Chapter 476
Inviting Vassa to the Day Court wasn't something Lucien had ever expected Elain to tell him she was considering. He had known that the redheaded mortal queen hadn't made the best impression on his mate, and Lucien hadn't blamed Elain for her impressions of Vassa. The last time they had been there, Vassa hadn't exactly displayed her better qualities to any of them. He knew that she could be impulsive and passionate, and that she had an impressive mental strength which he had found admirable during the war considering everything that she had been put though. Vassa had been his friend, and he had thought highly of her. He had been disappointed in her behaviour on that last visit, and he certainly hadn't ever expected Elain to suggest bringing Vassa into their lives here.
The idea of testing her control over her jealousy was also not something Lucien had expected to come from his mate. Not with everything going on in the Day Court, but he understood where the thought had come from after seeing his mother just about ready to rip into Mor over her jealousy of the blonde's past intimacy with Helion. Ashk had likely assumed that Mor had come to the Day Court with ideas of continuing that relationship, and she had been prepared to defend what she perceived as hers. They weren't even mates, like Elain had pointed out. Yet that jealousy and possessiveness had been fierce. It made sense that Elain would like to test her own limits, and Vassa would certainly provoke those instincts of everyone they knew.
As the group walked back inside, Lucien slipped his hand into his mate's hand. She fell into step beside him, an easy walk, and her gorgeous brown eyes looked up at him through her lashes as she smiled. There was absolutely no hesitation in her affection now, even in front of her family and the others, and that caused pride to flow though him like a hot wave. The fact that this perfect creature was is mate was wonderful as it was, but that she was more than happy to freely be affectionate with him without care for others around seeing that affection filled him with happiness. Especially considering how shy she had been about it in the past.
"Do you intend to host this celebration you want to have?" Helion asked from Lucien's other side, and Lucien turned his head to listen. "Your first hosting event as Heir?" Elain let him go, moving ahead to fall into step beside Nesta and Lucien knew that she was giving him space with his father, also, he figured, she wanted to make the most of the time she had with her sisters while they were here in the Day Court.
"Oh…" Lucien hadn't considered what Helion had asked before that moment. "That honestly hadn't crossed my mind." He shook his head, "I don't need to do that… You are the High Lord."
"Yes," Helion agreed, "But this came from you and Elain."
"I'm sure neither of us intended…" Lucien stopped when he saw the way his father was still smiling at him. "… You're going to make us do it, aren't you?"
"Now you're getting it." Helion smiled. "With you and Elain in the light, it will free my time up for… other things…" Those intense amber eyes shifted to Lucien's mother, and Lucien held no illusions as to what Helion hoped to be doing with all of that free time.
"What make you think Elain and I don't want to be doing other things?" he muttered, and Helion chuckled. From the corner of his periphery, Lucien noticed Elain look his way. She smiled, having heard part of what they were discussing, but she stepped quickly to remain by Nesta's side, and Lucien was happy to have a moment or two alone with Helion.
"I'm certain that you do, but that's what it means to have responsibility." Helion's smile was wide and white, and Lucien knew that his father was enjoying this every bit as much as he appeared to be.
"Was this why you named me Heir?" he asked, "So that you would have the chance to slip off into the shadows with my mother?" He had meant the words as a joke, but that old sliver of doubt wormed its way to the front of his brain and heart, and Lucien wondered if that had really played a part in Helion's choice to acknowledge him. When he glanced his father's way, he saw Helion watching him and the look on the older male's face told Lucien that the High Lord had guessed exactly what he had been thinking.
"Lucien…" Helion slung a heavy, powerful arm around Lucien's shoulders, pulling him to his side as they walked. "We're family."