him to have her. “We have three weeks to make the most of everything until we know what comes after.” she began and Eris swore as she stroked his cock more firmly. “And in these three weeks, I will want you in every way you can think of.” she continued and his low groan had more wetness gathering between Iris’s legs until she finally released him, slowly backing onto the bed. “But for tonight… I want you as you promised me. All over me, as my husband. As my mate. As what’s mine.” Without breaking eye contact, she leaned back on her elbows and slowly spread her knees for him. “So come here and make me yours.”

Eris didn’t need to be told twice. He had his body covering hers in an instant, kissing every inch of exposed skin on his way until he reached her mouth and again, kissed her hungrily, claiming so thoroughly as always. Iris arched into his touch and moaned softly against his mouth, a small needy sound that had her husband smiling against her lips. 

He broke their kiss as he carefully laid her back and settled himself between her legs. 

“I like hearing these kinds of noises from you.” he said and brushed a strand of hair from her face.

“I like that you get these noises out of me.” she replied and Eris nipped at her lips again with a small smile, a hand sliding to her core once again and he began stroking his fingers into her arousal. Another breathy moan slipped from her lips and Iris let her own hand slide between them to his cock, gripping it tightly.

The two locked eyes and matched the pace of each other’s strokes, the scent of their desire had taken over the room. It was a moment suspended in time. 

“Have I told you lately,” he began quietly, bucking into her hand as Iris rolled her hips against his fingers. “That you’ve become very tolerable, wife?”

Iris choked out a laugh and squeezed him tightly in her hand, earning her a deep groan. “And have I told you lately,” she began softly. “That you’ve become very tolerable too, husband?”

He chuckled and finally moved his hand from her arousal, wrapping a hand over the one fisting him, and didn’t remove his eyes from hers as he slowly stroked the tip of his cock up and down her slit, teasing her clit as they went.

Eris raised a brow, asking his question without saying a word, his gaze filled with emotions Iris couldn’t help but flush deeply at. 

But she nodded all the same, shifting her free hand to lay her palm open for him. His eyes flickered to her hand then back to her eyes and for someone who had considered sex a transaction, a mindless release — a clash of bodies and nothing more, the small act of her open palm was enough to unravel him completely. 

Eris slid his hand into hers and Iris intertwined their fingers. 

And without waiting another moment, Eris removed his hand to let Iris stroke him once more before guiding him to her entrance. 

A mutual groan of pleasure echoed through the room as Eris carefully eased into her and the world stilled once more around them. Their every breath and their every thought seemed to sync up to this moment. 

Inch by inch, Eris moved slowly, watching her every expression and pausing whenever she tensed, leaning in to kiss the corner of her mouth and her jaw, especially as her breaths began to turn shallow. 

Iris only gripped his hand tightly as he eased out to the tip then gave one final thrust, sliding into her to the hilt and Iris gasped, her body tensing beneath his. “Oh.”

Eris sucked in a breath, holding himself as still as possible as overwhelming pleasure washed over him. This was it — this moment where everything else no longer mattered except taking care of her, where they were finally one. 

He leaned in to kiss his wife and pressed his body further into hers, letting her adjust to him. “Are you alright?”

It took Iris a moment before she could answer, letting out a breath at the sensation of being filled by him. It overpowered every other thought as Eris stretched her, his cock twitching inside her. She hadn’t felt any pain, only slight discomfort, pressure that was slowly easing, and as it eased, she felt the pleasure start to build. 

“Yes.” she finally whispered against his lips, carefully rolling her hips. “I — I feel good.”

Gingerly, he rocked into her, and the sensation of his cock deep inside her and how tightly her walls clamped around him threatened to kill him. He couldn’t help but thrust a little harder and Iris’s whimper of pleasure spurred his movements.

“And you feel so fucken good, wife.” he murmured and slowly pulled out again to the tip before thrusting hard once more and Iris’s eyes rolled back with a stuttered breath. “I told you — you would be a perfect fit.” 

Iris couldn’t do much more but whimper softly as Eris did it again, rolling his hips with each careful thrust, and soon, she had started to roll her hips up more confidently to match his movement. 

“That’s right.” he praised, and the pace of his thrusts slowly began to quicken. “You know exactly what you want, baby. Keep moving those beautiful hips for me.” “Oh, fuck.” She breathed and leaned up to kiss him deeply, her tongue teasing his before pulling back. “I want you. Make me feel good.”

Eris chased her lips once more, growling as he kissed her. “I need to keep moving, Iris.” he said tightly and slipped his hand from hers to spread her thighs further for him as her body started to relax, adjusting to his size. He rolled his hips into her, the movement slow and deep as he added. “I need to go harder. Tell me if it’s too much.” 

Iris didn’t take her eyes off his face, watching and feeling how he took his time with her. She squeezed her walls around his cock and grinned when his head fell forward with a groan. 

Iris kissed his shoulder gently then his cheek. “Go a little harder, mate. I can handle it.” she whispered and Eris’s eyes snapped to hers, his heart leaping at the words before he kissed her fiercely, diving into bliss.

No more words were said as Eris’s pace quickened, his thrusts in line with the sounds of Iris’s breathy moans. His eyes stayed glued to her beautiful face as it lit up in ecstasy and he would allow his pace to quicken, his thrusts to indeed go harder until her brows furrowed and he’d ease up, rolling his hips at a more leisurely pace until the sigh of pleasure would slip from her lips again before quickening once more.

An avalanche was building inside him as Eris Vanserra made love to his wife, claiming her as his. Iris fell into the bliss of the motions, her body taking the pleasure he gave her, trying to match his pace and giving him pleasure of her own. She felt her orgasm building and she couldn’t help tightening around his cock again, loving the way he filled her up, his grunts of satisfaction only making it more erotic for her. The way his hands possessively held her, tracing her body before sinking into her thighs again had her on fire; his touch igniting her body, an incandescent glow to their joining. They were a perfect fit, their bodies made for each other. 

“Eris —” she whined, her grip tightening on his arm as his hips quickened. “I need —”

“I know what you need, wife.” he murmured, his fingers digging into her inner thighs as he was rutting into her, his thrusts quickening then slowing down before quickening again, his hips rolling with the movement. His eyes were on her beautiful breasts bouncing before him and he couldn’t help leaning in to take one in his mouth for a soft bite as he thrust hard, grinning at the way Iris cried out. “I know exactly what you need. I’ve got you, little gazelle.” 

His mouth switched to the other breast for a quick taste before he adjusted himself to rest over her, lifting her thighs to give himself a better angle, and Iris’s breathless whimper only encouraged the movement. 

“Almost — I’m almost —” she begged, melting into his movements. “Oh, fuck.”

“Touch yourself, wife.” he demanded knowing he would not last much longer. He needed her to come. He needed them to come close together. “Play with that pretty cunt while I fuck you and come for me.”

Iris immediately obeyed, her fingers sliding to her swollen clit, her hand moving in pace with his quick thrusts, to the roll of his hips snapping against hers. 

“Good girl. You’re doing so well for me.” he praised again and Iris flushed deeply at the words, her breaths quickening. “You’re going to come for me and then I’m going to spill myself inside you because you’re mine.” His voice was guttural and his mouth descended on her exposed neck, biting. Iris bit her lip through the pleasure mixed with a hint of pain at his harshened thrusts, his pace turning frantic. “Mine.”

“And you’re mine.” she breathed and with the next thrust timed to the exact movement of her hand rubbing her clit, Iris’s body arched as she fell over the edge.

At the sound of her breathless moan of pleasure, Eris finally came with a deep groan, burying his head into the crook of her neck. He came so hard and with such force, that his vision momentarily blurred. He’d been holding on for this moment for so long that Eris couldn’t stop the rolling of his hips as he panted heavily, his come still spilling out of him as his thrusts began to slow, emptying himself inside her. Iris lay beneath him, breathing heavily, her fingers tangling in his hair and she couldn’t stop the rolling of her hips either, her silken walls still clenching around him.

It took him a moment to finally come to a stop and Eris pulled out of her slowly, the wet sound obscene as it filled the room. He nearly came again at the sight of her sex covered in him, at the way she pulsed beneath his gaze. His heart raced as he took in her flushed face, the marking of his hands on her body — his bite mark on her throat. 

This would be a sight he could never see himself getting tired of. 

They sat in silence for a few moments, letting their breathing fall into its natural rhythm and just watching each other. For all their worries and feelings, and for all their words said, everything about this moment was exactly how it was supposed to be.

Eris and Iris, as one; the mating bond seemed to pulse between them, the gold thread taut.

He watched his wife for a moment, a finger brushing her cheek as she closed her eyes against his touch and Eris had to use every ounce of will he had to force himself move. 

He had to take care of her. She trusted him and he would always take care of her. 

He returned with a damp washcloth kept warm from his magic and as gently as Eris Vanserra could be, began cleaning her up. Iris shifted at his touch and the slight wince on her face had his expression fall. “Did I hurt you?” he asked quietly.

Iris could already feel the sense of panic bubbling inside him, so she shook her head with a small smile and requested, “Come here.”

Without hesitation, Eris gingerly lay his body over hers, the washcloth slipping from his hand and she cupped his face, kissing him softly. Eris buried his hands in her hair, groaning against her lips and that sense of delight flared in him again as she wrapped her legs around him.

He didn’t think about his release still mostly all over her even as he unintentionally bucked his hips into hers; his cock already half erect just by pressing against her.

“You did not hurt me.” she said calmly. “I liked it.” 

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” he said and nearly purred when she ran her fingers through his hair. “My husbandly duties have been performed well.”

Iris snorted and rolled her eyes. “Cauldron forbid you to go a few minutes without complimenting yourself.” 

“You have to give credit where it’s due, wife.” he asked with a smirk. “I will gladly show you again if necessary.”

Iris let out a soft laugh that had Eris’s heart skip a beat and he couldn’t help leaning in and placing a hot kiss on her mouth. 

“You have always been so eager.” she teased against his lips and Eris made a noise of agreement as he pulled back to watch her, his fingers sliding into the loose strands of her hair. 

It fell silent between them once more, both basking in the closeness and soft touching, happy to just be.

To be at peace. To be present at this moment. Where that invisible string wrapped itself around them. 

“You know…” Iris began after a moment, and color bloomed on her cheeks as she trailed a hand down his arm and then met his gaze. “This means we’ve finally consummated our marriage.”

“About time, I daresay.”

“I am now truly your wife.” 

Eris’s brow quirked. “You were truly my wife the moment we said those vows in front of everyone at our wedding.” He said dryly. “There was never a single moment where I thought otherwise.”

Iris hummed, her lips twitching at his expression. “Well, can’t say the same now, can I?” she teased then laughed as his expression flattened. 

“If you don’t take that back right this instance —”

“What are you going to do?” she challenged and Eris’s mouth slowly curled into a smirk. 

“I’m going to fuck you and that pretty mouth of yours until you’re so incoherent, the only words you can say are husband,” He said and leaned in to kiss one corner of her mouth. “Mate.” He continued, kissing the other corner of her lips. “And my name.” he finally whispered against her lips.

Iris’s pulse quickened and she squeezed her legs around him, his promise igniting her arousal once more. “Oh, then I’m most certainly not taking it back.” she said. “How else will I find out if the rumors are true?”

Eris lifted a brow and brushed a strand of hair from her face. “And what rumors might that be?”

Iris’s lips twitched as she answered, “That Autumn Court males have fire in their blood—,” she said then added in a low voice. “And they fuck like it too.”

Her husband blinked then a wicked grin slowly spread across his face. “Oh?”

Iris tried to focus on her steps as she walked away from the one person who mattered more than anyone else. Tried to keep breathing, knowing anything could happen to him. 

She could sense Eris’s every emotion trickling through the bond as she stepped out of the ballroom and walked quickly down the hall. His panic became hers and as she ran a finger against her necklace in comfort, Iris knew better than to look back. If she did, she wouldn’t resist running back to him and he needed her away for his own sanity. 

With every step she moved away from him, her mess of a heart thumped how wrong it felt. She loved him. She loved him and should’ve told him anyway. She should’ve stayed —

Iris also realized she should’ve been paying attention when she collided with the one person she wanted to avoid.

“Iris.” 

She straightened at the voice of the High Lord and a strong sense of foreboding coiled in her stomach as she took a step back. 

Iris gave him a polite bow of her head. “High Lord.”

Beron tilted his head, giving her a sly leer that instantly put her on edge. “You usually say it differently, no?”

She worked not to let her expression shift from a pleasant smile and swallowed, bowing her head again, “How can I help you, my High Lord?”

“Better,” he said and took a closer step to her, his eyes tracing her body in a way he hadn’t openly done so before. He watched her with an almost morbid curiosity and it made Iris tense further. “Have you been enjoying yourself this evening?”

Iris’s jaw clenched but she kept her gaze even. “Yes, of course. It’s been a splendid night,” she answered. “Where is –”

“You’re doing better than I expected. I admit…I underestimated your capabilities.” Beron continued, ignoring her response as his gaze burned into her skin. “I am pleased to see that you can be taught whatever is necessary.” 

She couldn’t stop the slow blink at his words and the tone he said them, alarm bells ringing in her ears. Silence stretched between them and Iris knew by the way the corner of his mouth lifted, Beron could hear the rapid beating of her heart. His gaze shifted to her chest as if he could see right through her and suddenly, her mind took her back to the fight she had with Eris many moons ago about his father – about the High Lord’s particular interest in females. Eris didn’t believe his father would cross that one line to force himself on the females he wanted but…with the way the High Lord was looking at her now, Iris wasn’t as confident. Hating the way his gaze made her feel so dirty, she casually lifted a hand to rest it over the slight dip in the front of her dress, cold dread slinking down her spine. 

“I’m…relieved to know it was to your standard,” she said carefully. “But where is –”

The High Lord took another step towards her and Iris couldn’t stop her eyes from widening as he infringed on her personal space. She noticed too late how quiet the hallway was – how alone they were. How Oren, who was meant to be waiting for her, was nowhere in sight. “Where are you off to, without your husband?”

Cautiously, Iris backed another step with a tight smile. “I wanted to refresh before we continued with the dancing,” she said. “Where’s Mother?”

Beron’s face darkened and his demand was nearly a growl, “Stop calling her that. Do not concern yourself with her.” 

She blinked, her brows furrowing slightly and her free hand tightened in the folds of her dress. “As you wish…may I be on my way now?”

Instead of answering, the High Lord took another step closer, backing Iris against the wall and her eyes quickly darted to the empty hall they stood in again. Why was it so empty? And so quiet? Where the hell were all the people? 

“My lord –”

“My eldest son had always been my favorite of the children I sired. The most reliable. The one who followed orders.” he began. “Yet, since you appeared, he has challenged me more and more as the days go on. He’s become quite a nuisance.” Beron’s mouth curled in distaste as he watched her. “Every single one of them has become a nuisance but Eris…he has disappointed me the most. And I do believe it is all because of you.” 

Iris flushed and beneath the prickling anxiety at being cornered like this, anger pulsed under her skin. “I’m afraid I don’t follow, High Lord.” 

Beron snorted. “Do not pretend to misunderstand what I mean, Iris.”

They said nothing for a moment and Iris knew she had to tread carefully. Eris had suspected his father might be aware of something but she didn’t want to be the one to jeopardize anything else. 

“I think you are giving me too much credit, my lord.” she finally said. “Eris is a male of his own mind and has always…admired you. Strived to please you.” 

His brow ticked up at her words and Iris had to swallow as he leaned in closer to her. “And you, Iris? Do you strive to please me?”

Revulsion clogged her throat at the quiet, sinister tone he used and his choice of words. Iris knew he always toed this line with her, doing anything to piss Eris off. But this time…it felt different, more dangerous. 

This time, Iris wasn’t sure the High Lord wouldn’t act.

“I –”

“You and I haven’t gotten to know each other very well. I think that will be changing soon,” he said and Iris felt her stomach drop as he watched her with cruel amusement. “My son will not like it but I’ve let him slide without a more lasting punishment and he seems to be pushing his limit today. You will fit exactly what I have in mind for him.” 

Her face flushed deeply and Iris could do nothing to stop the disgust in her expression, that rage simmering beneath her skin. Did she dare pull out her dagger? Would she be fast enough? “W-what are you —”

Beron chuckled and Iris flinched back when he raised a hand to grip her face tightly. “In all honesty, you weren’t of any interest to me before,” he said, his voice as soft as a lover and Iris tried not to gag at how close his mouth was to hers. “My son and I had an understanding about you but the way he keeps you from me and hides you away…piqued my interest. I think it’ll be a very fitting punishment indeed for him to watch as I teach you all the things that do please me. He can watch you break until it shatters him.” That cruel amusement returned as he added, “And then I will slit his throat.”

The world slid out from beneath her feet and rage like none other scorched her skin. “How dare you –”

His grip tightened painfully on her chin and she hated the smile he gave her at the whimper that slipped from her lips. “You are aware your father offered you to me first, aren’t you?” he asked, his tone sharpening. “Your circumstances and level of comfort are rapidly changing and given how the rest of this evening will unfold, I suggest you watch your tone. Your husband will no longer be your shield.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” she breathed and a twisted smile curled on the High Lord’s face. 

“Do you think I’m unaware that my sons are trying to stage a coup? That my wife is a part of it?” he said, his voice low and Iris felt her lungs collapse. “They planned and planned and it will all collapse on their heads.”

Iris worked her throat, panic slowly unfurling in her chest as she thought about her next steps. This couldn’t be happening. “I don’t think –”

She yelped as the High Lord gripped her by the throat and slammed her body into the wall. “Do not even think to lie to me.” he hissed. “I know they will try to humiliate me tonight but I’ll be damned if I let them after everything I’ve done to get here.” His hold tightened and Iris wheezed as her nails dug into his hand. “You will get your share of the punishment as well but I promised your father he would get his turn first.”

Her father. Of course, that fucker was in on it. He must’ve come to them earlier on purpose, to rile her and Eris before disappearing. 

What if she pulled her dagger out now? Would she be able to gut him and run to find Eris? Her free hand twitched in the folds of her dress for the hidden pocket but the High Lord grabbed her wrist and pinned her arm to the wall, pressing his body against her.

Iris couldn’t breathe and she wondered if Eris could sense her panic – her fear. It was the last thing she wanted. She didn’t want Eris anywhere near his father right now and she tried to move but all it did was push her body against Beron’s even further. He smiled at her in a way that said he liked it too much. 

“You must have lost your mind. Let go of me.” she hissed, clawing at his hands but Beron only smirked, tightening his grip even further. 

“Do not give me orders, girl. Once I’m finished cleaning out the traitors, you will have the honor of being the first trained in the new ways,” he promised darkly. “I certainly don’t need four sons and can always find a new wife.” Much to her dismay, Beron leaned close to her ear and breathed, “I do have plans to keep you in the family, Iris. You and I can play then whichever of my sons survives…I’ll let him play with you too.” She froze, her breath stuttering as the High Lord pulled back and Iris looked at him with wide eyes, overcome with horror. “And do not worry, I’ll kill Eris after he has the privilege of watching his mate be used.”

Iris’s head emptied and she felt her body go slack against him. He knew. The bastard knew about their bond and Eris had been right – his father was going to make everything so much worse. 

She stared at him in repulsion and disbelief and so much anger boiled in her blood that she began to shake. How long would males like her father and Beron think to use her like bait? To keep finding ways to hurt her husband, the only male she’d ever loved? “You are a deranged bastard.” she seethed. “How dare you say these kinds of things? How dare you spit on something so sacred and try to twist it?”

Beron’s smile was one of her worst nightmares. “Soon enough, I will spit wherever I’d like.” he nearly purred and Iris fought back the urge to gag. “This isn’t the first time I’ve ruined someone’s mate. I will certainly enjoy ruining you as well.”

“You’re a fucken pig. Let - me - go.” Iris hissed and thrashed in his arms. “Eris will –” But Beron’s face darkened at the mention of his son, squeezing her throat tighter. 

And fight as she might, he was a High Lord — a vile, vicious High Lord that abused his powers in the worst ways and he would not let Iris break out of his grasp unless he allowed it.

He observed her for a moment, his mouth curling. “I do like your fighting spirit. We’ll see how long it’ll last when I’m done with you.” he mused then shoved her to the side hard enough, Iris stumbled and fell as she finally took a deep breath. “I plan to see how fast you can run, little gazelle.”

Iris blinked in shock, trying to breathe as she watched him casually making his way back to the ballroom – as if he hadn’t just stated his despicable plans to ruin everyone’s lives. Eris and his brothers had plans in place but the High Lord seemed to be ten steps ahead. How did he know? Who had betrayed them?

Iris rubbed her raw neck, noticing too late that her necklace had broken, and pulled her hand back, cradling it sadly. She tried not to take it as a bad omen as she shakily stood, torn in her next decision.

She would not think about the High Lord’s threats, shuddering through the ghost of his touch and gazing around the empty hall again. It was empty for a reason and she struggled to understand why Beron had let her go.

Did she run back and warn Eris? Would it be walking right into Beron’s trap and making it all worse?

Iris steeled herself, tucking the necklace into the pocket of her dress with shaky hands and finally pulling out her dagger. She would go back to Eris but not without some kind of support – Iris would be a help and not a hindrance. She would find Oren and hopefully, her mother-in-law.  As upset as her husband might be that Iris was still here, she’d be damned if she left him now.

Tightening her grip on her dagger, Iris carefully continued down the hall, wary of every sound she made. The emptiness of it was deliberate and as she took a few more steps, she felt her healer magic almost tugging her along. Iris did all she could not to run – not to draw attention to herself because the lack of people in this hall was not a good thing. She walked as casually as she could until Iris turned the hall and her body lurched as she came to a stop, her heart leaping into her throat.

“And where do you think you’re running off to, daughter?” 

Iris swallowed and her grip tightened even further on her dagger, observing as her father stood in the hall, alone. As if he’d been waiting for her. “What are you doing here?” she asked as calmly as she could. 

His smile made every inch of her tense. Running into the High Lord and then finding the male she hated most waiting for her was not a coincidence. 

In trying to avoid Beron’s trap of going back to Eris, Iris had walked right into another and it suddenly made sense why the High Lord had let her walk away. 

“I’m here to escort you to your next stop.” her father said with that awful smile and Iris steeled herself. 

“My next stop is to my husband.”

“Why, that’s exactly where I want to take you as well.” Aron said and took a step towards her. Iris took a step back. 

“I will not go anywhere with you. Move aside and let me pass.” she demanded and he raised a brow.

“Given your little stunt in the ballroom and standing here without your husband, I wouldn’t think you’d be brave enough to keep up with that attitude.” 

She felt anger flare in her bones and couldn’t help scoffing at her father. “When we shooed you away like the dog you are?” she mocked and his expression flattened. “I’m not sure why you get offended. You are the High Lord’s lapdog through and through, aren’t you? Willing to do anything and everything he requests of you?”

“Shut your mouth, you ungrateful bitch.” Aron seethed and Iris couldn’t help the small sense of triumph at riling him up, even as they stepped around each other, knowing his hands could harm her. “The High Lord and I have a mutually beneficial relationship that you and your stupid husband threaten to ruin.” 

“Ah, yes. The relationship with you on your knees for the High Lord doing all his dirty work and he allows you to reign free?” she dared to say. 

Aron's eyes narrowed and seethed, “And what do you dare mean by that?" 

And Iris knew should've stayed quiet. She should’ve listened to the part of her screaming to get away from him as soon and as fast as she could – the survival instinct that had stayed with her over the years of dealing with his fists. 

The other part of her, the one now thumping through her veins, was raging at her to keep going. She was a princess of this court. The mate and wife of the next High Lord come hell or high water and her husband was the reason she could stand her ground and know she was worth the fight. She had a right to fight for herself and not let this sorry excuse of a father keep diminishing her like this. So Iris channeled every ounce of arrogance she could muster and smirked, speaking in a tone of such uninterested boredom that she was slightly disappointed Eris wasn’t here to witness it, “Eris and I have often wondered if you get better rewards the better you suck his father's cock. I doubt we’re the only ones.” 

“How dare you!” 

Her father didn’t give her another chance to say anything else and Iris knew she was playing with fire taunting him but she’d spent her whole life dealing with him and his anger. She was sick of him and his jabs and his entire existence. She would fight fire with fire and consequences be damned. 

Aron lunged at his daughter and Iris barely dodged his grip, slicing her dagger up as she went. 

“You dare try to hurt me?” he seethed as he moved against her. 

“I will hurt anyone who tries to hurt me and you’ve been at the top of my list for years, you piece of shit.” She snapped and took a step back, her eyes darting around the hall for anything that may help her. Anything to stop him as he followed her, trying to corner her while she dodged him.

The hall was dimly lit, and that eerie silence of being alone with him had the shadows playing tricks on her senses as Iris continued to evade her father's advances. The bastard seemed to know her every move and each time she moved one way, he followed her with a snarl. She knew she couldn't quite match his physical strength; Iris had been on the receiving end of his blows for years and that small fear would always linger. But she had to remind herself that she was stronger now. Even if she couldn’t win, she sure as fuck could injure and this fueled her determination.

As Aron lunged once more, his sword now in hand, Iris quickly sidestepped him, her dagger slashing through the air and the metallic clash echoed in the hall as her blade met his. The sound vibrated through the room as father and daughter glared at each other.

“You dance this little number with me and yet, you couldn’t overpower me if you tried, could you?” Aron cooed mockingly and Iris’s jaw clenched as she shoved away from him and a gleam of silver caught her eyes from a nearby table. Backing away slowly, letting her father assume she was retreating, Iris darted towards it, quickly grabbing one of the lofty candlestick holders adorning the hall. The cold metal of the sturdy base felt reassuring in her hand as she held it, facing her father.

“This was always your problem, Aron.” she mocked and her father’s eyes flashed. “You always underestimated me.” 

Aron's face twisted with rage, and as he charged at her again, Iris was waiting. She feigned with her dagger and instead swung the candlestick holder with all her might, aiming for his head with a cry of rage, slamming into him as hard as she could. The impact sent him stumbling and she took advantage of his surprise to slam it into him again and watched with gruesome pleasure as her father crumbled to the floor. 

The weapon she’d brandished slipped to the floor with a loud clang and Iris allowed herself a moment of deep breaths, her hands shaking. She had knocked him out. She’d won. This round at least. 

The joy was brief as Iris remembered what she was originally supposed to be looking for and quickly hid her dagger once more. She glanced down at her father with distaste, grabbing his discarded sword and throat bobbing, Iris focused back on finding her family. She had no doubt her father would be coming after her with a vengeance once he awoke. 

Carefully glancing around the corner once more, ensuring she was alone and her father didn’t have anyone else waiting for her, she sprinted towards the guest wing that was rarely used, the only space she could think Beron had walked from. The buzz of her healing magic returned, almost urging her on and Iris focused on swallowing her panic, needing to keep a leveled head. 

They had a plan. She would find Oren then find Eris and they would be fine.

Lady Enya had to be fine. She had to be okay. She was finally leaving. Lucien was waiting – Her mate was waiting. 

And Eris…she would be by his side however the rest of this night goes. 

She skidded to a stop in front of the room, trying to control her heavy breathing as she glanced around the wing to find it deserted, the door to the main room closed. Her magic tingled at her fingertips and Iris knew this was the right place. Quickly, she knocked. “Lady Enya?”

A heartbeat passed and she knocked again, her tone sharpening. “Lady Enya?”

Nothing.

She heard nothing. 

Did that mean – had Beron –

Her grip tightened on her blade but Iris made herself take another deep breath and as she raised her hand once more to knock, she heard a pitiful groan. 

One of pain. 

Iris yanked at the door handle and groaned to find it locked. With a grunt, she threw herself against the door with everything she had once, twice, and by the third shove, her shoulders were aching and her hair had started to become disheveled, there was a small crack in the door. Mustering whatever was left of her energy, she threw herself against the door a final time and it finally burst open. Panting, her gaze swept the room until it fell on a body – three bodies and she nearly keeled over – Lady Enya, Emil, and Oren were bleeding out before her. 

Iris’s hands began to shake as she took note of each person and as if in a trance, slowly let the sword slip from her hands. Lady Enya lay face first on the floor, Emil on the ground with a chair toppled over him, and Oren slumped against the wall. 

Eris had told her what his father was capable of if provoked but it didn’t stop her from trembling at the sight of the broken furniture and speckles of scattered blood. 

“Oh gods.”

Quickly closing the door behind her, Iris rushed over and turned her mother-in-law, blanching at the paleness of her face. Her cheeks were marred with bruises, a cut to her lip and Iris made herself take a breath then another at the sight of the Lady of Autumn’s golden dress now stained with blood. 

The chaos had begun and the High Lord certainly knew where to hit.  

“Mother? Mother, can you hear me?” she called, trying to keep the frantic panic she felt at bay as her hand hovered over Lady Enya’s body, assessing her as carefully as she could. The High Lord seemed to have used his fists more deliberately with his wife, as if wanting to make sure his touch would haunt her forever and Iris bit her lip hard, sensing the amount of bruises across her mother-in-law’s body. A line of blood sat across her throat as if the High Lord had debated whether to slit it or not and Iris’s hands moved shakily, letting her healing magic find the hurt. 

Why hadn’t her body started healing itself yet? What had the High Lord done? 

“Please answer me. Please don’t be  –”

“Iris.” 

Her head snapped to the corner to where Emil struggled and her brother-in-law groaned lowly as he attempted to move. “Emil!” she said and froze for a heartbeat as her gaze flickered between the three bodies. If Lady Enya wasn’t healing, did that mean Emil and Oren hadn’t either? Grimacing, she focused back on her mother-in-law. “What the hell happened? Are you able to get up?”

“My father. He knows.” Emil wheezed and Iris watched him shove the chair off him with a shaky hand. “The fucker knows. Trapped us in here.”

“W-why is there so much blood? ” she asked, carefully shifting Lady Enya’s head to continue checking for injuries. “Why isn’t your mother’s body healing itself? Can you heal yours?” 

“No. F-faebane in the drinks he forced on us,” he said with a wince. “My magic is snuffed out.” 

“Try not to move, please!” Iris called out and glanced down at Lady Enya with a small sense of relief at the little bit of color returning in her cheeks. “Let me help you first. If you’re already hurt, movement will make it worse.”

With a final assessing hand over Lady Enya, Iris quickly shifted over to Emil, assisting him in sitting up and her brother-in-law hissed when she exposed the nasty wound to his gut. His face was no better than his mother’s and Iris winced at the way his arm was twisted. “The fucker saw me following him and Mother. I tried to make it seem like I wanted to walk her back to the dance but when Oren showed up, he must’ve known something was happening and called us in here,” he explained quickly, panting slightly as Iris carefully touched him. “He wanted to toast the evening and before we could stop him, he forced the drinks on us.” 

“What kind of weapon did he use?” Iris asked, moving her hands to scan Emil for further injuries and healing as she went along. “He must’ve –”

“His fists. His magic.” Emil said and moaned painfully as Iris set his arm back in place and healed the wound to his abdomen. “Then his sword. Oren got the brunt of it trying to protect my mother. H-help him, please –”

“I will, I will.” she managed and blew out a breath, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. “Eris – he’s – your father is aware of everything.” Iris helped him shift against the wall, handing him his discarded daggers. “He cornered me in the hallway and I think he has something up his sleeve. It’s going to get ugly.” 

“It absolutely will get ugly. He thinks he has one up on us because he knows we’re planning to overthrow him.” Emil seethed, grunting as he adjusted himself, carefully strapping his two daggers to his sides. “But he doesn’t know to what extent.”

“Don’t underestimate him,” she said quietly and Emil put a hand over hers, forcing her to pause but she gave him a tight smile and patted his hand. “I think he knows more than you think he does.” 

“What makes you say that?” Emil asked, his eyes narrowing and Iris shrugged helplessly. 

“He threatened me with all his ideas for the future out there. Whatever it is, you all must figure out a way around it.” Iris said then backed away from him; she had healed him as best as she could. Swallowing, she met his gaze, her eyes pleading. “Please don’t let Eris deal with it alone, Emil. I know your magic hasn’t returned yet but –”

“You’d be a fool to only rely on your magic in this court.” he rasped and nodded. “I’ll be fine. We’ll get back to him.”

Iris nodded and blinked back the well of tears that surfaced. There was no time for this – no time to dwell on things she couldn’t control. If they couldn’t heal themselves, Iris would gladly do it for them, helping in the only way she knew how. She quickly made her way to Oren and Iris couldn’t help but hiss as she ran her hands over him to find multiple fractures and wounds. 

Eris’s friend and one of his most loyal soldiers was bloodied and bruised, left for dead trying to protect their family. Anger boiled beneath her skin at the injustice of it all. 

The High Lord had been pissed. 

Iris let her magic work, panting slightly at the exertion of so much of her magic all at once. She looked over as Emil slowly began to stand, his hands trembling slightly. “You lost blood, you need to let yourself rest a little longer,” Iris ordered.

“There’s no fucken time for that,” Emil said and breathed deeply, bracing a hand against the wall. “Time will cost us and he’s too prepared. I need to find out how. I need –”

The Lady of Autumn made a small noise and both Iris and Emil glanced over to find her shifting slightly. “Lady Enya?”

Without a word, Emil approached his mother and Iris bit her lip, watching him stumble slightly as he walked. Even with her help, the faebane slowed their healing and they needed more time.

“Emil.” his mother breathed, reaching out a trembling hand as her son assisted her to sit up. “What happened? Where –” Lady Enya’s gaze found Iris, widening, and Iris was grateful to see the bruises on her face had somewhat lessened. “Iris! What are you doing here?”

“I came to find Oren and ended up finding you all together,” she explained, focusing back on Oren’s wounds. “Are you feeling alright? I’m healing everyone as best as possible but I’m a little nervous that –”

“I feel better, thank you.” Lady Enya reassured quickly as alarm crossed her expression and Iris’s brows furrowed, her gaze torn between Enya and Oren. The Lady of Autumn exchanged a look with Emil before her eyes returned to Iris. “You need to leave. Now.” 

Iris blinked, her hands flattering for a moment before she resumed healing. “What?” 

“Beron —” Enya grunted as Emil helped her stand. “He left us nearly dead on purpose. But you – you – he’s going to use you to ruin Eris. You need to leave.” 

“But –”

“Now, Iris. Before he sends someone to –”

“He already had my father waiting for me and I managed to get away. I’m not leaving.” 

“Iris –” Emil began but she cut him a glare. “You know he has plans –” “I’m not leaving.” she snapped. “Everything is already going to hell and if your father is going to hurt my husband – my mate, then I am going to be here and help in any way that I can.” 

Emil’s whole body seemed to lurch as he froze. “Your what?” he asked as Enya’s expression shuttered. 

“You heard me.” Iris breathed and her heart felt like it was going to explode in her chest. She would not deny him. Not now. Not here. And Eris may have been terrified for people to know about their bond but with things escalating so quickly, how could she worry about anything else? 

“I am aware that I promised Eris that I would get out but things have changed and I refuse to leave him now. You think if I tried to run, your father wouldn’t find me so he could keep hurting Eris?” Iris met his gaze and then turned to her mother-in-law, her eyes burning. “He’s the first thing that’s ever been mine. The best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’ve waited my whole life to have what I have with him.” Her lip quivered slightly as she glanced down at Oren whose breathing had finally evened then she turned back at them. “This is my fight too and should this end in fire, I will burn with him.”

“Iris…” Enya began and her mother-in-law’s lips trembled but Emil watched her with a look of calculated interest that Iris could’ve sworn had a flicker of pride in it. 

Deeming Oren healed enough, Iris carefully stood, glancing down at her stained hands, and fisted them slowly before she faced them once more. “I am not leaving him. He is mine and I am his and whatever may come…we will face it together,” she said and rolled her shoulders back, her tone offering no room for argument. “I hope I have made myself clear.”

It was silent for a moment and Iris’s shoulders tensed, wondering if they’d argue with her or force her to leave — if it was the smartest thing to do but then both Emil and Lady Enya nodded.

“Then I hope my brother trained you well, sister,” Emil said solemnly and her shoulders dropped. “It’s going to be a hard fight.” 

“Then a hard fight it is,” she answered and felt nothing but grim determination. “Now tell me, how much of the faebane was in the drink? Do you think the effects will last long?”

“I have an antidote on me. So should you, Mother.” Emil said and ran a hand over his clothing until he found the small vial that somehow hadn’t shattered in the beating he’d gotten then turned to his mother. “We should’ve taken it sooner. I miscalculated and now it’ll cost us –”

“I don’t have it.” Lady Enya said and her face was grave. “He took it from me and crushed it right before you came in.” Her shaking hands fisted in her dress. “He took it and crushed it like he crushed everything else in my life.”

Iris’s throat tightened as Emil’s expression shuttered before thrusting a hand out to his mother. “Then take mine. I’ll be fine to fight until my magic returns.”

“No, Emil, you must –”

“I have an additional one.” Iris cut in, her hand sliding into the hidden pocket of her dress and quickly handing it to her mother-in-law. “You need it more than I do. I will take no argument on this either.”

Lady Enya’s shoulders dropped and Iris hated to see her lip quivering as she slowly closed her hand around the vial and huffed out a weak laugh. “Iris, I –”

The door that Iris had deliberately closed behind her swung open and they all tensed. Emil immediately slid in front of his mother, hiding the antidote and Iris froze when she saw who was standing there.

“You truly thought you could get away from me, daughter.” 

Aron stood in the doorway, a smugness mixed with anger in his expression, and was now flanked by three sentries who bore no mark of the Vanserra brothers. 

“Do you not know when to give up?” Iris asked in exasperation, her hand immediately sliding to her hidden dagger once more. “How many more times must I humiliate you for you to be gone?”

Her father snorted and the sound had her stomach coiling as that familiar anxiety flared again, not daring to take her eyes off him as she shifted closer to Emil and Lady Enya. He was angrier now and Iris had dared to hurt him. His revenge was coming sooner than she had predicted and she couldn’t help glancing at the bruise still prominent on his temple. 

“We’ll see who shall be humiliating who, you stupid bitch,” Aron sneered quietly, his mouth curled in distaste. Iris flushed angrily to be demeaned like this in front of her family but it was that quiet threat in his tone that put her on edge again. Her father’s eyes narrowed as if he could sense her hate, sense her raging heart but he jerked his chin to his soldiers and they began walking towards Iris.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Emil snapped and stepped forward but Aron only gave the prince a cursory glance as Iris backed a step, then another with her father’s soldiers still approaching her.

“You’re still alive?” her father merely said, unbothered by the prince’s reaction. “Your father will be disappointed.”

Emil drew his two blades, a rage she hadn’t seen before cut through the usual calm demeanor he presented, and an invisible barrier went up between them and her father’s soldiers. “You all take one more step toward her and I will cut you where you stand,” he said, his tone lethally calm. 

Aron scowled and Iris clenched her jaw, her fingers tight around the hilt of the hidden dagger, the air in the room thick with tension as Aron glanced at them with a tilt of his head. “Now, now, prince. This doesn’t concern you. I’m here for my daughter and nothing else.” he said and gestured with a hand. “Should you and your mother choose to flee, I will grant you a headstart before informing your father that you still draw breath.” 

“You dare stand before the Lady and prince of this court and behave this way?” Lady Enya said, her expression filled with cool disdain as she stepped towards him and the lord had the nerve to lift a brow, glancing over her.

“As far as I’m aware, you won’t be the lady of this court for much longer,” Aron replied then added with a small, mocking smile. “Per your husband’s support, I do dare. My lady.”

Emil let a breath pass then another, the room beginning to heat as he scoffed in disbelief. “My brother was right. You certainly are too bold for your own good.” he spat and without warning, threw a blade, landing it in the throat of the soldier on the right with a thud. “Stand down or the next step you take will be the last.”

Aron grimaced at the fallen soldier to his side then glanced at Emil. “That was uncalled for.” he tsked. “Are you sure you want to behave like this, prince? Don’t you know what your father has in store for you?” 

“And what do you know about my father’s plans?” Emil asked, taking a step forward. 

Aron smiled in a way that triggered every terrible memory Iris had of him. Every bruise, every hurt he had given her always started with that smile and her grip tightened on the hilt of her dagger. “I am your father’s hand. I will execute them as he wishes,” he said. “My daughter is the final piece of the punishment he plans to unleash on you all but do you know who else will be part of it?” 

Emil’s eyes narrowed as Iris shifted a step over, her eyes on her father. “Considering you seem to love the sound of your own voice, I assume you’ll be telling me.”

Her father chuckled and it made Iris’s skin crawl. “I do believe you know her quite well,” Aron said and Iris watched Emil’s body tighten, her gaze caught between him and her father. “She’s a pretty thing. Gave her quite the fright when we yanked her from her hiding place.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“No sense in denying your lover, Emil. It’s Cosette, isn't it?” Aron said, making a show of consulting his lapdogs behind him and Emil seemed to stop breathing. “You can imagine how fun it was to watch her succumb to her fear as she was blindfolded. Especially when we popped out that little earpiece and she could no longer hear clearly what was going on.” Aron gave a nasty laugh and Iris felt her stomach drop, watching as color leached from Emil’s face and his hands started shaking. “It was delightful.”

“You can’t be serious.” Iris breathed and Aron spared her a look of disdain before his eyes went back to Emil. 

“Henry Adler’s daughter is a bold move for you, boy. Your father will relish in breaking you with her in company.” 

“Tell me where she is right now you fucken piece of shit.” Emil snarled and Aron tsked again.

“I would watch that tone,” Aron said and wagged a finger. “Your father gave me free rein to do what I must and we barely touched her. It would be a shame for you to bring her further harm should you continue to be disrespectful.” her father said and Iris felt bile rise in her throat.

Cosette was supposed to be long gone alongside Theo. If they had Cosette, did that mean they had him too? How long had they had her for? How had they gotten their hands on her? Eris had said the signal had been clear this morning. Her eyes met Lady Enya’s and they seemed to share the same thought: how had this happened?

“Stop this at once.” Lady Enya demanded. “Do not bring an innocent girl into this.”

“She’s the daughter of a traitor and the lover of one. None of you are innocent.” Aron crooned. “And I will do as the High Lord has requested of me whether you wish to see it or not. Maybe if you give up her father, we’ll do a trade.”

“Tell me where she is right now.” 

Aron only snorted. “And what would be the fun in that?”

Without warning, Aron and his remaining soldiers lunged forward and chaos erupted in the room. Iris swiftly moved, her training kicking in as she dodged her father’s grip. She couldn’t believe he was challenging Emil and Lady Enya so openly. Had they all lost their minds? Had the High Lord really allowed him such leeway? Then again, he had left part of his family to bleed out in this very room and if had his hands on two of them, what’s to stop him from killing their significant others as well? What of Helene and the baby?  

“Stop this madness, you fool.” Iris demanded. “The High Lord is –.”

Aron didn’t even spare Emil and Enya a glance as they took on his sentries, continuing towards her. The bastard wasn’t even using a weapon. “Worry less about the High Lord and more about how your husband will be paying for his crimes.”

Iris faltered for a moment. “My husband committed no crimes.” 

“No?” he said with a smile full of malice. “Treason isn’t a crime to you?”

“Save me your bullshit.” Iris snarled. “The only criminal here is you and I am so sick of your shit.” 

“When you’re with the High Lord, nothing you do is a crime,” Aron said with a chuckle then lunged forward to grab her but Iris dodged, her fist flying out and connecting to her father’s cheek. 

He blinked back in surprise and almost absently touched his face. “That is the second time you have laid hands on me.”

“And I will do it again if you even think about touching me.” she promised.

Her father watched her and Iris hated to see the curiosity in his gaze. “So it seems you have truly learned to fight.” Aron mused and the mocking tone grated on every nerve in Iris’s body as she moved.

“My husband taught me well.” she snapped and her blade sliced up as Aron reached a hand for her. Her father hissed and the scent of fresh blood filled the air as Aron glanced down at his bleeding hand and then back at his daughter. Iris swallowed, her heart in her throat as rage clouded his expression but she stood her ground. “He gave me everything you tried to deny me of.” 

“Then it’s a shame you’ll end up being his downfall, won’t it?” Her father hissed and lunged forward, slamming her into the wall. Iris yelped but refused to go down without clawing at him, anger and fear fueling her every move. She sliced her dagger again, meeting flesh when her father backhanded her and she grunted, trying to step out of his reach again. But Aron was angrier than she’d ever seen him before and when she tried to move out of his reach, he shoved her back against the wall, his elbow digging into her throat. “I’ve had just about enough of you.” 

“Then get the hell out of my way.” Iris snarled but her father ignored her and instead, yelled over his shoulder, “Now.” 

Iris’s gaze quickly shot to Emil and Layd Enya still fighting but the look cost her. Her father now had a small vial in his hand and with a nasty smile that had her hackles rising, Aron crushed it in his hand. “Say goodnight, daughter.” 

“Wait –” she gasped but her father only smirked then blew the powder in his hand into her face and a wave of nausea washed over Iris, blind panic unfurling in her chest as the last thing she saw was her father’s smug face before it all went to black. 

——

He had made a mistake. 

As Eris watched the people enjoying the ball around them, he knew sending Iris away before his father returned was a mistake. He didn’t know where the High Lord was, Emil and his mother were missing and with Emil missing, he didn’t know if Mikel was in place to take his mother away. 

The longer he stood there, the more quickly his lungs were shrinking, and if Eris didn’t force himself to breathe, he’d likely have a stroke on the spot. Everything in his body was shriveling at the sense of wrongness surrounding him, and doubt began to fester in his mind in earnest. 

Something was wrong.

Had they been stupid enough to think they could take his father on? Should they have gone about this differently? Could they have tolerated him a little more and snuck their mother out on a different day? 

Too many variables were out of his control now and the one person who had ever settled him was gone and still, Eris regretted not sending her away sooner. 

His fists clenched behind his back and when Izak and Finn casually slid up next to him, Eris already knew it would get worse. He quickly shielded them from listening ears. 

“We’ve lost communication with some of the soldiers on the outside,” Izak muttered, running a hand over his beard. “And there seem to be more sentries we don’t know in the room.” 

“Mikel hasn’t checked in again and I’m starting to get fucken antsy,” Finn added and Eris’s gaze sharpened on his brothers.

“What do you mean he hasn’t checked in?” Eris said. “You haven’t heard from him about the others?”

“I heard from Lucien.” Izak confirmed with a frown. “Helene is fine.”

“Nothing about Theo? Or even Cosette?” Finn asked. “Where the fuck is Emil?” 

Eris scowled then rolled his shoulders back, feeling every inch of him tense. “I need to find Father. You two figure out what’s going on and try to stay together. I don’t trust a single person in this room.” 

“We’ll go with you,” Izak said but Eris shook his head.

“You both can’t follow me. People will notice.”

“Where’s Iris?” Finn asked and Eris felt the question snatch his breath. 

“I sent her to find Oren and get out before whatever is about to happen does.”

Finn and Izak shared a glance that had Eris tense further. 

“I was going to tell you that Oren’s been too quiet for a while. I – I can’t get a hold of him.” Finn said tightly and Eris felt his stomach drop.

“What.” he snapped.

“It doesn’t have to mean anything –” Izak quickly said but Eris’s glare shut his brother right up.

“You know it means something.” He hissed. “You haven’t heard from Mikel and now Oren is missing. I sent her — if he’s not — and your father is still –”

Eris made himself take a deep breath and fisted his shaking hands tighter. “Do as I told you. I need to find your fucken father and find out where my wife is.” 

“Let me find Iris and make sure she’s alright. Maybe that’ll lead me to Mikel as well. You and Izak focus on Father.” Finn said and Eris met his brother’s gaze. 

“Finn.”

“She’ll be alright, Eris. You trained her to handle herself, didn’t you?”

“You know Father is a different kind of beast and I –”

The words died in his throat as his father casually strolled into the room and all the air in the room was sucked out as he made his way over to them. Slowly, as if deliberately giving them time to note each step.

Eris swallowed once then nodded to his brothers. “Get out. Get out now.”

“And leave you here?” Izak demanded quietly.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure being here with him alone is wise?” Finn asked. “Eris, if he’s already –”

“Whatever the damage is, it’s already done. Find the others,” he said and spared them both a glance. “Go. Now. Before he gets closer.”

A heartbeat of silence passed and the grim determination he found on their faces matched his own. His younger brothers. How different would their relationship have been had they grown up anywhere but here? With any other father? Who could have they become? What kind of lives would they lead instead of this?

The question that plagued him all his life rose to the surface as he turned to watch his father again: what would it feel like to finally take a breath without worrying about his father’s hand choking it out of him? 

The three of them said nothing and Eris only nodded once before the two of them scattered. 

He kept his eyes on his father as he walked toward him, his brothers steering clear of the High Lord. Even as his Father addressed his guests as he passed them, his eyes never left his eldest son and every inch of Eris tightened, winding up for battle. Whatever his Father thought was happening, Eris knew deep in his bones that he would be taking the brunt of it all.

His heart was a ticking time bomb and Eris had a feeling it would explode any minute with each step his father took toward him.

Time seemed to slow as father and son met, standing before one another. The music was drowned out and the glittering lights did nothing to stop the darkness that sank into Eris as he stared at his father. 

Even as they stood in a room full of people, Eris heard and saw nothing else but the male in front of him. The one person who had ruined his life and those he cared about in every way possible. 

“You seem to be waiting for me, son.” 

The High Lord’s tone was conversational, almost light and Eris clasped his hands behind him, matching his father’s tone. “Your absence was noted, Father. I was coming to find you,” he said. 

The High Lord gave him a faint smile. “Did you miss me, son?”

Eris’s smile was thin as his thumb tapped against his hand. “Always.” he lied. “I see Mother isn’t with you.” 

Beron shrugged an elegant shoulder, the corner of his mouth curling up. “She’s decided to take a break from the evening. She doesn’t seem to be feeling well.” 

Eris’s eyes narrowed, his heart thundering in his chest. “Oh?” he asked carefully. “She seemed fine earlier. Where is she now?”

His father didn’t answer right away and instead, let silence dance between them. The High Lord said nothing and Eris felt his slowly magic start to thump in his veins again. Loudly. Enough that even the dagger at his side seemed heavier. He wondered if his father could sense it as he watched him.

“You seem to be implying that I am lying to you,” Beron said in that same conversational tone and Eris made himself take a small breath through his nose.

“Of course not. I am merely surprised at how quickly she seems to have fallen ill,” he replied. “I will go check on her. Bring a healer to examine her as well.”

Beron hummed and the disapproval in it made Eris stiffen. “Your concern for your mother isn’t necessary, son.” the High Lord said and gave him a smile that didn’t reach his cold, dead eyes. “She will be fine. I need you here, dazzling the guests.” Eris’s brows flattened and before he could object, his father turned away and demanded, “Walk with me.” 

The tension in the air thickened as Eris hesitated a beat and then followed his father, the echoes of their footsteps drowned out by the thrumming beat of his heart. The continued casualness in his father’s demeanor grated on Eris and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking towards the beginning of what felt like the final act.

As they moved through the splendor of the ballroom, Eris scanned the faces of the guests, both relieved and anxious that he saw no signs of his brothers. The uneasiness continued to grip his chest, thoughts of his mother and Iris making it difficult to focus on anything else. The laughter and music felt insulting as the weight of impending doom hung heavy around his neck.

He followed his father until the High Lord reached his throne and took a seat, leaving Eris standing before him. Beron gestured for him to move closer and Eris took the two steps up the dais until he was facing his father. Beron said nothing, merely snapping his fingers for a server to bring him a drink and a muscle feathered in Eris’s jaw at the deliberate waste of time, praying to whatever gods were listening that he didn't shove the whole glass down his father’s throat. 

As if reading his thoughts, Beron’s mouth curled and he finally broke the silence, his voice low, ominous. “You've always been intelligent, Eris. It's a trait that I had hoped would serve you well, but it seems to be backfiring on you lately. Causing more trouble than it's worth.”

Eris shot his father a sharp glance, his jaw clenching again. "And what trouble might that be, Father?”

Beron chuckled darkly, and the sound sent shivers down Eris's spine, tension lining every muscle as he stood there. But the High Lord only sat back on his throne, his finger tapping on the flute of champagne observing his son and for once, Eris let his anger flare.

“Are we really going to play these games right now?” he said flatly.

“Interesting you should say that, son,” Beron said lightly. “Considering you’re the one who is playing a very, very dangerous game.”

Eris straightened, his fists clenching behind his back. He let a beat of silence pass, slowly breathing through his nose again before he spoke. “Am I?”

Beron hummed, his gaze burning into Eris, his eyes calculating his son’s every breath. “I understand you’re used to insulting my intelligence given how much control I’ve given you over our court.” he mused then made a discontent noise. “One could even say it was my fault that I let you be so unchecked. That I…trusted you.” 

Eris's stomach churned at the tone in his father's voice. He tried to maintain his composure; he usually relied on his father avoiding a public spectacle but given the circumstances, Eris wasn’t sure it would stop the High Lord this time. The knot of anxiety tightened in his throat and he cleared it before he continued. “Father, I would never –”

“Do not look me in the face and lie to me, boy.” Beron threatened softly. 

The High Lord’s gaze raked over Eris with that signature distaste and every fiber of his being was on high alert. With his father, that could mean anything. Eris was a busy male, he had been up to many things but didn’t dare let any emotion other than feigned confusion slip through. 

“And what exactly am I lying about, High Lord?”

“High Lord.” he spat and Eris bristled. “You mock the title with your deceit.”  

Squaring his shoulders, Eris forced himself to maintain a sense of calm, refusing to let his father get under his skin. “I’m sorry to hear that even tonight, I have managed to disappoint you, Father.” 

Beron spared Eris a glance before looking back at the guests. “We’ll see how sorry you’ll be as the night goes on, son.” the High Lord managed and Eris’s confusion wasn’t feigned this time, trying as he might to keep the beat of his heart steady. 

He ran his tongue over his teeth and said, “Is there something you wish to tell me?”

His father chuckled and the sound sent a shiver down Eris’s spine. “There are many things I wish to tell you but it will have to wait for the show later.” 

A beat of silence. “What show? We have nothing planned.”

“You don’t have anything planned,” Beron said and it was the predatory gleam in his father’s eyes that made the thumping in Eris’s chest quicken. “I most certainly do.” 

Eris struggled to maintain a facade of calm as a storm of prickling anxiety and rage boiled beneath his skin. He almost wished his father would outright say whatever it was he was up to and let the cards fall where they may so Eris could rework his plans. 

Steeling himself, he decided he would find his mother first and ensure Iris had made it out. He was too tense to tell if the thread that tugged on his ribcage was because of him or because of Iris but either way, he didn’t want to wait too long to find out. 

Eris needed to get away from his father. 

“Well.” he finally forced himself to say. “I will…entertain our guests until your show begins. Send a healer to mother and –”

“No. I don’t think you will.” Beron said with a hum and before Eris could brace himself, his father’s magic locked on his body, holding him in place. 

He couldn’t move. His body wouldn’t budge. 

Panic unfurled in his chest as he glanced at his father who was eyeing the room again, with no care in the world. “Father.” Eris hissed. “What is the meaning of this?”

The High Lord glanced at his son. “You don’t need to go anywhere just yet. I like having you by my side.”

“But I –”

“Did I tell you?” His father asked with a small smile. “I saw your pretty wife in the hallway. She too, was looking for your mother.” Beron’s tone was nonchalant. “We had a lovely chat.”

Eris didn’t get a chance to even appear confused when the High Lord seemed to drop the glamour around himself and he felt the world tilt as Iris’s scent washed over him. 

Eris took a breath. Then another.

He felt his soul leave his body at the smile his father gave him. A smile that meant more than it should. For Eris knew his scent mingled with hers and with an ironclad shield settling around them, his father knew Eris would not receive this news well. 

“What did you do.” he breathed and fear like he’d never ever felt before spiked in his heart. He fisted his shaking hands and tried to move, demanding again, “What did you do?”

“Do not take that tone with me.” his father said quietly, observing him. 

“Then answer my question.” Eris hissed. “Did you touch her? Did you hurt her?”

Beron’s chuckle was sinister and every morsel in Eris’s body filled with rage. “I only touched her a little bit but…perhaps that will change later tonight.” 

“Father.” he snarled and Eris knew it was only because of his father’s shield that the whole room hadn’t heard him. “Do not toy with me.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Beron said with a small smile. “But your wife? I shall certainly enjoy toying with her.”

Eris felt the world slide from beneath his feet as his father’s gaze remained on him and Eris tried his everything not to let his expression shift – not to give the fucker any satisfaction but his lungs had lost air and he wasn’t sure how to –

A choked noise slipped from his throat and Eris hadn’t been imagining it – his father’s magic was choking him.  

“You seem so worried about her.” The High Lord mused. “I haven’t done anything to her yet.” His father’s gaze bore into him. “With your scent all over her, I’ll need to wait a little while before I have my fun.”

“Father.” Eris choked but the High Lord merely tsked, his expression almost bored. And Eris realized at that moment just how well and truly fucked he was. If his father was hinting at his mating bond with Iris, he had to know about other things. His eyes sought out the blur of people for his brothers but he had sent them out of the room and Eris was forced to stand there – forced to remain locked like this in his father’s hold, glamoured so that no one would see anything unusual happening. No one would be looking at him. 

“Is there anything you’d like to tell me, son?” the High Lord asked, tilting his head as Eris struggled. “This is your chance to do so before things get exceedingly worse for you.”

Eris’s throat bobbed. How big of a spectacle would his father make this? He could break out of this but too many people were missing. Too many fucken variables he didn’t control. Could he unleash himself without setting the whole room on fire? Without harming everyone else? 

Did it really matter as long as he took his father out? Would it be justified if, at least, the High Lord was extinguished?

But no. He was not his father. He would not harm for the sake of harming.

He let his expression neutralize and slowly calmed his raging heart. He wasn’t sure about his mother but if Beron let Iris walk away maybe it would be fine. 

His brothers were on the prowl. He would give them a little more time – just enough that when he exploded, Eris would know they would be alright.

So he met his father’s gaze and said as conversationally as possible, “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

Beron let a moment of silence pass then sighed. “I’m disappointed by that answer.”

The High Lord’s magic tightened around Eris’s throat and he made a wheezing sound as his father forced him to take a step forward, forcing him to kneel before him. 

Beron’s hand reached out and if Eris could have, he would’ve flinched back as the High Lord’s hand brushed his son’s face. Had anyone been watching them, the gesture would’ve been loving but his father’s hand was anything but as he gripped his chin and forced him to look up at him.

“Remember that I gave you a choice.” the High Lord said, his voice full of violent promise. “I gave you the chance to confess and you decided to continue lying to me.”

“I have nothing to confess,” Eris said, his tone strained and his father’s grip tightened painfully.

The High Lord shoved him back with a snort. “Then do not complain when it all comes crashing down on your head,” he warned and raised his glass. “I hope you and your brothers enjoy the consequences of your actions.”

Iris’s knees buckled beneath her the moment her feet touched the ground; Lucien’s grip on her arm was the only reason she hadn’t fallen face first. 

She sank to her knees, Lucien with her. He was speaking but his voice sounded like a faint murmur over the buzzing in her brain as she tried to focus on breathing. Pain laced every inch of her body, her hands shaking, and it felt like her head was going to explode. 

Chaos reigned in the infirmary. The sound of rushed footsteps, grunts of pain, and commands rang through the room, but all Iris heard was Eris’s cry as he ran toward his father. 

His blood duel declaration. 

She was going to vomit. 

“Princess!” Nevien’s voice rang through and Iris’s head turned to find the Head Healer running towards her. “Oh gods, your injuries. What is going on?”

But Iris couldn’t answer, her breaths were coming in shorter, and she knew panic had set it. “Bowl.” was the only word she could manage. 

“Bowl?” Lucien repeated but Nevien’s eyes widened and she waved her hand for a bowl to zip across the room, quickly placing it in front of Iris just in time for her to lean over and empty her stomach. 

The lashings. The beatings. The pain. All the anxiety that had followed caught up to her at that exact moment and her shoulders shook as she heaved once more.

This was it. Eris was finally fighting his father. He was either going to kill the High Lord or be killed. If he was lucky.

Iris emptied her stomach again.

“She’s running on fumes,” she heard Lucien explaining quickly. “She’s taken lashes and a beating and though it’s been healed somewhat, she’s lost some blood. Eris challenged the High Lord to a blood duel which has resulted in the mayhem that’s taken over the Forest House.”

Nevien gasped as Iris forced herself to take slow breaths, Lucien’s hand steady on her back as she gingerly sat up.

“He finally did it.” the Head Healer whispered. 

“You knew?” Iris rasped and Neiven quickly handed her a glass of water. 

“Of course. It’s about damn time,” she said and then scanned Iris quickly, running a hand over her. “We need to patch you up now. You’ll have to rest for a while but if we make quick work of it, the marks shouldn’t have time to scar.” 

“There’s no time to rest.” Iris grunted as she shakily tried to stand, Lucien reaching out to help her up. “We need to get back to Eris.” 

“You need to stay away from there. Eris specifically wanted you out. You’ll only be an easy target if you go back.” Lucien said gently and Iris’s eyes narrowed.

“My husband and mate just declared a blood duel against his father. I may not be a warrior but I will not stand by and wait to see what happens. I want to be there and I need everyone to stop telling me to leave him.” 

“Iris –”

“Lucien.” she started and swallowed hard, gritting her teeth at the pain as she straightened away from him, one hand holding onto the healing table to her side, fighting the shaking in her legs. “I will not cower and I will not hide. He will win and I intend to be there when he does.” 

“I understand,” he started and Iris bristled at the placating tone. “I do, but he wanted you away from the fight because he knows how bad it could get. You need to stay here.”

“Like hell, I will.” she snarled and Lucien’s nostril flared.

“Iris. You need –”

“What I need is to know what is happening to my husband!” Iris trembled. “I can’t stay here and wonder when I could help.”

“You’ll help by staying away – which is what he asked of you.”

“Lucien.” Iris snapped, her entire body shaking. She needed him to understand, she needed him to get it. “I can feel every single thing he’s feeling right now. I can sense him and his hurt and rage. You can try to lock me in here. You can try to tie me down but I will get back to him. No matter who is in my way.”

Lucien’s mouth tightened into a thin line as they watched each other. She would be with Eris and her family, come hell or high waters. Whatever will happen, she will be there with him for it. 

It took Lucien a moment to speak, his words gentle, “It may not end well.”

“So be it but nothing will stop me from getting back to him.” Iris snapped, the words harsher than she intended. She took a breath, steadying herself as she forced her trembling legs to stand on their own. “I left him once already this night and all it did was escalate things. If I stay behind and something happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself. I’ll stand back—I won’t get in his way—but I have to be there.”

Iris’s gaze darted between Neiven’s worried expression and Lucien’s calculating one. She knew Eris would be distracted if he saw her again. She knew he didn’t want to worry about her. But gods damn it, Iris couldn’t let him be alone. He was her mate. And she wanted to fight for him as hard as he was fighting for everyone.

She held up a hand as Lucien opened his mouth. “I am not foolish. I won’t jeopardize anything. I will ensure I can stand on my own two feet before leaving this room. I will be careful.”

A breath of silence passed, and then Lucien sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re all so stubborn,” he mumbled. 

Iris gave him a rueful smile but before she could say more, a voice rang out, “Iris!”

She turned sharply at the call of her name, Lucien stepping closer, but it was only Theo limping his way over with Cosette on his tail. Iris let out a sigh of relief.

“You’re both alright.” she breathed. “Lord Marcus?”

“He’s resting over there,” Theo answered, nodding to his left with a grimace. “I’m glad you made it here. I’m sorry you –”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” she said shakily then looked at Lucien, gesturing to both of them. “Theo and Cosette. Finn and Emil.”

Lucien lifted a brow, his hand shooting out to balance Iris when she swayed slightly and stared at his brother’s paramours curiously. “So they really have hearts, I see.”

“They buried them very deep,” she said with a tired chuckle and allowed herself to lean back against the table again, glancing at Nevien. “I’d like a tonic to settle my stomach, please. I need to clean these wounds and heal my back as quickly as you are able to. I know we don’t recommend elixirs for a boost but this is a moment where I need it.”

Nevien’s brows furrowed. “Respectfully princess, you and I both know rushing is not the way. I do not recommend you go anywhere.” the Head Healer said firmly. “If I heal it quickly it’ll likely scar. You may experience residual pain if you don’t allow yourself to rest properly.”

“Let it scar. I am no better than my husband.” Iris replied, stubbornly. “Whatever energy you can give me, I’ll take it. I can rest when this is over.”

Nevien’s mouth went into a thin line but before she could object again, Lucien spoke, “Have you seen my mother or Emil?”

 “And Oren?” Iris asked quickly. 

“Yes.” Nevien answered. “Oren was dropped off not too long ago and Emil and Lady Enya only briefly let me see them before leaving. We’ve been swamped ever since.”  

Iris shared a glance with Lucien. The two had to be on their way to the throne room. 

“In that case, we need to move quick –” Lucien started as Iris shifted to Nevien when a sudden burst of movement came from the far side of the infirmary. 

The door swung open violently, and a young healer’s apprentice stumbled in, panting, eyes wide with fear.

“The blood duel!” she gasped. “Prince Finn and Izak declared it against the High Lord as well. It’s madness!”

Iris felt her stomach drop and she turned to Lucien, her heartbeat roaring in her ears. “We have to go,” she said, turning to the Head Healer. “Nevien, please –”

Without a word, Nevien gathered her supplies. Her hands moved swiftly, gathering the herbs and tonics she needed as a small vial was placed into Iris’s hand. “This will settle your stomach,” she said and her tone sharpened as she continued, “I will do as you asked of me, on the condition that you allow yourself a moment of rest. It will be strong magic you’re taking all at once and I don’t like what it may do. You need to be careful.”

Iris gulped down the bitter liquid, feeling it cool her burning throat. She took a breath then another, feeling herself about to heave before the unease slowly subsided and Iris let out a breath of relief. She wiped her mouth, still shaking slightly but with every breath, she felt more and more at ease, more stable. 

Bracing herself against the table, Iris quickly slid her arms out of her dress and held it against her chest, exposing the injuries on her back. She had made herself go numb, forgetting about the searing pain of it all until this moment where a sting accompanied every movement. She glanced behind her to find Lucien and Theo turned away and Nevien preparing herself. 

“Let me fight with you,” Theo said. “I want to help.”

“You most certainly will not!” Nevien said. “You want to help, you can stay and help me.”

Iris shot him a remorseful look but agreed with the Head Healer; he was barely standing as is. “You and Cosette will be safer and more helpful here. Please.” she said then glanced around the room and swallowed hard, adding, “Could someone please bring me something more comfortable to wear? I – I can’t stay in this dress.” Cosette gave her a quick nod and moved to do as she requested, a look of understanding in her eyes.

Her beautiful custom-made gown was ruined. The dress Eris had so thoughtfully made for her. For her first ball with her husband. In tatters. 

Another reason to get back down there. Maybe she could find her father and repay him for ruining it. 

“Are you ready?” the Head Healer asked gently and Iris glanced back to give her a nod. “This is going to hurt.” 

“I’m sure I’ve already dealt with worse,” she muttered, bracing herself as Nevien only gave her a look of warning before bringing her hands near Iris’s back and began tending to her wounds quickly. Her hands glowed faintly as she worked over Iris’s torn skin, and Iris let out a small hiss as the Head Healer’s magic touched her wounds. A gasp quickly followed as the pain seemed to hit her all at once and Iris let out a cry. 

“Nevien –” Iris groaned.

“I’m sorry, princess,” Nevien said as her hands continued. “I know this is painful but please bear it. It’s the only way I can heal you as quickly as you’d like.” 

And so Iris gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on the table's edge as she tried not to make a noise. Eris had certainly dealt with worse. Iris could handle this. She could. She would. The sooner this was over, the sooner she could be helpful.

But as Nevien’s magic touched a particularly raw spot – one the whip had hit repeatedly, Iris felt her vision blur.

Healing magic should always soothe, like a cool balm—a touch of relief and a breath of fresh air. But when rushed, when it was healing a deep wound, it seared like hot iron on the skin—violent. It burned in a way it shouldn’t, but Iris refused to make a sound. 

Compared to the inferno of the battle below, compared to the agony Eris had endured, she would not let this hold her back.

“Almost –” the Head Healer said. “I’m almost through.” 

Before Iris could reply, her eyelids fluttered and the world began to go dark for a second time that night. She slumped against the table but Iris’s grip tightened. She would not faint. 

“Lucien.” she gritted out. “Go. I will f-follow.”

“Iris –”

“Nevien, a moment.” Iris requested tightly and the Head Healer paused. She took several breaths, blinking rapidly as the string of Nevien’s magic ran through her wounds before she took the chance to glance over her shoulder to find Lucien’s tense expression. “I will finish this and bring any willing healers with me to help those I can. I’ll stay out of the way.” She repeated, then swallowed and slowly straightened, careful of her dress. “This has to end tonight and he needs his brothers. Help how you can. Go.”

Lucien watched her in silence for a moment but Iris saw the understanding in his gaze. A flare of warmth from her husband’s brother who was now her brother — her family in all the ways it mattered.

Lucien finally nodded. “Be careful,” he said. “Dress in a way that won’t make you an easy find.”

“I will.” 

But her brother-in-law gave her a pointed look, holding a finger up. “Out of the way. Careful.” 

Iris nodded, watching him leave, her heart already in her throat before glancing back at Nevien and nodding. She braced herself against the table once more and took a deep, uncomfortable breath. “Let’s get this over with.”

—

Eris blinked, the sound of chaos around him muffled by the pounding of his own heart. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog, but the blood trickling from his temple only made his vision blur more. His left leg trembled beneath him, threatening to give out at any second. His right hand felt numb, as if the bone had been ground into dust.

But he didn’t let himself collapse. He couldn’t.

Because despite the fighting taking place and despite the hits his father had taken, Eris still felt Beron’s towering form looming over him, intent on wiping him out. All his childhood horrors and nightmares, still standing before him. 

Eris had fought in wars and by far, this fight with his father was deadlier than all of them combined.

And Beron may not be what he once was—the invincible father whose fist had crushed everything in his path—but even with his chest heaving, his ragged breaths, the High Lord of the Autumn Court radiated dangerous power.

The ballroom around them no longer glittered – it had started to crumble and now smelled of smoke, blood, and searing, wild magic. His firehounds were still circling, their snarls echoing off the walls as they attacked those around them– but with most of Eris’s strength spent, the hounds were growing sluggish, their forms flickering in and out of existence.

Finn and Izak moved in and out of his periphery, fighting off his father’s soldiers while trying to land hits on the High Lord and Eris could sense their struggle. They were barely hanging on better than him. 

All their planning, all their years of waiting, it was coming down to this. As each moment passed, their father’s magic and sword lashed out at his sons, and Eris felt their desperation as intensely as his own.

And still, they fought as Eris circled his father, forcing the High Lord’s attention back on his eldest son.

The High Lord followed his movement, spitting blood at his feet, his blade held tightly. “Still don’t want to give up, boy? You’re barely standing.” he spat, his voice thick with venom, his lips curled in a nasty sneer. 

Eris felt his pulse thudding in his ears, but his gaze never wavered from his father. “You say that but ever since Finn’s blade sank into your gut, you’ve struggled to focus, Father.” Eris taunted, the corner of his mouth lifting. “A little knife play never hurt anyone but evidently, you seem too soft for it.” 

His eyes flicked to the wound at Beron’s side—where Finn’s blade had landed earlier—but the High Lord still held his ground. Even with Lucien’s earlier stab, blood still seeping from both wounds, from the corner of Beron’s mouth, but it wasn’t enough to stop him. He was still dangerous. Still deadly.

And Beron’s expression darkened at Eris's words. 

“Soft, you say?” The High Lord said threateningly.

Eris’s mouth curled into his signature smirk, fighting the tremors in his body as he replied, “Oh, I’m sorry. I meant to say, weak.” 

A heartbeat of silence.

And without warning, the High Lord lunged.

Eris barely had time to react. The muscles in his legs screamed as he shifted to the side, his blade coming up just in time to catch Beron’s attack but the force of the blades clashing vibrated through his body, his arm threatening to buckle under the pressure. He staggered back, the ground beneath his feet unstable as he twisted, trying to regain his balance. His fingers were going numb, magic fraying at the edges as it blocked his father’s attacks. 

But Beron didn’t stop. The High Lord grinned and Eris snarled viciously as Beron’s blade sliced the air again, this time aiming for Eris’s throat.

Eris didn’t flinch. He wouldn’t flinch.

He swept his blade up, blocking the blow, and Eris let his magic flare through him. Every inch of him was ablaze, roaring as he poured his fire into his blade and twisted it towards his father again.

Beron’s blade met his to block the hit but Eris used the momentum to send out his magic again, even as the effort of it was starting to hurt, even as it sent a ripple of pain through his battered body. He gasped, his vision dimming for a moment, but he forced it away, pushing through the agony.

He couldn’t stop. Not now, as magic and steel clashed together.

“We’ll see how weak I’ll be when I drag your wife back here to watch me beat you to a pulp and then rip your head off.” Beron snarled, stepping closer, his words a guttural growl, and Eris’s vision went red. “How enticing her screams will be.”

Eris’s lip curled, breathing hard, each inhale a battle in itself. But he didn’t care. As long as this fucker stood here, nothing else mattered. Nothing else mattered when Beron could still walk away and touch the people he loved most. “Your talk is cheap, Father. Just like your last moments will be.” 

His words were barely out when Beron surged forward again, so fast but this time, Eris was ready. He was ready to return the blow as the High Lord’s blade drove toward his chest, but—

His smokehounds.

A howl erupted from the shadows, a deep, terrifying sound that cut through the madness — like a crack of thunder in the charged atmosphere and Eris knew he had cultivated their reputation well when the scent of fear intensified across the room. 

His beloved hounds had come for him.

They surged forward, swarming Beron’s legs like a pack of ravenous wolves. Their claws scraped against the once gleaming floors now marred with bodies and blood, a warning to their movements as they attacked, nothing more than a blur of shadow and snarls.

Beron roared in fury and then to Eris’s delight, pain, slashing at the black shapes with his blade. But they were relentless, swarming around him, biting at his hands, his legs, trying for his throat. 

Eris had trained them well – knowing that his father would lash out with his magic and his hounds would know when and how to dodge. 

He didn’t hesitate to lunge forward, wildfire in his eyes as his magic surged through him again —

But Beron’s magic flared and with a snarl, he spat, “Wrong move.” 

Eris’s magic met his father’s but a pained whine distracted him. He blinked as his magic strained to fight against his father’s and found that Beron had Lyra by her collar. 

His heart stuttered. Not Lyra.

“I can’t believe you’re hesitating for a creature as worthless as a dog.” Beron snapped, his grip tightening on the hound’s throat and Eris watched as his pet struggled, kicking her legs and trying to bite his father. 

“You’ve never known love a moment in your life.” Eris snarled. “How would you understand what it means to care about anyone?”

The High Lord gave a nasty laugh, his magic holding the other hounds at a distance as they snarled and attempted to break through the barrier he had up. “You’d lose to me over your pet? You’d let yourself get killed over an animal?”

“I won’t be losing to you.” Eris snarled and moved closer, watching his father’s grip on Lyra’s throat. “Stop using a shield and fight me.”

“Oh, I will kill you.” Beron promised with nothing but violence in his eyes. “I will kill you slowly. Painfully. I will make you pay for every moment you have embarrassed me and –”

A surge of heat tore between them, forcing them both to back away as his mother’s voice called out, “You won’t touch another hair on my son’s head.” 

Eris watched as his father halted, his expression morphing into disbelief then fury. They both turned to find his mother, as radiant as a bright sunset, with flames encompassing every inch of her body. 

She was glowing, heat emitting from her body and Eris couldn’t remember a time when her magic had flared this strongly. Pride spread through his chest and as Emil took a step forward to stand beside their mother, Eris felt the shift in the room instantly. 

Finn and Izak had come to stand a few feet beside him. They surrounded his father. 

“You.” the High Lord snarled and threw Lyra to the side as he turned to his wife, ignoring the snarl of his head hound who moved immediately to stand guard in front of Eris. Beron ignored his sons, his eyes only for the wife who hated him, who had barely tolerated him.

The wife who had patiently waited for this moment.

Who had suffered for her freedom. 

“Me.” she spat and it was the harshest his mother had ever sounded. 

Eris watched as his father’s grip tightened on his blade, his chest heaving with nothing but hate in his expression. 

“And here I thought, I finally got rid of you.” Beron hissed.

“I let you snuff me out long enough.” Lady Enya seethed, straightening. “And if you think I will let you hurt my sons any further, you are gravely mistaken.”

For a moment, Beron let it be silent as his gaze flickered from his wife to each of his sons, seemingly realizing that they were all in agreement. 

The High Lord’s jaw clenched and he slowly rolled his shoulders back, his eyes back on his wife. “And what exactly are you planning to do about it, Enya?”

Lady Enya unsheathed a blade, and without taking her eyes off the male she hated most, she ran a hand down the length of it, her fire coating the blade. Enya sliced her palm, gripping the blade until the scent of fresh blood filled the air. The tension in the room tightened as she raised the blade in front of her and slashed the air twice, two lines of fire appearing in the air before her.

“Something I should’ve been brave enough to do long ago,” she said. “To give you a small taste of your own medicine.”  

And Eris finally allowed himself a wild grin as Emil followed his mother’s movements and magic crackled in the hall, shaking the walls as the sanctity of the blood duel sharpened. 

Never in the history of the Autumn Court had a blood duel been enacted by five people at once. Never, had the hatred of one person inspired such a response, and as he and each of his brothers raised their blades, his mother took a step forward, her magic a beacon, their north star, guiding them to the finish line. 

“I see.” Beron only said, eyeing each of them, and Eris saw the small crack in his expression. The tightening of his jaw, the slight frown as he watched his family circle him. Eris could almost – almost, feel sorry for him had all of this not been his own choice. 

“Your dishonor is coming to an end,” Eris said and Beron’s eyes flickered to his eldest. “Any last words, father?”

The High Lord glanced at his family once more, standing around him, each of them a wall of flame, swords brandished. They were battered and bruised but they were united against him. 

He, the odd male out. He, however the outcome, would lose everything tonight. 

“I say, give me your all,” Beron said as he straightened, meeting each of their gazes. “Because if I remain alive, none of you will survive what is left of me.” 

There was a beat of silence, and Eris allowed himself one moment to mourn what was to come. Tightening his grip on his sword, he said, “So be it.” 

And together, the brothers and their north star moved as one. 

~

Iris carefully crept back towards the ballroom. A few healers had braved the journey down and together, they had scattered to help those injured in their way. Despite the slight sting she felt from her injuries, Iris directed as quickly and as efficiently as she could. Nevien had patched her up well but gods, did it sting; the bruising on her face was still tender. The lashings on her back had barely healed.

As the healers worked, Iris gestured to them that she would continue down the hall, knowing that whoever could, would follow her and help those in need. 

And there were so many who needed help. The casualties in this fight were more than expected.

Her heart hammered in her chest with each step closer, eyeing the different people the healers were already assisting and as she reached the door to the ballroom, she paused, almost terrified to walk in.

Iris could still hear the fighting. The clashing of the swords. The roars of battle. 

And amidst all the chaos, she hadn’t seen her father and that worried her more than anything. Where had that piece of shit gone? 

Carefully, she looked into the ballroom and sucked in a breath. 

It was in ruins. 

Her eyes found her love and she felt her heart leap into her throat at the sight. 

There were so many cuts on him. So much blood. 

Iris felt her chest tighten and made herself take a breath, then another, not taking her eyes off them. She couldn’t even if she wanted to.

Eris was fighting but he wasn’t fighting alone; fire and magic swept between the Vanserra brothers and their mother; even the smokehounds fought, their growls and howls mixing with the chaos. They were all aimed at the High Lord but Beron hadn’t held on to being High Lord for this long to go down so easily. He was a beast and this type of beast could not be tamed. 

Forcing herself to swallow hard, her gaze flickered around the room to assess what else was going on and she zeroed in on that fucken flogged pole, anger and a lick of fear crept through her other emotions and she glanced away, looking for Lucien. Where had he gone? He was meant to help, wasn’t he? Where –

A hand touched her shoulder and Iris whirled, fists raised but –

“It’s only me,” Lucien said with a small smile. “I’ve been shutting down the other fights and staying out of the way until the right moment.” He held up a knife. “I believe this is yours.”

Iris blinked at him in surprise, her hand reaching out to slowly close around the handle of her dagger. “You work so quickly,” she said. “You should visit more often.”

Lucien snorted, his eyes back on the fights in front of him. “If they gut him and we’re done with all this, Elain and I will demand a suite of our own.” 

Iris managed a small, tight smile. “If they finish this today, you and Elain can have whatever you want.” 

A grunt drew both of their attention back to the fight and Iris recoiled slightly when she saw Izak sink to his knees. Beron’s magic had reached out, driving his sword not once but twice into his son’s side and Lucien swore. 

“I’m –”

“Go.” Iris urged him and watched in horror as Lucien rushed forward and pulled Izak out of the way of another attack.

Iris fought her instincts. She could help heal him. She could heal him and he’d still be able to fight – another breath shuddered out of her when Beron’s magic wrapped around Finn’s throat and then threw him across the room with all his might. The sound of his body crashing into the dias echoed through the room and Iris felt ready to vomit. 

But the High Lord continued, his magic attacking as quickly as his sword did, fighting the remaining three. Lucien had reached Izak, pushing him away and shielding them both with fire to fend off another attack. 

Lucien met her eye and nodded to Izak who was trying to use his sword to stand and Iris hesitated no longer. She made to rush forward, tightening her grip on her dagger and –

“I don’t think so.” 

An iron grip latched onto her arm and she was forced away from the scene, and slammed into the wall behind her with a groan. And gods fucken damn it, did it make her healing wounds flare.

Of course. Of course, her fucken father found her.

“I’m not letting you get in the way and play your little tricks to fix them. They will go down as the High Lord intended.” Aron hissed and as Iris glared at him, she was at least satisfied to see how badly hurt he was. 

But then she blinked and looked at him again. He was truly in bad shape. Disheveled, peppered with bruises, and breathing heavily. 

Gods, she hated him. He was no family of hers and yet stood in the way of her helping the chosen family she now had. She would allow it no more.

“Father.” she said in an even tone and he sneered at her as she slowly stood, a hand still gripping her dagger, the other balancing her against the wall. 

“Don’t you try anything –”

“You know this is a losing fight.” Iris breathed. “None of them will stop while he’s still standing.” 

Aron growled, grabbing her by the front of her dress. “You’re like a parasite I can’t get rid of. I thought the lashings would’ve taken you out and yet somehow you wormed your way down here.” he snarled and Iris glared at him.

“Takes a parasite to know one, father.” she sneered and tried to pull out of his grip. “I can’t wait until that piece of shit is taken down so you’ll go down with him and I’ll finally be rid of you.”

“Oh, is that what you think? You think I’ll allow him to lose when I stand to gain so much?” he said. “I will kill them all myself if I have to. Stay — out — of — the — way.” 

Aron shoved her back hard and Iris slammed shoulder-first into the wall and fought back a hiss as her father turned from her. 

She made a split-second decision as she watched him scan the room. 

In the next breath, Iris had buried her blade in the back of his left leg. Her father let out a gasp of pain and whirled at her in shock as she pulled it out quickly. 

But Iris didn’t hesitate, she buried it again in his right thigh and twisted. Her father howled as he let out a roar of pain and stumbled, sinking to his knees before her and Iris felt her whole body in overdrive as she yanked the blade out again and then sank it into the right side of his clavicle, digging it into his flesh as he yelped.

She had finally done what she’d been dying to do for years.

“I guess you’re right. I will stay out of their way.” she breathed and Iris yanked his head back, her grip tight on the hilt of her dagger. “I will focus on helping you get out of their way instead.”

“You fucken bitch.” he hissed but Iris could tell every other beating, every other injury he had already sustained today had caught up to him. Above all else, the shock of her doing this had incapacitated him.

Iris snorted and pulled him in closer, her foot coming down hard on his hand creeping up to grab her. “You say the nicest things to me.” 

But hatred met hatred as father and daughter looked at each other, and Iris thought of everything she’d ever wanted to tell him, every feeling of rage and helplessness he had made her feel. All of the pain, humiliation, all of the hate he had let fester in her heart. “For all of my life, you went out of your way to make me feel small and insignificant for no other reason than your own insecurities and stupidity.” she snarled. “You spent all these years trying to break me down, living at your mercy, and thought that selling me off to Eris would be the thing that I never came back from, and yet, here I am. Standing over you. Overpowering you while you bleed here, now at my mercy.” 

Her grip tightened on him as he watched her and her foot dug harder into his hand as he fought back a groan. “I owe you my gratitude for one thing and one thing only.” She pulled her dagger from his chest with a wet sound and a broken gasp slipped from her father’s mouth. Iris sank to meet her father at his eye level and let a small smile bloom on her face. “You thought Eris would carry on your legacy of beating me down but instead, you gave me the greatest gift I could ever hope for. A friend. A partner. You gave me my mate and for that, I can finally find something to thank you for.”

“Your what —” 

Her expression hardened and again, with zero hesitation, her dagger pierced his stomach and she buried it as deeply as it would go putting all her repressed hate in the blow and holding.   

Her father's expression shuddered as he blinked at her in an almost comical look of disbelief and as Iris stared at him, she tried to find some feeling of remorse – any feeling of regret. Instead, as if her hand had a mind of its own, she found herself twisting the knife deeper into his wound. 

“You deserve this and more. You deserve every awful thing coming your way and I will see to it that your death is slow. Painful. I will see to it that you wish for death every day and death will evade you as you suffer.” she whispered to him. “You have haunted me in every moment of my life but no more. Today is the day you and the piece of shit you follow will cease to hold any ground.”

Iris yanked her dagger out with relish and with all the strength she had left, slammed the hilt into the side of his head. And it was as if she was watching it in slow motion as the male that had ruined so many moments of her life, finally fell back with a thud.

She watched his bleeding body slumped on the floor and Iris found herself breathing heavily, her hands starting to shake. 

Oh gods.

She’d stabbed her father. Multiple times. 

Something she’d only dreamed about doing.

Except now she’d actually done it. She’d actually stabbed her father. 

Iris glanced down at her hands now coated with her father’s blood and wondered when the healer in her would forgive her for hurting instead of helping.

Her eyes found his slumped figure again, barely breathing. If she didn’t heal him, he would probably die soon. Her dagger had been tipped in faebane…his own healing magic wouldn’t kick in.

If there was one male that never deserved help, it was her fucken father but still…she wondered if –

“Remind me to never get on your bad side, damn.” 

She startled at the wheezed voice close to her and her dagger clattered to the ground. Iris found herself staring at a very, very hurt Izak.

And suddenly, Iris remembered where she was and what was happening. 

“Izak, oh gods.” she rushed over but he pointed to her dagger.

“Never be unarmed,” he said tightly, one hand attempting to stop the bleeding in his side, the other clenching his sword. 

She grabbed her dagger and then slid over to him as quickly as possible, her hands assessing immediately. Her magic was more spent than she would’ve liked but Iris gave it her all, focusing on where he was losing blood. “Are you feeling lightheaded?”

“This is just a scratch, sister. I’ve had much worse.” Izak grunted and pushed Iris’s head down as he slashed his sword into an enemy aiming for her. “Having a healer in the family is going to be great.” 

“I can tell this is going to be lovely for my blood pressure.” she muttered, fighting back a smile as Izak wheezed out a chuckle. 

But her eyes returned to where her father lay, bleeding out from her multiple wounds. 

She was a healer. Someone who soothed and yet…

“Oy.” 

Iris’s attention went back to Izak as he slowly sat up and she pulled her hands away, feeling him more steady. “I did as best as I could. Your own magic should’ve kicked in.”

“Thank you,” he said, then touched her hand as he stood. “Don’t feel any guilt. He was a part of this and had it coming and I can tell you, if my brother wasn’t already obsessed with you, he would’ve proposed on the spot just for that.” 

The corner of her mouth lifted and she stood quickly with him. “You’re right. I just –”

“Not to interrupt but it would be nice if you could check on Finn and have a heart-to-heart at a later time when we all aren’t susceptible to death at any moment?” Lucien’s voice called and it was the strain in his tone that had Izak saluting Iris and turning on the spot, rushing back into the fray. 

Iris passed Lucien who still fought any of the High Lord’s loyalists trying to assist Beron in his blood duel and she had to dodge multiple attempts coming at her as she rushed to Finn.

She found her brother-in-law struggling to stand, a horrible cut that ran across his face, beneath his left eye to the end of his right jaw. “Don’t move.” she commanded immediately but Finn only glanced at her, balancing himself on his swords. 

“Not a choice,” he mumbled and Iris gently pushed him back down so he could sit and ran her hands across the tender bruises on his neck and side of his head. 

“You have some bad bruises and I’m worried about a concussion,” Iris explained. “Hold on, please.” She ran her hands as quickly as she could and grimaced when she reached the cut on his face. “I don’t have the ointment with me that’ll help this not scar but if you don’t wait too long, it’ll –”

“I don’t give a fuck about scars. Theo will think it’s hot. Is he –”

“He’s safe, in the infirmary. He’ll be fine.” 

“Gods –”

“Focus on you, please,” she said firmly and when color had returned to his face, she nodded. “I did the best I could, you have to be careful.” 

Finn stood and shook his head. “Too late for that. Need to kill my father.” 

“What about the faebane, Finn? Why hasn’t it worked on him?”

“Gone. Smashed in the fight.” Finn said, panting slightly as he stood and straightened himself. “He knew exactly where –”

“I still have one!” Iris exclaimed and her hand flew to the pocket in her dress to pull out the small vial; she had been happily stunned to find that the Head Healer had her own stash of it. “Take it. Use it.” 

Finn’s battered face lit up. “I could kiss you right now but then Eris would kill me.” he said and a breathless chuckle slipped out before she could stop it as Finn took it. “A fucken miracle, you are.” 

“Be careful!” she called out and Iris watched as he rushed back into the field and stepped back, her eyes finding her husband again. He was a blur of flame, fighting hard and she watched, color leaching from her face as he tried to get the High Lord while trying to protect his mother. 

He had just maneuvered his blade, slicing at his father’s shoulder, when his body stiffened and Iris held her breath as his head snapped to her.

The mating bond had been thumping at the back of Eris’s mind since she had left his side earlier, screaming at him to check on his mate. To protect and take care of. Eris had fought against it, going as far as shielding his mind to focus on the one thing that mattered now – taking down his father. 

Flame and steel clashed again and again but in all of his miserable existence, no other fight had ever been as necessary – as significant to their lives as this one was.

But Iris.

He didn’t understand why she was back in the room. 

Emil shot him a look as Eris felt himself stumble back a step, his eyes locked on her face. 

Why the fuck was she back here? Hadn’t Lucien got her out? If his father knew she was here he would —

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind when his father’s magic blarred into him, slamming him across the room. 

Eris blinked, spots coloring his vision, and wheezed, spitting blood as he slowly, shakily tried to stand. His stupid distraction had cost him and if Eris wanted his father to stay the fuck away from his wife then he had better get up and kill him. 

He felt arms wrap around him and it was hands he knew too well – hands he craved. 

“Get up – get up.” she begged and Eris hated the shaking in her voice even as her lovely scent enveloped him.

“Why are you –” 

“Finn has the last vial of faebane. I gave it to him to get to you.” she quickly said, her hands moving, healing any wounds she found and Eris wanted to kneel over at how she was here and still taking care of him. “Use it and end this, Eris. Finish it.” 

The High Lord let out a deep roar and the ground shook as every inch of him was aflame. They both glanced back as the Beron’s fire spread out around them and the impact of it sent Izak, Finn, and Emil back, leaving Lady Enya standing alone in front of him. 

“Mother.” Eris breathed and for a moment, he felt like the little boy who had been helpless to stop his father’s abuse. Like he was about to watch her abuse begin all over again. 

But no – there would be no more of that. His breaths started to come faster, and it was as though his mate’s presence had been an elixir, reviving his soul. He would end this. He would make this world a safer place for his mother. For his mate. For himself. 

Glancing back at his wife once, he allowed himself this one look, and then no distractions. He would focus on the only person he needed to. Because the sooner this was over, the sooner they would all be free.

He caressed her face once as Iris nodded at him, her expression as determined as his own and Eris turned back toward the fight with renewed vigor. 

His magic flared up and he felt that familiar wildfire spread across his skin. 

The air grew thick with the intensity of the battle as Eris’s magic twisted around him. Iris felt it like a wave of heat, her chest tightening as she watched him, a walking inferno as he put himself in front of his mother and ran in to meet the wrath of his father hit for hit. Her heart pounded as her eyes followed Eris and she staggered back, sinking to the ground to the right of the dias as the High Lord and his eldest moved against each other. As each of the brothers staggered up, bleeding – broken, and still reaching for the High Lord. As Lucien moved across the hall, a blur of steel, soldiers falling as he passed them. 

But Eris’s wildfire had gripped his father and she could sense how untamed it had become, the chaotic surge of his power echoed through her chest. She knew it could be felt all across the room as smoke blinded them. 

“Get out of my way.” Beron snarled and watched Iris sucked in a breath when Beron’s fire flashed, spreading out of him, sending his sons flying again as he charged at Lady Enya. The Lady of Autumn was still aflame and though she was breathing hard, Iris saw her determined expression as she met her husband’s magic with her own.

“You think you can beat me? You think you and your sons will get the better of me?” he sneered, his magic throwing Eris back again, focusing solely on his wife. “Don’t forget what my fire can do, Enya. Don’t forget how much I can make it hurt and by the gods will I make it hurt when this is over.” 

“Go fuck yourself, you bastard.” Enya snarled back. “You’re done. You’re finished and you’ll be forgotten. You’ll go back to being nothing — like the cockroach you were before I married you.” Beron’s eyes flashed and the flare of his magic sent a wave of heat across the room as Enya took a step towards him. “And even if by some mistake you were remembered, they’ll only curse your name and spit on your memory,” she added and spat at his feet. “Exactly as you deserve.”

“You good for nothing bitch.” Beron growled and lept at his wife but his mother roared as she managed to fend off his attack, sending a wave of her magic into his chest, using all the force she had, exactly as Eris had taught her. 

And the world seemed to still for a moment as they all watched the High Lord stagger back, a look of surprise on his face. 

That step was all Eris needed and with wildfire in his eyes and pouring out of every inch of him, he lifted his sword and finally, finally, had an opening to bury his blade into his father’s back. 

A shudder rocked through the room and a deafening silence momentarily surrounded them. The High Lord stood, breathing hard, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he shifted his head to meet his son’s gaze. 

“It’s taken five of you and that bastard to get to me and look at you all, scattered worthlessly and bleeding.” Beron breathed, even as his legs shifted shakily. “You think this is enough to stop me?” 

Eris only leaned in with a burning hatred in his eyes. “Of course not, High Lord,” he sneered. “I know a wild beast when I see one.” Without breaking his father’s gaze, he held out a hand, calling to his brother. “Finn.” 

The sound of the vial Finn threw filled the air and Eris caught it with a look of triumph as the High Lord narrowed his eyes, coughing up blood.  

“Have a little taste, father. I have been saving this for you.” 

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

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

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

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

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

“Help me with my dress?”

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

His beautiful, beautiful wife. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It had been very hard for them to stop.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Handsome? Dashing?”

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

“And dashing?”

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

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

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

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

“Do not finish that sentence.” 

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

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

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

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

He blinked in surprise. “A gift?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He was going to vomit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He snorted in disbelief. “My lying face?”

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

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

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

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

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

“The idea here is that you won’t.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“That is not a proposal.”

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

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

“Are you really going to say no?”

“Well, I might now.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Oh. Oh, wow.” 

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

He wouldn’t have settled for anything less. 

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

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

She would never take a moment of this for granted. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Your dagger is with you.”

“Yes.”

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

“But –”

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

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

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

Iris jolted awake, blinking groggily with a groan. There was a slight throbbing in her head and her arms were aching but when she tried to move them, she was met with resistance. She shifted with a wince, her eyes still fighting against the blur, trying to figure out where she was, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing she could recall was – was her father.

She took a deep startled breath as the room finally became clear and Iris had no idea where she was. She didn’t think she’d ever passed this particular room and wondered where the fuck her father had taken her. But most importantly what had happened to Emil? To Lady Enya?

What was happening with Eris? 

Her heart felt tight in her chest but Iris needed to remind herself to take another deep breath and assess her situation. Straining her neck to glance up, she found the source of resistance was rope, tying her arms together with her dagger lodged right in the knot. 

And she wasn’t just tied up anywhere. 

It was a flogging pole. 

A flogging pole. 

Her breathing quickened and Iris forced herself to swallow, to remain calm. Was this the same one Eris had suffered on? She wouldn’t put it past her father and the High Lord to make a sick twisted joke out of this and she didn’t want to let herself think exactly what would be happening to her soon.

Her bottom lip trembled but Iris made herself glance around the room and was startled when she found two other bodies there with her – a male and a female. 

The male was chained to the wall, breathing heavily and Iris noted the bruises along his arms, his tunic nearly shredded with all the beatings he seemed to have gotten. The female’s arms were tied in front of her and she was blindfolded, small cuts peppering her face and neck, her body trembling as Iris noted the disheveled appearance of her simple gown slightly, dark auburn hair messily unbound. She hadn't seen the girl before but the male was familiar.

Licking her lips and attempting to pull her arms again, Iris cleared her throat. The male’s head immediately shot up, glaring but his gaze softened when he saw Iris and she recognized the beautiful blacksmith immediately.

“Theo!”

“My lady.” he answered wearily. 

“W-what happened to you? How did you get here?”

The blacksmith gave her a thin smile. “We’ve been betrayed. The High Lord knew when I was departing and I was ambushed,” he explained and tilted his head towards the girl. “This is Cosette. It seems they did the same with her.” 

Iris’s expression softened, her hands tightening into fists above her head as Cosette seemed to tilt her head towards Theo. 

“You – you must be Iris,” Cosette said softly and Iris noted the thickness of her voice, the careful enunciation, and remembered her father’s taunt about removing her aide. She wondered how well she could hear Iris. 

“I am.” she answered and Cosette’s trembling hands twitched. “My father – I’m sorry for whatever he has done. I - I’m unsure how well you can hear me I know he took your –”

“You’re speaking too f-fast.” Cosette interrupted. “I can hear you better if you speak slowly.” 

“I apologize.” Iris said and licked her lips. “I’m so sorry for whatever my father has done.”

Both Cosette and Theo shook their heads. 

“It’s not your fault, my lady.” Theo said quickly. “Whatever will happen, it is on the High Lord and no one else.”

“Did they say anything about what they’re planning?”

But even as Iris asked the question, she already knew the answer. If the High Lord was aware of the coup, he would be using the three of them to hurt the brothers. He would be using them as an example and dread curled in Iris’s stomach at how the situation seemed to go from bad to worse.

The blacksmith’s throat bobbed, glancing at Cosette for a moment before he answered, his expression tight. “Knowing what I know about this family, it won’t be a pleasant experience.” 

Iris felt herself blanch and yanked at the ropes tying her arms again with a grunt. “We can’t stay here, like sitting ducks.” she said. “Where is Helene? Is she –”

“No. She’s the only one I didn’t see.” Theo answered. 

Relief washed over Iris but it was short-lived as Cosette shifted and said, “They couldn’t find her but they have Lord Marcus. They – they will hurt him instead.”

“How do you know?” Iris asked quickly.

“How do I know, is what you asked, yes?” Cosette asked then licked her lips. “They – they assumed without my aide I couldn’t hear at all and spoke freely.”

“Do we know if any of these guards are linked to the brothers?” 

Theo shook his head. “They’re all loyalists to the High Lord.” he said and gave her a tight smile. “Provided by your father.”

Iris tried not to let herself deflate. Things had turned so quickly. She couldn’t even imagine what Eris was thinking. If the knots in her stomach were any indication, he was as anxious as she was. She hoped it wasn’t anything worse. She prayed it wouldn't be anything worse.

Iris allowed herself a moment to process the dire situation. The weight of it all pressed down on her but keeping in mind everything Eris had prepared her for, she couldn’t let herself succumb to despair. They needed a plan and they needed it now.

Flexing her aching hands, Iris brushed her fingers against the dagger. Then she paused, glancing at Theo. “If I can get my hands on the dagger, I can try to cut my rope and free Cosette,” she said carefully so Emil’s lover understood her. Will my dagger be able to unlock your shackles?”

“I made it. Of course it will.” he said and Iris appreciated the confidence in his skill; he was a male proud of his work. 

Her nod was a grateful one. “Will you both be able to move once I get us out?”

Cosette nodded and Theo gave Iris a grim smile. “I’m a little beat up but I’ll do my best.” 

“I can heal you before we leave. Can you guide me to cut the rope, please? I can’t see what I’m doing without hurting my neck.” 

Theo nodded and with newfound determination, Iris stretched her hands, grasping at the edge of her dagger’s hilt. She yanked as hard as she could and let out a breath of relief when it was freed and slowly worked the rope with Theo’s guidance until she felt it loosen. 

Iris slipped a hand out and then turned to free her other hand more easily, her blood pumping in her ears, trying to work as fast as she could. Her father and his grunts could be back any moment. She had to get out. She had to help the others get to safety. 

She had to get back to Eris. 

With a growl, Iris yanked her hand free and the dagger fell to the floor with a clang as she rubbed her sore wrists now marred with red. She allowed herself one breath of relief but didn’t waste additional time. Quickly getting up, she picked up her dagger as she went and moved to Cosette first, removing the blindfold gently, and giving the girl a tight smile as she cut through her ropes. Emil’s lover was truly a lovely thing; big chocolate brown eyes and freckles scattered across her soft face.

“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances,” Iris said gently and Cosette returned the smile timidly. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Thank you, I’m alright.” she replied, rubbing her wrists and Iris turned with her as Cosette’s eyes glanced at Theo. “Theo got the brunt of it – help him.” 

Nodding, Iris moved to Theo, and using her dagger, she attempted to pick the locks on the chains as best as she could. Struggling more than she would like, Iris’s pulse began to quicken again, and that sense of anxiousness that hadn’t left her since the day began rose in her throat. 

“I can’t —” she whispered and hated the slight panic in her tone. “I’m trying but I can’t –” 

“Let me help you,” Theo said gently and Iris met his gaze. “We’re going to get out together. Let me guide you.” 

Iris’s lip trembled just slightly before she inhaled and nodded, following Theo’s instructions on how to unlock it. Her hands had started to shake and a pounding had started in her head but after a few tense moments and a grunt later, she jimmied the lock of the chains and it finally landed on the floor with a clang. 

Theo stumbled into Iris and she caught him, leaning against the wall for support. 

“I’m sorry.” he mumbled. “I can’t quite feel my arms yet.” 

“It’s alright, let’s see what I can do.” She reassured him and assisted him to slide down to the floor, running her hands over him, looking for the hurt, grimacing. “You have bruised ribs and some nasty cuts all over. Surprisingly your hands are alright.”

“Who do you think they get their swords from? They don’t want to risk losing the talent,” he said with a tired snort. Iris chuckled and glanced up, feeling Cosette near them.

She held up what looked like a small device with a thin smile and adjusted it in her ear. “I found one of my earpieces. The other was crushed.”

Iris grimaced again then sighed. “I’m sorry.” she said turning to continue slowly working on Theo until his breathing became more stable and he wasn’t wincing. 

Cosette gently touched Iris’s shoulder and when she turned to glance up at her, her expression was firm. “Do not apologize for other people’s behavior. You are here because of them too.” 

Iris swallowed, her hands stilling for a moment as she remembered Eris’s similar request many moons ago. Where a lack of apology to her father had Eris tied to the flogging pole she had been on moments ago. Her resolve sharpened and she squared her shoulders, meeting Cosette’s gaze. “You’re right. Let’s focus on getting out of here.” 

Cosette nodded and lowered herself to support Theo as Iris worked on whatever bruises she could find, even as she felt herself depleting. She’d already used so much earlier and was starting to feel tired more quickly but gods damn it will she carry on. The true fight hadn’t even begun. 

“Did you happen to hear them discussing anything else, Cosette?” Iris asked and the girl tilted her head as she shifted, holding Theo. “Any idea who might’ve betrayed us?”

“I didn’t hear all of it but…I think they tortured it out of someone,” she said quietly and Iris felt her chest tighten. 

There was a small number of people who knew the exact plans they had in place and Iris had a feeling whoever it was had seen a glimpse of what the High Lord would be offering them if they didn’t manage to get out of here. 

Sitting back and breathing deeply as her hands fell to her lap, Iris observed Theo and was pleased to see him stabilize. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” he said, gingerly moving his arms. “Thank you. I didn’t realize you were a healer.” 

“In training,” she said with a small smile. “Though the training timeline has been expedited today.” 

Theo’s face shuttered. “Finn?” he whispered and Iris shook her head and glanced at Cosette.

“Emil and Lady Enya. Oren as well.” she explained and Cosette’s face immediately paled. “But I healed them all. He’s alright.”

“W-what did the High Lord do to him?” she asked and Iris shook her head. 

“It’s best not to dwell on it. Let me heal those cuts you have and we’ll get out of here.” Iris had barely brushed a hand across Cosette’s face when a long-suffering sigh had Iris whirling towards the door and her stomach caved in. 

“You will never learn, will you.” 

Once again, her father had found her at the most inconvenient of times and the tension in the room rose tenfold as she shifted in front of Cosette, quickly grabbing her dagger off the floor. Theo had stood slightly in front of her but Iris put her arm out in front of him, the other in front of Cosette. 

“Let us walk out and we don’t have to let this escalate,” she said calmly and her father shook his head, irritation coming off him in waves.

“I am so sick of you making everything so fucken difficult.”

“I’m as sick of you as you are of me.” Iris snapped. “You already lost once against me. I have no qualms knocking you out again.” 

His expression darkened, and Iris felt her pulse quicken. She had tested all her limits with her father today and had no doubt he was only holding back for a bigger reason. 

“You can try, daughter. But I’m afraid this time, you’re outnumbered.” 

The smirk on her father’s face had Iris’s heart drop as about ten guards filled the room and Iris’s throat bobbed. 

Aron walked slowly toward her, smiling darkly. “This can go two ways,” he said, glancing at the three of them. “You three can cooperate, and we can move on to the next phase.”

“Or?” Iris asked but Theo straightened, his expression flat.

“The next phase of what?” the blacksmith demanded and Aron spared Theo one glance before returning his gaze to Iris.

“You three will get another taste of pain and still move on to the next phase. And remember,” Aron explained with that same dark smile. “I can do whatever I want. Choose wisely.” 

Iris considered his request. Here he was, cornering her like a mouse again but this time, she wasn’t alone at the end of his fists. She had barely healed Theo and though he was a solid force next to her, Iris worried he’d strain himself again. Cosette’s fist was tightened in the folds of Iris’s dress even as she stood tall behind her but given how disheveled she had been when Iris had awoken, she didn’t want to risk any additional wrath on the girl.

This was her father’s doing at her father-in-law’s request. How could she ever consider herself a princess to this court if she couldn’t protect its people? If she couldn’t protect those important to her family? 

Iris steeled herself, squaring her shoulders, and met her father’s gaze head-on. “Let them leave unharmed and I’ll do whatever it is you want from me,” she said. Theo and Cosette’s objections were immediate but Iris gently held up a hand and it warmed her heart that it caused them to listen. She spared each of them a glance before returning to face her father. “We both know who the High Lord wishes to punish the most and it’s the same person you’ve always delighted in beating down. I will take whatever punishment was meant for Theo and Cosette alongside my own but let them leave.” 

Her father watched him quietly for a moment, then snorted. Iris felt his scorn heat her skin, but this time, she would not let it get to her. She only held her head high. 

Iris had gotten one on him earlier. She had beaten him in the hall. Whatever happened next, Iris would always be proud of herself for standing up to him in the only way she knew how. 

“Tempting as that offer may be, I’m afraid that isn’t an option. The High Lord requested all four of you and so, I do as the High Lord asks.” Aron said with a nasty smile. 

“Four?” Cosette asked quietly and Aron’s gaze was predatory enough on the girl that Iris shifted just slightly to glare at her father. 

“Yes. Four,” he replied, jerking his head to the doorway where a body hung between two other guards, barely recognizable. “We couldn’t find his daughter but I suppose he will do.”

“Lord Marcus.” Theo breathed and again, Iris felt the world slide from beneath her feet. 

One target for each brother. 

The High Lord knew everything. 

“Did you really think you could bargain your way out of this? That I would listen to you?” her father sneered and Iris couldn’t take her eyes off Helene’s father, bloodied and bruised almost beyond recognition. A male who had served in this court for years now dragged to be humiliated. “Your little act here will cost you and I suggest you don’t fight it.”

“Wait –” Iris breathed but her father held up a hand. 

“Rough them up and get my daughter on her knees tied to the flogging pole.”

Chaos erupted once more around Iris as guards grabbed each other and Iris watched in horror as three began pummeling Theo and a different guard grabbed Cosette by the hair while another began sliding his hands over her body. 

“Stop. Stop this madness.” Iris demanded, her dagger swinging, dodging a guard as she tried to reach her father. Both Theo and Cosette were resisting, fighting back as hard as they could but Iris felt Theo’s strength waver as he went down on his knees, felt Cosette’s panic when the guard tore at the front of her dress and every inch of her was seething in hot anger. The sound of Cosette’s sob had Iris turning and with all her might, she flung her dagger to land into the back of the soldier who had been touching her, watching with satisfaction as he dropped. “Keep your filthy fucken hands off of them. Stop this now.”

Her father held up a hand and the room stilled as Iris panted, glaring at the male who had sired her. “The more you resist, the farther the hurt will go,” he warned and Iris hated the menace in his tone and how it made her bottom lip tremble. Her gaze drifted to Theo on his knees, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth and his temple, panting heavily. She looked at Cosette, being held against a guard holding her arms back, the tear in the front of her dress exposing the bruises peppering her skin and cleavage. 

And Iris could tell these soldiers were hungry. For blood. For pain. It would get worse if she tried to fight.

What good would it do them if she lived, knowing the two of them had been tortured because of her choice? How would she face Emil and Finn ever again? How would she live with herself?

Iris felt her shoulders slump. She would cave to her father’s demands if only to spare them from worse.  

“Fine.” she conceded with a swallow. “I won’t resist your punishment but you will not hurt them anymore. You will not touch them.” 

“Will you take their lashings then?” Aron asked with a smile and Iris felt her chest tighten. Her father had certainly beaten her in the past. He’d broken a few bones here and there, but she’d never gotten lashings before.

She thought of Eris. Her husband who had dealt with that time and time again. Whose skin was permanently marred with it. Her throat bobbed before she answered, “Yes.”

“Ten lashes to start per person and there are three others besides yourself.” Her father explained with a delighted gleam. “Do you think you could handle forty lashings, daughter? Your skin is so soft.” 

Iris felt her hands begin to tremble and she fisted them at her sides. “That seems excessive.” 

“If you can’t handle it, I’m happy to let each of your friends taste their own.”

“No.” she immediately said. “I will take it. Do not harm them.”

“Iris, wait –” Theo began, then groaned when a soldier kneed him in the stomach. 

“Iris, please don’t –” Cosette was cut off with a startled noise as the soldier holding her covered her mouth. 

“Do not harm them.” she snarled at the guards then turned back to her father. “I will never stop fighting you and I will claw my way out of whatever hole you try to shove me in. Know that I will never stop and when Eris gets his hands on you, I will not stop him this time. I will let him tear you apart limb from limb and you will have no mercy. Do – not – harm – them.” 

Her father’s eyes narrowed and a fleeting moment of satisfaction coursed through Iris at the slight dim in his confidence. His expression shifted into distaste as he waved to his guards.

“Tie her up and straighten the other three. They are to be in chains for all to see.”

Iris didn’t wait for her father’s sentries to touch her but pushed past them to stop by the flogging pole. She could have fought back and a part of her wondered if maybe she should have. But for how long could she have resisted before things got uglier?

Maybe her father had cornered her, thinking Iris was as helpless as she had been under his thumb but Aron couldn’t be more wrong. She was being backed into a corner but it was for a family that was now hers. She was fighting not just for herself but for people who shared her fate in loving a Vanserra – who knew exactly the kind of life you had to lead tied to this family.

Eris needed a partner who would withstand the tide with him and Iris would take the brunt of it all if only to ease their burden. 

So she stood her ground, waiting until Theo and Cosette were given the chance to stand properly, and as the two gave her pleading looks Iris shook her head; she would do what it takes to keep them safe. Once in the ballroom, they had a chance. The brothers would be there. Eris would be there and it was of her husband she thought of when her father stepped in front of her and backhanded her hard enough that she stumbled back. It was Eris’s name that replayed in her mind when her father’s fists collided with her ribs and she sank to her knees.

It was only of Eris she thought of when she was tied to the same place that haunted him and his mother. Only her husband, her mate when her father slammed her face into the pole and ripped the back of her dress to expose more of her skin. 

Iris’s lips trembled, her eyes welling up with unshed tears as she forced herself to take a breath, glaring at her father with as much of her anger as she could muster. She would not give him any more of her tears. Any more satisfaction. 

The first crack of the whip against Iris’s skin was a violent one and if she could, she would’ve doubled over, a gasp of pain escaping her lips. But hearing the chuckle escape from her father’s lips only made the dread grow worse as the second lashing slammed into her and she bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

She was almost too thankful when black began to cloud her vision but tried to hold on with a small groan as the third lash burnt her skin. Pain like nothing she had ever experienced before seared her body and she forced herself to take a deep breath, even as she blinked back the well of tears. She would not give him any more of her tears. 

The thought was short-lived; Iris cried out as her father yanked her head back and dug his other hand into her fresh lashings. “This was only a teaser as it will only get so much worse from here. I can’t wait to see the look on Eris’s face when I make you bleed in front of him.” Her father leaned next to her ear and whispered with glee. “The High Lord has granted me the privilege of winnowing within the walls. I hope you’re prepared to make a bloody entrance.”

–

Eris remained in front of his father, trying to control his breathing. The High Lord had allowed him to stand once more but he was still barely able to shift his feet. His eyes shifted around the room trying to find his brothers, trying to sense if something was amiss. He did notice the guards that didn’t bore his mark or the marks of his brothers scattered about the room but when he looked to the positions of where his arrows should be in place, Eris could see that many remained. 

But not as many as there were before.

Acid clogged his throat and he looked at his father. 

“Father. Whatever it is you think is happening, let us discuss –”

Beron’s magic lashed out and Eris made a choking sound as it wrapped around his throat. “What is it you think I know, boy?”

“I’m asking you.” Eris wheezed. “Let us discuss. See reason and release me.”

The High Lord hummed, tilting his head. “But I like you powerless. You grew too big for your britches, son.”

Eris fought back his snarl. “Father –”

Beron's gaze bore into Eris, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Do not snarl at me like an animal. You were raised to be more refined than that.” 

Eris forced himself to close his eyes and leash his magic tightly; he had to wait for whatever this surprise show his father had in mind. He couldn’t waste it, even as it nearly burst out of him. “Father.” he tried again, clearing his throat. “Please, let us speak calmly. It is meant to be a joyous night after all.”

His father watched him for a heartbeat and then gave him a smile that made his throat tighten. “A joyous night indeed.” the High Lord said and glanced at the glass in his hand. “That was the intention. At least…that was my initial intention. Until of course, I found out you had other plans for this evening.”  

Eris’s mouth went dry but he forced his tone to remain steady, to remain feigning ignorance. “I’m unsure what you mean.”

His father's piercing gaze swept over him, lingering with disdain. “Insisting on this little charade, are you?”

Eris carefully locked his eyes on his father’s and said, “You’re the one speaking in riddles, Father.” 

“Am I? Or are you the one who continues to hold out on me, son?” Beron mused. “Am I to misunderstand what I’ve learned about you and your extracurricular activities?” 

Eris attempted his usual bravado and raised a brow. “You’ll have to be more specific, father. You and I both know that I’m a very busy male.” 

It fell silent between them and the sound of the ball behind them raging on was a mockery to his nerves. Eris said nothing as his father watched him, the only sign of the High Lord’s patience running thin was the tightening of his hand on his glass.

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Eris.” his father finally growled. “I know what you and your brothers have been up to. Your foolish attempts to undermine me tonight.”

Eris said nothing but could only wonder how. How had his father found out? Who had betrayed them? 

He made himself straightened and only said, “There seems to be a misunderstanding here. You know that I am always loyal to our family and this court.”

“Loyal.” The High Lord said the word slowly as if savoring it then hummed, sending a shiver down Eris’s spine. “I suppose it is my own fault for forgetting how good of a liar you are when you lie the way you breathe.”

Eris clenched his jaw, struggling to keep his emotions in check, and held his head high. “You call me a liar when I am what you made me, High Lord,” he said lowly. “I’ve only ever served our family faithfully and if that is considered a lie to you, then so be it.” 

And Eris watched as his father’s gaze slowly morphed into hatred. His father had looked at him with anger and annoyance. Disappointment. Exasperation. Long, long ago, he had once looked at him with pride. Eris could even remember joy as a babe. Maybe a whisper of love.

But the hatred in his father’s eyes now? It burned worse than any lashing of a whip. 

“Years, I spent on you…I trained you. I gave you the best opportunities. Placed a court at your fingertips and the first moment you get…you plot to betray me. My crown prince. My favorite son. My glory.” Eris’s breath stuttered in his chest as his father’s gaze pierced into him. “You repay me by thinking of bringing death to my doorstep.”

The High Lord slowly stood, the glass in his hand vanishing as he took a step towards Eris, clasping his hands behind his back. “I admit, it took me some time to sense something amiss,” Beron said quietly. “You’ve served me so well over the years that if I started to question your loyalty, how could I trust anyone else?” 

He wondered if his father could hear the pounding in his head, could sense the fire rising in his throat. Eris didn’t let himself fidget as the High Lord stood so near and opted for an aloof response. “I assure you, Father, I have never taken your trust for granted.”

“And yet, you break it so easily,” Beron whispered, baring his teeth. “You think to play me for a fool and keep lying.”  

Eris braced himself for the blow as his father backhanded him hard enough, he tasted blood. He didn’t hold back his glare as he faced Beron watching him with distaste.

“Do you remember when you and I first came to an understanding about your wife?” he asked quietly and Eris felt his chest tighten, his gaze narrowing. “What did I say to you?”

“I don’t see how –”

“I said – it would be a shame if I had to find out where your true loyalties lie and who you valued more.” Beron snapped, then straightened coolly. “It certainly doesn’t seem to be me.” His father tilted his head, watching his son. “So if you had to choose, who would it be? Your mother? Your wife? Or those stupid hounds you’re attached to like a child?” 

Bile rose in Eris’s throat. Did this mean his mother and Iris were in his clutches? His hounds were locked in their kennel with their guards but if he was bringing them up now – did that mean he had targeted them too? Forcing himself to swallow and muster a sense of calm despite the blind rage threatening to consume him, Eris choked out, “Tell me where they are –” 

“You do not get to make demands of me, boy.” Beron snarled. “Not when you’ve betrayed me in a way no one has ever dared. Not when you stand in front of me and dare to challenge me.” His father straightened as Eris’s breath turned shallow. 

The weight of the situation pressed down on him like a vice, squeezing the breath from his lungs. Did it even matter anymore if he confessed now? His mind raced to come up with a way out without giving anything away – without setting himself up for worse. But how much worse could it get now? His father had his mother and Iris. 

His worst nightmare was coming to life – his father had his mate in his clutches and the thought gnawed at him, a relentless spiral of anxiety tightening its grip with each passing breath.

Eris felt fissures spread throughout his body, his wretched heart pounding so loudly he felt it in his throat. He was already spread so thin, it would take little for him to explode. 

His father had backed him into a corner, exploiting all those fucken feelings he always buried deep, taunting him with the people he’d been stupid enough to care about – just as Eris had always worried would happen.

This was all his fault. 

He should’ve been smarter about it. He should’ve been more careful.

He should’ve carried all the weight on his own and maybe some of them would make it. 

Beron seemed to know where his son’s thought process had gone and his answering smile was chilling. “Are you wondering if someone betrayed your trust like you betrayed mine?” he asked and Eris’s jaw clenched. “How your master plan unraveled?”  Smiling, his father leaned in closer. “It was your lapdog, Mikel.” The High Lord said and Eris had to fight to keep his expression from shifting. 

Mikel. His longtime friend. One of his most loyal soldiers. It couldn’t be.

His father gave him a knowing look. “You do know how to pick good soldiers, I will give you that. Despite the agony I put him through, he didn’t break. He held and was smart enough to hide his husband.” Beron mocked. “But his other family members were fair game.”

Eris couldn’t stop his expression from dropping. “What did you do?” he whispered. 

“Here’s a little surprise for you, traitor son of mine,” Beorn said with that nasty smile of his, reading Eris’s expression. “I managed to find a daemati to keep at my disposal. I acquired him recently and am still breaking him in but he has already helped me tremendously.” His father’s smile turned deadly. “An excellent addition to my assets, no?”

A breath stuttered out of him at the mixed feelings of relief and rage.

It hadn’t been a betrayal. His father had tortured it out of him. Took pride in torturing his friend because he knew that Mikel was close to Eris. Because despite how unimportant he pretended everyone around him was, his father still knew where to strike. And the High Lord struck to kill.

“Is Mikel alive?” he asked and his voice was hoarse as every worry, every single concern he’d had about this plan surfaced. So many people were going to get hurt. So many lives were on the line. 

And it was all his fault. 

“I left him hanging in the dungeons to reflect on his loyalty falling in the wrong place.” His father said with a snort and Eris stiffened. “You did train him well to block his mind but as you know, I do enjoy breaking things.” His father took a step closer to him and Eris did all he could not to react, even as the High Lord’s gaze burned into him. “It seems he isn’t the only one whose loyalty lies in the wrong place,” Beron said quietly.

How much of the plan did his father know then? How much had Mikel given away? 

His father’s chuckle sent a chill down his spine and Eris tried to hide the shaking in his hands as The High Lord began to pace around him, watching his every breath. 

“So. Care to stop lying or should I begin my fun early?” Beron taunted and Eris’s body began to shake. “Do I let you save your mother? Or…” His father gave him a nasty smile then. “Do I let you save your mate?”

Eris blanched. 

The one thing that was his – the one piece of information he wanted to savor. His father knew.

He had severely miscalculated. His planning had meant nothing.

“How do you –”

The High Lord waved a hand and Eris felt his breath tightened as with a wave of his hand, his father shattered the glamour of his hidden scent – the scent of his thread of fate with his wife. 

“Did you honestly think you could hide your mating bond from me, boy? And then to think you and your stupid brothers could get away with overpowering me?” Beron hissed and was now even closer to Eris, breathing in his personal space. “Did you think I wouldn’t sense the shift in the tide happening and question why my wife was behaving differently? Why my sons seem to suddenly be closer than they ever bothered before? Why you keep a shield around you at all times?” Beron’s scowl was deep as he glared at Eris. “You hid your footsteps well but not enough. You think you can play your games and tiptoe around my throne trying to steal it from me and I would simply kneel over for you? Let my wife leave me? Let you take it?” His father’s hand wrapped around Eris’s throat and Beron yanked him closer. “I am your High Lord. I took this crown by blood and the only way I would abandon it is by blood. If you will not bend to me, you will cease to be useful and I will break each and every one of you until you are all set straight.” 

Roaring filled his ears as his father shoved him back and Eris stared at him.

It had all come down to this then.

His mind raced as his options narrowed to a suffocating point. His father held all the cards. He had his wife and his mother and Eris had not been quick or smart enough to get through this. He had spent years tolerating all this agony for his father to still try and take it all away.

If it was all going to end in a fiery nightmare, it was time Eris went out swinging. He would not cower. He would not let this moment pass him. 

Steeling himself, Eris so very slowly counted to ten, feeling his magic awaken gently, unfurling through his body. Whatever happened next, he would take his father out. The sky would fall and crumble and the world around them would burn but Eris would weather it all so that no more harm came to anyone else.

His family was counting on him and this monster was done haunting them. 

His expression settled into stoic indifference. “So it seems we’re at an impasse,” he said and his father lifted a brow, tightening his grip on Eris’s throat.

“So it seems.”

Eris let his magic seep into his fingertips, slowly testing the bounds of his father’s hold on him. If he could crack it, he’d make his move.  “What exactly made you begin to question me?”

His father seemed to note the slight change in his demeanor as narrowed his gaze on him. “Your little incident with your father-in-law,” Beron spat. “If you dared to defy me then, what else would you do?”

Eris scoffed. “I have never once been taught to apologize to anyone. I sure as fuck wouldn’t be starting with that piece of filth,” he said tightly. “Your expectations of that situation still baffle me.”

His father hummed and seemed to ignore Eris as he continued, “Then your goings and comings began to increase. You were very good at slithering in the dark unnoticed,” the High Lord said and Eris scowled. “But as you have your loyalists, I have mine.” 

Eris shook his head, a humorless laugh slipping from his lips. “You call yourself my father yet you have shown me and this family nothing but pain and suffering and shame.” Eris snarled. “You have never given us a moment of reprieve since under the mountain. You have gone on and on and have made every year worse than the next and yet you wonder why we pulled away? Why we’ve looked for a way out with you?”

“Ah, so you’re admitting to your crimes.”

“I am admitting to the sheer agony that you’ve been putting us through all these years that if you took one moment to self-reflect you’d realize it was you who ruined us.” 

The air between them thickened with tension. “You think I ruined this family of traitors?” Beron hissed and Eris let out a choking sound, unable to move out of his father’s grip. “Did I not give you a warm bed? Clothes on your back? Food on your table? Servants to fulfill your every wish?”

“Did you not also give me nightmares that never leave me? Wounds that keep bleeding?” Eris growled and he was almost desperate for his father to see reason – to hear him and know it never had to be this way. “You cannot admit one without the other and everything comes at a price with you. A price my mother has been paying for years. A price you took out on me and my brothers time and time again. You –”

Beron scowled and made a noise of disapproval, cutting him off. “This is exactly your problem. You’ve been too fucken soft for this court.” he sneered and Eris couldn’t help his exasperated eye roll. “I tried to beat that out of you and yet…” Beron heaved an exaggerated sigh of disappointment. “You were meant to keep this failure of a family from sinking further – from becoming weak. Little did I realize you would be the one to set the terrible example for the rest of them.”

“Family.” Eris spat and knew his eyes were burning as he glared at his father. “You know nothing of that word or what it means.” His magic flared as it shoved against his father’s. “My mother, my brothers, and I – we are a family. You are nothing but the sickness that ails us. You are the weakness.”

Beron’s expression flickered and Eris didn’t know if it was his words or the fact that his fire had cracked through his father’s magic. But Eris didn’t care – he was past logic, past thought. 

“You have never cared about a single thing other than yourself.” he snarled, every syllable trembling with rage. “You’ve let this land fester. You do not get to call me a failure when the reason you still have a court is because of me. I cleaned your messes. I handled all the things you deemed beneath you. I am the reason you still have sons who haven’t deserted you. You can pretend the reality is different all you want but this court has always been mine and it’s about time I took it.” 

His father watched him and the look of deep hatred had returned. “And you think you can rule better than I can? Bribe them into kneeling before you?”

“I wouldn’t have to buy people’s loyalty. I’ve earned it.” Eris spat and satisfaction coursed through him at the slight color that seeped into his father’s face, the cracks in his armor showing. “You’ve earned nothing but their resentment and hatred and I’ve tried over the years to help you, to try and make it better but all you did was resist and fuck around while your sons slaved away for you.”

“And what now, you think you will teach me a lesson, boy?” Beron sneered angrily and Eris staggered back as his father’s power slammed into him again, holding him down. “You think you can win against me when you made the stupid mistake of getting attached to people I could use against you?”

“You’d rather I be an empty husk like you?” Eris sneered.

“An empty husk you say?” Beron mused in disgust. “And how does it feel to know that I left your mother and traitor brother soaking in their own blood where no one will bother to look? What about your pretty wife?” Eris groaned under the weight of his father’s fire. “How does it feel to know I would’ve spared her had you yielded but now the least I will do to her is give her matching scars to yours?”

Eris felt his heart give way. He had let his wife walk out of there and right into his father’s schemes. His mate. Where was she now? What had his father done? 

He felt that thread at his ribcage but couldn’t tell through his own discomfort what pain was his and what could be hers.

“What did you do?” Eris growled, his voice nearly guttural as his magic surged up again, pushing against the weight of the high lord’s.

“How will you protect them when you’re powerless against me? You, who has always been my greatest asset and my biggest threat.” Beron said softly and Eris felt his chest tighten when his father waved his hand and another glass appeared. “Emil is smart but he let himself get tangled with an enemy and fall in love with his unfit daughter. Finn is a disgrace and Izak has always been stupid but at least now that I know he has a child on the way, I can fix what I couldn’t with you all.” His father’s smug smile made Eris realize he’d let his expression fall. “Oh yes, I know all about that now. The shields around his father-in-law’s mind weren’t as strong as Mikel’s.” The High Lord’s chuckle made Eris want to throw up. “Izak’s wife may have slipped through my fingers but I’ll get to her eventually. After all, I wouldn’t be so cruel to harm a pregnant female.” Beron shrugged slowly. “I’ll keep her alive until she gives birth. If she has a son, she may live. If she has a daughter, I’ll kill them both, and then maybe your brother. We’ll see how I feel by that time.” 

Eris stared at him in horror, his magic faltering. “You speak of your family’s death so easily and yet you expect me to believe we ever mattered to you.” he breathed. 

“You only matter when you bend the knee. The second you stepped out of line, your punishment was prepared for you and you have given me so much ammunition.” Beron sneered. “I hardly know who to torture you with first but your mate seems like the best choice. I hope you enjoy watching me break her.” 

Every inch of Eris burned as his magic flared. “Where the fuck is my wife?”

Beron’s smile was wicked and Eris barely took a breath as the High Lord leaned in close and said, “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough but before that, have a little taste of this, son. I heard you were saving it for me.” 

Still locked in by his father’s magic, Eris couldn’t brace himself as his father splashed the glass filled with liquid in his face and he gasped feeling his magic dry out almost immediately. 

No.

A day passed, then two more, and the end of the week found them quicker than they expected, husband and wife wrapped in a lavender haze.

Eris woke up each day with the sole purpose of claiming his wife and Iris sank into the intensity of his frenzy. She met every part of his needs and his desires with her own, knowing how much he needed it. Knowing how much she had craved it. 

And while Iris tried to have Eris keep it in their bedroom, she found that any moment the two of them were alone, regardless of location, they would be skin on skin within seconds. 

What Eris had a hard time saying with words, he had no issues saying with his body and Iris experienced a side of him that she’d only seen in fleeting moments, when he allowed his seducing to emerge. And seduce her he did; her husband was downright filthy with her and Iris was going through the type of pleasure she had only read about. 

She had expected to be sore. She had expected to be shy about the highly erotic things her husband had promised her but it took all of one look and whatever sense of modesty Iris may have had vanished when Eris had his hands on her. She loved that he was slowly becoming more demanding with her. It made her crave it more. 

They were currently in his study and Eris had just straightened from where he had been on his knees feasting on her, before flipping her over and lifting her dress. Iris looked over her bare shoulder and bit her lip at the sight of him behind her; his shirt was loose and his skin was as flushed as she was. When he met her gaze with a smirk, Iris couldn’t help but buck backward into him, his chuckle skating across her skin and she had to swallow hard as he kneaded her backside. He hadn’t even bothered to fully remove her dress when he demanded she lay against his desk and spread her legs for him; he only pulled it down her shoulders, exposing her breasts, and now lifted it to expose her very needy cunt to his antics. 

Iris had found that in the last few days, she liked being a good wife who listened, especially when her husband had his cock fisted in his hand and was now rubbing it against her throbbing clit.  

“I - I thought you had a meeting.” she breathed and arched into him again. 

“I do. But my cock is going to meet with your pretty cunt first. It missed you too much.”

“Eris, you – oh.” 

The tip of his cock was now toying at her entrance and Iris tried not to pant as he teased her, rubbing agonizingly slow. He leaned against her, barricading her to his desk, and nipped at her ear.

“You were saying?” he taunted.

“You’re insatiable.” she whispered but couldn’t help rocking back into him.

“I know and I’m only going to get so much worse,” he said. “Especially when I come inside you and have you walking around with it dripping down your legs.” 

A breath stuttered out of her as she flushed. “That – I won’t –”

His hand ever so gently gripped her hair and Eris pulled her head back, their lips a breath apart. He took in her flushed face, how her eyes were glazed over, and tightened his grip just so. He saw the way her eyes had flashed the first time he’d done it. More importantly, he’d felt how her cunt had tightened around him and that was a sure sign he’d be wrapping his hand around her hair more often. Eris would work his way up to getting rough with her; he knew she’d like it even if she was still embarrassed about it right now. 

Since that night they’d finally become one, Eris had been unable to stop himself from being all over her. If he thought he was touch-obsessed before, he was downright insane now that she’d allowed him the privilege of intimacy. The frenzy had hit him hard and only because he prided himself on being someone in charge of his emotions did he manage to keep some sort of restraint on himself in public settings. But once they were alone? He watched her every breath. Her every movement as they dived into each other day in and day out. He touched her in ways he’d been dreaming about.

And when she looked like this, undone, flushed, so artfully exposed like this, what was a husband to do?

“I don’t want to hear the word won’t from you.” he commanded quietly. “I already told you how often I will keep you filled up, wife. You should get used to my come dripping down your legs.”

She whimpered and Eris couldn’t help but kiss her fiercely with a growl, his tongue meeting hers in time with his hard thrust into her. He filled her to the hilt and held, relishing in the way she contracted around his cock and he pushed against her again, her firm ass snug against him. It had only been a few days of this bliss and Eris knew he would never be the same – nothing would ever feel like this. This right. 

He swallowed her moan before he released her lips and pulled out to the tip before rocking into her with another hard thrust and Eris had to restrain himself from coming undone as she tightened around him; the sound of her breathless whine would be his undoing. 

“You make such pretty noises, little gazelle,” he whispered in her ear, rolling his hips and delighting in the way she rocked back to meet his movements. “I’ve only claimed your cunt for a few days and all those pretty little sounds you make whenever I touch it are going to drive me crazy.”  He pulled out an inch to thrust into her again and held. “Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

“Always,” was her breathless reply, her walls clenching around his cock. “It only seems f-fair.”

Eris hummed, his grip tightening on her hair once more to pull her back just enough to leave a chaste kiss on her lips. “Am I driving you crazy? Is that why you want revenge?” he whispered and Iris clenched around him again, a stuttered breath slipping out of her lips.

“You’re driving me crazy right now,” she whined and bucked back against him. “How long are you going to keep me waiting for you to fuck me, husband?”

Eris’s smirk was filled with feral delight as he released her hair, his hand sliding to an exposed breast and he slapped it quickly before squeezing, Iris’s choked cry as enticing as ever. “However long it’ll take you to say please, wife.”

“You’re going to have your mate b-beg?” she asked and very nearly did beg, trying and failing not to roll her hips for some relief. 

“I have to teach you manners somehow.” he teased and thrust into her, rocking her into the desk. “Say please, wife.” 

“Eris –”

“That doesn’t sound like please.”

“I thought you liked your name coming out of my mouth.” she said and rolled her hips again as he squeezed her breast once more. 

“Oh, I do. I’ll like it even more when you’re saying it while my come drips out of your mouth,” he said, leaning in to kiss her shoulder as Iris’s eyes squeezed shut, the words making her flush deeply. “Now say please so I can fuck you like I know you want me to, Iris, or I start pulling out.”

“You’d only be punishing yourself if you pulled away now,” she said and didn’t even know why she was arguing with him. She wanted him to fuck her so desperately, she knew he could sense it. But in the way she couldn’t help teasing him on a daily basis, Iris couldn’t help but keep with tradition.  

Eris’s dark chuckle had her tightening around his cock again and Iris felt the slickness of their joining as he bent her a little further with his chest against her back. “There are other places I can come but it’ll leave your pretty pussy empty and I don’t think you want that, do you?” he mused and nipped at her ear. “Say please.”

Iris couldn’t help the needy moan that slipped from her mouth, arching back into him. “Y-you’ve only started having me like this and already being so pushy.” she groaned. “And so d-dirty.”

A grin couldn’t help from spreading on his face as Iris made a noise of protest when he indeed started pulling out slowly. “You were so shy a few days ago and now look at you, spread like this and worried about me being dirty,” he said, teasing her entrance with his tip once more. “If only you could see your dripping cunt, you’d think you wouldn’t be so reluctant to ask nicely. Say please or I will tie you to my desk and leave you like this until I’m done with my meeting.”

The image he presented had Iris biting her lip hard, her core pulsing in desire. She wanted to be embarrassed by how wanton she felt, especially when the idea only seemed to turn her on and as she tried to arch further into him, she knew as tempting as the idea of him experimenting with tying her up, Iris needed him now.

“Please.” she caved and she felt his smile against her skin as he kissed her shoulder again.

“Say pretty please.”

“Eris.”

“Pretty please, handsome husband of mine.” he only said.

“That’s not –”

“You’re running out of time.” 

And when he did lean back as if to leave her, Iris couldn’t stop herself from saying exactly what he wanted from her in one quick breath, “Pretty please, handsome husband of mine.”

Before Iris could take her next breath, Eris had sheathed himself into her with a hard thrust, pressing her down onto the desk and she couldn’t help the choked moan that escaped her. 

“That’s a good girl,” he praised and Iris whimpered as he smacked her ass. “See? Now, how could I deny such a request?”

He wrapped her hair in his fist once more, pulling her head back to give her another soft kiss then released her to grip her hips and began to fuck her in earnest. The sound of skin slapping against skin quickly filled his study and in a very concerningly disturbing way, the scent of their sex overwhelming the room spurred him on. Iris took his cock, squeezing it perfectly as he fucked her, drilling into her. The same thoughts that had swirled in his brain whenever he was inside her returned in full force and Eris wanted to imprint himself on her soul, her body to memorize his, and again, he knew sex would never feel better than this. 

His hand slid to push her down a little more, arching her body exactly how he wanted it as he pounded in her, and Eris couldn't help himself from letting that same hand slide down to knead the flesh of her backside, blotched red from his earlier teasing. He’d work her up to take more. He had so many ideas for her. So many ways he wanted to have her and so many things he wanted to do to her and have her do to him. He wanted to fill her in every way, and even though Iris was his, Eris’s need to claim her in every way he could wouldn’t go away.

He was a male possessed, entrapped, and enthralled by everything that she was, and when she shifted beneath him to meet his thrusts and look over her shoulder at him, the desperation in him intensified. 

“My hand –” he grunted, the pace of his fucking brutal and intensifying as he watched her breasts bounce with the movement. “Take my hand – on your throat. I want to hold it.”

“Yes –” she cried, panting as her pleasure built. Iris had lost count of how many times he’d made her come since they’d been intimate the first time but she was a woman addicted and while the idea of his hand around her throat had been something she’d hesitated about once upon a time, she wanted it now – now as he fucked her like she was made only for this – like she was made only for his hands and Iris wanted his hands all over her. 

Her hand met his as he reached for her and Iris clutched his hand as it wrapped around her delicate throat, pulling her up against him. The angle had him thrusting deeper into her and again, the timing of his thrusts seemed to match her whimpers. Her husband took her hard and his grip on her throat tightened just slightly, her hand still gripping his.

“I’m – close.” she breathed and Eris’s growl in her ear made her eyes roll back, her legs starting to shake. 

“Who does your cunt belong to?” he demanded, his voice guttural.

“You.” she panted and tightened her walls around him, her fingers digging into the hand at her throat. “And your cock – who does it belong to?”

“It’s yours, wife. Only yours and it’ll fuck you until the day I perish.” he promised and shifted, slamming into her at a particular angle that had her seeing stars. Her breathing became heavy pants and when his free hand slid to her breast and pinched, Iris’s whole body shuddered, a cry sounding as her orgasm crashed through her. 

Eris held her through it and despite his rough thrusts, his thumb was gentle as it caressed her neck. He allowed himself to pull her head back for one more kiss and then with a firm hand, pushed her flat on the desk to arch her body once more, chasing his release. Her body was loose and welcoming as his cock drilled into her and her quiet mewls edged him on. He was close. He only needed – 

“Eris.” she sighed and the sound of his name slipping from her lips in such a way was what finally sent him over the edge. He came with a growl, spilling himself inside her with one final thrust and Eris had to grip the edge of his desk so he didn’t crush her beneath him. 

The room was silent except for the sound of their heavy breathing and as Iris shifted beneath him, his hips still rocking into her slowly, it took him a few moments before he pulled out of her with a wet sound. He licked his lips, watching as his come dripped from his cock and out of her glistening cunt. 

“When is this going to calm down?” Iris asked breathlessly, straightening shakily, even as Eris couldn’t help but rub the tip of his cock into her again. Iris arched slightly, sucking in a breath, her body rolling her hips on its own accord. “We just finished and I know if we didn’t control ourselves, we’d go again.” 

“The frenzy wins another round.” he mused and finally, with much effort he forced himself to take a step away from her, forced himself to take a breath, and started cleaning them both up. They didn’t speak as Eris pulled her up and began to fix her dress, his touch gentle and Iris couldn't help but bite the inside of her cheek, slightly embarrassed as she watched him. He knew how to turn her on to the point where she’d likely let him do anything but when the moment calmed, she always felt embarrassment creep up on her for being so…lustful. 

And while she liked the very sensual side he’d been showing her the past few days, Iris would always find herself deeply attached to this attentive one. 

“Are you alright?” he asked quietly, tugging the shoulder of her sleeves in place. “I didn’t –”

“You didn’t hurt me.”

He focused on fixing her hair in place, his gaze flickering to her once then away. “Even when I held your throat? It didn’t bother you.”

“Did it sound like it bothered me?” she asked and Iris felt her heart nearly burst when he pursed his lips in response. 

“I don’t want to take you by surprise or do anything you won’t want,” he said, his tone soft. “I get carried away in the moment.” 

“And yet, you still gave me a warning. I liked having my hand with yours. I liked it a lot.” Iris answered and bit her lip when the corner of his mouth twitched up. She had clearly liked his hand on her throat a little too much and Iris’s eyes were locked on him as he gently shifted her to straighten the dress. The way he cared for her after their intimacy made her heart want to burst out of her chest. In contradiction to his behavior while they were being intimate, he was so careful – tender afterward. It almost embarrassed Iris more than how wanton she was during the act itself. 

“Thank you.” she said and the corner of Eris’s mouth lifted at her soft tone.

“Are you embarrassed again?”

“No.”

“Liar, you answered too quickly,” he said, giving her too knowing of a look. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“I know I don’t,” Iris said, a light blush coloring her cheeks. “But you’re used to engaging in all this and for me it’s all so…”

“Sinful? Obscene? Scandalous?” he teased and Iris rolled her eyes.

“New. And it's happening so fast,” she answered. “And you always make me feel so…untethered.” 

Eris watched her with a small smug smile and he was not a male who used the word cute but his wife was sure being cute as fuck. It thrilled him endlessly that he was the one to corrupt her. “Untethered because I make you feel so good you forget all about your modesty nonsense?” he taunted playfully. 

Iris swatted him lightly. “What I’m trying to say, asshole, is…it scares me a little bit how quickly I can sink into this with you and be so taken.” she said and glanced away for a moment then looked at him beneath her lashes as she added quietly, “I know the bond influences the…intensity of it all but when we come back to reality, I’m a little embarrassed that I would let you touch me the way you do.”

Eris’s grin was roguish and Iris pointed a finger at him.

“Don’t you dare make fun of me.” she warned. 

“Make fun? How could I when you’re complimenting me?” he said with a wink, a hand reaching to smooth down her hair. His lips twitched when she narrowed her eyes at him and Eris, leaned in to leave a featherlike kiss on the corner of her mouth continuing quietly, “I understand the privilege it is that I get your firsts. I want it to feel good. I want you to enjoy it.”

“It – it feels great,” she said quietly, the color in her cheeks deepening. “But the way I get so wrapped up in you…overwhelms me.”

Eris felt his heart leap to his throat and he tried not to let himself get too excited at her words. He hated that she was embarrassed but he understood. He was the first and only person to ever get this side of her. He would cherish it. And continue to defile her. 

“For the record…it has never felt this way with anyone else,” he confessed, his eyes on the sliver of collarbone peeking from her dress. “It overwhelms me too.” 

“Yeah?”

“Oh, yes. So overwhelmed that I can’t help but seduce you on the spot, depraved as I am.” he said, his smirk full of wickedness and Iris had to fight back a smile.  

“Well…” she began and glanced away from him, flushing as she admitted, "You make me want to be depraved with you. So.”

Eris’s face broke out in a wide grin. “That is the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.” 

“Of course you’d say that,” Iris said with a snort. “Should I be thanking you for your corruption?”

“Naturally. You can thank me with words or actions, the choice is yours.” He said with a heated gaze. “We can get right back to debauchery as soon as you’d like.”

Iris’s cheeks heated at the promise. “Scoundrel.” 

“Still your husband.” 

“And a little more than that, hm?” 

Eris licked his lips and forced himself to close his eyes and take a deep breath, especially as she giggled at his reaction. He’d just fucked her and her giggle would be what does him in. Who was he becoming?

Shaking his head, his smoldering look was a warning as he turned and adjusted his own clothing then ran a hand through his hair. He made to turn but Iris had come behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, her face settling in the middle of his back. 

“Wife?” he asked tentatively as he rested a hand over the one she had slid up his chest. 

“The closer this ball comes, the less I want to leave,” she said quietly. “Do I really have to?”

He sighed. They’d had this conversation thrice already and each time Iris thought she came closer to wearing him down, he’d stand his ground. 

Eris turned and faced her, his expression already set in a scowl, even as she stood with her arms around him, her chin resting on his chest. “You already know the answer is yes, you have to. It’ll be safer,” he said. “Lucien has already sent word that everything is getting in order on his end.”

“Helene is settled in?” Iris asked and when aimed to step back, Eris’s grip only tightened around her. 

“Yes.” he said, his hands tracing her arms still around his waist. “And Helion is preparing for the backlash of my father. In the event it’s needed.”

Iris’s expression immediately dimmed. “And you and your brothers?”

Eris nodded. “Getting there. I’m seeing Izak later to get an update,” he said. “Will you be alright if I’m running late?”

“As long as you don’t take too long. I’ll start to worry,” she said with a small frown. “I’ll be reviewing notes from Nevien so you don’t have to worry about me.”

Eris hummed then cupped her face, forcing her to look up at him. “Regardless. Two of the hounds will be in the room with you.”

“You better have one with you as well.” 

He chuckled. “Of course. Antares will be with me since Lyra has officially declared herself glued to you.”

“I can’t help it if the puppies love me so much,” she said with a smile and Eris rolled his eyes.

“That’s only because you bribe them.”

“With hugs and kisses.”

“With more snacks than they should be eating.” he corrected with a snort. “And I give them hugs. You’ve been spoiling them ridiculously and now they’ll never listen to me the way they used to.”

Iris laughed softly and the corner of his mouth lifted. “Aw, someone sounds jealous.” she teased and patted his chest when he rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to them for you. Convince them to give you another chance.”

“Alright now.”

“All children have off days with their fathers. They still love you, don’t worry.”

“Enough from you.” he finally said, though there was no real heat in his words. He was as much of a lovesick puppy as his hounds were. Apparently, they had been sucked into her orbit even quicker than he was…when he thought about how quickly they accepted her, he supposed it made sense. 

He couldn’t wait for her to see his other hounds come out to play. That would be a surprise for another time.

With a small smile, Iris pulled away from him and quickly ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it down. “Are you ready for us to walk back?”

Reluctantly, he nodded. He’d had to shield her scent everywhere they went and shield his own whenever they were apart. Despite how they danced around his father’s goings and comings, it was as if his father’s leash had tightened on them and the High Lord seemed to sense something was different. 

Even seeing his mother had gotten harder with his father keeping her…busy. His mother refused to even acknowledge it was happening, claiming she was used to pretending but Eris had to walk away each time, trying his best not to set the room on fire. He forced himself not to dwell on it and focused on preparation. They’d endured long enough. They would have to endure a little more.

His body grew more and more tense as each day passed, the countdown to the ball ticking away. He wanted to feel guilty for the way he consumed his wife but this release, these moments where it was just the two of them – whether it was talking or touching, it soothed his weary spirit to the bones. The bond chafed at them both with the only thing left was for Iris to offer him food and they kept skirting around it. It was something Eris truly wanted to wait for – he refused to celebrate this until he actually had the chance to celebrate her. He wanted it to be something to look forward to.

So, he continued to watch her and touch her like a depraved beast, craving even the smallest of glances from her. 

The day he started teaching her how to dance made him realize exactly how in control of him she was. And Eris knew she had no idea the extent of this control on him. No idea the kind of chaos she caused inside him when she almost tripped and laughed it off as he taught her the steps to the Autumn Court’s signature waltz. 

But he’d hold her waist, correcting her stance and she’d smile up at him, the smile turning into a coy little smirk the longer he stared at her and suddenly everything was right in the world for those few minutes. 

Eris went through the wringer with his fucken feelings. Somehow, he felt the bliss of being near her, then the guilt for keeping her there, the anxiety about what was to come and how it would end, and then the frenzy would hit him at the most inconvenient of times…he was hanging on by a fucken thread.

And the cycle repeated itself as each day passed.

When the middle of week two trickled in, the High Lord sent for his sons. 

There was an ominous feeling in the air as Eris made his way to his father’s study. He had just finished meeting with his sentries, finalizing stations for the perimeter of the ball when he received word of his father’s request. Whenever his father summoned all his sons, it surely spelled trouble and Eris didn’t like it one bit.  

When he found his brothers by the entryway, awaiting his arrival, he tried not to take their expressions as a bad omen. 

“Do we know why he called us here?” Emil said quietly but Eris shook his head, tension lining his back.

“He only said he had some sort of announcement,” he replied and had to roll his shoulders back before sharing a look with all his brothers. “Watch your reactions.”

They filed in behind him and Eris paused a few feet away from where his father stood in the middle of the room. Eris kept his stance as casual as possible, his brothers lined next to him. His expression neutralized, clasping his hands behind his back and he forced himself to bow his head slightly to his father, his brothers following. “You called, Father?”

Beron stood with his back to them and Eris looked around the study in distaste; given the pleasant memories in this place, he hated it almost as much as he hated the throne room. His fists clenched as the High Lord dropped the reports he had been holding on the desk and turned.

“Your mother’s ideas for the ball seem tackier than usual this year.” Beron mused by way of greeting. “I hope the rest of whatever she’s planned won’t be as tasteless.”

Eris resisted the urge to roll his eyes but Finn had no such reservations and Beron lifted a brow, glancing at his secondborn. 

“Do you have something to say, boy?”

“No, Father.”

“Good. I do hate it when you speak.” 

Eris could feel the heat from Finn’s body and hoped his brother wouldn’t open his mouth and say anything else. Given how often Beron’s hands found Finn, his brother held the least tolerance from their father and it didn’t go unnoticed. 

But none of them said anything as Beron took a step towards Izak, looking him up and down with contempt. “Izak. You haven’t graced us with your presence in a moment.”

“I am here whenever you call me, father.” 

Beron hummed. “You look like a barbarian. Before the event, shave your disgusting beard,” he said and waved a hand. “I can’t have you looking like a beast with a room full of your potential brides in attendance.”

A tense breath of silence and Eris tilted his head in confusion as Izak snapped a little too sharply, “Potential what?”

Beron’s eyes narrowed slightly at his tone and Eris cleared his throat to divert the attention.

“It seems you have something to share, Father.”

It took a moment before the High Lord looked away from Izak and addressed them all. “Yes. I called you all here because I decided it’s time to have you all settled down,” he said and collectively the brother’s brows went up. Beron’s gaze flickered to Eris. “I made the mistake of letting you get away with being unwedded for too long and then not enough time vetting your troublesome wife. I won’t make that error with the rest of you.” 

Eris had to take a breath through his nose to hold himself back from snapping. “My wife isn’t nearly as troublesome as her father is and yet you chose to tie our families together.”

“Her father’s wealth and accessibility is the only reason your marriage was of value,” Beron said with a snort. “But she holds no value.” And Beron seemed to watch Eris, daring him to say something more as a muscle feathered in his jaw. “This time around, it’ll be more about what each female brings to the union. I can’t allow the rest of your brothers to breed with useless ones.”

“My wife is not useless.” Eris nearly spat and the corner of Beron’s mouth lifted cruelly.

“Her being fuckable isn’t an asset. It’s her only job.” Beron mocked and Eris’s jaw clenched so hard, it was a miracle he didn’t crack it. “Don’t say another word or I’ll make you regret it.”

A tense moment stretched between them as Eris’s expression hardened and his magic thumped beneath his veins, so desperate to dig into his father but he forced himself to take a deep breath through his nose; soon enough, the bastard would get what he deserved. 

Emil cleared his throat, glancing at Eris for a fleeting second then back to their father. “Forgive me Father but, if I am to understand correctly,'' he started and shifted. “You are…suggesting we all get married.”

“It’s not a suggestion. By the end of this year, you three will be engaged to a female of my choosing from a respectable family. Families with females we can benefit from.” The High Lord said, giving Eris a pointed look that he couldn’t stop himself from rolling his eyes at. “By Spring, your wedding ceremonies will be taking place. Depending on whose daughters I decide on and if she’s worth her own wedding, we’ll see whether it’ll be one big family wedding to get it done or scattered monthly.” 

His sons stared at him in stunned silence but Eris’s brows lowered. Why was his father doing this now?

“You will clean yourselves up and mingle at the ball. I expect you to be on your best behavior and woo each of them. Should I deem it unfit, there will be time to find you another female worthy of being a Vanserra.”

“Just like that?” Finn said with a snort. “If you deem them unfit, you’ll just find another one at the drop of a hat?”

“You’ll find that there are many females who would be delighted to be a bride for a prince,” Beron said and his expression hardened when he looked at Finn. “You’ll make it work with whomever I choose and if you don’t like her, you can always pretend she’s someone else while she’s sucking your cock. A mouth is a mouth, isn’t it?”

Finn flushed and Eris shot his brother a warning look as his hands fisted at his sides. 

“Father.” Eris said lightly.

“Yes?” Beron said, turning to Eris with a pleasant tone that did not match his expression. “Am I wrong? If he doesn’t like her, he can choose another or be content with flipping her over and fucking her from behind without even having to look at her face. A hole is a hole, is it not?”

“What the fuck is the matter with you?” Finn snarled and Beron’s hand snapped out faster than any of them could stop it, backhanding Finn hard enough he staggered back a few steps.

“When will you learn not to speak? I am sick of you.” Beron said, his voice deadly quiet. “Do as you are told and save me your objections that I do not care for.” 

“Father,” Eris interjected but Beron held up a hand, his mouth curled in anger.

“I don’t want to hear it.” 

“But –”

“I said I don’t want to hear it.” the High Lord snapped and the room heated as he glared at Eris. 

Eris didn’t flinch at the look, blood pumping in his ears but he’d rather his father glared at him than back at his brothers. He could sense their anger bubbling and knew this little surprise was snipping at their pride when they were all in committed relationships. At least his father didn’t know about that. 

“But Finn isn’t the only one who has a problem with this,” Izak stated and Eris finally looked away from his father to his brother, finding his expression dark. “I don’t want to get married.” 

Beron’s expression shifted to mock amusement. “Is that so?”

“I don’t care for the females in the court.” Izak continued. “All they’re interested in is my money and gossiping. It’ll be a nightmare.”

“Your money?” Beron said with a snort. “You have nothing to your name. My money is the only reason any female would be tempted enough to marry someone as stupid as you.” 

“I’m not stupid,” Izak growled, his face heated. “I’m a General of your armies.” 

“Brute with no brain. Don’t forget that you’re my wild dog who was trained to fight and nothing more.” Beron cooed sarcastically, waving a hand as Izak’s eyes flashed. “You can save any objections you have alongside your brothers. You don’t have a choice.” 

“What are you going to do, tie us to a bed and force us to get married?” Finn sneered. 

“Maybe I will have you tied down like a prized mare and let your wife fuck you. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Enough of your loaded comments, Father. Tell me what you —” 

Eris tried to shield Finn but Beron’s fist connected with Finn’s nose faster than Eris could move and Finn’s head snapped back as blood came gushing out. His brother let out a choked laugh.

“Father, I think we all need to calm down,” Eris said, stepping between the two of them, and holding out both hands to Beron. “You’ve taken them by surprise. This reaction shouldn’t shock you.”

“I don’t care. I have a whole court that bends to my will and suddenly you four think you have opinions and choices? You will all do as you are told.” Beron snapped then glared at Emil. “I haven’t heard from you yet, quiet one. Do you have anything else to add?”

“I do despite knowing you don’t care for my opinion,” Emil said coolly. “You can’t be surprised that we have reservations about this, Father. This arranged marriage situation doesn’t work for everyone and the idea that the three of us have to do this has emerged from nowhere. What is the reasoning for it now?”

Beron looked down at his son, his lips curling. The High Lord didn’t have to open his mouth to demean them; his expression alone did it. “It’s the way you think I have to explain myself to you,” Beron said with a snort. “An order is an order.” 

“Who else do you –” Finn began angrily, holding a cloth to his bloody nose but Eris shot him a look that quickly shut him up; he was still standing between Finn and his father. With the way Beron glared at them both, the High Lord was not liking it. 

“You owe us that much if you’re going to whore us out for brides.” Izak spat and Beron shot him a withering glare.

“I owe you nothing but since you barely have a brain, let me spell it out for you.” Beron seethed and Izak flushed deeply. “We need heirs, you idiot. Long-term connections with powerful families. The Vanserra line needs to be kept strong.” The High Lord glared at each of his sons. “Other courts have begun securing their lines and building connections within the strongest families in and outside of their regions. I will not be upstaged by them when I have so many of you for this exact purpose.” He spat. “Despite you all trying and failing to weed each other out, I’ve accepted that you four have somehow remained and I will use you how I see fit. Your lives are for my court and my throne and I will not have my line die out because you don’t know what’s good for you.” Straightening, his glare intensified. “You will meet those potential brides and you will woo them at this fucken ball or so help me, the only information you will get about your wedding is a date and I will have you tied to a flagpole until it’s done.” 

The room was deadly silent as they processed what he said and Finn’s heavy breathing was the only sound as Izak glared and Emil’s expression was tight. It didn’t matter that their little game of being at each other’s throats was his fault and it mattered even less that their father had such little interest in their lives; they were things – objects made to be used as he wished. It was all the same with the High Lord; do what you’re told or you won’t be able to oppose for long once he’s decided to make you.

But it wouldn’t be this way for long. Soon. Soon.

Eris worked his jaw and turned to his brothers, meeting each of their eyes before slowly saying, “Father has our best interest at heart,” he started. “There’s no harm in getting to know the options of females. He will choose only the best for you. Let’s all calm down.” 

Collectively, the brothers’ expressions flattened and Eris knew they’d chew him out for this later but they were too close, too close to the end. This was a petty thing, they could tolerate this. He was already on edge himself and if they couldn’t leash themselves, they’d be in worse trouble.

“I think we all would’ve appreciated a little more time to process this, Father,” Emil said, clasping one hand over the other in front of him. “This feels very short notice.”

“You’ll survive.” Beron merely said. “They’ll be presented to you on a silver platter and if you’re discrete, it shouldn’t impact your dalliances outside of it.” He glanced at them with a pointed look that none of them appreciated, “I made sure they’re all attractive. You’ll be tempted enough.” 

“I bet you were.” Izak muttered and Eris flashed him a look of warning but Beron smiled.

“You’re right, I was.” the High Lord mused with that nasty smile. “So if I was tempted, you’ll find them all agreeable.” He waved a hand at Eris. “Take your brother. He didn’t even care when I told him to marry Iris and now look at them. She was pretty when I chose her and she certainly seems tolerable enough to take care of his needs, doesn't she?”

Eris’s expression blanked, his hands fisting at his sides. “I’d rather not discuss my wife.”

Beron snorted. “Your wife is the reason I had to be pickier about who the rest of your brothers will wed. I can’t have them as controlled by their females as you are by yours.” He shot Eris a look full of disgust. “No matter how pretty her cunt is.” 

Eris nearly detonated, his fists clenching so hard, that steam began to rise and he forced himself to breathe, to try and let the words bounce off him even as the mating bond thumped in his chest. His instincts to shred any male who even thought of his wife were already reaching their limits before they even brought her up and he was trying not to be stupid enough to fall for his father’s tactics. He knew better. He knew better. And yet, the guttural noise couldn’t be helped when Eris snarled, “Father. Do not mention my wife.”  

Beron rolled his eyes. “Why? Your brothers know she’s fuckable. Finn was chasing her skirts in the stables not that long ago.”

Eris’s head snapped to Finn, his rage irrational as he gripped the front of his brother’s tunic tightly and Finn stared at him in disbelief, appalled at Eris’s glare. 

This was why he had hesitated to give in to the mating bond urges. He was about to wring his brother’s neck when he knew Finn had been with Iris. He had sent his brother himself and yet – and yet. 

Finn immediately straightened, his own anger barely leashed as he glared at their father. “That is not what happened.” 

“Denial isn’t the tone of the innocent, boy.” Beron taunted as Eris’s gaze slid back to his Father and that gleam of cruel amusement immediately doused Eris’s anger. His father was toying with them as always. And he had —

“What the fuck is your problem?” Finn snarled at their father and Eris held his father’s gaze, slowly releasing Finn but holding him back with a hand to his brother’s chest.

Eris couldn’t help but release a little of the damper he usually held on his power, rage blazing in his gaze and the High Lord’s eyes narrowed. 

“Enough,” he commanded, and despite the anger coming off him in waves, Finn managed to stand back and Eris knew his brother couldn’t help his expression of disgust at their father. “There will be no more talk about my wife.” he said then his gaze shifted to his brothers. “And no more negotiations on this matter.”

The tension in the room rose tenfold. It was a challenge to stand like this, to face the High Lord and command his sons in front of him. They had always listened to Eris but they were good at keeping it discreet. Not too obvious. 

Eris forced himself to shove Finn back, fully facing his father. “Let’s all remember how Father…has a sense of humor,” Eris said slowly. “Nothing more.”

Beron watched Eris with a raised brow and a few moments of silence stretched between them before the High Lord snorted. “A sense of humor,” he said then his face pinched in distaste. His gaze washed over Eris and again, he hated how tense it made him.  “This conversation is done. I have nothing else to say to you all. You have one task at the ball. Do not embarrass me.”

“We’ll try while whoring ourselves out.” Emil asked flatly and Beron tilted his head, that look of disdain still on his face.

“I do not care for the tone you speak to me in. All of you,” he said and waved a hand carelessly. “Apologize.” 

“Do we get an apology?” Izak asked with a snort and though Izak had at least six inches on his father, the High Lord had grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yanked him down to his eye level. 

“Do not test me, boy. Or I will rip your tongue out.” he snapped and shoved Izak back. “You’re all lucky I already gave my word that you’d meet with the families and I want you to look presentable. Otherwise, you would’ve been reminded of exactly what happens to people who get disrespectful with the High Lord. Apologize.” 

It was silent for a suspenseful moment before in unison, the brothers choked out, “Apologies, father.” 

And the four of them stood before him, waiting to be dismissed; sons watching their father and father watching his sons. Eris was ready for whatever may come as long as there would finally be an end to this. 

Beron watched them all with narrowed eyes, the seconds ticking by, and as if sensing them so miserable in his presence, his mouth curled into an ugly smirk and he finally nodded toward the door. “Get out of my sight.”

Without acknowledging each other, the brothers angrily stormed out and Eris forced himself to give his father a tight nod before he turned and made his way to leave. He didn’t trust his father’s parting expression one bit and Eris was only able to take a deep breath after the study door sealed shut behind him.

His brothers stood before him but Eris shook his head. Not here. They couldn’t say a word here. Their father was absolutely listening.

“I’d rather not see your hideous faces until the ball. Stay out of my way.” Eris said, then held up two fingers to Izak and Emil and they both nodded back; they’d speak again in two days. 

“I’ll show up if I feel up to it,” Emil replied casually and waved a hand for a report to appear, handing them to Eris. “You don’t have to nag.”

“I have nothing to say to either of you so if I don’t see you until the ball it’ll be a fucken blessing.” Izak added and pulled his own reports rolled up from his jacket. 

“You.” Eris said and pointed to Finn then jerked his head for him to follow. 

“What?” Finn, his tone purposely aggressive and nodded, saluting casually as Izak and Emil disappeared without a sound.

“We need to have a word.” 

And Eris made sure his tone was threatening enough, sounding like it promised violence as they left. They walked in silence, Eris’s blood pumping as they descended down the front gates and he knew he needed to get far enough away – far enough to not feel like his father was still looking at him – like his father’s gaze wasn’t watching him now. Turning suddenly, Eris grabbed Finn by the collar and before his brother could object, winnowed them to a hidden dwelling in their forests.

“What the hell, Eris?” Finn said as Eris shoved him back. He held up a hand until his shield was in place, then he let out a long breath.

Finn watched him and Eris knew his brother could see him struggling. His hands were starting to shake, steam starting to rise from them again as Eris began to pace.

“Well. At least I know you’re not going to murder me.” 

“The jury is still out on that,” Eris muttered and when Finn grunted, he shot his brother a glare, grateful that his nose wasn’t too badly bruised. “You know better than to keep answering him. How many times does he have to break your nose before you stop?”

“He fucken hates me. It doesn’t matter if I spoke up or not, he would’ve knocked me around regardless.” Finn snapped. “At least I can get some things off my chest.”

“You’re an idiot,” Eris grumbled and took another deep breath as he paced, steam rising from each step he took. “He knows something.” 

Finn instantly straightened. “What makes you say that?”

Eris shook his head. “This little move isn’t for nothing and I don’t fucken like it.” He paused, glancing in the direction of the open field then flickered back to that hidden dwelling. A narrow, half-broken trail, partially concealed by overhanging branches and tangled roots led through the towering trees and to the right, a stream on the other side of the cabin that led to the river running throughout the Autumn Court. It made him pause. He’d been looking for a place like this within the court. The little cabin in the woods to whisk away his wife off to.

His wife. 

Eris shook his head, pushing his father’s stupid taunting out of his head, and focused back on Finn who watched him with furrowed brows.

“Are you alright?”

“No.” Eris answered too honestly.

“Do you…want to talk about it?” 

“I’d rather die.” 

Finn held up his hands with a snort. “I had to ask. You’re more on edge than usual.” 

“Given our circumstances, I’m grateful to be standing,” he said dryly then jerked his chin towards Finn. “Are you alright? He decked you pretty hard.”

Finn shrugged and Eris hated seeing that nonchalant shrug that haunted this family. “Nothing I’m not used to,” he said. “But why did you bring us here?”

Eris glanced again at the little area, hidden away. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d ventured to this side of the court and how he used to find some peace and quiet here when he needed it. His gaze flickered to the stream and Eris let himself listen to the sound of nature around them for a moment. He would need to come back. He could shape this place to be a little hideaway he desperately needed. 

“I could feel his eyes on us.” Eris finally answered. “I needed him to think I was going to beat the shit out of you.”

“Because of what he said about Iris?”

Eris felt his anger surge through his body and whatever calm he had briefly found was gone as he paced. He forced himself to take another deep, slow breath. He knew Finn wasn’t saying anything wrong. He knew his brother meant nothing by the question but his answer was still a tight, “Yes.”

A moment of quiet passed before Finn licked his lips and said, “Eris, you know I would never, right?” he asked and Eris glanced at his younger brother, his expression uncharacteristically nervous. “He keeps making stupid fucken comments like that and said the same shit in front of her but we told you everything that happened at the stables. I would never disrespect either of you like that.” 

“I know, Finn. My reaction wasn’t about you.” Eris said and for once, let himself sound as tired as he felt. “He’s a piece of shit. He does it on purpose.”

“He is always saying shit like that to me.” Finn muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.” I’m sure he knows or at least has a feeling I swing both ways and he acts like I’m some kind of sexual predator when the only fucken predator around is him.” 

Eris grunted in agreement then rolled his shoulder back, glancing down at the reports his brothers had given him; he had forgotten he was holding them. Scanning them quickly, it seemed that all was well with their respective areas and Eris also read between the lines; their people were ready. He glanced up at Finn who was now waiting with his hands folded across his chest. “Things on your end?” 

“All is set.” He waved a hand and handed Eris his reports. “They’re starting to get in place.”

Eris nodded then straightened. “Stay out of his way for the next two days. We’ll meet in mother’s garden. Tell them to connect with their spies. Double then triple-check your sources. Find out what he knows. I need to know if information is getting out and if it is, who I need to kill.” he ordered and narrowed his eyes slightly at Finn’s nod. “I’ll reach out to Lucien to update him on this little announcement. What of Theo?”

“He’s going to leave right before the ball.” 

His brother’s quiet tone had Eris clench his fists. Without having to say anything, Eris already understood how Finn felt; Iris hadn’t left him yet and he already felt like he was being skinned alive at the idea of the distance. “That’s cutting it a little close, no?”

A muscle flexed in Finn’s jaw. “He’s gotten a lot of commissions for the Equinox. People want gifts and he’s the best we have.” he said. “He can’t leave too early. He’s too well-known and it’ll make things suspicious.” 

“Depending on what happens, he might not have much of a choice.” Eris said quietly and Finn’s expression hardened. 

“We only have one choice, Eris.”