#rita's

The sun had just set, making the sky a glowing orange that only Autumn Court could manifest. When he walked into his bedchambers, the light from the window made it seem like the whole place was on fire. In a way, it always had been. 

Eris ripped his leather riding gloves off and chucked them on the nearest table. 

He poured himself some wine, already knowing it wouldn’t making him feel any better. 

Eris poured himself a second glass already. He turned to the fireplace and snapped his finger, setting it alight instantly. 

Just as he sat down, a piece of paper fell into his lap. 

Eris’ stomach dropped for a moment, immediately imagining the worst. Had Y/N been hurt again? No, surely she hadn’t. He would’ve felt it. 

Lucien wishes to meet with you tomorrow at dusk. The manor where the exiles reside. He’s met her. I think he knows who she is to you.

Eris swore at Rhysand’s meaning. Of all the days to receive such a letter…

The obvious instinct was to blow off his youngest brother’s request. Who did Lucien think he was, demanding such things from him? 

But Eris knew that Lucien wouldn’t give up so easily. And if he ignored the meeting, it would most likely only answer his brother’s suspicions of who Y/N was. 

Eris sighed and rubbed his face. Now he had to find a way to sneak out of Autumn Court without notice. 

––––––––

Cassian and Nesta met at Y/N’s shop just as she was finished closing up. 

“Hello!” Y/N greeted them cheerfully. 

Nesta gave her a subtle smirk, while her mate beamed at her. 

“Ready for some drinking and dancing?” Cassian asked. 

Y/N nodded enthusiastically as she grabbed her coat. The keys to the store jingled in her hand as she practically skipped to the door.

The couple followed her outside, waiting patiently as she looked up the door of the shop. 

When they got to pleasure hall, it was already bustling with people. And the energy was contagious. 

Y/N smiled with delight. 

Parties with such strangers was not something she’d ever really experienced. Yes, her coven would have seances and celebrate holidays. However, it never included anyone outside her coven. There was always drinking and dancing. But there was never the allure that you could meet a stranger at any moment. 

“What will ya be havin’, Y/N?” Cassian asked just as she spotted their friends.

Feyre, Rhysand, Morrigan, and Azriel were tucked away at a corner booth, somewhat hidden in the darkest part of the pleasure hall. 

Y/N still found it shocking that the High Lord and Lady of this court could live almost normally. Most people at Rita’s didn’t even acknowledge them. Some would do a double take, but then move on with their night. 

“Who’s watching Nyx?” Y/N asked without thinking. 

Since that terrifying day, she was always concerned about the toddler’s safety. Perhaps the boy was still in danger. After all, they still didn’t know who had attacked them. Was it Hybern, still fighting after the war? Another court? 

Nesta answered with, “Elain and Amren…and obviously the twins are always hiding about.” Then she nudged Y/N’s arm. “Don’t worry. There’s a million wards on that River House. Rhys and Feyre would never leave his side if they felt he wasn’t completely safe.” 

“Still, no one has given me their poison for this evening,” Cassian reminded them. 

Y/N laughed as she said, “Wine, please.”

Nesta smirked and nodded. “I shall do the same.” 

Cassian nodded, gave Nesta a kiss, and then went off to the bar. 

As they walked to the table their friends were waiting at, Y/N asked Nesta, “Why didn’t Emerie and Gywn come?”

Nesta shrugged. “Emerie had to restock her store with new shipments. And Gwyn…she still struggles with crowds and new places.” 

Y/N nodded in understanding. When she'd heard Gwyn’s story, her heart had broken. That was unfortunately true for all of the priestesses and others that joined their Valkyrie training. The hardships and heartbreak never ended. 

Cassian returned with giant goblets of wine for both Nesta and Y/N. 

And both of them barely drank half of them before Morrigan was dragging the females onto the dance floor. 

Y/N giggled at the aggressiveness of it all. But it didn’t take much to convince her to dance. She loved it, after all. 

She turned back to their booth to see that Cassian and Rhys were talking amongst themselves. But Azriel…Azriel was subtly watching them. No…not them. Her. 

“He refuses to dance,” Morrigan muttered in her ear, obviously catching the two watching each other. She spun Y/N around and forced them to face one another. “It took me centuries just to get him to start coming here with me.” 

“And Cassian?” Y/N asked Nesta with a laugh. 

Nesta smirked mischievously. “He will make his way over as soon as he catches another male trying to dance with me.”

Y/N’s gaze moved to Feyre, who looked the least happy to be forced onto the dance floor. 

“Rhys will do whatever his High Lady wishes,” Morrigan giggled. 

“He is a better dancer than I ever could be,” Feyre admitted with a subtle blush to her cheeks. 

Morrigan spun Y/N once again, making them both laugh. 

“I need more wine,” Y/N admitted, skipping back to their table. 

She once again shared a look with Azriel. The shadowsinger never failed to confuse her. Even the winds could tell her very little about him. He kept his secrets close, which made his mystery even more alluring to Y/N. 

There was a part of her who wished to dare and ask him to dance with her – just to see what he would say.

But Azriel broke there connection as he looked over her shoulder at someone behind Y/N.

He didn’t exactly glare, because the shadow singer was much more controlled than that. But it was obvious he was watching someone he was not fond of. 

“Who invited him?” Azriel asked evenly, trying to seem unfazed as he took a sip of wine. 

Y/N turned around to discover that it was Lucien. 

“I did,” she answered confidently, turning back around to defy the shadowsinger. Then raised a brow to Azriel, silently daring him to challenge the decision. 

Azriel blinked, somewhat surprised. 

But Y/N had already turned and rushed to Lucien with a welcoming smile. 

“You came!”

Lucien smiled, not expecting her to be genuinely happy that he took her up on the invitation. “I told you I would.” 

“Dance with me?” But Y/N didn’t really give him room to actually answer. Instead, she grabbed his wrist and brought him to the dance floor. 

Y/N jumped and spun on her own. 

It took her a few moments to realize Lucien was simply standing still and smirking at her. 

“What?” She asked. “Don’t dance?” 

The next second, the music slowed down. Everyone around her grabbed a partner and the rest took a break at their tables or went to the bar for more refreshments. 

“I’m much better with a partner,” Lucien admitted, and offered his hand. 

Y/N hesitated before taking it. “I don’t know…umm…f-formal dances.” 

Lucien looked around at the other dancers surrounding them. “I don’t believe you’ll need to in such an establishment.” 

Y/N did the same and realized most partners were just swaying and stepping. 

“Do you like dancing?” Lucien asked her quietly. 

“I do. Though I hadn’t realized how long it’s been since I did it. My…c-coven used to dance around bonfires, under every full moon.” She smirked before adding, “Naked.” 

“You are trouble…” Lucien shook his head, trying to hide his smile. “And where is this coven now?” 

“Dead,” Y/N said lightly, the wine clearly refusing to let the subject bring her down.

She needed to dance after all. 

Lucien's movements stumbled, but his hands were still on her. He gave her a genuine sympathetic look, “I’m so very sorry.”

Y/N shrugged. “I know I’m not the only one who has suffered great loss…”

The song was over and the next one was back to its high energy. And their small moment of vulnerability was over.

In its place, there was a strange tension between the two of them. 

Y/N bowed her head, no longer meeting his gaze. 

“I-I-I’m going to get more wine,” she mumbled before leaving Lucien alone on the dance floor and hurrying to the bar. 

As the night went on, Y/N got drunker and drunker. 

The anxiety of bringing Lucien was forcing her to drink more than she had planned on. But she also couldn’t remember the last time she let herself go and just…have fun. She was always on the run, always in danger. And being drunk was not a way to survive – it was irresponsible. 

If her drunkenness was obvious, none of her friends seemed to mind. Cassian danced with her, and then Mor or Nesta would steal here away.

Late into the night, they were all taking a break at the booth when Morrigan giggled and told Y/N, “Some handsome males have their eyes on you…”

If she was telling the truth, Y/N hadn’t noticed. 

So, she just laughed too and took a quick sip of wine. 

“Will you not talk to any of them?” Nesta asked. 

Y/N was too busy feeling her face get red and staring into her goblet of wine to see that the rest of the table was giving Mor warning looks. She was entering dangerous territory. 

But Y/N just shrugged at the question and became somewhat bashful. 

“Do you not enjoy the company of men?” Mor pushed. 

Clearly, she hadn’t noticed the subtle look from their friends to stop. In fact, for all Mor knew, she and Y/N were having a private conversation. 

Y/N’s face scrunched in honest consideration. “I-I’ve had my fair share of lovers during my travels – with mortal men,” she clarified. 

Then she sputtered, spitting out laughter at herself for using the word ‘lovers’. 

“Lovers,” Y/N repeated her own words in a giggle. “As if they were even worthy of the title.”

Y/N’s face suddenly became somewhat sober, twisting into something almost sad. 

Her eyes grew distant. “It never really ended up feeling how I wanted it to. I was always left feeling…used.” 

She let out a drunken, huff of a laugh. “So I stopped bothering…” 

After a few moments of silence from her friends, Y/N finally lifted her gaze and realized everyone at the table was looking at her. 

Y/N blinked, now realizing what she had just admitted to her friends. 

Feyre, Mor, and Nesta looked back at her with sympathy.

But then Y/N’s gaze shifted to the males.

Cassian appeared sad. Rhysand and Lucien, both disgusted. But Azriel…Azriel looked…almost furious. 

And every second, Y/N regretted saying anything at all. 

Mor saved her as she dragged here away from the table and everyone's reactions, “Come, let us get back to dancing!”

After a few songs, Y/N started to notice the stares of those males Mor had been referencing. They were all handsome. Perhaps all in their own way, but still handsome. 

“I would like to believe that a few centuries of immortality has made male faes much better lovers,” Mor whispered in her ear when she caught Y/N looking. 

The witch smirked, not breaking eye contact with one of them.

He was tall, with blonde hair so light that it was almost white. It was cut shorter on the sides and longer on top. His eyes were an icy blue. He had a strong jaw, a wide mouth, and almost perfect lips. 

He was definitely more beautiful than any man Y/N had ever let touch her. 

Y/N started stepping towards him. 

He seemed pleased with her approach, standing up straighter.  

“Hello,” she cooed, sounding surprisingly sober. 

“Hello,” he greeted in return. Then he tilted his head, slowly looking her up and down. “They tell me you are the witch.”

The witch. Not a witch. Had she already gained some sort of reputation in Velaris? 

“The witch has a name,” she answered with a narrowed gaze. “Y/N.” 

“My apologies, Y/N. I meant no offense. I only bring it up because I started to believe you were casting some sort of spell on all the poor and helpless males in this pleasure hall.” 

Oh, he just had to be charming, too. Didn’t he?

“My names Donton,” he added with a smirk. 

Just as Y/N was about to ask Donton to take her somewhere private, the males gaze darkened and he eyed someone over her shoulder. 

“Y/N, time to go,” a deep voice said behind her. 

Her face dropped with annoyance as she turned to face Azriel. 

“I never said anything about going home,” Y/N curtly told him. 

“Cassian and Nesta just left. I am your only way home.” 

“I don’t believe she had any interest in going home,” Donton cut in. 

Y/N was impressed by his boldness. She had seen how people reacted to Azriel. Most feared him. But really, they just didn’t understand him. 

Azriel ignored the male. 

But he stepped closer to Y/N and lowered his voice as he said, “You are drunk, Y/N. And it is time to go.” 

Y/N squared up with him, but she knew there was no winning. Azriel wouldn’t make a scene, but she could fully expect him to drag her into his shadows and whisk her to the other side of Velaris. And her pride wouldn’t allow such a thing. 

So, she turned back to Donton. 

“Perhaps another night,” she told him gently, trying not to appear embarrassed. 

He gave her a polite bow of his head. “Any night that you wish, Y/N.” 

She was grateful that he wasn’t deterred by the overprotective Illyrian spymaster. 

But as Y/N turned to leave, she shouldered Azriel hard. Even though she knew it hurt her more than it could ever hurt him. 

The rest of the group had left, except Mor, who now talked to a group of females at a different table. 

As soon as they were outside, the brisk night air woke Y/N up a bit.

She turned around and got into Azriel’s face. “Am I a grown woman?” 

Azriel blinked. And his shadows hid behind his shoulders. 

Y/N stepped even closer. “I asked you: Am I a grown woman?”

“Yes,” he finally answered evenly. 

“Then you are not my nanny. I may do as I wish,” Y/N huffed and shoved past him again to march onward. 

He called out, “Where are you going?” 

“Back to the House of Wind,” she growled over her shoulder without stopping. 

But then Y/N was suddenly picked up and launched into the air, yelping with surprise.

“You bastard!” She snapped at him, trying to wiggle out of his hold before they got too high. 

The Illyrian had the audacity to smirk at her outrage and flapped his wings harder, making them launch even higher at a speed she didn’t appreciate. 

As soon as they landed at the House of Wind, Y/N shoved her way out of his arms and started stomping away. 

“Y/N, wait,” Azriel called out to her gently. 

For some reason, she did as he asked and turned to look at him expectantly. 

“I did not mean to embarrass you. After what you said tonight…” his words died out. “You had a lot of wine and I didn’t want you to regret your actions.”

Y/N wanted to still be angry. But Azriel’s eyes were soft and only filled with concern. “Perhaps you are right…about the wine. But I am not yours to publicly claim. I am a free woman – and I’ve spent my whole life making sure it stays that way.”

Azriel gave a final nod. “I understand. I am sorry, Y/N.” 

They stared into each other's eyes for a moment longer before she finally continued on to her bedroom. 

–🍁–🍁–🍁–

Eris knocked on the arched, wooden door of the manor. Surely Lucien would’ve sensed his arrival. But his brother wasn’t the only one who resided here. 

Lucien was swift in answering. 

He took one look at his eldest brother and said, “You look like shit.” 

Eris wanted to bite back even harsher. But he knew his brother was only speaking the truth. His mother was right: staying away from his unbounded mate was starting to take a toll on him. 

But instead, Eris snapped, “You do not understand how much you put at risk, asking for such impromptu meetings.” 

No greeting. No pleasantries. 

Lucien glared. “Would you have preferred that I write a letter inquiring about your mate, one that could easily be intercepted by our father?” 

Eris flexed his right hand, immersing it in dangerous flames. Without any invitation, Eris pushed his way into the manor by grabbing hold of Lucien’s collar and shoving him back. 

Lucien scoffed at such an attack. “So it is true…she is your mate.” 

“I said nothing of the sort,” Eris growled. 

However, Lucien didn’t look victorious from discovery the truth of Y/N. 

Instead, his face dropped as he asked, “Why did you go to the Night Court? Why not come to me?” 

Eris finally let go of his brother and put out his fire. “Last I heard, you were an emissary for the same court…” His eyes looked around the entry hall of the manor. “Or is this your home now, brother? Truly, I can’t keep track of where your loyalties lie any longer.”

Lucien ignored the passive insults directed towards him and brushed off invisible dirt from his outfit. 

“Do you not find it ironic that you call this place home? This manor that was gifted to all of you by your mate’s once-fiancé?”

Eris was bating his brother now, trying to get the attention off himself.

“So this is your plan?” Lucien asked. “To hide her forever?” 

There was no use in pretending Y/N was anything else to Eris. Lucien would not be fooled by any lies. 

Eris’ glare tore into his brother. “You of all people should understand what would happen if I did anything else.” 

“Yes, and I recall being forced to watch as you did nothing,” Lucien hissed. 

Eris surprised them both by bellowing, “I could not save you both!”

Lucien froze as he watched his brother take in quick and heavy breaths. 

“I chose my brother,” Eris declared. “And I would do it again.”

Lucien stared in disbelief. 

Tamlin had never shared if Eris had helped him escape Autumn Court on that dreadful day. And perhaps Lucien just didn’t want to believe it. Maybe he had to convince himself that there was nothing left for him in Autumn Court – except his mother, who remained a prisoner with no chance of escaping. 

“What are you truly mad about, Lucien? That I’m protecting her in a way you failed to so with your lover…or because all of this might be proving that I’m the not the monster you have conjured up in your head?” 

Lucien was speechless. 

“If Beron would torture one of his son’s lovers for merely being Lesser Fae,” Eris paused, feeling sick at the thought. “What do you think he would do to my mortal mate?” 

But Lucien didn’t need to answer, because they both already knew. 

“You were more of a father to me than that bastard ever was,” Lucien pointed out. “Yet, you have hunted me just the same as the others.” 

“I have done what I must,” was all Eris responded with. 

Lucien should’ve known better than to try and get his eldest brother to admit to even slightly caring about him. 

Instead, he decided to truly take his brother in, noting the deep shadows under his eyes and the less than perfect posture. “I’ve seen what happens when two mates are separated…”

“We are not mated. And she is oblivious to the bond,” Eris corrected. 

“Perhaps,” Lucien shrugged. “But you also should not feel the bond so strongly with a mortal. And she is more than that: she is a powerful and gifted witch.” 

Eris had reached his tipping point. “I will take my leave now.” 

“She has opened a store,” Lucien quickly added. “In Velaris. She’s helping them with injuries and ailments, both of the body and mind. Already they have started to adore her.”

Eris tried to control his heart, to stop it from quickening as he heard more about his forbidden mate. 

So, he responded with a harsh, “Good. Night Court will truly become her home.”

But Lucien wasn't done yet. “Cassian tells me that she is training with the Valkyrie now. Apparently, she has quite the talent with the bow,” he added with a smirk. 

Eris stored such information, but said nothing. 

He reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope, slapping it to his brother’s chest as he walked to the door. 

A letter from their mother. 

“Did you read it?” Lucien asked, only somewhat concerned. 

“I don’t have to,” Eris muttered. “I already know you are her favorite.” 

Lucien had followed as his brother walked outside the manor.

“Eris,” he called. 

The eldest Vanserra almost didn’t stop to turn around, almost winnowed away without hearing his brother’s final words. 

But he paused and gave Lucien an impatient look. 

“Whatever your plan is…do not underestimate our father. You may fool everyone else into believing you are equal in evil. But I know you better than you realize. He will not give up his throne without bloodshed.” 

Eris didn’t respond, only winnowing away. 

–––––––

OK. I was really excited about this chapter.

I also have had a terrible past week, so please write nice comment, reblogs, and book report message. 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

The male whoever did not seemed to be understanding as he still stood really close to us, he tried again talking to me, i kept ignoring him, why would i be interested in a random male when my handsome mate was sitting only a few feet away? Shouting to Mor that i needed to sit, i made my way to our table. Rhys and Feyre were there talking about something, when they noticed me falling on the seat in front of them, a grumpy look on my face.

“What’s wrong Y/N?” Feyre delicate voice reached my ears, and when i was about to respond the same male approached our table. Feeling furious at his audacity, i stood up to be on the same level as him, but he was way taller and really blurry.

“HIM!” I shouted, my face getting red with anger. “He’s my problem, i was dancing when he came, but it looks like he doesn't know what the word “no” means. Get out of here, i’m not interested, i have a perfect mate somewhere and my heart and mind have no space for another one.” I shouted at his face, Feyre was going to say something when Rhys stopped her, a smile dancing on his lips as he dismissed the male.

“Wow, Az is going to be proud that even now when you’re drunk as fuck, you wouldn't cheat on him.” Rhys said and i looked at him.

“How could i? He’s literally the best thing that ever happened to me, i love him too much to even think about anyone else, he’s not only my mate, he’s the love of my life, i could never do that to him.” I finished my speech and Feyre had an amused smirk on her lips, Rhysand looked like he was having the time of his life. Someone sitted on my side and my head snapped in its direction, Azriel was there, he was smiling at me. “Where were you?”

“Hi love, i was in the bathroom. Did something happened while i was away?” He pulled me closer, kissing my forehead as i leaned on his shoulder.

“Just a creep guy but i handled him.” I said and he giggled whispering “that's my girl” against my head.

I woke up feeling my head still dizzy and with a throbbing headache, growling i got up, wrapping myself in a blanket, i headed to the kitchen, when i walked by the dining room, everyone was there, Az patted on the seat on his side and i got there. Every single pair of eyes were turned to me, i knew that i probably looked really awful right now but it was Feyre that started laughing, making me look at her confused. Even Azriel was laughing, his true and genuine laugh that only the Inner Circle was ever able to hear.

“What’s so funny about me?” I asked, starting to get really annoyed at them.

“Do you remember the creep male at Rita’s yesterday?” Rhys asked, still giggling and i nodded. “I think that somehow he got home with us.” I looked at him with an eyebrow raised, what the hell he was talking about? “He’s right next you.”

“Ok i have no fucking idea of what your talking about.” I said and i could feel him asking permission to enter in my mind, allowing him, he showed me the moment where i was screaming at the mysterious male, i was standing and pointing my finger right in Azriel’s face, shouting at him while he stood there, a smile on his lips while he waited for me to finish. Rhys got out of my mind and i could feel my cheeks getting hotter as embarrassment hit me, turning to my mate i began to speak.

“Az i’m so so sorry..”

“Shh! There’s nothing to be sorry about, it was cute how you kept pushing me away because you have a mate, it makes me feel safe.” He said and i could see that he meant it, he kissed my cheek and i rested my head on his shoulder.