Chapter 542

He was pleased with himself. Lucien wished that Helion had come with them so that his father could see the looks of awe and appreciation on the faces of the other High Lords, but Helion had opted to let Lucien run the tour as the host of the event. He was sure that, upon return to the Palace, the High Lords would let Helion know how impressed they were with the city. This view was one of the most spectacular Lucien had seen. It was nice during the day, but even better after the sun had gone down and the faelights were able to shine with a brilliant golden glow. The city here was never dark, always illuminated, and Lucien loved that. There was always life, and those going about their business, and it felt so alive here. The city held so much potential, and Lucien found that he was already proud of it.

He liked that he was excited to show this place off to the other High Lords. He had recently been through all of their territories, seen their courts, and they had allowed him to wander with Elain, exploring at their leisure and taking in as much of the Courts as they could. He was pleased now to be able to show them this place, his new home, the place he could belong to and the place in which he would raise his family. This place was beautiful, and it a gave him pleasure to be able to show it off like this.

A soft hand on his arm alerted Lucien to Elain's presence and he shifted to wrap that arm around her waist. She leaned into him as they both watched the city beneath them and the High Lords enjoying the view.

"It would appear they like it." Elain's voice was barely a whisper and Lucien squeezed her by way of agreement. "It is beautiful."

"It is." He replied, "A good start the visit."

"I'm sure they would have a nice visit regardless of how pretty the city is."

"Still," Lucien tilted his head, "It is good to be impressive…" he grinned when he felt Elain look up at him.

"You do like being impressive…"

"Imagine how easy it would have been for me to impress you if I had a whole Court like this to show you." He felt Elain shake her head.

"Ah, yes." She said drily. "It was definitely your status that won me." Lucien remembered then Nesta trying to talk Elain into doing better than him when he had first returned to Prythian. He remembered overhearing the elder Archeron telling Elain that he had no home and did not belong anywhere, and that she had other options. Elain had wanted him despite the fact that he'd had none of what he had now, and he bent to press a kiss to the top of her head. "Nevertheless," She breathed, and Lucien bent again to listen to her soft voice, "It is satisfying that our home is so lovely to behold, and that we get to show others…"

"That is exactly what I had been thinking." He told her and she leaned more firmly against his side.

"Well, I have never seen anything like this." Vassa's voice declared as she approached them. Elain stiffened a little, but Lucien carefully stroked his hand up and down her spine and she relaxed a little, even if her hold on him did tighten.

"That would be why I have brought you all up here." He said.

"I had expected the fae courts to be pretty, but this is something else." Vassa's blue eyes were firmly on the city below, awe clear across her face. "I had not even imagined."

"It is quite a different world." Elain said, "I was awed by each of the Courts when we visited them.

"Perhaps I should make myself a more regular visitor." Vassa's attention shifted from the view of the city to Elain, "I could get used to splendour like this."

"They're not all like this." Lucien put in, looking for something to say when Elain did not respond. "Each is different."

"Fascinating." Blue eyes met his, and Vassa tilted her head gently to one side. The mortal queen smiled at him. "There is so much more to the world to explore."

"Yes." He looked around them, "I am sure that if you asked each of the High Lords, they would be only too happy to sing the individual praises of their own Courts." he scanned the balcony for Tamlin as the Spring Court held the border to the Mortal Lands, and his Court would likely be the first that Vassa would visit. Looking again, Lucien frowned, unable to find his old friend.

"Where is he?" Elain asked, evidently also unable to find Tamlin. "He was in Sheera's shop…" his mate turned her head to look up at Lucien. "Do you think he stayed there?"

Raising an eyebrow, Lucien grinned at her. "It's not unlikely."