Chapter 546

Considering Eris' parting words before he'd strode from the Throne Room, Elain was surprised that nobody appeared to have gone after him. Lucien had remained where he'd stood, an arm around her, and had looked to Helion. The High Lord of the Day Court had simply shaken his head, and Lucien had let out a sigh. Once Helion had moved away, quick to greet Ashk as she had arrived, Elain looked up at Lucien.

"Shouldn't somebody follow Eris?" she asked, hoping that nobody had crossed the High Lord's path and had been reduced to smouldering ashes.

Evidently, Lucien had received something along the lines of her thoughts and he bit his lip for a moment. "Generally, when he gets in a snit, it is best to leave him alone and to literally cool down."

"What if he loses his cool at someone?" Literally anybody could have come across him.

"Eris has self-control." Lucien replied, his hand moving gently up her back, "Growing up in Beron's Court, he needed it. He was always the best at controlling his tongue, too. Cauldron knows he was better than I was."

"I've seen what he does when that control slips." Elain said, trying not to picture it.

"You saw what he did when somebody put their hands on Nera." Lucien said gently, "That is a different situation, and that faerie was under his law. He's not in his own Court now, he wouldn't dare do that to another High Lord's subject here. Also, unless he comes across someone actively harming Nera, he's unlikely to lose his temper."

"Did you hear what he said as he left? He literally threatened to kill Vassa."

"Vassa has had her transformation for the day." Lucien said, "She's not in the palace. Eris won't be able to get to her, even if he intended to."

"What about when she returns this evening?"

"He will have calmed down by then and I will be able to speak with him before she goes anywhere near him."

Thinking about that, Elain wondered why she was concerned for Vassa's life. Shaking her head a little at herself, Elain almost rolled her eyes. Just because she didn't like or trust Vassa didn't mean she wanted to see the mortal woman incinerated or hurt. Sent away to never return? Sure. But that was not what she feared Eris would do.

"Do you think Vassa said what she did on purpose?"

"I don't know." Elain replied honestly, "I had wondered the same thing myself. I have no idea why she is truly here or what her intentions are." She paused for a moment, "If Eris did do something to her, or tried to, what would be the consequences?"

"For him, or for all of us?" Lucien asked, voice darkening.

"Both?"

Lucien tilted his head a little, looking to the roof. "For a start, it would seem like an act of war…" his words were slow, as if he were going through the scenario step by step in his mind as he spoke. "Attacking a guest in another Court… Any semblance of union between the Courts would be shattered. High Lords would have to choose sides… that's not to mention rekindling the war between mortals and fae. Could you imagine what Graysen would do if a faerie killed a mortal queen?"

"I don't want to think about that." Elain muttered. She especially didn't want to think about Graysen.

"It would be horrific." Lucien said, "There would be no trade routes if the Courts go back to war. Courts would have to continue to do without whatever they've not had access to since Amarantha locked us down. My mother would have to decide where she will place her allegiance… where she would stay…" he frowned at that, evidently considering his family being split again. "There would be so much more loss…"

"Let us hope," Elain breathed, taking Lucien's hand in hers, "that this is not what Vassa has come for."