Wrong Desk ;)
Eris Vanserra x Reader
Azriel’s missing informant leads the Night Court straight to a tavern in Autumn.
Unfortunately for them, Eris Vanserra’s mate is not only the informant in question, but apparently running half of Prythian through back alley trades, coded deliveries, and sheer audacity.
Gathering in Autumn was risky.
Especially for Eris, who was currently looking at the 3 Illyiarn males across the table.
“She’s been quiet.”
Yes the informant that Azriel had in Autumn.
Eris knew Azriel had people in each court.
He did as well.
But accoring to the 3 males this informant in particular had been quiet for days.
Much like Eris’s own.
That’s when Eris speaks.
“I know someone who can us information.”
Rhys glances at him.
“You have a contact here?”
Eris raises his eyebrow.
“It is my court after all, my father might be high lord but, loyalty doesn’t always sit with the current Lords.”
Rhys nods.
“They’re reliable as well. Usually.”
Cassian huffs.
“That doesn’t sound promising.”
Eris almost smiles.
Before pushing up and out of his chair.
Turning to Azriel.
“I assume you know where the tavern is?”
Azriel nods before the four men winnow out.
The tavern is loud.
Messy.
Alive.
And wrong.
Azriel feels it first.
His shadows slip out.
Like they’ve found something.
And lost it again.
Eris scans the room.
Once.
Twice.
“She should be here.”
Azriel’s head tilts.
“She.”
“My contact.”
The tavern owner spots them.
And waves them over.
“Haven’t seen your girl in days.”
Cassian blinks.
“His what?”
Eris doesn’t react.
“How long.”
“Three. Maybe four.”
Too long.
Azriel’s shadows visibly tighten.
Eris only nodds and closes his eyes.
When he feels it the tug in his chest.
His gaze flicks upward
At the same moment Azriel’s shadows surge.
“There,” Azriel says.
Movement.
Up the wall.
Fluid and effortless.
She drops onto the bar.
Grinning.
Already mid-trade.
“Pleasure doin’ business.”
The female looks up and makes eye contact with each male, before hoping down from the bar top.
“Well,” she says, bright, “This is convenient.”
Gone.
Cassian blinks.
Hands cover Eris’s eyes.
“Guess who.”
Eris doesn’t move.
“Remove your hands.”
You laugh.
Lean in and press a quick kiss to his cheek.
“Missed you too.”
You step around him.
Like you’ve always been there.
Azriel steps forward.
“You’ve been quiet for days….”
You nod and turn to face the shadowsinger.
“I was busy is all.”
Rhys blinks at you, before recognition crosses his face.
Your Azriels contact he’s seen you in Valaris from time to time.
“How do you know Eris.”
The question comes from Cassian.
You pause.
Look at him.
Then Eris.
And light up.
“Oh,” you say.
“Oh this is fun.”
You hop up onto the table behind you.
Boot hitting a glass.
You don’t notice.
You lean forward
boop.
Right to Eris’s nose.
“What,” you say, mock offense, “fifty years and you say nothing?”
Cassian chokes.
Eris pinches the bridge of his nose.
“We agreed,” he says, controlled,
“to wait until it was necessary.”
You grin.
“Nah.”
Cassian laughs.
“You mentioned that,” you add.
“I never agreed, good try though, hun.”
You start pulling things from your pockets, muttering as you pull out each item.
A ring.
“Guard. Wrongfully taken.”
A pouch.
“Overtaxed.”
You pause.
Tilt your head, and whistle.
Someone moves across the tavern.
Cassian leans in.
“…no way.”
You don’t turn.
Just hold your hand out.
“Summer. Tuesday. Noon. You know where.”
They nod.
“Yeah. Medicine.”
The trade happens so quickly.
They leave.
You watch them go.
“Medicine,” you echo.
A beat.
“Suuure.”
You turn back.
Already reaching into another pocket.
“As I was saying”
You pull out a folded parchment.
Flicking it toward Rhys without looking.
“Spring Court.”
He unfolds it.
“…when did you get this?”
“Got it last week,” you mumble.
Like you maybe shouldn’t have said that like that.
“…was going to drop it off.”
A small shrug.
“Got distracted.”
Azriel’s shadows go still.
“You went into the Spring Court.”
You glance at the shadowsinger.
“Mm.”
Cassian lets out a disbelieving laugh.
“She’s efficient,” Eris says flatly.
You glance at him.
The corner of your mouth twitches.
Just slightly.
Eris pinches the bridge of his nose again.
“You were meant to wait.”
You hop down.
Walk up to him.
“You needed it. I saw the paper work in your office.”
You wait just a beat, before continuing.
“You’re welcome.”
Azriel steps forward.
“So you’re working for both courts.”
You look at him.
Really look.
Then laugh.
“Culdron no, I do what I please.”
Silence settles around the table.
“And if my loyalty’s in question”
Your gaze flicks to Eris.
Your mouth moves before you think too hard about it
“I love to disappoint you.”
You smile slightly looking at each male, before settling on Eris.
“My loyalty is with my mate.”
Silence.
They all exhale.
You blink once after saying it.
Like maybe you hadn’t meant to say it out loud quite like that.
But you don’t take it back.
Cassian looks at Rhys.
“…I think she might be the most terrifying person in this tavern.”
“Incorrect,” you say immediately.
You point lazily toward the bartender.
“That male waters down his liquor.”
Before they could question you anymore another whistle goes out in the tavern.
You perk up a bit before turning and looking up at the second floor, and nod.
“Well gentleman, I have trading to do.”
Just like that your moving quick, and swift.
It’s not even 10 seconds later that they can see you and another patron exchanging words and goods above them.
Eris huffs.
“Well at least we know where our contact went.”
They turn and leave the tavern, heading back to the palace that houses the Autumn courts high lord.
Dinner in the Autumnn Court is… polished.
Controlled.
Every movement is measured.
Every word weighed.
Which is why when you walk in it throws the entire room off.
No longer in the leather and boots from the tavern.
A dress of Autumn tones. Elegant, and effortless.
Two of the smokehounds at your sides.
Cassian chokes on his drink.
“…that’s the same person?” he mutters.
Azriel doesn’t answer.
He’s watching you.
Rhys is too.
But differently.
Calculating.
Eris doesn’t look surprised.
Of course he doesn’t.
“You’re late,” he says.
You smile.
“I was busy.”
A glance passes between you and eris, just long enough to be anything more than casual.
The other heirs of Autumnns thrown sit at the table.
Being told that Barron was in Summer, and that Eris was handling the treaty with the Nightcourt.
You float from brother to brother on your way to your seat.
Eris tracking your movements the whole way.
Light conversation.
Easy smiles.
A hand on a shoulder here.
A quiet laugh there.
No one questions it.
Why would they?
You look like you belong.
One of them frowns before turning to you.
“Strangest thing,” he mutters. “I had a vial earlier.”
Another scoffs.
“You lose everything.”
You tilt your head slightly, before taking your seat at the table.
“Oh?” you ask softly. “What kind of vial?”
He shrugs.
“Nothing important.”
You smile, one that almost shows concern.
“Then I’m sure it’ll turn up.”
You move on before he can think too hard about it.
Cassian is staring now.
Really staring.
“…she’s doing something.” It’s muttered low enough that only Rhys and Azriel hear it.
Azriel’s shadows drift lazily after you.
Watching.
Tracking.
Rhys notices the pattern second.
Each brother you speak to something shifts.
A weight added.
A weight removed.
And none of them notice.
Not one.
The youngest brother at the table leans back in his chair.
“I’m heading into town after dinner,” he says casually.
Your gaze flicks toward him for half a second.
Then you smile.
“Of course you are.”
Conversation continues, treaties, borders, trade routes.
It’s not long after that the youngest leaves. The other 2 brothers followed shortly after.
Something about needing air.
You wait.
A breath.
Two.
Then reach for your napkin.
Not a napkin.
Cloth.
You tear a small strip free.
Cassian leans forward immediately.
“Oh no.”
You ignore him.
Already scribbling quickly across the fabric.
Azriel’s shadows curl closer.
Trying to read it.
You fold it before they can.
Then whistle softly.
One of the Shadow hounds lifts its head from the corner of the room.
Trotting toward you immediately.
You crouch.
Tie the strip carefully to its collar.
“Go on.”
The hound takes off without hesitation.
Gone down the hall in seconds.
Silence settles behind it.
Cassian looks between you and the doorway.
Then to Eris, then back to you.
“…you’re using his brothers as delivery routes?”
“My love,” Eris says, voice already exhausted, “you have to stop putting things on my brothers simply to bring items into town.”
You straighten slowly.
“We talked about this.”
“We did,” he agrees.
A moment passes before you speak “I disagreed.”
Cassian breaks first.
Laughing into his drink.
Rhys watches you carefully now.
Not amused anymore.
But curious and calculating.
Azriel finally speaks.
“I found a pouch in an alley in the Summer Court last week.”
You don’t react immediately.
“Oh.”
Your head lifts slightly.
“Gold?” you ask. “Purple sparkles?”
Azriel nods once.
You point at him immediately.
“Can you get that to Ivy for me?”
Your smile slips for half a second before it’s back.
“Her kids need it.”
Too quick.
Like you don’t want questions after that part.
Silence settles again.
Different this time.
Rhys leans back slowly.
“…you’re running routes in each court.”
You shrug lightly.
“I’m solving problems.”
A pause.
“Someone should.”
Across the table Eris watches you quietly.
Like he’s trying very hard not to look as fond as he does.
And failing a little.
Dinner drags on a little longer after that.
Not awkward.
Just…careful.
Rhys is thinking too hard.
Azriel’s shadows keep drifting toward you.
Cassian has stopped pretending he isn’t entertained.
You finish your drink.
Standing up smoothly.
“Well,” you say lightly, “This has been enlightening.”
Cassian snorts.
“For us maybe.”
You grin at him.
Then start toward the door.
Eris’s gaze follows immediately.
“You’re leaving.”
“I’m busy.”
“Shocking,” Cassian mutters.
You make it three whole steps before stopping.
“Oh.”
You snap your fingers.
Everyone looks at you again.
You point lazily toward Azriel.
“Those documents you wanted?”
Azriel straightens slightly.
“At the townhouse.”
Silence.
You glance toward Eris your smile widening just a fraction.
“And you.”
Eris already looks tired.
“Yes, love.”
You fight a grin and fail.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Cassian immediately starts choking on air.
You continue like nothing happened.
“So you might want to wrap this up.”
A wink.
“Wouldn’t want to miss it.”
Then you turn and walk out.
No rush.
No hesitation.
Like you already know nobody’s going to stop you.
The door shuts behind you.
Silence lingers for exactly two seconds, before Eris is up and moving after you.
Leaving the three Illayrins at the table.
“…that,” Cassian says slowly, “was not a document tone.”
Rhys exhales through his nose.
“…no,” he agrees
Azriel’s shadows shift suddenly.
Curl tighter around his shoulders.
“My shadows confirm,” he says evenly,
“she put the papers on your desk.”
Rhys stills before Azriel continues.
“…in the townhouse.”
Cassian lets out a disbelieving laugh.
“Wait, hold on”
He points toward the door Eris and you just disappeared through.
“You’re telling me she made it into the townhouse between bartering in the tavern and terrorizing Eris’s brothers at dinner?”
Azriel nods once.
Rhys almost pales.
“Az,” he says carefully, “for the love of the Mother tell me she’s your contact here in Autumnn.”
Another nod.
“Didn’t realize she was his mate though.”
Cassian leans back in his chair slowly.
“…that feels like very important information.”
Rhys is already standing.
“So she’s your missing informant,” he says to Azriel.
“And Eris’s reliable contact,” Cassian adds.
“And she just walked through my wards,” Rhys finishes. “…and left something behind.”
Azriel’s shadows stir restlessly.
“She wanted us to know.”
Rhys nods once, before glancing at the door Eris had disappeared through.
“And he let her.”
Decision already made.
“Then let’s go see what she left us.”
Cassian stands with a groan.
“And figure out how she got in.”
The townhouse is silent when they arrive.
Still.
Untouched.
Rhys checks the wards first.
Instinct.
Everything is intact.
That makes it worse.
Cassian notices the shift in Rhys’s expression immediately.
“…that bad?”
“You cannot winnow into the townhouse,” Rhys says quietly.
Azriel moves toward the study.
Fast.
Focused.
The others follow.
The door opens.
And there—
on Rhys’s desk—
sits a neat stack of papers.
Like they’ve always belonged there.
Azriel reaches them first.
Shadows brushing over the stack carefully.
“They’re real.”
Rhys steps closer.
Flips the first page—
then stops.
There’s a small scrap tucked beneath it.
Cassian leans over immediately.
“Oh no.”
Rhys pulls the note free slowly.
Reads it once.
Then silently hands it to Cassian.
My bad, wrong desk ;)
Cassian makes a strangled noise.
“She knew.”
“She wanted us to know,” Azriel corrects quietly.
Rhys looks around the study slowly.
“She walked into my house,” he murmurs.
“Left what we needed.”
Another glance toward the note.
“And corrected herself.”
Cassian exhales a laugh.
Half impressed.
Half terrified.
“I liked her more when she was just robbing people.”
Rhys’s mouth twitches slightly.
“You liked her more when you understood her.”
Azriel says nothing.
Just stares at the desk.
At the untouched wards.
At the papers she wanted them to find.
Taglist @illyriassweetheart
