Chapter 534

Elain had been more than ready to accompany Lucien back to their room when he had approached her later in the evening. He had spent quite some time socialising with the other High Lords, and Elain had spared a minute or two to watch him from across the courtyard. She had seen the easy way with which he got on with the others, and it had seemed like he had actually been welcomed into their circle. She knew that he had been nervous about that, concerned that they would continue to see him as another son of Autumn, not truly Beron's heir, and always just a hanger-on Emissary and somewhat lesser than they were. He'd been confident enough that they liked him, but he had worried that he would not be seen as one of them. From the looks of it, Elain was sure that that worry could be put to bed.

"You seemed eager to leave…" Lucien slipped a hand into Elain's as they walked leisurely up the hallways toward their room.

"Not so much eager to leave," She replied, smiling at him, "As lacking a reason to stay."

"Were you not enjoying yourself?"

"It was pleasant enough." She replied, and she saw the way Lucien glanced at her, that metallic eye glinting in the faelight they passed. "I found it hard to stop watching Vassa."

"Are you under the impression that she requires watching?"

"Not necessarily." Elain sighed, "But I couldn't help myself. And then Kera went to go to talk to her, and find out why she's here…"

"Because we invited her…"

"Yes," Elain muttered, "But she accepted for a reason, and if it is not the reason she claimed, then Kera offered to find out…"

"Creating spies of your own, Petal?"

"I…" Elain swallowed a little, "I…"

"Don't worry." Lucien squeezed her hand a little as they rounded a corner, "It will be good for Kera to be with Vassa. Maybe she does need eyes on her, and I can only assume that Kera is more than equipped to deal with Vassa and her whims."

Eager to change the subject, Elain smiled brightly at her mate as they came to the door to their room. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself."

"I was." Lucien replied, "The other High Lords all find Eris' relationship with Nera utterly fascinating and Eris doesn't know what to do about it. It's hilarious."

"I don't suppose Eris finds it hilarious." Elain couldn't help but grin. "I do hope they keep their teasing to Eris, though, and not try it with Nera."

"Agree." Lucien closed the door behind them after they'd entered the room. "No doubt this is all anxiety producing enough for her."

"I would think so." Elain set about loosening her dress and tugging it off, before tossing it over a couch. She slid her fingers up into her hair, pulling it free of her braid as she turned to look at her mate again. "It's nice that they all seem so accepting of the fact that his lover is Lesser Fae."

"Yes." Lucien gave her a tight-lipped smile. "Beron always was the least progressive of the High Lords, and the Autumn Court was rather slower to accept change of ideas and traditions than the others."

"Eris seems to have changed a lot already."

"And most of the Court seems receptive, which I actually find surprising." Lucien moved toward the bed and turned the covers back. "I had thought there would be more resistance, but I suppose nobody wants to disagree with Eris…"

"That's positive."

"It is."

Elain watched her mate crawl into the bed, before she moved quickly across the room to join him. "Are we done talking about Eris now?" he asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and Elain nodded quickly.

"Won't mention him again." She agreed.