Chapter 343

Ashk had put herself between Elain and the males who had just come through the unseen door. Tisia and the others were half hidden behind Elain, cowering a little, and Elain reached out to take hold of Ashk's arm, wanting to pull her back, to get her out of harm's way. The older female had made herself the target and was trying to protect them.

Flames flickered across the palm of the closest male, and he laughed as he looked at them. "I hope you don't think that will stop us…" he snickered.

Ashk was calm and she took a step toward them, her arms still out to shield the others. "You think to burn me…?" She all but purred, "The lady of fire…? I have flames in my blood, Pup…"

The one with the fire hesitated, but the one behind him chuckled. "Not right now you don't…" he said, "You had a good dose of faebane. It'll last days."

"It has been days." Ashk said, "It's worn off…"

Elain stared at her red hair, wondering if that were true. Did Ashk have her abilities back? Reaching for the bond, Elain almost whined when she couldn't find it. She still couldn't feel Lucien, and she blinked as she continued to stare at Ashk. It was possible, Elain figured, that Ashk had received a smaller dose of faebane and would therefore get her abilities back quicker. Perhaps Ashk was more powerful and she had burned through the faebane more quickly than Elain could. Unsure if Ashk was bluffing or not, Elain just hoped that what the older female had claimed was true. They weren't going to get out of this unscathed if they nothing with which to defend themselves.

A small squark escaped Eria when the male with the flames flicked them at a nearby table and the thing erupted into a small inferno. Someone grabbed at the back of Elain's dress and she turned her head to see Tisia trying to shift closer to her, holding tightly. Elain noticed then that Ashk was inching backwards, her arms still out and a moment after that, Elain realised that they were no longer being shielded by Ashk, they were being herded. Ashk was moving them toward the door to the hallway, keeping herself between them and the males advancing on them, and Elain put her own hands behind her to guide the others back until they picked up on what was happening themselves.

Another squark escaped Eria and this time it was due to several more males appearing in the doorway behind them. Elain swallowed a curse and Ashk stopped moving. More flames erupted, engulfing several chairs, and smoke billowed around them, choking and blinding them, and Elain's eyes flicked around the room, looking for another option.

Tisia pulled more tightly at her dress, and Elain resisted the urge to shake her off. Her friend was scared, she knew that, and she didn't want to push her away, didn't want to deny her the comfort she sought or make her friend feel alone. Even now, Tisia was looking to her, and Elain wouldn't deny that.

The heat was building now and, with it, Elain's heartbeat began to increase in pace. She nearly gasped when a questioning tug pulled at her from somewhere inside and she tilted her head wondering if she had imagined it. The tug repeated and Elain did gasp then, recognising that sensation that felt as if someone had tied a string to one of her ribs and was pulling on it. Elain reached quickly for the bond, grasping at it and sending a call of her own down it, looking for Lucien. Tears that had nothing to do with the smoke in the room or her panic filled her eyes when she felt his response. Relief washed through her at finally being able to feel him, and she called again, pushing all of her fear and helplessness toward him with one word. Please!