Chapter 218

The breeze was pleasant out in the courtyard, and Elain watched the trees sway. The multicoloured leaves fluttered prettily, their gentle tinkling like bells was soothing and she turned her eyes on Nera who sat in front of her, head down.

"Nera…" she said softly, and the other female lifted her head to meet her eyes.

"How do you know my name?"

Elain paused for a moment. "Oh… I…" she couldn't tell her she had been seeing some of Eris' memories in visions. That would be weird. "I know you're important to Eris…"

"Oh."

Elain nodded, pleased that her answer had been enough. "Are you alright?" Nera was silent for several moments, and then bit her lip. Elain watched her and moved around to sit on the seat beside her. "Are you hurt?"

"No…"

"You're… scared?"

"I don't know." Nera murmured, "Eris…" Her dark eyes closed, and Elain could see her shudder. "He just destroyed that male…"

"And that frightens you?"

Nera looked at her as if she were a youngling who hadn't understood what had been said to her. "One moment he was there, and the next he was a charred pile on the floor. Eris barely blinked."

"He frightened you."

"I… I have never seen him like that before."

"And you didn't like being reminded that he is capable of things like that?"

"I…" Nera frowned, twisting her hands together. Elain reached out to lay one of her own hands on the other female's shoulder. "It doesn't seem to match who he is in my mind."

"Who is he in your mind?"

"He's… clever and thoughtful… he's soft-spoken and he likes having freedom to be himself when he doesn't have to be who everyone else expects him to be." Nera spoke slowly, as if trying to put it all together in her mind as she said the words aloud to Elain.

"And that doesn't mix with what you saw him do today?" Elain rubbed Nera's shoulder, "Do you know why he did it?"

"Because of what that male was trying to do…"

"So Eris was protecting you?"

"Yes."

"And doesn't that fit with who you thought he was?"

Nera frowned again then, "I…"

"You didn't see him as someone who would protect those he cares for?" Elain didn't miss Nera's dark eyes flicking directly to her at those words. Evidently Nera hadn't been aware of the fact that others knew that Eris cared for her, or that he did at all.

"Protect… sure…" there was a pause then, "Incinerate someone without warning…? I… don't know."

Elain smiled gently, "You know how territorial males can get." She watched Nera for a moment, "Are you afraid of what Eris can do?" she asked, "Is that what frightens you, or is it that he would do that to protect you."

"Are you asking if he scares me, or the… relationship…?"

"I suppose so."

"Maybe both." Nera breathed her response and Elain rubbed her shoulder again.

"That is understandable." She said, "… you don't think that he would hurt you, do you?"

"I… I don't know." Translucent wings shuddered, and Elain watched them with fascination. "To have that kind of reaction without warning… what if I were to make him angry?"

Lucien stood against the wall, silent. He watched Eris pace back and forth, muttering to himself and raking his fingers through his red hair and down over his face. Back and forth and back and forth. Eventually, Eris turned to face him and Lucien could read the frustration all over his brother's face. There was something beyond that, too. Mixed in with the frustration, he could see regret and fear. "What have I done?" Eris asked, and Lucien was surprised at the softness of the words.

"What do you mean?"

"She's afraid of me."

"Nera?"

"Yes."

Lucien just nodded his understanding, thinking of the way the female faerie had been crouched against the wall, unmoving with her face hidden in her hands. "She saw you do that to… whoever that had been?"

"Some bastard." Eris muttered, "He deserved it."

"But she saw it…?"

"Yes…" Eris turned away, his hands moving through his hair again as he tugged on it. "Fuck."

"What happened?" Lucien asked, wondering what exactly had gone on in that hallway.

"That bastard had her cornered…" Eris snarled, "He thought that because she's a house servant that she had to do whatever he told her to do."

"I see…"

"I… I haven't completely … eradicated that kind of thought and behaviour from the Court…" Eris turned back to face him, "It will take a while."

"I imagine it would." Lucien nodded, "That kind of thing is cultural. It could take decades."

"That's too long." Eris said, his teeth bared in a snarl, "I will be making everyone aware of what happened to that prick, and why."

"That you killed him for touching your…" Lucien hesitated, "… lover?"

Eris paled as he looked at him, "For abusing a member of my household."

"I see."

Eris turned around again, pacing back and forth once more. "I need to speak with her."

"Do you think that's wise?" Lucien asked, trying to keep his voice gentle. Eris looked at him over his shoulder. "Maybe she needs some time to process that…?"

"I need her to know that I was just protecting her."

"You don't think she knows that already?"

Eris looked worried, and Lucien was actually surprised to see that expression on his brother's face. This entire conversation seemed like a collection of firsts. He didn't think he had ever seen Eris this way before. Usually, his brother was as stoic and put together as one could be. Here he was, just about unravelled.

"I don't want her to think that I would ever hurt her."

"Alright…" Lucien nodded. "Do you want me to organise the clean-up in the hallway?"

"Yes." Eris waved a hand, "I'm sure we will come across someone."

"Okay… Elain would have taken her to one of the nearby courtyards." Lucien moved for the door and opened it. He turned to watch his brother as Eris just looked at him, and the fear was clear on his face again. "Come on…" Lucien tried to keep his voice encouraging and gentle. After a moment, Eris moved forward and followed him out the door.

The entire walk to the closest courtyard was silent. Eris was walking beside him, spine straight and face set in a familiar courtly mask. "Do you think she will listen to me?"

"If she cares about you." Lucien said, "But you have to show her that you're being genuine. You have to show her how you feel and that you're afraid she might pull away from you. You have to let her see who you are…"

The look Eris gave Lucien then made Lucien smile to himself, and he tried to keep his face turned away. Eris looked utterly terrified, and Lucien was certain that this would actually be good for his brother.

They passed one of the kitchen servants not long later and Lucien told her that there was something that needed cleaning where they had just come from. Eris remained quiet while Lucien explained what needed to be done, and then they were walking again. As they came to the courtyard, Eris was running his hands through his hair again, and Lucien was actually kind of impressed that his brother hadn't turned and run away. "Just be honest."