Chapter 73

Paralysed with fear, Elain lay in Lucien's bed. She hadn't been able to move since she had awoken with that vision in her head. She had lay, desperately trying to see something further, trying to call for him to send her anything else. It hadn't worked, however. All she had was that vision. They had locked him up. Biting her lower lip, Elain blinked back tears. She didn't know if he was hurt, or what had happened. Why had they locked him up? Had they injured him beforehand? What were they planning on doing to him?

Darkness pressed in on her. She didn't know what to do. If they had locked Lucien up, it was unlikely that they were just going to release him. He wasn't going to be able to come back to her. Unable to help a sob, Elain pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle any further sounds. She couldn't lose him; not when she hadn't even accepted the mating bond yet. Knowing that she had to do something to help him, Elain thought.

Laying in the darkness as the sky began to lighten and turn grey outside, she tried to figure out her options. She would send word to Rhys. If anyone would be able to help her, it would be Rhys. Feyre wouldn't want anything to happen to Lucien, and would also likely have some idea of how to help. That was her first step, she decided. As the sun continued to rise, and birdsong began to sound outside her window, Elain threw the covers back and got to her feet. She hurried to the small desk by the window and penned a quick letter to Rhys and Feyre before she hurried to get dressed,

There was no way that she was able to just sit around and wait. Her letter had informed the Night Court about what was going on, but that didn't mean that Elain was going to stay where she was. She had to go and see if she could get to him. She was going to the Autumn Court.

When she was dressed, Elain threw a few things into her pack before slinging it across her shoulder. She knew that she had to tell Tamlin, so she hurried through the manor, toward his bedroom. When she found it, she knocked quickly on his door, fiddling with the strap of her bag over her shoulder. It was light enough now that she could see the confused look upon Tamlin's face when he pulled the door open.

"Elain?" he asked, and she was surprised to see that he was already dressed in his usual clothing. "What is the matter?"

"Lucien needs help." She said simply, "I'm going to the Autumn Court."

"He… wanted you to stay here…"

"They've imprisoned him." Elain replied, already taking a step away. "I can't stay here. I am going… I…" She looked him over, "I don't know if I exactly remember where…"

"I'll go with you."

Looking him over, Elain nodded. That would be helpful for her. She wasn't entirely sure where the portal was, and she would need assistance to move quickly. Lucien had told her that Tamlin would protect her, and she supposed that was true. If they came across anything or anyone on the road, like Malack, she figured she would be thankful for Tamlin and his company. Eyeing his hands, she couldn't help but remember the claws that had come out when he had ripped into Lucien. Yes, Tamlin would be good protection for her. "Thank you." She murmured gently, "Thank you…"

As cold seeped into his bones, Lucien seized the iron bars yet again. Knowing that it was fruitless, he tugged at them, trying to get himself some leverage in any way that he could. An instant later, he felt panic down the bond, and knew that it had come from Elain. With a start, Lucien realised that he had sent her an image of where he was, and he slammed any further connection down. She did not need to see this. He wouldn't allow her to.

If Eris was going to kill him outright, Lucien figured that he would have already been dead. They had descended on him in the throne room, pinning him like they had done before, but then they had dragged him down to the dungeon. If Eris was planning to execute him, why not already do it? Lucien knew they could have had him put to death right where Jesminda had been. Instead, he had spent most of the night in this freezing cell, and he had not meant to send Elain any of it.

He could feel her panic. She had seen exactly what had happened, and she had understood what it meant. Wondering what she would do once she had battled the panic down, Lucien bit his lip and released the bar. She wouldn't just ignore what she had seen, he knew that. She would turn to someone for help. Who would it be, though? Her sisters? Feyre? Or Nesta?

Glad that she was in the Spring Court and nobody would be able to get to her while she was with Tamlin, Lucien forced himself to relax a little. He sat back from the bars, releasing them and dropping his hands into his lap. At least he had kept her safe. At least he had done that.

Not knowing what time it was, down here in the dark, Lucien closed his eyes. If he could get any kind of rest, he should do so. He didn't know what was going to be done to him, or when they were going to come for him, but if he was rested, he probably stood more of a chance of withstanding whatever it was. He needed to do that. He needed to have the best chance possible to be able to get back to Elain. He had promised, after all, and he was never going to break a promise to her. Not if he could help it.

The sun wasn't very high by the time Tamlin and Elain reached the edge of the Spring Court. Elain was already thankful for her companion. He carried everything, and he was a reassuring presence at her back. She hadn't expected him to talk quite so much, but he spoke softly to her, telling her about the things they passed and Elain had found it surprisingly comforting. His chatter died a little as they passed into the Autumn Court, and she felt him become more alert. His green eyes flickered around them, and she knew that he was keeping a strong ear out for any movement nearby. If someone had jumped Lucien unawares before he'd gotten to the Forest House, that threat was still out there and could do the same to them.

They walked all day and the pretty autumn light had begun to fade before the House came into view. They had come across nobody out in the forest, but Elain knew they had been seen. Lucien had once told her that nobody approached the Forest House without Beron knowing about it, and she just knew that Eris would have some kind of similar system in place. There would be no sneaking up on him.

Fine. She didn't care about that. Let him know that she was coming. Let them all know. She was here for her mate, and she wasn't leaving without him.

As they walked, Elain tried to figure out what she could offer Eris. She had little by way of money or possessions, but she figured he would have no need of any of that. She had nothing else, she realised. Nothing but herself and her gift as a Seer. That, she thought, might have some weight with a new High Lord. Perhaps he would value what she could tell him about his enemies or his reign.

She would find out soon enough.

When the doors opened before her, Elain turned her head to look at Tamlin. "Too late to turn back now," he told her and she nodded. It was. Wondering then if Rhys and Feyre had received the letter she had sent that morning, Elain strode through the gates with her head held high.