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Cassian watched on as the dance floor cleared around his mate and Eris, they moved like two halves of one whole around the ball room floor. He could swear he could feel that the golden thread connecting him to Nesta grow weaker with each step they took in unison.
He watched on as the music reached its crescendo, finishing in Nesta executing 12 perfect spins in the hands of the Autumn Court heir. As Cassian watched on, he could swear the light began to flicker in the room, and then he saw her magnificent silver flames twirl above her, Eris’ red and golden flames, answering and rolling over his body, tangling with hers above where they stood, until she came to a perfect stop, and he dipped her low, finished the dance. Her chest heaving from her spins as they stared directly into each other's eyes. Cassian reached inside himself to pull on that golden thread, and could no longer find it. The Mother had betrayed him, and sought to give Nesta to the autumn court heir. He could see from her bewildered expression, and Eris’ searing gaze, that if she pulled on her thread, it would no longer lead to him.
He had done too little, he had not been the male that she truly needed if the Mother saw fit to take this from him. Cassian could not deny the Mother’s will, even as he felt his heart cracking. He walked towards the nearest window, and launched himself away from who he thought his destiny was, away from Nesta.
* * *
Nesta could feel a change happening during the dance. The thread inside her that she knew would always lead to Cassian started feeling like it was weakened, no longer a golden chain that could never be broken, but a hair, waiting to be carried off in the breeze.
She finished her final spin, as Eris dipped her low to end the dance, she realised not only had the other dancers left the floor, but her flames had combined with Eris’ and now licked the ceiling. She reached for the bond again, but she knew it no longer led to Cassian.
If she wasn’t with Cassian, if she wasn’t surrounded by her family, she could have easily leant forward and kissed the male who stared so intensely into her eyes. He was so thoroughly fae, she could see herself being captivated very easily by him.
Bond or no bond though, she would never do that to Cassian.
Eris righted her, and set her on her feet. It sounded to her that he had taken a deep breath to either catch his breath or calm himself, while she still tried to quietly catch her breath.
He held her hand, still maintaining eye contact, and subtly jerked his head towards their still dancing flames at the ceiling. His flames were rapidly being contained, and she knew she had to smother hers quickly also. He kept her hand in his as they approached Rhysand and Feyre, Nesta numbly letting herself be steered by him as she looked for, and failed to find Cassian. Once they had reached the foot of Rhysand’s dais, Eris lifted his chin to the throne “Well, as this sister is my mate, I hardly think you have good cause to deny my betrothal now”.
Feyre opened her mouth to argue, while Azriel stepped forward and Elain frowned, their eyes glazing over all at once. Clearly Rhys was letting them know the veracity of Eris’ claim.
‘Very well, I suppose I should call you brother now, Eris” Rhysand said, smirking to the red headed male in front of him.
At those words, the ice keeping Nesta numb cracked, it had taken a dance and barely a sentence for Rhys to give her away like chattel. Cassian having walked away from her the second he thought that a higher power no longer deemed her his. She started pulling her hand out of Eris’ grasp, determined to leave so she could scream, and rage in private, so easily cast aside by the male she had come to love. Eris’ warm hand became borderline painful, and he yanked her body to him.
His other hand curled around her waist, as he said quietly into her ear “You’re mine now Kinglslayer”, and winnowed them both.
Nesta pushed away with all her strength, landing herself on her backside, as she looked around, she felt a breeze cool her sweat slicked skin, she looked to see she was surrounded by blue sky, and lush greenery, Eris looking down at her “Welcome to my home” Eris said.