Chapter 353
Elain licked her fingers, having just finished the last of the honeyed pears. Her mate had graciously allowed her to consume the last two in the dish while he had finished the small bowl of multicoloured berries. She had very much enjoyed their little snack, but she was craving pastry more than she had craved anything in a while. It had been a long day, after all, and she didn't' think that a tray of fruit was going to cut it, especially after what she and Lucien had done before their bath. They had used more than a little energy, and she needed something more solid than honeyed pears to make up for it.
"Do you think," She began, "that if we sent a request to the kitchens that they would make what we wanted…?"
"Without a doubt." Lucien replied, popping the last of the berries into his mouth. Elain thought he was probably right. He was the Heir after all. "But… I'm not sure that we have the time for that. We still need to speak to the High Lord."
"We could…" Elain said slowly, "Let them know what we want… then speak with Helion, and then come back here in time to eat it…"
Lucien gave a small chuckle and Elain wondered if he had assumed she was joking. She wasn't. He blinked then as she stared at him and then he smiled, "Ohh…" he said, "What is it that you're wanting, Petal?"
"Pastry." She replied. "Like you would bring me from that bakery in Velaris…"
"Oh." He smiled brightly at her, leaning forward and reaching out to tuck a loose strand of her drying hair behind her ear. "Shall I promise that you shall have pastry before too long?"
"Would you?" she smiled back at him. She knew that the pastry from the Day Court palace kitchens was nearly as satisfying as those from that bakery in Velaris.
"As long as you promise to eat a more substantial meal with me also…"
Elain caught a flash of worry down the bond from Lucien and she understood it. She really hadn't eaten properly since the breakfast before she had gone on that walk with the Courtiers, before everything had happened. "Of course." She told him. "I am quite hungry…" His fingers brushed her cheek then, and Elain felt shivers slide down her spine. "When do we have to see Helion?" She asked, knowing that if he kept touching her like that she would find herself in his lap before long, and then there would be a further delay in what they needed to do. She was, more and more, liking the idea of going and speaking with the High Lord so that they could return here to eat what they liked and spend time in any way that they wished.
"You… could stay here…" Lucien frowned, "If you are that hungry… I could send for food and you could stay here while I speak with him…"
"No." Elain said, shaking her head, "He will need to know my story…" She knew that Helion would probably have heard anything she could have told him from Ashk and the others, but she wanted to make sure. She wanted to do her part, as the Heir's mate. She didn't want to be weak and avoid what she should have done. She needed to finish it. "I'm still not entirely sure what happened…" She told Lucien, "And I would like to know."
"It was Amala." He said, and Elain blinked, not sure that she had heard him correctly.
"Sorry?" She asked, "What was Amala?"
"The one who organised what happened to you and the others." Lucien looked regretful, "I went through her rooms… she is obsessed with the Day Court and she clearly thought that were a threat to it."
"But… you're Helion's son…"
"Yes…" he agreed, "But… I'm not from here…" he gave a shrug, and Elain wanted to reach out and hug him. She shifted closer to him on the bed. "I think she thought that she could get us to leave…"
"She tried to kill us." Elain replied, "Me and your mother and Tisia… I… don't understand…"
"Neither do I." Lucien replied. "I suppose we will have to ask her…"
"Where is she?" Elain asked, "We lost her… did you find her? Do you think she was brought here?"
"I have no idea." Lucien said, "I suppose we will find out."