A Love From A Different World

Chapter 112

The next day Eris strode down the corridor in an undisclosed palace far away from his court. He was in the Night Court, and despite his frosty attitude, it pained him to be back Under the Mountain. Noted, it wasn't actually Under the Mountain, but he knew that Amarantha had fashioned it after Rhysand's notorious court, and trapped, panicked fear he had felt under her reign slithered throughout his body.

The guards escorting him did not say a word. Their powerful builds simply overshadowed him in an attempt to be intimidating. But the red-head hardly paid any attention to them as they stopped in front of large doors. The guards opened the door and he had no choice but to walk in. What welcomed him was a large room, carved from dark rock, with pillar fashioned after beasts. Underneath the high ceiling rested a mammoth table of black glass split the room in two like a lightning strike, its corners left long and jagged. Sharp as a razor.

And sitting at the head of the table was none other than the High Lord of the Night Court himself. Rhysand was draped in an impenetrable back, sporting a simple ebony tunic and pants. Slouched in his chair, he looked utterly unimpressed with Eris as he walked in. The room was entirely empty apart from the two of them, with no accommodations offered.

Rhysand's violent violet eyes followed the other male as he took the seat facing him at the other end of the table.

"So glad you could make it." He said dryly, "Such a shame that your father had to skip out on my party too."

"He had other matters to attend to," Eris responded as he rested his back against the chair. "Which is also why he sent me today instead."

"Mm."

Eris waited for a moment, expecting the other male to start, but he didn't. "Well, I'm here."

"Yes, how disappointing."

That took him by surprise and asked, "You would have rather my father declare war on you?"

"It would have been so much more dramatic if he had." The male smirked. "I'm a man of theatrics, as you know."

Eris suddenly remembered why he hated the male so fiercely. "I'm here," He repeated, "So talk."

"Eris, heir to the Autumn Court," Rhysand tilted his head to the side, mockery on his lips. "Or is that not happening anymore."

"Why wouldn't I be heir?"

The raven-head raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you don't know?"

Despite himself, Eris took the bait. "Don't know what?"

He knew how stupid that question was when Rhysand smirked.

"Why should I tell you what I know?"

"Because I'm here."

The male scoffed. "Like you had a choice. I frighten Beron far too much for him to ignore me."

"Ignore you, perhaps not, but my brothers are currently trying to convince him to declare war on you."

"That would be incredibly stupid of him, and he knows it."

"And why would that be?" It was Eris' turn to smile. "Because war is coming? Because Hybern has already made his move? Because he attacked your little secret city?"

And yet, Rhysand did not flinch. He did not even react. "Did you think that was leverage?"

Mother, how he wanted to rip out his throat for his condescending tone. "I think that it shows that you aren't untouchable. You're weak right now, and this would be the perfect time to attack."

Rhysand did not react to the threat, in fact, he looked down at Eris, like he was an absolute moron. "I think you're forgetting who you're speaking to,"

It had barely been a whisper, but it caused Eris to shiver with fear, especially when a hint of the male's power crept towards him. Those terrifying tendrils of power promise nothing but a slow, painful death. He had seen how power Rhysand was Under the Mountain, and that had been with only a fraction of his powers.

Still, Eris swallowed his fear. "And who am I speaking to? Amarantha's Whore? Or are you back to being the all-fearing High Lord of the Night Court?"

"Don't test me, Eris. You're in my territory." He gave him a look, waiting for him to say anything. When the heir kept quiet, Rhysand finally told him what he wanted. "I need you to convince Beron to fight against Hybern."

Eris took a moment to process this demand. "I highly doubt he'll ally himself with you after what you did."

"I gave him a gift, he's so ungrateful."

"Ungrateful?" Eris mocked. "You used his offspring as your little plaything for your party. And then dumped her in the Autumn Court. My father isn't the forgiving type, especially not when he feels insulted."

"Well, in my defense, Celaeana was a guest in my court. And it wasn't like I could simply walk into the Autumn Court. So really, Beron should be thanking me."

The red-headed male looked at him deadpan. "We both know that will never happen."

But that didn't seem to bother the High Lord. "What a shame. Still, you need to convince your father that fighting alongside me is in his best interests."

Eris laced his fingers together. "And what do I get in return?"

"What do you want?"

The heir pondered for a minute. It was a risk, he knew. But this seemed like an opportunity that wouldn't come again. If he played his cards right and trusted Rhysand- for a little bit anyway, he could very well get what he's always coveted- or end up dead.

"I want the Autumn Court," He finally stated, his heart frozen in his chest as he waited in agony for the male's response.

But Rhysand, of course only gave him a sinister smile. "Can't wait out a few more centuries for Beron to die?"

"I've been waiting for centuries. The bastard just won't die kneel over"

At that, the High Lord tilted back his head and roared with laughter. "You never cease to amaze me with your ruthlessness."

"My ruthlessness? What about yours? Who was it that kept everyone out of your city? What's it called again? Veleris? Velaris?"

"Even if I allowed everyone into Velaris, you would have always been kept out."

"Still holding a grudge over Morrigan?"

"Keep her name out of your filthy mouth."

Oh, that had definitely hit a nerve. "Still so fussy after so many centuries, and for a female no less!"

Rhysand looked at him with untouchable coldness. "This little deal relies entirely on you keeping your mouth shut."

"So we have a deal?" Excitement- and fear, raced through his body.

"You have to convince Beron first. If you fail, you will not receive anything from me." Rhysand rested his elbows on the edge of his table and locked eyes with Eris. "But, if you succeed, when the time comes, I will support your bid for the throne. After the war."

Ignoring his thumping heart, Eris gave him a tight-lipped smile. "As excepted."

Rhysand didn't return his smile and simply raised his hand. At the command, the majestic doors opened, and Eris' escorts were wordless waiting for him there. Understanding the dismissal, the male got up from his seat. "Excellent doing business with you."

Once again, the High Lord didn't say a word, nor a goodbye as he made his exit- and as he did, Eris couldn't help but feel as though he had just signed his death warrant.