Chapter 10: Bring on the Night
-Violet's POV

Violet felt like she was floating on a cloud. After months of preparation, or years if she was being honest, her plans were finally starting to come to fruition. Just a few more pieces needed to fall into place, and she would finally get everything she wanted. Violet knew there would be consequences to what she was going to do, and she prepared for the several potential outcomes as best as she could.

The biggest surprise of the night was the fact that no one in her family with the exception of Cassian had come to scold her for arriving with Eris. They had to be furious. She could already imagine the intervention that would be awaiting her when she arrived back home, but she couldn't think about that right now. She had many more important tasks to accomplish before the night was over. First, Violet needed to find out where Eris went, so she turned around to head in the direction she saw him last, and nearly bumped into someone. She looked up to apologize when she saw the current high lord of the Autumn Court standing before her.

"Good evening, Lord Beron." Violet remarked in surprise. "I was under the impression you weren't coming."

He raised a brow. "I had no interest in attending, but keeping track of my eldest has been a chore as of late. Although, he seemed rather interested in this ball, so I really had no choice but to attend, did I?"

Violet swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. "No, I suppose you didn't."

"My wife informed me that I missed a remarkable dance between you and Eris."

"I didn't even realize she was here." Violet tried to smile, but she didn't feel her face move. "I wouldn't call it remarkable anyway. It was just a dance." Beron only scoffed at her.

"If you say so. They were my wife's words. Not mine." He rolled his jaw. "Between this and the show you put on in the Dawn Court, you're all everyone's been talking about."

"Well, isn't that lovely." The female mused.

Beron took a few sharp steps to close the gap between them. "That wasn't a compliment you stupid girl. What you did at that meeting was petty and reckless. Gathering us there and wasting our time just to humiliate Tamlin is nothing short of childish." He looked down at her in disdain. "But what should I expect from someone like you?"

"Someone like me?"

"Don't play dumb with me Violet. It doesn't suit you." She just glared back as he continued. "You know I thank the gods every day that Eris didn't end up married to you. You'd be nothing, but a stain on our family. I mean could you imagine? I shudder to think what your children would have been like. Disgusting little half-breed abominations just like their concubine of a mother. You like being called an Illyrian whore?" Beron pushed a single finger into her collarbone until her back hit a wall. "Good. Because that's all you'll ever be."

Violet tried not to let any emotion show on her face. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction. "What is you want Beron?"

"I'm only going to say this once." She could feel his finger dig into her chest harder. "Stay away from my son, or you are going to find yourself repeating history. If you think what Tamlin's family did to you was bad, then that's going to look like child's play compared to what I'll do to you." He smirked. "Just ask Lucien."

Violet barked out a laugh which surprised them both. "Gods you're so predictable."

"Excuse me?" The male grabbed her harshly by the wrist, and she brought her face up to meet his. She wouldn't let him intimidate her. Not today.

"You're pathetic. Your wife, your sons, your whole damn court deserves better than you." She ripped her arm out of his grasp. "I know you think yourself immortal Beron, but you're going to die. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But you will die, and gods I hope I'm there to see it." Violet placed her hand on his chest and pushed him away with little effort. "And if you ever lay your hands on me again, I'll kill you myself. That's if my brothers don't rip you apart first."

Beron charged towards her again. "Listen here you insolent little bitch-"

"Is there a problem here?" A voice sounded from behind the pair.

They both turned to see Lucien standing alarmingly still. Violet eyes flicked from her friend back to his father. "I don't know Lord Beron." she said in a taunting manner. "Do we have a problem?"

"That remains to be seen." The older male backed away and turned towards his supposed offspring. "Well, if it isn't my disgraceful son playing the white knight to the downtrodden yet again. Why am I not surprised?" Beron didn't give Lucien any time to answer, and waved his hand in the air. "Regardless, my wife and I will be leaving now. This ball is mind-numbingly dull. I blame the host."

Violet felt her whole body deflate as soon as the high lord of the Autumn Court turned around to leave. Lucien gave her a minute to collect herself and approached carefully. "Are you ok?"

She let out a quiet sob and threw her arms around his neck. "I'm fine." She held on to him tighter. "I can't believe you're here."

"Well, I knew if I didn't at least try to make an appearance than you never would have let me hear the end of it."

Violet chuckled quietly and wiped the single tear that had escaped her eyes. "I'm just happy you made it."

"Yeah, I got here just in time to see you canoodling with my brother." He faked a shudder.

"I wasn't canoodling with Eris." She pulled away from the wall to straighten her dress as Lucien fixed a stray hair that had ended up on top of her head. "We were just dancing."

"That's what we're calling it now?" He taunted with a wiggle of his brows.

"Would you shut up?" Violet tried to smack him on the arm, but he backed away out of her reach.

"Whatever it was, I'm sure Rhysand was thrilled."

"I haven't even talked to him about it yet actually."

"I got to say I would love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation."

Violet glowered back. "If you're going to keep giving me a hard time, then I'm going to need a drink. You want one?"

"Actually, I was looking for Feyre before I bumped into you." He scanned her face quickly. "You're lucky I found you when I did. Beron looked like he was two seconds away from putting your head through the wall."

"Just like old times huh?"

Lucien pulled himself from his thoughts before the memories could drag him under. "What were you two talking about anyway?"

"Nothing of importance." Violet waved him off and hugged him once more. "Now go find your mate."

"You're insufferable" He groaned.

"Ditto, Luci." She threw a wink in his direction before walking up to a silver haired male with a tray of drinks. She grabbed the first glass she could get her hands on, and downed it in one gulp before grabbing a second.

"Eris fucking Vanserra? Are you serious?"

Violet smiled to herself and turned around to meet Tamlin standing behind her. "Finally, he speaks! And here I thought you were just going to glare at me all night."

"Please tell me this is your idea of a joke."

She threw her hands up into the air. "Why does everyone think this is funny?"

"Because it's ridiculous!" He shouted. "Why the hell would you want to be with Eris?"

"What can I say? He does the most marvelous things with his tongue…"

"Oh gods!" Tamlin winced. "Please stop talking."

"Now don't get all grouchy. You asked."

He grabbed the glass she was holding and tried to take a sip, but she ripped it back out of his hand. "Why am I here Violet? I seriously doubt you dragged me all the way to the Hewn City to throw Eris in my face all night."

"No, that was just an added bonus." She laughed into her drink as Tamlin rolled his eyes. "You're here, because I need you for something."

"You need me for what?"

"You'll know when I'm ready to use you."

"I don't think so. You and I aren't engaged anymore. I'm not going to your lapdog." Tamlin tried walking away, but Violet pulled him back by collar of his shirt and brought his face down to hers.

"You are whatever I say you are from here on out. Unless you want me to start telling people everything that I know about the night I died." She loosened the grip on his shirt, but he kept his face hovering about hers. "You and I both know that wouldn't end well for you."

"It won't end well for anyone. If they find out, you'll start a damn war Violet."

"So be it." She hissed through her teeth.

"Now I'm starting to see why you chose Eris over me. You'll both screw over anyone you need to if it gets you what you want. You honestly deserve each other." The male shook his head from side to side. "You really are a heartless bitch you know that?"

"Takes one to know one sweetheart." Violet shoved him backward slightly. "You really need to get over yourself. I didn't choose him over you Tamlin. We were together for awhile before you and I ever got engaged."

"Fine. Let's say that's true." He picked up a drink from another tray since she wasn't willing to part with hers. "Why didn't you ever explain any of this to me?"

"I was going to, but our fathers agreed on a marriage contract before I got the chance. I was initially hoping that my parents would agree to betroth me to Eris at my coronation ball, but then Beron decided to be a racist jackass."

"Yeah, that's a great family you were trying to marry into." He sneered. "Clearly your decision-making skills are top notch."

"Fuck you Tamlin." Violet spat. "It's not like your family was much better. All your father wanted me for was my power, and the second he realized he might lose it, he tortured me to death."

"That wasn't the reason you died that night."

She ripped her gaze away from him. "Whatever."

Tamlin scanned the room. "Does Eris know?"

"Does Eris know what?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about Violet."

"No, he doesn't know." She turned back to him. "What do you think he'll do when he finds out?" A feral grin stretched across her face. He didn't respond, so she persisted. "What's the matter Tam? Do you think he's going to-" The female faltered.

"What's happening?" Tamlin growled. "Did you finally run out of insults in that tiny little brain of yours?"

"No, I just don't feel well all of a sudden." She put her hand to her forehead. "What were we talking about?"

"What's the matter with you?"

"I don't know. I just feel-" Violet's knees started to give out.

"What the hell?" Tamlin caught her arm to keep her steady. "Vi, look at me."

"Something's…" She tried raising her head to meet his gaze, but everything felt heavy, and her vision started to blur. "Something's not right." The whole room was spinning.

"Do you need to sit down?" The high lord gripped her tighter.

"No. I just need you to get Rhys." Her head lolled back. "Now." The last thing Violet heard was Tamlin shouting her brother's name before everything went black.