Chapter 92

Elain tightened her grip on Lucien's hand. She couldn't help the shiver that shook her entire body and she moved closer when he turned his eyes on her, the look he was giving her was clearly meant to be reassuring. "Tarquin said they'd been seen…?"

Lucien gave her a slow nod. "It's not surprising really." He told her as they walked up the path. "They're scared of Tamlin, so they wouldn't have dared to cross his border, and Kallias would never have welcomed them there."

"So they came here…?" Elain shuddered again and Lucien wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Tarquin said that they weren't impressed with being turned away."

"Would anyone take them in?"

"I don't know." Lucien replied softly, "They've always been welcomed wherever they've gone because they had the status of being Beron's sons… Now that they've been exiled they don't have that status, and it's not as if their charming personalities have endeared them to anyone."

"When were they here?"

"He said they presented the day before we did, and they haven't been seen since."

"Does Tarquin think they're still around?" Elain tried to swallow the nervousness she felt, and Lucien gave her a knowing look, tightening his arm around her.

"No…"

Narrowing her eyes, she looked at his face. "… but?" she asked, knowing there was something he wasn't saying.

"But…" he admitted, "Varian… isn't sure they've left."

Elain's eyes flicked around them, taking in the path and everything else. "What?" she yelped, "Why? What? They could be anywhere!"

"It's okay…"

She didn't think it was okay. They had planned to winnow their way through the court to the Winter border, and then winnow as far across as they could until they reached the border for the Dawn Court. If Lucien's brothers were wandering around, then they weren't safe. "Lucien…" She murmured, her stomach twisting.

"Hey…" He squeezed her closer, "I'll protect you."

"And who will protect you?" She asked, frowning.

"You will." He grinned and Elain couldn't help smiling back at him.

"Deal." She murmured, relaxing slightly when he pressed a kiss to her temple. Adjusting the strap of her pack over her shoulder, Elain continued to walk, keeping pace with Lucien as they headed for the spot from which they could winnow.

The first time they winnowed took them to the border, and Lucien showed her the spot through which they could enter the Winter Court. She had been glad she'd brought the blue cloak he had given her and, pulling it tightly around herself, she found herself smiling at the sight of the stunning frozen landscape.

"Ooof." Lucien rubbed his arms. "Summer to Winter is always rough."

Elain smiled at him, taking his hand again. "Well," she grinned, "Let's make sure we have a hot bath when we get to the Dawn Court."

"We?" Lucien's lips quirked into a smile. "Oh, I do like that plan…"

"Good." Elain stepped closer to him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her before he winnowed them again. Clinging to him, Elain felt his exhaustion. "When we get to Dawn," she said softly, "I'm going to take care of you…" she lifted a hand to brush his vibrant hair away from his face, "You think about what you want, and I'll make sure you get it…"

"You are delightful." He told her, drawing a deep breath and letting out a heavy sigh. Elain felt him gathering his strength again before his hold on her tightened and he winnowed them again. "This is the border…"

"To Dawn?"

"Not quite… we have to cross the mountains…"

"Oh…" Elain took the cloak off when she felt the temperature change. "Wait…" turning to look at him, Elain frowned, "The mountains that aren't part of… Was this where Amarantha held Court?"

"Yes."

"Oh…" She took his hand again, "How long will it take to cross?"

"I think I can get us pretty close to the Dawn border." He told her, and Elain nodded, smiling up at him.

"Have I told you how impressive you are?"

Lucien gave a low laugh and shook his head. "Winnowing is not that impressive." She felt his free hand ghost over her shoulder and down her arm. "I can't even really go that far compared to some other faeries."

"I think it's pretty good." She rolled up her cloak and stuffed it into her pack. "Let me know when you're ready…"

"Yeah, alright." She watched Lucien roll his shoulders, adjusting his own pack. "Let's go, Petal…" he snaked an arm around her shoulders, "Thinking I might like a long massage later…"

"During or after our bath?" she asked, her eyes closing when he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"Both." He replied, and then he winnowed them.

Lucien staggered slightly, and Elain held tightly to him. "Maybe we should rest a bit…" she suggested. "Sit down…"

"I'm okay…"

"Lucien, listen to me."

"Alright…" He sank down on the dirt and Elain looked around them.

"How far from the border do you think we are."

"Not far." He gestured at some nearby trees, "Just through there… We'll cross on foot again, and then it should be one more to the city."

"Okay…" Elain moved around behind his, leaning over to rub gently at his shoulders. "Do you need some water?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"No, I'm okay." Russet and gold eyes met hers before he pushed himself to his feet. "Let's do it." He slung his pack back over his shoulder and Elain moved for the trees. "The Dawn Court is lovely." He said, "I think you'll enjoy it."

"I'm sure I will." Elain looked over her shoulder at him, smiling.

"So far you've liked all of th-" Lucien's words were cut off by a breathy gasp and Elain's blood went cold at the sight of a long black arrow suddenly protruding from his left shoulder.

"Lucien…" Dropping her pack, she hurried toward him, reaching him as his knees buckled and he dropped into the dirt. Going with him, Elain tried to look at his shoulder. "No… No…"

"It's…" Lucien grit his teeth and Elain watched with horror as he wrapped his hand around the arrow shaft and yanked it out of his shoulder. He made a face and Elain didn't know what to do. "Faebane…"

"It's… what?" Elain asked, her eyes wide, "No… does that mean you can't heal?"

"I…" he glanced up to meet her gaze then and Elain saw his eyes go wide. "… Run…"

Elain barely had a moment to process his words before something seized her hair and yanked her backward and away from Lucien. She screamed, kicking and trying to get free, but to no avail. Someone kicked her in the stomach and she screamed again, her hands clawing at the hand still holding her by her hair. She was yanked upright then, and felt another hand grab hold of the back of her dress and then she was jolted backwards as she heard a rip. Elain continued to try and get herself free, still clawing at the hand in her hair and, when it finally released her, she had only a moment to try and balance herself before something struck her and she was sent back into the dirt.

Somebody grabbed her, dragging her further through the dirt before she was hauled to her knees.

"We knew we'd find you…"

Elain's head was pulled back and she saw Connal standing over her. He dragged her higher, pulling her to her feet and then she saw Tallan, standing over Lucien. Lucien's snarl sent shivers through Elain and she gasped when Tallan's boot suddenly connected with Lucien's bloody shoulder, sending her mate sprawling back into the dirt.