Chapter 530

Elain couldn't take her eyes off of Vassa. She had thought that she would immediately feel one way or the other; she had expected to either feel sudden and intense jealousy, or noticeable peace within herself. She had been prepared for her heart to start thundering in her chest, but Elain wasn't sure that her heart had even beat since the mortal woman had walked into the throne room. Vassa had not yet even looked at Elain, not even for a second, and Elain didn't know how she felt about that.

Cerulean eyes stared up at Helion, focused and unblinking, and Elain just watched. "We thank you for the welcome." Vassa said, "As you can imagine, all of us have been quite nervous about how we would be received."

"Of course." Helion replied, "But you may rest assured, Queen Vassa, you have been invited here as a guest of the Day Court and, as such, you have nothing to fear while you are here."

Was that for Elain's benefit? Had Helion said that as a warning to Elain to control herself? Elain didn't know. Was the High Lord even aware of the fact that she would be possibly on edge by Vassa's presence? Had Lucien told his father that? Elain didn't know, but she could feel several pairs of eyes on her, and she knew that Feyre was staring at her now. Returning her sister's look, Elain willed Feyre to hold her tongue. She knew that her sister likely wasn't currently listening to her thoughts, but Elain sent the message just in case.

"That is nice to know." Vassa was saying, and Elain returned her attention to the redheaded queen. Vassa was still looking up at Helion, but those blue eyes flicked then to the left, moving over Lucien slowly. "We were most surprised to receive the invitation. It was unexpected."

"We are all looking to move forward after the war." Helion answered. "Lots of things are changing and we will all need one another."

"Absolutely true." Vassa replied, her eyes eventually leaving Lucien and returning to the High Lord. "That is why I accepted the invitation and why I am here."

"That's why everyone is here." Helion was smiling now, and Elain glanced from him to her mate. Lucien hadn't spoken since Vassa had entered the room and, reaching for the bond, Elain wanted to know what was going on within him. Several emotions met her down the bond, and Elain had trouble sorting through them. Lucien turned his head a moment later and took her hand. She wondered if he was looking for some kind of reassurance or he was seeking to comfort her. When she looked back to the rest of the room, Elain found Vassa's eyes on them then. The first time the queen had deigned to so much as look at Elain, and Elain could not help the smile that formed on her lips then. The message here was clear, holding her mate's hand atop the dais and in front of the entire Court.

The smile that Vassa gave them in return was so pretty and sweet that Elain was certain that the other woman had practiced that smile in front of the mirror her entire life and that it almost certainly resulted in the queen getting what she wanted every time she turned it on someone. That smile made the hairs on the back of Elain's neck stand up, but she kept her own smile in place nonetheless.

"Now that everybody is here," Helion said, gathering the attention of everyone in the room. "We shall have some light refreshments, and you are all welcome to join us all in the Courtyard for the evening."