Chapter 299

When Sheera noticed Helion sitting across the table from them, her back went rigid. Elain tried not to giggle as her friend sat straight, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open.

"High Lord," Lucien said, his voice that of a Courtier once more, his words formal. "This is Sheera." Sheera made a small squeak of a noise, her hand tightening around her fork. Luicen went on. "She lives in the city and owns a flower shop. She will be helping Elain with her designs for our garden…"

Elain looked at Helion when he smiled across the table at them. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Sheera." He said, voice warm and full of fire. "I… am surprised that Elain would allow anyone to assist her with her garden…" his smile turned on Elain, and she found the teasing note in his voice that let her know he wasn't serious.

"Sheera is very good." Elain said, meeting the High Lord's amber eyes. It pleased her that he appeared friendly toward her friend, even referring to her as 'Lady' even though that was not truly her title. This side of Helion really showed that he was Lucien's father, and Elain could see that her mate had inherited more than just Helion's nose and a few of his abilities. Helion's court included more than just the High Fae and it was so clear where Lucien had gotten his lack of absolute snobbery.

"She must be if you've trusted her with your garden." Helion's amber eyes returned to Sheera, and Sheera smiled nervously at him. "Have you had any ideas for the garden?" he asked, and Sheera nodded quickly.

"I… I have. Some… trees…"

Helion smiled more widely. "The space would benefit from some shade, I agree." Elain looked at the High Lord with interest. She wouldn't have thought he would be all that aware of the garden she and Lucien had been given, let alone be familiar enough with it to have an opinion about the addition of trees and the need for shade. She knew that she was only just beginning to know the High Lord of the Day Court, but this was evidently a side she had yet to come to understand or even be aware existed. She knew that Helion had helped design their suite, that had been clear from the opulence of the bathroom, but Elain hadn't considered the garden. "Any other thoughts? I'm sure you were probably full of ideas, considering you have a flower shop…"

"Yes…" Sheera seemed to have begun growing in confidence. She was nodding, her eyes still on Helion and Elain smiled, watching her. "The colours in the garden beds by the long wall. If they're similar to the colours that are common throughout the palace, it would really help to bring the peace of the garden into the room and the rest of the suite…"

"That's an interesting idea…"

"Blues, reds, golds, and oranges…" Sheera said, "It would be only too easy to find plants that flower for at least half the year…"

"If you manage that," Helion said, all of his grandeur and showmanship gone, "I might have you take a look at the other gardens around the palace…"

Sheera's surprise was evident, and her pleasure clear. "I… would be honoured…" Those golden eyes were focused on Helion, and Elain grinned. So many who looked at the High Lord of the Day Court found it almost impossible to look away, and she wondered if Sheera wasn't going to end up with some enormous crush. Elain hoped not. Helion was so evidently enamoured with Ashk, and she really didn't see anyone coming between them.

As if on cue, Ashk glided into the room and toward the table. Many eyes went her way, ore than those who had looked at herself and Sheera, and Ashk lifted her chin as she attempted to ignore them

"Oh my…" Sheera's breathed response told Elain just what her friend was thinking. It was clear, as Ashk cam to the table and sank into a seat beside Helion, that Sheera couldn't take her eyes off of her. Watching the way that those golden eyes followed Ashk, and the colour that was no back in her friend's cheeks, Elain raised an eyebrow. She definitely had not expected that reaction from her new friend.