Chapter 5

Lucien

Azriel was nowhere to be found when a soaking wet Elain made her way back to the manor. She took the towel I offered but her explanation came out emotionally charged between fits of sobbing as we slowly traipsed in the direction of her room.

"What did he do to make you cry?"

"Nothing." She gasped, though I found it less than believable while tears still slid down her cheeks.

"He wanted me to go."She began and I nearly exploded in a fit of rage.

"But you stayed." I reconfirmed for myself. It was the only thing that made me feel as though I were attached to my own body.

"I offered him food." She admitted and I could barely believe what I was hearing.

"I do love him. And after ...it feels like I have a bond with him too, but only one can be real, right?"

"Why would you do that?!" I begged. My voice was loud though I wasn't exactly shouting. "You're always free to leave and to make your own decisions but you...you offered him food. You accepted a bond that didn't even exist...FOR HIM?!" I sought out a bench and sunk low into its green cushioned seat. I couldn't look at her.

"The bond with you isn't gone." It was meant to be a reminder, that much was clear, but I couldn't bring myself to let her dangle that hope in front of me. Not like that.

My eye whirled as I blinked back tears from behind it. I had nothing left to give her. She had taken it all.

"Perhaps if I had wings, eh? Or belonged to your sister's court. Would I be able to compete with him then?" I demanded.

She shrank back but did not answer. She looked ashamed, but that's not what I wanted to see on her face.

"I release you from the bond." I said finally. "From me. Go. Go to him. I'm done with you. The cauldron made us for one another, but you won't let that happen. Because I'm not the Night Court's shadowsinger. Because I'm not some mortal fae hunter. I'm not even whole." I gestured to the eye.

Elain didn't flinch.

"Lucky for Azriel that he could be your champion against Hybern. I'm sorry I couldn't hide. I left my own court. I went under the mountain. I took beatings for your sister. I fled to find your father. And all it managed to do was make me offensive to you. I'll take you home in the morning." I promised.

With nothing else to say to her I turned on my heel and shut myself into my room. I could feel a gentle tug on the bond through the door, but I ignored it. She would not be allowed to do this. It simply hurt too much. I shook as I thought of the next night to come. Of resting with her back in the night court. In his arms. Away from me.

After a few moments I heard her own door close. I pulled my tunic over my head and collapsed onto the bed.