Chapter 527

As Helion had predicted, the Night Court arrived just as dinner was finishing. Lucien had no idea how Rhys had done it, but somehow the other male had known. The way Helion had suggested they would arrive then earlier had hinted at that fact, but now Lucien knew it to be true. Perhaps Azriel had been asked to spy again. Either way, it was dramatic enough. The Day Court had only just had time to make it back to the Throne Room when the doors had been flung wide and Rhys and Feyre had swept in, their Court following them.

Lucien glanced at Helion as the High Lord sank onto his throne, crossing one leg over the other and looking as regal as ever. Rhys and Feyre came through the crowds of people to stop before the stairs. "I hope we are not too late." Rhys said, and Helion smiled widely down at them. Lucien could just about feel the back and forth between the two and he wondered if they had always done this. He knew that the two of them had gotten along well, and perhaps this play was a part of that.

"Not at all. We just finished dinner."

"Shame to have missed it." Rhys replied, and Helion smiled again.

"I could arrange to have something brought to you if you and your court are hungry."

"We ate before we came."

"I suspected you might have."

"Are we the last to arrive?"

"You are not, actually." Helion replied, "The mortal Queen Vassa will likely be here before very long."

"You invited Vassa?" This was Feyre and she was looking at Lucien as she asked the question.

"Yes." He said, meeting her surprised gaze. He could understand the confusion. He wasn't completely sold on the idea himself, but it was too late to rescind the invitation now. "It might be good." He added, thinking of his conversation with Helion earlier, "There might be something here with knowledge to break her curse." Feyre's attention shifted to Rhys and Lucien knew the two of them were silently communicating with one another. Rhys nodded then, clearly in response to something Feyre had said and then Feyre puffed out her cheeks and released a deep sigh of a breath.

"Well, that'll be interesting." Rhys smiled a courtly smile that Lucien knew well, and he bit his lip to keep from saying anything.

"The Night Court is welcome to the Day Court." Helion began, and Lucien just about tuned out as his father went through the same routine he had given the other Courts. He glanced across the room to where Elain stood next to Nesta and gave her a reassuring smile. He could feel her nervousness even across the room and he knew that she was questioning herself and her reasoning. Her nervousness had been growing all day and he wanted to put it at ease. When Helion was done welcoming everyone, Lucien wasted no time in walking down the steps and across the hall to his mate.

"Did you mean what you said?" She asked, "About Vassa's curse?"

"Yes." He replied, "Helion mentioned earlier that he would have to spend some time with her to get a feel for the magic of it, but where else is there so much knowledge? We were able to learn about your abilities as a Seer here, perhaps there is something to break Vassa's curse?"

"I do hope so." Elain murmured, and Lucien could feel the truth of those words. He knew that his made didn't entirely like the Mortal Queen and that she was nervous about Vassa's intentions and interest in him, but he also knew that Elain truly wished that they would be able to find something to help her. He smiled at his mate and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Everything is going to go according to plan." He said. He didn't yet know what that plan was, exactly, but he would figure it out.