Chapter Text
I groan, consciousness returning with the morning sunlight blinding me.
Morning sun.
Wasn’t I at the pleasure hall with Az only moments ago?
I grab my throbbing head, attempting to sit up before falling back to the plush pillows beneath me.
Did I drink too much?
I try to grab for Azriel’s warm body but all I feel are blankets and fluff. Too much fluff.
I bolt upright, forcing my eyes to open while I take in the surroundings.
Crimson leaves outside the window.
A brisk breeze that sends a chill down my back.
And the scent of cinnamon apple.
No.
No.
“Ah, you’ve finally woken up,” A voice grumbles. “I tried to warn you but it would appear that you and the Night Court lot are too dense to listen,” He adds.
I begin to tremble, realizing where I am.
“Eris. Why…why did you bring me here?” I rasp, the Autumn air heavy.
“I didn’t,” He snaps, running a hand through his auburn hair. “My father had his spies track you. I can’t believe the shadowsinger left you so vulnerable - drinking with his idiot friends. It sounded almost too easy to retrieve you,” He scoffs.
My stomach drops.
Azriel.
He must be losing his mind by now. Between the mating bond and my disappearance-
“Get out, Eris,” A deep male voice grouses, slamming the bedroom door open.
I startle in place, wrapping the blankets around my still fully clothed body. I’m wearing my dress from last night, my hair in tangles down my back just as Beron, the High Lord of the Autumn Court, storms in.
“Respectfully, father, I’d like to watch,” His face turns sinister, earning an eye roll from his father who waves him off.
“There’s nothing to watch,” He grumbles. “My plan is simple,” He directs to me.
Plan?
“You will stay here. Work for me. Compel for me when I need you too. Live in a fine apartment,” He motions around the space.
I blink.
“Wh-what?” I ask.
He sighs, narrowing his gaze.
“Are you daft or something? Kallias said you were 'one-of-a-kind',” He says under his breath. “Let me make this clear as glass - you work for me now,” He states.
I look between him and Eris, entirely confused.
“No, I don’t,” I say, my power mounting in my chest. “Take me home, immediately,” I command, tensing my jaw as I wait for them to comply.
Eris sighs deeply, rubbing his forehead while the High Lord crosses his arms and starts to laugh. This goes on for seconds as I grow increasingly agitated, my hands forming fists.
“Do you really think we’d allow you in our Court without faebane in your system?” He scoffs.
I gasp, gripping my chest as I dig down into myself to find the bond and shockingly, it’s still there.
He’s still there.
He’s dim, but he’s there.
I furrow my brows, about to ask when Eris speaks.
“My father likes to provide low doses of faebane to all his prisoners,” Eris muses, earning a glare from Beron. “Enough to take the edge off of your power until we require you.”
Require.
I seethe.
“She’s not a prisoner,” Beron motions to me and I freeze. “She is our newest compeller and she will be treated as such. She will have access to all the fineries of our Court and be allowed to leisure through the region,” He points outside to the walls of the Autumn Court compound.
I swallow thickly. This sure feels like a prison.
“And what of my mate?” I square my shoulders, straightening.
Beron grimaces.
“My son told me you were not interested in your mating bond. That you haven’t completed it,” He waves off.
I pivot to Eris, fury boiling under my skin as he puts his hands up defensively.
“Hey, that’s your fault,” He says to me. “You said you were taking it slow. I assumed that meant you were planning on rejecting him,” He shrugs.
“I’m not,” I snarl. “I want to go home,” I protest.
Home. Home to his bed. His room.
“That’s not possible,” Beron says sternly. “I will speak to Rhysand when he comes but your services are required here. We will compensate you, of course,” He adds.
I stare incredulously at the two of them.
“You expect me to want to stay here when you’ve kidnapped me and forced me to work for you? Did you learn nothing from my encounter with Kallias?” I hiss.
Beron turns beet red, like he’s embarrassed.
And of course he is - apparently Kallias didn’t share anything useful about my previous kidnapping.
Unreal.
“I want to go home. I want my mate,” I shake, my rage traveling down the mating bond to Azriel.
He shudders in response, the pulse trying to break through the muted calm of the faebane. Beron raises his chin defiantly.
“If your mate chooses to come for you, I will consider your release. Otherwise, you will reside here,” He states plainly and the control of my anger snaps.
I lunge forward, not sure who I’m aiming for as I scream but wide arms grab me from behind, circling me to the ground while burning hot manacles dig into my wrists.
“Gods!” I scream, writhing in pain as Eris curses.
“Let this be a lesson to you,” Beron growls, his boots in my line of sight. “There will be consequences if you attempt to leave. Enjoy your stay in the Autumn Court.”