Chapter 458

The news of Ashk's pregnancy had swept through the Day Court faster than Elain had anticipated. By that evening, it seemed as if that were the only thing anyone could talk about. The news had been well and truly out there by dinner and, when Helion had attempted to make the announcement to the Court, it was clear that not a single faerie in the room had been unaware of it. The Day Court, Elain knew, had a penchant for gossip.

Nevertheless, the reception of the news was positive. There was no doubt that there was now a spark of excitement to the air that had not been present since before everything had happened. Faeries were speculating if the youngling would be a male or a female and, although Ashk had previously birthed seven male offspring, most were convinced that this new one would be female.

"Is this new youngling going to be the Heir then?" Sheera asked, from her seat across the dinner table. "What about Lucien?"

"Why would the new babe leapfrog over Lucien for the Throne?" Tisia asked, frowning lightly.

"I don't know?" Sheera replied, "Because the High Lord will get to raise them, whereas he really only just claimed Lucien?"

Elain watched the exchange between her friends silently. She supposed in another Court, those things might have mattered. But here, with Helion, she didn't think that they would. Both his new youngling and Lucien would have the exact same blood. They both belonged to both Helion and Ashk. It wasn't as if some other youngling from some long forgotten lover had stepped into the light and claimed some birthright access to the throne. Elain did not think that Helion would pass Lucien aside for this new youngling. She hoped Lucien hadn't thought that might be the case. No such feeling had reached her down the bond.

Looking to her mate then, she watched him listening to the chat around them. She had felt his shock when Ashk had announced that she was pregnant. He hadn't known what to do, and had seemed to freeze for several moments. Elain supposed that was understandable because, as far as she understood it, faerie pregnancies were not exactly easy and each one was treated as some small miracle. Ashk had given birth seven times in the past, and Elain did not think that was particularly common among the fae. However, quite some time had passed since her last pregnancy, with Lucien, and Elain figured that it was probably something of an unexpected surprise for Lucien to hear that his mother was pregnant again. That was probably not something he had ever expected to hear in his life. The happiness and joy had quickly followed the shock, however, and she knew that he was excited for this to eventuate.

Helion had also informed everyone that the kitchens were now being staffed, and that that issue would now return to normal. There had been some excitement at the new food on offer, with many courtiers exclaiming loudly that they recognised some of the treats and dishes from their favourite cafes in the city. Elain had never really understood how some could care so much about food. Sure, she enjoyed the odd pastry, and honeyed pears were delightful, but the way that food seemed to run the lives of others had always perplexed her.

"What will you do if he is overlooked?" Kera addressed Elain from up the table and Elain tilted her head, trying to put together the conversation she hadn't really been listening to while thinking about other things. They had been continuing the same conversation from before and she shook her head.

"Even if that is to happen," she said softly, "and I highly doubt that it will…" she paused, "We did not come here for that." Elain looked steadily at Kera, "We did not come here seeking for Lucien to be named Heir. He has a family here now." She glanced at her mate again, then back to Kera. "That is not something to be thrown away."

"You intend to stay."

Elain thought that she had made this obvious. "This is our home."

Kera nodded and returned to her plate of food. Around them, Elain noticed that name suggestions seemed to be flying up and down the table. She hoped that Ashk didn't hear more than a few of them, and she wondered if some of these courtiers would ever seriously consider naming their own younglings these names being suggested.