Chapter 159

When the faerie grabbed his hand, Lucien blinked, turning to look down at her. The faerie who had been wearing the green dress the day before smiled at him. "Thank you." She said to him, "Lord Lucien. Thank you for what you did for me."

"You're welcome." Lucien felt a twinge of guilt, remembering the way that he had wanted to run away and find Elain, and that it had been Tamlin who had convinced him to stay and help.

"We are lucky to have you here now." She was smiling up at him still, her hand still clasping his and holding him there as Helion moved ahead. The High Lord was speaking to those who had been healed and who were still being healed all around the room. Lucien glanced from Helion back to the faerie still gripping his hand.

"I appreciate that." He said to her.

"You are very much like the High Lord." She went on. "It is evident within you."

"I…" he looked back to Helion. It was clear that the subjects of the Day Court loved and admired the High Lord from the way they were interacting with him, and from everything Lucien had seen and heard of the Day Court over the years and since he had been here the last few days. "I… I am glad you think so." She released his hand then and Lucien gave her another smile. "I hope you are feeling better." He said before striding toward Helion once more. When he reached the older male, Helion turned to look at him, and Lucien felt as if those amber eyes were looking right into him.

"You made an impression."

"I barely did anything." Lucien replied, feeling himself flush with embarrassment and guilt.

"That is not what I have heard."

They strode for the doors and Lucien shook his head. "I wanted to run." He said, "I wanted to find Elain. I couldn't feel the bond and it was driving me mad."

"Yet you stayed and helped."

"Tamlin is to be thanked for that." He muttered.

"For bringing it to your attention, maybe." Helion replied, "But you ignored your most primal instinct to find your mate among chaos. Not many could fight such a desire, and you did. To help others."

"I…"

"That is what a good High Lord would have done."

"Someone should say that to Tamlin." He said softly, knowing that those words would mean so much to his old friend.

"Once you've accepted it as truth yourself, you can tell him." Helion smiled at him and gestured down the hallway. "Sorcha is being kept in a room in the north."

"Do you wish tot speak to her now?"

"I think so." Helion ran a hand through his dark hair, "And this afternoon, I thought that you would address the Court in my stead to announce that everything is being done to help those who need it, and to apprehend those responsible."

"Me?" Lucien asked, tilting his head as he slanted a glance at his father. "Why?"

"I named you my Heir." Helion said lightly, "When you speak, they will hear me."

"Yes…" Lucien nodded. He knew that, as Helion's heir, part of his duties would be speaking on behalf of the High Lord. "What will you be doing?"

"Ah." Helion gave a casual shrug, "I'm sure I will find something."

"You want me to address the Court because… you want to begin establishing me as a reliable part of the Court and a leader…" Lucien was speaking more to himself than to Helion, trying to work out what the High Lord was doing.

"Something like that." Helion led him around a corner and then looked at him with a grin. "Are you able to spare the time?" his grin widened and Lucien tilted his head. "Or, do you think you might be a little too busy with your mate?"

"I…" Lucien blinked, "What do you mean?"

"I would have thought you would know what I mean." Helion's voice held laughter. "I thought you put effort and attention into everything you do."

Lucien slanted a look at the High Lord. "You heard that…"

"Of course I did. Also, I'm pleased that my nose isn't the only thing you inherited from me."

"Wh-" Lucien choked a little, trying desperately not to picture just what that entailed, and tried to keep his mother as far from his mind as possible.

"Do you have a plan?" Helion asked, and Lucien raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "For the frenzy?"

"Oh…" Lucien bit his lip as he matched his stride to the older male's. "Should I?"

"Yes."

"I… figured that I would just let it happen naturally."

"I'm sure that would be fine for the most part," Helion said, and Lucien glanced quickly at him before looking back to the ground as they continued to stride up the hallway. "But, you obviously want it all to go well…"

"Obviously…" Lucien frowned. He hadn't considered that it was possible for it to go badly. "What do I need a plan for?" he asked, "You don't think I'd… hurt… her, do you?"

"No…" Helion shook his head, "Of course, things happen…" Amber eyes turned Lucien's way for a moment, "There are also other things to be considered. As intense as the frenzy is said to be, there will be times when you're not… mating."

Lucien made a face at the term. "Ah…"

"It will still be a time of high intimacy." Helion went on, "What will you do during these moments?"

"I don't know." Lucien admitted. "I hadn't thought of it… I… I haven't ever really needed a plan to spend time with Elain. It has always come so naturally…" He thought for a moment, "Being with her is easier than being with anyone has ever been… I figured it would be more so once the bond has been accepted and grows stronger."

"I am sure you are correct." The High Lord of the Day Court smiled at him and Lucien ran a hand over his own face, fingers brushing his scar. "Females like special occasions, however." Helion gave him a significant look, and Lucien knew that the other male was speaking from personal experience. "I suspect Elain would be the same. She would appreciate an effort to mark the occasion."

"A mating gift." Lucien said, and Helion gave a small nod of acknowledgement. "I had considered the thought. I wasn't sure if it was…" Lucien shrugged "Is it customary here?"

"Does it matter?" Helion smiled, "If you want to do it, you should. She is your mate, and she will respond to you and what is genuinely from you."

"You're right." Lucien made a mental note to sort that out by the end of the day. "Thank you."

"You are welcome." Helion grinned at him, and Lucien relaxed a little. "You can speak to me about this any time that you like, Lucien. You are aware of this, aren't you?"

"Yes." Lucien smiled, "Thank you." He didn't know if he was surprised by Helion's openness or not, but he appreciated that the offer had been made nonetheless.

"This is the room."

"Oh." Coming to a stop in front of a narrow door, Lucien stared at it. He had forgotten that they had been on their way to question Sorcha on what she had attempted to do the day before. "Right…"