The Heir & The Emissary (preview)

the heir & the emissary (preview)

Okay so this idea has been floating around in my brain for weeks now and I’ve finally caved and started writing it down. This is just a small portion of what I’d like to write. It’s Eris x OC (estranged Archeron sister) and I have the outline of the full story done. Just need to commit to writing it all. 

Eris x OC

____

Prologue 

// 8 months post-UTM //

Eris stopped breathing.

The pull was instantaneous. This tugging in his chest, impossible to ignore. He blinked once, twice and then sucked in a gasping breath as if returning to the surface of water. 

He couldn’t look away. She was beautiful with long, pale blonde hair which fell in waves down her lithe back. Her knee length, black coat cinched at the waist; accentuating her good figure. Her head was turned slightly towards him as she laughed at something a passerby had said to her. Her bright white teeth on display, eyes and nose scrunched up and a loud, joyful sound emitting from her. She looked absolutely radiant.

He watched as this woman wrenched open the door to the tavern and stepped inside, disappearing from his view.

I’m currently working on another Az piece... I think it’s going to be two parts. ehe

the heir & the emissary

Eris Vanserra x OC (estranged Archeron sister)

Chapter One

CHAPTER TWO

A loud creaking sound echoed throughout the palace as two, large, ornately decorated cedar doors swung open. Tegan strode through them into an equally large study, a whisper of wind blowing around her. The room was spacious with bright white marble floors, cold stone walls and a beautiful, warm fireplace with a crackling inferno at the hearth. Before the fireplace sat a large, low wooden table and two plush, dark leather couches. The walls of the study were covered, floor to ceiling, in elaborate bookshelves. Across the room sat a sleek desk littered with papers and a High Lord who looked to be on the verge of screaming. His head was bent, held up by his forehead with two open palms. His mate stood beside him, one hand resting on his shoulder in a comforting gesture. 

Two heads of ice-blonde hair snapped up at the sound of the opening doors and Tegan was instantly met with strikingly similar sets of piercing blue eyes. She gave a small smile and she could feel the tension immediately begin to bleed from the room.

“Who died?” Tegan snorted, shuffling into the room and throwing herself onto one of the couches. She kicked off her boots and pulled her legs up onto the couch, stretching her left arm over the back and twisting her body to face her High Lord and Lady. Kallias gave her the most deadpan stare he could muster, though she could see the small twitch of his lips giving away his amusement. 

“Oh yes, just make yourself at home,” Kallias grumbled. Viviane let out a small giggle as she moved around the couch and settled down on the opposite end from Tegan. She too kicked off her shoes and brought her legs up underneath her. She reached out to grab a steaming mug from the wooden table and passed it to Tegan.

“Ignore him, we’ve received a rather interesting set of responses from some other courts which we’ll discuss later. First though,” Vivane put her hand on Tegans, which remained stretched out across the back of the couch, “tell us about your day. How is the village doing? Everyone is safe and doing well?” 

Tegan smiled brightly. “Yes, everyone is doing well. I spent most of the day with Hanna and the kids. I can’t believe how fast they’ve grown. They are most definitely going to give her a run for her money as they get older, especially Rivi.” 

“I don’t doubt it for a second. Serves her right for all the shenanigans she got up to in her youth.” Viviane laughed, a fond smile on her face. 

Kallias stood up from the desk and moved to take a seat on the other couch. He leaned back, legs spread out before him in a perfect picture of nonchalance. He smiled softly observing the conversation. 

“How’s the tavern doing?” Kallias asked as he leaned forward to grasp his own mug from the table.

“It’s doing well. Just as cozy as ever,” Tegan replied, a mischievous look flashing in her eyes. “We'll have to get you back there for another rowdy night soon. Nothing more entertaining than watching you-” Tegan was cut off by a large hand slapping over her mouth. The corner of her eyes crinkled with joy as her muffled laugh could be heard through his fingers.

“Oh no you don’t. We don’t talk about that night.” He laughed lightly. Tegan stuck out her tongue, lightly licking his palm. His face scrunched up in disgust as he quickly pulled his hand away from her face. “Eww, gross Tegan!” He whined, rubbing his palm against his thigh vigorously.

Viviane let out a burst of laughter, joy shining brightly in her eyes. “Honestly, the two of you are like squabbling children.” Both Kallias and Tegan turned to her with bright smiles. 

“He might be my High Lord in title, but really he’s more like my annoying older brother.” Tegan snarked, pointing a thumb over her shoulder at him. Kallias placed a hand over his heart and gasped in mock offense.

“Believe me Tegan, I am well aware,” Vivane laughed. “Now, before you two can get too wild, I think we ought to talk about the letters we received.” In an instant the room changed. Seriousness settled over her two friends and Tegan's smile dropped from her face.

“What happened?” She questioned, looking back and forth between the two.

Kallias cleared his throat, placing his mug back on the table and stood. He brushed his hands over the front of his pants and made his way back to his desk. He picked up two letters and handed them to Tegan. Tegan’s view moved downward from the face of her High Lord to the papers now sitting in her open hand.

Kallias,

I regret to inform you that the Spring court will be unable to attend the upcoming meeting. I have another prearranged meeting I must attend that cannot be postponed. 

-Tamlin

__

Kallias,

I will be unable to attend the meeting as I have another meeting which cannot be postponed. I will be sending my eldest son in my place. 

-Beron

Tegan studied the letters. She read them once, twice, three times before her eyes moved back up to the faces of her friends. They wore matching worried expressions, with furrowed brows and near identical frowns. She would have laughed at the image they portrayed if not for the gnawing feeling in her gut. 

“They are meeting each other… are they not?” Tegan whispered. Kallias let out a long sigh and nodded.

“We believe that may be the case. For obvious reasons we cannot prove it based on just these letters but it seems rather clear.” He ran a hand through his hair in a clear sign of distress. Tegans gaze slid over to Viviane whose head was tilted up towards her mate, eyes firmly on him as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. Kallias let out another long sigh and sat down on the table in front of her. He took her hands in his and met her eyes. “Tegan, I hate to ask this of you. It makes me sick to have to even suggest it but there is nobody else in the court that I would trust this with.”

“What is it?” Tegan whispered again, nausea beginning to build within her. Her eyes darted back and forth between Kallias and Viviane.

“We need you to take a small trip to the Spring court tomorrow.” Tegan sucked in a harsh breath. “You don’t need to speak to anyone, in fact we’d prefer if you didn’t. We really just need you to take a look around and see if anything seems amiss.” She looked down at the hands holding hers. The hands that belonged to Kallias, her brother in all but blood. She let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“Okay. If you need me to do this, I will. I’m not sure if I will be back in time for the meeting though.” Tegan replied.

“We know. Rhysand will be here with the whole entourage so we figured you might appreciate being away.” Vivane spoke up from beside her.

“While I appreciate the concern, it is unnecessary. I have a duty to this court to be here during these meetings. Besides, I haven’t seen them since I was 16. It has been 11 years since then. I doubt they would even recognize me.” Tegan responded.

“Tomorrow is going to be hard enough for you as it stands. You don’t need to force yourself into the meeting as well, Tegan. You have nothing to prove to anyone.” Kallias spoke in a soft tone. 

“It’s not about proving anything Kallias. I am a high ranking member of this court. I need to be there. I promise I won’t cause a scene if that is what you’re worried about.” Tegan let out a small laugh. “Besides, I have personal reasons for wanting to attend as well.”

Viviane let out a breathy laugh, “oh trust me Tegan, we know.” She gave her an exaggerated wink. It was as if someone had relit the fire in the room as the cold seriousness gave way to the playful atmosphere once again. Tegan lightly shoved Viviane’s shoulder and stuck her tongue out at her.

“Now who’s acting like squabbling children?” Kallias exclaimed. Both women fell over each other, into a fit of giggles. Regardless of what tomorrow may bring, Tegan vowed to do anything in her power to protect this family of hers… no matter the cost.

So I read 3 books in 4 days and now I’m here sobbing because I want more!!! While I’m happy that I still have The Stolen Heir to get through...  I just know in my heart it won’t be enough. I’ll still want more. 

The entire set of Folk of the Air/Stolen Heir fanart I did!

the heir & the emissary

Eris Vanserra x OC (estranged Archeron sister)

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Feyre sat bolt upright in a high back chair situated at one end of a long, ornate table. Her legs were crossed at the ankles and her hands folded upon the tabletop. She was the picture of calm, easy, elegance. To her left sat Rhys, covered head to toe in exquisite black garments as he reclined in his seat, occasionally picking at his cuticles as though he couldn’t be any more bored if he tried. And located just behind them, in her peripheral vision was the remainder of her family. She could see two large sets of wings and two pairs of elegantly long legs sitting stock still. She allowed herself to glance around the table, taking in those in attendance.

At the opposite end of the long table sat Kallias and Viviane acting as the hosts of this meeting. They were the sparkling embodiment of icy indifference; their hands clasped together on the table in a show of unity. To their right sat Tarquin and to his right sat Thesan. To their left sat Eris and to his left sat Helion. She allowed her gaze to swivel around the table and it did not escape her notice that still, after all this time, the table was effectively separated between seasonal and solar courts. 

“I know we have been here for rather longer than I had originally hoped today so I’d like to start wrapping this meeting up soon but before we can do so, there is one more issue we need to discuss,” Kallias spoke, his gaze falling upon Eris. “As you can all see we seem to be missing two high lords and we received, frankly, suspicious letters from both of them regarding this meeting.” Kallias passed the letters along the table. 

“My father has been increasingly paranoid lately and more secretive than usual. That alone is not cause for concern, given my fathers temperament but I’ve also noticed a large number of warriors being reallocated to projects I am not privy to.” Eris stated. 

The letters made their way around the table and finally Feyre was able to pick one up. She read them over quickly before passing them to Rhys. 

“These are nearly identical notes,” Feyre gasped. Her eyes pulled up to look across the table to Kallias and Viviane. 

“Yes. It is worrisome. We can reasonably assume that they are meeting with each other but for what reason we can only guess at this time.” Viviane nodded slightly.

“I can send my Spymaster to Spring to take a look around. Maybe we can see if anything strange is going on over there. Well, beyond the obvious,” Rhys said, smirking. “Think you can get any more information from Beron?” He added, addressing Eris directly for the first time.

“I can try, though he is particularly distrustful of me lately. I’ll see what I can do.” Eris responded.

“We also have someone currently looking into the situation in Spring. She’s there as we speak so we should hopefully have some new intel soon.” Viviane spoke softly. Eris’ head snapped in her direction, flames alight in his eyes.

“You sent her to Spring?” He hissed, hackles rising in agitation. Feyre’s eyebrows shot up into her hairline as she fought to keep the surprise off her face. Rhys tilted his head slightly to the right, the only outward display that Eris’ behavior had also caught his attention. In all the years they had been dealing with Eris at this point neither had ever seen such genuine emotion out of him.

“We asked her to go and she agreed.” Viviane replied, keeping her face neutral. 

He shot up out of his seat, palms flat against the table and glaring down his nose at her. “You know how she feels about that place after all she has been through. How could you ask her to go there?” Kallias was immediately out of his seat.

“Sit down Eris. You’re one step away from being out of line.” Kallias growled out. The two males stared each other down for a few more seconds before Eris brushed his hands over his chest and sat back down. Kallias was soon to follow. 

What was that? Feyre reached out to the minds of her companions.

I have never, in all my years of knowing him, seen him react that way to anything. Rhys responded. 

“She should be back shortly,” Kallias resumed speaking, glancing over to Eris again, “perfectly unharmed.” He then allowed his attention to fall back to the room as a whole, “I have asked a close friend and advisor of mine to take a peak around and just see what she could find. I will get what information I can from her as soon as she returns.”

Eris let out a little laugh under his breath, “advisor huh? Did she get a promotion?”

Viviane let out a small, breathy, laugh as well, “you know as well as I do that while her official title is ‘emissary’ she does much, much more than that for us.” Eris nodded, a small smile upon his lips. Feyre blinked. She could barely comprehend what she was witnessing. A genuine smile? At the thought of another? She looked back at him but found his face to be as blank as could be. Had she imagined it?

The meeting continued for a short while longer and the sun was beginning to go down in the sky by the time they had called it quits. 

“Unfortunately, you cannot winnow from within the palace walls. We will need to exit to the main courtyard out front before you can pass the wards and leave. Let us walk you.” Kallias advised, standing from his seat. He took Viviane’s hand, pulling her to stand and placing a kiss upon her knuckles. They nodded to the guard stationed beside the large cedar doors and they were promptly hoisted open. The High Lord and Lady of Winter proceeded through the open doors and down the long corridor which would take them and their guests beyond the palace walls.

Behind them strode Helion, Thesan and Tarquin deep in conversation. Their heads were bent together, large grins on their faces. It was likely that they were spreading some gossip or another, as they were wont to do. Eris followed closely behind them, his hands were stuck into his pockets and his head held high. Despite his posture displaying the usual arrogant demeanor, the furrowing of his brows and downturn of his lips gave away his internal struggle. 

Pulling up the rear of the group were the High Lord and High Lady of Night and their Inner Circle. None of them spoke a word but shared looks amongst themselves that screamed ‘we have so much to discuss when we get home’. Cassian had Nesta tucked into his side, one wing being used to huddle her in closer. Rhys and Feyre had their hands clasped between them, walking with Azriel and Mor hovering on either side of them. 

Up ahead Feyre saw Kallias and Viviane come to a stop in the entrance to the courtyard. Though she was much too far behind to hear words she could see that they were speaking to someone. Kallias’ body blocked them from her view but she could see Viviane reach out a hand to lightly brush their arm in a motion of comfort. 

The group continued to get closer as they moved down the corridor. She heard Kallias let out a small chuckle and saw him nod his head in a clear act of dismissal. Everything beyond this point happened so fast, that to this day she remains unsure if this was all a fever dream. 

Eris came to a halt in front of them at the opening of the courtyard, just beyond the wards, removing his hands from his pockets, causing them to come to an abrupt stop as well so as not to crash into him. The body of a small woman stepped around Kallias and came flying at full speed through the courtyard in a sprint. Rhys stuck his arm out in front of Feyre and two sets of wings flared out around her in a protective manner, covering all three females present. 

The woman approached Eris and flung herself into the air. He caught her easily around the waist, spinning in an attempt to keep them both upright. A loud squealing noise filled the air which was immediately followed by a bellowing laugh. Her arms were thrown round his neck and her face was buried in the crook of his neck as well. His eyes were closed and the brightest smile Feyre had ever seen adorned his face.

One arm remained around her waist as he lowered her feet to the floor, his other hand moving up her spine and burying itself into her pale blonde hair. She pulled her head back to look at his face, wearing an equally bright smile. 

“Eris,” she breathed, “you’re here.” Feyre could see her profile and was able to catch the small tears beading in her blue-gray eyes. Eyes that were so familiar. Eyes that she saw every time she looked at her sister; every time she looked into the mirror. 

“Tegan,” he looked upon her face as if attempting to memorize every inch of her. He looked up briefly, catching Kallias’ gaze. Kallias gave him a brief nod which he returned before he was swallowed up by magic and disappeared before their eyes.

the heir & the emissary

Eris Vanserra x OC (estranged Archeron sister)

PROLOGUE

// 8 months post-UTM //

Eris stopped breathing.

The pull was instantaneous. This tugging in his chest, impossible to ignore. He blinked once, twice and then sucked in a gasping breath as if returning to the surface of water. 

He couldn’t look away. She was beautiful with long, pale blonde hair which fell in waves down her lithe back. Her knee length, black coat cinched at the waist; accentuating her good figure. Her head was turned slightly towards him as she laughed at something a passerby had said to her. Her bright white teeth on display, eyes and nose scrunched up and a loud, joyful sound emitting from her. She looked absolutely radiant.

He watched as this woman wrenched open the door to the tavern and stepped inside, disappearing from his view.

“Sir, is everything alright?” one of his guards spoke up, having come to stop a few feet from him. Eris hadn’t realized he’d stopped walking and was now standing in the middle of the cobbled road, staring into the distance.

“Yes, everything is fine. We have much more of this town to check on before sundown but I am suddenly feeling incredibly parched. Let’s stop for a drink before we carry on.”

____

Stepping into the tavern, Eris was immediately greeted with the familiar scent of cinnamon. His shoulders sagged as the tension of a long day of travel began to bleed out of him. He took a moment to look about the room; his eyes roving over the few patrons who had gone eerily still at the sight of him. He ignored their wide eyes and rigid bodies as he searched the small space. There she was.

She was seated at a table in the front of the room, a steaming cup sat on the table in front of her. She had her small, dainty hands wrapped around the mug as she stared out of a nearby window. 

“You all get a drink and find a table. I’ll be back in a bit.” His guards easily recognized his dismissal and headed off to the bar for drinks. Eris made his way towards her slowly.

He had just begun to approach her table when she glanced up at him, a small smile gracing her fair-skinned face. 

“The heir to the Autumn court. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Her voice was like honey. Her blue-gray eyes stared up at him in a piercing gaze.

“Ah, it seems you have me at a disadvantage.” He spoke. She extended her hand in greeting, which Eris immediately took into his own. He lowered himself into a bow and pressed his lips to her knuckles. “I have been making my rounds through some of the local villages to make sure they are doing well and I saw you come into the tavern. You are absolutely stunning and I just needed to know your name…” he trailed off, raising back into a standing position.

“Tegan. My name is Tegan. I am an emissary for the Winter court.” She replied. Her smile grew wider as she motioned to the empty seat across from her. Eris quickly took the invitation.

“Well, Tegan, it is a pleasure to meet you. May I ask what brings you to the Autumn court?” Eris asked, settling into his seat. He folded his hands together, fingers interwoven, upon the tabletop. Tegan raised her mug to the barkeep signaling for another as she dipped her head in his direction. He took a moment to observe her. She had an ethereal beauty about her, shining as bright as the Sun with sharp, pointed features. She wore a braid in her hair, running across her scalp like a band, covering her ears.

“I came to Autumn in hopes of meeting with someone of power. Preferably someone handsome, regal, if a little ostentatious. If I’m lucky, maybe it will be someone who will sweep me off my feet in a forbidden, whirlwind romance.” She breathed. A small, wistful smile adorned her face. “Do you think you can get me an audience with your father?”

Eris watched her from across the table with a look of horror. Tegan burst into laughter, tipping her head to the side and he caught a glimpse of what she was no doubt attempting to hide beneath the braid. Rounded ears.

“I jest!” She exclaimed. Eris’ expression morphed into a deadpan stare. “You are just the person I am looking for. Viviane sent me to speak with you. I have no official business on this trip beyond introducing myself, that you and your court may recognize me in the future.” His lips twitched upward as the barkeep approached the table and slid a drink in front of him. Even as he gave his thanks, his eyes remained on Tegan.

“Well then, I believe you have completed your task. In any case, it seems a beautiful woman has ordered me a drink and it would be terribly rude for me to leave now without getting to know her.” He did not feel the need to mention that he would have stayed regardless. He felt an odd sense of comfort, sitting here with her. It was a foreign feeling to him; one he was not nearly ready to let go of.

“Yes, I imagine that would seem rather callous. It looks as though you will be stuck here, with no choice but to waste away your afternoon with her.” Tegan winked. 

And so they spoke…about their courts, about themselves, about the meaning of life, about anything and everything. They smiled, laughed, and drank. Hours passed in the blink of an eye. And when the sun began to set below the horizon and the tavern grew dim, they rose from their table. 

Despite having not completed the task he’d set for himself that day, Eris had never felt so light. In all his years of living, he had never felt so free. 

“Tegan, it was a pleasure to meet you.” He stated, helping her to shrug on her coat. He glanced around the tavern, giving a small nod to his guards to let them know it was time to leave.

“The pleasure was all mine, Eris.” There it was again. That tugging in his chest, which pulled taut at the sound of his name on her lips. She smiled up at him, peering through her lashes. “Hopefully I will see you again soon.” She placed her hand on her chest, rubbing in a small circular motion and he knew then that she had felt it too.

Eris held open the door with one hand and allowed her to step out into the crisp night air before him. He took her hand in his once more, placing a chaste kiss against her knuckles. “I will be counting down the days.”