Chapter 320

Approaching the group of Courtiers by the door, Elain tried to look nervous. She didn't have a good enough reason to be nervous, she told herself. They had asked her to join them, so she knew that they wanted her to. They wanted to get to know her, so she had no idea why her stomach was backflipping into her spine over and over again. There was no reason to be nervous.

What if, she thought, they got to know her and they didn't like her? What if she was too strange for them? Not fae enough? What if she still acted too much like a mortal, and they didn't want anything to do with her? What if they didn't think she was worthy to be the mate of their future High Lord? Would they leave the Court? Would they do so now, or wait until Lucien was to take the throne? What would happen then? Would they still be able to run an effective Court if the Courtiers had left? What if that was all her fault?

Elain didn't know where these doubts had come from. She had never used to think like this before, but then she had never really had these kinds of stakes on her friendships before. When they had been poor, a lot of her friends had abandoned them, but that had only meant that she hadn't been invited to parties and events. It hadn't led to the abandonment of an entire fae Court. She smiled in what she hoped was a friendly manner when Tisia turned to face her.

"I was hoping to join you this morning…" she said, and the other female nodded.

"I thought you might." The smile that Tisia gave her did more to calm Elain's nerves than she had expected. It truly seemed to her that Tisia wanted to be her friend, and that eased some of the pressure that Elain felt to make herself as agreeable as possible.

"Were you planning to leave right away, or…?"

Tisia's eyes moved over her. "Are you hoping for some time…?"

"Not really," Elain said, "I would just like to change my shoes. I hadn't thought it would be quite so quickly after breakfast, and I only slipped on the easiest pair I could find."

"Shall we say half an hour?" Tisia replied, giving her another smile. "It is a little cloudy outside, and I suspect I might need a warmer dress."

"Half an hour would be lovely." Elain appreciated her attempt to make her feel less awkward about not being immediately ready, and she gave a small wave before hurrying back to the room she shared with Lucien. Her mate was not there, and Elain had not expected him to be. He had told her that he was to spend the morning with his father, going over the next steps for the trade route they were setting up with the other High Lords. That would take them at least until lunch, Lucien had said. Elain hoped that Lucien also had time and opportunity to let the High Lord know what she had overheard Kera saying in the garden. After what had happened with Sorcha, Elain didn't think that things like that should be overlooked. Threats could come from within the Court as easily as they could from outside the Court, if not more so.

Having changed her shoes into those which would be more comfortable for a lengthy walk around the city, Elain hurried back to the place she was to meet the others. She was surprised to find Ashk standing and waiting and she walked toward her with a smile. "Are you coming with the Courtiers?"

"I thought I might." Ashk replied. "I… have not seen much of the city." She gave a shy smile, "I would like to get to know it a little better. Also, if I am to remain her a little while, I should know more of the Court."

"That is what I was thinking too…" She saw Ashk's look of surprise then and Elain hurried to amend what she had said. "I mean me…" she felt herself blush then, "Not you…"

"Of course." Ashk smiled again, "You will one day be the Lady of the Day Court. You will need to know them well." Elain nodded.

"Did they ask you to join?"

"I received an invitation not long after I arrived…" Ashk blushed a little herself. "I have found myself a little busy…" Elain didn't doubt that she had been busy at all. She slid her hands into her dress pockets and brightened her smile as she met Lucien's mother's russet eyes.

"This will be a lovely morning."