ACOTAR
"I want you to kill Joénna-Bry Terrin."
"Excuse me?" He was vibrating with anger and took a step in front of Jo even though he knew she could take care of herself. He didn't like the look his father gave him, or the look Tark gave Jo.
"She is holding you back, Eris. Even when you didn't remember her, a part of you longed for her. She holds you back from being a true High Lord, one like me." He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He never wanted to be like his father. Never! "She makes you soft and weak."
"You are mental." He seethed. "Jo makes me stronger. I would rather die than kill her."
"Eris." She whispered, tugging on his arm.
"If you don't, -" Beron seethed, his eyes turning fire. "Tark will be the next High Lord."
Jo stepped forward before he could stop her. "That is the best and fastest way to destroy the Autumn Court." She sneered at both his father and his brother.
"Shut the fuck up, bitch. I remembered what you did to me." Tark stepped forward.
"And you deserved even worse." She shot back.
"Son, please." Beron said, looking back at him. "You are the rightful heir to take over. But it can't be with her by your side."
"I won't do it." He snapped.
"Then you leave me no choice." He said and conjured a flame in his hand.
Eris blocked it as he shot it straight in the direction of Jo's heart. Without thinking he conjured two of his own flames and send them to his father. He rolled out of the way, still fast for a man his age. He didn't see Jo walk away from him and become invisible. He had his attention on his father and his father alone. His rage coursed through his body, filling his veins with searing fire. He wouldn't let him touch her with on finger. His plan on getting rid of his father had sped up immensely.
His father had two fire balls in his hands right now and was ready to throw it at him when Jo appeared behind him, a knife to his throat. "Drop your hands." She growled.
He did but the fire didn't extinguish, and a smirk played on his lips. "You grew up in my home, Joénna. I know you."
Suddenly Tark was behind her, fire burning against her arm. She hissed at the burn. "Too bad the curse didn't work better." He growled in her ear. And fury burned through Eris. "All that work Ellopé and I did, and we still didn't get what we wanted." He let his tongue slide over her neck. Tark worked with Ellopé to curse him and Jo? So, Ellopé could have him and Tark could have Jo. ´He was vibrating with anger, the fire in his hands growing larger. Tark would meet the same fate he had set for his father.
Jo must have thought the same because she turned and tackled his brother to the ground. He focussed back on his power, sending fire at him once again before he ran up to his father and pushed him to the ground. He clamped his burning hand around his throat, pinning his arms between his legs.
"You made me remember her just to kill her? Why?" He snarled at him. "It would have been easier to kill her if I didn't know her."
"That would have been too easy. I needed you to kill the one you loved, so you would become a ruthless leader. A real leader doesn't love, son. Marriage is just to produce an heir, then they are nothing to us."
"You are a vile and cruel male, who has never loved anything in his life."
"I love my sons." His voice softened and stupidly he relaxed his hold on his throat. Beron saw his opening and pushed him off him. Hot flames circled in his palm, and he raised his hand to throw it at him, but his eyes were fixed on Jo. She was still fighting Tark, who had several bleeding wounds on him.
Her eyes widened as she looked at him. "ERIS!" She screamed. A soul-chattering scream.
He snapped out of it, but he was too late to stop his father. Jo threw her dagger to his father, fast and precise but when she threw the knife, Tark saw his opening. He didn't think about it and let his hottest flame shot towards him. They were hit at the same time. His fire hit his brother's chest, burning through his skin and bone before Tark fell to the ground lifeless. Jo's dagger found its mark too. Blood splattered over his face as the dagger pierced through his father's neck. His father's eyes widened before he fell to the ground. He took a few gurgling breaths before he became still, his eyes still wide but vacant.
"Jo!" He stepped over his dead father and ran over to her. He cupped her cheeks as they came together and inspected her up and down. "Are you okay? Did he?"
"I'm fine. And you?" Her voice trembled as she wiped the blood from his face.
"A few burns that will heal." He leaned down and placed his head against her.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"For what?" He asked, running a hand over her arm. She hissed. "You're hurt."
"I'm fine. I killed your father, Eris."
"I was going to kill him the moment he threatened you anyway " He kissed her softly.
"What are we going to tell everyone?" Her green eyes concerned as she looked up at him.
"We will tell them the truth." He said, his voice steady. "That he tried to kill you and me, and we defended ourselves. Baby, go inside and tell my mom what happened. I'll - I'll take care of them."
She cupped his cheek. "Are you sure?" He nodded. She stood on her toes and kissed him lightly before going inside.
ACOTAR
Time seemed to fly by after that. And a lot of things had changed.
The first, of course was that Eris Vanserra became the new High Lord of the Autumn Court. All the other High Lords and their families were present for that. Lucien and Lirone stood next to her when it happened. All beaming at him, at the new and bright future for the Autumn Court. Nobody was surprised by Beron's actions or Tark's. Only a few attended his funeral. But neither Lucien nor Eris were present. Lady Lirone had only attended her son's funeral.
The night Eris officially became the High Lord was the first night Lirone and Helion talked again. And they talked for hours on end, not wanting to let one another go. They have been inseparable ever since. It was quite a shock for Helion when she told her about Lucien being his son. The three of them had spent much time together to get to know each other. Apparently, Helion was preparing on letting everyone know who Lucien was to him. And that his son would be the next High Lord once he was ready to pass it on to him.
Jo had her job, but she did put a break on it to reconnect with Lucien, Eris and Lirone. Viviane gave her a knowing grin when she caught her and Eris kissing. The first time they had sex, it was like nothing she ever had before. It was hot and fire and so full of love that it made her weak for hours. They didn't have much sleep that night as they explored every inch of each other, over and over again. But when she noticed the scars on his back, the ones inflicted on him by Beron, the ones that had never fully healed, she cried. Before she left the Autumn Court, he never hurt his son like that, but she guessed that the years made him even more ruthless and heartless. That Beron wanted Eris just to be like him. A monster. Thank the Cauldron, Eris managed to keep his heart in the right place.
ACOTAR
Now it was the night of the Dance of Trees and Eris and Jo made their way to the old tree house. Eris had it renewed so it was more stable. He couldn't get rid of the tree house, not with all the memories they had together. As they walked through the forest, they saw Helion and Lirone sitting together. Next to them was Lucien and much to their surprise Elain. They weren't all cuddly or in love but at least she was making an effort. Eris and Jo had invited all the High Lords to come witness it too. Most outside the Autumn Court had never witnessed it. She spotted Kallias and Vivianne, Tarquin had also come with his cousins. The first time Jo saw him again she jumped into his arms, much to Eris annoyance. Thesan was there with his lover. A little further down, Rhysand and his inner circle were spread out around different trees. Tamlin was nowhere in sight. But Walt and his family were there to witness the Dance of Trees once more.
When they reached the tree with the tree house, Eris trapped her between his arms as she leaned against the bark of the tree. He claimed her lips in a bruising kiss. She pulled on his breeches and pulled him flush against her. She moaned as his hard dick brushed against her. He hitched up her leg, so he could press even closer.
"Fuck." He groaned as he nipped her neck. "I could never get enough of you."
She looked up at him with a coy smile. "The same, little High Lord. The same."
He grinned before claiming her lips again. Before they went too far with too many eyes on them, they winnowed up to the treehouse.
Her breath got caught in her throat as she took in the scene in front of her. A large blanket was sprawled over the wooden planks, candles were lit around it. And a bowl of chocolate covered fruits laid in the middle. "Eris." She breathed.
"Do you like it?" He whispered against her neck, curling his arms around her waist.
She turned in his arms. "I love it." She kissed him. "I love you."
He opened his mouth but before he could reply, the leaves started to dance of their branches. He sat down and pulled her in his lap.
"Every time I see this it leaves me speechless." She said softly.
"I feel the same every time your green eyes meet mine."
She chuckled, pulling him closer. "You're so cheesy."
"I know." He said as he trailed kisses across her neck. "But I have a lot to catch up on. I've got something for you." He said. She sat down on the blanket next to him as he reached behind him. He held out a carved wooden box. The Dance of Trees carved onto it. It was definitely Marianne's work.
"Is that what you bought from Marianne's?"
"Yeah." He rubbed his neck. "When you told me we watched it together and I saw this at her house. I knew I had to get it for you."
"It's beautiful." She said, running a finger over the carvings.
"Open it." He said softly. She clicked open the box and gasped. Her hands trembled around the box. "I want to spend every Dance of Trees with you, Jo. From now until the end of times." She tore her eyes off the two rings placed neatly in the box and glanced up at him. "I want to wake up to you every day. And I want you next me in every part that comes. I have loved you for centuries, the old you and the new you. I don't care if we're not Mates. I want you for you. Joénna-Bry Terrin, will you marry me and become the first High Lady of the Autumn Court?"
She was shaking. "You - you want to make me High Lady?"
"I never was a fan of Rhysand, but he did at least one thing right." He grinned. "I told you I want you next to me in every part of my life."
She leaned forward and kissed him softly. "Yes." She breathed.
"Yes?"
"Yes." She crawled on his lap and kissed him passionately. "I will marry you, Eris Vanserra."
"Fuck, I love you." They kissed passionately for a long moment before he pulled away and leaned over for the box. He took her hand in his and placed the rose-gold leaf ring with an opal the colour of fall leaves on her finger. She took the other ring, a black ring with the colour of fall leaves in the centre. Her fingers still trembled as she slid it on his finger. "A spy with a shaking hand is not good for business, baby." He joked.
She slapped his chest before kissing him. She pulled back and looked down at their rings. "I want nothing more than to marry you." She intertwined their fingers together and took in a deep breath. "But there is something I need to tell you."