Chapter 46

Elain set her bag on the bed. She had been shown to a pretty little room with a tall and extremely enormous bed, and it looked enticing and comfortable. She would definitely have to climb up into it, and the thought made her smile. It had been a while since she had seen such a luxurious bed. She suspected that later she would very much enjoy getting to rest there, as she figured she would need the rest. Her earlier suspicion that it would be a long day had been correct. They journey had taken seemingly forever and they hadn't arrived until well after nightfall. At least Vassa had been in her human form by then. Although, Elain suspected, she would probably better enjoy the time during the day when the other woman was a bird.

The powerful feeling of jealousy that had flooded Elain earlier had very much taken her by surprise. Never in her life had she felt it so strongly, and it had never had such a physical sensation. She had been hot enough that she had wanted to shed her dress, and she hadn't been able to properly breathe. Every time that mortal queen had looked at Lucien, another wave of jealousy had hit Elain. It was evident that Vassa had more than a little interest in Lucien, and Elain still couldn't help wondering what had gone on between them. He had stayed with her for months, and Elain couldn't believe that the redheaded queen had done nothing about her interest in all that time. Lucien was extremely attractive, and it was did not surprise Elain that any mortal woman would develop an interest in him. The thought, however, that he may have returned Vassa's interest twisted Elain's stomach. Another wave of hot jealousy flushed through her and she turned toward the door with a huff. She needed to get out. She needed some cool night air, and a fresh breeze.

Striding up the hallway, Elain searched for a way back downstairs so that she could find her escape. She did not expect Nesta to be already waiting for her a little further up the hallway. "Is that your room?" Elain asked, indicating the door in front of which her sister had been standing.

"Yes." Nesta's sharp eyes followed Elain for a moment. "I wanted to check that you were okay."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Elain did not slow down as they reached the corner and she headed for the stairs.

"I saw your face." Nesta replied, "Earlier, talking to that … queen."

"Oh?"

"You don't like her." Nesta said.

"I don't know her." Elain said softly. "You don't like her."

"Yes, well, I don't like most people." Nesta muttered, "You do. And you don't like her."

"Okay."

"Why?"

Elain came to a stop and turned to face her sister at the top pf the stairs. "I… just didn't like the way she…" pressing her lips together, Elain couldn't make herself say it.

"You didn't like the way she looked at Lucien."

Blinking, Elain just met her sister's eyes. She saw the moment that Nesta realised she was right, and her sister nodded slowly. "Maybe." She murmured.

"Do you think they…?"

"I don't know." Elain looked away, "But… it…"

Looking back to Nesta, Elain saw her sister raise an eyebrow at her. "Ask him?" Nesta suggested.

"I…" Elain broke off when panic hit her down the bond. She staggered slightly, drawing a gasping breath as she grabbed at the bannister.

"Elain?" Nesta grabbed her arm, "What is it?"

Steadying herself Elain shook her head. "Something…"

"You seem panicked." Nesta went on, and Elain glanced at her to see her sister still watching her. "Are you in pain? Do you see something?"

"No…" Elain murmured. "I have to find Lucien…" She began hurrying down the stairs, Nesta hot on her heels. Something was wrong.

"What is it?" Nesta asked.

"I don't know." Elain replied, "I can just feel him…"

Letting the bond guide her, Elain hurried outside and toward the gardens. The panic was still rolling down the bond to her, and Elain quickened her step as they hurried into the maze. "What can you feel?" Nesta sounded worried as she followed Elain. "Elain?"

"Panic." Elain muttered, hurrying up the narrow passage. She kept moving, turning this way and that, and Nesta continued to hurry to keep up with her. They didn't speak as they continued to search, before Elain came to a halt, hearing voices. Nesta froze beside her and they listened.

"Vassa, I've told you before…" Lucien's voice reached them from somewhere nearby.

"But you've been gone for so long." The sound of Vassa's voice in response made Elain snarl. Nesta eyed her warily and with some surprise before they continued up the passage.

"Elain…" Nesta whispered, following her quickly, "I think you should…"

As they came around the next corner, Nesta fell quiet when Lucien and Vassa came into view. Elain's breath caught in her throat as she watched the redheaded queen reach out, her hand closing around Lucien's wrist as he tried to move away from her. "We've been through this." He sighed, trying to keep her at bay as she followed him, pulling at his arm. "I have a mate…"

"Doesn't she have to accept that?" Vassa asked, "She hasn't, has she? So why not entertain someone who actually wants you?"

Fury flooded Elain and, before she could think, she was stalking forward. Lucien had backed up against the hedge as Vassa had continued to press closer and they both turned toward Elain as she approached.

"Lucien." When Elain reached them she held a hand out to him, not even glancing at Vassa. Lucien met her eyes and she held his gaze as he pulled his wrist from Vassa's grip and took the hand Elain was extending to him. Something inside of her eased as Lucien's fingers wrapped around her hand, and she exhaled a slow breath.

Tightening her grip on Lucien's hand, Elain turned and began walking away up the narrow path, pulling him along with her. They passed Nesta who was still standing and watching Vassa and, as Elain got further away, she heard her sister's voice, low and dangerous. "Stay away from my sister's mate."

Unable to take his eyes off of Elain, Lucien trailed along after her. He had never seen her like this before, and something about it pleased him to no end. She had come into the maze looking for him, he knew that. She must have sensed something down the bond, and she had come for him. Realising that what he had felt from her earlier must have been jealousy, Lucien couldn't stop a wide smile from forming across his face as he looked her over. She had been angry when she had found them, and he had seen the look on her face as she had come to pull him away from Vassa. He had seen the possessiveness in her eyes, and it was easy to read as he knew it well. The fact that she would feel that way upon seeing another female touching him made his blood sing in his veins.

Elain didn't stop marching along until they came to an empty hallway back inside the manor. Then, she dropped his hand and swung around to face him. Slowly, she pressed herself back against a low window, lifting her eyes to his face. Lucien met her gaze, forcing himself to remain silent as she looked at him. He saw the moment the anger had drained from her, all confidence going with it, and she turned shy. Her gaze dropped to the floor and Lucien took a small step toward her. "Did you miss me?" he asked softly and Elain nodded, her eyes coming back up to meet his.

"It… it's not just the bond." She murmured, and Lucien took another step toward her, hope flaring to life inside him once more.

"Is it not, Petal?" he asked.

"I missed talking to you." she told him, moving toward him herself now. "I missed your voice, and I missed just sitting with you out in the garden… I missed… you."

Lucien just looked at her, hoping that he wasn't having some kind of hallucination. "I've missed you as well." He said gently as Elain reached him.

"I wanted you to come back…" she was looking up at him and Lucien couldn't help but lift a hand to her, tucking a lock of her golden brown hair back over her shoulder.

"I-" Lucien forgot what he had been about to say when Elain suddenly threw herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she tugged him down to kiss him. In an instant, he had wrapped his own arms around her waist, lifting her as he straightened again. Surprise filled him when she pressed him to deepen the kiss and he allowed her to do as she wished. The desperation and desire that he could feel, both through the kiss and the bond, took Lucien's breath away, and he had never been happier.