Aurora had sheathed her weapons and dragged the dead male down the stairs. She brought him to the base of the staircase and met eyes with the guards that stood at the front door. Firelight flickered around them in torches, the guards drawing their swords when they saw the blood on Aurora, the same blood that dripped down the stairs and pooled beneath their fallen comrade.
"Sheath your fucking swords and get your High Lord and Eris. The duel begins now," she ordered, voice booming off the walls around her. The two guards hesitated, their swords still raised. "Now!" Aurora boomed. The flames in the torches rose and heat filled the room. The guards did as they were told, sliding past her and rushing up the stairs. She was panting as she looked down at the dead body. This guard had no reason to die for anything more than a message. He was her message to the Autumn Court, a promise that she will not go peacefully.
The stomping of boots perked Aurora's ears and she looked up at the banister to see Eris rushing down the stairs. To no surprise, he was dressed in his fighting clothes, similar to the guard's clothing, a sword strapped to his hip. Eris's eyes widened when he saw the guard splayed on the floor.
"What the fuck did you do?" He roared, drawing his sword. Aurora didn't flinch, nor grab her own sword. She just glared at him.
"You promised me peace, then sent a guard to murder me in my sleep. Put that sword down, Eris. We're dueling tonight, now. I want Beron to watch," she snapped. Eris clenched his jaw as he shoved his sword into the leather hold. His eyes fell back to the guard.
He stayed silent as the sound of Beron approached. Aurora lifted her eyes to the banister. Four guards followed him and a lovely looking female. The female looked so much like Lucien, it made Aurora's stomach twist.
"What is going on?" Beron boomed, rushing down the stairs. Aurora stepped back, giving him more of a view of the dead guard.
"Eris underestimated me, he sent a guard to slaughter me in my sleep. I demand the duel begins now, or I leave this Court and let you two figure it out on your own. I ask no claim to the throne, I only ask to avenge myself against my brother," Aurora explained, hard eyes settling on Eris.
"Very well then, let us go to the ring," Beron huffed. He and who Aurora guessed was the Lady of the Autumn Court began through the entry way and to a far corridor. Aurora waited for Eris to start moving and then followed him. Anger simmered in her body, fire threatening to escape. Beron led them all to a large door that had a chilled breeze seeping through. When he opened it, goosebumps rose on Aurora's skin. The Autumn Court held warmth and cold in the same light. They all made their way outside and Beron sent flames to large torches that circled a small ring.
They were to duel to the death in a fighting ring that was a quarter of the size as the Night Court's? Aurora felt the flames rise further within her. Eris kept his hand on the hilt of his sword as they neared it. Beron opened a gate of what looked to be razor wire, allowing them to enter. Aurora glanced at the wire and back to Beron, his wide grin answering her mental question. Eris walked to the far end, unsheathing his sword and getting into his position. Aurora stood opposite of him, copying his stance. Her breath heaved in her chest as she tried to prepare herself. It would be her first duel, the first to the death.
"As always, magic is encouraged. The most powerful wins, death is not necessary. Begin," Beron boomed. Aurora let out a slow breath as her eyes narrowed on Eris. She watched the heel of his right foot dig into the ground, and knew he was going to lunge. He did, tip of the blade swinging across his chest then down. Aurora ducked, swinging her sword into his back. The tip sliced his side and he growled. She could feel his rage.
Aurora kept herself as calm as possible, keeping her flame level until she needed it. Eris lunged again, a shout ripping through his chest as he swung down. Aurora blocked his blow with her own sword, shoving it off to the side. Aurora jabbed, twisting when he sent the blade through the air again.
Eris kicked out a foot, sending Aurora tumbling forward. She caught her footing quickly, but when she turned, Eris's blade caught her along the side. She let out a grunt of pain, nostrils flaring as she shot her eyes up to him. Every time she saw his face, fury rose. He had sent her to her third taste of Hell, he had sent her with Tamlin.
The anger she felt for Tamlin and Eris funneled into her power. Aurora let out a shout of frustration, lunging forward and sending the sword upward. Eris tried to block it, but the strength behind her blow sent his sword upward and the blade of hers stabbing into his bicep.
"Fuck!" Eris shouted, jumping backward as Aurora tore the sword from his flesh. She jabbed again when he was still focused on the hole in his arm. This time, the sword went into his thigh. Eris dropped to his knee with another curse, his voice rumbling Aurora's chest.
"Fuck you!" She screamed, the blade now lit from the heat of her hands, flame trailing the swing. Eris lifted the sword with one arm, catching her blade. He grinned up at her as the flame lit the features of his face; features she saw in herself. Aurora bared her teeth, shoving down on the sword. Eris panted as he still smiled at her.
"Do you think that you will become High Lady if you kill me? Beron will kill you as soon as you drive that sword into my chest, or he will send our brothers to do it. The Night Court won't hide an enemy of this Court. Give up, Aurora. Die with dignity," Eris taunted. Her chest heaved at his words. Die with dignity, the same thing she had thought back when she was going to surrender to the Autumn Court after learning she was nothing but a burden. She planned to do exactly that; die protecting a Court she had only called home for months. That's what it was, though: Home.
"If I die here, I die knowing that my running will be over. I die knowing that you or that fucking man you call father won't be tearing down my city. This is between you and I, Eris. Leave the Night Court out of it," she spat. Aurora slid her blade from the pressure of his. Hissing in pain, Eris rose onto his feet. He swung his own sword, now red hot with power. It ran along the side of her face, agonizing pain shot through her. The pain nearly blinded her as she screamed out, throwing the sword without direction. It hit something, but she staggered back, the tip of her sword hitting the ground.
She needed to time her hits better, Azriel taught her this. Examine the posture of your opponent, use those seconds to dodge before they even begin to lift a limb. Aurora's vision cleared slightly, still spotted. Eris was charging. Aurora dove to the side and he swung at air. When he lunged again, she rose a foot and planted her boot to the center of his stomach, using every ounce of strength to shove him back. Eris stumbled, his back hitting the ground. She felt the ground heat through the soles of her boot and knew he was pissed.
The bottoms of her boots stuck to the ground as they began to melt, Eris sitting up. When she stood above him, her sword went towards the arm that held his blade, slicing just next to the tendon. Eris's hand spasmed and his sword clattered to the ground. Aurora struck again before he could understand, the tip of it stabbing into his palm and driving it into the dirt ground. Eris screamed, and once again, Aurora found herself smiling at the sound.
"You will not win, Eris. You didn't the last two times, and you won't today," Aurora spat. She saw the pain that flooded his eyes and paled his face as he cried out in anguish at the hand that was almost severed.
"You die today, Aurora, by my hand or another," he growled. She began to twist the hilt of her sword, a smile stretching further on her lips, but it was wiped away when another red hot blade went through her thigh, the thigh that was coated in scar tissue. A broken scream left her, head whipping down to observe the wound. His power had heated the blade, and that heat cauterized the wound as he withdrew his dagger. The anguish washed into the fury that she couldn't keep at bay any longer.
The flames from the torches stretched and climbed down to the ring, creating a circle around them. Aurora kicked away his sword, the blade disappearing behind the wall of fire. The blood had already burnt onto the dagger as he held it out to her, leaning back on his elbow. Her body ached, but her fury burned worse. The fire inched closer to them, licking at Eris's hair and Aurora's leathers. The heat was bearable, but the hatred she had for him made vomit rise in her throat.
"Give up, Eris. It won't end pretty for you," She snapped. His only response was a feral rumble in his chest and he rushed forward, somehow getting to his knees as he stabbed at her. The dagger missed most of her thigh, but a deep slice went along her hip. Aurora hissed in pain as she reached for her own dagger and whipped her arm out towards his retreating one. He hadn't expected her to move so quickly, and Eris had no time before her dagger ripped into his wrist and up his palm, kicking his blade into the air. Aurora heard the metal hit the ground, but her pulse rushed through her ears too intensely to focus on where it went. She kicked forward, sending her boot into Eris's chest. She heard the crunch of bone and a scream that tore at her ears as the sword planted in his hand ripped at the flesh and bone.
Aurora stepped forward, pressing the heel of her boot into his broken sternum, using the sword to lean on. He hadn't noticed the way she needed it to keep standing.
"Give. Up." Aurora's voice was something she would fear if it came from Azriel, Cassian, or Rhys, but she liked it. She liked the way Eris flinched, and the way his hair singed beneath the flame that still inches closer.
"Fuck you," he spat, and Aurora drove more of her body weight into the crushed bone. Ropes of fire slid out from the wall, wrapping around Eris's throat and wrists. A pained cry slid through his locked jaw, muscles straining as he tried to avoid the burn. Aurora scented the burning hair and flesh, though. She twisted the sword that laid in the palm of his hand, and he shouted again.
"I'm done! Fuck, I'm done!"
The flame was gone as quickly as it had lit. Eris's body relaxed against the ground, his chest wheezing. Aurora knelt down, making her her knee dug into the already-healing burns on his throat and the toe of her boot shoved the shards of bone further into him. Eris gagged and struggled beneath her.
"I am returning to my mate, and if I ever hear about you coming for me, you'll be dead. The throne is yours, brother. I refuse it."