Chapter 282

The Town House smelled as it always had, and Elain felt herself relax as they walked through the doors. This place was safe, she knew that, she could feel it in her bones. Not once had she ever felt threatened or frightened here, and she hadn't realised how much she needed that until they had gotten back. She was tired, she realised. Not just from the long day, but a greater tiredness. It was one that went deep within her, and couldn't be cured by a good night's rest.

Feyre headed for the kitchen and Elain followed her, going for the kettle and setting it to boil. Then, leaning back against the kitchen bench, Elain let out a long breath, releasing much of the tension she had been holding within herself. Feyre looked at her, holding several mugs she had just taken from the cupboard and Elain met her sister's eyes. A flash of red by the door drew her eye and she found Lucien standing there, half in the kitchen and half in the hallway. His metallic eye clicked and whirred as he looked between Elain and her sister and then he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

"Ah…" he breathed, "if you don't need me… I might go wash… again." He made a face, "I stink of smoke…"

Nodding, Elain realised that she did, too. She could smell the pyres all over herself. She would have to wash her hair before she got into bed. "That's okay…" she gave him a smile, "I'll do the same when I head up…" Lucien nodded and turned, pausing when Elain spoke again. "Do you want tea?"

"Sure, Petal." He said, "That would be lovely."

Elain took a few mugs from Feyre, setting them along the bench by the kettle while her sister took a few more from the cupboard. They both then stood in silence as they waited for the kettle to boil. She could tell that Feyre was watching her, but she didn't know why. Twisting her hands together, Elain tried to wait for her sister to say something but after several moments in which Feyre did nothing but watch her, she sighed.

"Is there something you want to say?" Elain asked, meeting Feyre's pale eyes, lifting her chin slightly. "Something you'd like to ask?"

"Not sure." Feyre said, leaning back against the cupboard as the kettle went off. Elain turned and poured the hot water into a pot and the waiting tea. She let it sit for a moment to steep, looking back at her sister. "I was kind of wondering the same thing about you."

"Were you?" Elain asked.

Feyre folded her arms, narrowing her eyes. "I have known you my whole life…" her younger sister made a face. "and you seem… I'm not even sure how to describe it."

"Ah…" Elain turned and began pouring tea into the mugs. She then turned and passed one to Feyre who took it carefully. Picking up her own mug, Elain cradled it in her hands, leaning back against the bench.

"Is there anything wrong?" Feyre asked, and Elain shook her head.

"I'm just tired…"

"It seems more than that."

"It is…" Elain nodded, "but it's still just weariness." She gave her sister a small smile, "I want to go home."

"Go home…" Feyre echoed, and Elain nodded.

"I want to go back to the Day Court." She said, stifling a yawn. "I've had enough travel and excitement for now. I'd like to just rest and get my garden sorted, tend it…"

"And you want to do that in the Day Court…?"

Elain nodded, meeting her sister's eyes. She had told Feyre and Nesta this. They knew that she had planned to make her life there with Lucien. Feyre was nodding then, and Elain knew that her sister had understood her thoughts. "I do…"

"It's… different." Feyre said, lifting her mug to take a light sip. "To hear you say it… but then to see you want it after a day like today."

"Did you not think I meant it?" Elain asked, "After what happened when you and the other High Lords visited the Day Court and I told you that I was staying?"

Feyre took another sip of her tea, her eyes sweeping over Elain again and again. "You asked me," her sister began, "before you even first went to the Spring Court with Lucien. You asked me when he first returned if I thought that you should get to know him…"

"And you said he was a good male." Elain recalled.

Feyre grinned at her. "Are you glad you got to know him now?"

Blinking slowly at her sister, Elain nodded. "Obviously I am." Feyre's smirk just grew wider.

"You're sure." Feyre said, "Of what you want and where you want to make your life…"

"Yes."

"Will you leave in the morning?"

"I think so." Elain took a sip of her own tea, then turned to check on the other mugs. "Rhys was wanting some of this, wasn't he?"

"Yes, I'll take it to him in his library…" Feyre came forward, and Elain shifted aside to allow her sister to pick the mug up. "I'll see you in the morning for breakfast before you leave."

"Goodnight." Elain picked up the other mug and made for the door. Feyre disappeared into the library, and she went up the stairs. As she moved step by step, Elain figured that Lucien probably wasn't done in the bath yet, but at least the tea would be waiting for him when he got out.

Pausing at the top of the stairs as she looked down the hallway, Elain wondered for a moment if he'd gone to his old room or to hers. She closed her eyes and reached for the bond, trying to feel him as she listened for that heartbeat she knew so well. It was instantly apparent to her that he had gone to her room, and she moved swiftly down the hallway and pushed open the door.

Lucien had brought both of their packs up and they sat now on her bed. Elain set the mugs of tea on the bedside tables before she went to unbuckle her pack and pull out the nightgown she was currently using and her hairbrush. She would have to wash the smoke from herself, too. As she moved to the vanity and took a seat, Elain reached up to upbraid her hair. As it fell about her face, she noticed that she did indeed smell like smoke as did her hair. She would need to wash it. Picking up her hairbrush, Elain set about carefully brushing her hair as she waited for Lucien to come back out from the bathroom.