Chapter 234

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Lucien followed Elain and Nesta up the little path towards Rhysand's town house. He hadn't expected to feel this way again when they returned to the Night Court, but that old anxiety was back. He had never belonged here, he'd always felt like an outsider every time he had walked through these doors, and he felt that way again now. Elain didn't, he realised, watching the way that his mate smiled happily when Nesta opened the door and the two of them went inside. He could feel her excitement and her pleasure. She was keen to be here. This was her family. It wasn't his. He felt a momentary pang of hurt, knowing that they would never accept him the way they did her, and then Elain looked over her shoulder at him.

"Love…" she said, reaching a hand out for him, and Lucien took it, allowing her to pull him through the door and into the entryway. Elain smiled at him, holding his hand firmly, and he felt himself relax just a little.

"Sounds like someone is in here…" Nesta murmured, heading toward a nearby door. Lucien and Elain followed her, and they did indeed find several members of the Court draped on couches and sitting around the room.

"You win." Mor said, looking at Rhys as the High Lord got to his feet in greeting. Rhys winked at Mor.

"I do know how these things work."

"You owe me a bottle of wine." The blonde said, leaning back in her chair and raising her very nearly empty glass.

"Ah." Rhys made a vague gesture and a bottle appeared on the table in front of Mor. "I owe you a bottle of wine?" he asked, "Despite the fact that I won the bet?"

Mor just smiled at him, reaching forward and picking up the bottle before refilling her glass.

"What was the bet?" Lucien asked, not entirely sure that he wanted to know the answer.

"They were all placing bets on when you three would get here." Feyre put in as she got to her own feet and moved toward her sisters. Lucien watched her wrap her arms around Elain, holding her close.

"And I won." Rhys put in, taking up his seat on the armrest of Feyre's recently vacated seat. "By rather a lot, I might add."

"It wasn't by that much." Azriel said, "Mine was dinner…"

"Hours away." Rhys waved a hand, "But at least you got the day correct. Cassian said three days from now."

"I stand by it." Cassian said brightly, "I thought they would have loads of things to do in the Winter Court."

"They're efficient." Nesta murmured, and Lucien slanted a glance at the eldest sister, feeling Elain's embarrassment at that comment down the bond. He squeezed his mate's hand, making sure that his courtly mask of indifference was firmly in place. He watched as Elain adopted a similar expression , tilting her head a little as her eyes scanned the room. He did the same thing, almost daring one of them to make a comment about why he and Elain had gone to the Winter Court.

"Well, we could have stayed." He eventually said into the silence, "But we knew that Nesta was keen to get back and see…" his eyes found Cassian and he just stared at the Illyrian for a moment, "… everyone."

Nesta made a high pitched sound like a boiling kettle and the look on her face when she turned her cold eyes on Lucien nearly made him flee the room. She composed herself an instant later, however, folding her arms before moving to take a seat on a long couch by a bookshelf. The fact that she hadn't openly attacked him made Lucien smile slightly and think about how much her attitude toward him had changed since he had first returned to see Elain. He hadn't ever forgotten overhearing her telling his mate that she could do better than him, and now he wondered if Nesta didn't almost consider him family.

"What were the other bets?" Elain asked, moving to side by her sister, and Lucien followed her, sinking down next to her.

"I said tomorrow." Feyre replied, resting against Rhys who slid an arm around her shoulders, and Lucien looked at Amren then.

"I said you would return by tomorrow. Maybe during the night." Amren picked up Mor's bottle of wine and ignored the indignant look from the blonde before filling her glass. "There might have been some dramatic event that would cause you to leave after dark…"

"You thought we'd have to flee the Winter Court in the middle of the night?" Lucien asked, raising an eyebrow. Amren gave him a disturbing grin.

"Nothing so dramatic." Elain interjected, "… did we miss lunch?"

"Not yet." Rhys said, "It should be ready soon… if we want to move to the table?"

"That sounds good…" Elain moved to get up and Lucien followed her. "I didn't have much at breakfast…"

"The food at the Winter Court is good, isn't it?" Mor asked, "I used to love visiting Viviane. They have this stew that is so satisfying…" The blonde sat herself on the other side of Elain, and the two of them began discussing the tastier aspects of the Winter Court while several platters of sandwiches and cold meats were placed up and down the table before them.

Lucien spent most of lunch just listening to conversations around him. It was much the same as the last time he had been here with Elain. She fit in with them all so easily, and they were easy with her. He watched how happy she was speaking with her sisters, as well as the Illyrians, Mor, and Amren. She could have lived here happily, he knew. He was taking her away from this, he realised. If he hadn't come back then she would be living here with her family, happily tending her garden.

As if sensing his thoughts, Elain turned toward him then and he smiled gently at her when he felt her hand slide into his lap. She rubbed at his leg for a moment, her eyes on his. "Love you." She murmured, and he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Love you, too." He replied.