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They’d gone over the plan so many times before today both could recite it in their sleep. It wasn’t like they hadn’t had the time. For 10 years they had concealed their bond. During the war on Hybern Azriel and Eris had been forced together more times than they initially would have liked. But they grew on each other, like ivy on a trellis, weaving in and out of each others lives. They bonded slowly but surely over their shared traumas and work ethics.
The bond had snapped for both of them at the same time during the war. After a long day of court business, Eris had asked Azriel if he wanted to join him in his wing of the Forest House for a night cap. It was something they’d done many times before, but as Azriel followed Eris down the halls something felt different. There was a gravity to the evening that wasn’t usually present. Typically, the two males could let their guard down around each other, and it eased both their burdens.
As Eris poured two glasses of spiced hard cider, Azriel took up a seat in what had become his chair. Eris had had it altered after their first few evenings so that Azriel could sit comfortably with his wings. A fire burned in the hearth, but with Eris around Azriel did not fear it. He was one of the few outside his brothers who fully understood the extent of his aversion, and Eris had worked through some exposure therapy with him. Azriel would be forever grateful for the help Eris had given him, and staring at the no longer so threatening fire while the male poured them drinks, the appreciation poured through him.
As Eris turned to hand Azriel his drink, their hands touched and their eyes met. The bond had snapped for both of them at that moment, and from then on their relationship had changed. From good friends and confidants, they developed a romantic passion that drove them both to the edge and then back to each other. Too afraid of Beron, they kept their relationship a secret. It hadn’t taken them long to privately accept the bond, and both males were able to hide their mating frenzy with a well timed spy mission and war operation.
But now, Beron was dead. Eris had assumed the mantle as the High Lord of the Autumn Court, and with his newfound power their bond pulled stronger than ever. There was no need to hide anymore, and both males were anxious to be able to be open. Their families were both incredibly perceptive too, and they’d rather tell him first than have it exposed on someone else’s terms. The two had a hard time keeping their hands off each other, and Azriel’s shadows were none too happy about leaving his mate unguarded. More and more frequently, Eris had his own shadow or ten swirling around himself protectively. Someone was bound to notice something sooner or later.
Knowing that one day they would tell others of their relationship, they’d spent a long time plotting the best way to go about the big reveal to the inner circle of the Night Court. They’d decided it was prudent to tell Morrigan first, and a few nights after Beron’s death they had done just that. Azriel had met with her privately, explaining the situation before Eris joined them to hash out old grievances. Apologies were made and accepted, and Azriel felt much lighter knowing she was on their side. Before they left they made Mor swear not to tell anyone else, and she agreed to keep their secret until they were ready.
Now, the time has come. Every Sunday the Inner Circle held a family dinner at the River House. Elain typically cooked enough for an entire army, which meant they had just enough food for Cassian. The family would gather for a few hours before the meal, to catch up on the week and spend a day not worrying about anything except each other's company. This week the plan was for Azriel to hide Eris in his room early in the day. After gauging everyone’s mood for a bit during their down time before dinner, Azriel would make the announcement of their bond by himself. Then, he would invite Eris down from his room so they could all eat together. It seemed like the perfect plan. Azriel had even informed Nuala and Cerridwen of the plan so they would easily have an extra chair and dinner setting ready for Eris.
Neither of them accounted for Nyx.
The little bat was about 7 at this point and curious as ever. He got himself into everything. It was late in the afternoon, and the family had all finally arrived at the River House. Amren was sitting in a chair, her legs tucked under her to “keep that thing from getting anything on my good dress” drinking a glass of wine. It wasn’t that she disliked Nyx, but so help them all if he got her even the slightest bit sticky. She preferred to get in her baby time when he was, well, still a baby, and usually only directly after a bath.
Morrigan sat on the couch next to her with her own glass of wine, making companionable conversation. Nesta and Cassian had taken up residence on the other couch in the room. He was seated on one side, casually joining Mor and Amren’s conversation occasionally, Nesta lay across the rest of the couch, her head on his lap. One of Cassian’s hands rested on the arm chair, while the other diligently tried to pull Nesta’s hair out of its braids so he could play with it. Nesta curled on her side, swatting away his hand, but she secretly loved him playing with her hair so she didn’t fight him too hard. Feyre and Rhysand took up the second armchair, Feyre perched in Rhy’s lap and making conversation with Nesta. Rhys had his eyes trailed on Nyx. Sometimes that was physically, but usually it involved him using his daemati powers to track the little devil to wherever he was currently causing trouble. Elain flitted in and out of the room, chatting with her sisters between kitchen tasks.
Azriel stood against the wall, taking in the sight. He was excited, but also a little nervous. After tonight the dynamics would be changed forever. But he was ready for his own mated bliss to have a place in this little family. Steeling himself for the big conversation, Azriel began to step off the wall. Before he could start talking however, he heard Nyx clamoring down the hallway screaming out, “DADDY, DADDY LOOK WHO I FOUND IN UNCLE AZ’S ROOM.” Hearing the commotion, Elain came out of the kitchen to see what was occurring.
The entire inner circle turned and watched Nyx enter the room, pulling a very disgruntled and completely off guard Eris Vanserra by his sleeve into the room. In tandem, the group looked from Eris, to Azriel, and back again two times before anyone spoke. Nyx let go of Eris’ sleeve and ran to his parents, joining Feyre on Rhys’ lap. “I’m a really good finder,” he said to his parents, thoroughly proud of what he’d accomplished. Rhys didn’t break his gaze from Azriel as he said, “why yes Nyx, you really are. But what, I wonder, did you find?” Feyre took her son into her arms, looking amusedly between him and Azriel.
Azriel’s face must have been the color of Eris’ hair at this point, this had all gone completely off the rails faster than he could have even imagined. Gone was the speech he’d planned, all the things he had written down to say to his family about his mate and their bond. All that came out when he opened his mouth was a disgruntled, “um…so…yeah.”
At this, Eris burst out laughing. “Um, so, yeah? Come now, love, we’ve had 10 years to plan this and you let the little bat get to you?”
Cassian’s eyes looked like they might fall out of his head, “LOVE?” he half screamed as he looked at Azriel. Looking up toward him from Cassian’s lap, Nesta raised both her eyebrows and said, much softer but with somehow more intensity, “ten? YEARS?” Drawing a hand over his face, shadows fluttering about the room in his anxiety, Azriel said “you and your pet names are not going to make this any easier.”
Since Eris’ brusk arrival in the room via Nyx Mail, Mor had gulped down two glasses of wine, trying to keep school her emotions. Rhys, however, read her like the open book she was. “You know something,” he said, pointing at her and squinting his eyes suspiciously. Mor squeaked over her wine glass, going to take another drink and realizing that it was, indeed, empty again. Amren still sat in the same position, amusement spread across her features and growing with each interaction. Simultaneously, she watched Nyx from across the room, like she was reanalyzing her conceptions about the little deviant and keeping his sticky fingers in her eyesight at all times.
Eris sighed, straightening his posture and coming around the room to stand beside Azriel. Leaning in close to his ear he whispered “you know, saying nothing is also not helping. Do you want me to say it?” Azriel could feel the eyes of everyone in the room. Steeling himself and reached over and took Eris’ hand in his. Gulping in air he began to tell the story in the fastest, most run on sentence without breathing a single time. It came out something like this: “we are mates and we have been since right after the war and I couldn’t tell you because Beron would kill us and I didn’t want anything to go wrong and I had a whole thing planned but then Nyx found him and I love him and I’m nervous and I don’t want anything to change but I also do want him included in the family and now that we aren’t going to die by saying anything I had to tell you and did I mention that I love him and fuck now I’m mated to a High Lord so there’s that.”
During that diatribe, Mor refilled her wine glass, pouring some for Amren as well. Nesta sat up next to Cassian, fully enthralled with Azriel like he was one of her Sellyn Drake novels. Cassian was completely limp, staring at Azriel with his mouth on the floor. When Azriel finished speaking, Nesta used one finger to push his jaw up, closing his mouth without breaking her gaze from the two love birds. Elain stood at the door to the kitchen, hands over her mouth and nose, hiding her reaction with eyes wide as saucers. Feyre and Rhys listened intently as he spoke, but when he was done they got that glazed over look in their eyes that said they were speaking to each other through their bond.
Eris gave out a low whistle, bringing his and Azriel’s clasped hands to his mouth to give it a reassuring kiss. “I think you’ve covered the basics, but why don’t we try being actually coherent when they all gain their senses and begin to ask questions.” The snide comments from his mate might put some people off, but for Azriel they made him feel more comfortable. Learning to laugh at and with Eris at each other had helped him gain more control over his anxieties.
From her armchair Amren commented, “oh, I think that was quite coherent enough. Boy, I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you talk at once.”
Rhys and Feyre’s eyes came back to the present, and Rhys spoke for them as a pair. “Well, first off, we’re glad you’re both not dead and understand why you didn’t say anything. Second off, welcome to the family?” He said that last part as a question, not to reject Eris, but because it was odd, welcoming another High Lord, one they had so much history with into their circle. Cassian chimed in, “definitely glad you’re not dead, but um, why not tell us?” Nesta moved her hand to hold Cassian’s, feeling her mates hurt in not being trusted with his brother’s deepest secrets.
Eris squeezed Azriel’s hand in reassurance before he responded. “We couldn’t tell you because we wanted to protect you too. If Beron found out, he wouldn’t have just killed us, he would have come after you all. After the entire court. Azriel…We both wanted to protect the Night Court.” It was Azriel’s turn to squeeze Eris’ hand, a silent thanks for answering, and for understanding. Cassian’s face softened at this. Mor had finished her third glass of wine, and Rhys was eyeing her suspiciously again. “You haven’t said a word.”
Mor looked pleadingly over her shoulder at Azriel, who responded to Rhys, “we spoke with Mor earlier. Figured that was a conversation that should be had privately between the three of us, considering the history.” Eris cut in, “oh and what a splendid time that was for all of us.” Mor gave him one of her cutting glances before turning to Rhys, “we talked, I’m happy for them, and that’s all I’d like to say on the matter for now.” She caught Feyre’s eye after she finished speaking and a knowing look passed between the two females. Feyre cut in next, changing the subject. “So, does this mean we get another babysitter now?”
“Oh, please say yes,” Nesta cut in, looking between Eris and Nyx, “I love that child to death, but he is an absolute menace with no concept of privacy.” Rhys covered Nyx’s ears with his hands, narrowing his eyes at Nesta.
“Rhys, come now, we’ve all been interrupted by him during certain *activities* before.”
Rhys grumbled back, “well at least most of us have the decency to keep those activities in the actual bedroom.”
Elain, now thoroughly uncomfortable with this realm of conversation, whispered a soft, “congratulations” and something about preserving dignity to Azriel. Then she whisked Nyx away from Rhys, and returned back to the kitchen.
Nesta leaned back into Cassian as they both smiled tauntingly at each other and the room. “You’re just not as fun as us,” she responded.
With these comments Eris saw his chance, and he took it. Before speaking though, he gave Azriel’s hand a squeeze in a sort of pre-apology. “Oh I’ve heard all about your escapade in the House of Wind. You gave me quite a lot of ideas.” Eris felt the heat spread down Azriel’s arm as his mate started blushing beside him. “That breakfast table isn’t safe for anyone anymore.”
Now it was Nesta’s turn to blush, and Cassian just grinned wider, winking at Azriel. Amren was thoroughly fascinated by the conversation, content to just watch the train wreck itself. Mor sank deeper and deeper into the couch with her bottle of wine, which she’d stopped pouring into a glass at this point.
Eris spoke again “Back to your point, Feyre, you absolutely have another babysitter. But I only know how to raise dogs, so my training methods may be a bit unorthodox.” This had all three brothers laughing. Both Feyre and Nesta looked relieved that they finally had someone else to add to the “whose turn is it so calm the storm that is Nyx” rota.
Once the laughter had subsided, Elain returned with Nyx from the kitchen to announce that dinner was ready, dumping the child in his parents laps before hurriedly rushing to the dining room. Mor followed behind her, leaving her empty glass but bringing the now almost empty wine bottle with her. Amren took the long way around the room to the dining room, holding her dress off the floor and keeping a wide berth from Nyx, who had come back from the kitchen dirtier than he’d entered.
Nyx climbed out of his parents' laps and walked to stand in front of Eris, placing both his hands on his hips and looking up suspiciously at the Autumn Court High Lord. “Does this mean you’re my uncle now?”
“Yes,” Eris responded.
“So, I get to make you play games with me?”
Oh, Azriel was loving this line of questioning. Eris crossed his arms, looking defiantly, but playfully down at Nyx.
“Depends on if I like the game or not.”
“Well my dad says that my uncles have to play with me. So you better.”
At this, Eris looked up at Rhys. He and Feyre were both stifling giggles, and arm around each other as they took in their son. Eris pointed at Nyx and said to Azriel, “and you allow this?” Azriel responded jokingly, “well, he is the future High Lord of the Night Court.”
Nyx adjusted his posture so he stood taller, crossing his arms and locking eyes with Eris. The two fell into a staring contest. Eventually, Eris blinked first.
“HA!” Nyx exclaimed. “You blinked first. So I won. That means you have to play a game with me.”
Feyre, Rhys, Nesta, and Cassian all broke out laughing. To Azriel, it felt so right. His concerns that Eris wouldn’t be accepted had all but disappeared completely. If he could make sex jokes with Nesta and Cassian, then withstand the tyrant that is Nyx, he could fit in with the rest of them.
“But I’m hungry, and Auntie Elain said it's dinner time. So we eat first and then I’ll pick a game, Uncle….Autumn.” Halfway through his sentence Nyx must have realized he didn’t know Eris’ name, but he knew where he was from because his hair looked like Lucien’s, so he improvised. That name was going to stick. Azriel would make sure of it.
Nyx started heading toward the dining room grabbing Feyre and Nesta’s hands to bring them with him. Cassian and Rhys stood, but instead of heading for the dining room they headed for Azriel and Eris. “Thank you,” Rhys started, “for protecting us. We haven’t always seen eye to eye, and I’m sure that’ll come up, but we support Az, and you.” Cassian nodded his support next to Rhys. Eris thanked them both, gave Az a quick kiss on the cheek, and followed the ladies to the dining room to give the brothers some privacy.
Azriel let out a breath that he felt like he’d been holding for 10 years. His brothers came to either side of him. Cassian said “no wonder you’ve always smelled like something was burning recently.” That set all three of them into a fit of laughter, and they made their way into the dining room together, their family one person bigger.