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“I see my husband is working very hard in my absence,” said Nesta sarcastically, looking down at the prone figure sprawled across the floor of their bedroom.
Eris only let out a drawn out groan in response.
The High Lord of Autumn was currently buried under a pile of fur as his twelve hounds covered his body with only his feet and the top of his hair remaining visible.
“How was court? I’m assuming you met with Baron Gilwin by your demeanor.”
“Sometimes I don’t know what’s going to snap first, my patience or his neck.”
Nesta let out a snort of laughter at her husband’s dramatics.
Baron Gilwin was useful and they wouldn’t actually kill him or anything unless he broke a major law, but his personality sure made people want to throttle him.
“Why do you get the fun job of traveling to the continent, while I have to stay home and deal with Baron Gilwin?” asked Eris, his voice slightly muffled by the dog lying on top of his face.
“Koschei likes me better, therefore I make a better diplomat than you when visiting his lands,” said Nesta smugly.
She was right, but it didn’t mean Eris didn’t want to complain. Though Nesta knew he was only complaining for the sake of complaining and he wasn’t actually upset by it. In fact they’d already talked about it beforehand prior to her trip and he’d wholeheartedly agreed with her.
“How’s your sister doing?”
“Elain is doing well. Koschei’s been teaching her a new technique with her powers. They were also playing chess again.”
“Who won?”
“Koschei won the first match. Elain won the second. Though you couldn’t tell by watching them, all they do is stare at the pieces without moving any of them and then declare a winner. Seers. Maybe it’s fun for them, but watching it is quite dull.”
“The trade agreements with Summer have come in, I left them on your desk to review,” said Eris, a well manicured hand making its way out of the cuddle pile to wave in the general direction of where Nesta’s study was located.
“I’ll look over them after dinner.”
Nesta bent down to sit beside Eris, nudging the dog currently lying on his face to move over as the hound padded over to resettle against his side revealing her husband’s face.
His crown of metal autumn leaves was askew and his hair was quite disheveled and fanned around his head like a fiery halo. It had grown longer since the first time they met. He used to keep it short, but had since let it grow out after becoming High Lord. It’s length was slightly below his shoulders now, though not nearly as long as his brother Lucien’s hair.
Always so carefully put together without a single strand of hair out of place in public, but in their private domain he allowed himself to be more relaxed. It really was a true testament to how far they’ve come.
It wasn’t always like this. In the beginning they’d each had their own guarded walls and mistrust. But eventually somewhere along the way their partnership and marriage became less convenience and more about mutual companionship. There was always an underlying tension, maybe even flirtation in the little games and challenges they played together, but love was something that unexpectedly crept up on both of them as time passed. As they settled into their marriage the lines got a bit more blurry as they both realized that they actually enjoyed each other’s company far more than they thought they would. One thing led to another and here they were happily married and in love ruling the Autumn Court side by side.
Leaving the Night Court all those years ago was one of the best decisions of Nesta’s life.
Eris turned his head toward Nesta, fondness softening his gaze as he took in her presence.
“I missed you.”
Nesta made a small noise of acknowledgement before leaning down to press a small kiss on his lips that deepened as they got lost in one another. Though oftentimes their kisses were wild and burned with intense passion, it was just as often that their kisses were more like this one, a warm steady fire burning in the hearth as opposed to a raging inferno.
“I missed you too,” replied Nesta after finally pulling away.
“It’s good to be home.”