Chapter 289

Walking into Helion's throne room was much the same as it had been when they had first come to the Day Court. Elain couldn't help but look at all the finery and breezy clothing that the High Lord of the Day Court and his courtiers were wearing. She rather liked all the Lapis Lazuli and Turquoise. She thought that the blues of those stones, and the reds of the Carnelian and Jasper were perfect accents for all of the gold that Helion seemed to favour in the decoration of his palace.

Dozens of pairs of eyes followed Elain and Lucien when they came in the doors and made their way toward the Dais upon which sat the High Lord of the Day Court. Elain spotted Ashk standing nearby, and the warmth in the older faerie's face when a smile spread across it made Elain take another look. She had once thought that Ashk would have been even more beautiful than she was before whatever had happened to her to make her sad had occurred. Now, it looked as if whatever that had been had never taken place. Ashk looked beyond radiant, and devastatingly beautiful. It was clear that being free of Beron, and being able to openly and happily be with Helion, was the cause for this drastic change. Down the bond, Elain felt Lucien's reaction to his mother, and she knew that her mate had noticed this difference himself.

"Son and heir." Helion said, leaning forward on his throne with a smile when they came to the bottom of the Dais. Those amber eyes shifted then, "Elain…" he said when he looked at her for a moment before his gaze returned to Lucien. "You have returned."

"Indeed…" Elain felt Lucien glancing around, and she could feel him wondering if Helion was going to want to be informed of what had occurred while they stood here with everyone listening in on them. "We did achieve all we had set out to do, and now have come…" Lucien paused then, drawing a quick breath before the release of the next word, "… home."

Helion's smile was as bright as the sun, and Elain felt warmth surround them. "Home." The High Lord replied, nodding his head. "And we are glad to have you return." Golden eyes swept the hall, taking in all who were present. "We shall celebrate." He announced, "This evening we shall have a fine feast to celebrate how thankful and pleased we are that my son and heir has returned home with his mate."

Elain cast a sidelong look at Lucien, wanting to see his reaction to Helion's dramatics. They had chosen to come back here, to live here and begin their lives together here, but she knew that it would take them both some time to get used to the High Lord's flair for the dramatic. Elain wondered just how real this behaviour was. Was it truly Helion's nature, or was it some kind of mask he wore as the High Lord for whatever reason? She supposed that she would find out in time.

"You do honour us." Lucien was saying once Helion had finished declaring how wonderful the feast would be.

"You and I will spend some time catching up on what is happening in the other Courts that you visited, and then you may retire to your rooms to rest and prepare for the evening feast."

"Thank you." Lucien said, giving a slight bow. Elain did the same, waiting for them to be dismissed.

He had noticed the way that the faeries of the Day Court watched himself and Elain, and he was trying his best to ignore it. It wasn't as if those around them didn't always look at Elain, it had been something that Lucien had tried to get used to. Since he had returned to spend more time with her and get to know her better, he had noticed that males tended to watch her as she passed. It wasn't even out of some awful desire that would cause Lucien's blood to boil, sometimes they just liked her. He'd had to grow accustomed to that in the Night Court when just about everybody he passed had smiled or waved at Elain, and it hadn't stopped since then.

Lucien knew that Elain was well liked. She had been everywhere they had gone. It seemed as if she drew those around her toward her, and he knew that it was something he was going to have to deal with. Still, he couldn't help noticing the eyes that followed her, and he couldn't help the irritation that grew within him. This was his father's Court, and it was to be his one day. Either he would have to get used to eyes following his mate everywhere she went, or he would have to put a stop to it. Lucien wondered if he said anything to Helion, whether his father would do something about it, say something to his Court, or if he would tell Lucien to get a grip of himself. Lucien didn't know, but he resolved himself to ask when he met with Helion within the hour. They had been dismissed to go and change and prepare themselves for the afternoon. Lucien was to meet Helion and fill him in on all that had occurred since they had left, and Elain was to have time to herself, no doubt she would be in the gardens.

The moment they walked into their suite, Elain crossed the room and threw the doors to their gardens open. He watched his mate smile, taking in the afternoon sun and the light breeze that now entered the room.

"So, you've already found something to do for the afternoon…?" he teased, and Elain looked at him over her shoulder.

"Indeed…" She gestured toward the wardrobe, "Will you be donning Day Court attire for your meeting with Helion?"

Lucien figured that was a good idea. "Seems the respectable thing to do…"

"Good." Elain gave him a wide smile, and he knew then that she just wanted to be able to look at him in the short tunic. He winked at her and moved to change.