Chapter 369

Tucking her feet under herself, Elain surveyed the library again. Helion's guards were arranged all around the furniture. Several were standing by the makeshift wall, eyes on the door, while a few others were draped on couches and looked far more relaxed than she would have expected. Lucien had been right in his assumption of where his father would have gone to hide. Helion had stayed within the palace, unwilling to abandon his Court and responsibilities, and nobody knew where this library was or that he used it. When Elain had come through the door with Lucien and Sheera, they had been the first that Helion had seen since locking himself in here with Ashk and his guard. Elain supposed that they all must be fairly relaxed while they remained safely tucked away up in here.

Lucien was sitting by a window, his eyes on what lay beyond the glass. Ashk sat beside him, one of her graceful hands on her son's arm, and Elain itched to get up and move to sit with her mate, but forced herself to stay on the couch. No doubt Ashk had been worried for her son, and must have fought urges of her own when he walked through that door in need of healing. Ashk had allowed Elain to be the one to sit with him and hold his hand while he had healed himself, and Elain would allow the older female time with him now. Sharing Lucien was not something that Elain had found came naturally to her, but she would make an effort to allow his mother access to him. Lucien and Ashk had missed out on so many years together thanks to Beron, Elain would not be the one to stand between them now. The scars of being kept apart for so long were evident in both of them, and those scars needed time to heal. Being together here in the Day Court would heal them, but Elain would need to give them time and space with one another for that to happen. So, she stayed on the couch, with her feet tucked beneath her, and she just watched them.

"Elain…" Sheera's soft voice surprised Elain and she blinked at her friend who was sitting up in her chair. "Are… are we in a library?"

"We are," Elain replied, thinking that her friend looked well enough.

"How did we get here?" Sheera ran a hand through her long black hair, smoothing it down. "The last thing I remember is walking through hallways…"

"We ran across some horrible males." Elain told her softly, "Courtiers… part of what is happening. You got knocked on the head." She watched Sheera rub at her head a little, frowning. "Lucien healed you." She told her friend, "You're alright. He carried you here…"

"Remind me to thank him." Sheera pulled her long hair around over one shoulder and then began to braid it. Elain watched her friend's skilful fingers as the braid grew swiftly, and she nodded. "So what's the plan?"

"Not sure." Elain glanced quickly across the room at Lucien and then looked to Sheera once more. "I think they are mulling over their options…"

"Why are you not speaking with them?"

Elain made a face. "I was giving him time with Ashk…"

"I see."

"He'll tell me what he's thinking of doing…"

"You should be a part of the decision."

"I'm no warrior or strategist."

"You are his mate."

"Yes." Elain agreed, feeling just a little judged. "And he will speak with me before doing anything." Sheera's peridot eyes widened just a little before her friend nodded.

"Alright…"

Blinking, Elain looked back to where Lucien was leaning toward Helion as the two of them discussed something in depth. She could see the seriousness on her mate's face, and Sheera's words chafed at her. This was an important issue that was being discussed. The future of the whole Court depended on it. Her future depended on it. Her mate's life, and their life together. Perhaps she should get up and go over there. It was not the type of conversation that Elain was used to being a part of and she didn't know how her arrival would be received. Would she be welcomed into the conversation, or would they continue on with their discussion as if she had not sat down. Would they change the conversation altogether? Elain didn't know.