Chapter 278

It was a relief when Lucien was finally able to let the shield fall. He felt that relief throughout his entire body, and he would have liked nothing more than to sink down into a nice comfortable bed and stay there for an entire day. Elain's hands were on his arm then, and she was leading him to sit down onto a bench. He went with her without protest, barely noticing Feyre hurry toward Rhysand when he walked into the training square with Cassian and Azriel.

Feyre flung herself at her mate, and Lucien watched as Rhysand lifted her from the ground, holding her close to himself. The High Lord of the Night Court must have been supremely worried, Lucien figured. He'd known that they had been under threat from a horde of pissed off Illyrians, and Rhysand was acutely aware of what kinds of things pissed off Illyrians were capable of. Lucien had no doubt that any number of disturbing things and images had gone through the High Lord's mind while he'd been unable to be with his mate.

He was eternally thankful that he had been able to be with his own mate during it all. As if sensing that thought, Elain slid her hand into his and he squeezed it gently. His heart beat just a little quicker when she leaned against his side, her warm hair coming to rest against his throat. Lucien had no idea if he would be able to handle being kept from Elain while she was under attack and he was unable to get to her. He had no idea what he would do. He suspected he might lose his head altogether and throw himself straight into the mix in a furious attempt to get to her and wind up getting himself killed instead. Turning his body just a little, Lucien wrapped an arm around Elain's waist. He hoped he never had to find out.

"Are you alright?" Elain's gentle voice pulled Lucien from his musings and he nodded, holding her a little closer. She snuggled into him a bit and he smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "How do you feel?"

"I'm okay, Petal." He murmured. "I'll sleep well tonight, that's all…"

"Not too early, I hope." Her response was whispered, but Lucien could hear the smile behind it, and he well and truly got her intended meaning.

"I think I can say awake for a little while…"

Elain settled against him, and they both watched as Nesta checked Cassian over for any wounds or injuries while pretending that was not what she was doing. The look on Cassian's face told them that he knew entirely too well that was exactly what she was doing. Lucien found himself wondering how long it was going to be before Nesta gave up all pretence that she was in love with Cassian. They all knew it, and he rather thought that the only thing keeping her from openly admitting it was her stubbornness. He had thought back in Autumn after she had gone off with Cassian for Mabon that she had moved past the denial, but still she had kept it up. Perhaps, he thought after a moment, this was how they liked to play with one another. Perhaps it was a flirtation. Watching Cassian's face then as the Illyrian allowed Nesta to look him over, Lucien thought that perhaps he was right.

When Feyre and Rhysand sat down nearby, Lucien forced himself to stop watching Nesta and Cassian. He glanced briefly at Feyre to see if she was still angry with him, but all trace of previous tension had left her face.

"So you were being useful after all?" Lucien asked, his eyes on Rhysand who raised an eyebrow at him.

"Whatever do you mean, Lucien?"

"Well…" Lucien have a vulpine grin, "We knew that Feyre had let you know what was going on and we were all expecting you to show up and help out…"

"Ah…" Rhys nodded, tilting his head as he met Lucien's eyes.

"Seems you did, just not in the way we expected."

"I'm funny that way." Rhys' teeth flashed as he smiled. "Figured I'd trust Cass and Az to take care of things here while I took care of the rest…" Those violet eyes flickered over Lucien. "Didn't expect to see a shield like that when I got here, though…"

"Didn't expect to be making one."

"How interesting." Rhys smiled again, "You'll want to let Helion know about that bit of magic…"

Nodding, Lucien made a mental note to ask the High Lord of the Day Court about it. He was sure that his father would have some insights.

"Before we get there…" Elain put in. "How are we going to help clean up what is outside…?"