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electromagnetic-waves · 26 days

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Spirit Meets the Bones - VIII

Genre: Angst/Romance Warnings: Mentions of physical abuse. Please be mindful: some implied language may be found triggering.

@abruisedmuse ily for being on this journey with me <3

Find it all here.

It took Iris a few minutes into their dinner to realize it was in fact, not going to be fine. That Beron was a much bigger threat than her father ever could be.

Iris swallowed and avoided the High Lord’s gaze. Even while asking Eris about court updates, the High Lord’s eyes kept drifting to her.

The tension in the room was so palpable, Iris felt herself choking on it. Despite her telling Eris it would be fine, the weight sitting on her chest at her father-in-law’s gaze was overwhelming.

Iris knew her mouth had always gotten her in trouble with her father, more times than she cared to admit — but with the High Lord...She wasn’t sure if she could handle staying quiet, which was the one thing she needed to do and her hands were already shaking with the effort. She had bit her tongue several times as it was.

On their way over, Eris had stopped walking every few moments to glance at her in silence, the muscles in his jaw flexing. Until she finally snapped at him to say whatever the hell he needed to say.

He had only made one suggestion. “Do not challenge him. He will try to bait you and will say outlandish things because he wants to see how you react. Do not let him bait you.”

Iris wasn’t exactly sure how she was supposed to do that when Beron was watching her like he wanted nothing more than to shred her to pieces. Was this what Eris’s previous lover had to deal with? But she hadn’t been his wife. Would he be worse because Iris was his wife instead of a lover passing the time? What had Eris meant when he said that Beron had gotten what he wanted willingly? Was it that the female had given up on Eris and left or —

“So, Iris. Hopefully, your wedding night was as magical as you imagined it would be. Has my son treated you well?”

Iris looked at the High Lord, at the cruel smile on his face and color bloomed on her cheeks. Her eyes flickered to Eris. Though his grip was tight on his fork and knife, he was chewing his food with no care in the world. Iris looked back to his father then back down to her plate, ever the obedient wife.

“Yes. He has,” she answered softly.

“Mm. That’s good,” he replied with a nasty laugh. “You didn’t embarrass me, son.”

“Of course not, Father,” Eris replied tightly. “I also gave Iris a tour of the house. She appreciated that, didn’t you, wife?”

The bite in his tone had her clenching her teeth. Though she knew he was only doing it for her benefit, the way his tone merged with his father’s scorn reminded her too much of her own father’s sneering that it caused a slight burning in her chest.

“Yes. Everything is very beautiful and well-maintained,” she said tightly. “It’s very impressive.”

“You look beautiful, Iris.” Lady Enya said kindly, reaching out a hand to gently pat hers and Iris looked up. “I hope you liked the selection I had prepared for you. I can always have the seamstress work with you to cater exactly to your taste.”

Iris had chosen a wine-colored dress with gold threading that complimented her figure well for dinner, pinning the sides of her hair up and leaving the rest in loose curls. She had definitely wanted to show her mother-in-law how much she appreciated all the gifts she’d been given and chosen carefully. Iris hadn’t missed Eris’s approving look.

But that moment seemed so long ago.

Before Iris could open her mouth to reply, Beron snorted. “Shouldn’t it be to what your son’s taste is? She’s dressing to his liking.”

“It doesn’t matter, father. She already knows what my preference is.” Eris replied and Iris slipped her hands off the table; she didn’t want to accidentally grab the knife closest to her and lodge it in his throat. It wasn’t even the implications of his words that had her face flushed, it was that tone.

“Eris.” his mother warned but Beron only smirked.

Iris willed her face not to slip into anger as she looked at her mother-in-law and smiled tightly. “Thank you for all your care and preparation. I’m honored you took the time to choose options for me. They’re all very beautiful.” She said. “I’d love to meet the seamstress with you and have your input in the future.”

“You’re very welcome. I can coordinate that at any time.” Lady Enya said, returning the tight smile and the room fell silent again.

Iris attempted a bite of her food, but it tasted like ash with Beron staring at her so intensely. Trying her best to ignore him, she turned back to Lady Enya and cleared her throat.

“I’d love to spend more time with you if you have the availability in your day. Eris told me there’s a garden you prefer.”

Lady Enya smiled more genuinely. “I do. I like to take afternoon walks. I would love for you to join me. You and I should spend more time together anyway. Eris, did you show her where it is?”

“I hope you’ll spare some time for me as well, Iris.” Beron cut in and the smile he gave his wife made Iris’s skin crawl as he turned back to her. “I’m sure Eris would want you to bond with both of his parents.”

Eris slowly turned to Iris and gave her a tight smile. “Of course, Father. Iris and I are at your disposal whenever you have the time.”

“And what do you think of that, Iris? Does your husband speak for you?” he asked, and Iris’s fingers clenched, her gaze on Eris. “Are you at my disposal whenever you have the time?”

“Father,” Eris said casually, sparing Iris one more look in a warning then glanced at his father.

“Son.”

A heartbeat of tense silence passed as Eris and his father looked at each other before the High Lord tutted, dismissing his son and Iris almost flinched at the way Eris’s jaw tightened.

The High Lord turned his gaze back to Iris.

“Tell me, Iris,” he began again, and she braced herself. “Your father mentioned to me you spent most of your time alone on your piano. Do you plan on playing for us soon?” He said and sipped from his wine. “Unless of course, you have other talents you’d like to share?”

“I can play for you all anytime you’d like.” She replied and risked a glance at him before her eyes drifted back to Eris in haste. Her husband merely looked at her indifferently and though she reminded herself once again that it was an act, it was hard not to let doubt seep in.

He had many faces, and he was good at getting what he wanted. How was this any different for him? Why would she be any different?

But the way he had reacted to her playing and the conversations they had been having...it made her believe that there was something there. Something worth giving him the benefit of the doubt. Something —

“You seem nervous, Iris.” The High Lord purred, and Iris held back her disgust. “Your mother-in-law and I don’t bite. Tell us more about yourself. I’m sure my son has asked you some questions in between him shoving his cock inside you.”

“Father.”

“Beron.”

But the High Lord only smirked, his eyes on Iris and the way her whole body had flinched when he said it.

“Did I say something wrong? Isn’t that what newlyweds do on their wedding night?” the High Lord sneered with a look of mock innocence. “You said he’s treated you well so I’m assuming you liked whatever he offered you.”

“Father, a little sensitivity would be appreciated,” Eris said through clenched teeth, the fork in his hand now bent backward. “I don’t like my wife being spoken to this way.”

“A lot of sensitivity would be appreciated.” Lady Enya snapped and Beron’s eyes flickered to her, ignoring Eris completely. “We are trying to have dinner with our newest daughter-in-law for the first time and that is inappropriate.”

“As far as I’m aware,” the High Lord said slowly and both Iris and Eris tensed at the tone. “I don’t have any other daughters-in-law.”

The Lady of Autumn seemed to flush but she didn’t break his gaze. “The only reason you don’t have a relationship with them is your own fault.”

Beron snorted again and the sneer in it seemed to make his wife’s flush deepen. Iris knew that sneer, had felt it one too many times and it made her fists shake.

“Yes, of course. That is the only reason,” he said quietly, and Iris’s eyes flickered between Eris’s throat bob and Lady Enya's clenched jaw at the words, her brows furrowed. But Beron had turned back to zero in on Iris again and her back straightened, bracing herself again. “Did he bother asking you about yourself or was he too busy taking you behind every corner on the so-called tour?”

“Cauldron, Father,” Eris snarled softly, and Iris’s eyes widened as his fist slammed down hard on the table, but Beron only smiled smugly. “You’re talking to my wife.”

“What is it, son? As far as I’m aware, you’ve been far from celibate so I’m sure you’ve been enjoying your wife thoroughly.” Beron continued and Lady Enya sucked in a breath as a muscle flexed in Eris’s jaw, as steam started to rise from his clenched fist, and the room became distinctly warmer. “Unless she’s not to your liking? Though she is a pretty thing, you do seem to have mediocre taste in females.”

“Beron —”

And Iris noticed the way Eris barely had a hold on his restraint. He had been so angry when he found her earlier, clearly triggered by whatever his father said. And now — now it was worse, and Iris’s own anger had also bubbled up too far.

By now, had it been her father, she would’ve gotten everything off of her chest and taken whatever blow he’d given her. She couldn’t take another disgusting word from Beron and any sense of self-preservation she had vanished at the mocking in Beron’s eyes, at the rage radiating from every pore of Eris’s body. At the way he seemed to use her to chip away at Eris, as if she had asked for any of this. As if she wasn’t good enough.

Before Eris could reply, Iris finally did.

“In between your son shoving his cock inside me,” she started, and Eris’s head snapped in her direction at the even tone. “Believe it or not, he has asked me a few things. We’ve been getting to know each other gradually.” Iris rested a hand on the table, smoothing the cloth beneath her fingers before looking up at the High Lord and bringing the conversation back to his original question. “As for other talents, I’m sure you know my father well enough to know I was very limited in what I could do. With my… supposed health issues and all.”

Beron quirked a brow and Eris’s hand slipped under the table and gripped her thigh, but Iris ignored him. “Yes, I was concerned about this mysterious illness of yours. I sure hope your father didn’t cheat us with a damaged bride.”

“I am not damaged.” She all but snarled and Eris’s grip tightened further, almost painfully but Iris refused to look at him.

“I should hope you’re not.” the High Lord said slowly, his smile both unnerving her and fueling her anger. “Maybe my son can teach you some new talents then. It seems you’re in good shape now.”

“Must’ve been your son’s magical cock. I guess I’m a faster learner.” she spat, and the room stilled. Beron watched his daughter-in-law, the gleam in his eyes seemingly more sinister.

Beron finally chuckled humorlessly and shot Eris a look that doused whatever anger Iris was feeling. It was a look that promised violence. She knew that look well and Eris’s back of faded scars flashed in her mind.

Iris’s insides shriveled up and she felt bile start to rise in her throat. She had fucked up. She had fucked up badly. The one time she had needed to keep her mouth shut and she had failed.

“I thought you said you put her in her place, son.”

“It seems her father was right in that she needed a heavy hand,” Eris replied tightly and shot her a look filled with a temper she wasn’t sure he was faking.

“Eris.” His mother said firmly, and his gaze snapped to her. “It’s been a long day. We can end dinner here.”

“I decide when we end dinner.” Beron snapped at his wife and then turned back to Iris. “And I don’t like the tone you speak in, girl. I am your High Lord. I’ve beheaded people for less.”

Iris clenched her fists in her lap and swallowed angrily. “Apologies, High Lord.” She forced herself to say demurely.

“My High Lord.” he corrected, and Iris bit back the retort she wished to give as she looked down, her eyes on Eris’s hand still gripping her thigh tightly.

“Apologies, my High Lord.” she amended and fought not to glare at her lap while his eyes were still on her.

He was not her father. She was used to his hands, knew when to anticipate the blow and where it would land. She had learned her father’s ticks but Beron...the dangerous gleam in his eyes was something she couldn’t anticipate. She felt so stupid. Iris truly had no clue what he’d do and how much he could make it hurt. If he had it in him to hurt his so-called favorite son, what would he do to her?

“Father, it has been a long day and clearly overwhelming for Iris,” Eris said and shot her a look that almost begged her to keep her mouth shut. “If you’ll excuse us, we’d like to retire.”

But Beron was still watching Iris and then his gaze flickered to his son.

“Son.” the High Lord began slowly, and dread coiled in her stomach at his smile. “I don’t see why you shouldn’t put her in her place here. She was disrespectful to me. It’s only fair I see you reprimand her.”

Eris’s grip on her thigh tightened enough that she was sure it would leave a mark and a beat of silence passed before Eris replied.

“The way I want to reprimand her isn’t one I can do in front of my parents,” he said coldly, and Iris froze as his mother gave him a pleading look.

“Eris just —”

Beron held up a hand, cutting his wife off with a snort. “Is that so, son?”

“I think we’ve had enough words, Father,” Eris said and Iris felt panic slowly start to rise in her body, her heart beating too fast for it to be any good. She watched Eris’s expression, watched him stare at his father who had his eyes narrowed at his son.

If Beron decided to make Eris do anything, Iris would —

But a nasty smile emerged on the High Lord’s face as he finally looked away from his son and back at Iris, who flushed. “I see. Privacy would be required here.”

Lady Enya finally shot out of her seat. “That is enough.” she snapped and Beron turned to her slowly, the room immediately getting tenser as Eris also slowly stood.

“Mother, no need to be upset,” Eris said calmly, even as his fists clenched. “Father, we are leaving.”

“Get out then.” Beron dismissed and shot his son a look of disdain. “And this time, truly put her in her place. If you don’t, I will. There are enough places people won’t see.”

Iris flinched at the words, her heart thundering and Lady Enya gaped at her husband before turning to her son again.

“Eris —”

“Don’t give him your useless input. You’re the reason he’s still soft.” The High Lord snarled, and Eris tensed as his father turned to him. “What luck do you have commanding a court if you can’t control your wife’s mouth?”

“Father —“ Eris started, face flushed in anger but Beron waved him off, looking directly at Iris.

“I suggest you think twice before speaking from now on. Your voice is not necessary. You are to be beside my son looking presentable and nothing more. Don’t go thinking you can have opinions and thoughts of your own. You are not important. Understood?”

Silence filled her head as she stared at the male across from her, thinking how she never thought she’d hate someone more than she could hate her father.

“Understood?”

Her chin dipped in response, and he waved them off carelessly, his eyes back on his wife who stared at him openly in contempt.

“Get out. Your mother and I need to have words.”

Eris hid it well, but Iris didn’t miss the bob of his throat as he gazed at his mother. Lady Enya only nodded and then jerked her head to the door. Iris felt the agony rip through him to leave her and she wanted nothing more than to take back everything she had said.

“Come along, wife.” Eris spat and Iris tried not to flinch at the tone, standing shakily and slowly following Eris.

They stepped out of the room and Iris made to get away from the door as quickly as possible, but Eris grabbed her arm.

She turned, her anger and humiliation crashing around her in waves, ready to rip his hand off but saw his face flushed angrily as he stood rigidly at the door. His grip was tight on her arm, but Iris could see he wasn’t even paying attention to her. He was listening to the heated conversation happening behind the door.

He was waiting — waiting for the scrape of the chair, indicating someone had moved to —

His breath loosened when footsteps started to fade, and Eris sensed his mother had walked off without harm. Finally loosening his grip, Iris yanked her arm away from him and without looking at him, stomped off to their bedroom.

Eris closed the bedroom door behind them and watched as Iris immediately backed away from him with a glare.

“What the hell was that?” she breathed, and Eris shook his head, the room around them immediately heating again.

He was so fucken angry. Nothing about that dinner had gone as he wanted and Iris — his eyes flashed to her and the scent of her anger and fear merging together nearly made him scream.

“Don’t say another word.” his tone clipped but Iris shook her head with a harsh laugh.

“The way you want to reprimand me isn’t one you can do in front of your parents?” she hissed.

Eris snarled, waving her off. “You had one job.” He snapped. “Ignore anything he says to you because he’s purposely going to bait you. And what do you do? Let him bait you.”

“What about you?” she snapped. “You were two seconds away from ripping his head off! How was I supposed to sit back and let him speak to me that way!”

“What exactly did you expect to accomplish by replying? Going to get up and try to stab him too?” Eris scoffed and dragged a hand through his hair. “Believe me, I would’ve loved to see you try.”

“How can you sit back when he’s talking to your wife like this?” she snarled.

“Because I know what he’s doing. I know he’s trying to use whatever you and I have going on against us one way or another and you let him see too much!”

“He expects you to beat me. To shut me up.” She sneered, her voice rising an octave. “To put me in my place.”

“Yes, he does.” Eris snapped. “And tomorrow when he sees you, let’s hope you can act better than you did today.”

“What would you have done if he had ordered you to do something? How would that have gone, Eris?” she snarled.

“I would’ve handled it!”

“Oh, because tonight went so well.”

“It would’ve been fine had you not opened your mouth and made it worse.”

Iris growled and turned away from him, stomping over to their vanity, practically ripping her hair clips out.

An ugly silence washed over the room and Iris tried not to let her lips tremble as she rubbed at her eyes, the mortification of what she was feeling catching up to her.

What a disgusting, despicable male. And he was her father-in-law.

And the way he kept looking at her. That was no way a father-in-law looked at his daughter-in-law.

That was a predator who found its next prey.

Eris sighed behind her, and she glared at him over her shoulder.

“Look — it wasn’t supposed to happen this way,” he replied quietly, holding his hands up in acceptance. “I’m – I apologize for all the things he said and for what I had to say.”

“What you said.” she seethed, whirling around, and Eris’s eyes flashed in annoyance. “I know your father is a piece of shit but gods, you really sell it with that sneering tone of yours.”

“If I was any nicer to you, he’d carve you open at the table just to prove he could.” he spat in return. “You saw it yourself. I told you we have to be a certain way in front of him. I don’t understand why you’re surprised. I told you all this.”

“Not like this! I was not prepared for this. I’m his son’s wife!” she nearly shrieked. “How can he talk to me and about me that way? How can he look at me that way?”

Eris lowered his head, a hand rubbing his eyebrow as if he was trying to think of how he could explain how disgusting his father was to her. As if Iris hadn’t caught on.

“He does it on purpose. He...gravitates towards younger females and isn’t exactly a faithful male. He knows it’s going to bother me.” he finally said, and Iris blanched. “You’re young and beautiful and —”

“I’m his son’s wife!”

“It doesn’t matter that you’re my wife,” Eris growled. “He’s vile and disgusting and a High Lord! A High Lord that enforces rank. A High Lord that knows he could get the attention of any female he wants because it makes him forget about my mother.”

“Are you saying your father is attracted to me?” she whispered and felt the bile rise in her throat again, but Eris shook his head in disgust.

“No.” he snapped, though a kernel of doubt pulsed in his chest. Knowing his father, Eris wouldn’t put it past Beron to look at his wife that way. Not that she needed to know that. “I’m saying he’ll make you uncomfortable to piss me off because he can. Just to bait me into doing something stupid and then punish me for it. This is my way of confirming to you that he’s more disgusting than people think.”

Silence filled her head once more as she recalled what Eris had said about his former lover.

In the end, my father won and got what he wanted from her willingly.

“You said — you said your father got what he wanted from your lover.” she choked out and Eris flushed deeply. “Does that mean what I think it does?”

Eris froze but Iris’s eyes zeroed in on his fists clenching at his sides. He had done it so many times today. Would he —

“Why settle for the son of a high lord when the high lord himself could give you the attention you want?” he said sourly, and Iris paled.

“He wouldn’t do that with me, would he?” she whispered.

“Do you want to fuck my father?” he sneered and Iris gagged.

“I’d rather drown myself at sea.”

“Then I don’t think it’ll be a problem if you’re not a willing participant.”

“I hardly wanna fuck you.” she seethed. “You think I’d want to fuck your father? My father-in-law?”

“You didn’t want to be powerless anymore, right?” Eris glared, the color in his face intensified as he sneered then gave a humorless chuckle. “If you decide to switch which Vanserra you spread your legs for, you’ll get to that goal much faster with my father.”

Iris gaped at him as he glowered in return, the rage in the room palpable.

“That’s disgusting,” she said through clenched teeth. “You’re disgusting.”

“Thank you. Welcome to the family,” he replied with a mocking bow and Iris let out a growl and turned away from him.

It took her a moment, where she swallowed and blinked several times, trying to contain her revulsion and temper before she could say anything else.

“Does he — he doesn’t force himself on females, does he?” she asked quietly, looking over her shoulder at him. “Does he abuse his power that way?”

Eris’s mouth went into a thin line and shook his head. “As far as I’ve been aware, it’s always been consensual and they’re always of age. My father may be an animal but even he tries not to cross that line,” he said, his lips curled in distaste. “Believe it or not, females approach him because he has power, money, and a taste for infidelity.”

He paused here, glancing at Iris, and then looked away. “I – I always tried to check afterward. My mother and I discreetly try to make sure. He just has a preference.”

Iris looked at him in horror and Eris had the intense urge to set himself on fire just to wipe himself off the face of the world to not see the look she gave him. He was already saying too much — she was hearing too much —

“Your mother knows?”

“Of course, she does,” he said faintly. “She likes it best when he forgets about her too.”

Iris took a deep breath and ran a hand down her face. “I don’t know what to think or what to make of this —” she said shakily and shot him a look of revulsion. “I’m —”

“Don’t look at me like that. Stop looking at me like that,” he said tiredly, and Iris shook her head again, but he didn’t miss the slight tremble in her hands. “I do everything that I can.”

“I’m thinking of how you said it would take you very little to make me miserable,” she said, shaking her head, and Eris tensed. “I’m — I’m thinking of what you said you could do to me —”

“Are you thinking of the part I said after? That you were thinking of my father, and I am not him?” he snapped. “I am not him. I actively try my hardest not to be like him in any way especially because — and I don’t know if you noticed from this one sitting with you flinging your feelings at me — but my father doesn’t exactly like me very much.”

He strode up to her and she backed a step, knocking into the vanity as fire blazed in his eyes.

“But I allow him to do and say whatever the fuck he wants to me as long as my mother has to stop taking the brunt of his shit.” he snarled. “I will do everything I can to protect you from him and take the brunt of that as well and I am sorry that it has to be that way and I am sorry that you might have to hear more things from him you won’t like, but I am playing his game so that I can keep worming my way around until I can finish him.”

“That’s what happened with your lover, wasn’t it? Your father kept doing and saying inappropriate things and you stood by letting it happen like a coward until she couldn’t stand you any longer and just gave in to him?” she spat, and Iris knew it was a low blow — one he didn’t rightly deserve as Eris flinched back.

“You were just ready to use that against me, weren’t you?” he snarled. “I only told you that so you understand he would do everything he could to get back at me through you. I’m trying to get you to understand that he would have no qualms about ending your life just to spite me and your father certainly wouldn’t give a shit if my father tossed your decapitated corpse right into the river.”

And it was Iris’s turn to flinch. “Stop.”

“Then understand that I am trying. I am trying my fucken hardest and don’t appreciate that fucken tone, Iris.” he hissed. “Did you even consider what this has been like for me? How much harder everything is now because of you? Do you even know how hard it was for me not to incinerate him on the spot because of the way he was with you? It would ruin everything I have been working towards.”

Iris shoved away from him. “Well, you didn’t now, did you? And all I feel is disgusted. I feel like — I don’t want to —” she stopped and shot him a look of contempt. “I don’t want to share a bed with you. I don’t want whatever the fuck this life is with you.”

She could’ve slapped him and it would’ve bothered him less. He snorted, a look of scorn on his face as he waved a hand.

“Be my guest to sleep in the bathroom then. I don’t give a single fuck, darling wife. It’s not like I’ve benefited much from you in my bed anyway.” he sneered, shooting his own low blow and Iris flinched back again as though he had slapped her. “It must be so terrible to be you. Poor little Iris, married to a prince in a castle that doesn’t think about beating her on the daily.”

Her face fell and it was that expression that extinguished his anger immediately.

“Iris —”

“Don’t.”

She didn’t bother looking at him as she stormed to the bed and grabbed two pillows, the dagger she had hidden beneath them, and ripped the blanket right off then stalked to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

Eris looked at the closed door and felt the will to live leave his body. His will to even breathe properly left him.

With a growl and then a heavy sigh, he hung his head and slowly sank into the vanity seat, his eyes on the bathroom door his wife was now hiding.

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electromagnetic-waves · 1 month

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Spirit Meets the Bones - VI

Genre: Angst/Romance Warnings: Mentions of physical abuse.

shoutout to my darling @abruisedmuse for keeping me sane while writing. ily!

Find it all here.

He had let her win.

She knew it and though it stung her pride for a moment, getting to see his hounds would be worth it.

Iris was not trained to be that good of a rider to truly have a chance at beating him but she had wanted to try.

After he cheated by giving himself a head start, Iris had chased after him, letting out a cry of outrage followed by a string of such foul language that Eris had not expected, he had to stop just to laugh.

She had stopped next to him, ready to launch into a verbal assault but the sight of him laughing so openly had any words die in her throat. Iris could begrudgingly admit that her husband was handsome but...gods, he must not laugh often for his face to look this radiant when he did.

Her face flushed at the thought. She doubted anyone had ever used the word radiant to describe Eris. But fire flowed in his veins and it seemed to burn brighter when he smiled. Iris grimaced. If he ever found out these thoughts crossed her mind...his ego would be suffocating.

And like children, Iris had insisted they count to three and then raced back to the stables.

But he had still let her win, even at the cost of the kiss he constantly teased her about.

Eris didn’t think she would hold it against him though. In fact, based on the conversations they had been having all day and how her shoulders had loosened alongside her expressions, she seemed to have relaxed enough not to hold too much against him at this point.

Especially if he kept smiling at her. She seemed to pause when he did. He was listening to her requests and that seemed to open an avenue between them. They were all reasonable requests. He had no real reason to say no.

Eris also found that he liked it when she smiled back at him. Really liked it. So, he wouldn’t take a kiss unless she would willingly give it.

They continued to watch each other as they returned the horses to the stables, the air between them less tense than it had been this morning but still mingled with awkwardness.

When they finally began walking towards the general direction of the house, Iris stopped him with a gentle hand and Eris’s eyes zeroed in on her fingers touching his knuckles. That she was touching him voluntarily...

“The hounds.” she only said and Eris looked at her with a raised brow.

“Don’t tell me I need to teach you basic manners, wife.”

Iris narrowed her eyes. Both of Eris’s brows went up.

Iris watched him then, watched him as he watched her. He had been awfully reasonable all morning, but she still needed to work through this doubt of hers. And he was still a little shit. Which meant she obviously needed to be one right back.

Slowly, she brought her hands to rest beneath her chin and gave him a charming smile. “Please take me to see the puppies, husband.”

Eris’s whole body locked up and he immediately let his expression turn stoic. He prayed to whatever gods were listening that the tip of his ears didn’t give away the cardiac arrest he was sure his body was succumbing to at the moment.

This was an outrageous reaction. She had only said please with a smile. It should not have this kind of impact — what in the cauldron —

“They are not puppies.” he barely managed and her smile widened.

“I did win so it’s only fair you take me now,” she said and slid an inch closer to him. “Then we can go on the tour? You said there was a music room you would show me.”

But Eris wasn’t listening. He willed his mind not to focus on the words ‘take me now’ but rather, focus on what little distance was now between them. She had not only touched him on her own, without a dagger present, but she had also moved closer to him. On her own. His eyes were on the inch of space between them. What did this mean? It would be impossible for her to trust him enough already. Was it him being agreeable? Was it —

Iris watched him and bit her lip, which did nothing to help him. His whole body had shut down. “Eris?”

Eris looked up at her and blinked. Then cleared his throat, shook out his hands, and held out his arm. “I’ll take you. You did win after all.” he finally said, and Iris didn’t fail to notice the slight color on his face.

Fighting back a smile, she smugly took his arm, the feeling much different from her taking his arm as she had on their wedding day.

They began walking in silence towards the kennel, Eris guiding their walk and Iris took the time to pay attention to her surroundings. She was also painfully aware of the way his body constantly brushed up against hers.

The grounds surrounding the Forest House were in beautiful condition. Everything was neatly trimmed, the colors merging like a beautiful fall painting, the air crisp around them.

Eris nodded to each of their sentries as they passed, and Iris observed how they reacted to him.

“Are these some of the sentries loyal to you?” she whispered, making sure she appeared as demure as they expected her to be.

“Most are loyal to me. Only the ones directly under my father’s hand are not,” he replied quietly.

Iris blinked. He was a lot more powerful than he let on.

“You hide it well.”

He looked at her in confusion. “Hide what?”

“The fact that it would take you very little to overthrow your father but you hold back.”

Eris froze, stopping Iris with him. Carefully, he looked around them in a way one would think he was observing the weather. Gently but firmly, he pulled her by the arm to face him and in a voice barely above a whisper he said, “Do not ever say something like that again. Especially outside of our bedroom. Especially out in the open. The wind carries all secrets.”

She blinked, her eyes flickering to the hand on her arm and then back to his carefully crafted expression. But his eyes gave away his true feelings.

“I didn’t realize it was such a sensitive subject.”

“Both of our heads will be on spikes faster than you can apologize,” he said quietly. “My father does not take to traitors.”

“You’re his firstborn,” she whispered.

“Who is more well-liked and rivals him in strength.” his lips barely moved as he answered. “I tread very carefully. He’s punished me for less.”

Iris swallowed then nodded and Eris slowly let go of her arm. Clasping his hands behind him, he jerked his head towards the path leading to the kennels and Iris followed him quietly, a slight distance between them now.

It served as a reminder to them both that they still knew little about one another. So they walked in silence until the sound of barks and growls greeted them.

Eris turned to look at her. “This kennel only opens with my magic and the very limited staff that take care of them. As my wife, you would now also be given access,” he explained. “They do not obey anyone but me no matter who orders them, but I can train them to obey you as well when the time comes.”

Iris nodded and despite the tense moment that had passed between them a few moments ago, she couldn’t help the excitement that bubbled inside her. Eris shot her an amused look.

“You will have to let me go to them first so they don’t attack you, understood?” he asked and she saluted, earning her an eye roll. “We’ll see if they’ll let you stand close enough.”

“But I want to cuddle them.”

Eris rolled his eyes again, opening the kennel door slowly. “Your funeral,” he muttered.

Instantly, the barks grew louder and in a blink of an eye, Eris was surrounded by all twelve of his hounds who excitedly jumped around and over him.

“Hello, my pets,” he said in such a soft affectionate tone that it felt like Iris was intruding on a private moment. “I missed you all. Yes, yes, I know, I should’ve stopped by earlier.”

She stood watching him, her amusement growing by the moment but more importantly, Iris felt herself soften as she watched him. He addressed each of them, petting them individually and Iris had to physically restrain herself from jumping in the middle of it all.

“Eris,” she said in an almost whine and that brought his attention back to her, looking over his shoulder with a smirk.

Almost at once, the hounds faced her, realizing they had a newcomer in their midst. Some paused, observing her while others started pacing slowly around her. Iris let her gaze flicker all over the so-called kennel as the hounds surveyed her and it was the most extravagant animal space she’d ever seen.

The place was warm and each hound had its sleeping space labeled with their name and pillows that looked more fluffed than the ones in their own bedroom. Each had their own water and food bowls that Iris could swear were solid gold. Toys were scattered across the floor and when her eyes fell on a basket filled to the brim with more, she turned to Eris in disbelief.

“Lethal, you say?”

“Just because they’re trained for a specific purpose doesn’t mean they can’t be spoiled,” he said defensively, his hounds still trying to get his affection and him happily obliging. “I need them to be loyal and to be loyal they need to be loved.

Iris felt the words loyal and loved vibrate through her body, their earlier conversation still ringing in her ear. Tugging on her ear, she circled in place, taking in more of the space until Eris finally stood.

“My pets, this is my wife. Please line up nicely to introduce yourselves,” he spoke and Iris shot him a look of surprise as his hounds did exactly that. “She is a special someone who will have access to you all as well. We must treat her nicely and protect her, yes?”

A chorus of barks followed his question and Iris huffed out a laugh.

“They...understand you?”

“Of course,” he said and walked back towards her. “They understand more than people give them credit for. So, feel free to talk to them as well.”

She raised a brow. “I thought you said they won’t listen to anyone but you?”

“I thought you said you could get them to cuddle with you?” he countered, and she rolled her eyes.

“I will. You’ll see,” she muttered and slowly lowered herself to be at eye level with the first of the hounds who only stared at her. “Hello, my friend. My name is Iris and I am here to love you with all my heart if you’ll let me.”

Eris’s lips twitched at the cooing in her voice. “This is Lyra. She’s the leader of the group. Win her over and the rest will follow.”

“Well hello, Lyra.” Iris gushed and held out her hand for Lyra to sniff. “It is so very nice to meet you. Please, please let me hug you.”

Iris held her breath as the hound observed her, waiting for her to do something and it felt like a test. To know if she was worthy of affection.

A heartbeat passed and Eris wondered how big her disappointment would be when Lyra ignored her. He almost wanted to bribe the hound.

But Lyra did not want to disappoint. Lyra reached out and sniffed Iris’s hand and Iris froze in place as the gray sleek hound slowly circled her, all the while sniffing. Eris watched as the hound sniffed at Iris and then looked towards him, sniffing in his general direction. He raised his brow at the hound who only blinked back at her master and turned back to circle Iris again.

With her hand still held out for Lyra, Iris whispered loudly, “Please let me love you, you majestic creature.”

Eris snorted and Iris shot him a reproachful look, but the hound now stopped in front of her, sniffing one more time at her hand, blinking up at her then slowly resting her head in Iris’s palm.

Iris tried but failed to hold back a giddy giggle and Eris could only blink in amusement.

“Well hello!” she practically squealed and Lyra looked up at Iris who gently cupped the hound’s face and leaned in to kiss her nose. “You’re so sweet and I love you already. Oh, yes I do.”

Eris watched and crossed his arms, pursing his lips so he didn’t do anything stupid like smile again. Which he had done too many times today already.

He watched in disbelief as his lethally trained leading hound whined softly and allowed Iris to not only pet her but scoop her in her arms.

“You little traitor,” he muttered and Iris laughed. “How are people going to be afraid of you if you succumb to sweet words so easily? I’ve been boasting about you for nothing.”

Lyra only woofed and seeing their leader sit so calmly in the arms of their master’s guest, the eleven other hounds approached her cautiously.

“Oh hello!” she said sweetly, reaching out her free hand to pet whichever one was closest. “And who are you? And you? Oh, look at you all!” Glancing up at Eris, she squinted at him. “Introduce me now, please.”

Scoffing, Eris lowered his hand to pet one of his other hounds as he rattled off their names, pointing to each one. “That’s Sirius, Ara, Carina, Apus, Phoenix, Leo, Vela, Atlas, Pavo, Canis, and Antares.”

Iris slowly looked at him with a raised brow. “Are those —”

“Inspired by the constellations. Yes. The Night Court can’t claim the stars as their own.” he said, the tips of his ears heated and Iris held back a smile, turning back to Lyra and Atlas who had come closer. “Say what you will but their names suit them.”

“Self-conscious about that, huh?” she teased, petting the fourth hound to settle itself near her feet. “It seems I’ve pushed more than one of your buttons today.”

Eris tensed briefly, rubbing at his ear. “I didn’t mean to get firm with you. Or grab your arm,” he said quietly.

Iris didn’t reply, her focus on the hounds surrounding her, each one trying to feel her touch — much like their master craved.

Eris lowered himself to pet Sirius then softly added, “You need to understand. The way things are with my father...if he sensed any ill will from me, he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me. Or use you to hurt me.”

Iris’s mouth tightened. “Why?”

“It’s how he keeps us all in check,” he said. “You may be my wife now, but you aren’t the first female in my life. It did not end well between me and her because of him.”

Iris thought back to Lucien and his first lover. Beron hadn’t hesitated to ruin them and that was because he thought Jesminda was beneath him. What would he do to the wife of a traitor son?

“What happened?” she whispered and Eris’s shoulders tensed.

“It was a long time ago,” he said quietly, his hands gentle on Ara. “She wasn't a lesser fae like Jesminda so he really went out of his way to make her uncomfortable. To bother her. To try and run her out.”

As if sensing Eris’s tone shifting, two of his hounds brushed up against him and he gave them a small smile. “In the end, my father won and got what he wanted from her willingly...she left soon after and has been happily wedded for years now.” he continued, and Iris didn’t miss the way his shoulders seemed to hunch at the words. She desperately wanted to keep her disgust at his father off her face and debated whether to reach out a hand. But his shoulders carried so much tightness, that she kept her hands to herself.

He cleared his throat and then added, “None of my relationships were serious after that. There wasn’t a point. So, I just wasted time and kept any dalliances quiet.”

Iris bit her lip, watching him avoid her eyes. It made her hesitate...but she had to ask.

“I want to ask one more question,” she said quietly. “But if you don’t want to tell me, that’s alright too.”

Eris looked at her, his gaze assessing. A heartbeat of silence passed before he finally said, “Mor.”

Iris nodded and watched as Eris looked away, seemingly debating.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” she added again, and he shook his head before giving her a tight smile.

“If you’re asking about my part of the story and whether I did leave her on the border or not,” he said and let out a breath, “That part is true.”

Iris’s hands paused their petting and she swallowed. “Even in the state she was in?”

Eris looked down at the several hounds that had surrounded the two of them, almost encompassing them in a circle. He let Lyra nudge him into petting her and it was a moment before he could meet Iris’s gaze.

“What happened with Mor is something I will regret having any kind of part in for as long as I live.” he murmured “But you have to understand, if I had touched her...if I had tried to help her...it meant a worse fate.”

Iris felt a sense of dread rise in her, watching Eris’s jaw clench, especially when another hound whined softly and drew closer to him.

“It meant…” he continued faintly. “My father could do whatever he wanted to her and then make me do whatever he wanted to her. It would’ve been a fate worse than death. She may not have wanted our union but neither did I.”

“I’m sorry for asking,” she said softly but Eris shook his head.

“You can always ask. It’s a fair question,” he replied, his expression neutral. “Mor made her decision and I had to make mine. I was young and had no power so I wouldn’t have been able to protect her. He would’ve capitalized on that. The only thing I could do was send for the Illyrians to come get her and I paid dearly for that. It doesn’t make me noble by any means but I did what I could in that situation. I would’ve never wished what happened to her on anyone.”

This time Iris didn’t hesitate to reach out a hand and gently lay it on his. He glanced down at it and then back at her.

“Do not think I am unaware that I am the villain in her story. It is her story to tell, and I have made peace with it.” he continued and met Iris’s gaze. “But it is not a narrative I wish to continue with anyone else.”

Iris bit the corner of her lip then gave him a tight smile of her own. “Anyone else?”

He returned the same smile. “Anyone else.”

A beat of silence passed and because Iris didn’t want to think too deeply about his words and his tone, she said, “Should I be concerned about having sister wives at some point? ‘Anyone else’ seems a tad vague.”

Eris snorted. “I’m barely surviving with one wife, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

She bit back her small smile and with her hand still on his, she gently squeezed. “Thank you. For sharing that with me.”

Eris seemed to freeze for a moment and then blinked and quietly said, “Thank you for asking.”

They watched each other for another moment and Iris’s heart beat wildly as his thumb grazed her hand. His eyes dropped to their joined hands and Iris watched as he opened his palm, her hand now resting fully in his.

“You have lovely hands,” he said soberly.

Her hand twitched in his, but she left it there as he continued to brush his thumb against it. “They were meant to be playing the piano, I think.”

“To wield a dagger too, I’d say.”

“Best of both worlds.”

And Iris felt her cheeks heat when he looked at her, the corner of his mouth curving up. She glanced away and though a part of her didn’t want to — and that same part of her deeply enjoyed seeing her hand held in someone else’s, she pulled away before it started shaking and stood.

Eris’s hand closed on the space where her hand had rested and then slowly stood as well just as Iris sighed softly. She bit her lip, willing her heart to slow as she turned to look at him.

“Your father is going to be a big problem, isn’t he?”

Eris snorted and met her gaze. “He’s always been a big problem. He’s just gotten worse since under the mountain.” he replied and added more urgently, “It’s why you can’t say things like you did outside. It’s why I let him overpower me and it’s why you need to be careful which mask you wear around him. It’s why my mother —”

But he cut himself off here and Iris knew without him saying, just how much his mother still had to put up with the High Lord.

She thought back to what Eris had told her before.

It is in our best interest to play by the expectations so that no one looks too closely at us.

“I understand,” she said. “I don’t like it. But I understand.”

Eris nodded and if Iris had blinked, she might have missed his appreciative glance.

“I don’t like it either. No one does but we make it work until the right moment.”

Iris stood next to him, her hands still rubbing behind Lyra’s ear. “Until the right moment?”

Eris seemed to weigh the words he said next very carefully. “There are...pieces at play,” he said slowly, and Iris blinked. “It will work out when it does.”

She furrowed her brows but nodded all the same then looked down as another hound nudged her hand. Smiling, she petted Vela and then looked up at Eris.

“So, what do I have to do to convince you to let them sleep in our bed?”

His heart did a strange spasm at the words ‘our bed’ but Eris composed himself well enough to roll his eyes casually. “Their beds here are posh enough.”

“You’re telling me you’ve never let them sleep in your bed with you?” she asked and lowered herself once more as the hounds surrounded her again. “What a waste.”

He debated how truthful to be with her here because...well. How else would they build something if he wasn’t honest?

Iris waited with a challenging look in her eyes, and it was quiet for a moment until Eris pursed his lips, feeling almost compelled to speak, and finally, after a heartbeat of debate, he relented.

“I give them all turns so my father doesn’t pay too much attention to the fact that I actually care about them for reasons other than killing. The only exception has been this past week which is why they’re very excited to see me,” he said quickly and fought back his embarrassment as Iris gave him a knowing look with a smile.

“I do not object to them joining us. They can be part of the pillow barricade,” she said, and Eris’s eye roll wasn’t forced this time.

“You won’t have that for too long though, will you?” he said, shooting her a look and Iris narrowed her eyes at him.

“What makes you think that?”

“All this blushing and smiling? You’re already deeply in love with me, wife,” he said and grinned at her snort. “I see it in your eyes, you want to take me right here, right now but we can’t traumatize my hounds.”

Iris let out a laugh and his lips twitched as she stood again. “You really do live in a fantasy world, husband,” she said with a shake of her head. “Can we bring them along on the tour?”

“If you’re nice to me, I’ll let them join us in the evening.” he offered, and Iris narrowed her eyes once more at him. He only smiled.

Turning to the hounds still surrounding them, she gave them a sigh and then said, “Your father is the worst.”

Eris choked. “Father?”

“Isn’t that what you are?” she asked with a cheeky smile.

“I — get out,” he ordered, pointing to the door and Iris laughed softly.

Ignoring his request, she turned to the hounds. “Until we come back for you again, I will miss you so very dearly.” she cooed, and Eris watched her in absolute amusement as she leaned down and kissed each of them on the head.

Nose in the air, she shoved past him and Eris stood blinking for a moment before chuckling. Turning to his hounds, he gave them a mockingly stern look. “We need to have a chat about how easily she won you all over.” he reprimanded but the hounds only woofed in response.

As if to tell him, she’s easily winning you over too.

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