Chapter 195

Lucien yawned, and then noticed that his father was watching him. "What?" he asked, narrowing his eyes when he noticed that Helion looked rather amused. "What is that look for?"

"Oh…" The High Lord of the Day Court smiled at him, and Lucien tilted his head, trying to read that expression. "A little tired are you…?"

"That's generally what yawning signifies." Lucien muttered, his eyes still narrowed when Helion looked even more amused.

"Elain looked a little tired at breakfast also…"

"Did she?"

Helion smiled at him, and Lucien resisted the urge to push his chair back from the table. He focused his gaze upon the map of Prythian before them, and bit the inside of his cheek. Were they going to do this? Was Helion deliberately going to shift the conversation away from the legitimately important discussion they had been having about trade routes in order to discuss why Lucien was yawning before the midday meal? He looked back up at his father a moment later, leaning back in his chair and lifting his chin slightly. Helion actually gave a small laugh and Lucien narrowed his eyes again.

"I have to admit," The High Lord said, "When you first arrived, I hadn't picked Elain as someone so…" He paused, as if searching for the word he wanted, and Lucien just watched him, "… lascivious."

"Ah…" Lucien tilted his head. "Are you usually a good judge of character?"

"Unquestioningly." Helion's teeth flashed brightly at him, and Lucien tilted his head again. "But she's… surprising. Isn't she?"

"Every day." Lucien agreed, pleasure and pride moving through him at the thought of all the ways with which his mate continued to surprise him.

"I had thought her more reserved." Helion said, his amber eyes bright, "Sweet and shy…"

"She is that, too." Lucien said, unable to help smiling himself. "Gentle and caring…" he bit his lip before going on, "and over the last few months, I've seen her grow more confident, become comfortable in asserting herself…"

"That must be immensely satisfying."

"Yes."

"You did not know her before the bond, did you?"

Lucien eyed the High Lord for a moment, "No." he replied, "It happened the moment we first looked into each other's eyes."

"Interesting."

"You think so?"

There was clear thought behind Helion's amber eyes then, and Lucien watched his father nod. "Yes…" the older male murmured, "Because you know one another so very well. There is love beyond the bond…" The High Lord smiled again, "Those whose bond is instant like your own often do not have that kind of relationship."

Lucien nodded, he'd heard as much. "I didn't want to force it on her." He said softly, "I… I only wanted the chance to spend time with her…"

"And she fell in love with you."

"And I with her."

"Of course." Helion leaned back in his chair then, looking the picture of elegance. "Tell me," his father said quietly, "what it was about her that you fell in love with."

Lucien crossed one leg over the other, his eyes on the High Lord. He'd been about to ask why he wanted to know when he took in the expression on his father's face and he remembered that Helion had been excited for him to remain here so that they could get to know one another. There was genuine interest in him and it sparked something within Lucien, loosening him up just a little bit. "Her gentle heart." He replied. "I've never met someone as genuine and kind and peaceful as Elain." Unable to help a smile, Lucien lifted a hand to run through his hair, "Spending time with her when we were first getting to know one another made me feel… refreshed." He watched Helion's face as the High Lord listened, "I liked being with her, listening to her talk about her gardens and what she was reading… and she listened to me. She would ask me things, and was so curious about Prythian. She looks at the world with such wonder… and her excitement is contagious."

"That makes sense being newly Made."

"Yes…" Lucien combed his fingers through his hair again. "The bond began to show her things." He said, "From my past… horrible things." He was unable to help his fingers touching the bottom of the scar down the left side of his face, "But it didn't make her turn away from me…" he looked at Helion again, "She has such a soft heart, capable of great compassion…"

"As do you, I'm told."

Lucien didn't need to ask to know that his mother had been the one to tell Helion that. "Not like Elain does." He replied, "She is the most gentle hearted person I've met."

"It seems you are a fine match." Helion smiled then, "I hear that she walked into he Autumn Court when Eris held you prisoner, and demanded that you be returned to her."

Lucien gave a low chuckle, remembering the way Elain had stalked into the hall, Tamlin with her. He also remembered his fear that she would make any kind of bargain with Eris. "She did…"

"Was she in love with you by that point?"

"Yes." Lucien said easily.

"How do you know?"

"Well…" Lucien tilted his head, "she walked into the Autumn Court and told Eris what she wanted… I had left her with Tamlin in the Spring Court so that she would be safe…"

"A risk." Helion agreed, "And had you… been together… ?"

Lucien's eyes narrowed again as he looked at Helion, but after a moment he decided that his father wasn't trying to be crude or improper, but was genuinely trying to understand their relationship at that point. Nodding, Lucien kept his eyes on the High Lord's face. "The day before…" Helion raised an eyebrow at that.

"And she had been engaged to a human male…"

"Mmm." Lucien's teeth clenched at the thought of Graysen. "She hadn't… they'd not…" he shook his head, "That human is a piece of work." He forced himself to draw one deep breath after another, unbidden images of the last time they had seen Graysen flashing before his eyes. His heart raced as he recalled the way the human male had snarled at Elain before grabbing her and forcing her down against that table. He wished that he had been able to singe the bastard just a little, but Elain had gotten between them and dragged Lucien from the room. Relaxing a little, Lucien realised that that night had proved delightful after all, because once they had gotten upstairs Elain had told him that she was his. "I'm so thankful that he never go to touch her. That she never had to endure him…" Lucien ran a hand over his face, "I cannot even imagine what he would have done to her."

"She has only been with you?"

"Yes." Lucien slanted a glance at his father who was nodding slowly. "It has been so good…" he smiled, despite himself, "getting to see her grow in confidence, learning what she likes and what she wants…" he felt his face heat slightly at having admitted that out loud. The High Lord just nodded again, his eyes distant.

"It must be nice…" Helion murmured so very softly that Lucien had to strain to hear him. "Not having to picture your mate with anyone else."