Chapter 297

Elain had ensured that Sheera was properly done up and ready for dinner. They had spent time on her friend's hair, and even put a little golden makeup around her eyes in the fashion of the females of the Day Court. Elain had seen the style on several of the Courtiers, but had never tried it on herself as her colouring was different to many of them. The style looked fantastic on Sheera, however.

"You look truly lovely." Elain said, smiling at Sheera in the mirror as she admired her handiwork.

"Do I look presentable enough to be in the presence of the High Lord and the Court?"

"Oh…" Elain met golden eyes in the mirror. She hoped that Sheera hadn't thought that she had put in this effort to make her meet some standard. She had just wanted her friend to feel comfortable in a situation she had thought she might feel uncomfortable in. "Yes… but that's not why…" she blinked, "I just wanted you to feel like you fit…"

"I think you've made me look like I do."

"I mean, you would even if you had worn your own things…"

"Covered in dirt."

"I…" Elain paused, "You would have been welcome either way, but I didn't want you to feel as if you weren't. That's why…" she gestured at Sheera's curled and styled hair. "I wanted you to be comfortable."

"Thank you."

Elain moved away from the vanity as Sheera got to her feet. She watched her new friend for a moment, knowing how it felt to suddenly be surrounded by people she didn't know in a place she wasn't used to. When Elain had first been made Fae, she hadn't understood the world of which she was now a part. She had nearly lost herself. She wondered for a moment if it was cruel of her to try to be Sheera's friend, making her be a part of this new world. Sure, Sheera was fae and lived in the Day Court, but it was beyond clear that she was not acquainted with anybody from the palace or anyone that Elain would know. Helion and his Courtiers were clearly a completely different part of this world to the one to which Sheera belonged. Elain wondered for a moment if she shouldn't just let Sheera go home, back to her shop. "You… don't have to stay." She said, catching her friend's eyes when Sheera turned to face her.

"What?" Sheera smiled, "And miss having dinner with the High Lord?" White teeth flashed at Elain, "I've already spun half the story I will tell all of my customers tomorrow…"

Letting out a soft laugh, Elain tilted her head, her eyes moving over her friend. The olive green dress looked magnificent, and the Day Court fashions suited her friend better than nearly anyone Elain had laid eyes upon. "I just don't want you to feel like I'm pushing you…"

"I won't say that I'm not nervous." Sheera said, hands clasped before her, "But… I do have to admit that it's… quite exciting."

"Are you really that excited to get a glimpse of Helion?"

"HowcouldInotbe?"

Elain blinked, backing up a step when Sheera began bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I've not seen him up close and he's the High Lord."

"Yes, he is."

"And he's very…" Sheera's eyes widened as she met Elain's gaze, as if trying to convey something to her without words. Elain blinked at her for a moment before cottoning on.

"Oh!"

"That's what they say, anyway."

"He is…" Elain agreed.

"Not that I…" Sheera bit her lip, "I wouldn't…" She shook her head, "I'm honestly just curious if he's as… as they say." Elain suspected that no matter how Helion had been described over the centuries, that the reality of him always surpassed what had been said.

"Are you just…" Elain grinned at her friend.

"Yes!" Sheera insisted. "He's not my type!"

"Not your type?" Elain was fairly certain that Helion was everybody's type. And everybody was his type in return. She didn't say that to Sheera, however. "I'll have to take your word for that."

"See that you do." Sheera swished her dress in a mock haughty manner and gestured for the door. "Should we head to dinner? Lucien is likely waiting for you."

Elain agreed again and headed for the door, giving her friend a twisted smirk as she did so.