Chapter 471

She could feel her sisters watching her. As they walked slowly up the hallway together, Elain knew that their eyes were upon her. They had been watching her since they had been in that sitting room with the others, and she had never known them to be so quiet. They were in shock, and Elain understood that. She had not intended to say such things to her sisters, or the rest of them, but seeing the way that they treated Lucien, even now, after everything, she had had more than enough. Nobody would speak to her mate like that and escape repercussions again, especially not in front of her, and in their own home. She had not intended to say anything like that, and she just bet that her sisters had not been prepared to hear it, let alone from her.

The way they watched her now only highlighted the fact that they were reassessing. Elain resisted a sigh and directed them up the next corridor. She had asked them if they would like to see her personal garden, and they had agree that they would. It would be the only time the three of them had alone with one another, Elain was sure. There was far too much going on around the palace for any of them to get much peace. She had taken the opportunity while she had it and, by the time they had reached the room she shared with Lucien, they were still more silent than usual.

"Here it is…" She opened the door and let them in.

"Fancy." Nesta remarked, making her way already across the room and toward the garden. Elain closed the door and followed them out into her garden.

Pride moved through Elain when she came to stand beside her sisters. Both of them had stopped walking and stood looking around the lush green space they had entered. She could see that they were impressed, and she felt the flush of a job well done. "Do you like it?" She asked, and they both nodded.

"You have done this since being here?" Feyre asked, taking a few more steps into the garden.

"I have." Elain followed her to the small garden of dahlias. "It's nice to have a place to retreat to, away from the gaze of others."

"Yeah, I'll bet." Nesta murmured, sinking down onto one of the benches.

"And this is what you wanted the tree from our garden for…" Feyre's pale eyes were sweeping the garden, and Elain nodded, pointing to the place she had left bare for some of the pink flowered tree she loved.

"It will make some nice shade over there."

"You have made this your home." Feyre remarked, turning again to look at Elain. "And it looks like what I always pictured you would surround yourself with."

"This is my home." Elain said, "Lucien and I belong here." She watched her sisters look around again. The thoughts were clear on their faces, even Nesta who rarely allowed others to read her so easily. They were impressed with what she had done, but there was uneasiness, and perhaps a little sadness. "… you thought I would come back to the Night Court." She said, trying to put her finger on what was bothering them. "You both thought so. You thought that after Lucien and I had visited all of the Courts, that I would come back."

"Yes…" Feyre murmured, "Even after you previously told us you were staying here, I suppose part of me thought you would still return."

"But I did tell you." Elain said, her gaze shifting to Nesta who was silent. "Many times. Lucien was named Heir… our future is here. Why would you think I would leave that to go back and live in Feyre's guest room?"

"Because we were there…" Feyre put in.

Elain looked from one of them to the other. "You are. Because that is your home, Feyre. You are the High Lady of the Night Court, and so that is where you belong. That is your life, your future. I will have my own."

"You will." Feyre said, nodding. "And that is becoming more and more clear. You've grown here… and you have literally planted roots…" She gestured around the garden. "You are planning here… and this is where you are building your home."

"Yes…" Elain looked again at Nesta, "I have seen my future here, and I would not trade it for anything."

Nesta looked back at her, still and silent. Then, her sister gave her a gentle smile. "I hope I find that, too."