Work Text:
The High Lord of the Day Court opened his eyes to a room full of sunlight. Hardly anyone in his court owned curtains, he found. Who would want to spend a single moment shrouded in darkness? No - that was Night Court behavior.
His bedroom in the Day Court palace was nothing short of opulent. Gold accents glittered around the room, adorning every fixture and woven into every fabric. The chandelier hanging from his ceiling caught the morning light in its crystals and refracted into rainbows that danced around the room. Each piece of decor complimented each other, with nothing too outlandish. Though he did indeed appreciate Rhysand’s townhouse, when he was finally invited to visit… perhaps he would have to adapt his “less is more” lifestyle.
Unlikely.
Helion enjoyed his mornings, though they were too close to dawn for his liking; his favorite time of day was well after he left his elegant bedroom. Early afternoon, when the sun was at its brightest and casting a golden hue over his entire court, was when the High Lord was most at peace.
Helion rolled out of bed and headed for his personal bathing chambers, already looking forward to wearing his fluffy, white bathrobe that replaced his usual daytime attire. After a steaming hot bath and fresh fruit for breakfast, it was time for Helion Spell-Cleaver to start his day.
Helion strolled into his office inside his personal residence with a casual grace, murmuring a polite good morning to his staff as he passed them in the corridors. While it was common for him to address his staff directly, there were still those who blushed and turned pink when talking to the High Lord. Helion, while flattered, always politely ignored it for their sake. As flirtatious as he was known to be, he was committed to providing a harassment-free work environment.
He headed for his desk chair - though, it should be described as a throne. He crossed one tanned, muscled leg over the other and began to sort through the documents on his desk as Marian, his oldest secretary, came bustling into the room. Marian was always a secret favorite of his - a short, plump female, her no-nonsense attitude was a good match for his playful personality.
“Good morning, High Lord,” Marian began, her morning report well-rehearsed. “You will find your correspondence sorted on your desk. You have a meeting this evening with the animal healer regarding your pegasus’ annual appointment. After that, you have tea with your, erm, more personal acquaintance. I made sure that one was left off of your official itinerary for the day.”
Helion raised his eyebrow with a smirk, leaning back on his throne. “Ah, Marian, you have always been too good to me. Thank you. I will let you know if I require any more assistance.”
Marian gave the High Lord a knowing smile before heading out the door.
As always, there were two piles of mail waiting for him. One was addressed to "Helion Spell-Cleaver, High Lord and Savior". That pile was decorated with gilded paper and envelopes. Letters filled with requests from his people, updates from other lands, and the occasional suggestion. That wasn’t the pile Helion sifted through first, however.
There was a second pile, discreetly hidden in his desk drawer by Marian, bewitched to hide the name of who it was truly addressed to. He pulled out the thick pile of letters and propped his feet up on his desk in front of him. He took one look at the handwriting in the first letter, and let out a low chuckle. This ought to be good.
Dear Ms. Drake,
I wanted to thank whatever higher power ever put a pen in your capable hands. My mate and I spent the entire weekend reenacting your latest novel… with successful results. That thing the love interest did at the end of the eighth chapter? Hell, thank whoever taught you that, too.
I would never ever admit this, but I even took a look at some of your books myself. My mate would kill me if she ever knew I brought her copies anywhere near the bath, but what’s a male to do when his conditioner is setting in? Read some Sellyn Drake, of course.
My mate and her best friends are constantly swapping your novels between the three of them. On the most serious note I can muster, I wanted to thank you for empowering these females to own their sexuality in a way males have for centuries. You are truly a gift from the Mother. Actually, I think even the Mother would enjoy these. So you are a gift TO the Mother.
If you ever need some real life inspiration, come to the Night Court. My mate and I will be happy to oblige.
Your humble reader,
Prince of Bastards
Helion could barely contain his booming laughter. If only Cassian was as good at pseudonyms as Sellyn Drake was. The thought of knocking on the Price of Bastards’ front door and seeing the look on his face was almost enough for Helion to reveal himself then and there. But instead, Helion picked up his pen, and began to write.
Dearest Prince of Bastards,
No one is more flattered than I that you and your lovely mate have been thinking of me in the bedroom.
It wasn’t long before Helion was crumpling the piece of parchment. He rarely answered his fan mail, opting to leave his readers wanting more. This time, he would deliver - in a big way.
“Marian,” he called. “Can you schedule a meeting with Prythian Publishers? It’s urgent.”
Cassian grumbled as the sun began to peek through the bedroom curtains in the House of Wind. He’d barely slept last night, with Nesta tossing and turning next to him for what seemed like hours. He wouldn’t complain, though. He knew how excited she was for today.
He watched as Nesta sprang out of bed before her eyes were fully open, scrambling to tug on her thick wool socks and boots. Before he could say good morning to his mate, she flung the bedroom door open and clattered down the stairs. Cassian chuckled to himself as he followed her down the hallway, albeit slightly slower, stretching his wings as he went.
By the time he reached the dining room, Nesta was back from the mailbox, pouring over their deliveries. She had flung aside any packages that were too small or too large, looking for one in particular, Cassian knew. She finally found the one she needed, gasping as she tore into it with all of the enthusiasm of a child on Winter Solstice morning.
Cassian leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Nesta marvel at the newest Sellyn Drake novel. Her, Gwyn, and Emerie had all pre-ordered their own copies, vowing to avoid each other for a few days lest any of them accidentally spoil any good parts for each other. Cassian fully expected Nesta to run upstairs and lock herself in the study until she finished the book. At least Cassian knew the House would make sure she ate, since she wouldn’t be stopping for meals any time soon. He’d be lucky if he got her to sleep.
He secretly hoped she’d be done with it by the end of the week, so he could read it over the weekend. Not that he’d ever admit it to her.
Nesta hugged the book to her chest, inhaling deeply as she breathed in the new book smell she loved so much. Cassian tried to hide his amusement as she thumbed through the pages and flipped the book over. As she read the back cover, her eyes grew wide and her jaw dropped. Cassian watched as the tips of her pointed ears turned pink, and then a violent shade of red. He began to wonder if she’d stopped breathing.
“If the description on the back is causing this reaction, I can only imagine the smut you’ll find on the inside,” Cassian teased.
Nesta’s head snapped up as her wide eyes met his, her mouth still hanging open. She suddenly held out the book to Cassian, shaking her head in disbelief. Cassian took the book from her and turned it over, curious as to what could put his mate at a loss for words. His own face threatened to turn pink at what he found there.
Courtship of Dreams: One Illyrian’s Fantasy
#1 Prythian Publishers Bestselling Author Sellyn Drake is back with a dreamy romance set in the heart of the Night Court. Young Prince Cassius must fight to keep his female’s affections when a bright, bold High Lord threatens to steal her away. Will Cassius get his mate back, or give into his heart’s desires and share his love with the High Lord of his dreams?
*Available in hardcover and paperback
Cauldron boil him.