Chapter 599

Lucien and Eris arrived quickly at Lucien's room and he opened the door to find Elain and Nera sitting on the couches. Elain smiled at him and got to her feet, moving closer. "Did you speak with your father?" She asked, wrapping soft arms around his waist.

"Not yet." He replied, running a hand up and down her back. "Eris told me that he'd lost the two of you and it seemed more pressing to find you." Behind him, Eris had moved into the room and gone to sit beside his lover. Nera gave him a sheepish look.

"We went into the city after talking to Kera." Elain said and Lucien nodded. He had suspected as much. "Also, Kaii showed us where Helion likes to go and hide from Courtly business."

"Kaii…" Lucien had told the guards that it would be better if Elain was not aware of their presence.

"Siv is better at remaining unseen." Elain remarked, moving back to the couch and taking Lucien with her. He allowed her to pull him down, enjoying the way she leaned into him. "Kaii took us to find Helion, which we did. I told Helion that you were looking for him and he returned to the castle to speak with you."

"Yes," Lucien ran his fingers up her arm, "I was on my way up to see him when…" he frowned, "I… ran into Eris."

"I suppose you had been all over the city." Nera grinned, "Discover anything good?"

"Tisia helped me search." Lucien replied, "She showed me some of the libraries I had not yet been to. Guess we were out of luck in finding the High Lord."

"He had a bassinet made." Elain told him, laying one of her hands over his, "As a surprise for your mother."

"I'm sure she will enjoy that." Lucien couldn't recall a single instance in which Beron had gifted Ashk anything. "I'm glad this is something they both get to enjoy."

Eris was nodding his head in agreement, and then he had taken Nera's hand in his and gotten to his feet. "We should leave you. You need to prepare for this evening and so do we."

When Eris and Nera had gone, Elain turned her head to look at Lucien, and he could see questions behind those dark eyes. "What is it, Petal?" he asked.

"I would have thought you would go directly to Helion after I told you he was in the Palace."

"I intended to…" he began.

"You could feel that I was alright." She said, "Using the bond… I would have thought it would be more important to let your father know what Vassa is up to."

"I…" That made sense to him, but when he tried to think about it, his thoughts became vague. "The bond…" he said, "Does it feel different to you?"

"In what way?"

"Just… different." He replied, "Fainter, maybe…"

Elain blinked, and then frowned. She was silent for several moments, and he watched various emotions flicker across her pretty face. "Harder to grasp, maybe…" she sounded hesitant. "I can still hear your heartbeat… but… I did not hear you approaching. You surprised me when you and Eris came though the door. Usually your heart gives you away." Fear flashed across her face and in her eyes then. "What has happened?"

Shaking his head, Lucien took her hand. "Perhaps we are tired…"

"No." Elain said. "It has never been like this, and we have been far more exhausted than we are now. It's her. She's done something. We need to speak with Helion."

"He will be at dinner." Lucien said, "Eris is right. We're hosting the other High Lords. We should prepare. We will speak with Helion when we see him." He could see that Elain was struggling to accept that, but eventually she nodded.

"Alright."