Chapter 192

Elain chewed her lower lip as she strolled through the hallways of Helion's palace. The High Lord had sent word for her to meet him in one of his private libraries, and she didn't know the reason. Thinking back to earlier in the morning after she and Lucien had watched Nesta, Cassian, and Ashk leave the Day Court, she bit down harder on her lip. Perhaps Helion knew what they had done… what she had done… Perhaps she was about to be reprimanded for it. She had known that there was a chance they would have been seen, as it wasn't as if that balcony had been private and open only to them. Lucien had been hurt though, she had been able to feel it through the bond as he had watched his mother leave. She had wanted to do something about that, make him feel better, if only for a while. And she had enjoyed it, she couldn't deny that. Elain always enjoyed that.

Swallowing thickly as she rounded a corner and caught sight of the doors to the library, she drew a deep breath. What would she do if Helion was angry with her? Elain didn't know if she would be able to stand there and talk to him about it, or if she would become so embarrassed that she would have to run. She wished that Lucien had come with her, but Helion had sent the message for her to join him in the library with another for Lucien with a task of his own.

Elain paused by the door, trying to work up the courage to walk in and find out what it was that her mate's father wanted with her. She could feel her heart thundering in her chest, and then there was something else. After a moment, Elain realised that it was coming down the bond to her. Not one of Lucien's own emotions, but something for her. It felt calm and soothing and then Elain realised that he was sending it to her. Tilting her head, she wondered how he had worked out how to do that. It must, she figured, be something like the way she had pushed the images he had seen in her vision toward him. Quickly thinking about how much she loved him, Elain pushed that back toward him down the bond before she drew another breath and strode into the Library.

Helion was sitting in a chair by the window, books piled high on a table before him. The moment he heard her enter the room, he turned her way. The High Lord was the picture of quintessential elegance, draped in his pale linen as he reclined in his chair, one hand propping his chin up as his amber eyes followed her across the room.

"Elain…" he sat up then, all fluid catlike grace. Elain's mouth went dry. That grace belonged to a predator, and she had no idea if she was about to be pounced upon.

"You sent for me." She said, trying to sound confident and unconcerned. "You wished to discuss something with me."

"I do." Elain felt her eyes widen and her cheeks heat, and she knew that she was blushing. Helion apparently noticed too, and he tilted his head in curiosity. "… did I interrupt something?" he asked, those amber eyes flicking over her. Elain watched him lift his chin a little, and she knew that he was scenting the air, breathing her in. She was immensely glad that she had thought to wash and change after she and Lucien had returned to their suite after that morning.

"N-no…" she said, "I wasn't doing anything…"

"Were you not?" Those amber eyes appeared to glow, and Elain dropped her gaze quickly. Did he know what she had done on that balcony earlier? She couldn't tell. "Nevertheless," Helion went on, "I have asked you here for another reason…" Elain looked back up to see him smile at her. This smile was warm, and she felt something in her stomach ease just a little. "Your book." He said, "I've been told that you are more or less complete. I have spoken with someone who runs one of the largest printing presses in the city." His smile grew more wide, "It is at your disposal." He told her, "We will be able to mass produce your book, and then work on distribution across Prythian. Our new trade routes will of course be useful for this as well…"

"Oh…" Elain's breath caught in her throat. "A printing press…"

"Indeed." Helion inclined his head.

"I… thank you." She stared at him. Elain had been so focused on working on the actual book, that she hadn't ever really given much thought to what would come after she had finished putting it all together. Rhys had intended for her book to go to all the Courts, that was what the purpose had been. Now that they had all contributed, they would of course be given a copy of the book. But with a printing press, Elain could send hundreds of copies to each Court. They could go into libraries and shops, and anyone who was interested would have the chance to read it. She could feel her smile stretching even more widely and she even thought that tears might be welling in her eyes. "I… can really make so many that they could be sold in shops…?"

"You can do whatever you like with them." Helion told her, "Any and all resources are yours to use as you wish."

Without really thinking about what she was doing, Elain took several quick steps forward and threw her arms around Helion's neck, squeezing him, before her brain caught up with her and she released him and stepped back. Her face was burning now, and she found it hard to look at him. "I… I… I'm sorry." She murmured, her eyes on his chair, and definitely not his face. "I got excited."

"Well…" his voice sounded amused. "I do know how … excitable… you can be."

"Uh…" Elain's eyes flicked directly up to meet the High Lord's amber gaze then. He did know, she realised. He knew exactly what she had done on that balcony, and now he was smiling at her. Elain twisted her hands together in front of her, her gaze falling once again. She did not know what to do or say now.

"Why don't you go and tell Lucien what you want done?" he asked, "How many copies you think you would like, and where you would like them sent. All of those details he will know what to do with. Once you have made your choices, we will begin production."

"Yes, thank you." The words were barely breathed out, before Elain nodded and turned before hurrying out of the library and down the halls. She had hardly even been paying attention to where she was going, and she finally looked up, hoping that she wasn't lost in some part of the palace that she didn't recognise. Instead, she found herself at the door to suite that she and Lucien shared, and she pushed the door open with relief.

"Cauldron boil and fry me." She muttered, walking in and throwing herself down on one of the couches.