The artwork above is not mine.

•~ ❘ ۞ ❘ ~•

Eris sat at the piano, his fingers trailing across the keys. He'd woken in an anxious mood and it had gotten progressively worse all day. The guilt and shame he felt didn't help improve his mood any, either.

The ball was taking place tomorrow night. Evren would come home and they would stop Celosia and the Loyalists. They had to. Still, doubts continued to nag at him until his hand itched for a blade. He was taking Brin's advice and trying to use the piano as an outlet instead.

He was now alone in the house with the imposter, with the exception of guards and servants. Lucien had returned to the Night Court three days ago to help send messages to the other High Lords and Ladies. So far, all of them still planned to attend the ball. Some of them were bringing a few guests.

"There you are." Eris looked up as Celosia entered the sitting room. She still wore Evren's face, her body, but the clothes she'd dressed in were nothing like what Evren would choose. The gown was sparkling, lengthy, and altogether too fancy for Evren's style. "I've been looking for you." She slid onto the bench beside him.

It was a struggle not to move away from her, especially when she began to press the keys near his hands. "Did you need something?" Eris asked.

"No. I just wanted to be near you." She batted her eyelashes at him.

Eris hoped his smile didn't look too forced. "Are you excited for tomorrow?"

"Exceedingly. Tomorrow, the Autumn Court will officially be min...ours."

"As if it wasn't already."

"Will I be allowed to wear my crown to the ball?"

"Not quite." Like hell she would ever touch that crown. It was Evren's, so long as they lived, and no other female would touch or wear it. "I'll present it to you when you're introduced to the audience."

"A display of shared power. I like it. Who all is attending?"

"The High Lords and Ladies, the generals and ambassadors, a few of our people, and some personal guests of the guests."

He'd already been working on resetting the wards to admit them all. However, only he and the other High Lords and Ladies would be able to leave. Anyone else who tried would be blocked in by the wards. That was to ensure that none of the Loyalists attacking or already present would be able to escape.

Eris' gaze dipped to Celosia's wrist. A silver bracelet, similar to Evren's, hung from it. He'd seen it shortly after discovering who she was, and knew that's how she'd been able to get past the wards meant to keep her out. He'd have to make sure she didn't have the bracelet at the ball.

An idea popped into his head. "What color is your gown for tomorrow? You never did tell me."

"Blue," she replied. "Midnight blue."

"I'll be right back."

Eris left the room without further explanation. It didn't take long for him to reach his father's old room. Eris pressed down on a brick. Instantly, the wall rumbled and moved back. He entered the passageway and crept down the staircase until he reached the vault.

He entered the vault and scanned the aisles of treasure until he found what he was looking for. Eris pulled a small box off the shelf and opened it. Inside lay two wide bracelets. Thin silver bands made up the sides of the bracelets and their centers were filled with rectangular glittering diamonds. He grinned to himself and closed the box, then left the vault.

Eris returned to the sitting room with the box in hand. Celosia still sat at the piano. Her eyes fell right to the box. He held it out and she took it. She opened the box, her eyes widening in surprise.

"These are...stunning," she breathed.

"Wear them tomorrow. They'll look wonderful with your gown," Eris urged. Celosia removed her silver bracelet and put on the new ones, one on each wrist.

"They will, won't they?" She took them off and returned them to the box.

Eris narrowed his eyes as she reclaimed her old bracelet. He'd have to steal it tomorrow when she put the new bracelets on. Celosia pressed a kiss to his lips and left the sitting room. He swiped a hand across his mouth and sat down once more.

•~ ❘ ۞ ❘ ~•

Evren lay awake, listening to Cadoc's snores across the hovel. She would leave for the Autumn Court before dawn. If she traveled at a fast pace, she would arrive shortly after the ball began. From there, she'd find her way inside the house and locate Eris.

Her plan was taking form gradually. She had to find Eris before Celosia found her. If she could find him, he could present her to the audience. When Celosia showed up, still disguised as her, everyone would know that she was a fake. Evren carried the scent of a Mating Bond. Celosia did not. Eris would be at her side, not Celosia's.

Celosia would be forced to change her plan, likely attacking sooner than she intended. With her forces confused as to what was happening, they'd be easier to overwhelm. Evren and Eris would go after Celosia themselves, along with anyone else trustworthy that they found.

Evren ran over each possible outcome of her plan. She went over all of the changes that Celosia could make to her own plans. There were so many things that could go wrong. Evren could only hope that their efforts would be enough.

Evren sat up at last and sheathed Mortem and Vita. She'd take no provisions besides water. She was too nervous to eat. Her heart twisted with momentary longing. She'd see Eris again in a few hours. She hadn't realized just how much she was beginning to miss him. She tugged on the glistening Bond within her chest.

She felt the gesture being returned a few minutes later. Evren slid out of bed and pulled her curtain back. She paused, narrowing her eyes. Cadoc's bed was empty. A dagger pressed against her throat and Cadoc grabbed her wrists, pinning them at her back.

"I know you killed them all," he growled. "And I know you plan to kill me. Did you think I was an idiot?"

"Idiot doesn't begin to describe what I think of you," Evren hissed.

"Did you kill them?" The blade pressed harder against her skin. Evren felt a flash of pain and a warm liquid ran down her neck. "Tell me the truth."

"I did." She bit down on his hand. Cadoc howled, dropping his dagger. Evren rolled away from him, unsheathing her own blades. "I killed them. They deserved it, for what they did to me. You deserve it too. You let them use me. You were the one who started it."

"I saved your life!" Cadoc recovered his dagger and faced her.

"I was ten years old!" Evren spat. "And for sixteen years, you used me! You let your friends use me!"

"I taught you to kill so that you could avenge your parents!"

"Do you think that makes up for what you did to me? I was a child! You turned me into a monster! I let myself become one to survive! I told myself that was all I would ever become and once I had avenged my parents, I would kill myself so that I could see them one last time, and never see you again."

"Your damned soul would pass into an eternity of torment," Cadoc sneered.

"I know, but at least my torment wouldn't have been as terrible as yours."

"You are an ungrateful little bitch."

"And you're a manipulative, sadistic bastard!" Evren gripped her blades hard enough that her knuckles were white. "I never hired you for that attack, Cadoc. That was a Fae who can glamour herself to look like someone else. I didn't want to kill the High Lord. I worked for him."

"What?"

"I worked for Eris Vanserra, because Beron was already dead. I killed Beron's Loyalists to avenge my parents, but I still planned to kill myself. I even tried, but Eris stopped me. Do you want to know why? Do you want to know what I learned while I was in the Autumn Court?"

Cadoc didn't answer. Evren glared at him, a cruel smile gliding onto her lips. "I learned that my life could become better. There was a place for me beyond this hovel. I had a role beyond killing and letting you rut around with me. I learned that Eris Vanserra is my mate. We are equals in every aspect. He loves me and I love him. He is the High Lord and I... I am the High Lady."

"High Lady?" Cadoc raised an eyebrow, his curiosity overcoming him.

"Look at me, Cadoc. Look at the monster you have created. Look at the monster I made myself." She held her arms out invitingly. "I am Evren Bastile Vanserra, High Lady of the Autumn Court."

Cadoc stared at her in surprise. With a snarl, Evren lunged. Caught off guard, Cadoc toppled to the ground. He screamed as Evren set to work. Her blades were blurs of light. Each blow left a bloody wound behind. Cadoc continued to scream.

Evren panted as she worked, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. "You used me! You wouldn't stop! You didn't listen to me! You hurt me! You let others hurt me! You let them take turns! You treated me like an animal! You let me become a monster! You let me come to believe that my life held no purpose! You let me think I was worthless!"

Cadoc's screams grew louder with each blow. She didn't care about the blood that stained her clothes. She didn't care about the gore that clung to her face and hair. Sixteen years. She had been ten. Sixteen years. She had been ten. Over and over, the thoughts repeated themselves. She vaguely felt Eris pulling on the Bond. She ignored him, focusing entirely on Cadoc.

"I may be a monster, but you are worse!" Evren screamed. "I hope that wherever your desecrated soul goes, it's somewhere befitting your cruel nature. You saved my life. That is the only thing I will ever thank you for!"

With a roar, Evren drove both of her blades through Cadoc's heart. He gagged and convulsed, then fell still. Evren withdrew her blades, shaking with anger and horror. She crawled away from Cadoc's body and vomited. Eris was still pulling on the Bond. Evren vomited again.

She sat back against a wall, half closing her eyes. She sucked in deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. He was dead. Cadoc was dead, and so were his friends. He couldn't hurt her anymore. He was dead. Evren breathed a sigh of relief.

She stood and dragged Cadoc's corpse closer to the fireplace. Evren grabbed the water pail and hastily scrubbed her skin and hair clean. She peeled off her soiled clothes and stepped into her Illyrian leathers. She cleaned Mortem and Vita, then returned them to their places at her hips. Evren tossed her old clothes into the fireplace.

She gazed around the house. There was nothing here she wanted or needed. She'd let the place burn. Evren stuck Cadoc's leg into the fireplace, then headed towards the door. She paused long enough to see his flesh ignite into flames. The flames spread along his body and to the wooden floor beneath him.

Evren left the hovel and quickly saddled Asper. She turned Cadoc's horse loose and slapped its haunches. The horse galloped away. Evren mounted Asper and started towards the Spring Court. Behind her, the hovel blazed into a ball of light. Cadoc was gone, and she was going home.