Chapter 5: Lies My Parents Told Me
-Rhysand's POV

Two weeks ago, Violet had asked Rhys that she needed him to summon someone to the river house. Someone she needed to see. He couldn't believe it when she asked. He still couldn't. Especially not now that he had the eldest son of the Autumn Court sitting across from him in the den of his home. Why the hell she needed to talk to Eris fucking Vanserra was beyond him, but Violet had seemed insistent, so he allowed it. His sister of course was late. Cassian was standing in the corner behind him ready for anything that could go wrong. He had offered Eris a drink to fill the silence, but that would only last so long. Eris wasn't a patient man. Rhysand was suddenly glad he had sent Azriel to go collect Lucien. Given his history with the man sitting in front of him, it was best his spymaster was elsewhere for the time being.

Eris sat back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other. "Are you going to tell me why the hell I'm here Rhysand, or are you just that desperate for a new drinking partner?"

"Believe me Eris, if I needed a someone to drink with, you'd be at the end of my list."

"Fine. Then why did you ask me here?"

"I didn't."

Eris rose from his seat, drink in hand. "Well someone from your damned court summoned me, and if it wasn't you then who the hell was it!?"

"Hello Eris." Violet voice sounded from the door behind him. The room went silent with the expectation of Eris's drinking glass crashing to the floor. He slowly turned towards her eyes wide. Rhysand wasn't certain the male was actually breathing.

"Well that's interesting." Violet mused.

Eris trailed his eyes from her feet all the way to the top of her head before settling on her face. "What is?"

"I don't think I've ever seen you speechless before."

"Well, that does tend to happen when one's world is turned on its head."

"Indeed it does."

"How long have you been back?"

"About two years give or take."

Eris looked as surprised as they had been. "You've been here for 2 years?"

"No, not here."

"Then where?"

"The Day Court."

"With Helion?" He hissed.

"Yes."

"Doing what exactly?"

"Playing catch up."

"For two years?"

"Well, I had centuries worth of history to sort through."

"Yes, I suppose you do."

Rhysand and Cassian just sat in the room quietly observing the pair volley words back and forth. It was like watching a sparring match. He wasn't quite sure who was winning, but he knew Violet had a significant advantage over Eris. The man was not easily rattled, yet she was able to do it by just saying his name. Violet and Eris continued staring at each other. It was a clear battle of wills. Neither wanted to be the first to break. Eventually, the future lord of the Autumn Court backed down, and waved a hand clearing away the pieces of his broken glass from where they landed. He turned back to Violet again.

"Can we talk?"

"I thought we were talking."

"You know what I mean." He said with a roll of his amber eyes. "I'd like to talk to you alone."

Violet let the request hang in the air for a moment before asking, "Can we have the room please?"

"Absolutely fucking not!" Cassian's voice boomed.

"Cass…" Rhysand sighed.

"Don't 'Cass' me. It was one thing to invite him here, but now you want to leave him here alone with her. You can't seriously tell me that you're alright with this?"

"I never said I was, but it's her decision." He reassured. His calculating eyes locking with Violet's.

"Fine." Cassian said rounding on Eris. "But if you so much as lay a finger on her, I'll break the rest."

Eris regarded the general as if he was nothing more than a mosquito buzzing around his ear. "I would think being mated would have taught you some kind of manners. I guess you really can't teach an old dog new tricks. What a pity… How is our dear Nesta fairing anyway?"

A feral growl ripped its way out of Cassian as he charged his way towards Eris until they were practically chest to chest.

"Cass! Let's go." Rhysand pleaded.

"Run along general. Your master's calling."

Cassian huffed out a breath and headed for the door slamming it shut on his way out.

Rhysand chose to sit in a small room just across from the den where they had left Violet and Eris to discuss whatever it was they were discussing. Cassian was pacing back and forth like a wild animal.

"Cass, for Cauldron's sake, sit down. You're making me dizzy."

The Illyrian fell down into the chair next to his with a grunt. "I'm sorry. That goddamn prick just gets under my fucking skin."

"That goddamn prick gets under everyone's skin." The high lord replied with a smirk.

The front door opened, and Feyre entered through making her way over to them. Her face and arms were covered in paint signaling that she had just come from the shop. "What the hell is going on? Why do you both look so tense?"

"Eris is here." Rhysand responded simply.

"Oh… Where is he?"

"In the den, talking with Violet."

"Alone?" Feyre voiced raised slightly. "Why?"

"I have no idea."

"I didn't even realize they knew each other all that well." She said coming over to sit with her mate.

"Yeah, centuries ago, back when we were all kids, and the relationships with all the courts were a little more united, the high lords used to take turns hosting balls. All of us kids despised them for the most part, and we were always finding ways to cause trouble. Lucien and Violet were actually fairly good friends back then. I think they bonded over being the babies of our respective families. For some reason, their friendship always bothered Eris."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Jealously probably. One time I dimly recall Violet running to us in tears, because Eris kept setting fire to the ends of her hair."

"What did you do?"

"Taught her how to fight back." Cassian said with a cocky grin his head resting on the back of the chair.

Rhysand smiled in return. "In fact, that very next ball he tried it again, and she knocked him flat on the floor before he knew what hit him. I turned just as our mother was trying to pry Violet off of him. She got a few good punches in though. Pretty sure she broke his nose."

"Gods what I wouldn't pay to see that again." Cass laughed.

"You and me both brother. He didn't mess with her much after that. But a few years later when Violet came of age to marry, our father threw her a kind of coronation ceremony for her to meet potential suitors from other courts. There were many in attendance. Most you've never heard of. A few you do. Including Tamlin, Eris, and Lucien. Eris however courted her much more aggressively than the rest.

"Eris wanted to marry your sister?" Feyre asked in surprised.

"At one time yes. Beron of course didn't approve. Said he didn't want his eldest son marrying a revolting half breed beast."

"Half breed? Your sister is high fae."

"Yes, but she's also half Illyrian. That's the part Beron had an issue with. Eris tried to convince his father for a long time that they'd be an ideal match, but there was no changing his mind, so they left. I didn't realize Violet and Eris kept in contact after that. Especially since it caused such a big rift between the Autumn and Night Court."

"Who did Violet end up marrying then?"

"She didn't end up married to anyone. She was betrothed for a long time, but when the war arrived, all of the weddings were put on hold indefinitely, and then she died shortly after the war ended."

"Who was she betrothed to?"

Rhysand braced himself for his mate's inevitable reaction. "Tamlin."

"Violet and Tamlin were engaged?!"

"Yes, our father thought Tamlin was the most suitable match."

"And clearly he misjudged that one by a landslide." Violet said from the now open door leading to the den. Eris was standing directly behind her. They both walked further into the room joining the others.

Cassian's head rose from the chair upon hearing her voice. "You ok Vi?"

"I'm fine. Dredging up ancient history, are we?"

"Actually, we were just talking about when you broke Eris's nose for burning your hair." Cass answered sneering at him.

Violet laughed. "Yeah well, he had it coming." She said as she flicked the tip of the red-haired male's nose.

He swatted her hand away lightly with a glare. "As stimulating as my time here has been, I need to leave. If I stay much longer, my father will begin to suspect something."

"Eris!" Violet called as he was walking away. "The favor you owe me… You'll do what I asked?"

Eris turned around to face her again. He gave a mocking bow and purred, "Don't I always princess?" With a smirk, he winnowed away.

"What the hell was that about?" Cassian questioned with a frown.

"Nothing. It's just Eris being… Eris." Violet retorted.

"Are you going to tell us why you needed to bring that prick here? What did you even talk about?"

"It's private Cass. Just leave it alone please."

Rhysand was watching his sister for any signs of possible distress but found none. "Did you at least get what you needed from that interaction?"

"Yes, I did. Thank you."

"Alright little sister, so now what?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well clearly you have a plan brewing in that crafty little head of yours."

"Am I that transparent?"

"Only because I taught you everything you know."

"Fine…" She said with a huff. "I need you to call a meeting."

"Dare I ask what kind of meeting?"

"I need you to call a meeting with all of the high lords, and I do mean all."

"Why Violet?"

"Because I think it's time I saw that devious little ex-fiancé of mine."