Chapter 335

Lucien was losing his patience. He understood why they were doing what they were doing but it was taking entirely too long and he didn't think that he would be able to deal with it any longer. They'd brought in every member of Amala and Toran's family, through all the branches and everyone was currently in a cell. He knew that they wouldn't all be punished, but they'd needed them all because Helion had insisted they make a list of any and all properties held by any part of the family. The High Lord had figured that A mala would continue on with her initial method of using members of her family from lesser branches. Lucien figured that would make sense because she definitely seemed to be the kind of person who would manipulate those not as fortunate as she was to get what she wanted. He would have put money on her finding some lesser cousin and bribing them with promises to get the into the palace and into the favour of the High Lord if they did what she wanted. He wouldn't be betting with money, though. This was Elain's life and he wouldn't play with it.

Glancing around at Helion, he resisted a snarl of irritation. "How do we figure out where?"

The High Lord poured over the lists, his elegant fingers moving down the properties as his eyes scanned them. "I've sent people to the first half." Amber eyes flicked to Lucien, "They will be reporting back shortly."

Lucien stood straighter. "I'll check the rest."

"No."

Lucien spun away, clenching his teeth. He reached instinctively for the bond then, hoping that he would be able to feel her and he swallowed the bitter disappointment when there was nothing. Blinking back what were definitely not tears, he ran his hands over his face and up into his hair, tugging on it. He knew why his father didn't want him running off through the city. They had discussed the dangers of that previously, and he understood. It made sense, but this was beyond torturous. He had waited so long for his mate, dreaming and yearning and he'd waited even longer once he had found her, waited until she wanted him. Elain was beyond everything he had ever imagined, and that future of theirs that she had seen was more than he ever thought he could have. He would have it. He wasn't risking her and he wasn't going to sit here idly while she was out there somewhere. He had to do something.

"Lucien." Helion said, and Lucien turned to look at his father. "You can take this list." The High Lord went on. "Go down to where they're being held and cross reference this list and the owners of the properties with those members of the family who have been in recent contact with Amala. Lucien sighed and took the list. He had already thought of that and he'd already done it. He put the list down on the table before his father and underlined a handful of properties.

"These." He said. The High Lord raised a sculpted eyebrow at him and he tried to keep his face neutral. "Are these the ones you've had checked."

"Most." Amber eyes were scanning the list again.

"What about her rooms?" Lucien asked, "Can I go look there?"

"What would you be looking for?" Helion asked, "She is not there, and nothing was out of the ordinary."

"I don't know." Lucien admitted, "But it would be doing something."

"Very well." Helion waved a hand, and Lucien spun on his heel.

Striding quickly up the hallways, Lucien headed for the wing where the Courtiers lived. He'd never been there before, but he knew the vague part of the palace that it was in. He was pleased when he got there to discover that the doors of the hallways had small name plaques on them, and he strode evenly down the hallway until he found Amala's.

The room was opulent. Lucien blinked and wondered if perhaps Amala hadn't been hoping to earn some kind of points with the High Lord on the occasion that he might see it. There were suns and gold everywhere with ornate patterns on the walls and curtains. The cushions on the couches seemed to be embroidered with jewel coloured threads, and he was sure that some of them had Lapis Lazuli and Carnelian stones stitched into them. This room looked like it well and truly belonged to the Day Court, and Lucien just stood there and blinked for a few moments as he took it all in. "Cauldron boil and fry me." He muttered, pulling himself together and moving further into the room.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary, as Helion had said, and Lucien didn't know what he was looking for. The over abundance of "Day Court" décor seemed weird, but perhaps Amala just liked the colours, or thought that she was being a good Courtier. He pushed that aside, and moved for the large bed in the middle of the room. Sheer golden curtains hang around it, and Lucien didn't think he had seen anything quite so pretentious since whatever he last saw Rhysand wearing. Lucien liked the Day Court and he liked the aesthetic of the palace, but this went beyond. Amala clearly lived and breathed this, and he held no doubts that she was the one behind everything going on. Wherever Amala was, Lucien was certain, he would find Elain.