I am so sorry I didn't post this chapter earlier! I thought I had! I had uploaded the file but didn't do the rest of the uploading chapter ON the actual fanfic! lsnfld

Life has been a bit tiring lately.

Thank you to all who followed and favorited!

Odeveca : Just a fill-in chapter here, to remind everyone that They Are Mates!

katherineing66 : I hope the wait was worth it, despite the short chapter!

Guest : Thnk you! I hope you like it!

Guest: Thank you for your support! I apologize for the unsteady posting, I post whenever I can.

FANFICTION

A COURT OF NIGHTMARES AND LIGHT

PART II – THE DAY COURT

CHAPTER XXI : Drowned Desire

"You're a Seer." Lucien said, staring in bewilderment at the blind female who had waltzed in the Tower of Light's throne room so casually – despite a definite taste for theatrics.

She turned her attention to him. He startled at the sharpness and intensity of her gaze, even though she was blind, even though her eyes should not be able to see… she saw. She saw everything, she saw the depths of his soul, she saw–

Lucien was shaken out of this uncomfortable sensation when Helion put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him behind him once again.

"Seer or not, your coming here was unannounced. How did you get in here?"

She focused on Helion. Like for Lucien, she looked into the depths of his soul, but he didn't recoil. He held his ground and let his power sparkle even more around him. Everyone could tell, just from the taste of the air, that the Seer had seen all of Helion's darkest secrets.

The corner of her lips quirked up.

"I just walked in," she said casually, lifting her hands as if it was that easy to get into the Tower of Light.

Helion obviously didn't like it.

"Sibylla…" Koios said, stepping forward, though he kept a respectful distance.

The air around the Seer seemed to soften, and she smiled some more, turning towards Koios.

"Koios. It has been a long, long time, my friend…"

"Indeed… you look weary." He said, something cracked in his voice, as if he couldn't believe that this powerful being that he had known his entire life… could weaken.

"My time has come. Or at the very least, it's very near its end. I've had a long and fulfilling life, and you, you will have many more nieces and nephews to watch over before you'll close your eyes for the last time."

"Well, in some aspects, you haven't changed. You still love being dramatic."

Koios' lips turned into a smile, and Helion finally relaxed. His power ebbed away and Selena made a sign to the guards to step away and let Sibylla come closer. Koios closed the distance between them and hugged her quickly, without lingering to enjoy it.

"You always had a tendency to go off without warning anyone, but never for so long, Sibylla. I've looked for you, especially when Hybern came back… I assume you saw them coming, didn't you?"

"Of course I did," she answered with the air of a grumpy grandma that no one listened to even if she was always right, "I told Astreon that he shouldn't trust the eastern ships from Hybern but he said that we shouldn't be so prejudiced if they were open to commerce and exchanges. One rotten apple is all it needs to ruin it all. He didn't listen and he lost his head because of his trusting nature."

She turned towards Helion, who startled.

"We met when you were a very young one. Do you remember?"

"…I remember the nightmares that followed."

"Good," she said with an appreciative nod, as if that was exactly the reaction she had hoped to provoke in a youngling.

"I like her," Amren whispered to Feyre, but she was heard anyway.

Sibylla turned her attention to the two of them, and like for Lucien and Helion earlier… she looked through them.

"You are not from this world, and yet, you belong here now. You will not regret it. You will find the peace you hadn't realised you've been waiting for your whole life. Curiosity is good for you. And you…"

She turned towards Feyre who, surprisingly, held her ground as stubbornly as Helion. Maybe because she was a High Lady in her own right… or perhaps because she had faced herself in the Ouroboros mirror and she wasn't afraid of what this Seer could reveal.

"You are the tidal wave that changed the fate of Prythian. And your sisters have as much potent, even though they don't realise it. Your blood is powerful, and your legacy will be even more so."

Feyre didn't react, she didn't let any emotion or thought betray her. But Lucien… Lucien reacted to that.

"Elain–"

His voice cracked pathetically.

She was gone, she had disappeared, his mate, protect, find– he needed to go and find her as soon as possible before any danger befell her.

As if following his line of thoughts (she probably did), Sibylla turned towards him.

"Ah yes, the new Seer, your mate. I believe you've lost her?"

"Can you find her?" Selena asked eagerly.

Sibylla shook her hand.

"I could find her, but she'll find her way back on her own. Don't worry about her."

"Not worry?!" Lucien hissed, "I will NOT let her suffer from the Cauldron knows what terrible fate out there! She disappeared in the middle of the night! I was supposed to protect her and keep her safe! And she's gone! She knows nothing about Prythian and–"

Sibylla used her walking stick and hit the top of Lucien's head. He startled once, opened his mouth to keep yelling. She hit him again, he grabbed the stick and glared at her– but he didn't try any more yelling or panicking.

"She knows more about Prythian than you ever will, boy. Don't underestimate her powers. Nothing happens for no reason – if she disappeared last night, there's a good reason she did so…"

Her voice trailed off and she pulled away her walking stick, to point at the sword at his hip.

"This. This is a dangerous weapon. I hope you know what you're doing with it… No, obviously not."

"Would you stop judging me, you old hag–"

"Show some respect!" Koios gasped.

"Elain is GONE!"

"Protective mates are the worst–" Sibylla muttered, rolling her eyes the best she could with the damaged muscles and skin of her face.

"I need to find her–"

"Her foxes will find her. Now, there are way too many secrets– you."

She ignored Lucien's babbling to press the walking stick into Helion's chest.

"Do something. You know what I'm talking about. Time is running out. You only have a week to make things right – you won't, obviously, as the prophecy foretold, but you can still fix the mess afterwards. Maybe."

"Well, that's a comforting thought," Amren commented drily.

Lucien raised his hands to the sky, before pulling at his hair and walking in circles.

"I need to find Elain, I–"

"My Lord Helion!" A guard suddenly cried out, running into the throne room.

"What now?" the High Lord mumbled with a passionate roll of eyes.

"Lady Elain was found!"

Lucien immediately gasped and started shortening the distance between himself and the poor guard who, feeling threatened, backed away against the wall.

"Where is she?! Tell me!"

"T-the… the foxes followed her scent and tracked her, she is already on the way back. She apparently winnowed away by accident–"

"Where – is – she?!"

"D-d-downstairs, my lord!"

They didn't have time to register the words, a red arrow (Lucien) just flew through the doors and away from the throne room.

Silence fell on them.

"…Well, at least someone was effective in finding Elain quickly," Amren said with a pointed glance in Selena's direction.

She glared at the silver-eyed female, which was enough guts to provoke Amren's appreciation of Selena's quality.

"Could we not have any argument or battle before breakfast, please?" Koios asked, exasperated.

"Could we have some breakfast? Your household was far more welcoming in the past, Koios," Sibylla commented with a snort.

Helion rolled his eyes and decided to dismiss everyone.

"All immediate crisis has been averted, I suggest we all catch some sleep, get some food and then, we'll talk with our new guest here." He said with a nonchalant wave of his hand, and the slightest bit of annoyance in his voice.

Meanwhile, Lucien ran as fast as his legs could take him, down the immense stairs and cursing the height of this damned Tower–

Then he felt her. He saw her. His heart leapt and he ran even faster.

"Elain!"

How had he not felt that gap in his heart, that absence of her immediate presence, until she was back in his sight, and in his arms?

She looked up to see him arrive. He immediately engulfed her in his arms and lifted her off the floor. She squeaked and held onto him as he took in her scent of flowers and crushed her against him, and yet, it wasn't painful and Elain realised that his body was the only warmth that could comfort her.

Almost as fast as he had taken her in his arms, he put her down again, and took her face in his hands. His eyes travelled all over her body, taking in her nightgown dirty with mud and grass, her bare feet, her cold skin–

"Elain, Elain– what happened?! Where did you go? I just arrived a few minutes ago and they told me you were gone!"

"I-I'm sorry, I…"

She shivered and held herself together. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms to warm her up, using his fire to do so. In a swift movement, he threw away the guard's jacket that had been wrapped around her shoulders and replaced it with his.

My mate, my mate, my mate, she's mine, and only mine–

His hands were caressing her face again, pulling away at the tangles in her hair, making sure she didn't have a scratch, that she was all right.

Protect, keep safe, keep warm, my mate–

"I'm not sure what happened…" she answered, a little pale and her gaze looking down.

Lucien's frantic movements to rub some warmth into her slowed down.

"…Let's get you upstairs. You need some warmth, a good bath, and some food."

He turned towards the nearest servant, while putting a protective arm around her shoulders.

"Warn Lord Helion that Lady Elain needs some time to recover, and have some food brought up to our chambers."

"Yes, my lord!"

Elain glanced up at Lucien. "Our chambers" he had said.

She guessed… it was the closest thing to a place that was theirs. Not a room for either Lucien or for Elain that was only half personalised… but something that was theirs, the two of them, and would reflect both of them.

He guided her to the nearest lift, then to their room. He didn't let go of her even once, and it was only in the privacy of their suite that he finally let show the extent of his anguish. He trembled as he checked over her again, he was pale and wouldn't let her out of his sight.

"I'm fine, Lucien," Elain finally said, grabbing his wrists to calm him down, "I'm fine, just a little cold."

To emphasize this, she pressed against him. He immediately wrapped his arms around her, and kissed the top of her head.

"…I was so scared… the moment they said you were gone I… I lost sight of anything else but you… I thought I would go mad."

"Don't think of it this way, my dear. It was just a temporary fear. Everything is fine. You would have felt it if there had been any danger."

Elain wondered for the briefest moment why he had stiffened against her. Then she… realised she had called him… 'my dear'.

Warmth bloomed on her cheeks, but he relaxed against her and sighed into her hair.

"You need a bath, the warmth will be good for you." he said, pulling away reluctantly.

She followed him into the bathroom as he prepared the water to the right temperature. It was only then that she realised how weary she was. Between her vision and her unexpected night stroll, she was tired.

"Did you… spend the entire night researching?" she asked him as he stood up.

"Yes. We came back just… a few minutes before you, but… so much has happened."

Elain looked down at her hands, and opened her right palm to stare at the arrowhead.

"What's this?" Lucien asked, frowning.

He used his fingers to open hers, and stared at the mysterious arrowhead.

"I don't know. When I woke up… it was in my hand." Elain answered.

Lucien stared at her, then put the arrowhead away.

"We'll think about it later. You should… get warm…"

He lingered there, just for a moment, just long enough that when Lucien stepped towards the door, Elain's hand reached for his.

"D-don't… I…"

He looked down at her, eyes slightly widened in shock. She blushed but she didn't waver and held his gaze.

"It's been… a long night… we're both tired… and weary… and cold…" she said softly.

Lucien's heart beat faster at her suggestion but he didn't dare say a thing, he didn't dare move, he didn't dare hope…

Elain swallowed hard, her own heart echoing the melody of his.

"Stay with me… please…" she pleaded.

Lucien didn't trust his voice, so he simply nodded, despite the red in his cheeks.

Without detaching her gaze from his, she pushed the jacket he had put on her earlier, off her shoulders. Her fingers wandered over her collarbones and to the lace holding her nightgown together. Lucien swallowed hard, warmth of a different kind, but oh so soul-devouring, filling his veins. She pulled at the thread. Slowly. His gaze wandered down, then he turned around to give her some privacy.

Elain wasn't sure what was pushing her to act this way. Was it the bond? Her genuine feelings for him? Her frustration? Was it the cold and the fear from last night that encouraged her? Was she just tired to hold back her feelings and to force him to reel in his desire?

Her nightgown fell down and pooled at her feet.

She was completely bare, her body flushed all over, trembling in a mix of apprehension and excitement.

She heard his sharp intake of breath. He could smell her own lust. She could feel the growing warmth from his body. If she touched him, if she took a step towards him while naked, it would unleash the beast.

She trusted Lucien, more than she trusted herself. She might even wish for the beast to claim her, once and for all, so this tiptoeing would stop and they'd become one, as they were meant to be…

But she turned away and slowly walked down into the bath until she was sitting, her back against it. She pulled her hair up in a quick, messy bun, aware of every move, every drop of water, that made his heartbeat faster and his breathing sharper.

She couldn't tell if she was relieved or frustrated for the lack of mirrors all around. There were a few, but she'd have to turn to look at the reflection of Lucien in it.

She did it, burning from that sinful look but relishing in it. She looked just in time to see him take off his shirt. Muscles rippled from his back, his shoulders, his arms, and it took everything she had not to lick her lower lip. Was that fire in her soul hers? Or was it born from his, offered by the bound linking their souls?

He took off his boots, his pants, in a careful hurry, aware of her attention and of the growing lust between them. She couldn't detach her gaze from his beautiful, powerful body – it was as threatening as it was fascinating.

Elain looked away just as Lucien turned around. She closed her eyes, aware of his every step, every whiff of his scent and his desire flowing towards her, inciting her to look up and rise from the waters to kiss him and let him take her whole.

He entered the water, stepped down the steps. Slowly. She held her breath. He walked to the other side of the gigantic bathtub. He sat down. She felt the waves hit her skin. The hot water covered her shoulders, then receded, making her shiver.

She opened her eyes and met his burning gaze.

Lucien leaned backwards, apparently relaxed, but she could tell he was just bathing in the joy of sharing that bath with her. That intimacy reserved for lovers. Their bare bodies so close, and yet so far away.

There was a heavy warmth in the air that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water.

They couldn't look away from each other.

Lucien finally opened his lips, taking in the slightest intake of breath to speak up:

"You do know you are torturing me in the sweetest way, my lady?" he asked, his tone amused and teasing despite the edge of lust to it – but his face was earnest and his gaze soft and devouring all at once.

"You're not the only feeling tortured, by the circumstances rather than… sheer… desire…" she admitted, blushing even more if possible.

She lowered her gaze, to see the water stopping just at the beginning of her breasts. She could tell he was devouring every inch of skin she showed him. That it'd take a glance, a whisper, the slightest gesture, for the two of them to break.

"I wish we had more time…" Lucien whispered wishfully, his voice full of longing, "I-if only things had been different… I could court you properly… we wouldn't have to worry about the Autumn Solstice, or Vassa, or that Sorcerer or… or any of it…"

"We'll have it. Our peace. Our time." She replied, "We just have to… stay strong until we can take the time to…"

Love and cherish each other, to discover more of each other, to…

Lucien looked away, pained. And through the waves of emotions she felt down the bond… she understood his worries.

He didn't want to wait in fear that something would go wrong. Sooner, or later. He wanted to love her now, to claim her, but… he'd respect her choice to wait.

"Lucien," Elain spoke up, and his attention was on her once again, "I promise you… we'll get our own time, for us."

"I believe you." he replied.

He lifted up his hand, as if reaching for her, inviting her to get closer. It would be dangerous to get one inch closer when they were naked in a hot bath and devoured by desire and frustration – but she started to move.

She had barely made a centimetre closer to him that a sharp knock resonated at the main door of their suite.

"Damn, must be the breakfast I asked…" Lucien mumbled, regretting his earlier request now that it had interrupted his moment with Elain.

She couldn't help it. She laughed. Her hand, which had been about to reach for his, covered her mouth.

Lucien glanced at her, delighting in the way her laugh resonated in this bathroom in the colours of the Autumn Court's Starlight Waterfalls. He grinned widely.

"I'm going to get our breakfast, try not to admire me too much, my darling. I wouldn't want you overheating in this bath."

He winked at her, and immediately stood up. Elain gasped and covered her face with her hands, but chuckled nonetheless at his bold and wild movements. He might be respecting her choice to wait, but he had no shame in tempting her as much as she was tempting him.

He moved out of the bathtub, grabbed a towel, and headed for the main rooms.

Elain sighed, moving her wet hands over her face. Her cheeks felt even hotter than the water. She tightened her legs together, feeling a slickness between them, despite the bath. She prayed that everything will be all right by the time they get to the Autumn Equinox, so Lucien and her will have time… will have time for the two of them.

Netx chapter will come closer I swear!

Yours Truly,

May