To Be Marked as Yours
Pairing: Neris | Rating: T | Word Count: 1813
Summary: Nesta refused a bite mark from her mate when they wed. But seeing her sister’s fresh mark has her questioning that decision.
Warnings: Omegaverse, Omega!Nesta/Alpha!Eris, Inner turmoil (Nesta’s worrying) Biting marks, Eris using his High Lord commands.
Part 1 | Part 2| Read this on AO3 | Read below
For Day Five of @acotar-omegaverse-week Marks
Gen Tag: @mybestfriendmademe @hieragalbatorixdottir Borders by @tsunami-of-tears
Nesta was staring. She could hear the voice of her mother harshly scolding her in the back of her mind even still. But she couldn’t look away. She was having tea with her sisters in Valaris. A monthly tradition once she agreed to marry Eris, so they could visit. They had skipped the month prior due to Elain’s mating ceremony. Now Nesta was staring at her, the mark on her neck to be precise.
Thoughts were rushing through her mind. She’d never seen a fresh mating mark. When they first saw Feyre after she turned fae, hers was concealed and when she saw it later, it was healed. But Elain’s. Elain’s was deep red, teeth markings over her scent glands. Nesta glanced at Feyre, her eyes going to the faded mark on her neck. Then her eyes dropped to her hands.
Nesta didn’t have a mating mark.
She refused it, telling Eris she would not be branded like a cow. She remembered him asking coldy what she would have them mark the marriage with instead. When he struck down the idea that the marriage agreement from the Night Court would suffice, she asked for rings.
“It’s what humans do,” She said.
He scowled but returned a week later with glistening red bands to go on their respective ring fingers.
“How will anyone know this is a mating ring?” He muttered when he walked away, still looking at it on his hand next to all the other rings he wore.
Guilt twisted in her stomach. She wore a high neckline to hide her lack of a mark outside of the Forest house. The ruby dress she wore today for tea had one. At home it didn’t seem to matter. The Autumn Court didn’t care or were too afraid to voice their opinions.
Nesta wanted to ask so badly if Elain wanted the mark. Or if her mate had forced it on her. Did it hurt to receive it? She was told it didn’t if it was during a heat. Elain had always been regular, it was possible even now she planned her ceremony right before it.
“Nesta.” Her gaze snapped up to Elain’s. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she blinked and took a sip of her tea.
It was not lost on her how Feyre and Elain exchanged a look. If they were communicating silently, she tried to not show she cared. They all finished their tea like nothing had happened. That afternoon, Nesta sequestered herself to her freshly cleaned nest, with a book and a pile of Eris’s shirts she hid from the maids.
“You’re unusually quiet today.” Nesta glanced up from her book. Her mate stood at the door, not entering. “Did you fight with your sisters at tea?”
“No,” she curtly replied. She deliberately did not grant him entrance. “I just thought you’d appreciate the silence.”
“You know I can feel when something bothers you,” he replied smugly. “And you’re here. You may as well tell me now.”
“You are what is bothering me. I’m trying to read.”
He hummed. “Shall I have Cassandra bring your dinner here?”
She pretended to think on it. With a sigh she flipped her page and replied. “No. I’ll be at dinner.”
He nodded and left the doorway without an argument. She closed her book with a huff. Then she pulled one of his shirts up to her face, annoyed and thankful that he let her be.
At the next breakfast tea with her sisters, Nesta was staring again. Only now Elain’s mark had healed to a faint ring, looping up past the sleeve of her dress onto her neck. Unlike last time, however, Elain didn’t dismiss her stares.
“It healed nicely, don’t you think?” Elain said, so soft in that airy tone of hers.
“Yes,” Nesta replied and without much thought asked, “Did it hurt?”
Elain furrowed her brows. “I suppose? Only for a moment when I received it. Did yours hurt?”
Nesta felt her face flush. She could feel the stare from Feyre next to her, no doubt watching her reaction intensely to see what she’d say.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to discuss.” She finally answered.
“Nesta.” It was Feyre who reached over, placing a hand on her forearm. Her blue eyes held such concern, Nesta was taken aback. “You know you can talk to us. If something is wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong,” she shrugged her shoulder to get Feyre’s arm off of her.
“Just know we are here for you Nes.”
She wanted to scoff but instead swallowed down her urge to run or to be worse. The tea went by quicker than planned and when Nesta returned home, she stomped through the halls. When she found her mate lounging in their sitting area, she decided to be blunt the moment he looked up at her.
“I want you to mark me.” She turned her head, baring her neck. “Just do it and get it over with.”
“Why?” He put his book aside and sat up fully on the couch.
“Why?” She glared. “I am obviously a disgrace of a wife- mate, whatever the terms are.” She added with fluster. “So do it. Mark me.”
Eris’s features became dark, so much that fear crept into her stomach. He stood, towering over her and his power rolling off of himself in waves of heat.
“Who said that to you?”
“No one-“
“Someone did. Tell me now.”
She felt the magic wash over her. She only felt a High Lord’s command once before and for Eris to use it- tears welled in her eyes from shame. She fought it for a moment, tilting her chin up and steeling herself.
“It was myself. I said it.” She let the tears fall, spewing truth like it was venom. “Do you not notice the high collars on my dresses I wear outside of court? To the hide my shame? To hide that I am a coward who cannot submit to her husband fully?”
There was heavy silence between them for a moment. Nesta tensed, fighting back her sniffles as she watched Eris carefully. He was good at hiding his emotions like she was. The stern look on his face only faltered when he finally spoke again.
“Do you want it? Tell me yes or no.”
She winced; another command to answer truthfully.
“No.”
“Then it’s not up for further discussion.”
His features soften to that laced with sadness. Nesta was uncertain of what to do. She felt the magic of the command leave her.
“You commanded me,” she whispered.
“Would you have spoken truthfully if I didn’t?” His voice cracked, eyes laced with silver. “I will burn those dresses. I thought you preferred them because they were close to human fashion. If you only wear them to hide a lack of a mark then they are not needed.”
“Why are you not angry?” Nesta yelled. She didn’t understand. “I will not bear your mark!”
“But you already do.” He grabbed her hand and held it up, the red ring flashing under the fae lights. “This is my mark. You accepted it and you wear it.”
“But this is-“
“Human. Yes.” His grip loosened slightly. He pulled her hand up and kissed the tips of her fingers. His voice was softer when he added. “But it is you. This is the only thing you’ve asked of me. I’m not going to take it away from you.”
Amber eyes stared back into her own. She could feel the love he sent her though their shared bond. She shoved back her tears.
“The other courts will talk.” She said softly.
“They always talk.”
“What if they think less of you?” Because I won't submit. Her mind finished where her voice could not.
Eris pulled her to him. Her knees felt weak from the scent of him.
“I do not care what the other courts or high lords think.” He gently tilted her chin up with his free hand. “You are my mate and I love you. The rings are proof enough if they wish to see a physical representation of it.”
Rarely did they utter the words to each other, so when Nesta said them, her voice cracked a little. “I love you too.”
Eris then swept her off her feet into his arms, making her yell at the sudden movement.
“I think we should retire for the night,” he smirked carrying her down the hall. “I do owe you an extensive apology for commanding you earlier.”
“That you do.” She added sternly, “And you better not ever do it again.”
“Are you threatening me, love?” He grinned and he nudged open the door with his foot.
“Would it be me if I didn’t?” She smiled.
The next time Nesta saw her sisters, she wore an off the shoulder gold dress. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she approached but she held her head high. Both Elain and Feyre’s eyes went to her neck. Then Feyre yelled out, pumping her fist in the air.
“I knew it! Nesta, you just won me so much money.”
“Excuse me?” Nesta stopped, glaring at Feyre.
“Rhys swore Eris would make you take his mark. I told him he didn’t know how stubborn you were. I told him!”
“As if Eris makes her do anything,” Elain giggled.
“I’m right here!” Nesta’s face had flushed and she turned her glare to Elain. “You both made bets on me?”
Elain shrugged. “You’ve been mated for so long, I didn’t think the mark was an issue. You were acting odd the last two months. I suspected you might be pregnant. So I lost that bet.”
Nesta scoffed, so uncomfortable with her sisters bombarding her. “I should go back home; you both are insufferable.”
“You also wear a ring,” Feyre teased. “They don’t know what that is on your hand. But we do.” She guestered between herself and Elain.
“Then why didn’t you just ask? Or say something?” Nesta snapped.
“We asked you the last time we saw you if something was bothering you!” Feyre put her hands on her hips. “You got defensive!”
Nesta couldn’t argue with her on that, she paced for a moment in a small circle. “By the mother, can we just have our tea?”
Elain let out a laugh that rang throughout the little garden they were sequestered in. Nesta sent her a glare but neither pushed it further. When they finally sat down, Elain eyed her as she poured the tea.
“So what made you finally stop wearing high collars?”
Nesta huffed. “I’m going to need a stronger drink than tea if we are going to have that discussion.”
Feyre, ever the prepared one of the three, pulled out a bottle of whiskey from a pocket realm and winked at her. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
