Sorry it took so long to post, I got sick (just a cold, but it lasted FOREVER).
Thank you all for your favorite, follows and reviews!
Sdaviesglasier: Thank you! I hope you'll like the next few chapters!
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Odeveca : A little late, but Happy NEW Year to you too! May 2021 be filled with blessings! :D
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Lexibookfanfic : There is one more chapter for Part II, then ALL of Part III, so no, it's not finished! ;)
FANFICTION
A COURT OF NIGHTMARES AND LIGHT
PART II – THE DAY COURT
CHAPTER XXX : Mates
Lucien and Elain didn't want to go out of their rooms at all, but for the sake of appearances and because they were two well-behaved young people, they eventually stepped out. As they walked towards the main rooms of the Tower of Light, Elain linked her fingers through Lucien's. He couldn't help but look at her, touched by her small but meaningful gesture, and enchanted by the smile she gave him.
As they entered one of the many, gigantic drawing-rooms of the reception floor, they were surprised to see many of their friends and families already gathered there. Feyre looked up, her smile faltering when she noticed Elain and Lucien holding hands. Then, she grinned happily, and Mor cheered with her glass of wine lifted up.
"Finally!" She exclaimed.
"I've won the bet," Rhysand said with a smirk.
"Ugh, you don't have to remind me," his cousin replied, rolling her eyes.
"Mor! I… I had forgotten you would join us for the Autumn Equinox Ball," Elain said, joining them without ever letting go of Lucien – which comforted him as he had been afraid she would be too shy to show the development of their relationship to her family yet.
"What bet, exactly?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he followed Elain sitting down on a couch next to her little sister.
"When you two would get together," Mor answered with a grimace, "Rhys won that one."
"Because there are several bets about us?" Lucien continued, his golden eye clicking suspiciously as he stared at Rhysand.
The High Lord just smirked mysteriously, then winked. Lucien growled, rolling his eyes, already exasperated by him after less than a minute in his company.
"If we tell you our other bets, it'll ruin the surprise," Rhys purred, glancing quickly at Feyre.
"I was just hearing everything that happened in the last few days and I am looking forward to the– RING!" Mor shouted when her eyes caught sight of the jewellery on Elain's finger.
She gasped and lunged over the table to grab her hand, looking in awe at the beautiful engagement. Elain blushed, smiling deliciously, and even Lucien felt a flush rise to his cheeks when everyone's attention and excitement got even more intense. Feyre watched with wide eyes the ring, then looked up at her sister's face, stunned and bewildered. Her gaze met Lucien's and after the initial shock and disbelief, her eyes softened. Feyre smiled to her friend, tearing up at the sight of his happiness, with her sister. The slightest of nod was exchanged between them, a silent blessing, and a thankful recognition.
Rhysand put a hand on Feyre's shoulder and she leaned into it, while Lucien squeezed Elain's hand. It attracted her attention back on him, rather than Mor who was currently stealing all of it.
"I see you are all settled well."
The group turned around and saw Helion walk into the room. He glanced quickly at Mor, who averted her eyes for the sake of her glass of wine. Lucien raised an eyebrow, confused by the strange interaction.
"Our more recent guests are welcome in the Day Court. I am glad that we will be spending the Equinox Ball together, not only as… allies and friends, but also as victors over the Sorcerer, and soon, the human queens. It will be a gathering, about friends, families, and celebration, as the Equinox ball ought to be."
Lucien had kept his eyes darted downwards, especially as Helion had hesitated. Rhysand stood up and went to talk with the other High Lord, they walked away to discuss further whatever they intended to keep between them – probably something related to the war. Lucien only looked up when they were about to exit the room. A heavy breath escaped him.
"So… you're Helion's heir." Mor commented, staring at him.
He looked back at her, as if she was gravity incarnated who had forced him back on the ground. Elain gave his hand an encouraging squeeze and after a quick glance at his mate, Lucien stood up.
"Excuse me, I will be back." He said, already turning around and leaving the room.
The three females watched him leave in silence.
"Ouch. He's not over it, is he?" Mor said with a grimace.
"He barely had any time to think about it, let alone accept it," Elain answered carefully, "I… I think he will welcome the idea and his true parentage, soon. But he needs time, on his own, and with…"
"His father," Feyre finished, speaking up for the first time since the discovery of the engagement.
Elain nodded, and turned towards her sister just in time to see her glance down at the ring. Elain put her left hand on top of the right one to show it, proud and confident.
"He wanted me to have a human custom, as well as the Autumn Court custom." Elain explained, without quite knowing why she felt the need to share this.
"Oh? So you have a sword, now? Is it pretty?" Mor asked curiously.
"I'm not surprised by your engagement," Feyre said, answering the underlying comment that had passed into her sister's eyes before Mor's intervention, "I'm just…"
"Trying to assert if he's good enough for me, and make a choice for me. Like you did when you hid Lucien's true lineage." Elain concluded.
Mor winced and moved away to leave some more room to the two sisters, though she watched eagerly what was going down.
Feyre sighed deeply, then turned completely towards Elain to look into her eyes:
"No, I'm not trying to assert if he's good enough, I know he's a good male, he was my first friend and ally in Prythian, and I know how good-hearted and intelligent he is. I had my suspicions at the very beginning because you two seem so… so…"
"Different?" Mor put in, in a hushed voice.
"Different, yes." Feyre nodded, "But as you grew closer, I realised that… you were completing each other perfectly. He appeared in your life when you needed him most, and I think he needed you as well. You are obviously in love but I had always assumed you two were careful and taking your time. I wasn't expecting you to jump into an engagement so fast."
"You married Rhys only a few hours after mating him," Mor added.
Feyre turned towards her cousin-in-law, but Mor grinned, and soon, an unexpected hilarity escaped them. Elain, on the other hand, remained calm and silent, thinking carefully about her sister's words.
"You're wrong."
All mirth disappeared and Feyre turned to her, slightly surprised by her opiniated words.
"Lucien and I aren't different, we're… the same. We were meant to be. It might not make sense to anyone who doesn't know us personally but… yes, we complete each other, but it wasn't because we are two halves put together. We are two full individuals stronger together. We understand each other in a way… no one has ever known me so well, so easily, n-not even you or Nesta. Lucien… Lucien…"
Elain sighed, with a lovely look on her face. Feyre and Mor both smiled, acknowledging the very strong feelings between them.
"He's your mate," Feyre concluded with a knowing look on her face.
Elain looked back at her, and smiled back.
"He is. And I'm his. There is no magic stronger than the mating-bond."
"Just you wait until you properly mate, you will know and understand each other even more easily." Feyre said, her eyes glinting.
"Talking about the mating ceremony…" Mor continued, leaning forward, "When do you intend to do it? Where? Here? Oh! I need to know in what court it'll happen so I can start preparing the dress, in accordance with the ballrooms' decorations! Oh! What about the frenzy–"
"Mor! Calm down, it's not happening yet!" Elain exclaimed with an embarrassed blush and an awkward smile, "We have decided to wait for things to calm down before… we… I don't want to be a virgin for the mating frenzy."
"That makes sense, it might be too much at once, especially with Lucien of all people," Mor nodded.
"What do you mean by that?" Elain asked curiously, a flare of jealousy rising in her chest.
"Weeeeell, you know… Autumn Court males and all that… and he's Helion's son."
Feyre snorted, sharing a knowing glance with Mor. They apparently knew something that Elain didn't quite understand. Before she could ask any further question, Feyre spoke up again:
"Will you marry first, then? And later mate properly?" She asked curiously, looking at the engagement ring.
"I… I'm not sure, we haven't talked about it yet. He only proposed a few hours ago–"
"OH! I want to know everything!" Mor exclaimed, hopping to the end of her seat again.
"–And I want to talk about all this with Nesta as well," Elain concluded, turning towards her sister, "Any news from her?"
"We heard from Cassian. Apparently… she has been recovering. She's… mending and they've talked of going back to Velaris soon." Feyre answered with a smile.
"She's… she's feeling better, then…" Elain murmured to herself.
No doubt thanks to Cassian and whatever they did in the Illyrian mountains. She smiled, happy for her sister, even if she was so far away during such an excitement moment of her life… she couldn't wait to see her again.
As if reading her thoughts, Feyre leaned towards her and surrounding her shoulders with an arm.
"Nesta will be back with us soon."
"I'm looking forward to it," she answered.
And the centuries of life and happiness with Lucien and the rest of my family, even if we're courts apart, she added to herself.
Meanwhile, Lucien had unconsciously followed Rhysand and Helion. He wasn't quite sure why he had gotten up and followed them, but he hadn't been able to help himself. It didn't take long to find the High Lords, who turned to him when he arrived. Rhys smiled to the both of them, then walked away discreet and quiet as the night itself.
"Yes? Is there anything you need, Lucien?" Helion asked calmly.
"I… um… is there… is there any news from the Autumn Court?" he inquired, unable to look at the High Lord's face.
"We just received news, actually."
It was enough for Lucien to get over his self-consciousness and look up, waiting eagerly for any news. Helion wasn't disturbed and delivered the information with a serenity that, for some reason, was extremely irksome to Lucien:
"The death of Beron was a bit chaotic, and the court still is, but Eris went there fast enough to put some order. He's got control of the Autumn Court."
"Oh…"
Lucien wasn't sure if he was relieved or anxious about this.
"A-and… what about the rest of Beron's House?" he asked, as careful as he could be about it.
"Your half-brothers are all safe and sound, and they obey Eris like dogs. Or should I say foxes? In all cases, they are well-taught."
The red-haired male didn't even bother hiding his wince, knowing very well, like Eris did, that their brothers weren't nearly as tamed as they appeared at the moment. They were just waiting for the right moment to strike Eris, when he'll relax and won't expect it.
More importantly, Helion had said "half-brothers" openly acknowledging, once more, that Lucien was not Beron's son, but his. Lucien felt claimed, like some sort of toy between courts that the High Lords enjoyed throwing around.
"As for your mother…"
Helion's voice trailed off. Lucien looked up, fearing the worst when he noticed the High Lord looking away at the landscape of endless hills and meadows of the Day Court – in the vague direction of the Autumn Court.
"Is she… is she…"
Lucien's voice became a knot in his throat. He couldn't even say the words he feared to hear from his… from Helion.
"She's safe and sound and is already acting as Eris' right-hand."
He kept his face away from Lucien who sighed in relief, his knees almost bucking from the emotional turmoil.
"I will keep you updated on any further information coming from the Autumn Court." Helion added.
"Thank you…"
Lucien hesitated, then started turning away. He made three awkward steps before he looked over his shoulder. He couldn't help but stare at the strong shoulders of that male, a High Lord in his own right, and so different from Beron, or Tamlin, or Rhysand. Lucien had never wanted to be a High Lord, he had always accepted that as a fact. He had cursed the blood he thought he shared with Beron. He had seen Tamlin as a safe haven from Autumn, and Rhysand was, well, full of surprises and hiding as many secrets as the night. He was friendly with Thesan, and Kallias. He had spent much time in their respective courts, before Amarantha. He didn't know Tarquin well, being so young a High Fae… but Helion. Helion was the one High Lord who was a mystery for him. He had only known stories about him, his powers, his conquests, his cold demeanour to everyone. He was the sun itself, and yet he was as cold as a celestial rock, endlessly frozen and far from the world.
"Did you love her?" Lucien asked him, a little afraid of the answer.
Slowly, every movement as graceful as a swan on water, Helion turned back to him. His face was as impenetrable as always, but his golden eyes shone with centuries of anguish Lucien couldn't even begin to imagine.
"I do."
Lucien's heart missed a beat. Helion had not answered in the past-tense… He did love her. At that moment. He loved his mother, Helion loved Lucasta.
"You can't help it, and you can't control it. It's beyond your control. Isn't it?" Helion continued with a sad smile on his face.
Understanding dawned on Lucien and he almost fell over, suddenly dizzy.
"Y-you're… she's your mate… My mother and you… you have a mating bond?" he asked in a soft, hopeful voice.
"I've never told anyone before," Helion said, blinking, as if stunned by his own honesty with his son, "There are times when I don't even know anymore if what I feel, if the moment the bond had snapped into place… if it was all real, or if I imagined it all. What is real, what isn't, I'm slowly going mad…"
Lucien had heard tales of males rejected by their mates being driven mad. But surely, if he had been conceived and born, Lucasta hadn't rejected Helion…? Having a mate himself, having put distance between Elain and himself for a long time in the past, and now knowing the blessing of sharing a moment with her… he couldn't even begin to imagine the pain Helion was going though.
"Did she…"
"She didn't reject the bond," Helion answered, knowing instinctively what Lucien was asking, "She doesn't… know about it. I was selfish and stupid, I kept going back to see her, but I never told her she was my mate."
How he must have felt when he knew that Lucasta was being abused by another male, Beron, times and times again? How he must have felt when the stories of Lucien's exile to Spring spread across Prythian? How he must have felt when they were all stuck Under the Mountain, so close, yet so far, constantly surrounded by danger? How he must have felt when Eris became High Lord and for days the fate of the Autumn Court had remained unknown?
Lucien had been half-mad when Elain had been too traumatised to see him, even less talk to him. Putting distance between them had been physically hurtful. And Helion had spent centuries keeping himself at bay from his mate, who doesn't even know about the mating bond yet…
"I only stopped sneaking into the Autumn Court after you were born."
Lucien looked up, his chest constricting in pain from how breathless he felt.
"She had managed to send me a message, without saying what it was about. I had obviously known about her pregnancy, all Prythian had, as it usually does with this sort of things. When I arrived there… she was holding you, as a small babe, all red hair, and your skin tone barely darker than hers. She told me the truth."
Helion looked into Lucien's mismatched eyes, seeing swirls of emotions he hadn't expected. He almost stumbled on his words, but he continued, mesmerized by this gaze that he had met so many centuries ago… and was now so much older, so much wiser, so different.
"She told me you were… my son, and Beron suspected it. So I…"
He looked away, hesitating, as if he was hiding something but Lucien didn't dare push for more truth. It was already enough, it was already too much, for both of them.
"You put a spell on me, to hold back my… Day Court powers…" Lucien concluded in a tight voice.
Helion nodded, lips thin.
"I decided to never see Lucasta again, for both your safeties from Beron's wrath. I thought the pain would kill me… but it didn't. I saw Lucasta, and you, only a very few times afterwards. And from afar, I never dared talk with either of you out of fear that Beron would find out. I…"
Helion made a nervous gesture, to step forward, to touch Lucien's shoulder, to walk around, whatever, but he froze like a statue, gaze lost and burning, staring at Lucien's scar.
"I should have murdered her right there when she hurt you."
The venom is his voice was enough to send chills down Lucien's spine. But strangely, for the first time, he wanted to step towards Helion.
"Amarantha had already taken your powers. It's not like I didn't… have it coming, after all." Lucien answered with a grim smile, tapping his scar with his index.
"You were blessed with a talented tongue, just like your mother," Helion said with a slight shake of his head.
Lucien stared at him, lips rolling back in… not quite disgust but… unexpected discomfort. Helion blinked, realising what he had said, and immediately looked away, lifting a hand to his cheeks to hide the flush that had darkened his cheeks.
"I meant, words. You two have a way of getting in trouble, and out of it, with just a few words."
"U-uh."
"…She is also talented with her tongue in more pleasurable–"
"That's quite enough!" Lucien exclaimed, traumatised even if his years as an easily flustered youngling were far behind him.
Helion chuckled, and Lucien couldn't help but follow, father and son sharing an awkward moment of equal embarrassment and male understanding.
Silence eventually fell on them, but all the distance that had stood between the two since the revelation of their parentage, was gone. They glanced at each other, taking in all the centuries they had spent not knowing anything about each other, and missing those years that would never be back.
"You are welcome to stay here, you and Elain, for as long as you want. You are free to go anywhere you wish now." Helion spoke up.
"…I don't think Tamlin would want to see me again after I betrayed and abandoned him."
"He'll eventually get over it. We need the Spring Court to function."
Lucien grimaced, not wanting to get into this talk. He didn't want to believe that Tamlin was a lost cause… but it was hard not to.
"I'm still banished from the Autumn Court. And now I can't work for the Night Court either."
"Perhaps Kallias or Tarquin would welcome you… as Emissary of the Day Court?" Helion proposed with a raised eyebrow.
Lucien turned a stunned expression towards his father.
"I…"
"Of course, if you would rather be officially named as my heir, it would be my honour and pride to do so, Lucien."
A strong, overwhelming emotion filled Lucien's body with warmth. He looked up very quickly, to chase away the salty tears that had invaded his eyes. Then, he chuckled.
"Sounds like a lot of paperwork to me. And I know from experience."
Helion joined in with his laugh, it was warm and sweet. Something told Lucien that he didn't relax enough to laugh very often.
"You can stay here as long as you want, and you can be whatever you want to become. And you can take your time figuring it out. You… will probably want to talk with your mother once the situation at the Autumn Court will be settled. And after everything we've been through… you deserve a holiday. We all do."
Lucien took a moment to consider it all. He was frightened to stay here, but where could he go? Where could he take Elain? Taking the job as Emissary and make her visit Prythian was tempting… but wouldn't it be just… running away? From the truth, and Helion?
A glance at the High Lord, and Lucien realised that, deep down, Helion wanted him to stay in the Day Court as much as he was frightened to have Lucien around.
Conflicting feelings must be a family thing, then.
"I… I don't really know what I want to do, and I need to discuss it with Elain. It will be both our choice, whatever it will be."
"I understand, and you can take all the time you need. You'll always have a home here, Lucien."
Lucien's hands trembled, which he hid by clasping his hands behind his back. He couldn't talk, he couldn't look anywhere but his feet, he couldn't even think.
His home was Elain. He knew it, he felt it, and Helion probably was aware of it as well…
But how long had he yearned to hear those words? "You'll always have a home here, Lucien."
Helion must have known how much it meant to him, or maybe he didn't, but either way… for the first time in his centuries of wayward, exiled life, Lucien felt like he might belong somewhere, after all.
"Thank you."
That voice barely sounded like his. Helion nodded, understanding, and once again, he tapped his son's shoulder awkwardly.
"May I… make a request, High Lord?" Lucien asked.
Helion opened and closed his lips, as if to correct him, but then he caught himself realising that he didn't know himself how he wanted to be called by Lucien.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Tomorrow, the Equinox Ball will be held, for the Autumn Equinox and Mabon festivities… and for celebration for our victory."
"Indeed."
"May I have your blessing… to announce Elain and I's engagement?" Lucien asked, finally looking up, "Not as an official act as your… son or heir but simply… because some of our friends and some of our families will be here and… the Day Court is where we finally fell in love, and where we had our first kiss and got engaged. Regardless of what the future holds for us, in Prythian, the Day Court will always have a significant importance for us. And I… I… I guess I want to make it even more… significant…"
Oh Cauldron, he was rambling now. Lucien would have hit his head with his palm if he hadn't been so self-conscious of every little gesture that was betraying his nerves.
Helion laughed, clasping his hand over his shoulder once more, grinning widely.
"You don't have to be so nervous asking this! The whole court already knows you are engaged!"
"Wait what–"
"But it would be a wonderful occasion to announce it officially! I will tell Selena to organise a moment for this announcement!"
"Hold on– what do you mean they know already? What do you mean the whole court?" Lucien asked hurriedly, following Helion with his long legs.
"Well, we've all been betting on you two since your arrival. Selena won, by the way. But I was closer than Koios, so I'd say I'm second ranked."
"Is this a habit of all High Lord to bet on their subjects' love lives?" Lucien mumbled.
"Only when the subjects get flustered like you. It's much funnier!"
Lucien stopped, opening and closing his lips, looking for a retort. Helion casually looked at him from over his shoulder, smirking in amusement.
"Don't worry, unlike the Night Court, we haven't opened the bets on the length of your mating frenzy yet!"
"You haven't what– they have WHAT!"
Helion laughed good-heartedly, followed by a flustered and slightly annoyed Lucien. A fresh breeze travelled through the halls, bringing in the chill of autumn and the scent of fallen leaves as the world prepared itself for the long nights of winter.
Red hair caught both of their gazes and Lucien went to a stop, staring at Vassa who was standing nearby. She was surprisingly calm and serene, her hands joined together.
Helion glanced between the two, then nodded:
"I'll go talk to Selena and Koios. If you need anything else for tomorrow, do not hesitate to come ask us." He said before leaving the hall.
Once the High Lord was gone, Lucien approached Vassa, smiling gently.
"I see the spell worked perfectly," he said, waving at her human figure standing in the day time.
"It did," she answered, blinking in surprise, as if she still couldn't quite believe it, "I… I must thank you, Lucien."
She paused and before he could retort, she continued, diving her emerald green eyes into his mismatched ones:
"From the beginning, the one person who was willing to help me for me, and not because I could be of some use in a war… was you."
"It was only natural, and the one who negotiated your freedom with the Sorcerer was Lord Archeron. I only met you half-way to Prythian."
"Still, you were an ally, and a friend. One I couldn't have done much without." Vassa said, stepping towards him, her cheeks a little flushed, "I must admit that I… I have admired you for more reasons than simple gratefulness…"
"Ah…"
Lucien recalled the many times she had insisted on talking with him, getting closer to him, pressing herself to him and quite obviously flirting. She had had her freedom, her kingdom, and human form stolen away, she was a queen who wasn't used to being told 'no' and she had seen Lucien not just as an agreeable distraction but also as a necessary challenge to keep going.
"I had underestimated what a mating bond truly meant, but you… you and Elain, you are happy together, you are perfect together, you were meant to be… isn't it?"
Lucien's heart beat faster, partly at the simple mention of his beautiful mate's name, partly because their bond was acknowledged by Vassa. He smiled widely, nodding.
"We are. We always have. And now we have all eternity to love each other." He answered with a soft look on his face.
Vassa stared at him, eyes wide and teary, as if she couldn't believe that such happiness could exist in the world. Yearning, sadness, guilt, and shame all passed over her face so quickly that Lucien wasn't sure he had seen it right. He blinked, opening his lips to say something when he felt a fiery presence nearby.
Without even looking, he knew who it was. He was still surprised when he saw Elain standing at the other side of the hall, staring darkly at him, and Vassa, standing so close to each other. Her brown eyes were darker from jealousy and possessiveness. She started taking long steps towards the two of them, her gaze unwavering and her body taunt. Lucien's first instinct was to internally cheer that Elain would love him enough to claim him publicly. That instinct was immediately followed by the dreadful realisation that it meant Elain could become dangerous.
Vassa understood this as well and stepped away as Lucien stepped forward to meet Elain and stop her, grabbing her shoulders:
"It's okay! Nothing is happening, my love! Vassa and I were just discussing about everything we have lived together!"
Elain's face snapped up at him.
Ouch, wrong words to say, good job, Lucien, he chided to himself.
"We were reminiscing on the time we have spent in the human lands–"
Elain frowned, her eyes still staring darkly at him.
"I was just, I…"
"I was thanking Lucien," Vassa intervened, saving him from more embarrassment, "For everything he has done to break that spell on me. And… I was telling him how perfect you two are for each other. I really wish you… the best of happiness in the time to come, however short or long it might be."
Elain blinked, visibly calming down as the slow realisation that she had no reason to be jealous was dawning on her. She swallowed, her gaze lighting up, as she nodded.
"I… you're right. Lucien and I are… we were meant to be. We always have, and always will be."
Lucien smiled, and Vassa stared with wide, surprised eyes. Elain's words had echoed Lucien's.
"You really are mates…" she whispered, then shook her head with a smile, "I… am growing tired after all those emotions. I haven't slept since I woke up. I hope we will see each other at the ball?" she enquired with a polite demeanour.
"Of course," Elain answered with a smile, sliding her hand into Lucien's.
Vassa smiled, then turned around to walk away, elegant as ever, even if she wasn't a firebird anymore, to rest before the Autumn Equinox ball.
Lucien turned towards Elain, opening his lips to say something but he didn't have time. She pushed him to the nearest wall and pulled him down to crash her lips against his. His blood igniting at once, Lucien answered it with a long moan that echoed into his mouth, into hers, and their bodies. Elain's hands shot into his hair and he pulled her against him, the sudden need to please her, satisfy her, claim her, swimming into his mind almost desperately.
Elain pulled away for air, gasping. She lifted a hand to her lips, looking stunned by her violent reaction to the jealousy Vassa had provoked.
"You're mine–" she whispered, blushing as the words escaped her.
Lucien laughed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ears. It tickled the tip of it and she shivered. That reaction, though unpredictable, caused a new wave of desire to surge through him. He pulled her even closer, her small body fitting perfectly against his muscular form.
"I am, a thousand times over, my dearest," he answered with a wide, proud grin, "And I am the luckiest male in all Prythian!"
Elain chuckled, rolling her eyes, but the red didn't erase from her cheeks.
"Feyre and Mor know we're engaged, and… Feyre said Nesta was feeling better. I should be able to see her very soon."
"I'm glad. I know how much you've missed your sister." He said.
"You're glad? Even if it means you'll have to confront her before we do anything else about our engagement?"
Lucien winced, not looking forward to telling all that to Nesta, even less after she had forgone an Illyrian training. The Cauldron only knew how terrifying she must have become now, and the Cauldron would probably shiver from that knowledge.
Elain laughed at his expression, then went on her tiptoes to kiss the corner of his lips.
"Helion has news from the Autumn Court," he said, a half-smile on his face, "Eris has taken control of it, my other brothers and my mother are all safe and sound. For now."
"T-that's good, isn't it?" Elain enquired, feeling his torment.
"It is, but I have… no idea what will happen to the Autumn Court and the rest of Prythian now. I assume everyone has heard of Beron's death and it's only a question of time before each court receives news from the new High Lord of Autumn. And…"
Elain watched him patiently, waiting for him to say what else was on his mind.
"Helion… admitted to me that my mother is his mate… but she doesn't know."
His feelings regarding that revelation hit her fully. She almost wavered from the strength of it.
"I feel so lost from all those revelations, I have no idea what will happen to my mother." He admitted, worried sick for the most important female of his life (besides Elain).
"Lucien," she said softly, raising a hand to his face, "I'm certain Eris and your other brothers will respect her wishes. The situation will be unstable for a time, but soon… Soon, I'm certain you'll be able to see her again. Then, you'll talk, about your true origins. And I'll be here for you the entire time. You're not alone anymore, my love."
Lucien lifted a hand to cover hers, and smiled, comforted by her presence and her reassuring words.
"Neither are you. And… until tomorrow where we can announce to everyone that I am the happiest male alive since our engagement…"
He started glowing softly as his smile grew wider and wider.
"I can only think of one way to pass the time."
Elain flushed when the lingering desire from her possessive reaction flared back to life between them. Lucien lifted her in his arms and, her laugh echoing into the halls of the Tower of Light, he carried her to their rooms to kill time until the last few hours until the ultimate celebration were done.
Next chapter : "The Mabon Ball" it'll be the last chapter of Part II, but Part III will follow as soon as possible though I'm unsure on what order I'll givethe chapters so it might take more time to be posteed :)
Yours Truly,
May
