Chapter 316

Lucien was sitting on the rug, Feyre beside him, as they watched the minstrels. As they moved onto the next piece, he realised that Elain still hadn't returned, and he twisted around to look for her. There were fae everywhere. Far more than he had originally noticed. Sitting a little straighter, Lucien stretched as he tried to see around a group moving past, their soft chatter catching his attention. He caught a snippet about Helion and Ashk, and then he spotted his parents under a nearby tree. By the looks of it, neither the High Lord nor the Lady of the Autumn Court were aware of anything besides one another and, letting out a soft sigh, Lucien shook his head as he continued to look for Elain. Not having paid particular attention to Helion's lovers and affairs in the past, Lucien had no idea if this public display of affection was normal for his father. He knew that it was not for his mother. Lucien couldn't even recall a single incidence of Beron and his mother showing any kind of affection publicly. Or privately, for that matter. The others around the garden seemed to be split in terms of who was taking note of the two beneath the tree. He saw some Courtiers watching them with surprised expressions while others seemed to be dismissive and others yet looked uncomfortable. If nobody was going to say anything to them, and he figured that nobody would, perhaps he would be able to revaluate just how affectionate he could be with Elain in the garden. He had tried to keep himself in check because he didn't want to be inappropriate or make a scene by doing something that he shouldn't, but with the way that Helion was now half wrapped around Ashk, Lucien thought that he had been pretty tame by keeping his hands to Elain's waist.

When Elain sat down beside him, he blinked in surprise as he had been so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed her appearing out of the crowd. "Petal?" he said, seeing the odd look on her face. A wave of anxiety then hit him down the bond, and his attention sharpened on his mate. "What is it?" he asked, unable to help the tightness in his voice. He could feel himself growing defensive, could feel the power within him building and itching beneath his skin as it strained to be used for whatever purpose he saw fit.

"Ah." Elain exchanged a look with Sheera who had taken a seat on the blanket beside her. "We overheard Kera talking."

"Kera?"

"One of the Courtiers."

"Oh, yes." He tried to remember which one went with that name, and wasn't sure he managed it.

"She was telling someone that she thinks the Day Court is under attack." Elain blinked, meeting his eyes and Lucien raised an eyebrow.

"Under attack?" he asked, "From who?"

"Us." Elain said, frowning. "The Autumn Court." She ran a hand through her hair, and Lucien followed the movement with his eyes. "She thinks that we are trying to turn the Day Court into the Autumn Court. She thinks that Ashk is using Helion for power and will get rid of him so you, her son, can be High Lord."

Lucien glanced around the garden, decorated to resemble the Autumn Court. "She thinks this…" he gestured around them, "is evidence for that?"

"I suppose so." Elain murmured, "She thinks that Helion is changing everything for Ashk and won't even notice when he loses his own Court."

"She's crazy." Sheera sighed.

"I don't know." Elain said, glancing at Sheera and then meeting Lucien's eyes once more. "This feels dangerous."

Taking her hand, Lucien ran his thumb over the soft skin. "All she has are baseless accusations." He said, "If she took her complaints to the High Lord, he would tell her that she was out of line." He smiled at Elain when she nodded after a moment, and he could feel her begin to relax. "She's just a Courtier." He went on. "She has no power other than that which the High Lord allows her to have. And, judging by what is going on beneath that tree, he's not going to tolerate anything said against my mother."

Elain looked toward the tree and Lucien grinned when he saw the blush rise in her cheeks. "Ohh…" she breathed, quickly averting her eyes. He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it gently. Elain looked at him, and her smile turned heated. "You're right." She said, and he nodded, turning her hand over in his, and lifting it again to press his lips to the underside of her wrist. The shiver that he felt pass through Elain at that lit a fire in his blood and he knew that, once they got back to their suite, what was going on beneath the tree would look tame by comparison to that which would take place between himself and his mate.