Chapter 596
"Do you think he's seen us?" Elain asked Nera. They had finished their food and had been sitting in their booth watching the room and the High Lord for about fifteen minutes. Helion had done nothing but slowly drink his drink and sit silently, and Elain was beginning to wonder if he would prefer they not interrupt him.
"I'd say so." Kaii put in. He always notices everything.
"He's not approached us." Elain said.
"Perhaps he thinks we wish to be alone." Nera replied.
Elain considered for a moment. "I suppose I have to try to speak with him. He would want to know that there is an issue."
"Yes." Nera agreed. "I think you are right."
Nodding, Elain glanced at Kaii who nodded his own head toward the room. She understood he meant that he would watch her as she crossed to Helion, and she got up. "Alright."
Helion's eyes were on Elain before she was halfway across the room, and she smiled slightly as she approached.
"Elain," he said, gesturing at a chair at his table opposite himself. "I would not have expected to see you here."
"I would have thought the same thing of you." She said, taking a seat. Helion smiled at her.
"That is rather the point." He told her, "Usually, I can hide here. Not today, however." She heard the question in his tone.
"We did actually come here looking for you."
"Ah." Helion's eyes went to the table Elain had just left. "Kaii's idea, no doubt."
"Yes, Lucien set Kaii and Siv to follow and watch me." Elain said, watching as Helion's eyebrows lifted at that news. "He went into the city to find you himself. He thought you would be at the library."
"I was there only a short time." Helion replied, picking up his glass, "I had other things to take care of." He took a sip and put the glass back on the table. "I have commissioned a bassinet be built." He told her, "As a surprise for Ashk."
"Oh." Elain smiled, "I'm sure that she will be thankful…"
Helion smiled, his amber eyes going back to Kaii and Nera before returning once more to Elain. "That is not why you were looking for me, however."
"No… Lucien wishes to speak with you." She told him, and he nodded.
"Must be of some importance if he went looking in the city for me instead of waiting until I returned to the Palace."
"Yes." Elain considered telling Helion about Vassa, but decided to let Lucien discuss that with his father. Her mate had been navigating the confusing waters of the border between High Lord and Father, and she thought that he would prefer to figure that out himself.
"Very well," Helion said, sitting up a little straighter. He had evidently read in her face that she wouldn't be telling him what the issue was. "I suppose that I should make myself known to my son." So, the High Lord was going with the role of 'Father', then. Elain smiled at him and nodded, sliding out of her seat and getting to her feet. "I assume that if I return to the Palace now, you can let him know where to find me?"
"Yes." Elain clasped her hands together in front of her. She thought that she could send an image of the Palace down the bond to Lucien. That should get the message across. "I can do that."
Helion also got to his feet, reaching a hand out to touch Elain's shoulder. "You will want to be out of here before the sun sets." He told her. "But Kaii should know that."
With that, Helion turned and strode quickly out the door and into the street.