Chapter 145

"I caught her trying to crawl into Kal's lap." Viviane's voice was as cold and hard as the frozen landscape of her home, and Elain watched the other faerie warily.

"What did he do?" Nesta sounded as unsurprised as Elain felt.

"He told her he was a mated male." Viviane said, "But then I told her she had better get her arse away from my mate before I made her regret even looking at him."

"Did she listen?" Elain asked, and Viviane nodded. "Lucien said that he's seen her do the same thing to Tarquin, and she has been following Eris around." Elain looked at Nesta, "What was Helion's reaction when Feyre told him what Sorcha did to Lucien?"

"He said he would speak with her." Nesta raised her eyebrows.

"Did he sound surprised?"

"Not really." Nesta gave a light shrug. "I don't understand why he has kept her around." Her sister went on. "Any priestesses, really."

"Not all of them are like this one." Vivane went on. "The priestesses we have in the Winter Court are quite lovely. Dedicated to their work." The Lady of the Winter Court gave a sigh and a light stretch. "What do you think the mood will be like after the meeting is over?"

"Hopefully," Ashk put in, "they will have worked well together. I really think the trade route is a wonderful idea, and I know that Eris has put a lot of thought into it. He wants it to be successful."

"From what the others have said, they all do." Viviane replied with a smile. "I don't remember the last time everyone was this cooperative."

"Neither do I."

Elain watched Ashk and Viviane smile at one another before she slid closer to Nesta. Her elder sister eyed her for a moment, her blue-grey eyes assessing. "So…" Nesta murmured, tilting her head, her eyes continuing to move back and forth across Elain's face. "what is it that you want to tell me?"

"Lucien knows about the book you gave me."

"I see…" Nesta raised an eyebrow at her, "I feel like there's more to this…"

"Yes." With a quick glance at the other two females, Elain checked that Ashk and Viviane were still engaged in their own conversation before she looked back to Nesta and lowered her voice again. "We read some of it. Together." She smiled as Nesta's eyes widened just a little. "He suggested that we … act some of it out." Nesta actually blushed as Elain looked at her, and her sister clamped her hands together in her own lap.

"W-which bit?" Nesta's voice was soft, and she sounded hesitant and unable to believe that she was actually asking.

"Where Rohan comes back and finds her in the stable."

"O-oh…" Nesta's eyes widened even further, and her sister leaned toward her. "Did you want to do that? Are you okay?" Seeing something rising in Nesta, Elain reached a hand out and set it on her sister's knee, hoping to soothe her.

"I did, and yes… I am okay." Elain smiled at her, "Very okay." She watched as Nesta calmed down a little, biting her lower lip as a thoughtful expression washed across her beautiful face. "Nes…?"

"Lucien is kinky, isn't he…?"

"Nesta!" Elain tried to keep her gasp low enough to avoid the attention of Ashk and Viviane, but she couldn't help considering her sister's question. "I… I don't know?" she replied, "How do you tell?"

Nesta actually looked like she was swallowing a laugh as she composed herself. "He likes… unusual stuff?"

"I don't know what's usual…" Elain blinked at her. "Or unusual?" she paused for a second, "He likes… me."

"Of course he does." Nesta murmured, "The first time you to were together … was…"

"In a glade in the Spring Court."

"Outside." Nesta smirked at her, "Does he like doing that outside?"

Elain thought about the rock pool in the Summer Court and nodded. "Mhm." She then thought about how she had gone down on her knees for him in the snow when they had visited the Winter Court and she blushed.

"And roleplaying?" Nesta's smirk widened, "I'll bet he has lots of interesting tastes for other things."

"Like what?" Elain asked, unable to help herself.

"Well, I don't know Elain." Nesta smiled more gently at her, "You know him better than I do. If you're liking it all so far, though, I would wager that, being his mate, you'll like whatever else he's into as well."

"Mm…" Biting her lip, Elain thought about that. She had liked all of it. She had been the one to initiate what had happened in the Winter Court in the snow, and she had very much enjoyed their first time together in their glade. She may have been hesitant about being out in the open in that rockpool, but she had loved it all the same. Last night had also been very enjoyable. Nesta hadn't quite gotten it right in that it hadn't actually been roleplaying but, now that Elain thought about it, she suspected that Lucien might very well be into that too. When she felt her pulse quicken, Elain realised that she probably would as well.

Looking up when Ashk sank into the chair beside her, Elain tried to draw her thoughts back to the conversations going on around her. She really didn't want to be thinking indecent thoughts about Lucien while sitting next to his mother. Smiling at Ashk, when the older faerie reached out to touch the garnet necklace she wore, Elain sat a little straighter.

"You still wear this." Ashk said gently.

"Of course." Elain met Ashk's russet eyes. "I love it."

"And Lucien." Ashk smiled, "Are you ready to accept the bond?" Elain thought about how Ashk had been in Helion's room the night she had gone to tell the High Lord that she was ready to do just that. The other female had to know that she was.

"Yes." Elain tilted her head, "Do you know what Helion is preparing for us?"

"Yes." Ashk smiled, "I think that you will enjoy it. You both will."

"And then after that is all over," Viviane put in, and Elain hadn't realised that the blonde had even been listening to them. "You have to come back to the Winter Court."

"Oh, I do intend on it." Elain smiled at her, remembering that she had told Lucien that she wanted to go back there. That remained the only court that they hadn't actually had sex in, and she wanted to fix that. After that, Elain thought, maybe they could go back to the Mortal Lands, to that manor that Graysen had given Queen Vassa, and she and Lucien could have another adventure out in that maze she hadn't properly explored. Outside, in the Mortal Lands, on a property gifted from her ex-fiancé. Elain blinked. Maybe she was kinky too.

"I've said it before." Viviane smiled, "You're welcome any time." The blonde nudged Nesta and bounced a little in her seat. "Oh, I am so excited that you're going to do it soon. It's going to be wonderful."

Elain blushed a little, "I… was thinking… should I get Lucien something?" She asked, her eyes sliding from Viviane to Ashk. "A gift. To celebrate… when we… are properly mated." She looked at Nesta then back to Viviane. "Is that something that faeries do?"

"Who cares what others do or do not do." Viviane shrugged, "Do what you want. If you want to get him something, then do it."

"What should it be?" she asked.

"You're giving him yourself." Nesta said, "I'm sure that's enough."

"No…" Elain shook her head, "I mean, yes. Obviously. But I want to give him something else… to mark the occasion."

"What about…" Ashk began, and Elain turned to Lucien's mother to see those russet eyes again focused on the necklace. "Something to match the necklace he gave you."

Lifting a hand to the garnet sitting warm against her skin, Elain nodded. "He had this made for his mate. I could have something made for him." She thought for a moment, "Perhaps something to be worn around the wrist." She looked at Ashk again, "There are jewellers here?"

"I will show you." Ashk smiled at her. "Would you like to go now?"