Hello there, and thanks for stopping by! Thank you to those that have followed, favorited, and reviewed - seriously made my day seeing those notifications!

This is one is a bit unusual and longer than the others so far, but I really enjoyed writing this. I hope this particular character is explored more in the spin-off novels!

Note on this one: gets a little steamy in the beginning (when you see the character, it will become apparent why)

Prompt: Meeting the family/friends
Character: Helion

You move around for what seems like the millionth in the bed before sighing dramatically. Though you love the Day Court's beauty, you wished you were seeing the back of your eyelids rather than the moon again. That's when you hear the door to the suite open softly. You try to pretend to be asleep when your hear his soft footfalls across the marble floor. The hiss of his clothing sliding off his body turns your thoughts to your mate. This past week, by the time he was coming to bed, you had been asleep. You inwardly groan at this knowledge, realizing it must be even later than you expect. You close your eyes and regulate your breathing, hoping that as he climbs into the bed he doesn't notice you're awake. This fails spectacularly, however, when his stark naked body molds against your back, and you involuntarily jerk in surprise.

"How long have you been tossing and turning?" Do not say anything. Maybe he'll think you're asleep… "I know you're awake."

"I lost count at midnight," you eventually grumble, still not facing him.

His strong arm slides overs your stomach and brings you even closer to him. "What's on your mind?" his sleepy voice asks before pressing a light kiss onto your bare shoulder.

"Nothing."

"Darling…"

"Hmm?"

"Tell me the truth."

This time, you turn around and look at him. His eyes narrow in concern as you hesitate, his hand stroking your back. "I know I shouldn't be… but I am a bit nervous about tomorrow."

"And how would you like me to remedy your anxiety?" Helion asks, bringing his free hand to cup your cheek. His fingers trace your face, down your nose, your mouth… your jawline… "Shall I…" He leans in, his lips gently brushing yours. "Do this?" He cocks his head to the side with a knowing smirk before pressing his lips to the hollow of your neck. Your breath hitches, and his hold on you tightens. "Or this?" He shimmies your nightshirt up and so slowly licks his way up in between your breasts, your body arching into his. He huffs out a breathy laugh. "Or perhaps…" An image flashes in your mind, of Helion worshiping you and your body, and of one of his favorite courtiers, the handsome dark-skinned Fae who keeps eyeing you in meetings, kissing your—

"You filthy prick!" You cry before claiming his lips, smothering his laugh into your mouth.

It takes all of your strength, and some luck, to push him over onto his back as you keep kissing. You break it to purposely, slowly straddle him. His eyes light up in recognition of your thoughts, and his hands settle on your hips. A sultry smile finds its way to your lips as you please your lover, your mate, your High Lord until you are both breathless and exhausted that you fall asleep.

When you wake up, it is because the door opens with a bang.

"High Lord, I must insist—"

Faster than you can see, Helion hurls a pillow at the advisor. "I'll see you when I want to see you. Now, get out!"

"Apologies, High Lord," the advisor mumbles behind the closed door. Helion collapses back onto the bed with an agitated exhale. He rubs his face as you place your hand on his chest, right above his thundering heart.

"I'm sorry," Helion says, his voice gentle. He covers your hand with his, and you turn on your side to look at him closely.

"Thank you for last night."

The devilishly smug smile on his face makes you want to repeat last night. "I should be thanking you. That was the best monogamous sex I've had in centuries."

"You know where to find me for more."

His expression turns serious as a dangerous, sensual glint enters his eyes, sending your insides on a whirlwind. He is seriously considering going for round two. He wants round… well, you very much surpassed round two last night, but that's hardly the point.

"I would keep us in here all day if I could," he says. "Maybe tomorrow I will."

"High Lord Tarquin is visiting tomorrow, remember?"

"Well, maybe he'd want to join us," he purrs, angling his mouth over yours with that damned seductive smirk.

"So demanding," you tease against his lips before he silences you with a kiss.

The day is long and tedious, and you're practically counting the minutes until you and Helion go to meet your family for dinner. Your stomach is so tightly coiled in knots by the time you get ready that you think you're going to vomit. That would be a great reason not to go—sorry Mom and Dad, I got sick before dinner! Can't make it tonight, we'll reschedule? You roll your eyes at yourself. Stupid wishful thinking. But honestly, you'd rather face your parents and family with their High Lord as your mate than vomit. The fact that this enters your thoughts makes you stop applying kohl and seriously look at your reflection. You'd rather face your parents and family with their High Lord as your mate than vomit from the nervousness. You put the rest of the cosmetics you were going to put on away and go back into the bedroom.

When you emerge from the bathroom, Helion freezes. He stares at your reflection in the mirror on the dresser for long moments before turning around to face you. His wide-eyed gaze takes in every inch of you, and you don't realize your fidgeting with your bracelets until he comes up to you and stops your hands from the nervous playwork.

"You are breathtaking," he breathes, squeezing your hands gently.

"Stop," you say, feeling the heat creep up your neck.

"No, you're going to have to get used to this," he says. "Because you can't change how radiant you are, especially when you become my lady."

"What did you just say?" you demand, now feeling breathless.

"Not right now, I'm a bit old-fashioned in that sense," Helion explains, a wondrous smile growing as he states, "but one day, soon, you will be the Lady of Day Court."

There are no words to describe this new nugget of news, and his expression changes to concern as you remain silent.

"Are you—?"

"What does this mean?" you override him. He's never said the words, but because of the mating bond, you think it's just been there. However, you have heard of horrible experiences with the mating bonds, and though the Day Court is known for its vast knowledge, it doesn't always seem to translate into practice. Helion's brow scrunches in confusion, and he shakes his head. "I need to you to tell me what this means." You may be two hundred years younger, but you are not that much of a fool. Most of the time.

His face relaxes, and he laces his fingers between yours. "It means that I love you. I wanted to wait until after we met your family, but," he huffs out a laugh, "I couldn't not tell you after seeing you like this, after this morning, last night…"

"I love you too."

The glow that your mate takes on, one that you have been fortunate to witness on several different occasions, a few of which you know were caused by you, is brighter than you have ever seen it now. He is literally blinding you as he wraps his around you. You have to close your eyes, but then you feel his lips on yours.

"Don't smudge my lipstick," you reprimand, pulling away. Smudged lipstick would be a fantastic way to greet your parents.

"Not now," he growls, sending goosebumps up your skin.

"If I open my eyes, are you going to blind me?"

"No, I've reined it in."

You open one eye tentatively, and he chuckles before flashing that glow at you. "Prick!"

"But you love me."

"Hmm, yes."

"And I love you. Let's go meet your family."

"I'm not opening my eyes until we get to my house."

He cackles in laughter as you grab his hand and winnow to your house. You land on the doorstep of the house, and before you can chicken out or before Helion reaches to knock, your hand reaches for the doorknob. When you open the door, you do so quietly. You know if either of you had knocked, it would be too easy to see who your mate is for just one or two of them, and you want everyone to meet him at once.

"You're here!" one of the twins call to you, running into the room and halting as he sees Helion.

"Why are you gaping like a dead fish?" the other twin asks before he too sees Helion. Within seconds, your parents and your sister and her husband all stand in front of you.

"I'd like you to meet my mate," you greet, gesturing to Helion. Your parents and siblings promptly drop into bows and curtsies, shock plastered across their faces.

"Please, don't bow," Helion implores. "Tonight, I'm not your High Lord." They all rise curiously, glancing at you for confirmation, to which you give a small nod. He turns to your parents first. "I should be bowing to you. For blessing Prythian and me with this incredible female that is your daughter." You sneak a glance at your mom. She has a hand to her chest as glittering silver lines her eyes when your mate takes your hand and brings the back of your palm to his lips. He has no shame and winks at you. This particular action is something he hadn't done in weeks, though often enough you first were in his palace, but damn your smile and blush creeps up anyway. He smirks knowingly before turning to your older sister, her husband (one of Helion's courtiers), and your younger twin brothers. "And I should thank you for helping her become fierce, kind, intelligent, and an absolute trouble maker."

"Hey!"

Your whole family laughs at his statement, and Helion only grins back at you, his glow flaring a bit as he completely meets your gaze. You pinch his arm, and he pulls you in closer at the waist.

"If I may, High Lord," your father says, stepping up. Your father stares at you for what seems like hours, and you unintentionally bite your lip when he turns back to Helion. "Since she's been living and working at the palace, there have been changes to her. She isn't as much of a trouble maker here—"

"Come on Dad," you groan. He holds a hand up with a playful smile as everyone around you chuckles good naturedly.

"But, I have not seen her genuinely this content with her life and with who she is," your father says in a quiet and soft voice. You try to swallow down your emotions. Memories of crying in your dad's arms come back to you, about how you felt lost in life, unfulfilled, and jealous of those who, like your sister and brothers, had their life seemingly together. It wasn't all the time, but there were some bad days that shadowed longer stretches of your youth. "She smiles much more, and dare I say, she's glowing." You can't help the smile at your father's joy, and Helion's hand rubs your back. As if both males have the same thought, your father and Helion walk towards each other and shake hands. "I could not be more pleased with this, with you High Lord."

Over wine and traditional, familiar Day Court foods, your family lounges and talks with you and your mate. They ask ridiculous questions, and your mate dishes them right back, making everyone laugh wholeheartedly. They argue over what authors and poets are the best, which fighting technique is the most effective, and which court (other than Day) they would rather be in. As your father and Helion walk off into the gardens, your mother sweeps over to you.

"Hello honey," she greets, hugging you tight.

"So?" you ask, dying to know her thoughts on what was happening and who your mate was, besides being their High Lord.

"You know your father and I lived through the first war, when the High Lord wasn't yet a High Lord," she begins. You're not sure where she is going, but you nod all the same. "For a number of reasons that maybe your father will tell you later, he has always admired Helion. Not romantically, but otherwise," she adds, making both of you chuckle. "You know how long it took your sister's husband to get on your dad's good side." You nod understandingly, years it had taken. "After you told us that you had a mate, when you left to go back to the palace, your dad went to the temples and offered thanks to the Mother and the Cauldron."

You gape in shock. Your father, ever the critic and stoic cynic, hardly practiced any of the religious aspects of their culture unless it was any of the solstices.

"Does he make you happy?" your mother asks, rubbing your back with a soft smile.

"I can't describe how he makes me feel," you answer with a big smile. "'Happy' doesn't even cover it."

"Then that's all that matters." She hugs you tightly and brings you back in the dining room where your father and mate are returning as well. Helion flashes you a dazzling smile from across the room, and you're pretty sure that your smile couldn't get any bigger.

Favorites, follows, and reviews are much appreciated! I already have planned several prompts, but if there is a prompt you want me to do with a character in mind or just an idea, let me know in a review!

Lots of love ~ mysterious victoria

Next prompt: Cassian breaking down, worrying if Rhys had died