9

ACOTAR

An hour later, she and Eris were in the back of the carriage, lying down on the soft furs. It took half an hour of arguing with Walt before she agreed to rest. She glanced to the red-haired male beside her, already fast asleep. It took him only seconds when his head fell on the furs for him to doze off. She couldn't blame him; he had not slept at all last night. Her eyes found the window and the cobalt sky above her. She fell asleep as she watched the rose-tinged clouds drift before her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

She opened her eyes and looked to Eris. He was still asleep but was twisting and turning in his sleep. His brows were furrowed, and his lips parted.

"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I'm sorry."

"Eris." She came closer, taking his hand in hers.

"I will kill you for this!"

No, it couldn't be. He couldn't remember that day, could he? She cupped his cheeks. "Eris. ERIS, wake up!"

"Don't. Touch. Her." He growled, his eyes remained closed.

She leaned her head against his. "Eris, please wake up." She whispered, her thumbs sliding over his cheeks. Then he opened his eyes, tears filled them, and she kept her hands and head right there because of it. "Eris." She said softly.

"Terrin." His voice cracked. He raised a hand and cupped her cheek. "I'm so sorry." Then he leaned up and kissed her. She didn't lie, they were never more than friends. Maybe it could have been if they weren't torn apart but nothing ever happened. They had never kissed. And now he was kissing her. Her oldest, long-lost friend. She felt his warmth coming from his lips. But she froze. She didn't kiss back or moved away; she simply froze on the spot. He pulled back, letting his head rest on the furs.

"I didn't mean to." He stammered. "It's just... I saw-"

She pulled her hands back and sat on her heels. "You were talking in your sleep. Do you remember me?"

"No, I just dreamed about that day. I just remember hurting you." He reached up and caressed her burned shoulder. "The dream was blurry and in pieces, but I remember it." He wiped the sweat from his brow.

"How is that possible? That you remember but don't remember."

"I don't know. It's giving me a pounding headache; I can tell you that." He pressed his fists against his head.

"Sit up, poor little High Lord." She offered him a smile when he scowled up at her. He pushed himself up and leaned against the wall of the carriage. She grabbed a cloth from her backpack and dosed it with water. She kneeled between his legs and pressed the cold wet cloth against his head. With her hands on each side of his head, she massaged his temples with her index fingers. He hummed as he closed his eyes, relief flooded his face. "How does it feel?"

"Amazing. Thank you."

"Here I thought you forgot those words."

His lips curled upwards. "I use them, but only in very rare and special occasions."

"And this being one of them?"

He tilted his head back and she moved her hands a little. Her thumbs replaced her index fingers, while the rest of her fingers shifted in his hair.

"You sure you don't have healing powers?" He teased.

"I'm sure." She chuckled. "You used to get a lot of headaches back in the day. After your fights with your brothers or your father. You were very sensitive for it. Instead of going to the healers, you always found your way to me."

He opened his eyes and gazed up at her. "And you always took care of me like this?"

"Always."

"In the dream -" She stopped rubbing circles on his temple. "I could feel my fear for you. My anger towards my brothers."

"I have to admit." She started rubbing circles again. Her fingers still curled in his long hair. "Not the best memory to remember first."

"No shit." He muttered. His hand twirled with the hem of her shirt. "I carried you."

"You did. All the way to the healer's office. You wouldn't let anyone else touch me. Not even Lucien. And when your father said not to heal me completely, you lost it." She lowered a hand and turned the arm over that was playing with her shirt. "You charged at Beron, but he twisted your arm so badly that it broke. This scar." She swiped her thumb over it. "Is because one of your bones pierced through your skin." She let go of his arm. "You should sleep a bit more. It's only been three hours."

"I think I've slept enough."

"You know I can force you to sleep, right? It just takes the right pressure points and BAM, asleep in a few seconds." She snapped her fingers.

"BAM, huh?" Amusement laced his voice. She just shrugged. "You know, if you want me to sleep." He looked down at her knees between his legs. "You got to move."

"You don't have enough room, General Vanserra?"

"I've slept in smaller spaces, but it's hard to sleep when a beautiful woman is kneeling between my legs and her hands in my hair."

She snorted and pulled his hair a little, even though she could feel her cheeks heat. She removed the cloth from his head and made a move to step out the carriage.

"Wait." Eris grabbed her wrist, and she looked over her shoulder to him. "Stay."

"Things have already become too complicated. This was never supposed to happen."

"What?"

"Us talking. It was supposed to be a quiet ride to the Night Court and then you would leave."

"Is it so bad talking to me?"

"Yes and no."

He looked down at his family ring. "I know this is a lot. And I'm probably not making it easier on you, but I promise I won't talk for the rest of the day."

She turned to him. "Fine, if you tell me something first before your vow of silence."

"Alright." He smiled a little.

"Why did you buy something from Marianne? Why not just tell her you admire her work?"

"I don't give out compliments easily. And buying something sends out the same message."

She tilted her head to the side. "I disagree." But she settled on the fur once more.

ACOTAR

It was dark out when he woke up. His face was full of dark auburn hair. Even though they fell asleep with enough room to fit another person between them, he woke up curled around her back. His arm was around her waist, his nose buried in her neck. Gods, she smelled amazing. Everything that happened yesterday, had thrown him off. At first, the dream. He could still feel his fear and anger course through him. Then the way Terrin took care of him, gentle without fear or judgement. How she knew exactly how to relieve him from the pain. The way her scent filled his senses when she rubbed her temples, when her fingers curled in his hair. It took everything in him not to kiss her again, but the first time didn't go over well. She had frozen on the spot, not moving an inch. He didn't mean to kiss her, but she was just right there. And after the fear and guilt he felt after the dream, he couldn't stop himself.

He was seriously wondering if he was going mad. If it weren't for his parents, he would have thought she had put a spell on him. Because she was making him soft, the one thing he couldn't be. Not if he wanted to become High Lord, not with his plans on becoming one, soon. She was making him feel things that he never thought he could feel.

He watched her sleep, unable to retreat the arm around her. He should take a step back, not only for his own good but for hers. She made it clear she didn't want anything to do with him, didn't want to talk to him. He had noticed she had a hard time talking about the past. He couldn't imagine how it must feel for her.

He noticed when she woke up, because she stiffened against him. He was just about to pull his arm away when she said.

"The last time I woke up with someone spooning me, we had more exciting adventures the hours before."

He chuckled and she rested a hand on the one on her waist. "Did we ever sleep like this?" He couldn't help but ask.

"Sort of. I usually was the big spoon."

He knew she was grinning, and he buried his face even more in her neck as he laughed. Suddenly she turned over and wrapped her arms around him, nestling her face in his chest. "Don't stop."

"What?" He croaked.

"Laughing, never stop laughing, Eris." He loved the way she said his name, couldn't get enough of it.

"You're the only one I want to laugh with." He managed to say, stroking her hair. And he was digging himself even deeper. Fuck!

"It wouldn't be if you let someone in." She lifted her head from his chest and her green eyes met his, again so, so close. "And it can't be me."

"Why not."

"For many different reasons."

"Terrin."

"That's one of them. When I meet someone, it doesn't matter if they don't know my past because I'm not the same person anymore. But you -" She cupped his cheek, and he stopped breathing. "Now that you know, you will always be wondering. You will always want to ask about our time together. A few days is one thing, but I can't do this long term." She kissed his cheek softly before she winnowed right out of his arms.

ACOTAR

"Veronica!" The High Lord of the Dawn Court, Thesan, greeted her. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. "How are you, my lady?"

"I'm good, High Lord. I'm good."

"You know it's just Thesan when it comes to you."

"And you know I always greet you first like people expect me to."

Thesan smiled to Walt. "Formal for two minutes and after that she's drinking me under the table."

"You know miss Veronica." Walt jumped right in the new name without hesitation. "She's one of many talents."

"She sure is." His eyes shifted to him. "General Vanserra." Surprise flickered in his eyes.

"High Lord Thesan." He greeted. "Veronica is escorting me to the Night Court."

Thesan took him in for a moment, his eyes glittered with suspicion. He turned back to Terrin. "I don't like this." He whispered to her.

"She can take care of herself, High Lord." He couldn't help but snap.

"Believe me, I know." He answered, his voice equally short. The way he said it, there must be a story behind it. His voice softened when he turned back to Terrin. "How long will you be staying?"

"Just one night this time."

"Let's get you settled then." Thesan offered his arm to her.

She took it but glanced back to Walt. "Go to your family, Walt. I'll come by tomorrow morning."

"Until then, miss Veronica." He bowed, hopped on the carriage and took his leave.

Eris followed a few steps behind Terrin and Thesan, knowing full well that there were guards on his heels, again.

ACOTAR

The guards followed him around Thesan's home, always a few steps behind him. After dinner, Terrin left with Thesan and his lover. He didn't want to think about what the three of them were doing right now. Because, well he had figured out she had a pretty active and imaginative sex life. He was on his way to his room when he saw something he didn't expect. He passed a large foyer, but just outside on the grass lay The High Lord himself with his lover, Terrin squished between them. But they weren't doing anything scandalous, they were watching the coloured night sky. The sky in the Dawn Court always looked beautiful. Even in the dark, cobalt colours lightened the sky. The brightest stars found their way through the clouds. They laughed, and Terrin's laugh reached his ears. With one last look, he continued his way to his room. The weight on his chest eased.