Chapter 31

After breakfast, Elain watched Lucien disappear down the hallway. Beron had summoned him, and he didn't have much of a choice about answering the call. He had dropped her at their room, telling her that he would hopefully not be long, and she wondered what kind of torment the High Lord was going to put him through. She wondered if Beron had found out that Ashk had told Lucien about Helion. Was that why he had been summoned? She didn't know about that, but she did know that she and Lucien needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

Glancing at the door to their room, she rested a hand against it for a moment. She could go inside and wait for Lucien to return, that was what he had wanted her to do, but she needed to finish collecting things for her book. They couldn't leave the Autumn Court until she was done and, if they wanted to get out of here faster, that what she needed to do.

Biting her lip, Elain weighed the options. She wasn't stupid enough to go wandering around on her own, but she didn't want to sit and waste time. Ashk had said during breakfast that she had planned to spend some time out in her favourite garden so, Elain figured, she would head that way. If she could get to Ashk before anyone else found her, she would be safe. Besides, it wasn't as if she was going to be floating around the place unaware.

Checking that the small book was still in her pocket, Elain stepped away from the door and turned, heading up the hallway swiftly. She would get this done quickly, then she and Lucien might be able to leave as soon as tomorrow. They were meant to head to the Winter Court next but, as far as she knew, they had not received word that they were to be expected. Either way, the sooner she got her job done, the sooner they would be able to leave when they were able.

Turning down the next left turn in the corridor, Elain lengthened her stride. Perhaps she could even get this done and get back to the room before Lucien returned. She smiled at that thought. Some more time alone and uninterrupted with him where they could possibly discuss what had happened earlier sounded like a good idea to her. She had wanted him to kiss her, even before thinking very much about it. She had awoken warm and comfortable, with one of his arms around her, and she had been pleased when he had evidently read that desire in her and acted accordingly. She remembered the flush of heat that had washed through her when Lucien had rolled atop her, his warm weight pinning her in place, and a shiver passed through her at the memory of his gentle movement against her.

Elain was shaken from her thoughts when Eris stepped out into the hallway ahead of her. He paused when he spotted her and then began heading her way, his stride smooth and even. Elain came to a stop, knowing that she had nowhere to go. Eris smiled at her when he came to stand before her. "Are you okay?" he asked, and Elain nodded. He ran a hand down his crimson jacket, and she watched his amber eyes move over her. "Have you collected all you need for your compilation?"

"Ah, no." Elain shook her head, pulling the book from her pocket. "I was hoping to add more just now."

"May I see?" he held his hand out and, hesitantly, Elain handed him her book. She watched as he flipped through it, until he got to the Autumn Court section. An instant later he closed the book and handed it back to her. "If you would allow it, I'd like to show you something you might like to include."

"A flower?" she asked, and Eris nodded, offering her his arm. Not seeing a way she could decline, Elain placed her hand on his arm and allowed him to lead her down the hallway.

Eris walked at a steady pace, and Elain remained silent as he began telling her about different aspects of the court. Before long he had taken her into a courtyard she had not seen before and they came to a stop before a delightfully colourful garden bed. "This is my favourite." He said, lowering his arm.

Elain stared at the flowers. "Oh…" she murmured, her eyes trying to drink in everything she saw. Tugging her book from her pocket again, she tried to work out where to begin. "Which…" she murmured, "which did you have in mind…?"

"Well, I figured you'd like both these…" he bent to trace a finger along the petals of a peach coloured dahlia, "and these…" he indicated a small yellow and purple crocus plant. Elain just nodded, her hands turning the pages of her book to the next blank space.

"I could use both…"

"You are welcome to do so."

Sinking down to her knees, Elain set about trying to draw the dahlias. After a moment, she remembered herself and looked back up over her shoulder at Eris who was watching her. "Don't mind me." He said, "I'll wait."

Nodding, Elain turned back to the garden, her pencil already moving against paper. The dahlia was easy enough to get the basic shape right, and she had moved on to the crocus flowers when a voice called out to Eris across the courtyard.

"Excuse me for a few moments." Eris said, "There is something important I must address…"

Elain didn't even turn around as he strode away, just nodded, engrossed in what she was doing. She heard the door they had come out of earlier close as he followed someone inside, and then her attention was focused entirely on trying to capture the shape of the crocus plant's leaves.

She was completely unprepared when a pair of hands seized her by the shoulders and hauled her to her feet. Gasping, Elain struggled to get free as she was turned around. Lucien's other brothers grinned at her.

"Well," the one she had told to stop touching her at breakfast sneered, "I've been looking for you." Elain stared at him. He was taller than the other two and his hair shorter. He snatched the book from her hands and flicked through it, feigning interest, before snapping it shut with a sigh. "How quaint." A glance at his brothers had the two of them moving to grab Elain again, each of them holding her upper arms so she couldn't move. The taller one stepped closer, slipping the book into her dress pocket as he met her eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. She tried to pull away from the other two but got nowhere.

"You said it was rude to touch somebody you don't know." His voice was scarily quiet and she could feel the heat of him as he pushed closer. One of the other brothers snickered, "So, I thought we could get to know one another better because I do plan on touching you…"

Elain shook her head, struggling again. "No…"

"Hm… Yes…" he said, a hand moving to her dress. "Afterall, don't you know… brothers share…"

Elain shrieked when he thrust a hand between her legs, groping at her.

"Anything that has been Lucien's has always been ours…" He went on, the grin on his face utterly vulpine. Elain continued to struggle and the grip the other two had on her arms only tightened.

"Ow…" she tried kicking at him, but he only laughed.

"My name's Malak." He told her, his face close, "I'm telling you that now so that you know what name to scream before I'm done with you."

Disgust coiled through Elain before the other two brothers lifted her off her feet and Malak pressed closer, lifting her dress and seizing her hips as he pushed himself between her legs. "Let me go." Elain growled. What was he planning to do? Force himself on her while his two brothers held her in place?

"I don't think so." Malak replied coldly, forcing her legs around his waist.

Elain screamed, the sound only cut off when Malak clamped a hand over her mouth, his amber eyes flaring with anger. She continued to struggle and writhe, but the grip the other two brothers had on her was iron and she knew she would have bruising on her arms by the end of the day. Tears of both fear and anger welled in her eyes when she felt Malak begin fumbling with his pants. This was not happening.

Redoubling her efforts, Elain thrashed, managing to rake her fingernails down Malak's arm. This only resulted in a sharp slap to her face. "Keep still, you little whore." Rage flowed through Elain at being called such a thing, and she scratched at him again before the other two yanked both her arms behind her back. "We know the kind of trash Lucien fucks with." Malak told her, "This is practically an honour for you."

"Can't wait to see his face when he finds out we've all had a go on his Mate." One of the others put in, and Elain could hear the smirk in his voice.

"No!" she shrieked, her back arching as she thrashed again.

Suddenly, Malak was yanked backward away from her, and Elain's feet hit the ground as the other two loosened their hold on her. Elain wiped at her eyes, blinking. Eris stood before her, holding Malak by the throat and looking livid. She heard the other two faeries behind her backing away slowly and when she thought she saw flames dancing in Eris' amber eyes, she understood their fear. The eldest brother turned those burning eyes on her then.

"Run to Lucien." He told her calmly.

She didn't need to be told again. Elain launched herself across the courtyard and for the door nearby. As she hauled it open, flames erupted across the courtyard out of the corner of her eye and she couldn't contain a whimper of fear.

Running as quickly as she could down the various hallways, Elain had only just begun to wonder where she was going as she didn't know where Lucien was and she didn't think going back to their room was the most discreet location for her to try and hide in. The thought had barely crossed her mind when she saw him.

Hurrying toward him, Elain saw the moment Lucien got a look at her face. He paused for a second, his smile disappearing, before striding up the hallway in her direction. When he was close enough, Elain threw herself at him with a sob. Lucien's strong arms wrapped around her and he held her tightly. Elain squeezed her eyes shut as she clung to him.

"Elain, Petal," he murmured, "What happened? What's wrong?" She could hear his heart beating erratically as he tried to supress panic and she shook her head, pressing her face into his shoulder. "Elain?"

"No." she breathed, clenching a handful of his jacket in her hand. One of his large hands began rubbing circles into her back and a moment later she felt him press a soft kiss to her forehead.

"It's okay." He told her, "Whatever it was, I've got you…"

Nodding, Elain just held tightly to him. With the warmth of Lucien pressed against her, and his arms wrapped protectively around her she could feel herself beginning to calm down. He made her feel safe.