Chapter 166

By the time dinner came around that evening, Lucien still had not found Elain. She had not been with Ashk as he had hoped. His mother had told him that she hadn't seen Elain since that morning, and had no idea where she might have been. He had been disappointed, but had enjoyed the opportunity to have a private talk with his mother. Ashk had confessed that she had considered staying in the Day Court, but that she did not know if this was possible. Lucien had asked her why, and found that he had been correct in wondering if Helion would have agreed. His mother had spoken about how she knew that Eris would allow her to do whatever she wished, but that she knew she would miss the Autumn Court. She had told him before that she belonged there, and he knew that she would miss it if she left. She had also apparently not asked the High Lord of the Day Court if she might stay. It wasn't as simple as not packing and leaving, Lucien knew that. There were politics behind it all, and that had to be taken into account. What would her role in the Day Court be? Would she have been content to simply be known as the High Lord's lover? Did he even want her as his official lover? Lucien knew that Helion was accustomed to moving from one lover to another. There was his reputation across Prythian to support this. Just because he had been enjoying having Ashk here for the last few days didn't mean that he wanted anything further. Lucien had suggested to his mother that she have this conversation with Helion, and at least find out what he thought about it. She had agreed, and Lucien had headed for the room he shared with Elain, hoping to find his mate there.

Elain was not in their room, but Helion was. Lucien froze at the sight of the High Lord sitting on the chair by the window, and then he took several hesitant steps forward.

"Has… something happened?" he asked, worry coursing through him. Was it Elain?

"Oh, no…" his father smiled as he got to his feet. "I just wanted to let you know that tonight, at dinner, you are again on ceremony as my heir."

"Yes…"

"Most of the other High Lords will be leaving in the morning, so I want to give them a good show before they leave."

"Alright." Lucien didn't know what that meant.

"I'd like you to wear this…" Helion gestured to something he had lay on the bed. "Traditional Day Court… like mine."

"I will." Lucien rather hoped that after everyone else had gone home, and if he stayed here more permanently, that he would be able to choose his own clothing. He wasn't enormously pleased with being dressed like a doll.

Helion's amber eyes moved over him. "Is something wrong?"

"I haven't been able to find Elain." He replied, "Have you seen her?"

"Yes." The High Lord smiled at him, "I gave her something of her own to wear. I suspect you will find her at dinner. It begins soon." Lucien blinked and looked at the male standing before him. He had given Elain something to wear. And he was still here. Had he been here while she had changed? Barely able to swallow a snarl before it ripped out of him, Lucien turned away and ran his hand over his face and then through his hair. "…Lucien?"

Baring his teeth, Lucien shook his head, his back still to Helion. "I'm fine." He ground out, "I'll see you at dinner." He was still enough to hear Helion shift a little before the High Lord apparently decided his best move was to leave. Lucien listened to the other male walk across the room to the door before slipping out into the hallway.

Not knowing why his jealousy had suddenly flooded him so forcefully, Lucien let out a relieved sigh at being alone. He needed to find Elain. He was having a tough time dealing with the fact that he had been unable to find her, but others had seen her and spoken to her. He knew that was ridiculous, but he couldn't help the emotion pumping its way through him. Closing his eyes, he reached for the bond, wanting to feel something of her, to reassure himself that he still had her, that the bond was there, waiting to be properly acknowledged and accepted. He wanted to be accepted.

He could feel her faintly. She was anxious, and Lucien frowned in confusion. What did she have to be anxious about? Perhaps she thought there might be another attack on them, as their had been at Helion's last fancy dinner. He hoped not. She should feel safe here.

"Right," he muttered to himself, turning for the bathroom. Lucien figured that the best way to help Elain was to get himself ready for dinner and get down there. When he had her in front of himself, he would be able to reassure her about whatever it is that had her feeling anxious. Until then, he hoped that Nesta would be of some use to her.

It took Lucien no more than twenty minutes before he was striding through the hallways, scowling at the short tunic that Helion had requested he wear. The entire thing felt just a little too slutty to him. The neckline was low enough to show off half of his chest, and it only fell to about halfway down his thighs. Helion looked good in things like this, Lucien had no problem admitting that. He, however, was far more comfortable in his pants and jackets from the Spring Court or even the Autumn Court. This was not to his taste at all.

When he approached the dining table, Lucien was more than pleased to be able to seat himself and cover his legs beneath the table. He had been able to tell, even as he pushed the door open, that Elain was not here. While he fiddled with the cutlery before himself, he reached for the bond again. She was still anxious, maybe more so now and, when the doors opened and he felt her walk into the room, his eyes found her immediately.

A warm smile greeted him when Elain looked back at him, and Lucien felt his pulse quicken in his veins as she approached him and the table. She did not sit opposite him, but rather walked around the end of the table until she came to the empty seat beside him. "Hi…" she murmured, glancing at him before sitting down in the seat, her hands coming to the table top as she did so.

"Petal…" he reached out, laying a hand against her leg. She was wearing a Day Court dress that matched his own and Lucien's eyes moved over the leather corset-type belt she wore. He had seen other Day Court courtiers in similar things and he raised an eyebrow. "Did Helion give you that…?"

"Yes." Her brown eyes flicked to him, and he watched her blush slightly.

"It suits you…" his words were honest, and he enjoyed her small smile by way of response.

"I am pleased you like it." Her eyes moved over him, and he watched her smile twist at the edges.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, unable to keep the question to himself any longer. "I could feel you. I could feel your anxiety…"

"Oh…" Elain looked at the table, "I am fine."

Lucien had been about to press the issue when the doors opened and several large platters of food were carried into the room. Elain was clearly watching as dishes were placed before the diners, and he could feel her anxiety again. "Petal…" he began and she picked up her fork.

"I'm hungry…" she told him, smiling at him briefly.

Lucien just watched her, not understanding why she would be keeping something from him. She knew that he could feel her, just as she could feel him. She must know that he wasn't buying her denial of something being amiss, but she was doing nothing about that. Deciding that she would tell him in her own time, Lucien reached for his own fork and set about eating the dinner which had been placed before him.

Halfway through the meal, Elain had slid her left hand into his lap, and Lucien had nearly dropped his cutlery in shock. She didn't say anything, but he knew it was to reassure him. He looked up when the dishes were cleared and Helion got to his feet.

"I would like to thank you all again for coming at such short notice," the High Lord said, "Also, I would like to thank you again for what you have endured since being here. As we are all no doubt keen for some delicious dessert, I shall keep this brief. I would like you all to know that any of you are welcome to return and visit, and I have no doubt that we will all be seeing much of one another as we get this trade route established. I am very much looking forward to all of this." Helion gestured to the door, and several more platters were brought in. Lucien got a brief glimpse of bowls laden with delicious looking tarts before Elain got so suddenly to her feet it was as if she had been struck by lightning.

"Petal?" he asked, reaching for her hand. She just looked at him for a moment before hurrying across the room to the doors. Lucien had been about to get to his feet to follow her, wanting to know what had happened, when she came back into the room, a tray in her hands.

Elain's brown eyes met Lucien's gaze, and he found himself unable to so much as blink as she strode back across the hall toward him.