#sjmxreaderweekd4

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“Good evening, my dear,” your mate, Xander, said as he wrapped his arms around your waist.

You let out a soft giggle, grasping his hands with your own. “Evening, love. Dinner is almost ready.”

“And it smells divine, just like you.” His nose met your neck and you practically melted into him, dinner forgotten until a carrot popped particularly viciously.

You managed to keep your hands off of him long enough to eat dinner, but once the plates were cleared you dragged him into bed. Your bond was still fresh, as it had only been a month since you had accepted it. Everything was exciting, the levels of passion you could reach unrivaled by your past lovers, and you were awed by how much Xander already cared for you.

The night flew past, and in the morning you dressed for the new High Lord’s coronation. Xander was a member of the court, allowing you to witness the grand event that you otherwise would have only heard about. You were excited for this new chapter in Autumn’s history, having heard wonderful things about the High Lord already. He had immediately enforced a new law, outlawing arranged marriages outright - something that you had always found abhorrent. Marriage should be for love, and no other reason, in your opinion.

The dress you wore was brand new, with off the shoulder sleeves and made of a gorgeous dark red velvet material, and you felt absolutely stunning in it. The matching cape that tied around your neck covered your cleavage completely, making it appropriate for the ceremony.

“You looked wonderful, mate,” Xander said, pulling you into his arms. “I’m tempted to skip the coronation altogether and keep you here.”

You couldn’t help the blush that spread over your cheeks. “As much as I would enjoy that, we need to support our High Lord. Come, let’s get going.”

The carriage ride there was filled with heated kisses and Xander’s wandering hands, though you managed to emerge looking just as put together as when you had left the house.

The Forest House was just as beautiful as it had been described, and Xander led you through the halls with ease. The throne room was large enough to fit the entire court with room to breathe, and the throne itself took your breath away. It was made from the very tree that had been hollowed out to fit the room, rising from the ground and carved with woodland creatures and plants native to Autumn. The wood gleamed in the light, appearing to shimmer with power, even without the High Lord seated in it.

You took your seats, waiting patiently for the ceremony to start. Xander’s arm wrapped around your shoulders, holding you close to himself.

A priestess walked to the front of the room, raising her hands above her head in a call for silence. A hush fell over the room, soon followed by a handsome male making his way to her, dressed in traditional, scarlet robes. His auburn hair gleamed under the light, power radiating off of him and reaching you from across the room.

This was your High Lord.

You could hardly pay attention to the priestess when his eyes met your own, a sudden tug in your chest nearly pulling you from your chair. A shining, golden bond sprung to life in you, and you just barely saw a hint of surprise within your High Lord’s amber eyes.

The feeling was so similar to how you had felt when the mating bond snapped with Xander, but was far stronger. You ached to reach out to the male, but held yourself in place. How could you possibly have two mating bonds?

The priestess’s words flowed in one ear and out the other as you stared at your possible mate. Nothing was making sense anymore. How could you be mated to him? He was so powerful, so attractive and you were just… You. With barely any magic, you didn’t deserve him.

And you already had a mate - a perfect, sweet male, who was sitting right next to you and had his arm wrapped around you.

Your head ached by the time the ceremony was over, and all you wanted to do was go home and take a nap. But if you suggested going home straight away, Xander would suspect something, and that was the last thing that you wanted. Surely the feeling you had and the tether within your chest was a mistake, and you were just feeling nervous about being at court for the first time.

You were so wrapped up in your thoughts that you didn’t see your High Lord approach, your gaze fixed on your hands in your lap. “Good afternoon,” he said, his voice low and deep.

Your eyes shot up, meeting amber and sending your heart into overdrive. He was even more handsome up close, if that was possible. There was already a possessiveness in his eyes that had your cheeks burning, and if there was any doubt that he had felt the same tug as you had, it was gone with his next words. “I’d like to speak with my mate, Lord Xander,” he said with authority.

“Your mate, High Lord? Y/N is my mate,” Xander said, wrapping his arm around you more tightly.

Eris only blinked at him once before responding, “The bond snapped during the ceremony, I assure you. Y/N, come with me for a moment.”

You glanced nervously between Xander and Eris, unsure of what to do. But if your High Lord demanded something of you…

“I’ll be back in a bit, my love,” you said softly, standing and taking Eris’s offered hand. Xander glowered as the two of you walked away, ire in his eyes when you risked a glance back at him. Once you were out of the main room and into a side chamber, you spoke again. “I’m truly not sure how this is possible, but I am mated to Xander already.”

Eris considered his words carefully. “While I do not doubt that the bond between you feels real, there is magic that allows for the forging of a false bond. Tell me, how did our bond snapping feel compared to your bond with Xander?”

You bit your lip before responding, “Stronger… The bond feels more solid between us, somehow.”

Eris nodded his head. “And you’ve accepted your bond with him already?” You nodded. “Then I would wager that your ‘mate’ used ancient magic to forge a bond between your souls. The moment you accept our bond, the false bond will be shattered.”

Tears filled your eyes at the idea of Xander tricking you. He was the male that you trusted most and loved so dearly, and had falsified your connection, and for what?

“I- I need to speak with Xander. Surely this isn’t true, it’s all some sort of mistake…”

Eris frowned at you, shaking his head. “I won’t have you be alone with him, he could hurt you. We can go together and find him, then you may speak with him.”

Your eyes narrowed at the suggestion. “Xander would not hurt me, he loves me.”

“He loves you enough to forge a fake mating bond. That’s the kind of love that can end up hurting someone. Now, let’s find him.” Eris offered his hand to you again, and after a moment’s hesitation you took it. He led you back out into the throne room and back to the table you had been sitting at with Xander, though he was nowhere to be found. Eris stepped away from you to ask another courtier where your mate had run off to, then held your hand once more.

The pair of you left the throne room once more, and Eris guided you into a sitting room off of the main hallway of the Forest House. In front of the fire, Xander sat in an armchair, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“So, Xander,” Eris started, “Care to explain how the lovely Y/N has two mating bonds? Lie and you will be punished greatly.”

Xander’s brown eyes looked between you and Eris, then down at your still-clasped hands. He let out a sigh, then drained the rest of his drink. “I loved you from the moment I set eyes on you, Y/N. I didn’t mean- I never wanted to lie to you.”

“Xander,” you pled, “Just tell me the truth. Did you use magic to make the bond between us?”

“Yes,” he sighed.

Your heart shattered at the admission, your reality finally crumbling around you. “How- How could you do such a thing?! I trusted you, I trusted that our mating bond was real, and you’ve been lying to me this entire time?!”

“Y/N, I am so sorry. But the love that you feel for me, that’s real. Don’t you want to stay with me? I promise that I will never lie to you-”

You shook your head. “No. No. I can’t even look at you anymore. Don’t you dare come near me, ever again,” you said tearily, turning around and storming out of the room. Your entire life for the last three months since the bond had snapped had just come down around you, and you could barely breathe. You pushed into the nearest restroom, tears streaming down your cheeks.

You collapsed onto the small sofa in the room, your head in your hands. You’d only noticed Xander once the bond had snapped, and you had trusted that it was true, that you were meant for each other. And now…

A knock sounded on the door.

“Y/N?” Eris asked through the thick wood, his voice muffled. “Y/N, can we talk?” You didn’t respond. “Don’t make me barge in there. I will if I have to, but-”

You opened the door with a sigh, allowing Eris to come inside of the room. He immediately sat down next to you, taking your hands in his.

“I am so sorry that this happened to you, little flame. I do want you to know that I expect nothing from you, and I would like to provide for you, no matter if you accept the bond or not.”

You nodded slowly. “I can’t, not now…”

“That is understandable,” Eris said, giving your hands a gentle squeeze. “Let me give you a room here, in the Forest House, for the foreseeable future. I can arrange to have your things brought here for you, and I would be honored to provide for you for as long as you will allow. And if you feel like getting to know me, so be it. What do you say?”

“I suppose… that would be fine. As for my things… I have nothing in that house that I want.” Every item you had was either bought by or reminded you of Xander, and you wanted to leave him and his betrayal in the past. “You can court me, as well,” you added as an afterthought.

After all, your true mate was right beside you, offering comfort and shelter with no expectations of reciprocation from you. Why shouldn’t you give him a chance?

Eris smiled, making his face light up in a way that you hadn’t seen yet. “I would be honored to court you, Y/N. Come, I’ll give you a tour while your rooms are being readied.” He extended a hand to you after standing, and you took it readily, using the back of your other hand to wipe the remaining tears from your cheeks.

“That sounds lovely, Eris.” You let him lead you from the wash room and into the next chapter of your life, hopefully one without any deception.

🧡🤍🧡🤍🧡