Sticks and Stones (Eris Vanserra x Reader)

(AN: I have posted all of my ACOTAR stories on my tumblr however I realized I could post them here as well! These are all one shots involving reader unless otherwise specified! Enjoy!)

It had been a long, long day. Eris was still playing both sides between his father and the Night Court, sneaking around to do the damage control Beron clearly had no care in doing. You were trying to help him in anyways that you could but you didn’t hold near as much influence as the heir to the Autumn throne. 

The best you could do was simple spy work or search through the vast libraries of the Night Court to try and find a solution to the problem at hand. It was something but there were times, like today, where you wish you could be of more use. 

As you sat by the window of your small house, the last light of day peeking through the trees and illuminating the book in your lap, you heard the doorknob turn. You sat up straighter just as Eris walked through the door, his long red hair disheveled as if he had his hands in it all day.

“Eris, I wasn’t expecting you. Do you want me to put some tea on?” You asked while placing the book beside you. He grunted as he slumped into his favorite chair, his hands holding his head.

“Of course you weren’t, I wasn’t supposed to be back until three days' time.” He snapped while rubbing his temples. “Briallyn captured two dozen of my soldiers. MY soldiers. All of them taken hostage by that wicked witch.”

Your eyebrows raised in shock, mouth dropping open. “But, how? What happened? How can we get them back?” 

He snapped his head up to look at you with a cruel glint in his eyes, fingers now gripping the edges of the chair. “If I knew how, Y/N, do you think I would be sitting here listening to your ridiculous questions?” 

His words were full of venom and made you visibly flinch back. You knew how stressed he was with everything going on but you never would expect him to lash out at you like this, especially when all you were trying to do was help him.

You frowned and crossed your arms, matching his stare with one of your own. “I’m trying to help you, Eris.” The tone of your voice had turned to ice. “I’ve been neglecting my duties to try and support you through this so think twice before biting the hand that feeds you.”

Eris let out a harsh laugh as he stood up and over you. Heat was coming off of him in waves and you couldn’t stop the small step back that you took, your knees hitting the back of the couch. Any semblance of the man you loved was gone, replaced by the mask he showed to everyone else, the mask you fought so hard to tear off. 

Two tendrils of fire wrapped around your wrists while another twisted around your throat, tightening with each second. He was holding back but barely, his amber eyes wild as he bent down so that you were eye to eye.

“I suppose you think you’re the hand that feeds me? Hm?” He taunted. “You were nothing before me, pet. A lesser fae slaving away until I found you. The Cauldron may have fated us as mates but don’t forget who gave you everything you see before you.”

The restraints started to burn into your skin and you whimpered, tears springing to your eyes as Eris continued on as if he couldn’t hear you.

“You owe everything to me and I…I owe you nothing. I have been doing everything in my power to prevent another war. I have more enemies around me than you or that bastard Rhysand could ever fathom and yet you sit here and lecture me about your sacrifices?” His chest was rising and falling in quick bursts while the heat became unbearable on your skin.