Chapter 532

Elain knew that she should stop, but she just couldn't. Even from across the garden, her eyes followed Vassa, tracing every movement, noting each person that the queen spoke to. So far, Vassa had not gone anywhere near Lucien, and Elain was thankful for that. Her mate had headed off to speak to some of the High Lords with his father, and Elain had stationed herself next to one of the tables in the garden with some of the snacks which had been provided. From here, she had a good view of what everybody else was up to, although her eyes had only followed Vassa.

"You look like you need some chocolate."

"Do I?" Pulling her gaze from the redheaded queen, Elain turned her eyes on Kera. The blonde Courtier stood beside her, a small plate in her hand which was piled high with pieces of chocolate.

"Yes. I can feel the stress coming off of you."

Rolling her shoulders, Elain tried to loosen up. She had been holding herself rightly, and she tried to let go. "I suppose a little chocolate won't hurt."

"Here." Kera held the plate out and Elain took a piece from the top of the pile. "You don't like that mortal woman."

"We're not the best of friends."

"It's strange." Kera replied, "I've not seen you look at anyone that way. I mean, you were not a fan of that Priestess… Sorcha."

"Sorcha tried to kill us."

"Even before that." Kera replied, "I thought it was because she was drooling all over Lucien."

"Mm." Elain chewed the piece of chocolate, her eyes shifting back to Vassa.

"This one, too?"

"I don't know." Elain sighed, "I don't know why she is here." She watched Vassa collect a glass of wine from a table nearby. "I don't know if she has come because she has the same interest in my mate as she did the last time we saw her, or if she has moved on from that and truly wants us all to be united."

"Do you want me to find out?"

"What?" Elain looked at Kera again.

"I'm used to dealing with females like her." Kera replied, and Elain recalled the first few times she had met Kera. She had thought the blonde faerie was spoilt and arrogant, and she supposed that Kera had spent a lot of time in Courts and was well accustomed to dealing with all kinds of personalities while playing games and keeping true intentions a secret. "I can find out why she's here."

"You'd do that?"

Kera smiled a courtly smile. "If she's here to cause trouble, it's better that we find out now. Before she has a chance to do anything which would impact the Court."

"Yes…" Elain agreed. The sooner they found out what game Vassa had come to play, the better everyone would be. "You're right."

"Done." Kera straightened her shoulders, flicking her hair back behind her. "I'll let you know what I learn." With that, the blonde strode away, and Elain tried not to look like she was watching. It occurred to her then, that she had just utilised a spy of her own. It was different, she thought, to Feyre sending Azriel to spy on the Day Court. Kera was a part of this Court, her Court, and they were only acting within the Court itself. It was a far different thing to detect threats within ones own Court, weeding out anyone who had come to do harm, than it was to send a spy into another Court to gain information for yourself. She did not feel guilty about what she was doing now, although it struck her as odd that she would find herself in this position, with Kera of all people spying for her.