A Court of Wings & Fire: Chapter Four
Summary// Eris had control of everything in his life. The war was over, he was planning to take the Autumn throne, and nothing was left to surprise him…until he met you. A mating bond with an Illyrian was like a spit in his face and neither of you could understand why fate had put you together. You both swore off relations to each other, refusing to even be in the same court, but you should have known that fate is not to be tested.
(It's been a long time coming but chapter four is here! I think the bingos really helped my creativity blossom and spark this story back to life! I am so sorry for the long wait but I hope you all enjoy it!)
WARNINGS: This chapter does contain a slight illusion to SA towards the very end. It doesn't explicitly mention it but a reader could infer so just be cautious!
Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Five
The ceiling above your bed was starting to get all too familiar as you stared at it for the hundredth time this week. Sleep seemed to be evading you no matter what you did and so you had been left alone with you, your thoughts, and the ceiling above. All you could do was replay the deal you had made with Eris over and over in your head, wondering if you had made a mistake.
You knew he did not care what happened to you but with the revelation that severing this bond could unmask it, he seemed to be keen on making sure it all stayed a secret. Eris, for one of the first times in his life, had to rely on someone else and you knew it was killing him.
He had been staying true to his word since your conversation, not even so much as grazing the thread of fate so that it felt like it wasn’t there. Rhysand had found Eris minutes after he had finished up with you and you knew that if they didn’t need him, Rhys would’ve ended his life right there.
They all interrogated him ruthlessly. Cassian and Azriel flanked Rhys’s sides as they worked through his reasoning, his motives, and if he was telling the truth. He repeated the same story he had given you and despite all of his past mistakes, you believed him.
Everyone had made sure that you were okay with the arrangement, pulling you out of the room so you could speak freely. Of course, you weren’t truly happy with having to keep this connection, this bridge, between his world and your own, but you could deal with it. As long as you both stayed as far away as possible, it was doable.
A sharp knock on your door had your head turning, raising a questioning brow as Rhysand opened it and walked inside. He was in normal clothes for once, though he was still handsome, but you could tell something was wrong.
“What do you need so early in the morning?” You asked suspiciously, glancing out your window. “The sun is barely up.”
“There is something amiss in the Autumn Court. The wooded area around the Forest House. I don’t know exactly what but Elain had a vision and…” He trailed off, scratching the back of his head.
“And what? You want me to go?” You frowned, sitting up as your blankets pooled around your ankles. “You know I can’t go, we just had this conversation weeks ago. Why not Az or Cassian? Or Amren? Or literally anyone else?”
“Azriel is already getting ready but I need another pair of eyes on the situation. Cassian is a bigger liability than you are for this mission, he doesn’t know the meaning of being quiet.” Rhys smirked, giving you a sympathetic look. “I know everything is…tense right now but I promise you will be in and out.”
“What exactly are we looking for?” The floor was cool against the soles of your feet as you reluctantly got up, heading for your wardrobe. “And does Eris know?”
He ran a hand over his face and for maybe the third or fourth time since you’ve known him, he actually looked tensed. Rhys never liked to show his true feelings, even his anxiety, but you could tell by just the way he shifted his feet it wasn’t something good.
“We think Briallyn might have one of the troves. Or she’s trying to get it. I need you and Azriel to see where she’s sending her men and why.” He explained, looking at the door as you went behind your privacy screen and got dressed. “If she gets her hands on one of them-”
“It’ll be very, very bad.” You finish for him, adjusting your leathers and gingerly styling your hair the best way you could. “Is Azriel ready?”
“Always,” Azriel replied from the doorway, Truthteller tucked carefully in its sheath as he gave you a wink. You snorted. “In and out, okay, Y/N? This shouldn’t take more than an hour.”
You nodded and gave him and Rhys a two-finger salute, opening your balcony doors and walking onto the banister. Azriel followed behind you, opening his wings just as you dove head first off the balcony and let your wings spread wide. The free-falling feeling was something you loved every time you took flight, your stomach dropping as the wind caught beneath your wings and rose you back up to glide.
Azriel quickly fell in line beside you, his wingspan much bigger than yours as the two of you weaved and ducked around the high tops of trees and clouds. You held your hand out as you passed over a small cloud, a small bubble of happiness breaking through the dark depression you had been in for weeks now.
“How have you been?” Azriel asked, turning his head to look at you as you glanced up at him. You pulled your hand back to your side and shrugged, leisurely flapping your wings to propel you forward.
“As good as someone could be in my situation I guess?” You sigh, glancing down at the trees. They were starting to change colors from green to reds and oranges. “I just wish I had never gone to that meeting.”
“I think we all agree with that.” He chuckled softly. “I can’t imagine a fate worse than that…with Eris. I’ve noticed you’ve been holed up inside your room, missing training. Cassian kept wanting to bother you but I told him to give you some space.”
A clearing appeared and you paused the conversation to dive down, Azriel following right behind as your wings extended to ease your landing. Your shoes dug into the soft earth and crunchy leaves as you came to a stop.
The forest was quiet as you took a quick assessment, not seeing anything unusual. You couldn’t stop yourself from admiring the beauty as the rising sun caught the multi-colored leaves, the wind blowing just enough to give them a rippling water effect. As much as the Autumn Court had its problems it truly was one of the most beautiful courts you had seen.
“I appreciate the space, Az. I really do.” You turned to look at him, patting his shoulder. “I know I haven’t been the best in attendance but I’ll try to do better. I think I just enjoy wallowing too much.”
“If I were in your shoes, I would too.” He smirked, adjusting his stance as his shadows curled up to his ear to whisper something only he could understand. You watched, not daring to bring up his own personal problems with a certain Archeron sister.
You knew he was just trying to be personable, if not a little nosy, but he was the closest thing you had to a brother and he was only looking out for you. The last thing you wanted to do was talk about Eris with anyone, partly because you were scared of the bond strengthening and partly because you didn’t want to be seen as some damaged person.
It seemed like all anyone thought of you as right now was Eris’s mate. You couldn’t escape it even in your own house.
“Hey,” Azriel whispered, lifting up a small log and resting it against a tree. “This is our meeting spot. One hour. Head north. Eyes open.”
“Got it. Be safe.” You whispered back, nodding as you started your search. The air was now still as you noticed how no animals could be heard scurrying around, an eerie quietness that didn’t sit right in such a large forest.
However, you couldn’t see anything that looked suspicious. There were no footprints, no strange markings on trees, nothing that would tip you off that someone was here. You raised your chin and sniffed, searching for any unfamiliar scents, but all you got was earth.
As you searched you remembered Eris talking about Beron’s curiosity about Briallyn, how he was looking for an alliance with her. None of you could figure out a good reason as to why he would be looking for that unless he was planning on taking over other courts, which wasn’t too far-fetched for the vile man.
If that were his true intentions he must be stupider than you thought. He would be standing alone with Briallyn against everyone in Pyrthian. Why would he risk something like that unless he was sure he would win?
You paused midstep as you remembered Rhys’s suspicion of the wicked woman having one of the dead troves. If that were true that she had unearthed one of those terrible creations, it very well could beat you all. And Beron wouldn’t put his court on the line unless he was sure of something…
Lost in thought, a small glimmer caught your eye right as you stepped into a hidden snare. You were blessed by the Cauldron that you hadn’t set it off, immediately taking several steps back as you examined the trap. The first thing you noticed was that it was not made for any animal.
Alarm bells went off in your head as you unsheathed your dagger and held it close to you. Why would there be a trap for a fae in a forest where they often walked? Who was this trap for?
A crunch behind you made you turn around and lunge without a second thought, a snarl curled up on your lips as you went to strike at the intruder. However, you found yourself being wrapped in bonds of fire around your wrists, waist, and wings. It was very warm but not enough to burn you as you squirmed against the restraints, your eyes widening when you saw who was standing before you.
Eris was glaring at you, his hair slightly disheveled and hanging freely as if he had just woken up, while only dawned in a light shirt and long pants. You flinched as
the bond within you sang at the sight of him, the smell of him, and watched as he responded the same.
“Let me go.” You hissed, fighting against his magic once more only to wince when he tightened the bonds.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Y/N?” He snarled, coming up to you in two long strides.
“How did you even know I was here? Did you set this trap?” You retorted, falling to the ground as he released you before quickly scurrying up to go toe to toe with him.
“I felt you through the bond, it woke me out of my sleep.” Eris curled his fists tightly by his side. “You reckless, stupid woman. Do you know what could have happened if one of my brothers had been the one to find you? Or my father? If this is some trick to strengthen our bond or-”
“Oh don’t flatter yourself, Vanserra.” You snorted, jabbing a finger into his chest. “The last thing I want is anything to do with you or this bond. I’m here because-”
A tree branch snapped behind the both of you, your eyes meeting with his as you stilled your breathing. Everything was quiet, not a whisper of wind, and you
shivered as you felt a dark presence behind you.
The back of your neck tingled in warning but before the two of you could even react something or someone appeared behind you and hit the back of your head, knocking you out cold. The last thing you heard was Eris yelling your name as everything went to black.
When you woke back up you had a massive headache, immediately clutching the back of your head and whimpering as you felt the large knot that was protruding outwards. As you moved you heard the rattle of chains and felt a sense of dread wash over you like a bucket of ice water.
You looked around blearily, blinking multiple times to try and clear your eyes to take in your surroundings. The first thing you noticed, or in this case smelled, was must and iron. It was an awful combination with blood and piss mixed in that made you want to hurl.
As you tried to stand you realized those chains you had heard were attached to you. They were around your neck, your wrists, and your ankles and when you tried to stretch your wings you saw that they were also locked away.
Not my wings. Not my wings. Not my wings.
Your heart started to race as fear and claustrophobia set in, using all your strength to try and break free only to realize that you felt weaker than you had ever had in your life. It felt like you were a caged animal and as you tried one more time to yank the chains out of the wall, you heard a voice from the corner.
“It’s faebane.” The voice said, dry and tired. “It weakens us. It’s no use.”
Eris’s eyes caught yours as you looked at him in surprise, taking in the dirt across his body as well as the bruises and cut lip. He looked awful but you were sure you probably looked worse.
“What happened?” You croaked, looking around your cell. There was a small window at the top and to the side you noticed rows upon rows of other holdings. Some were empty, some had other faes, and some had dead bodies. “Where are we?”
“Briallyn’s dungeon. Her soldiers ambushed up when you were snooping around.” He recalled, watching as you glared at him with a frown.
“I wasn’t snooping, I was sent there by Rhys. He hadn’t heard from you but he had heard a rumor about your-” You tried to explain only to huff when he cut you off once more.
“I don’t want to hear your excuses. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be stuck here right now.” Eris snapped, his temper growing with every second. You didn’t know how long he had been awake but it was long enough that he had been stewing in his own anger.
“You’re the one who started shouting at me. If anything, you drew them to us.” You argued, flinching when he suddenly drew closer to you with rage in his eyes.
“Stupid Illyrian woman. I should’ve known you couldn’t follow basic instructions. All you were raised for is breeding and raising children.” Eris sneered, venom dripping off of each word. “That’s all you will ever be good for. You should’ve stayed in your place.”
You hated the way you winced, hated letting him see how his words got to you. He was cruel, you knew, but you didn’t realize how vile he could truly be. His words cut you deep and reminded you of all the things you had been told in your life from others, especially your own kind.
“I hate you.” You whispered, blinking away the tears as you turned away to look out the cell. Those words had been said to him by you plenty of times but this time, this time you meant it with every fiber of your being.
Eris watched you, looking at how they had caged your wings like an animal, and he felt the anger leave his body. He knew he had gone too far. His anger had gotten the best of him. Again.
He watched as you brought your knees to your chest and rested your head on them, not wanting him to see the tears even though he could see the slight shake in your
shoulders. The bond inside of him twisted painfully like a knife, as if punishing him for making you upset.
Your ears perked up as you heard footsteps walking down the hall but you tuned them out as Eris’s words replayed in your mind. He had been so mean ever since he had met you. It still baffled you that the Mother thought the two of you were meant for each other, that you would be able to feel anything towards him other than resentment.
“Lay down.” Eris suddenly hissed behind you, his tone sharp. “Now.”
You turned to give him a death glare, not in the mood to take any orders from him before you heard the footsteps once more as they stopped directly in front of you.
“Well, well, well, look who’s awake.” A male fae sneered above you, the one beside him grinning. “I was hoping you would wake up soon.”
“Let us go now.” You ordered, trying your best to be intimidating. “Or you will deeply suffer the consequences. I promise you.”
“I like em’ feisty. Makes you more fun to break.” The original one chuckled, whistling as two more men appeared with a set of keys. “Help me grab her.”
As soon as the doors opened you used what little strength you had to leap up and strike, landing a kick to the closet one and sending him to his knees. The attack was short lived as you fell to your side in pain, struggling as someone tried to grab your feet.
The one who fell appeared in front of you and you spit in his face, trying to bite whatever you could before you felt a large hand grab a fistful of your hair and yank as hard as he could. It had you crying out sharply in pain, feeling as if your scalp was about to be ripped off as the others grabbed your legs and arms.
They unchained you from the wall and started dragging you down the hall, the hand still gripping your hair tightly as your eyes connected with Eris. He looked like a scared child, his eyes wide and face white as a ghost.
And despite everything that had happened between the two of you, the hatred that had grown from the bond, you found yourself calling out for him to save you.
“Eris! Eris!” You screamed, struggling against the men as the cell became smaller and smaller. “Eris, please! Help me!”
But there was no response.
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