Chapter 189

When he'd finished, Lucien had remained inside of Elain. She had held him, her fingers trailing up and down his spine as he'd pressed his forehead to hers, his breath hot on her skin. "Was that good?" she breathed, hand gliding over his slick back. He shuddered slightly beneath her touch, and she felt his lips brush hers a moment later.

"Yes." He kissed his way across her cheek, up to her ear. "Didn't you think so?"

"I-I did." Her hand slid down his back, nails tracing his skin when Lucien's lips went to her throat. She could feel his contentedness down the bond, hear his heart beating so strong in her head. She smiled when he kissed her, and she knew that he was deliberately focussing on that spot he knew would draw the biggest reactions from her.

"Is that good…?" he murmured, and Elain nodded as his hands tightened on his hips.

Lucien pulled out of her then, and Elain held on to him as he shifted and rolled to the side. She went with him, letting him pull her closer again and his arms tightened around her, cradling her to himself. "We should get ready for dinner…" she said, head tucked up under Lucien's chin. His arms tightened around her again.

"I don't want to go anywhere." He replied, and Elain couldn't help a smile.

"We need to eat." She said, her voice steady, even though she would have preferred to stay just where they were as well. "You also wanted to speak with your father…"

"I did." Lucien's breath was gentle against her hair and Elain made herself lift her head to look at him. "I have a few things to speak with him about."

"Your mother?" she asked, and russet and golden eyes met hers.

"Yes…" he said, "I… I don't know what I'll say though." Elain could see him thinking as he just looked at her. "Do I just ask him why he hasn't asked her to stay?"

"I don't know."

"I… maybe I should be more tactful." Lucien sounded hesitant, and Elain pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I don't suppose a High Lord would appreciate being questioned so bluntly about his personal relationships."

"He is your father…"

"Yes." He agreed, "But… we don't know each other very well yet."

"Perhaps this will help you grow closer." She could feel Lucien's hope down the bond. He very much wanted that to be true. Smiling at him then, Elain pushed herself higher when Lucien reluctantly released her. "Come on." She said, "We need to wash before we get dressed."

"Do we?" he asked, and she could see the teasing smirk on his face. "You don't want to go to dinner smelling as delicious as you currently do." Elain felt herself blush.

"I smell sweaty." She murmured, and one of Lucien's hands trailed down her thigh.

"That's not what I was referring to." He sat up, bringing his lips to her cheek, his other hand brushing her hair back as he did so. "You smell as good as you taste…"

"Oh…" Elain felt her cheeks heat even further. "Oh… well…" She glanced at Lucien for a moment, "I wouldn't think you would want anyone else to know what that was like…" Something flickered behind his russet eye then, and Elain was able to make out a territorial look as he shifted and seemed to become possessive.

"No…" And instant later Lucien had lifted Elain into his arms and had gotten off the bed. "No, I don't…"

She just smiled up at him as he strode toward the bathroom, holding her carefully.

Dinner seemed to go forever, and Lucien was well and truly over it before dessert was even brought into the room. It wasn't that anyone was doing anything particularly bothersome, or speaking of anything that got under his skin, but he couldn't help but watch Helion and his mother. The both of them continued to glance at one another, and hold polite conversation, but the tension was so thick that he could barely breathe and he did not know how either of them could stand it.

Letting out an annoyed huff, Lucien turned his head when Elain's hand slid into his lap. He wrapped one of his own hands around hers and gave her a small smile when he caught her concerned expression. "It's fine." He murmured, and watched as her brown eyes looked past him toward Helion and Ashk.

"I'm sure." She replied, those eyes lifting to his once again. Not caring that they were at the dinner table and the entire Court was present, Lucien bent to press a kiss to his mate's lips. She smiled brightly at him, and he felt warmth spread throughout his bods in response. He was more than a little pleased that she had become more comfortable with public displays of affection like that. He enjoyed claiming her in front of everyone, and he suspected it might feel the same way for her, especially after Sorcha. Elain could be as territorial as he could be, and Lucien truly loved it. "Will you draw him away after dessert?" she asked, and he made himself think about what she was talking about.

"Oh, Helion?" he nodded, "Yes. When the tables are away and everyone is moving around the room. I wouldn't want to be too obvious." He said, "It might make it worse for my mother…" Elain's eyes shifted past him again, and he knew that she was watching Ashk.

"I suppose it may embarrass her…" She agreed, looking at him once more, "If she thought you were questioning Helion about her."

"And I wouldn't want that."

Elain smiled at him before returning her attention to the delicious looking fruit tart on her plate and Lucien let his own gaze slide once more to his father. The High Lord of the Day Court was making a show of appraising his own fruit tart, but Lucien caught that amber gaze shifting repeatedly to Ashk sitting across from him. He didn't understand whatever game the two of them were playing, and it was pissing him off.

Once the table was cleared and the fae of the Day Court were free to move around and mingle with one another, Lucien looked for his opening. Elain's hand traced his arm from his elbow to his wrist, and her brown eyes peered at him over her shoulder as she moved past him and toward Ashk. Lucien understood then that she was attempting to keep his mother occupied so that she wouldn't notice him heading for Helion. Smiling at his mate, Lucien nodded his head in acknowledgement and moved toward the High Lord of the Day Court.

Helion was standing by one of the large fireplaces, his eyes on the window and the darkness outside. "Lucien…" The High Lord said when Lucien approached him.

"High Lord."

"You needn't call me that."

"As you wish."

"You have something you wish to discuss with me?" Helion asked, "I did notice you watching me throughout the entirety of dinner."

"Oh." Lucien figured just about anyone with eyes would have noticed the way that he had watched his father throughout dinner. He'd looked at the older male probably just as many times as Helion had looked at Ashk. "Yes… I have a few things I would like to speak with you about."

"By all means…"