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“Cauldron damn it all…”
Eris swore as he took his sixth attempt at this dessert out of the oven and promptly tossed it. He was trying something new, and while he was an impeccable cook, if he did say so himself, something about this recipe was throwing him off. Or maybe it was the day…and the half a bottle of spiced whiskey he’d already drank…at a minimum.
“Bugger it.”
Typically Eris refused to use his own flames for cooking. He liked the feel of working without magic in the kitchen. It was his happy place, and using the tools and machinery or working directly with his hands was an act he’d been using to center himself for centuries. Sometimes, when Beron was off in another court, his mother would join him in the kitchen to cook together. This was how he’d created some of his best memories. Years later, Lucien would pop in from time to time as well, though he functioned more as a taste tester than an active cooking or baking participant.
Many times Eris cooked it was a more casual affair, just for himself. But this meal was anything but casual. This meal would be the start of the rest of his life. And Mother damn him if he couldn’t get it just perfect. It was no less than his mate deserved.
So Eris grabbed the ingredients once more and began again. But this time, he decided that in order to try and control the temperature a bit more carefully, he’d use his magic. There’s a first time for everything, after all. Stumbling slightly as he walked back from the pantry, he knocked into a stool partially sticking out from under the kitchen island and spilled some flour over the workbench.
“I’ll clean that up in just a moment…must get this started first.”
He sincerely thought that he was saying this all in his head, but the whiskey made his lips lose and without realizing it he’d started monologuing all his internal thoughts about two batches ago. As carefully as he could in his current state, Eris measured out all the ingredients he would need into separate bowls, preparing his mise en place.
Once everything was sorted properly, which involved several more spills and not one, but two eggs finding their way to the floor, Eris began to mix up batch seven.
“Seven brothers, seven batches, has to mean something right?”
“Oh I’m sure it does, but what would that be, dear brother?” Eris’s snark was quick to respond, but his alcohol laden body needed more time to respond.
Eris nearly knocked over the mixing bowl and jug of milk as he turned to see Lucien standing in the doorway, leaning against it with his arms and ankles crossed, a sly smirk across his face.
“How long have you been watching me?”
“Oh, long enough.” Lucien said as he sauntered further into the kitchen, pulling the askew stool further out from under the island and brushing the flour off it before he sat down. “What’s got you all out of sorts? You’re usually much better at this, you know.”
Eris rolled his eyes at his youngest brother, seeing both the male before him and the tiny child he helped raise all those centuries ago.
“Maybe I don’t feel like sharing.”
“Ooooo is my broody big brother being secretive again?” Lucien scoffed before adding, “tell me something new.”
“The snark on this one”, Eris tried to say to himself ...but seeing as he had not stopped drinking the whiskey, he continued to say everything out loud.
Lucien picked up the bottle from where it sat between the carton of eggs and canister of sugar, immediately putting it back down as he felt how sticky the surface had become.
“I think that’s enough of this for you. I haven’t heard you monologue like this since that Equinox 30 years ago.”
“Yeah, well, sometimes liquid courage is very beneficial, little Luci.”
“Pulling that name back out again too, are we? You must be feeling sentimental then. Just another piece to add into the puzzle that is what’s causing your current state.”
Eris furrowed his brow at that statement as he furiously whisked the contents of the bowl, trying to get the consistency just right. “State?! I am not in a state. If I were in a state you’d know it.”
Lucien laughed, a deep belly laugh that had him keening back on the stool and clutching his stomach. “And why do you think I found my way down here? You’re making a right noise, Eris. Frightened the puppies. I came to see what all the fuss was about and watched you pour flour all over the floor right in front of me. I’ve been here since you started this last batch and it took until I spoke for you to notice. I’d say you’re definitely in a state.”
Eris felt his face flush further as he poured the batter he’d made into the lined and prepared tins. He’d already had a slight glow going from the liquor, but now his emotions crept up the back of his neck to show bright red on his cheeks. Before he spoke, he finished preparing each small cake, placing the cherry filling just so. He finally responded to Lucien once he’d placed the tins in the oven, and for the first time in his life, used his fire magic to set the oven temperature just right.
“Well, maybe I have a reason to be in a bit of a state.”
“And maybe, brother, I came here to help you with that.” Lucien gave him a wide eyed, knowing look. He was the one brother Eris opened up to, but Eris would not do that tonight. No, he was determined. Except…
He snorted, the alcohol still keeping his reactions and lips ready to respond. “And how in the Mother would that work? It’s not like you can help me cook, it would kind of defeat the entire point, plus I’m a better cook than you anyway.”
Lucien leaned forward, his eyes bright as he placed his elbows on the island before him, pads of his fingers together like he was masterminding a mystery. “How the plot thickens…the point of what, brother? Because as I recall, you cook for yourself. And occasionally me and mother. But it seems this is for someone important…and if I can’t help you…”
Eris froze, his back to Lucien as the puzzle pieces clicked together in his brother’s head. No one knew about him and his mate. No one knew he’d even found a mate, let alone that they’d chosen to accept their bond in private. With his back still turned to his brother, Eris spoke, his voice low and full of severity. “Lucien, whatever you’ve just figured out I need you to keep to yourself. If father finds out…”
Eris couldn’t finish the sentence. His entire body went stiff, feeling where his father would strike first if he ever found out what Eris was about to do, what he already had done.
Lucien came up slowly behind him, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “You know I’d never say anything Eris. I just want you to be happy. And I think I know exactly what you stand to lose, just not who.”
At the thought of the elusive “who” Eris’s pulse spiked, and so did his flames. The oven was alight in seconds, his high emotions and low inhibitions causing his magic to flare up. Fear rose within Eris immediately. But it wasn’t fear of the flames, no Lucien was already working against those with spells of his own. It was fear of rejection, of failure and disappointment.
He and his mate had already discussed taking this next step, but with the danger it would put them in, Eris was nevertheless incredibly nervous, hence the liquid courage. Lucien was still working the flames when Eris felt him arrive.
Dark shadows rose from the corner of the kitchen and before Eris could fully turn toward them, Azriel was running out of the shadows toward him, Truth Teller in hand and that errant curl Eris loved so swaying tantalizingly over his forehead. Immediately assessing that the danger was not physical, just interpersonal demons, Azriel sheathed his weapon and walked intently toward his mate.
More delicately than anyone thought possible, he placed his hands on either side of Eris’s face, slowly turning it up toward his and placing their foreheads together. Then he grabbed one of Eris’ hands and laid it on his chest, right next to his central siphon and over his heart. One hand still cupping Eris’ cheek, he left Eris’s other hand feeling his pulse pounding on his chest and placed his other over Eris’s heart.
“Breathe love,” he said quietly, “I’m right here, you’re okay.”
“I…he…I’m so scared.” Eris’s voice was so small Azriel could barely hear it, but he knew. He could feel it. Even their unaccepted bond was so strong they telegraphed their feelings toward each other regularly. It was how he’d known to come tonight.
Azriel stepped closer to Eris not moving his hands or his forehead, just bringing their bodies together. Letting Eris feel his solid strength and steady pulse, he brought him slowly back to the present, easing him out of the fight or flight response any mention of his father could bring out of him.
Lucien was not new to seeing his brother have a panic attack. He was the only one of the Vanserra brothers who Eris would turn to when he needed help with them. But he was definitely new to the Spymaster of the Night Court showing up in a flurry of shadows to kiss it and make it better. Because now, Azriel was placing a soft, tender kiss on Eris’s lips, grounding him further and pouring his comfort down their mental and physical connection.
As they had their moment, Lucien stood there beside the burnt stove, eyebrows above his hairline, worrying his lips between his teeth as he took in the monumental information he’d just learned and considered the best way out of this interaction. Eventually, when he could tell by the sag of his shoulders and ease of his breathing that Eris was in a better place, he decided to make his move.
“Well, Mother knows this has been an enlightening evening, Eris. I think I’ll leave you to it unless you have other ground breaking, court shaking news you’d like to pass along tonight. Intentionally or unintentionally, after this show I’m pretty sure I’m ready for anything else you could throw at me.”
Eris didn’t respond, but Lucien saw the subtle shake of laughter in his shoulders as he dropped his face into his hands briefly. Azriel’s eyes grew dark and stormy as he met Lucien’s gaze, but there was no heat to it. Was the Shadowsinger about to tease him? Oh this would be fun, Lucien thought, already contemplating his witty retort.
“If you share a single moment of what you’ve seen here tonight, Little Luci, I will tell everyone in both our Court’s about the things I’ve caught you and Elain doing out in the garden.”
Mother save him, this was actually no fun at all. “Um, excellent, glad we cleared that up. Welcome to the family Azriel, and keep your damn mouth shut about my sex life thank you very much.”
Azriel wrapped his arms around Eris’s shoulders, pulling him to his chest and resting his head against his mate’s long red hair before he responded.
“You do the same and I think we’ve got ourselves a deal.”
Lucien blanched, considering everything that their sex life could entail very briefly before exiling that thought from ever crossing his mind again. “Aaaaaaannnnd that’s my cue. But I do expect you to tell me who tops Eris.”
Before either male could respond Lucien was sprinting for the door. But he wasn’t fast enough. Right as he exited he felt the rest of the uncooked batter from the seventh attempt coat the back of his jacket as he heard both male’s in the kitchen say in tandem: “I do.”
Lucien cackled, not caring about his dirtied clothes as he ran to his room, leaving the mates alone in the kitchen.
Eris turned back to Azriel holding the spoon he’d used to fling the sticky sweet mess at his youngest brother. Azriel had taken a seat on the stool Lucien had vacated and was smirking up at his mate, who came to stand between his split thighs.
“You know, we didn’t need to answer him,” Eris said.
“Yes, I know, but it’s so much more fun to tease the little fox.”
Eris sighed, “it truly is, isn’t it.” He paused for a short moment before he continued. “I’m sorry that I don’t have anything cooked for you. I just…none of it was good enough.”
Azriel slowly took the spoon from Eris’ hand and said “Everything you do for me is good enough mate. I love you. Just having you is enough. Having someone who loves me enough to remake something seven times, even if it never turns out perfect, is more than I ever thought I’d have.” Looking down at the spoon in his hand, Azriel got an idea and continued talking. “Besides, I prefer to lick the spoon anyway.”
Their gazes met, both full of emotion and excitement, as Azriel brought the spoon up to his mouth and licked a stripe of the remaining batter off the side without breaking eye contact.
As the bond snapped completely, forging itself into a complicated, interwoven tether of flame and shadow, the males gasped in tandem, both placing their hands over the other’s hearts. Before either of them could speak, Azriel surged forward, pushing Eris back toward the wall and claiming his mouth in a heated kiss.
He pulled away briefly to speak. “Leave Lucien a note, he’s on dishes duty. You’ll be back in a week, or maybe three.”
“Is that so, mate?” Eris crooned, running a thin, ringed finger down the scales over Azriel’s chest.
“Well, we told him we both topped. Might as well make that dream a reality during this frenzy.”
Eris laughed and magicked a piece of paper and pen onto the flour littered kitchen island. He walked up to it and wrote the note as directed before returning to his mate. “Take me away then, mate, seems we have a lot to discover.”
“You have no idea.” Azriel breathed into Eris’s neck, right behind his ear, as he curled his arms and shadows around them and whisked them to the cabin in the Night Court. He’d reached out with his mind and informed Rhysand of the night's events while Eris was writing the note to Lucien, and had reserved the cabin for a month, just in case.
When Lucien came down to the kitchen the next morning, he found the note on the counter, a spoon with one strip of chocolate missing from him it placed suspiciously closely.
Little Luci,
Apparently my cooking was sublime. Tell father I’m on a reconnaissance mission in the Night Court. Be back when we’re done figuring out the answer to your question.
P.S. I know exactly what you and Elain do in that garden, and you’re not nearly adventurous enough. Enjoy that thought while I'm off in my own mating frenzy.
Lucien just laughed to himself, donning an apron and setting out to clean up the mess his brother had left for him. Mother knew Eris had cleaned up his messes enough times before this, it was the least he could do as his brother ran off to chase his happiness.