Dear Lady Fox,

That is what the children call you over in the artist quarter. Feyre's students coo about Hydra incessantly. I do believe I have spied a few cartoonish images modeled after yourself. Will I see you at the celebration for the High Lord and Lady's child? It would be nearly a year since we had been in the same room. Does it still pain you? You needn't be wary of me. I have made my peace in waiting; however many centuries may pass. I will wait because you Elain Archeron are worth the wait.

Sincerely,

Lucian

Lucian swirled his wine in his crystal goblet. He merely stared at the maroon liquid as the festivities continued. The prince of the night court was born, and it was as if the sky had glinted a new star. Feyre and Rhysand were beaming, and the further's wings draped over them in the cocoon of love and family.

The young prince, Kias was the dark vision of his father. Glinting violet eyes and all. Feyre had confessed to Lucian that she had seen an image of her son in the face of the bone carver. It was why she was so sure she would have a son. Even at the many protests and predictions of the inner circle that the child would undoubtedly be a girl.

"Next time," Elain said answering Lucian's silent debate as she quietly sat beside the golden-eyed male and the High Lady's second. It had come as no surprise to Rhysand that his mate would seek the wise counsel of the Fey male as her second. Her third was the beautiful lesser Fey female that had bravely defended her shop in the artist's quarter. She was a brilliant female and a valuable emissary not just in Valaris, but across nations. A trait no doubt that was gained from nearly a millennia of trade and survival.

Back on the couch, Lucian stiffened. Elain had not dared sit so close to him before let alone initiate conversation. She did not shrink from his light gaze. She only gave a wane smile. Lucian eyed her carefully.

"What do you mean?" He asked. Elain took a sip from her crystal goblet and tapped at her temple.

"It won't be for another twenty or so years, but Rhys will be beside himself at the little princess," Elain said and gazed off towards the nearby window, a slight glaze over those chocolate eyes as if she were watching the projecting future of the next generation of the night court. A smile pulled at the corner of her mouth.

"A daughter is a beautiful thing," Lucian said before taking a drink. Elain stared at him almost unnervingly with her deep brown eyes.

"Is it so strange for males to want for daughters?" He asked an unconsciously imagined a young girl with flowers in her Archeron bronze hair and smiling at him with light shining in her russet eyes. Elain swallowed another mouthful of wine. She had become better at masking the surprise of her visions and the intimacy they sometimes held. She hadn't realized though that she had the power to project those visions.

Elain made a mental note to talk to Rhys about lessons in mental shielding. Still, her heart gave a squeeze at the image of the young girl. Of her daughter, Thier daughter. There were times when she wished she could skip to the happy ending. Happily mated and married with a family and a purpose. However, neither were ready yet, both still finding their use in the world. She played with the gold circulate around her middle finger of her right hand. A triplet to the ones her sisters wore, with a delicate, tiny diamond arrowhead at the center.

"Mortal men typically dream of sons, so to pass on their legacy" Elain explained before flicking her gaze back up to Lucian. He nodded.

"Mortal men have so little time on the world," He said. "So little, that they sentence their sons to not only carry their legacy but to live out their dreams so that they may live vicariously through them." He drained his glass and placed it on the side table.

"High Fey males are worse at times, most wanting to have hordes of sons to command armies and take heirs to thrones. Lesser Fey males are blessed with ambiguity and the joy of family. Don't get me wrong any child I have I will cherish, but a daughter I feel is a confidant for life." He said.

"How so?" Elain asked. Lucian crossed an ankle over a knee.

"A daughter is more likely to stay close to home, to family and traditionally a father's emissary" Elain tilted her head curiously as she had never heard such praise for daughters. Her father loved his daughters but had not known what to make of them for much of their childhood. When they came to riches once more thanks to Tamlin, Elain had taken the role of lady of the house effortlessly. She could vaguely remember the look of relief on her father's face as she handled the affairs of the home.

"There so much more to her though," Elain said before she too drained her glass and dared to lean over Lucian to place her goblet next to his, all the while knowing that he would be able to take in an intoxicating amount of her scent. She fought the urge to swallow nervously at the feel of the warmth emanating from his body and sat back to her spot on the other side of the couch.

Lucian was also fighting the primal urge that roared within him at the intensity of her scent. The beast in him wanted to lay her down on that couch and explore that curves and divets of her body, to hell with the rest of the people in the room. Even still he steadied the heavy thrumming in his ears.

"She will, and I hope to witness as much as I can" Lucian clarified after he cleared his throat. They shared a look that could only be described as a mated look. One where they take a tentative step into the soul of the other. They had become magnets slowly leaning towards one another when Feyre floated down between them, baby Kias in her arms.

"Kias wanted to play with his anti-social aunt and uncle," Feyre said with a smile. Her eyes were positively glowing with happiness. Elain cooed at the rosy face of her little nephew.

"But Nesta and Azeriel are in the kitchen" Lucian quipped, and Feyre elbowed him in the side.

"He could be Rhys's clone" Lucian commented with a chuckle. Feyre nodded and leaned into her sister's warmth. Elain passed a slender finger down the side of the baby's face.

"He's painter like you, Feyre" Elian prophesized as Kias squeezed her finger. The images of a violet-eyed toddler laughing and splashing in an array of colors. Elain tilted her head to her sister to share the vision.

The festivities continued until the first rays of pale dawn reached the horizon. The night court and sung and drank and laughed themselves hoarse. Elain and Lucan tended to drift more towards one another throughout the night, and when it came to the point that Elain could not stifle her yawns any longer, Lucian offered to walk her home.

He offered first to winnow her, but she insisted on walking. There was a sleepy sort of silence in Valaris. A few murmurs from a distance, probably from shopkeepers preparing for the day ahead.

Elain's arms were relaxed at her sides as the strode steadily along the riverstone path. Their footfalls crunched around them lightly.

"I hear that you have been making quite a name for yourself as a herbalist," Lucian said. Elain smiled lightly at the compliment. Her nursery had flourished in those nine months. She had built and cultivated her gardens and groves and then would seek council with Amren in Nesta in the Library to research and practice different healing spells and incorporate them with her plants.

"It's nice to have something that is so wholly mine to offer to the world." She breathed and extended out her arms to show the grand expanse of her land as it came into view. The sea breeze ruffled her thick bronze waves.

"Do you have something that is solely yours?" Elain asked squinting up at him and mentally tracing around the high cheekbones, towards that wicked scar. He was so beautiful; she thought scars and all.

Lucian fought back the urge to say You are mine and I am yours. He instead made a thoughtful noise.

"I've survived up to this point on charm and wit" He chuckled at first, but there was no real humor in it. He sighed.

"Up until the war I was trained as a warrior but never truly was one. I want to protect my loved ones and innocence but can I admit something to you?" He asked, and his voice was uncharacteristically soft. Elain nodded.

"I would love to educate." He admitted. "I only realized it when I started my guard patrol around the schools. The children are always so eager to see me and always have so many questions. It can change the course of my day completely when I see them." He slid a glance to Elain and smirked.

"They often ask about you, Lady Fox," He said and as if on cue Hydra came bounding towards them in a flash of crimson. Elain opened her arms expectantly, and the vixen leaped into the embrace and began to lick at the female's chin and the left side of her face. Elain laughed, and it was so pure and tinkling that Lucian's heart gave a small lurch. Hydra pressed her face lovingly against the side of her mistress's face, and Elain looked to Lucian with content but sleepy eyes.

"I think you would be a wonderful educator, Lucian." She told him. They had been hovering at her front step for a few minutes by that point. "Thank you for walking me home," She said and looked to the ground, and after a quick breath of courage, Elain stood on her tip toes and kissed Lucian's cheek.

He didn't dare move or even breathe because every cell in his body was telling him to cup her face in his hands and crash his lips against hers. Elain hesitated in front of him her breath catching. They stared into each other's eyes for several heartbeats before Elain gave him a small smile before nearly running into her home and shutting the door.

Dear sweet Lucian,

I am sorry that I am hesitant. That though I try to grow surer, I am still so afraid. Not of you, of the intense emotion of the bond. You may have your work cut out for you with your first student. If I may be so bold to ask you to please teach me? Teach me to be fierce and sure and worthy of the wait.

-Elain