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serpentandlily · 3 months

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Sly Fox, Dumb Bunny III

Sly Fox, Dumb Bunny - Eris x Archeron!Reader

Summary: You find yourself ensnared by a sly, cunning fox. A very handsome, irritating one.

Warnings: none

a/n: hope you enjoy this one just as much as the others!

➻❥ Part I ➻❥ Part II

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

Part III

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

“That was…weird,” Mor remarked.

You agreed. You had no idea what to make of Eris’s behavior. Feyre and Rhys seemed to be locked in a mental conversation, leaving the rest of you to silence. You rubbed at your arm, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. You didn’t want to create any problems for your sister but you also didn’t want to leave.

“He had a point,” Rhys finally said before looking at you with those violet eyes that reminded you far too much of a certain pair of amber ones. They both held too many secrets. “But I don’t think Beron will prove to be much of a problem as long as we keep his focus on other things.”

Feyre nodded along. “Besides, what is Beron going to do about it, anyways? Short of killing us, there is nothing to be done.”

You felt a flicker of fear but pushed it down. Rhys was the most powerful High Lord. Surely he would defend you and your sister if it came down to it. Feyre was also powerful in her own right and could fight for herself but you…

“We won’t let any harm come to you,” Rhys promised, his voice softening. “And what did I say about keeping those mental shields up?”

You turned red and quickly slammed the gates to your mind closed.

“I would like to stay,” you mumbled, sheepishly. “But I don’t want to cause problems.”

Mor waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense. Eris talks out of his ass most of the time. He probably just wanted to put us on edge. You being here is not a problem, doll.”

You didn’t feel comforted in the slightest.

“Well, if that's settled,” Rhys said, standing up. “I believe it is time for us to make our way towards the meeting room.”

You let out a breath, trying to settle your nerves from Eris’s display. Feyre gave you a small smile, linking her arm through yours. “Don’t look so nervous. There’s going to be some friendly faces in the crowd.”

You nodded, still feeling anxious about the whole thing. Although you hardly considered Vassa and Jurian your friends, at least you were familiar with them. Unfortunately, you were also familiar enough with Lord Nolan and his son.

Feyre placed her other hand in Rhys’s extended elbow and the two of them led you out of the chambers and into the wide corridor. Your breaths were still shaky once your group got to the staircase that would lead you to the meeting room with the reflection pool.

Feyre unwrapped her arm from yours and Azriel stepped forward instead.

“Azriel is going to escort you in,” she explained. “If you feel nervous, just stay by his side. Okay?”

You gave her a small nod and let them lead the way forward. When your group finally reached the top of the staircase, you were a bit relieved to see that the Autumn Court wasn’t present yet. Your eyes darted around the room, landing on all the various High Lords and their entourages, trying to place them in their respective courts.

“That right there is Tarquin,” Azriel whispered from beside you, following your eyesight. “High Lord of Summer.”

“And him?”

“Kallias, High Lord of Winter. His wife and mate, Vivianne, is the female next to him.”

“Another High Lady?”

“Not quite,” Azriel answered. He inclined his head towards a different group. “That’s Helion, High Lord of the Day Court.”

The male he nodded to was quickly approaching your group, a serpentine smile on his face. Gods, you were still not quite used to how beautiful the fae were. Helion looked like a God in his own right. His eyes passed over your group until they landed on you and lingered for a second longer.

You watched as he greeted Feyre, Rhysand and Mor before turning his head towards you and Azriel.

“Shadowsinger,” he nearly purred, “Always happy to see you.”

Azriel didn’t smile, didn’t move. In fact, he shot the High Lord an exasperated look as if this flirtatious behavior was all too common. That didn’t stop you from blushing when the High Lord looked at you and smiled coyly.

“And who might you be?”

He reached out a hand but before you could open your mouth, the High Lord was suddenly knocked to the side, stumbling over himself.

“My apologies, High Lord,” Eris sneered at Helion. “Perhaps you shouldn’t stand in the middle of a walkway.”

Eris strode away before Helion could even respond, his brothers trailing after him, glaring around the room. Your jaw nearly dropped at his audacity but you quickly schooled your face, watching Helion glare at their backs. He seemed to shake off the encounter quickly, his charming persona snapping back into place as your sister came up on your side.

“Helion,” she said, “this is my sister, Y/n. She’s here to help us discuss the peace treaty with the humans.”

Your introduction with Helion was short lived as Thesan called for the start of the meeting now that everyone was here. The first half of the meeting was just with the fae before the human leaders were to be brought in. Since you were primarily there for the humans, your thoughts drifted away as the fae leaders began their discussions.

Your eyes trailed over all the courts—taking interest in how different each fae looked depending on where they came from. But your gaze kept falling on one fae in particular. The red headed male sat behind his daunting father. He hadn’t once looked in your direction. Part of you was glad for it, because it would be embarrassing to be caught blatantly staring at him as you were. Another part of you longed for him to look your way… You had no idea where that feeling came from.

Eris was dressed far more formally than he had been the last two times you had seen him. He wore a dark green vest stitched with golden thread, tiny leaves embroidered along the seams, on top of a cream button up. A golden fox brooch was pinned at the neck of his collar, probably the Vanserra family’s emblem. His pants were an even darker green, almost appearing black and neatly tucked into his boots. Around his shoulders was a matching green cape coat embellished in gold detailing much like his vest.

His red hair looked like a raging fire next to all the green, his pale skin glistening in the soft lighting of the room. He was so distractingly beautiful, even with that familiar haughty smirk on his face. It didn’t matter that there were far more powerful, commanding fae in the room. Your eyes could not keep off him.

Like a moth to flame.

Eris’s honey amber eyes finally met yours and you felt something snapped inside of you. You gasped as a golden thread unraveled within you and shot out across the room—all the way to the male seated across from you….all the way to Eris.

Mate.

The word clanged through your head, drowning all other thoughts.

Mate.

Eris was your mate.

In your shock, you missed the warning look Eris shot your way. You gasped, loudly, drawing the attention of the room as you stood so suddenly, your chair was knocked to the ground behind you. Your heart was pounding in your chest, that golden thread thrumming with sparks of flame.

Your sister quickly rose from her seat, placing a hand on your upper arm to steady you. Azriel too had jumped up, his hand ghosting over Truth-teller, as if ready for whatever invisible threat was occuring.

Eris stood abruptly, almost panting. Your eyes never left those amber ones. Not even as they seemed to plead with you to sit, to hide, to disappear from this room entirely.

“What’s wrong?” Feyre asked, her voice hurried and filled with concern. Her eyes followed your line of sight and darted back to you and down to the hand you held to your chest.

Rhysand seemed to catch on to what was happening quicker.

“Azriel, get her out of here,” he ordered the shadowsinger.

A scarred hand wrapped around yours and a second later, you were engulfed in a wave of shadows.

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

“Rhysand,” Thesan said, “Please answer for that display. What antics have occurred in your court to disrupt such a meeting?”

Feyre’s hands were shaking as Rhysand latched onto them, guiding her back to her chair softly. “Apologies, Y/n is still a bit sensitive to magic since coming out of the cauldron. You’ll have to forgive her sudden departure.”

“And here I thought you had moved on from your lying and deceiving ways, Rhysand,” Beron jumped in, his voice filled with wicked amusement. “It appears a congratulation is in order.” He turned to face his son. “It seems to me that a mating bond has just snapped into place.”

Eris’s face was unreadable as he sat back down, fists clenched at his sides.

“Explain yourselves,” Tarquin interjected, looking bemused. “How do you have another Made female in your court, Rhysand?”

“She is my sister,” Feyre declared. “And she was there the day Hybern forced all of them into the cauldron.”

“Why was she not included in the reports from that day?” Thesan asked, sitting up straighter.

“She was under our protection,” Rhysand answered. “She was hardly more than a child at the time.”

“Liar. She never came out of the cauldron,” Tamlin said, sharply, eyes narrowing. “Your reports never included her because she never came out of the cauldron that day.”

“Well, considering you all just saw her alive and in person,” Rhysand shrugged, picking a piece of lint from his coat. “Obviously, she did. Perhaps your head was too far up Hybern’s ass to see.”

Tamlin growled but was cut off by Beron.

“Where have you taken my son’s mate?” Beron demanded.

“That is none of your concern.”

“Rhysand, you cannot possibly keep her away from her mate,” Thesan said. “He is entitled—”

“He is entitled to nothing,” Feyre snapped. “The Night Court does not force females to accept mating bonds. As she falls under our jurisdiction, she has our full protection against any of your antiquated beliefs.”

“Leave it to the Night Court to spit on traditions,” Beron hissed. “A mating bond works both ways. As the other half falls under my jurisdiction, my son has all the right to invoke a blood duel if you wish to keep her from him.”

The Lady of Autumn looked alarmed at her husband’s words but said nothing. Neither did Eris, who seemed to be choosing his next moves very carefully.

“Wouldn’t be the first time the Night Court stole a female away,” Tamlin said, sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

“Oh please, spare us from revisiting your despair,” Helion chuckled, humorlessly.

“Have we all forgotten why we are here today?” Kallias cut in, his tone cold. “Must we argue over something that does not involve the rest of our courts? This meeting has already been derailed and some of us have better things to do with our time then listen to squabbles.”

“This is not over, Rhysand,” Beron hissed. Eris still sat stoically behind his father, not faltering in the slightest. “You and I have much to discuss after we deal with the humans lest you wish to start a conflict between our courts.”

“Fine,” Rhysand growled. “But prepare yourself and your son for disappointment.”

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

You paced in the sitting room in the River House, your heart still beating rapidly, your thoughts out of control. A mating bond. A godsdamn mating bond had snapped between you and Eris of all people. Eris, the male whose reputation followed him like darkened clouds. Eris, the male who had left Mor to die in the woods all those years ago. Eris, the Heir of Autumn, the son of one of the most ruthless fae in all of Prythian.

Surely it was a mistake. It had to be.

“Why don’t you sit down?” Elain suggested, gently, patting the cushion beside her on the couch. “Feyre will get it all sorted out. You needn’t worry so much.”

“How can I not worry? How can I not worry when Eris of all people is my mate, Elain?” You rubbed at your chest, already feeling an emptiness there now that you had been separated from him. “This must be a mistake. A trick, perhaps?”

“Perhaps,” Elain agreed, though she didn’t sound like she believed it for one second. “But there’s not much you can do about it now. Not until they return from the meeting.”

You let out a long breath and plopped onto the couch next to her. Elain brushed a hand through your hair, guiding you to lay down on her lap. “It’ll be okay, Y/n. A mating bond isn’t the end of all things. Feyre would never let that male get his hands on you.”

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Some part of you wanted that male. Not the Eris that the others saw. But the one you had seen in those secret moments between the two of you. The alluring fox behind the mask.

Your heart sang for him now that the mating bond had snapped into place. He hadn’t seemed surprised in the slightest….like he had already known about it. Had it snapped for him? Had he known this whole time that you were his mate? Why wouldn’t he tell you? Maybe…

maybe he didn’t want you…

Hours went by. The whole night passed. You didn’t stray from the couch, neither did Elain. You appreciated your sister comforting you. You wished Nesta wasn’t on her mating vacation and was here to help you as well…maybe she would know what to do.

The door to the house opening had you sitting up, rubbing at your red rimmed eyes. Elain woke abruptly as well, wiping the drool that was dribbling from the corner of her mouth. Feyre, Rhysand and Mor strode in, all looking just as exhausted as you.

“Well, I’m glad that shitshow is over,” Mor said, falling on one of the settees dramatically.

A second later, Amren and Azriel came into the room, both wearing unreadable expressions. Amren’s silver eyes studied you for a moment before moving to Feyre and Rhysand.

“How’d it go?”

“Awful,” Rhysand sighed. “No one could come to an agreement.”

“Did the humans not want to sign?” You asked, purposefully avoiding the other topic.

Feyre shook her head. “No, they were…even less receptive than we thought they’d be.”

“What happens now?” Elain asked.

“We go through that again and again, I suppose,” Rhys answered. “Until a peace treaty is signed.”

The room fell into a heavy silence until you broke it, minutes later.

“And…and what of…” You trailed off, unable to say the words, unable to ask about the male that had been on your mind since you had been whisked away from the meeting.

“Beron will be visiting the Court of Nightmares tomorrow,” Rhys said, hesitantly, gauging your emotions. “To discuss what is to be done. It is unfortunate that he knows about the bond now because there is little Eris can do as long as his father is in power.”

“He can finally kill the bastard,” Mor grumbled into a pillow.

“We must tread carefully,” Amren said. “If Eris is forced to call for a blood duel against Rhysand, he will die and one of his brutish brothers will be next in line for the throne.”

“What!” You exclaimed. “A blood duel? Would he…would he really do that? Fight Rhysand even if it means certain death?”

Eris was powerful, sure. But he was still only an heir, not a full blown High Lord like Rhysand. He would be misted in seconds. Just that thought of it sent you into a panic.

“I’ll fight him in your place,” Azriel said, darkly, looking at Rhys but he shook his head.

“We cannot risk that,” Rhys said.

“Do you really think Beron would have his own son fight and die in a blood duel?” Feyre asked.

“Of course he would. One less person he has to keep off his throne,” Amren said.

“He’s a monster,” Elain whispered, staring at you with concern.

“Yes, he is,” Rhys sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “So we must do as Amren said and tread very carefully.”

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

The next day, you stood in the foyer of the River House, dressed in a simple dark blue, silk dress. Your stomach was tossing and turning with nerves, scared of what would happen during this meeting with Beron. You hated that you were causing your sister and Rhysand so much stress, hated that you were in the middle of this conflict.

You wished you could turn back time. Wished you could go back to that moment the mating bond snapped so you could hide the realization better. You had always worn your heart on your sleeve and it had finally bit you in the ass.

You had no idea how today was going to play out.

You were certain of one thing, though. You ached to see Eris again. The mating bond had nearly kept you up all night. Feyre had tried teaching you how to block if off, but it was hard. Eris seemed to have no problem keeping his side of the bond locked down. It infuriated you to know he was probably feeling every single emotion from you.

“Are you ready?” Rhys asked as Feyre, Mor and Azriel slid into view.

Rhys and Feyre were dressed like they always were when making trips to Hewn City. Mor wore a scandalous red dress that clung to her beautiful curves and Azriel wore his Illyrian leathers, as per usual, all seven siphons on display.

You nodded, unable to even speak.

The next hour seemed to happen while you were stuck in a daze. Rhys winnowed you all to Hewn City and led you into the throne room where everyone was waiting. Word must’ve spread quickly of what had occurred. Keir escorted Beron and Eris into the throne room after the formalities were done.

You couldn’t find the nerve to look at Eris now that you were in the same room. You had shown your hand during that meeting and had caused an avalanche to fall in its wake. You felt guilty, ashamed and scared…so scared.

A dumb bunny, indeed.

Rhys and Feyre led you all to a private meeting room, shutting the door in Keir’s face as he tried to join. You sat, hiding your shaking hands in your lap, keeping your eyes on the floor.

“Well, I assume you have come to your senses by now,” Beron said, leaning back in his chair as if he commanded the room. “The girl comes with us. The Night Court owes Autumn a bride as it is.”

His glare focused on Mor for a moment and she scoffed in his direction.

“Not so fast, Beron,” Rhysand tsked, pouring himself a glass of wine. “We don’t owe you anything. It was your court that ultimately broke the marriage agreement all those years ago.”

Beron sat up with a sneer. “I believe it was broken the moment that girl decided to whore herself out to an Illyrian bastard of all people.”

You tensed in your seat, gripping the dress in your fists.

“Father, please,” Eris sighed, making you look up at him finally.

Beron glanced at his son before turning back to Rhysand. “You should be overjoyed that we’re willing to take the girl as it is, considering the beasts in your court have probably ran through her already.”

“Watch your mouth,” Feyre snapped.

The smell of burning wood filled the room and Eris flexed his hands, new scorch marks on the table underneath them. “Don’t speak of her like that.”

Beron laughed. It was an awful sound. “Right, my apologies, son. Don’t worry, those mating instincts will go away once you’ve fucked her for a near century.”

Your face turned bright red at the crude words. Eris growled. The sound was so primitive, so animalistic. It sent chills down your spine. Even Beron looked unnerved for a moment.

“You are not winning yourself any favors,” Rhysand purred, smirking at the older male. “Have you any dignity?”

“Have you?” Beron bit back. “You all but spit on the face of the Mother by keeping her away from her mate. This is more of a blessing for you then it is us. A marriage alliance with Autumn, one you do not deserve that we are graciously offering.”

“Let me make myself clear, Beron, since you refuse to listen,” Rhysand snapped. “Our court has no laws that require a female to accept a bond. You would really go to war over something like this? While our courts are still recovering from the last one?”

Rhys and Feyre had theorized that Beron was so adamant about forcing you into the bond not because he cared for his son, but for two other reasons. One, you were Made. They had all seen how powerful Nesta was because of it and Beron craved power above all else.

Two, it was another way to keep Eris in check. To dangle you over his head as a threat.

“Perhaps we should ask what she wants,” Mor interjected.

“What she wants does not matter,” Beron snarled. “She is mated to an Autumn male, by our laws she must accept.”

“She is a resident of our court,” Feyre argued back. “She does not have to accept it.”

“Then you leave us no choice,” Beron said, rising from his seat. He planted his palms on the table, staring at you all of a sudden. You crumbled into yourself. “Is that what you want, girl? You want us to declare a blood duel against your family?”

You shook your head as Rhysand stood, slamming his own hands on the table. “You would have your son fight in a blood duel against me, a High Lord?”

“Oh, it wouldn’t be against you,” Beron laughed, cruelly. His eyes fell on Feyre. “And it wouldn’t be my son. I will demand a blood duel against your mate. A mate for a mate. Very fitting, don’t you agree?”

Feyre versus Beron…. That bastard had planned this. You’d all been so concerned with Eris declaring a blood duel you didn’t even realize this would be a way Beron could kill Feyre as he wished in a legal way—as barbaric as it was.

And most of the other courts held the mating bond in such regard, you wondered if you’d find any allies against him for doing this beside Helion.

Rhysand growled, darkness leaking off of him,

“And I will just fight you in her place.”

Beron smiled. “Oh, but you see, you can’t. Once a blood duel has been declared you either surrender to the terms or fight. I don’t know where you got your information from but there are no place holders allowed.”

Your heart was racing in your chest.

Silence fell so heavy in the room your ears were ringing. All of this was all your fault. You felt tears line your eyes. You couldn’t let Feyre fight for you. You wouldn’t. Even though she could probably hold her own against him, he was ages older than her—more battle worn. She’d be at a huge disadvantage.

And Eris couldn’t do anything about this, not if it was his father who wished to fight a blood duel. He couldn’t order his father not to.

You couldn’t let her do this. You owed your life to her, you owed everything to her. It was time to start fighting your own battles.

“I’ll go,” you whispered, so quietly you wondered if you had even said the words out loud. “I’ll go.”

Feyre’s head whipped to you. “No, absolutely not.”

But you shook your head. “I do not want anyone fighting on my behalf. I will go with them.”

Beron’s grin grew into one that could rival the devil himself.

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

“We will find a way out of this,” Feyre whispered into your ear as she hugged you. “I promise. Just hold out for us, okay? We’ll get you out of there.”

You nodded, pulling away to brush the tears off her cheek. You weren’t even going to be able to say goodbye to Elain and Nesta. Beron was demanding that you leave right away.

“I’ll be okay, Fey,” you murmured to her.

“Enough of the dramatics,” Beron called out. “We’re leaving. Now.”

Eris didn’t look at you as he held out a hand. You swallowed audibly and walked to his side, grasping it softly. You spared one last glance at your sister before you were winnowed out of Hewn City and into the den of foxes.

“Come here, girl,” Beron barked, now standing before his throne. “Let me get a look at you.”

You glanced at Eris but he just stood there, stoically, not meeting your gaze. You walked towards Beron, trying not to shake in fear.

The older male grasped your chin in his hand, turning your face from side to side as he examined you. Eris’s other brothers stood at the bottom of the dais, their wolfish grins doing little to make you less nervous. The Lady of Autumn was seated in a small chair to the side of the throne, her eyes not lifting from the floor.

“You look just like my other son’s mate,” he remarked. “Smaller, though. The runt of the family, I’m assuming. Pity. Were you not fed properly as a child?”

You weren’t even sure how to reply to that. You decided not to respond and Beron’s eyes narrowed.

“Hmm,” he mused, finally letting go of you. “Have you sullied yourself with those beasts?”

“Father,” Eris growled, stepping up next to you. “That is enough.”

Beron chuckled, mirthlessly, waving a dismissive hand. “Fine, take her away and get her out of those whorish clothes.”

Eris grabbed you by your upper arm and dragged you out of the throne room. You had to walk quickly, trying to keep up with his long legs as he led you down corridor after corridor. The Forest House was magnificent, beautiful. It was a shame that someone like Beron ran this court, you thought, as you studied the place.

Eris finally stopped in front of a room, yanking the door open and pushing you inside. You glared at him as he slammed the door shut behind him, crossing your arms. You were inside of a huge suite, it seemed. A lavish sitting room, with two doors on either side, likely leading to a bedroom and bathing chamber.

“These are my quarters,” Eris explained as he shrugged off his cape coat and tossed it on the red, velvet couch. He began to unbutton his vest as he faced you. “You are to stay here. Do not leave without an escort. Tomorrow, I will assign you two handmaidens to help you.”

Your eyes widened. “I’m…I’m meant to stay here…in your room?”

Eris let out a long sigh. “It is the safest place for you and I do not want to risk rumors.”

“B-but surely this is improper,” you stuttered. “We are not properly mated.”

Eris let out a cruel laugh. “We wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t made such a spectacle at the High Lords’ meeting so don’t start complaining to me.”

You felt a flare of anger.

“You knew,” you grumbled. “You knew about the mating bond between us and you didn’t tell me! Perhaps if you had told me, I wouldn’t have even been in that room! I would’ve stayed home.”

“Unlikely,” Eris sneered, pouring himself a glass of whiskey from a decanter on a bar cart behind the couch. He chugged the drink down, loosening his collar with his other hand. “You don’t seem to have a lot going on in that pretty little head of yours, bunny. Did you ever stop to think about why I might be hiding it?”

“You are such a prick,” you snapped. “I am not one of your little pawns. I am not a part of your stupid games! You should have told me!”

You went to whirl around but Eris grabbed your wrist, dragging you closer to him. You glared up at him, ignoring the way his heat enveloped you in its embrace.

“This is not a game to me,” Eris growled. “Have you any idea what you’ve cost me? Have you any idea what he will do to you if I so much as take a single step out of line now?”

You yanked your wrist out of his grip. “Have you any idea what this has cost me? I’m the one who's been forced out of my home—forced to come here!”

“And who’s fault is that?”

Eris slammed the empty glass down on the cart.

“Gods, sorry I couldn’t read your oh-so-clever mind! Sorry I couldn’t act like an emotionless shell of a person like you!”

“Watch how you speak to me,” Eris snarled. “I can make your life here a living hell, bunny.”

“I’m not scared of you, Eris,” you snapped. “You don’t fool me. I see the real you under that mask and you know what I think—I think it is you who is scared.”

Eris ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “You know nothing. Do you understand? Nothing.”

“Then tell me! Tell me so I can help you! I know you do not wish to see your father in power much longer. Let me help!”

Eris grabbed your chin in his hand, forcing you to look up at him. You hated how cold his amber eyes looked.

“No. Absolutely not. I will not involve you in the slightest,” he snarled before his eyes softened and his hand slipped to cup your cheek instead. “I cannot…I cannot bear to see this place make you cruel. Stay here, where you’ll be safe, bunny. Leave everything else to me. You were not made for this place. But me…You have no idea what kind of monster I can be.”

Eris’s hand dropped back to his side and he stepped away from you, heading towards the door. You were breathing so heavily, your lungs constricting your ribs against the dress you wore.

“Can we talk about this? Please!”

He said nothing, reaching for the handle of the door.

“Eris, please!”

His hand fell against the doorframe, flame licking at the wood—scorching it again. A growl rumbled through his chest and his head hung between his shoulders but he didn’t turn around, didn’t look at you.

“Do not,” he groaned. “Do not say my name like that.”

And then he was gone, leaving you completely alone.

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

When you woke up later that night, you found yourself in an unfamiliar room. You sat up, realizing you were laying in a bed. You were certain you had fallen asleep on the couch, not wanting to even go into Eris’s bedroom.

The silk, dark orange sheets next to you were undisturbed. You rubbed at your eyes, getting up from under the covers. You were still in the dress you had fallen asleep in.

You padded over to the door, opening it slowly. You took two steps into the sitting room before you froze in your spot.

There, on the couch, was Eris. The fireplace was roaring in front of him as he slept, a lump on the floor by his feet. You blinked away the blurriness in your eyes to see what it was.

Ashera was curled up there, the dog you had met that day you had accidentally winnowed into the forest here. She slept soundly on the floor next to him.

You stepped back into the bedroom and closed the door behind you, quietly, not wanting to disturb them.

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

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thelov3lybookworm · 7 days

Text

Grumpy

Summary: Amelia is grumpy

•○●⛦●○•

A/n: just a silly lil drabble heh

anyways, enjoyy!

Going out with anyone that was not his wife and daughter was not something Eris really looked forward to, because he just despised every creature that was not his mate or the being they created.

But obviously, his wife being the complete opposite of him, was a social butterfly, and probably had more friends than she could count. And because of that, Eris had to suffer too.

He stood off to the side as Y/n greeted Vivianne, bright smiles on both the females faces as they embraced. Kallias too smiled, his son nestled in the crook of his neck as he slept away. The babe looked peaceful, unaware of his surroundings, only knowing hat he was safe in the arms of his father, his protector.

Eris and Amelia, though, they were both in a bad mood. Eris, because he was forced to come along and pretend to be nice in front of his fellow high lord and his lady, and Amelia, because she did not have her favourite puppy, mister fluff, panting around her.

She had a permanent pout on her face as she fumbled with the lapels of Eris's jacket, a furrow in her brow. If Eris was being honest, she looked adorable when she was mad. She could be in one of her worst moods and Eris would be in love with his daughter.

As the two mothers continued to converse, Eris leaned forward to place a kiss on Amelia's forehead, right over her brows, but the moment he pulled back, she frowned up at him.

"Is my little princess mad?"

She turned her head away, her eyes going to Kallias, who waved at her, making her grumble. Eris grinned, kissing her temple as he waited for Y/n to give him some idea on when the group was going to step into the warmth of the palace. Winter court was too freezing for Eris's liking.

Vivianne, seemingly only realising that Eris was present too, turned to him, smiling. "Hello, high lord. Hope you didn't have too many troubles crossing the border?"

Eris smiled back politely. "No, lady. There were no issues."

She nodded, giddily stepping forward as she cooed at Amelia.

"Hello to you too little one."

She reached out to grab Amelia, who recoiled, just a little, her hand curling into Eris's clothes. Vivianne didn't stop, trying to pick up Amelia, who then let out an ear piercing cry, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. The winter court female stepped back, her eyes wide and apologetic as she tried to console the crying babe.

Eris started bouncing his daughter, letting her lay her head on his chest as she cried. "It's okay my love, nothing happened."

She whimpered in response, her hands on his shoulders, trying to hold on. Y/n reassured her friend that she did nothing wrong, that Amelia had just been fussy since morning, and Eris had to reign in a disbelieving scoff.

As if it was Amelia's fault for crying.

He turned away a little, still rocking her back and forth as he continued whispering in her ear. "Its alright, no one will take you from daddy. Shh. Its okay."

Everyone else decided to proceed into the majestic palace, and as Amelia quieted down after a few moments of relentless sobbing, Eris sighed, relieved as he started following the others into the home of the High lord.

Amelia raised her head to look at Eris, her lip jutting out, silver lining her wide, adorable eyes. Eris smiled at her, placing his lips at her forehead and eyes before se nestled against him again, starting to drift off.

"Sleep, my love." Eris hummed, rubbing her back. "I'll try to get us back home as soon as I can."

Acotar Taglist: @bubybubsters @eos-princess @nightless @harrystylesfan2686

@cassie6392 @kennedy-brooke @tele86 @miluiel1

@hnyclover @minnieoo @sidrapotter @piceous21

@mybestfriendmademe @saltedcoffeescotch @eve175 @starsinyourseyes

@starswholistenanddreamsanswered @cumuluscranium @byyalady @lilah-asteria

@girlswithimagination @gardenofrunar @girlswithimagination @sunnyspycat

@artists-ally @milswrites @riddlesb1tch @berryzxx

@buttermilktea11

Eris Vanserra Taglist: @fell-in-luvs @azrielsmate3 @tele86 @caraaaaugh

@ysmtttty

#eris x reader #eris vanserra x reader #eris vanserra #eris acotar #a court of thorns and roses #acotar fandom #acotar fanfic #acotar fluff #acotar series #acotar writing #a court of mist and fury #mating bond #sarah j maas #acotar headcanon #pro eris vanserra #acotar #high lord eris #eris vandaddy #heir of autumn court

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ennawrite · 1 month

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What would’ve been a real serve is if the land/Mother/whoever tf decides who becomes High Lord would have actually made Feyre High Lady.

Because right now, it’s nothing but a name. There’s nothing to back it up besides Rhys saying so. But if she was actually chosen, then even Rhys himself wouldn’t be able to question it. I also don’t think Rhys giving her that title makes him a feminist king. It feels more like a manipulative tool than anything but I digress.

Idk I just don’t care very much for the ultimate girl boss move when a man had to give her that title. And in reality…her status doesn’t particularly stand on any solid ground. The High Lords aren’t High Lords because they just decided to be. It all depends on who the power goes to. Even Feyre’s magic wasn’t given to her by some higher power (although I do think she deserves to have those powers since she saved them…but that doesn’t make her High Lady material).

Vivianne led the Winter Court for fifty years, and still wasn’t made High Lady…because the power didn’t go to her. She wasn’t chosen. That’s likeeee kinda the whole point of having High Lords. It’s not something that’s voted on or given to them, it’s chosen for them. By something much larger than any of them.

I feel like we often see that Feyre and Rhysand are not on equal ground. No matter what Feyre says, Rhysand’s vote will always trump her own. The Inner Circle will always choose Rhysand over her. They are not equals, in any way. And I am tired of being gaslit into believing so.

ALSO, I don’t think Tamlin being blunt and saying “There are no High Ladies” is sexist. He spoke facts and I refuse to be mad at him for not dangling a fake title in front of Feyre’s face that truly doesn’t mean much of anything when you actually think about it for more than five seconds.

#acotar #acotar critical #the high lords of prythian #rhysand critical #anti rhysand #feyre archeron critical #sjm critical #critical sjm #pro get feyre away

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moonlightazriel · 4 months

Text

Son of the Darkness XX /// Azriel X F!Reader

Summary: Hidden for so long The court of shadows thrived, and things were great until the high lord's death, now the next in line should assume the crown of high lord of shadows, will he accept his duties?

Warnings: What can I say at this point? It’s all out war….

Word Count: 1,8K

Notes: Yep, Y/N’s speech was taken from Theseus speech from the movie Immortals, sue me

Son of the Darkness Masterlist

Main Masterlist

The extent of Hybern’s army was terrifying, thousands of men gathered to kill whoever dared to stand in their way. But as Y/N watched their troops, blue, golden, orange, black and yellow, all the armies from seven High Lords, she knew they had a chance.

Vivianne, the soon to be High Lady of Winter, held the human girl, Briar, in her arms. Evanore was around them, petting and talking to the white bears the army had. The atmosphere felt almost peaceful as they got ready for the battle.

It took two days to transport the whole army, going directly against Hybern. They had moved again, and they all came to the conclusion that Hybern was clearly postponing the battle, after all, he couldn’t get what Nesta took from the cauldron back, and now that she had more control over her power, he was probably scared of what she could do.

And now, they were ready to face that army, a few kilometres from where they originally planned to meet them. The witches have been draining power from the earth for a few hours, and the army was resting until it was time to face each other.

This time, Rune and the others would join, healing would have to wait, as all the force was necessary in that battlefield. They had also transported any human near the battle to Adriata where princess Cresseida was taking care of them.

Feyre and Amren had a plan to stop the cauldron and the army, needing to get close enough to touch it. And they’re also getting ready to release Bryaxis on that army. She hasn’t seen Feyre in a while. But she had checked on Elain, she was still afraid but wasn’t hurt.

The inner circle reunited, exchanging their comforting words to each other, some prayed to the mother, the witches kept to themselves but Y/N held her sword, in front of the NightFall.

“I am one of you, I share your blood and I share your fear.” The female yelled, her voice reaching the quiet soldiers. “But to run now, we offer our souls and the souls of the innocent to a terrible darkness.” One by one, the soldiers from her army started to hit their shields with their swords, the music echoing through the camp. Until every one who held a shield joined.

“We must stand and fight, their numbers count for nothing in that battlefield.” More chanting. “They are cowards, they hide behind their masks, they bleed like you and I.” She yelled even louder. Azriel watched with pride filling his senses as his mate encouraged the whole army. “Listen to me! Stand your ground! Fight for your honour!” The swords slammed against the shield. “Fight for the man beside you! Fight for those who bore you! Fight for your children! Fight for your future! Fight for your name! Survive!”

With her sword pointed to the army who gathered near the beach, waiting for the bloodbath, she yelled one more time.

“Let us write history with Hybern’s blood.” The soldiers behind her roared their fury, and they marched to the war.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Battle happened everywhere, metal clashing against metal, the sounds of man dying filled her senses, so overwhelming and bone chilling, but she swallowed any trace of fear, going on her killing spree.

Bryaxis had just joined, the endless shadow passed by her, hummed in greetings to her. She could see Azriel in the skies, Rhysand’s power in huge waves, everyone who had magic in their blood used how they could.

The witches formed a unity, walking together, using both magic and their weapons to kill. Eris was behind Evanore, his eyes tracking her every move, Y/N felt her heart swell with happiness, she didn’t have to worry about her.

Her magic flared in strikes, men falling to the ground whenever they touched it. The necklace kept shining between her breasts, indicating that Azriel was alright. And when she couldn’t reach with magic, her sword was finding its target.

Everything was happening so fast, the three figures, The Bone Craver, Bryaxis and The Weaver killed hundreds in their path, the soldiers from Hybern were slowly being erased from the earth.

Trumpets sounded somewhere to the north, and Y/N watched from in between the commotion, three more armies joined, a green one from Spring Court, another orange one, Beron walked with more soldiers, Eris’s brothers mounting horses from in between the army, fire blazed and something exploded. The third army was made from humans.

The ash poison was burning in blue flames, giving them an advantage since now they didn’t have more poison to use, Y/N roared in excitement as she beheaded a male in front of her.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Too tired, she felt too tired, her muscles burned, she wanted to stop, but she couldn’t. Blood soaked her hair and clothes.

She heard someone screaming for Cassian, she saw him flying to where Nesta stood at the top of the hill. And where he was mere seconds ago, the soldiers that stayed, were erased from the skies, as the King used the cauldron. The next shot was closer to his army than hers, and she concluded that he didn’t care about his soldiers, sacrificing them to get what he needed.

It was then that another trumpet sounded, and this time she was sure it didn’t belong to them. Azriel landed by her side, her shadows protecting them from anyone who tried to get close.

“They have a fucking armada. I saw Tarquin going there but there’s no way he can get rid of them alone.” He warned.

“Fuck!” Y/N cursed, and he felt someone approaching them. His eyes landed on the blonde male from the Bloody Moon ritual, the one who had upset her.

“Look at what we have here, the bastard and his bitch.” Luther spat. “I was looking for you.” He pointed at her.

“This is going to be good.” Azriel smilled.

Y/N stepped out of the shadows removing her helmet and retrieving them, she wanted to kill him with her pure force, not with her magic. She assumed a fighting instance, discarding her sword and going for a dagger instead.

“Hopefully your uncle is waiting for you in hell.” The male lunged for her, she spun to the side, getting out of the way, the sword cut the air, and she kicked him. His swords clashed against her dagger, and he punched her nose, blood pouring out of it.

“How does it feel?” She asked. “To always be beneath me? Never being able to be better than me, even if you tried so fucking hard.” He aimed for her once more, and she dodged, sweat ran down her forehead as she kept dodging and punching him sometimes.

They were both bloodied and panting. “Having to see everyone choose me, over and over again? Knowing you would never be good enough and that your name didn’t matter.” Luther screamed in fury. “That I earned my position and that a simple female will always be better than you.”

Luther descended his sword upon her, she rolled on the ground, quickly getting to her feet and impaling him with her dagger. Blood poured from his mouth. She held his shoulder, her eyes boring into his as life slowly faded from his body.

“It’s a shame that you chose this, we would be really good friends.” The male groaned and she let him fall. Turning to Azriel, he pulled her close to him.

“It’s okay now.” He reassured her, handing her the helmet and saying his goodbye, flying back to the battle.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

“The people from our court can see better in the dark, one of the perks of being born in the shadows.” Azriel thought, finding her again after twenty minutes apart. Her words ringed in his head, clear as the bright sky above his head. The plan formed in his mind and something in his chest told him that she would understand without the need of communications. So he did.

His wings flapped faster, making him go higher in the sky, so high that he could almost touch the sun, his syphons glowed, a bright cobalt light coming from them as his shadows moved in awe, waiting for what he was about to do. He knew where she was, and with all his power singing in his veins, his shadows descending upon the earth, engulfing her and at least 20 soldiers from Hybern that were surrounding her. The last thing he saw was the smirk on her face as the shadows covered their bodies until they disappeared in the black mist.

She felt them before she saw them, her sword hitting another one, as she defended herself, from the corner of her eyes, she saw the black shadows behind her, eager to get to her, brushing her face in between her helmet as they formed a dome around her and the enemy’s soldiers. She blinked, her eyes easily adjusting to the dark, she was quick to end with the man she was already in a fight with, while the others walked around in the dark, trying to see something.

They stumbled around blindly wandering, not being able to leave the mist wall that surrounded them. She smirked, walking around, her feet silent as she walked on the soft grass, the first, she cut his abdomen open with her sword, the armour they were using not that effective against the weapon that the witches had blessed, her blade screeched as she dragged it against the metal, cutting through it like butter, the man screamed in agony, the blood splashing on her own armour, the others assumed a defensive stance, not knowing where to aim or what to expect.

She ran, silent as a ghost, all the soldier could feel was the slightly change in the wind and the whistle of her sword, the weapon sharp, cutting through the air and the flesh of one of the soldiers, his head flying away as she already got ready to defend the blind blows they tried to land, their bodies bumped into each other, the metal cackling as they did so. She pierced the skull of one of them, with her dagger while her sword pierced the chest of another.

One by one, they fell, their blood running down her armour was the only resemblance of that they were even alive someday, she walked out of the shadows, the mist dissipating behind her, the blood pooled around the bodies, their horrid expressions marred their faces forever as she walked away. Azriel knew she could do it, but he couldn’t help the pride that filled his chest as he saw her walking out, blood covering her from head to toe, she looked in his direction. And that was when she felt it.

The bond snapping into place.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Tagging: @allison-rosewood-maximoff @devilsfoodcake22 @fieldofdaisiies @valeridarkness @brekkershadowsinger @margssstuff @patdsinner33 @justdreamstars

#acotar #azriel shadowsinger #sarahjmaas #moonlightazriel #azriel #shadowsinger #azriel x reader #night court #azriel x y/n #velaris #son of the darkness #azriel x you #azriel x oc #azriel spymaster #azriel acotar

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starsreminisce · 5 months

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I can't wait for Lucien to take Elain wherever she desires, witnessing her awe with new experiences.

At the Day Court, she could tease him when he sheds a tear during a symphony.

The Dawn Court might involve breakfast with Nuan sharing embarrassing stories.

The Winter Court could include dancing at a ball hosted by Kallias and Vivianne.

The Summer Court may bring a beach day with Alis and nephews.

The Autumn Court could involve stomping on crunchy leaves while camping in Eris’s territory.

The Spring Court might include laying on flower-filled meadows for cloud watching or stargazing.

In the Human Lands, she could be reintroduced to friends, who are accustomed to Lucien's presence.

Finally, visiting the tulip fields on the continent, fulfilling her lifelong dream.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain x lucien

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writingsbychlo · 1 year

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UNDER THE MISTLETOE (day one)

summary; your first day in winter court with azriel arrives, and it takes you both a little while to truly settle into the idea of a 'vacation'. word count; 6788 notes; go easy on me, this is my first time writing a series for a while, okay?

The second your feet touched the ice, you were gripping your toes to the floor through your boots, just like those first weeks of training with Cassian all those centuries ago. The carriage behind you both that had picked you up from the borders of Winter rattled behind you both as your bags were unloaded, never even touching the frosty ground before they were passed hand to hand, and carried away. Before you both stood Vivianne, eyes wide and hands clasped as she beamed at you both. “You’re here!”

“Hello, Vivianne.” You took an extra step, already finding your balance on the snowy ground with every step you took toward her, and she scoffed as gloved hands reached out to take your own.

“Oh, call me Viv, drop all those formalities. It took me weeks to get you to last time, we only have ten days, now.” You couldn't help the laugh that fell from you as she pulled you closer. Pressing a kiss to each of your cheeks, she recoiled with a hiss. “Gods, you’re freezing. Where are your gloves? Why aren’t you wearing the scarf we sent you?” Like a mother-hen, she instantly began fussing, and you became acutely aware of Azriel still standing behind you as she adjusted the lapels of your coat.

“I’m sure you know Azriel, but in case you have never been formally introduced,” Your hand waved in Azriel’s direction as he stood still as a statue behind you, “Vivianne, this is my best friend, Azriel. Azriel, Lady of the Winter Court, Vivianne.”

She reached out, stepping past you both far more smoothly than your shaky steps, and she shook one gloved hand against his. “I’m still working on getting Kallias to give me that fancy High Lady status just like your Rhysand did. Perhaps you can help me convince him while you’re here.”

She winked playfully at Azriel, and he only nodded stiffly, while you only chuckled at the joke. As soon as Viv stepped back, he took his place beside you, shoulders still locked with nerves. Slipping your hand along his forearm, you held on gently, feeling some of the tension melt from him only a second later when his arm shoulders loosened fractionally.

“Oh, relax, Azriel.” She raised a hand, almost as if she was going to swat him, and thinking better of it as she swiped at the air instead. “You’re here to have fun, to enjoy the celebrations, and we’re so happy to have you both. One of the things Rhysand mentioned in our correspondence is that it’s been far too long since either of you had any time off.”

“Of course he did.” The tell-tale tingle of shadows curling around your waist made you shudder slightly, another tendril twisting just behind your shoulder and wrapping along the arm still connected to Azriel’s. Her eyes flicked between the two of you, a smile containing something you couldn't quite read forming on her lips, but she didn’t speak. Instead, she spun on her heel, motioning the two of you to follow behind her as she began making the trek up to the grand palace she called home.

“Kallias is still working, but he’ll be free this afternoon to join us. In the meantime, I can show you both to your rooms, leave you be for a while to unpack, wander the halls and explore.” She glanced over his shoulder, smirking a little in Azriel’s direction, and you couldn't stop the laugh that left your lips. “Our home is your home for the next ten days, after all.”

She did exactly that, whisking the two of you past the marvellous decor and large staircases, down many a twisting corridor, until you were arriving at your rooms. The last time you’d stayed in Winter, you’d been set up at an inn down in the village, and you hadn't seen this deep inside the palace before. It truly was spectacular. Paintings on every wall, pretty details and vivid colours that you knew would drive Feyre wild.

Not that you’d tell Rhys, because he’d gut the whole townhouse and decorate to compete, but the Winter Court rooms were arguably the most luxurious guest rooms you had ever seen. Whites and blues and silvers, warmed with golds, a fireplace that was already crackling happily and flooding the room with heat as soon as your eyes landed on it. At the far side of the room, a door lay half open, carpet following through, and you raised a brow.

“What’s through there?”

“Azriel’s room.” Disconnecting from your side, Azriel crossed the floor and disappeared inside, leaving you and Viv alone to take it all in. “We figured you’d want them to be connected, so you don’t have to travel too far. The fireplaces and the bathtubs are enchanted, and if you need anything, there’s a bell in the corridor you can ring for assistance.”

You thanked her, squeezing her hands once again before she took her leave. In the centre of the room, between a couch and two side-tables were all of your bags, stacked up neatly on top of one another. You were frozen to the spot, like the weather outside had snuck in to root you to the spot. It felt wrong, something about it made your skin itch. You weren’t used to taking your time and relaxing; your norm was living on the go out of your travel bag and rushing between tasks.

Lifting all three bags onto the huge bed, you were greeted by a soft bundle of knitted pale blue sitting on your pillow. Shaking it out, gaudy snowflakes and knitted snowmen were found, intricate wintery designs in white stitched neatly into the fabric. The laugh you gave was beyond your control as you looked at it.

“So, you got one too, huh?” Azriel was leaning doorway connecting your two rooms, and he pushed off to walk over to you as your focus moved to him. In his hands as he approached was his own matching sweater. Like yours, white thread decorated thick blue wool, with snowflakes and snowmen and patterns, the only difference was that his had been specifically designed in his exact shade of cobalt blue.

“We have matching jumpers, how cute of us.” A smile you knew he saved just for quiet moments between only the two of you adorned his face at your teasing.

“This is definitely my brother’s doing. They have our names on the back.” Flipping it around in his hands, and you tried to suppress a laugh at the cursive font depicting his name, surrounded by soft snowflakes and sparkles. “Oh, you want to laugh? Flip yours around.”

You did so, groaning as you saw your name there, surrounded by stars and tiny pom-poms. “These are atrocious.”

“I vote we throw them in the fire.” He threw his jumper down onto your bed, leaving it in a pile next to your own as you placed it down, his body soon following as he flopped onto the mattress. His hands propped under his head, stiffness visibly evaporating from his body as he let out a long sigh, and you unzipped the first bag. “This feels weird, right?”

“What, you immediately rubbing all your gross travel smell all over my bed instead of your own? I’d have said more annoying, but...” Scooping up a pile of t-shirts and long sleeves, and carrying them over to the empty dresser and he scoffed at the teasing.

“I meant being on vacation. I feel like there’s something I should be doing right now, it’s bothering me.” You could only hum, the same rattled feeling already sitting in your gut, and he propped himself up on his hands to watch you work. “What kind of activities do you think they have planned for us?”

“Why don’t you go and snoop around and find out?” He rolled his neck from side to side, before giving in to his restlessness, and standing. He picked up piles of jeans and leggings from your bag, following you to the dresser and unpacking them into a new drawer, patting each one down neatly just for something to do.

“I’ve been explicitly told that this is a vacation, and I’m supposed to relax, and not do any ‘spy work’ or ‘sneaking around working when you’re supposed to be having fun’.” His fingers made quotation marks, and you gasped, facing him with a look of pure shock.

“Who would ever dare tell you what to do?”

“Oh, you don’t know her.” He beamed, nudging the drawer shut with his hip when he’d finished. “Just this really annoying friend I have. More like a colleague, or even a sickness you just can’t shake, always lingering.”

“Is that so?”

“Totally. She’s the worst. Always bossing me around.” He was biting the inside of his cheek to contain his laughter, a sparkle in his eye from his amusement that was so rare to see, and it warmed your whole chest to watch him let loose. “It’s always ‘Azriel, don’t forget to put on sunscreen’ or ‘Az, you need to drink some more water’. On my case, everywhere I go.”

“She sounds like a real pain, you should probably get rid of her altogether. Just drop her off in the forest somewhere.” Tucking the first, now empty case under the bed, you opened the second, and the heat from his body pressed up against your side, hot breath puffing as he laughed and leaned down to press a kiss to the top of your head.

“Well, I can’t do that, I think I’d miss her far too much.”

“I’m not so sure she’d miss you.” It was his turn to gasp, to look shocked, and he diverted his attention to the second case while chuckling.

“You packed more than me.”

“I hope that’s not your way of telling me that all you brought were those leathers.” You tutted, eyes scanning up and down his body once, before tearing your gaze away and unloading bottles for the bathroom onto the sheets.

“What, don’t tell me you don’t like them? I look so good in these leathers.” Despite his shy nature, Azriel’s ego tended to run unchecked when he was in a good mood. “I’ll have you know, Cassian says my ass looks great in these.”

“Well, Cassian’s not wrong.” You muttered, turning your back on the laugh he gave you, a deep rumble that followed you all the way to the bathroom as you stacked your bottles along the counter. “Cassian shouldn’t be feeding your ego so much It’s not safe.”

“For you, or for me?” He winked as you reentered the room.

“For all of the single and eligible people in Velaris, and now, the Winter capital.” Shadows were winding around your ankles, as they always did when he was this relaxed, barely floating inches off of the floor in steady pools.

“Well, all the single and eligible people of Velaris, and all of Prythian and beyond, for that matter, can rest assured. My ego is only for you, I reserve all bothering rights exclusively for making you scowl.”

You did exactly that, using it to hide the true smile that wanted to break out. He didn’t bother to hide his, pinching at your cheek before you walked away with your jumpers. “Ah, there it is. Truly, what I live for.”

You didn’t know how to respond to that, and so you simply didn’t. A peaceful, comfortable quiet fell between you both as you unpacked slowly, Azriel helping, until all three bags were tucked under the bed for safe-keeping and you were laying out your book on the bedside table, ready for a night of reading.

You turned to him, words dying in your throat as you found him already watching you with a soft smile. Instead, you held his gaze, almost holding your breath too, until finally, your mind was able to catch up.

“Thank you for coming with me.” All jokes aside, Azriel had always been your most reliable friend, the one you could turn to in both emergencies and search of comfort, someone who would listen and offer advice, and never left your side.

“You sound like you didn’t want to come alone?”

“I didn’t. I don’t mind travelling alone when I’m focused on work, but not for a vacation. I’m happy you’re here with me.”

“I think Cassian would have made for more charming company.”

“Perhaps, but it’s not Cassian’s company that I want.” That smile was back, the one that you somehow knew was just for you.

“I’m happy to be here with you.” He whispered, one arm looping your shoulders, hand rubbing your arm lightly as he hugged you close, and you relaxed into him. “So, you want to go explore this place?”

“You didn’t even have to ask.”

Stumbling back into the room, Azriel was working a mile a minute as he listed off everything he’d managed to observe, and if you hadn't known him for so long you’d be shocked. Who would have guessed that the feared spymaster and infamous shadowsinger loved structural design so much?

Just as he was beginning to gush again about the exposed beams and all their pretty carvings, there was a knock at the door, and it almost pained you to watch the way his blissful joy snapped back into rigid seriousness. You answered it, peering around it to find a familiar face.

“You two all settled in?” Viv let herself in, waltzing past the doorway and into the room. “I hear you’ve been looking around, find anything you like?”

She looked expectant, hoping for feedback on her home, and you remembered a vague comment during a party about just how much input she’d had in the decorating and building of it. “A beautiful library that stole my heart.”

“There’s very little of anything with an intellectual note in there.” She confessed, and your smile only grew. “Borrow anything you like.”

“I brought a whole stack of books, Feyre’s sister provides me with an ever-growing collection of romances that I really must make a dent in.”

“Well, if you read anything good, you let me know.” She snickered, eyes closing in on the pile of jumpers abandoned by your pillows, and her cheekiness only doubled. “You two need to wrap up warm before we head out. You should wear your sweaters.”

“You mean those atrocities?” Azriel mirrored your word from before, and your hostess clutched her chest.

“I knitted those myself!” Azriel’s face paled momentarily, before Viv was letting out what could only be described as howling laughter, and Azriel scowled at her, even if mirth shone in his eyes. “I’m kidding, Rhysand sent them over and made me promise to force you to wear them at least once. If we get it out of the way on the first day, you get the whole rest of your vacation without this horrible sword hanging over your heads.”

“I knew he was involved! Perfect wing-measurements, I can’t believe this..” Azriel muttered, arms crossing over his chest, and Viv laughed her way right out into the corridor. With a promise to meet her downstairs, the second you closed the door and turned back to the room, a pile of soft wool hit you in the face, landing on the floor at your feet. “I nominate you to take one for the team and wear that jumper.”

“You have to wear yours too!” His head shook. “I’m gonna let Rhys see every memory from this trip and if there’s none with you wearing that sweater, you’ll have hell to pay.”

His eyes darkened. “You’re pure evil.”

“Only for you,” You cooed, taking his sweater from the bed and throwing it at his face the same way he’d done to you. He anticipated it, knowing you far too well, and he caught it in front of his face before impact. “Now, go change. You’re not wearing leathers on our first day of vacation.”

“You just want me to cover up this fine ass.” He let out a noise like a scorned child, door closing behind himself, and you were left laughing gently to yourself in the silence. You tugged your jumper over your head, feeling the slight itch of it at your neck, trying to ignore it as you tugged the laces on your boots. Once your feet were lowered back to the ground and you were adjusting your coat on your body once again, Azriel’s door reopened.

He stood before you in far more casual clothing, a luxury you were rarely granted as he cycled between leathers, sweatpants and pyjamas exclusively, depending on his mood. Faded black skinny jeans that weren’t too tight, black boots much like your own laced up to his ankles, and a single, thick silver ring with a blue siphon atop sat on his left thumb. A chain around his neck held the second, blending well into the deep shade of his jumper as he, too, tugged at the neckline. You were almost certain Rhys had made them itchy intentionally.

He caught your gaze lingering on the chain around his neck, fingers latching around his jumper to haul the edge of it up and show you his belt, the other five still sitting full-size on his belt. Your gaze closed in the dark patch of hair decorating the taut skin below his navel, leading in a thick trail before disappearing behind the exposed band of his boxers, and you tore your gaze back up to his eyes. You could barely manage a nod, a pinched smile as you choked down the lump in your throat. “Gotta be prepared, just in case.”

“I would expect nothing less of my favourite spymaster.” That flash of skin sent a burst of heat to your cheeks. Luckily, Azriel was far too busy adjusting the colour of his coat as he put it on to notice, trying to cover as much of the hideous jumper as he could. You’d done the same. “You ready to go?”

“Ready to go, so we can get back all the faster, and I can burn this monstrous thing.” He tugged the collar again, before tucking his leather gloves into his pockets for later. He tossed you a pair of pink fluffy gloves, letting you catch them this time, and holding the door to the bedroom open.

Azriel took the steps two at a time, all but skipping to the bottom of the long staircase. As you followed slowly behind, you could almost swear the excitement of a vacation was starting to build up for him as it had for you. Standing near the entrance was Vivianne, now accompanied by Kallias, whose face lit up much like his wife’s had the first time she’d seen the two of you.

“My dear, it’s so lovely to see you again.” He placed two kisses on your cheeks, just as Vivianne had, hands gripping your own tightly as Azriel settled comfortably in beside you. He liberated one hand to shake Azriel’s, terse nods shared as they both tried to hide every bit of tension they were feeling. “Your travels were good, I hope? Viv showed you to your rooms, everything okay with them?”

“They were fine, don’t you worry.” People wouldn't guess it of the winter Lord, but he was secretly an owner of one of the biggest hearts you’d ever met, with an equal amount of insecurity to top it. “Except, of course, for your role in these.” You opened your coat, showing the jumper you were keeping well hidden beneath, and his head tossed back in a laugh.

“Court-to-court relations. It was Rhysand’s only request. I was merely doing it to secure our alliance, you wouldn't want to destroy all your hard work, would you?”

“You’re manipulating me!”

“I’m delicately guiding you to the right path.” He corrected, tapping the tip of your nose and releasing your other hand.

“The right path that benefits you.” As soon as Kallias stepped back, a shadow was twisting around your wrist as it fell to your side, one winding around your waist, only making it halfway before being yanked back by its owner, to twist at his thighs and shoulders instead.

Kallias said nothing, instead, he offered his wife an arm while smirking, leading the way toward the courtyard as you and Azriel followed behind. The moment those heavy pine doors were pulled open, a blast of cold air rushed in, sweeping around the entryway and making both of you shudder, and you tied your coat back up tightly over your jumper.

“So, Viv, what is it that we’re doing today?” She was climbing into the carriage before you, and you didn’t get an answer until you were settling in across from her, Azriel squeezing in beside you.

“We’re going tree shopping!” Your bows furrowed, Azriel’s confusion matching your own as you glanced at him, so palpable in his gaze you practically felt it. You didn’t even have to ask, the pair chuckling as the carriage took off across the icy planes. “It’s tradition here to have a ‘Christmas tree’, you get a new one every year. You hang faelights and ornaments and put all your gifts underneath!”

You paused for a second, eyes narrowing on Kallias and Vivianne as they awaited your response. “You’re serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

“Huh.” You sit back, trying to be careful of Azriel’s tucked wings against the leather bench, and Azriel takes over. He asks, he does his best to seem casual and yet somehow that intensity about questioning the tradition seems to pull Kallias out of the shell he’d put himself in, as the two fell into a deep discussion.

You merely watched the scenery go by, squeezing Azriel’s hand lightly when he placed it on your knee, rubbing his thumb through the layers of thick trousers you were wearing for warmth. After a while, the carriage was slowing, and you were dismounting into a thick patch of snowy evergreen, tall trees and the scent of crisp pine swaying around you.

The two natives lead the way. In one hand Kallias was carrying an axe and a blue ribbon, in the other, his wife’s hand, as they reminisced between themselves on their previous trips. Laughing and sharing soft looks, it made your heart ache for what they had. You reached for Azriel, latching onto him as you hooked an arm through his, the other holding his bicep as you let your chin rest on his shoulder where you walked alongside one another. His arm crooked, pulling you a little closer, letting you rest in his warmth.

“So, what makes the perfect tree? What are we looking for?” The deep baritone of his voice bounced between empty spaces and the trees, prompting Viv and Kallias to slow their walk to meet the both of you again. You squeezed his arm in encouragement for his engagement, feeling a burst of shadows crawl over your back in response.

Then, Vivianne groaned as Kallias’ expression became one of excitement and thrill, detaching from his wife to stop and turn to Azriel fully. “Oh, you’ve really done it now, Azriel.”

Ignoring his wife’s comment, Kallias exploded into an enthusiastic speech about what makes the perfect ‘Christmas tree’. As soon as the spiel about the cone-shape he was looking for, not being too thin or too wide, not being too tall or too short, the distribution of branches and the impact on decorating, he was unstoppable. Much to both of your surprises, Kallias swept Azriel up into it. As soon as the Lord wandered away to give texture examples, the spy followed, stripping off one glove to touch the pine needles and the bark on the tree, both taking a knee to inspect the trunk under the branches, and more.

Then, they were walking, striding was a better description, disappearing between the trees, and you and Vivianne had to all but jog to catch up. When they finally stopped moving twenty minutes later, you and Viv were snickering at their behaviour, coming to a stop, huddling together in the crisp weather with her arm lopped with yours, watching them.

“Does Kal get this serious every year?”

“Oh, yes,” She sighed, fondness lacing it as well as exasperation, staring at her love as he stood with his hands on his hips, staring at a tree. “We’ve spent a whole day out here more times than I can count, walking for miles, around and around, before we found a tree he was happy with.”

“Well, apologies, my love, for wanting you to have the perfect tree.” His pale cheeks were flushed red, whether from his wife’s teasing or simply the cold you didn’t know, and Vivianne only shrugged from her hold on you. Sparkling hazel eyes met yours, your brows shooting up a little at his equally excitedly-flushed expression.

“I think I can shave a few hours off of that for you, m’lady.” He nodded, rolling his shoulders back and rustling his wings for a second, and in a sudden flurry of movement, dark shadows shot out between the trees in every direction. You waited for the flinch, the jerk of shock from both of your hosts, but it never came. Az noticed it too, if the please twitch of his lips at the corner was anything to go by. Viv reached out, running her fingers through the stream of shadows passing by her ankle, while Kallias stared on in nothing less than anticipation.

After merely hardly a minute of waiting, the shadows came rushing back, and your partner’s gaze turned to the pale-haired male before him, nodding. “I think I found the perfect one.”

“Lead the way.” They walked ahead, once again letting you and Vivianne trail behind, and when you caught up, they were both inspecting the tree with avid excitement. “It is perfect. You know, if we didn’t already have the trees in the palace all set up, we’d be getting this one for sure.”

“If you already have all the trees sorted, why are we here?”

“This one is for your room,” Viv responded. “We have some boxes of decorations put aside for you, Kallias just thought it might be nice for you both to try your hand at decorating.”

Now that brought you some amusement, “Oh, trust me, Azriel will love that. He takes over the decorating for Solstice every year. He claims it’s because nobody knows how to do it right.”

“I can hear you.” The male grouched, wisps of shadows darting out to spin around you, one tickling across your ribs until you squirmed with giggles, the other poking at your cheek, before returning to the herd.

“Alright, Azriel. Here you go,” Taking the axe from Kallias’ outstretched hand, his brows raised. “Now you’ve picked your tree, chop it down. Viv and I will go and arrange delivery.”

He hefted the axe up onto his shoulder, nodding, and watching the two walk away, until you were left alone to sink down onto the abandoned tree stump behind your legs. You wanted to make a joke, a cheeky comment about his new-found love for trees, of all things, but the loud thud of metal on wood cut you off. Head snapping up, you watched Azriel haul the axe out again, swinging it inwards to hit the same spot exactly, deepening the rift in the wood as splinters flew out.

It continued, on and on until there was a deep groove cut into the centre of the trunk, and Azriel was panting, pausing long enough to strip off his coat. As soon as it was gone and he was handing it to you, his brows raised at your expression. “You know, you could help out.”

“And why would I do that when I have such an incredible view from over here?” He huffed, as he picked the axe back up, balancing it between his hands and trying to hide the red splotching on the tips of his ears. He didn’t often blush, but when you caught him off guard, watching the sweet colour paint his tanned skin was one of your favourite things. Your giggle made him scoff.

He got back to work, and you tugged his larger coat over your shoulders for warmth, tucking it around your body for an extra layer, breath held when the tree finally started to wobble where it stood. Only two swings later, it was toppling over backwards, creaking and groaning as it snapped away from the stump, and leaving a loud thud as it sprayed snow up upon its collision with the ground.

Pushing you up on the stump to perch beside you, Azriel stretched one wing out behind you, wrapping lightly around you as a gesture against the cold when he took in the extra layer you’d borrowed. “You know, it’s a good thing we don’t have trees for Solstice, look at all those pine needles.” He waved one hand in the direction of the forest floor, littered with weak branches snapped off and pine needles dotted around, sharp little things. “We would never hear the end of Cassian’s complaining if he pricked himself on them.”

“We’d never hear the end of it if he had to chop down his own tree,” You offered, and his head tipped back in a laugh, throat bobbing, eyes closing, and your gaze followed the line of one prominent vein down his neck, before tearing away and looking ahead instead. “He’d carry it back over his shoulder, and make sure to put on a show about how big and strong he is.”

“He’d get rip-roaringly drunk, as he does every Solstice, and try to dance with the tree.” Was his comeback, your laughter mixing together in perfect harmony in the air as you thought about your friends, and wondered what they might be up to right now.

The moment was cut short by the return of Kal and Viv, two steaming paper cups in hand each, and the male whistled as he took in the work Azriel had done in their time away as Viv pressed a hot cup into both of your hands. The spiced scents of hot cider reached your nose, a treat you’d often bought from street vendors back home, and it settled that little bit of homesickness perfectly as you took a tentative first sip.

“Alright, we’re good to go. They’re going to get the tree all loaded up, and it’ll meet us back at the palace.” Kal patted the severed stump, more manly approval wafting off of him as Azriel puffed up with pride, and you’d roll your eyes at the pair if it wasn’t so adorable. You’d have to remember next time that mending bridges between men only required a single axe and a tree.

Your attention was pulled away as Az took his coat back, and Viv all but squealed excitedly before you; “You’re going to love decorating the tree.”

You were surrounded by boxes, far more than you could possibly ever use, and Vivian had simply left, after promising to see you both for dinner in a couple of hours. She had left behind you and Azriel, standing before the fire in your bedroom, utterly confused and entirely hopeless and you took it all in.

“Where do we start?”

“I don’t know!” Your hands were thrown up, before landing on your hips. You both turned to look at the naked tree that was leaning against the wall, branches all carefully folded and tied up for travel, and the large basin sitting beside it. “What’s that for?”

“Water.. I think.” He scratched at the back of his head, one hand also balanced on his hip as the other lay limp at his side. A scrutinising state ran over everything, before his eyes finally met yours, and not a second later, bubbles of laughter were bursting out of both of you at the ridiculousness of it all. “Alright, we can do this.”

“Yeah, we can. We are a great team, we’re high-ranking members of the Night Court, you could sneak into any building and I can negotiate any contract. We are skilled, we can decorate a dead tree.”

“Absolutely we can.” He nodded, very seriously, hands clapping together in front of himself. Your enthusiastic speech came to an end, both of you at a loss for what to say next, lips pressing into a line once again as you found yourselves lost. “Maybe we should choose where to put it first?”

“You’re so right.” You were simply relieved, bursting into action and freeing yourself from your decoration cage as you grabbed for the basin, spinning it over in your hands as Azriel crouched, lugging the tree up and onto his shoulder. “How about in the corner, not too close to the fire?”

He merely set off walking, letting you place down the basin and position it to your liking before standing the tree up within the grate in the centre, holding itself up and tall. He gave it a nudge to see if it would wobble, satisfied when it didn’t. Next, you set about filling it with what you hoped was a sufficient amount of water, until you were left staring proudly at the still-wrapped tree. He flicked a small dagger out of his pocket, unsheathing the blade and beginning to cut away at the ropes holding it sealed, until all of the branches were flopping back out and filling the space.

“We’re so good at this.”

“Damn right, we are.” His eyes narrowed on it, before he was leaning forward, adjusting tangled branches and spreading them out until they looked evenly distributed, all branches facing the right way, spaces filled and ready to hold decorations. “So, ornaments?” He lifted up one box, peeling the lid off and throwing it to the ground, staring in at the array of multi-coloured glass trinkets inside.

“Don’t you think we should put the string of faelights on first?”

“Why would we do that?”

“So we don’t knock all the ornaments off when we attach them, and so you can’t see the string!” You spoke it like it was obvious, and his gaze moved from the bundle of lights in your hand, to the glass trinkets, and back.

“Okay, that’s a fair point.” And so the two of you found yourself sitting on the floor, your legs crossed and his spread out before him, back to the couch, untangled one end each of a string of lights until you met in the middle. Azriel may be patient, but undoing knots had never been his forte, if the occasional frustrated grunt and growl was anything to judge by. By the time it was done, he was scowling down at the pile, glaring at it like it had personally offended him with its soft glow and twinkling sequence.

You threaded them, one at a time between the branches, until they were wrapped top to bottom, giving the tree an ethereal glow. It was like nothing you’d ever seen before, warm gold emanating from amongst the green, making it look like it was alive and seeping out heavenly magic. “Wow.”

“I kind of don’t want to put anything else on it.”

“Not even the glitter strings you banished to the corner?” The look of awe vanished, replaced by a grimace as he looked over. Tassels of shiny colour that made a rustling noise when he shook them. He had claimed just how much he hated the sight and feel of it, refusing to even open the box again once the lid was on.

“Not even that.”

He picked up the tinkling box of glass once again, holding it against himself as you began to pick through, before pulling out a deep purple one, and letting it spin on its string where you held it. “This one reminds me of Rhys.”

“Put it right at the top, he’d be mad if he thought he was at the bottom.”

You did as told, reaching up as high as you could to hook it onto a branch, both of you watching the stick bob a couple of times, but the ornament never fell, and the glow of the lights filtered through it, prettily glittering in the low light of the room. Next, came a pink one for Elain, an orange for Lucien, another purple. Red, silver, gold, orange, blue, green.

Every possible colour, until it was an explosion, as brought and busy as the rainbow was, and it was beautiful. Neither of you had any words as you admired your handiwork.

Perhaps you’d put on a few too many ornaments, but you couldn't help it, the way they spun and glowed, casting out coloured reflections across the room like stained glass windows, the sight, the way you felt so proud of it as you took a place beside Azriel to simply stare. It was your own version of perfect, even if it was strange to you both.

“I’m trying to memorise how it looks,” Azriel whispered, as if anything any louder would shatter the moment you were standing in, head tipping to the side as colours lit up his skin. “I want to as Feyre to paint it.”

“I would love to see that painting.”

He hummed, enough of a response, and then one warm arm was settling over your shoulders, pulling you into his side as you both continued to admire it. When standing became too much, legs aching at locked knees, you both collapsed against couch, his wings spread over the cushions. Finally, that unnerving feeling of needing to move, to work, to do, was slipping away, and you were left with empty bliss as you relaxed. “You hungry?”

“Yeah. When did Viv say dinner was?”

“Not sure.” His attention moved to the door, and he heaved himself back up to full height before wandering away, leaning out of the door, he tugged on the little bell, and almost instantly, someone sped around the corner to see to his needs. A few words were exchanged that you didn’t bother to listen to, and then he was closing the door. “About an hour. Think you can make it that long?”

“Not sure, I might just wither away. I did do such hard work today.”

“Yes, watching me chop down a tree must have been so very exhausting for you.” He pouted, bottom lip jutting out, and before he’d even sat down again, a firm knock at the door startled you both. After answering, Azriel turned back to you with a tray in one hand, and you perked up instantly at the sugary smell that filled the air. “Apparently, Vivianne had requested that once we finish decorating, we’re brought hot chocolate, and whatever a ‘candy cane’ is. It’s a tradition for them.”

“Who are we to deny a tradition?”

“Exactly.” He plopped back down onto the floor beside you, kicking his legs out and toeing off his boots until he could flex his feet before the fire. Placing the tray between you both, you picked up a saucer of hot chocolate. It was covered in whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon, with a striped stick that curled at the end sitting inside of it. You picked it up, using it to stir your hot chocolate slowly, until the cream was dissolved into it.

Azriel took a sip beside you, already finished with his mixing, and you copied, eyes widening at the burst of hot flavours across your tongue. “It's mint flavoured!”

“It’s really good.” He groaned, gulping again with no care for the heat, and you grinned at the wince he made, zero regrets on his face.

“You and your sweet tooth.” He grinned, inspecting the stirrer in his hand, tapering off at the end where it had melted. Then, he lifted it to his lips, licking away the excess cream that was still on it, and your hands shook, almost enough to rattle the saucer. You placed it down for safety, clutching only the hot porcelain between your hands instead.

“It’s the stick! That’s what makes it mint flavoured.” He stuck it into his mouth, lips sealing around it. You found yourself staring down at the red-and-white bar, before deciding to copy him. It was sweet, strong peppermint, and obviously, the source of the subtle taste left lingering in your drink. “Good, right?”

“We should get these for Solstice.” He made a sound of agreement, dipping it back into his drink before raising it to his mouth again.

“We can make it our own little tradition.”

#azriel/reader #azriel x reader #azriel x you #azriel/you #azriel #azriel shadowsinger #acotar/you #acotar x you #acotar/reader #acotar x reader #a court of thorns and roses #acotar

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azsazz · 2 years

Text

Thawing a Frozen Heart

Azriel x Reader

Summary: Request from @azrielsbitxh :Hey could you make write a fiction of azriel x reader where she has to choose between azriel and kallias-viviannes son? The line or smth like that could be-"please don't choose him and break my heart because it literally will kill me. And I do not want to die without being able to call you mine at least once" you can make het choose whom ever you wants it's your choice

LOVE YOUR WRITING BTW

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2,129

Notes: Day 2 of Azriel week whoop whoop!

_________________________________________

The party was in full swing.

You’d visited the Winter Court often enough, each and every time you arrived was better than the last. Sparkling snowflake decorations hung from the expensive crystal chandelier, the shimmering faelights hung in perfect rows above you, reminding you of the city lights of another favorite spot of yours, Velaris.

You were a traveler, originally hailed from the hot, humid lands of Day, it had never quite felt like home to you. You’d worked hard growing up, so intelligent that you’d managed to land a job by the High Lord’s side.

Helion often thought of you as more than an assistant, often a daughter figure to him. You’d grown close with him over time and he’d learned of your love for traveling when you were more enamored with the courts that you visited rather than the conversations to be had with the other High Lord’s and their emissaries.

“Go,” he had urged you with a soft nod. You were still so young and there was so much to see. Helion sent you away with tear-filled eyes to follow your dreams.

You were welcome in most courts, and had made close friends in many, including Winter. You’d run into Rory at the last High Lord’s meeting. You still worked with Helion as his emissary, but he’d allowed you the option of traveling while you worked, and you had a place to stay in nearly every court you went to.

Rory was full of life and happier than most Winter Court folk you’d met. Being the son of Kallias and Vivianne, the heir to the Winter throne was more than a pretentious male waiting for his turn in the spotlight. He was caring and soft, funny yet could put on the mask all of the High fae wanted to see from him, intelligent and thoughtful, you knew he’d make a great High Lord when the time came.

“Rory, stop,” you squeal, ducking behind a planter to avoid the onslaught of snowballs he was throwing at you. Neither of you cared about the party raging on inside, opting instead for a little bit of fun, a friendly wager of who could win in a snowball fight.

Of course it would be the Winter native. Your Day Court powers did nothing to help you form the thick snow into a sizable weapon to toss. You cursed under your breath as more of the pacted snow crumbled on top of you.

“Not until you surrender,” he calls, cackling. His voice is filled with such joy that you can’t help yourself from smiling.

“I surrender,” you yell back, peeking around the corner of the planter, only to receive a facefull of snow. “You dick!” You fall back on your ass, laughing and spluttering.

“(Y/N)!” Rory winces, racing over to your side. The terrace is slick and the princling slips, falling directly onto his back next to you.

“Oh my Gods,” you gasp through your laughter, tears cold as they gather in the corner of your eyes. That had to have been one of the funniest things you’ve ever seen and it makes you glad that you decided to come to the party tonight.

He groans,”Shut up, it wasn’t that funny.”

“Oh but it was,” you giggle, helping him sit up. He looks at you from the side of his icy blue eyes, cracking a grin.

“Okay, I guess it was. But what about you eating snow? What a good arm I have,” he gloats playfully.

You roll your eyes, “Whatever.”

He leans his head back against the potted plant, staring up at the sky sparkling with dancing waves of light. It really is a sight to behold.

“We should go clean up,” he says eventually, looking down at you, “Before the cake comes out.”

“That’s right,” you sigh, letting the Winter heir pull you to your feet, “You can’t miss blowing out your own candles.”

He hums, taking your hand to winnow you to the section of the palace his room is located in. He’d let you get cleaned up in one of the guest rooms before returning to the party.

“What are you going to wish for anyway?” you ask. He keeps your hand loosely in his own and it’s nice, warm, even though the both of you had been out in the snow.

He hums in thought as he admires the large paintings he’s seen for the past few centuries. Gods, his parents need to redecorate.

You don’t think he’s going to answer when you come to a stop in front of one of the large white doors to a guest room. You reach for the knob but he spins you around with the hand he’s still holding and takes a step into you, towering over you while you lean back against the door.

You rest a hand on his hip, staring up at him. The two of you had fooled around on more occasions than one, but it was never serious. You weren’t one to date, didn’t want to, as it wouldn’t be fair to your partner while you were away.

He leans down, pressing his forehead to yours, his icy breath cascading down your face, causing your eyelashes to flutter.

He murmurs all too quietly, “I can’t tell you, or it won’t come true.”

__________

“Hello, Azriel,” you greet, taking a sip of the warm cinnamon liquor in your cup. It’s a Winter Court staple and one of your favorite drinks ever.

The shadowsinger greets you with a nod, his own glass in his siphon clad hand, looking like he hasn’t had a sip of it yet. You force yourself to look away from those hands, remembering how they’d been all over you, inside of you. You blush, clutching your drink tighter in your hand.

You were here for Rory, shouldn’t be thinking about other males when the one who was celebrating was so clearly interested in you.

He’d left you pressed up against the door upstairs after his admission with your skin burning anywhere he had touched, his lips pressed quickly to your head before he’d retreated down the hall to his own room with a playful, “Race ya,” called over his shoulder.

You hadn’t had it in you to race him, instead taking your time to calm your heart and warm yourself by the fire, your mind in overdrive. Rory had made it clear multiple times that he wanted to be exclusive, and your stomach burned with guilt at the thought that you weren’t ready for something like that. You liked the Night Court warrior next to you too much to decide.

You’d fought alongside him during the war with Hybern, taking an instant liking to each other both during training and planning. You were the light he’d been needing all of his life, brightening the shadows within him, making him feel as though he belonged somewhere in this wicked world, whether it be between your legs or in your heart.

He’d preferred the second but the first was an added bonus.

You knew what him being here meant, and as much as you tried to play it cool, like there wasn’t a looming decision about to slap you in the face, he still saw through you.

His free hand came as a gentle caress on your lower back and you know if someone glanced your way they'd see you standing alone, his shadows a cloak of darkness around him.

“Are you alright?” Azriel’s voice is low, smooth like molasses, crawling down your spine in the same sensual way it does everytime he speaks.

There’s just something about him that makes you weak in the knees and your heart warm in your chest. He’s truly a good male, handsome and hard-working, and it would be an honor to be loved by him.

You shrug, avoiding his concerned gaze, staring out into the center of the ballroom where they were bringing out Rory’s cake. The Winter male was scanning the crowd looking for you, but hidden in the back of the room next to the shadowsinger from the Night Court, it wasn’t likely you’d be found.

There was no point in lying to him. He knows you better than most, knows your tells, and has studied your body language more times than you could count.

“What is it?” Nearly a plea for you to answer, or to at least look at him.

You shake your head, staring down into your drink instead, “Not here.”

And so he melts away into the shadows, leaving you standing there alone with nothing but the empty glass in your hands.

__________

You hadn’t stayed long after that.

Instead, you’d made your way over to the Dawn Court, in need of some time to get your head straight…and maybe hide away for a while.

A beautiful court with beautiful views; buildings so tall they touched the clouds, the skies always so colorful and filled with peregwyns. You wished that you could fly, as you propped your chin on your fist, leaning across the balcony to watch.

“There you are.”

The voice startles you and you jump up, spinning around, your heart racing in your chest. It’s Azriel, of course it is, it wouldn’t be hard for him to find you.

“What are you doing here?” you exclaim, hand pressed over your racing heart. You’re dressed in only a thin silk robe and you pull it tighter around yourself when his eyes flicker down for a second.

“Why are you running?” he asks, voice calm as ever. He’s trying to look unfazed by your attire and you narrow your eyes at him before pushing past him and into your room.

“I’m not running,” you reply, making for the wardrobe. Being barely covered in his presence would give him the advantage of using that wicked tongue as a way to persuade you, and as much as you wanted to, you really couldn’t have that. “It’s my job to travel the courts.”

“Then how come you’ve been here for months?” he asks, knowing for a fact that you never stay in any one court longer than a few weeks, “Are you hiding from me?”

“Clearly not,” you wave your hand in dismissal, glaring at him over your shoulder. He averts his eyes with pink tinted cheeks and steps out of the closet.

He snorts like he doesn’t believe you and you know that he’s rolling his eyes from beyond the door. You slip quickly into something more covering, still relaxed because you didn’t plan on leaving your room today, instead thinking of curling up on the cozy lounder out on the balcony and escaping into a good book.

He stops you as soon as you enter the room again, blocking your path and towering over you.

He’s nervous, you can tell by the way his shadows jitter around the two of you and his hazel eyes scan your face as if it’s the first time that he can’t read the facial expression on your face.

It scares him.

“Are you in love with him?” His voice is heartbreakingly soft and you can’t even look at him, turning your head away. How did he know?

Tears well in your eyes but he’s placing a gentle hand on your cheek and turning your chin so you’re facing him again. His face is a mask and it breaks your heart further. He’s hiding his feelings from you and that’s the last thing that you want from him.

“Please,” he pleads, tracing your jaw with his thumb, and you know what he’s going to say. “Please don’t break my heart because I don’t think that I can go on without you.” You squeeze your eyes shut and tears roll down your cheeks. “I do not want to die without being able to call you mine at least once.”

“Az,” your breath catches and you look up at him, bottom lip trembling. His eyes are so wide, so truthful that he doesn’t need to speak the words you know to be true, you can feel it like his shadows, winding around your heart and pulling tight. You stumble into him at the feeling, the raw emotion tethering you to him.

You pull him into your arms, hugging him closely, “The bond,” you breathe, a question, “Mates.”

Azriel nods, he’d known it all along.

And there’s no more decision to be made. He was the one made for you and you for him. You’d found each other at last.

You roll up onto your toes and he holds you tighter as your lips meet in a searing kiss, better than all of the ones you’d shared before, the tether between the two of you thrumming with love.

#azrielxreader #azriel x you #azriel x reader #azriel/reader #azsazz #azriel #acotarxreader #acomaf #acowar #acotar #acomar #shadowsinger #spymaster

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azrielsbabyg · 2 years

Text

THE OFFER OF A LIFETIME

NOTE- HI GUYS! This is the first ever Azriel fic I ever wrote. I wrote this not more than 3 months ago. I will be writing fics on other Acotar men and females too, so feel free to request whatever you want. Hope you like this and constructive criticism is always appreciated!

Have fun loves <3

SUMMARY- You are asked to help Feyre during her delivery.

PAIRING- Azriel x Reader

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It glowed.

It glowed so brightly it was impossible to take my eyes off it. I stood there, my jaw on the floor because of the utter shock I felt when the two males walked in. The stones clad on their vests gleamed. They honestly looked like giant, hot bats. My father was seated on his throne, my mother right beside him. My baby brother Jona, is fast asleep in my arms. They greeted all three men and asked them to go ahead with the message they had come to winter court to deliver.

“Kallias, Vivianne,” The male with beautiful violet eyes, whom my father had earlier introduced as Rhysand, started, “ I come bearing no bad news, for a change.” At that, my father laughed. “Feyre and I come bearing great news for the two of you. It has been hidden for quite some time, but Feyre and I are expecting a baby boy very soon.” He finishes off with the biggest smile on his face.

My parents howled. My father got off his throne and ran towards Rhysand and gave him a big gripping hug, followed by my mother who whispered sweet congratulations in his ears. “I am truly very happy for you and Feyre. If you need absolutely anything, and I mean anything do not hesitate to ask me. I will be there for you both the whole time.” My mother says giddily with happiness.

“Speaking of that we did come here for something around those lines.” My stomach churned hearing that voice. It was so sweet but deadly at the same time. Calm violence lying as the undertone of his voice. The Illyrian warrior with the blue siphons announced. I was frozen with utter numbness, a sharp sensation going down my spine right to my core. No One's voice had ever had that effect on me in the 456 years that I had been alive. “We heard that your daughter is very experienced in helping a woman during childbirth. Especially the birth of your son. We were wondering if she would be okay to accompany us during Feyre’s delivery, it would be nice to have a trustworthy person present there too.” He finishes off and looks directly at me. His eyes were so beautiful I could drown in them. The eye contact this man was holding with me could make me crumble. He looked at Jona and slowly smiled, then dragged his eyes right back up to my face. I could feel his eyes, travel my neck and, my collar bones, my lips and back to my eyes.

My father turned towards me and said, his voice almost requesting “What do you say, daughter, will you take up Azriel’s offer?” Azriel. So beautiful. It was impossible to stop his name from being sung in my head.

Azriel. Azriel. Azriel. So damn beautiful.

I realised I had been staring at him until my father cleared his throat to get my attention back to the matter at hand. “Uh- ye-yeah, it would b-be my ho-honour to do so.” My voice betrays me at the worst timing. Azriel smirks at me. Holy gods, if I wasn’t holding a baby I would've collapsed.

“Very well then I appreciate it- “ Rhysand waits for me to complete with an appreciative smile all over his face.

“Ayana! And no problem I’m sure there would be no problems.” I give him a reassuring smile which he seems to like.

Azriel looks at me with an analyzing look and when he turns away I see him mouth the word ‘Ayana’ to himself, his shadows swirling in response. My cheeks flush at the action and I look down and smile at Jona.

This was going to be the start of something new, and I couldn’t fucking wait…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#azriel x reader #rhysand #feyre archeron #cassian #azriel #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acosf #winter court #night court #lucien vanserra #elain archeron #nesta archeron #amren #morrigan

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emeriethevalkyriegirl · 2 years

Text

Nesta Archeron (Harry Potter AU)- Chapter 8 (Arrival)

Summary: Nesta and her friends have finally made it to Hogwarts. But she soon realized that not everyone is a friend.

The time was 8:03pm. Nesta and the twins talked for hours on the train about Hogwarts, parents, new students, and the houses they wish to be accepted in. Unfortunately, they began to doze off a bit during the train ride.

When the train stopped, Emerie woke them up by lightly shaking their shoulders. “Wake up guys. We have get off the train.” Indeed they do. Once the girls were off the train, Nesta noticed how many students were on that train. She counted at least 1,200. Wow, this school really is popular. A faint meow caused Nesta to look to her right and see Lucky zooming towards her. “Lucky!” Nesta barely had time to call out to her before the cat pounced on her and purred in her arms. The girls ‘awed’ in her presence. “She so cute.”

“Is she really you cat?”

“You do know they’re bad luck right?” Gwyn, Emerie, and Catrin talked over Nesta, but she was too focused of Lucky to care.

A whistle sound was heard and all of the students turned around to see a familiar young man with bright red hair. Eris.

Nesta beamed at the sight of him. Gwyn whispered in Nesta’s ear. “Is that really Eris Vansarra?”

“Eldest son to Beron Vansarra?”

“And future High Lord of the Autumn Court?” All three girls not including Nesta claimed as Nesta giggled at reactions. She couldn’t blame them really. Eris does look good for his age.

Eris was holding a lantern to light up the night. “Alright first years come on! First years only!” he called out as most of the kids began to walk over to Eris. Emerie walked with the kids and so did the twins. Nesta stayed back until Catrin turned to her. “Uh Nesta, first years are what we are.”

“Oh!” Nesta said, realization striking her as she caught up with the other students.

When she made it to her friends, Eris saw her face in the crowd. “Hey Nesta.”

“Hi, Eris.” Nesta replied as Lucky meowed in greeting. “Alright everyone. Follow me to the boats.”

“The boats?”

-----------------------

Yes, the boats. Well, they were more like canoes. The first years traveled to Hogwarts on boats while second years and older travel on foot. A maximum of five children could fit on each boat. Nesta sat in the front with Nora (the girl with the toad), Gwyn and Catrin sat in the middle while Emerie sat behind them.

The view of Hogwarts was fascinating. The lanterns on the boats provided enough light for the kids to admire the scenery from the lake. Gwyn’s eyes had never left the sight. “It’s so beautiful.”

“I know right.” Nora said from up front. She look at Nesta and rubbed the back of her head. “Hey um...sorry about the whole...toad situation on the train.” she nervously said as Nesta waved her off. “It’s alright. Pets can be a handful. Especially the jumpy ones.” Nesta reminded Nora as the boats began to slow down.

The boats docked on the edge of the Hogwarts and the kids got out and made their way inside. As they all mountain the stairs, Gwyn began to smile more. “It looks like a castle.”

“Well legend says that Hogwarts used to be a castle fit for a king and queen before it became a school.” Emerie pointed out making Catrin huffed and looked away.

The kids made their way to the top of the stairs and was meet with young woman up front. “Good evening students. My name is Professor Vivianne. Just behind this door awaits your older classmates. Before you can sit next to them, you have to sorted into your houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.” Vivianne explained. Nesta notice a smirked from a girl she didn’t recognize from the corner of her eye.

Vivianne continued. “While you’re here, your house will be like your family. Triumphs will give you points. Any rule breaking, and you’ll lose those points.” Vivianne looked at the first years with a stern look. Gwyn bit back a gulp. “The house with the most points, will receive the house cup.”

“Lily!” Nora called as she bent down to pick up something from the ground. As Nesta got a closer look, she saw that Nora was picking up a toad. It must’ve been the toad that she lost. Nora went back to the group and clutched the toad ‘Lily’ in her arms (or hands for that matter) and tried to ignore the chuckles that came from the other children.

“The sorting ceremony will began momentarily.” Vivianne finished, walking inside to check on the older students.

“So it’s true then.” The voice came from the girl that smirked earlier. “Nesta Archeron has returned.” the girl said as the students began to gossip. The girl chuckled. “This Armen. That’s Maeve.” she said introducing the small girl to the left and the tall girl to the right. Nesta raised her eyebrow. “And you are?” she asked, as the girl walked over and stood in front of Nesta. “I’m Morrigan. Morrigan Fallout.”

Gwyn snorted from beside Nesta making Morrigan glare. “Think that’s funny do you? Messy bun, freckles, twin, and a hand me down robe? You must be a Bedara.” Morrigan smirked as she watched Gwyn tremble. Catrin placed her arm around her twin, glaring at Mor.

Mor turned her attention back to Nesta. “You’ll soon find that most witches are better than others. Don’t make friends with someone like that.” she continued as Catrin continued to give her an elder sibling death glare.

Mor held out her hand to Nesta. “I can help you there. You and I can become the most greatest, powerful witches at Hogwarts. We can beat them all. We can show them all what it means to be strong.”

Nesta considered her words. Normally a truce would be made and she would be friends, but friends don’t make fun of other friends’ fashion choices. Looking at Morrigan made her want to gag.

Nesta stood proud and squared her shoulders. “No thanks you. I’ve already chosen my friends.” Nesta smirked as she saw Mor’s disapproving look.

Mor would’ve replied to her if it weren’t for Vivianne. Vivianne returned to the children and cleared her throat. Morrigan huffed softly and trotted back to Maeve and Armen. Vivianne look Vivianne looked at the children and said, “We’re ready for you now.”

#Nesta Archeron (Harry Potter AU)#Nesta Archeron #Gwyneth Bedara #Catrin Bedara #Emerie #Nora OC #Vivianne of the Winter Court #Morrigan #Armen #Maeve #Eris of the Autumn court #Eris Vansarra

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ladydeath-22 · 2 years

Text

Rhys (& Feyre) would be terrible for High King & Queen. They literally only care about Velaris. They don’t even care for the rest of their court? (Court of Nightmares and Illyria)

Rhys & the IC all hate leaving Velaris to do their f*cking jobs in the other cities.

The fact Amren is telling Rhys to use NESTA’S WEAPONS to claim the throne is disgusting.

Also the fact Azriel said Kallias, Helion, and Tarquin might kneel (Thesan will do it if others do) is also frankly repulsive. Is this how low they think of the other high lords that they are willing to just bow?

Rhys may not have killed the Winter Court children, but he sure was part of it. He sure allowed CHILDREN to die because he was too much of a coward to stand up to Amarantha. Winter Court lost those children because they tried to rebel and fight against her.

(Also just because Vivianne and Mor are friends does not mean Vivianne is willing to bow, she defends and fights for Winter Court from what we know of her)

Rhys and his posy betrayed Tarquin and stole from him. (Pissed the summer court forgave them) (besides the only reason Hybern attacked cause little miss cry baby brought down Spring Court for her little vengeance)

Not to mention the IC had the gall to make comments on his dead cousin who died trying to fight against Amarantha.

Helion is nice so he may bow down. The inner circle will just dangle his son over his head considering they can control Lucien cause of his mate

The fact they think Thesan will bow because the other lords bow is laughable.

All these fae are HIGH LORDS just like Rhys, if Rhys wouldn’t bow to any of them, why would they bow to him?

Besides any of the other High Lords (minus Beron) would be better than Rhys. At least they didn’t fall under Amarantha’s whims and tried to fight back. Tamlin took in refugees from the other courts who escaped. But yeah, lets give High King to Rhys who sacrificed the rest of his court to protect one city they can’t even enjoy.

#anti cassian #anti feyre #anti inner circle #anti rhysand #anti rhys #anti mor #anti amren #anti azriel #pro tamlin

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foxcort · 10 months

Text

acotar & asoiaf au collection || The Winter Court as House Stark.

"Winter Is Coming." // Kallias Stark of Winterfell, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.

ft. Viviane Stark née Mormont of Winterfell, Lady of Winterfell.

ft. Briar Stark of Winterfell, younger sister of Kallias and sister-in-law of Vivianne.

ft. Corine Mormont of Mormont Keep, Heir and Lady of Bear Island, sister of Viviane Stark.

#kallias #viviane #briar #winter court #house stark #acotar #asoiaf #acotaredit #acotarasoiafedit #very obvious choice here but it fits perfectly imo #winter was one of the rebel courts = house stark reclaiming the north as their own #since briar was last mentioned with winter it only fit to put her here

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thelov3lybookworm · 7 months

Note

plotwist: delulu reader x delulu azriel😍

” he is so inlove with me ”

” y/n he tried to kill you ”

” yeah but he tried to do it in a careful way 😍🤞 ”

” she is obsessed with me ”

” she called you an ugly bastard and punched you? ”

” i know she loves me🤞😍 ”

A/n: I was about to reply to this last night, but then I decided it was too funny not to write something. It's a lil blurb hehe 🤭

(Also, should I add this to my masterlist? I don't think I should...?)

•○🌑○•

Y/n bared her teeth in a sneer, glaring at the spymaster who simply stared at her.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I am Mor's friend?"

She had been caught as she was trying to enter Velaris to meet up with her friend. Y/n was originally from the Winter Court, and she met Mor through Vivianne. The two of them had become the best of friends since.

Mor was always the one who came to meet Y/n in the Winter Court, and so on her birthday today, Y/n had decided to surprise Mor. She had been sneaking in when Azriel had appeared in fron of her, slashing his knives around.

The two of them had surely seen each other around, at high lords meetings a parties, but Azriel apparently didn't know that Y/n and Mor were friends.

"She'll be here in no time. We can determine then if you are a friend or not." He sneered right back, his eyes, one bruised by the punch she had delivered before being restrained by his shadows, dropping to Y/n's neck, where he'd had his knife not longer than an hour ago, nearly killing her in the process of restraining her.

She sighed, rolling her eyes. "What did I even expect from an ugly bastard like you?"

His jaw clenched. "Shut your fucking mouth before I stab my dagger clean through your throat. We'll see how much you talk then."

Before Y/n couldn't retort, Mor and Cassian had appeared in the doorway to the room in which they were in.

Mor gasped, rushing up to Y/n, grinning. The Shadows holding her in place reluctantly let her go, and Y/n hugged Mor while glaring at the shadowsinger.

He rolled his eyes and walked away, iut of the room and, with a last glance at them, the general followed.

Y/n eyed the place where the Spymaster had been a moment before, and then launched into an explanation on what happened.

"Oh mother, he's so in love with me. He's always eyeing me when we see each other."

Mor stared at her incredulously. "Y/n– didn't he just try to kill you?"

"Yeah, but he was very gentle." Y/n wiggled her brows with a shy smile.

Mor scoffed, but then she began laughing. "Oh Y/n, you're so delusional."

•○🌑○•

Azriel's pov.

It had been an hour since he left Y/n in that room with Mor, and he couldn't stop thinking about her. He and Cassian had begun their everyday training sin after the left. Note they were drinking some water.

"What's on your mind?" Cassian asked, gulping down water.

He thought for a moment, wondering if he should tell his brother about his thoughts. "Y/n."

"Mor's friend? What about her?" Cassian filled another glass of water, raising it to take a drink.

"She is obsessed with me. Everytime we see each other, she won't stop staring at me."

The water in the Cassian's mouth came spraying out. "What?! She fucking called you an ugly bastard and punched you?! What makes you think she's obsessed with you?"

"I know she loves me." Azriel smirked, staring off into the distance before he made his way to the exit, leaving Cassian to gape.

•○🌑○•

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tadpolesonalgae · 8 months

Note

i've seen a lot of people saying they'd want cbmthy reader to end up in spring but i don't see it. reader only seems to have a bad relationship with az (and even that is not a harmful relationship per se, as much of an asshole as he's being i think he would protect her like he protects the rest of the ic and the night court) so going to spring makes no sense since 1. tamlin hurt her sister and 2. said sister damn near destroyed his court (actually kind of hate that she did that that way too but) and reader ending up there but still being on good terms with the night court just doesn't really make sense to me. also tamlin acts like a republican, he gave me the ick beyond repair, i know some people want a redemption (and i accept that) but id rather not have to read about him.

my personal feelings aside i think if reader really doesn't end up with azriel (which i think wouldn't make sense because then all the hurt would be for nothing) the best bets for her to move would be autumn with eris but only if eris is already high lord because subjecting her to beron would suck, the day court since helion is the closest to the night court and they trust him also she would love the libraries or she could replace lucien with vassa and jurian (or join him if he doesnt end up with elain or in the day court), the winter court maybe but only for the fact that it's tje other court that seems closer to the night court mostly because of vivianne. or my favorite which is just staying home lol her family is in the night court so even if her and az dont end up together she deserves to be able to stay there with her family as much as him. azriel loved mor for 500 years and knew she didnt love him back but they both still managed to act civil and be friends. even if az hurt reader more i hope it wouldn't be to the point of them not being able to be civil so they could just stay, and they live forever so she'd get over her feelings eventually and find someone new. moving a character away when something bad or a breakup happen is something i always disliked so maybe that's why im giving it so much thought but it really always feels off because what do u mean you can't both keep your family/friends? if nothing truly bad happens why does one character always have to leave? idk

before i finish i just wanna say im not trying to be mean or speak over anyone that has said they'd like her to be in spring. i just wanted to add my opinion but i know over writing like this we cant really convey much emotion so i dont want to sound mean or anything

First of all, I didn’t think you were being mean at all, but thank you for adding that clarification anyway :)

Secondly, to be fair, for me it’s not so much as where she goes rather that she simply needs some time elsewhere. Nothing permanent, but a shift in scene because she’s caught in stale waters and if nothing changes she won’t ever learn to step forward and progress. Also, while the idea of her going to the Spring Court is—I think—very fun, and would be like throwing a spanner in the works, I feel there are only really two places she could go that would make sense to the story, and neither of those are the Spring Court (as interesting as it could be)

Also, I am fully down for a Tam redemption arc 😭🤌

I don’t want to say who she’ll end up with because I think part of the fun is contained within not knowing? She might get with Bas for a bit but then move to the Autumn Court, might become happy by herself and content on her own, might get with Az only for a mating bond to pop up between her and Eris. Who knows? 👀

(I enjoy messing with you)

It might be fun for her and Helion to get in touch, even if it’s just her requesting a scroll or book from one of his libraries, but no promises about that 😭

And thank you for sending this in, it really helps guide me with future parts—helping me know what to emphasise or what I should try to expand upon if it’s been skated over in a previous chapter :) 🧡💛

#anons <3 #CBMTHY

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goldenmagnolias · 9 months

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lost in the labyrinth of my mind

Pairing: OC High Lord of Dusk x Archeron!Sister

Summary: Reverie Archeron has always been different. Different in a good or bad way depends on who you asked. Now a High Fae, and with another war approaching she tries to be as helpful as she can around Velaris and with her baby nephew, but soon enough the countless dreams she has as a child and the feelings that are not quite hers will make sense and things will become even more complicated than before.

Notes: So some of the Dusk Court customs brought by the mind of yours truly will make an appearance on this chapter. They’re just some small things for now, as it’s only the beginning but as the story progresses we will go further and further into the Culture of the Dusk Court, (thoughts and comments are always appreciated!)

Masterlist // ao3

CHAPTER III: WINTER

Darius had started complaining before they even left. Not that Ophiuchus expected different. But Ayla did look seconds away from murdering their cousin and Silas looked like he was considering throwing his mate at the lake by the place they’d winnow from.

“Darius?” Elia calls, cutting him off as he complained about the fact that it was probably going to be too cold… and the winter court.

“Yes?”

“We will leave you behind.” Elia all but snaps at him, “stop acting like a child, by the Mother sake.”

“I’m not-“

“You are love.” Silas says, giving him a pointed look. “Please do not aggravate Elia.”

“Your twin sister is the one aggravating me.” Darius says in a offended tone.

“You’re aggravating each other. And all of us.” Ayla cuts the possible back and forth between the couple, from her place beside Elia and Daphne. “Where are the others?”

“Only Taran is coming besides us.” Ophiuchus says. “Solana and Blake are staying to oversee a few things and considering Regina’s pregnancy, Sirius though it was better to stay here.”

“And I’m here.” Taran says, entering the room.

“Let’s gets this over with.” Ophiuchus says before winnowing all of them.

….

The drastic shock of temperature definitely signaled that they had arrived at the Winter Court.

Their surroundings changed to a beautiful taiga covered by snow. They could see a large palace a bit distant but close enough that it was probably only a five minute walk.

The air bustling with magic.

“Mhm…,” Daphne says, “very pretty.”

“A lot of magic too.” Silas adds, as he looks around. “Think we are the last ones to arrive?”

“Quite the opposite, you’re one of the early ones.” A pale male, with platinum blonde hair and wearing light blue robes says, “Welcome to the Winter Court.”

“Lord Kallias.” Ophiuchus greets giving him a nod.

“Lord Ophiuchus.” Kallias greets, and then in given a slight shove by the female beside him. “This is Vivianne, my mate.”

“It’s nice to meet all of you. Your Court has been all but a myth to most of us.” The female says, her eyes curious, and Ophiuchus knows the second she and Ayla talk they will become quick friends.

“And us with all of you, Lady Vivianne.” Ophiuchus replies, before turning to introduce his court to the High Lord and Lady. Even though he finds odd the fact that the male didn’t introduce his mate as the High Lady of Winter.

“I believe your mother was from our court?” Kallias says as they begin to walk. “We were looking at the olden documents and only of the few things we found was a wedding between the Dusk High Lord and one of the Winter High Fae.”

“My Grandmother,” Ophiuchus says. “She was high lady for over 800 years before her death. My lady mother preceded her.”

“High Lady?” Vivianne asks.

“Yes?” Ophiuchus says with a confused look.

“But she was from here? I though your grandfather was the High Lord.”

“He was, and grandmother was his High Lady.” Ophiuchus says, seeing the couple nod with some surprise lurking in his eyes.

“Forgive me, but isn’t this common practice?” Ayla asks.

“Not really. Not with our generation or the one before us at least.” Vivianne says, “well there’s Feyre but she’s from Night, and we’ll Rhysand just made her such. I’m Lady of Winter, that’s the title.”

The ones from Dusk nod, not wanting to disrespect their hosts, but it was an odd concept.

“But say… are there any cases of the reverse happening? High Ladies and no High Lords?” Vivianne asks curiously.

“My great-grandmother, Venus.” Ophiuchus replies. “One of the best rulers of dusk according to most. Her husband died when my grandfather was still in her womb. She ruled for a long time before abdicating so my grandfather Arcturus could take over the mantle.”

“You mentioned your mother preceded you grandmother in death.” Kallias begins getting a glare from Vivianne, that doesn’t by pass Ophiuchus and makes her lips twitch almost unnoticeable. “We assumed her to be your mother because of dates. You talk as if you’re old, and your eyes do so too. But you still seem young, more so than Tarquin. My point being, how old are you?”

“70.”

“By the mother, you’re a child.” Vivianne says her eyes widening.

“Most of us are around that age, My Lady.” Elia says, “I do believe that if Lord Arcturus wished for Ophiuchus to be advised by older citizens he would have left in his will so. But he trusted his grandson. As did Lady Linnea. Although we are advised by some of the older generations. Dusk suffered a decreased on our population around two winters ago.”

“I do not mean to offend any of you.” Vivianne says, with a sorrowful nod of her head. “It’s more so if a shock. We were far into older when the first war broke around here.”

“Let’s hope, we can make so the next generation doesn’t have to deal with any wars then.” Ophiuchus says with a small nod of his head.

“That would be a good prospect.” Kallias says.

“Did all of the other courts confirmed they will be present?”

“Yes. The Night Court has already arrived.”

Ophiuchus nods, “I wouldn’t assimilate all those types of magic essence with night.”

“Oh, Feyre has the magic of all the High Lords, but you of course.” Vivianne mentions understanding clouding her eyes, “and there’s her sisters, i believe Kallias mentioned that they were made by the Calderon.”

“Yes, he did.” Ophiuchus nods, “and-“

Ophiuchus voice dies down and he stops moving. A hand clutching his chest.

The feeling he only has when he’s being graced by sleep, surrounding him.

Asphodels, honey and sea salt.

Joyful and blissful laugher ringing in his ears.

“Ophiuchus?” Ayla’s voice echoed in his head and he feels his cousin touch his arm.

“Pardon me, I lost my footing for a second.” Ophiuchus forces out.

“Maybe the large distance?” Vivianne offers, “we shall get to the meeting hall? Have some refreshments?”

Ophiuchus nods, and Kallias moves beside Vivianne but not before eying the male with some mix of suspicion and curiosity. Something surely just happened.

“You sensed something?” Ayla asks, quietly her arm still on Ophiuchus.

“I heard her.” Ophiuchus replies, “her laugher. There might actually be something wrong with men.”

“Or she’s near.” Ayla counters. “Stop playing worst case scenario, cousin.”

“Hard not too when I can feel the ghost of her around me, when I don’t even know who she is.”

“Well you do know she isn’t in pain. Which comparing to sometime ago, it’s good.”

Ophiuchus can’t help but nod. Because of course she remembers. Probably anyone that was in the castle does.

How Ophiuchus collapsed, how he screamed and how he only stoped when his grandmother had force fed him a potion.

He had felt searing pain, and considering he was okay. The next possible option was his mate being under some kind of distress.

He gets so lost in the phantom pain and memories, he doesn’t notice the scent of Asphodels and Honey and Sea salt getting stronger. Doesn’t notice that it seems mora palpable than ever before.

What snaps him out of his mind, when Kallias open the door is the sight of white curls.

White curls he knows from his dreams. White stained with gold, white curls that he catches glimpses of as its owner jumps in his arms hugging him and his vision is all white and gold.

Softness and honey. Kindness and asphodels. Silent promises and sea salt.

Mate.

My beautiful beam of light.

I’m here.

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