Chapter 181

Elain cackled to herself while dinner was brought into the room and several dishes were set on the tables in front of them. She continued to watch Nesta out of the corner of her eye as her sister huffed and fiddled with the goblet in front of her. She could see that Nesta was trying very hard to seem put out and disbelieving, but she could also so very easily see that it was an act. The slight colour that had filled Nesta's cheeks gave her away nearly as much as the frequency with which Nesta's eyes kept flicking up to look at Cassian across the table. Elain could see that her sister could hardly keep her eyes off of the Illyrian, and she would have bet that the two of them had barely been out of one another's sight the whole time that she and Lucien had been caught up in the mating frenzy.

As a steaming pile of juicy looking meats was placed before Elain, she tried to work out what to do about her sister. She wasn't sure if she should keep pushing Nesta to confront her feelings about Cassian, or if she should leave her be. If Nesta was to keep moving forward, then Elain thought that she would rather need encouragement in order to not just turn and run away, but at the same time she did not want to push her too far and too fast. Perhaps it was none of her business, and she should just allow things to happen in their own time.

Reaching forward, Elain selected several pieces of meat and set them on her own plate as she glanced at Nesta once more. Her sister was now moving things around her plate, and Elain thought that she might leave it for tonight, but then tomorrow she wanted to have a proper talk to her sister. It hadn't escaped Elain's notice that Cassian kept watching Nesta about as much as she was watching him. It was clear in the Illyrian's eyes that he was confused about Nesta's behaviour. If Nesta had been as hot and cold as Elain suspected she had been, then it was of no real surprise to Elain that Cassian would feel confused.

When Lucien's hand slid onto her knee, Elain turned her head his way. His eyes, both russet and golden, were on her and she raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you alright, Petal?" he asked, "I'm sensing concern from you…"

"I am concerned." She agreed softly, her eyes flicking Nesta's way for a moment and then back to Lucien who nodded his head in understanding. She tilted her face up to him when he leaned in to her, his lips brushing against her ear.

"She want's him." He breathed, and Elain nodded.

"I know," she replied.

"Do you think that she knows?"

"I think she's probably coming to that conclusion." Elain smiled at Lucien when he sat straight again. "She would want to be sure. Nesta never does anything that she is not sure about."

"Rather like you, then?" he asked, his eyes moving over her face. Elain raised an eyebrow at him, but then figured he was probably right as she had made him wait for so very long while she made certain that she was sure about him, and wanting to be his mate. As if sensing her thoughts, Lucien lifted a hand to Elain's cheek and she met his eyes again as his fingers traced her cheekbone. "It was worth the wait." He told her, leaning in again. This time Elain met him as he brought his lips down to meet hers in a soft kiss. "It was worth every second."

Elain wanted to wrap her arms around Lucien, she wanted to slide her hands around his shoulders and shift closer and closer until she could press her chest against him, and feel every breath he took. Instead, she made herself let him go as they both returned to their dinners.

Ashk was across the table, and Elain tried not to watch as Lucien's mother kept casting furtive glances Helion's way. She hadn't expected the other female to actually leave the Day Court. She had thought that she would have chosen to stay because she knew that Helion would have allowed it, and Lucien had said that he believed Eris would have let Ashk do whatever it was that she had wanted. Nevertheless, if Ashk was inviting Nesta to the Mabon celebration in the Autumn Court, then she clearly wasn't staying in the Day Court. Wondering how disappointed by that Lucien was, Elain slanted a glance at her mate. His attention was focused entirely upon his plate, and she was unable to glean anything from him down the bond. When they had the space to speak alone gain, Elain decided she would ask him. Perhaps tomorrow, he would be able to speak properly with his mother and see if anything could be done.

After dinner, Elain reclined on a couch across from Nesta. Her sister was still avoiding her eyes and, as Ashk sank down beside them, Elain's eyes scanned the room for Lucien.

"Elain," Ashk smiled, "are you well?"

"Yes. Thank you." Elain smiled at the redheaded female for a moment before continuing to sweep the room with her eyes. She spotted Lucien nearby and quickly heading their way, and she sat up a little more straight in her chair. He had nearly reached them when a group of courtiers flocked around him, momentarily cutting him off from view, and Elain tilted her head.

When Lucien did not reappear after a few moments, Elain reached for the bond. She could hear his heartbeat, quick and flustered and she couldn't help a slight snarl. Both Nesta and Ashk went very still, and Elain could feel their eyes on her, but she didn't much care.

"Is everything okay, Elain?" This was Nesta, but Elain gave a shrug. She wasn't about to claim everything was fine when everything in her was screaming at her to go to Lucien.

Giving in to the need, Elain got to her feet, brushing her hair back from her face, and adjusting the dress she wore, she tried to contain another snarl, but was unable to do so. Female faeries were flitting all over the place, and she could hear Lucien's voice nearby. Striding toward him, she was forced to sidestep several of the females, and Elain had to exercise some serious self-control to keep herself from shoving them out of her way.

Lucien's heart was quick, but Elain would have wagered hers was even quicker by the time she next caught sight of her mate. It wasn't that anyone was touching him or doing anything that appeared to be inappropriate. They were interested though, Elain could just about smell that and it made her blood boil.

Unable to help herself, Elain gave a loud growl and did elbow her way past several of the faeries closest to Lucien. She knew that the instant he had met her gaze that he had understood what was going on, and he opened his arms to her. Without hesitation, Elain flung herself at him.