Chapter 464

The Night Court were the only ones in the sitting room Helion led Lucien and Elain to, and Lucien could see immediately that they knew something was wrong. Perhaps they were not entirely sure, but they suspected. He could see it in the way Rhysand seated himself on the arm of the chair upon which Feyre sat, his back just a little more straight than usual. Nesta sat perfectly in her own seat, eyes following them all closely as they walked in. The smile that appeared on her face at the sight of Elain was the same as always, and Lucien knew immediately that the eldest Archeron sister had had no hand in whatever spying business had taken place.

He didn't want to let Elain's hand go, but he did. As Nesta rose to her feet and swept almost imperially across the room, he released his mate's hand and stepped aside to allow them the space to greet one another. The joy he felt down the bond from Elain made him smile a little, and he was glad for her, at least, that Nesta and the others had come. He knew that she missed her sisters, and he had often wondered how that would go while she lived in a different Court. He had hoped that being with him would be enough for her enough to ease that pain and allow her to be happy. She was, he thought. He could feel that from her daily, and he knew that she had been happy in the visions she had seen of their future. She had shown him those visions and he had been able to see that for himself. Still, he knew that Elain missed her sisters.

When Nesta took Elain's hand and drew her across the room to join her on the couch upon which she had been sitting, Lucien resisted the urge to step forward and take Elain back. He would need to learn to share better. He got to have her with him all the time, he could step back now and allow Nesta a few minutes. Instead, he sat in a chair beside the one Helion had sank down into. The two of them then looked at the members of the Night Court who were now also all watching them in turn.

"So, this feels awkward." Cassian said, smiling widely in a way that suggested to Lucien that the big Illyrian was itching to get up and move around instead of sitting politely on the couch.

"How could it be?" Mor asked him drily, "When you break any awkward silence or tension by opening your mouth?"

The sigh that escaped Helion told Lucien that the High Lord of the Day Court did not find these kinds of childish antics as entertaining as the High Lord of the Night Court did. Rhysand was smiling at his companions, one of his hands resting on Feyre's shoulder easily. Azriel, Lucien also noticed, was distinctly absent. Turning his eyes on the rest of the room, Lucien tried to focus on the shows in the corners, wondering if his metallic eye would allow him a better chance at spotting the Shadowsinger than others might have. He found nothing, however, and returned his attention to the others.

"You have come to offer your assistance?" Helion asked, one of his legs coming to rest over the other. He looked casual and relaxed, but Lucien had gotten to know him well enough by now to see that the High Lord was tightly coiled and could spring without a moment's notice.

"Yes," Rhysand replied, violet eyes moving around the room. "I cannot help but feel as if this is not being willingly received…"

Feyre was looking at Elain, and Lucien watched as those pale eyes shifted to Helion. "We heard of some trouble in the court." His friend said, "But we had not heard from Elain."

Helion visibly stiffened, and Lucien wished that he could somehow tell his father to calm down. If he exploded, Lucien wasn't sure what the repercussions would be for relations between the Day and Night Courts. It was not a relationship he wanted to be frivolous with. Alongside the obvious benefits of being on good terms with a neighbour with whom they literally shared a border, Lucien hated to think of the effect it would have on Elain if she could not see her sisters. "Oh?' Helion asked, and his voice was lighter and more calm than Lucien had expected. "And where did you hear this?" Feyre tilted her head, and Lucien saw the moment she realised she had said the wrong thing.

"I…" She blinked and clearly did not know what to say.

"It was not common information, you see…" Helion went on. "We had intended to let all of the Courts know what happened here, but first we wished to get our house in order."

"Tamlin is here." Rhysand just about scoffed, and Lucien bit his tongue to keep from interjecting a reply of his own. How many times had he forced himself to stand by while Rhys had thrown barbs at Tamlin in the past? Lucien had forgotten. It was familiar ground nonetheless. "I saw him as we entered the gates…"

"It is my business who I invite as a guest to my Court." Helion replied simply. "Everything," he went on a moment later, words deliberate and soft, "that happens in the Day Court is my business…"

"Yeah," Cassian chuckled, "But Tamlin?"

"Tamlin has the ability to help us with something and has proven useful." Helion was almost expressionless.

"That's all we're looking do to." Rhysand added, and Lucien saw Feyre look back to Elain.

"The fact remains." Helion was looking directly at Rhysand now. "You somehow gleaned information about my Court directly after we suffered an attack… I would not think it would take an enormous amount of wit or understanding to grasp why this has disturbed me…"

Rhysand's violet eyed held that understanding, and it was clear to Lucien that the High Lord of the Night Court did full understand why Helion was on edge.

"Just admit it." Lucien said, trying to bite the words back even as he said them.

"Admit what?" Those violet eyes held something Lucien couldn't quite name. Lucien wasn't backing down, though. Out of the corner of his own eyes he saw Nesta react to the change of tension in the room, shifting herself a little in front of Elain as if to protect her from anything that may happen.

"Where you got that information."

"Ah…" Rhysand tilted his head, and Lucien mentally braced himself. The other male had forced his way into Lucien's mind a handful of times in the past, nearly tearing him to pieces Under the Mountain, and he wasn't looking forward to that happening again. No sharp claws took hold of his mind though, and he relaxed just a little. "Are we being accused of spying?"

"I notice Azriel isn't with you…" Lucien remarked. "Is he lurking in the shadows and listening?" he turned to look to the corners of the room again. "I can't see him, but then isn't that rather the point…?"

"Lucien…" Helion said his name and Lucien glanced at his father. He could feel unease creeping down the bond to him, and he shifted his gaze then to Elain. She looked visibly uncomfortable, and Lucien forced himself to sit back. "Let Rhysand have a chance to answer your question…" Lucien had thought Helion was about to reprimand him, and he was relieved when he did not. Instead, his father's eyes were still on Rhysand, waiting for his response.