Chapter 7

Azriel

Tamlin sneered over his dining room table. From the moment he had led us in, it was like he was in on a joke that evaded the rest of us. I hadn't been able to think straight since I had left Elain at the edge of the water. I had to know.

Rhys had found a priestess, A'Mari (the very same that had verified his mating bond with Feyre) had accompanied me to the Spring Court at first light. Feyre had been shocked by what I had told her, but she believed that the priestess would soon get to the bottom of it, and preferred to keep her distance from Tamlin's manor. No one blamed her, except perhaps Tamlin who asked about her whereabouts the moment we opened the door.

"One of us usually prefers to stay with the city." Was what Rhys had delivered eloquently before Cassian had made an offhanded comment about Feyre not wanting to travel in the family way. Sorting that out for the joke that it was had taken but a single warning glance from Nesta while the rest of us sat in silence as we awaited Elain.

The door to the dining hall opened and Elain strode in carelessly with what must be Lucien's green dressing robe hanging from her shoulders. The nightgown that shown underneath was slightly askew and I thought I caught the glimpse of a tear and frayed edging. Looking away, I caught Tamlin's eye and suddenly I understood why he had found the situation so humors.

Lucien straighten the lapel on his jacket. Had it only been hours since Elain had declared some feeling for me? My body tensed and my stomach rolled over. It was all I could do to keep from being sick. I had known better than to let her come here, better than to have left during our fight, but even so, how could she have gone to him so quickly. My throat burned as I struggled to fix my gaze elsewhere.

"Well, someone just saved money on a white dress. Now we just have to figure out who..." Cassian said dryly as he leaned back on his chair with his arms folded behind his head.

Nesta looked less than amused. "She "saved money" on that while she was still a mortal. Father had a pink sash made."

While trying to hide my confusion, I noticed Lucien blanch.

Elain was looking between the others, her face resting on Nesta's. "Nothing happened." She said much more sharply than any of us were used to. "I'm still the same."

"Be that as it may." Tamlin interrupted, still looking slightly amused. "It seems your actions have caused quite a bit of confusion Elain. Everyone's here to try and sort it out."

Her eyes flew to mine. "I don't understand." She whispered.

I gathered my courage to speak. "After yesterday...I thought...maybe we might...that there was a chance we had a bond as well. Or created one."

Lucien didn't look surprised. He knew what happened out on the lake. I was the only one kept in the dark. I had believed her presence at the Spring Court was just an act of natural selection by the cauldron. The shadows whispered to me of their night together and my stomach went hot and then cold and the struggle to hold back the sickness overtook me again.

Lucien didn't have anything to worry about. He had been chosen. Once again I was pining over something that would never be mine. No more than Mor had been mine.

"I thought the priestess could sort it out, but there's no reason for me to even be here." I continued.

"Stay." If it had come from anyone other than Elain I would have ignored it. I had already stood from my chair without realizing it. The shadows steadied me.

"You don't hold any sway over me." I said at once. "Go back to your mate. Don't reach for me again."

Before anyone could say anything else, I was bounding out of the door. I could hear Elain's upset cries as she fled back upstairs. To her room. To his bed. What did it matter anymore?

Everyone else scattered, but I wouldn't be stopped.