The artwork above is not mine.

•~ ❘ ۞ ❘ ~•

Two days had passed and Eris' nerves were frayed to extinction. He was caught in a tide of self loathing and concerns. Try as he might, he hadn't been able to get the imposter to slip up and reveal something about who she really was or where Evren was being kept.

Eris had never felt more useless in his life. He paced around outside, waiting for Cassian and Lucien to arrive. They'd promised to come today and he found himself anxious for their arrival. He would be meeting with Keitha soon as well. He could only hope they'd be able to help him.

Beyond the courtyard, two figures winnowed into sight. One had long red hair and the other had large Illyrian wings. Eris forced himself to wait and let them come to him. Cassian and Lucien bowed their heads towards him.

"Where's Evren?" Cassian asked, looking over Eris' shoulder.

"Gone."

"What?" He raised his eyebrows. "Gone where? Why?"

Lucien narrowed his eyes. "You mentioned there was something important you needed to tell me in your last letter. What's going on?"

Eris jerked his head to the training ring behind the stables. "Act like everything is normal." They nodded and followed him. Eris and Lucien paired off against Cassian. They began to trade blows. "Evren is missing. There's an imposter here pretending to be her. The imposter can glamour herself to look like Evren. I don't know who she really is yet."

"Is Evren alive?" Lucien asked.

"Yes. I can still feel the Bond and she pulls on it occasionally."

Cassian blocked Eris' fist. "Have you tried talking to her through it?"

"We've never been able to do that. I don't know if it's because she's Human or if we just don't have that ability."

"Where is the imposter now?"

"Inside. I'm not sure what she's doing. I try to keep myself busy and away from her, unless I'm trying to learn something. She's smart, though. She knows how to mask her scent and she's careful not to reveal anything. I've been playing along because I don't know if she's holding Evren hostage or not."

"Could she be working with the Loyalists?" Lucien asked.

"The thought has crossed my mind, but I can't figure out what their plan is."

"The ball you're hosting," Cassian said. "Maybe they're planning something around that. They might try to use Evren against you to make you surrender your power."

"I can't do that. My power is mine until I die."

Lucien paused to pull his hair back into a ponytail. "Perhaps they mean to kill you and Evren. If you and the High Lady are dead, they'll be able to put whomever they want into power."

"Would they risk doing something like that at a ball where all of the High Lords and Ladies are in attendance?" Eris furrowed his brows. "Of course they would. They must know that the other courts won't just accept someone random as ruler of the Autumn Court. They have to make sure the other High Lords and Ladies believe this."

"But why swap places with Evren?" Cassian asked.

"They'll need someone to blame," Eris guessed. "Someone the courts are unfamiliar with. Someone whose guilt will be easy to believe. I think they're going to make it seem like Evren killed me, and then whoever kills Evren will be seen as a hero. That will be when the leader of the Loyalists steps up."

Lucien thought for a moment. "Could the imposter be their leader?"

"Maybe."

Cassian ducked beneath their next joint attack. "Do you know anyone with the ability to glamour themselves or other things, Eris?"

Eris fell back, cold fury sparking to life in his gut. "Yes, actually. I should've thought of it before. Celosia Lethe. I just...I never would have thought she'd be in league with the Loyalists. Then again, when Evren was poisoned, she did very little to help me catch the assassin who attacked us. We never did find out who he was." Eris paused, a thought occurring to him. "I have an idea. Lucien, would you be willing to stay here and help me search for Evren?"

"Of course." His brother gave him a small nod. "She is my sister now, after all." 

"Cassian, tell Rhysand what's going on. Ask him to send word to the other High Lords, but only tell them that I suspect there may be an attack on the night of the ball. Tell them to come prepared."

"They might not come at all if we tell them that," Cassian pointed out.

"Then so be it, but I want them to be warned anyway. I won't let them walk into a trap that has been set for me."

"Mother and Helion will still come," Lucien said. "You know they will."

"And Rhys and Feyre will come," Cassian promised. "The rest of us will come too, if needs be."

"Thank you," Eris breathed a small sigh of relief. "I have somewhere I need to go now. It can't wait."

Cassian clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Evren will turn up."

"If she doesn't, I'll turn this court upside down until I find her," Eris growled. He shrugged away from Cassian and walked beyond the wards. He winnowed away from the Forest House, heading back to Keitha Drach's village. He had a job for the female.

•~ ❘ ۞ ❘ ~•

Evren ducked into the hollowed out tree. The young female, Juliette, was hunkered beneath a blanket in one corner of it. Evren had brought her here two days ago after she'd killed Revan. Juliette sat up as Evren entered. Matted brown hair fell over her shoulders.

"You'll be safe here for now," Evren promised. She gestured to the saddlebags she'd set down. "These hold a change of clothes, some food, and a few canteens of water. I'll be back to restock them in a few days. I can't stay long or Cadoc will start asking questions."

"Does anyone else know about this place?" Juliette asked, looking around the trunk.

"No." Evren sat down and held out a hand. Juliette extended an injured arm. Evren set to work, treating the open wound and bruises. "I found this place as a child. I think it used to be a den of some sort, but animals haven't occupied it for years. No one ever found me here when I came to hide."

"What about the Faerie creatures?" Juliette whimpered. "Won't they smell me this close to the border?"

"The High Lord of the Spring Court is usually very good about keeping his people and the creatures in his lands from crossing the border," Evren explained. "But just in case, there are also weapons in the bags. If you're attacked by a naga... You know what they look like, right?"

Juliette nodded. "I've heard stories, but never actually seen one."

"Don't look into their eyes. Don't look into any creature's eyes. You just stab them until they die. Slit their throat, stab them through the heart, do whatever you have to."

"You're the Wraith, aren't you?" Juliette asked. "A Fae killer?"

"Yes. Or, I used to be. I still kill Fae, but for different reasons now."

"What reasons?"

Evren sat down and leaned her head back against the wooden wall. "At first, I killed Fae to avenge my parents. Then, I killed them to protect innocents. Now, when I return home, I will kill them to protect my court and my mate."

"Your mate?"

"Eris Vanserra, the High Lord of the Autumn Court, is my mate," Evren said. "My equal. A part of my very soul. I can feel him through the Mating Bond. The Bond is like a physical thing in my chest. I can pull on it and he answers when I do."

"Are you married?"

"By Fae standards, yes. We are mated. I am his wife, his mate, and his High Lady."

Juliette's eyes widened. "You are the High Lady of the Autumn Court? You, a Human?" Evren nodded. "Are the Fae really that bad, then? You're a Fae killer, but you married one."

"Not all of them are bad," Evren replied. "Just some. They aren't who we believe they are. Eris helped me see that."

"Are the courts safe?"

"Relatively, depending on where you go."

Juliette swallowed hard. "Then, when you return, please take me with you. I can't go back to the brothel. Please."

Evren touched her shoulder lightly and gave her a nod. "I won't leave you behind." Relief shone in Juliette's bright blue eyes.

After a moment, she asked, "If you're the High Lady, why are you back here?"

"It's a long story," Evren sighed. "And I need to get back. I don't want Cadoc to question me."

"Come back tonight, please. Tell me your story," Juliette pleaded. Evren understood the look in her eye. She didn't want to be alone longer than she had to be. She didn't want to think about what she had gone through.

"All right. I'll be back by sunset," Evren promised. She ducked out of the tree trunk and mounted Asper. Juliette poked her head out of the tree long enough to watch Evren ride away, before withdrawing from sight.

•~ ❘ ۞ ❘ ~•

"I can't believe this." Keitha paced the length of the room, running her hands through her red hair. "Do you think Evren is all right?"

"I hope so," Eris replied. "I haven't let myself consider the possibility that she isn't. But, Keitha," he caught her by the wrist. She paused and met his gaze. "I'm telling you this for a reason. I need your help."

"Of course, my Lord." Keitha sat down across from him.

He didn't bother to correct her. She seemed determined to address him by his title. "Do you know where Celosia Lethe lives?"

Keitha nodded. "My brother, Kai, used to visit her frequently years ago."

"I believe she's the imposter," Eris said. "I need you to go to her house, sneak in, and find out if she's there. If she isn't, search the house. Tell me if you find anything suspicious. Anything that could link Celosia to Evren's disappearance and the Loyalists. And don't tell anyone else about this. I can't risk Celosia, if it is her, finding out that I know the truth. Until I know that Evren is safe, I can't do anything that might endanger her."

Keitha nodded sharply. "I'll go tonight. You'll have a report by tomorrow."

"Thank you," Eris murmured. He stood and left the house abruptly. If it was Celosia, she would die with a thousand regrets. His heart might have softened a little, but he was still a monster, and so was his mate. Their enemies would know not to mess with the High Lord and Lady of Autumn after this was over. They would make sure of that.