A Court of Sacrifices and Salvation

CHAPTER IX

"Oh, come on," Eris smugly taunted while laying on my plush bed, "You're going to a ball with me. Do you know how many fae would kill to be in your position?" Though I couldn't see him from behind my dressing screen, I knew that the fall bastard had a handsome smirk across his face. I groaned in frustration both to Eris getting on my nerves and the dress I was struggling to get on.

I gave up on the zipper that was stuck on my low back. Normally, I would simply use some magic to zip it closed, but Rhysand ordered me to not use my magic unless absolutely necessary. And unfortunately that was only one of several things my High Lord advised me against. Amongst them were limiting talking with my uncle - due to the potential of an uprising against Amarantha, which would ultimately fail - as well as not acting friendly toward himself so that the Bitch Queen wouldn't get jealous.

Rhysand was however, advocating for Eris and me to spend a majority of our time together. He said having Eris Vanserra as my alibi in Amarantha's eyes would ultimately be the best outcome. I questioned ultimately who the outcome would benefit, yet with it only being my first few weeks Under the Mountain and an order from my High Lord, I could not refuse. And though I found him annoying at times, Eris was the one of the best allies I could have apart from Rhys.

"Forgive me for my lack of- excitement..." I grunted while trying for the umpteenth time to unstick the zipper. "I'm sure you'll be a lovely dancing partner, Eris, though I detest these events and always have," I huffed as I stepped out from behind the dressing screen.

His fiery locks spilled across my bed and contrasted with my dark blue comforter. The burning fire in both the hearth of my room and the small one he held in his hand, shone off his hair, causing it to also appear as though it was a living flame. I couldn't doubt that he was beautiful, especially in that moment when his amber eyes filled with obvious desire, drifted over my form.

His signature smirk pulled at his lips, "Need some help, Stella?" he asked sitting up lazily. I sighed in defeat and stumbled over to where he was seated trying my best to not trip over the skirt.

"No wandering hands, just zip me up," I ordered him before turning around and holding up my dress securely to my body. "The faster I can get this is over with, the sooner I'll be able to get out of this abomination."

Eris took a moment to stand up, body almost against mine and his left hand on my hip as he began to zip me up, "An abomination? You could wear a literal sack and look like royalty still. No, this dress is divine on you", he breathed and gestured to the mirror against the wall facing us. The dress was finally fully zipped up as my glacial eyes met reflection. The ice blue dress contrasted beautifully with my tanned skin, yet matched my eyes perfectly, causing them to appear as though they were glowing.

I smoothed the form-fitting dress down over my curves as I went to turn and thank Eris, but a new figure caught my eye. Rhysand was standing in the doorway, hands appearing to have just been clenched. "Good to keep up the pretenses. Amarantha hasn't had any doubts," he spoke while waltzing in, the door shutting behind him.

"Rhys!" I shuffled over to him eagerly as I hadn't seen him since I first arrived along with him Under the Mountain. "I've been wondering when you'd come by," I voiced going to give him a hug, yet he pushed me away. Hurt immediately took over my expression and Rhysand's also fell.

"I cannot stay long and I cannot hug or touch you in any way as I'm about to meet Amarantha," my High Lord's expression also fell, "but I'm happy to see that the dress I brought over worked out." I felt the sting from his statement, but I also understood his reasoning. I focused on this more than the thought that Rhys had picked out my dress, which made heat want to surface on my cheeks.