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invisibleanonymousmonsters · 1 year

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chapter xii - gust & flame

Eris Vanserra x Reader

Eris Vanserra has been a prisoner in his own home since the day he was born. He has done what he had to in order to survive and protect the few he loves. And he is playing the long game. Waiting, waiting, and waiting for the right time to make his move, to usurp his wicked father and become High Lord of Autumn Court. But things become even more complicated when a human girl drops into his life. Perhaps Eris can wait no longer to take his throne.

Word Count: 2,600+

Warnings: spoilers for entire ACOTAR series

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Wax leaked off the tables and onto the floor of the war room in the Forest House. It was late in the evening, but there was always work to be done.

“We should move our forces to the south east borders.” Eris pointed to the precise area. “The mortal queen, Briallyn, is still not to be underestimated. And our pathetic High Lord of Spring cannot be trusted with protecting his own borders from any movement in the mortal lands.”

His comrades nodded in understanding.

Before Eris could continue his orders, he was struck with a distant feeling.

It was Y/N, that he was sure of.

But it wasn’t fear or panic that he had experienced in the past. Y/N wasn’t in danger.

No.

She was…She was sad.

The feel from the bond was lower, sitting in his gut and almost making him feel somewhat nauseous. His body felt like it had been filled with sand.

“Anything else, Lord Eris?” One of captains asked.

Eris cleared his throat, pushing down Y/N’s feeling. “No. I require daily updates on the movement of each infantry.”

All the captains replied in unison with, “Yes, General Eris.” And with a bow of each their heads, they left the war room, leaving the heir of Autumn Court alone once again.

Eris started pacing the room now that he had no observers.

He wanted to go to her. It was almost more jarring than knowing she was hurt. Placing Y/N in Night Court was out of protection for her, but Eris had also always hoped she’d be happy there.

If anyone in Rhysand’s court has done anything to upset her… He thought angrily.

Then he remembered the gifts he had gathered for her.

After Y/N had freely given Eris all of her merchandise of witchcraft, it had given him her promised effects. The candles actually brought him a full-night’s sleep. And even on his most stressful and tiring days, the eucalyptus eased his mind as he took his nightly baths. His mate took care of him even when she did not know the truth of their connection.

So, Eris couldn’t help but return the favor. Perhaps it was foolish, but he couldn't help himself.

Go to her. Go to her later tonight, his heart sang to him.

It would be easy to sneak away at this time of night. The servants and courtiers of the Forest House were familiar enough with his routine that they expected him to retire to his bedchambers for the evening. No one would come looking for him unless there was some kind of an emergency. And even then, no one would dare question his absence out of mere fear.

–🍁–🍁–🍁–

Through their bond, Eris somehow knew to go to the House of Wind instead of Y/N’s shop. It would be long closed anyway.

“Where are you?” Eris muttered lowly to himself.

But someone answered.

Not someone. Something.

Torches of faelight started igniting, clearly pointing him in a direction.

Eris looked up to the ceiling. “Sentient are we?” He almost sounded annoyed by the revelation.

Magic he was blindsided by always made him uneasy and irritated with himself for not being fully prepared for any and all situations.

But he followed the directions still.

The faelights didn’t stop until he had gone up a staircase that brought him outdoors. He quickly realized he was on the roof and what lay before him was a training ring.

Eris quickly remembered what Lucien had mentioned about Y/N training with the Valkyries. Her scent lingered here – along with other various females. This had to be where the group of female warriors trained.

Then he spotted her.

Y/N was on the other side of the training ring – alone – shooting arrow after arrow at an impressive distance. Every shot hit true, landing in the bullseyes of various targets.

Yet Eris felt no pride or relief or contentment coming from his mate.

He stepped out of the shadows of the stairway, and started to slowly clap.

Y/N whipped around, an arrow already knocked as if he were her foe.

But as soon as she recognized Eris, she lowered her bow and let out the breath she was holding.

“Eris,” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”

When Y/N started walking toward him, she also walked out of shadow and underneath the moonlight. And that’s when Eris was able to see that Y/N’s eyes were somewhat bloodshot and the skin below was puffy.

She’d been crying.

Eris’ nostrils flared. Who had made his mate cry?

“What’s happened?” He asked firmly.

“N-Nothing,” Y/ stuttered. “I was just practicing…”

“You’ve been crying,” Eris pointed out, tilting his head as if daring her to challenge him like he were some fool.

So Y/N just looked at him and swallowed; she’d given up on lying to the male, yet also refused to confess what had made her so upset.

And Eris wasn’t going to push her.

Why would he expect her to open up to him?

It wasn’t as if he were anyone to Y/N. To her, he was just a stuck up High Fae, heir to a monster, a male all of her friends openly disliked.

So...Eris decided to take a different route.

He nodded to the bow in her grasp. “Can you use a sword or do you only excel at archery?”

Y/N narrowed her eyes in challenge.

She walked over to a row of training equipment, and grabbed two practice swords. They were made of wood – less dangerous than a real blade, but it could still seriously bruise and even concuss one’s training partner if there was a strong blow to the head.

Y/N tossed one to Eris, who caught it smoothly.

“Have these Illyrian’s been teaching you to fight like a brute?” He taunted, getting into proper fighting stance.

Something flickered in Y/N’s gaze as he said ‘Illyrian,’ and it didn’t go amiss by him.

Without giving her warning, Eris lunged for Y/N.

She managed to block his swing – but it was almost too late.

Eris took it easy on her, but he almost didn’t have to. He was over five centuries older than her – and a general. The fight wasn’t exactly fair. Though he hated to admit, the Illyrians had trained Y/N well. It was clear they had taught her tactics to hold her own with a fae, while she was mortal. But with this training and her witchcraft, she would be a challenging foe for most fae warriors.

The longer they fought and Y/N held her own, the more light returned to her gaze. The sadness she had greeted Eris with almost completely gone.

But Eris still wanted to know what had upset her in the first place.

And he could also see that her energy was nearing its end. Her blocks were weaker and her attacks were slower.

So, he finally took out her footing, forcing her to fall onto her back and he leaned before her, wooden sword at her throat.

“How’d I do?” Y/N asked him between heavy gasps. She was incapable of stopping her beaming smile.

In return, Eris couldn’t stop his amused grin. “You have much to learn still.”

Y/N seemed to be expecting such a retort and wasn’t offended in the least. Instead, she merely laughed.

“Well, I don’t have centuries of training, do I?” She pointed out and raised her brows.

Her gaze flicked from his eyes to his lips.

“Plan on releasing me, Lord Eris? Or shall I play dead for the rest of the evening?”

Eris swore his heart skipped a beat.

He frowned to save his pride and stood back up, offering her a hand.

She took it with a smile.

Eris looked around at the training ring just to stop himself from getting lost in her gaze again. “Why do you train with them? The Valkyries.”

Y/N’s amusement disappeared as she took looked around the ring. “The females here…some train to regain their power. But others…others like Nesta wish for more.”

Eris locked eyes with her once more. “I didn’t ask about them. I asked about you.”

Y/N’s eyes glazed over as she whispered, “I wish to survive. I don’t ever want to feel helpless again.”

Eris caught a shiver go through her body. The temperature had already been cold upon his arrival and it was only getting colder.

Without saying anything, he took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.

She seemed taken aback by the gesture and gaped at him.

“You mortals are fickle things, catching illnesses so easily.” Eris stated coldly. “It is astounding you haven’t gone completely extinct because of it…”

Y/N laughed. “You know...you don’t have to say something cruel after every good deed, Eris.”

The sound of her laughter alone struck Eris’ heart like lightning.

“Tell me why you were crying earlier tonight,” he demanded.

Her smile dropped. Y/N hadn’t expected him to truly care.

She looked at the ground as she softly replied, “You will laugh.”

“I would never laugh at anything that brought you to tears.”

And there she was again, shocked by his words.

“I saw someone tonight who I thought might have…” She hesitated. “Who I thought might have cared for me – as more than just a friend, that is.”

Eris merely waited for her to continue.

“Earlier tonight, one of them was meant to take me home, like they always do. But he never showed up. No one did. So, I just went to a pub after I closed the shop – alone." She visually winced. "Then I saw him there…with her. It was so clear from the way they looked at each other…”

Y/N needn’t say more.

She shook her head and huffed out a laugh. “It’s silly when I say it aloud. I shouldn’t have allowed myself to get so upset by it.”

Eris had managed to accept the idea of Y/N loving another male. Though he knew it wouldn’t be easy, it was the best choice for her.

However, Eris had never considered her loving a man who was beneath her. It was silly that such an outcome had never occurred to him. He knew the evils of males more than most. Why had he just assumed Y/N would end up with a male who was worthy?

Learning that Y/N’s past lovers were less than sufficient, bordering on male chauvinists, made Eris want to hunt each one of them down and make them beg for mercy from Y/N on their knees.

And he would teach them a thing or two about courting…

But to see her mistreated, ignored, pushed aside from another female in real time was not something Eris could’ve ever prepared himself for.

Azriel had blatantly forgotten about Y/N. And it only made worse that he'd done so because he was sneaking around with Elain.

Eris stepped to her with a stern look. “Never lessen your emotions. What is the point of stopping yourself from feeling them?”

Though his words still came through his harsh mask, they hit Y/N’s heart.

“Shall I kill him?” Eris suddenly asked him.

Y/N’s widened in horror. “W-W-What?!”

“It is the Spymaster you speak of, no?”

“H-How did you…” Then she blinked rapidly. “Please do not kill anyone!”

“I truly would not mind,” Eris continued as he dug out nonexistent dirt from beneath his flawless fingernails. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Is it so obvious, my infatuation for him?” Y/N muttered in embarrassment.

“The Illyrian is beneath you. Why dwell on such questions? He would rather chase after my brother’s mate. Perhaps one day Lucien will grow a backbone and invoke the blood duel…”

Y/N stiffened. “Blood duel? What is that?”

“An Autumn Court tradition,” Eris answered, almost sounding bored. “If a male tries to even so much as court a female who has a waiting mate, the male mate can challenge him to a blood duel. It is a battle to the death. It is part of the old ways, and rarely is it ever invoked.”

Y/N’s expression was utterly horrified. “B-But Lucien would never do such a thing.”

Eris shrugged. “How can you be so certain?”

Though he knew she was right: Lucien was cunning and dangerous when he wanted to be. But he would never inflict such pain onto anyone for such petty reasons.

“Because despite Elain ignoring their bond, Lucien would never take away any form of happiness she has found,” Y/N answered with confidence.

The sincerity of her response made it impossible for Eris to continue to tease her or belittle his youngest brother.

Then he asked, "How did you get back to the House of Wind?"

This court was meant to be taking care of his mate. Not forgetting in her the streets, unable to return home at the end of the night.

"I practically ran out of the pub and back to my store. I was planning on just sleeping there for the night. But I ran into Rhysand – quite literally. I think he knew I was upset. But he was kind enough not to ask. I would've lied to him anyway..."

But Y/N had enough of the topic and looked at Eris with determination now.

“I have told you my secret of the night,” she began. “In return, I think sharing why you are in Night Court is fair enough.”

“I had something to give you,” he replied easily.

Her brows shut up. “Oh?”

“It seems the rumors of your talents were not exaggerated. You remedied my restlessness with mere candles.”

“Enchanted candles,” she corrected. “It involves spells. Not just wax.”

Eris gave her an irritated look before waving his hand. In the blink of an eye, a dagger and bow appeared in his grasp.

Immediately, the craftsmanship of both was not missed by Y/N.

When she didn’t take them from him instantly, Eris stepped forward, almost shoving the gifts toward her.

The dagger was sheathed in Autumn Court red. The handle was gold with red and green gemstones decorating it.

When Y/N finally grasped it, the weight was almost nothing, yet it still felt like a strong and deadly weapon.

The bow was a rich gold and chestnut, almost perfectly fitting the Autumn Court aesthetic.

Y/N flicked the string to try it out, and smiled at its aptitude. This was like no bow she had ever owned.

Eris could no longer handle her silence and stiffly said, “I hope they are to your liking.”

He spoke as if this were a business transaction.

“To my liking?” Y/N repeated. “These are the finest weapons I’ve ever touched in my life – let alone merely seen.” Then her eyes shot up to his. “I cannot except such grandiose gifts.”

She even tried handing them back to Eris. But he shook his head and grasped his hands behind his back.

“I am the son of a High Lord, it was no inconvenience.”

“It is not an equal trade,” Y/N argued, growing more exasperated.

Eris ignored her pleas. “Lucien mentioned that you were talented with the bow. I am glad I was able to see it for myself tonight.”

Then something shifted with Y/N.

“I don’t understand…” She muttered slowly and quietly. “Why are you so short and insolent to everyone, yet all you’ve ever shown me is kindness?”

“Don’t misinterpret my recompense as kindness. Now we are even.”

“Hardly…” Y/N scoffed, looking down at her gifts again.

"I simply do not like owing favors," he added for good measure.

"Is that how you view everything?" Y/N sounded sad. "If someone is kind to you, you think they will eventually use it against you?"

Eris didn't have the heart to tell her that was exactly how he viewed everything. It was what came with power – and it was how his father had conditioned him to live. Perhaps he didn't realize how truly difficult it would've been for him to unlearn.

So he ignored her question. And luckily Y/N didn't push.

Eris looked around as if some imaginary person was waiting for him to leave. “I should probably be going.”

But really there was a warmth that had formed in his chest since he helped Y/N off the ground. And it was starting to panic him. The bond made Eris want to be near Y/N at every moment. But he knew he was starting to play a risky game.

“Wait,” Y/N stepped forward hurriedly, expecting him to winnow the next second.

With her rush, she hadn’t realized how close she had brought the two of them.

Her face heated from their closeness. And she looked at the ground for a moment before whispering, “Thank you. For the bow and dagger.” She gave him a sad smile before softly adding, “And for making me feel…less alone.”

And before Eris could try to muster up a harsh reply or belittle his gift to her, Y/N leaned in and placed a soft kiss against his right cheek.

It was so innocent. So pure.

Yet, Eris swore his world stopped.

His old self would ridicule him for how he was reacting to a kiss on the cheek. You have had countless harems of women, you fool, Eris could hear himself chiding. Pull yourself together before you embarrass yourself.

Y/N didn’t seem to regret her innocent kiss. But she did add with a smirk, “I promise I won’t tell the others how kind you are to me."

“They would never believe you anyway,” Eris returned.

"But more more importantly, Eris..." Her eyes darkened with sincerity. "I will never use your kindness against you."

Her finally statement knocked the breath from Eris.

And with it, he windowed from the Night Court and away from his mate.

When he returned to the Forest House, Eris couldn’t ignore that his heart had never beat harder in his centuries of living.

––––––––

Thank you of much for your patience. My life got a little crazy with traveling and work.

Please let me know if you liked the chapter 🥺👉🏻👈🏻

chapter xiii

#eris acotar #gust & flame #eris x reader #eris vanserra x reader #autumn court #acotar #a court of thorns & roses #night court #inner circle #eris reader insert #chapter xii #chapter 12 #eris vanserra #eris

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