Chapter 103

Leaning back against the cushions, Elain flipped open her book. She had brought the sequel to the book she had been reading so long ago on that night when she had wandered down into the kitchen to find Lucien in the dark. They had barely known one another then, and it felt like forever ago.

Drawing her lip between her teeth and biting it lightly, she turned the pages until she found where she had gotten up to previously. Things had just begun to get sexy, and she was kind of glad that she had a few minutes to herself to read.

She had gotten back from her wander during which she had found several flowers to sketch into her book, and she didn't think that Lucien would be back from his meeting with Thesan until closer to dinner. So, stretching out across the bed, Elain began to read.

She gasped as Rohan turned her around and pulled her back against his firm body. It had been far too long since she had seen him, and they had been kept apart far longer than she ever thought that she could have handled. Having gotten around her father finally, however, they were together again and she couldn't wait to make the most of it. Rohan evidentially felt the same, and she let out an excited gasp when he bent her over the table, his hands moving down to her hips and grinding himself against her. She could feel how ready he was and, as she widened her stance, he quickly pulled her skirts up her legs. When she heard him undoing his pants an instant later, she braced herself with her arms, palms flat against the table. Rohan's hands were on her again, then, his own palms sliding up her thighs, and she couldn't help letting out a soft moan. When one of his hands slid up her back, pressing her more firmly down against the table, she bit her lip knowing what was about to happen. Rohan pushed into her slowly, and her eyes closed as she groaned. It had been entirely too long since she had felt him like this and, wanting more, she pushed back to meet him as he thrust into her. Rohan evidentially took that as a sign to pick up the pace and, within moments, he had settled into a quick rhythm, thrusting with purpose.

Elain knew that she was blushing.

Biting her lip, she closed the book and set it aside as she drew a deep, shuddering, breath. "Oh, my…" she murmured.

Even though she had now slept with Lucien, and done all kinds of things with him, she still found herself reacting this way when she read something like that. Especially when it was something that she hadn't done. As she ran her fingers across her stomach, Elain thought about what it would be like to let Lucien have her from behind. She rather liked the idea of letting him have complete control over her like that and, from what she had read in the books she borrowed from Nesta, the males did always seem to like doing it like that. She wondered if it was control thing, if it was because it made them feel powerful, and she wondered if Lucien would like it.

As she pulled her skirt up her own legs, Elain chewed on her lower lip. She wondered if she should ask him if he wanted to do it that way, or if she should just present herself to him like that. Maybe it would be better if she surprised him.

Maybe, she wondered, it would be better if she just waited until she accepted the bond. She would be able to read him, anyway. She would know how he felt about it. With that thought, Elain began to wonder if there was anything else that Lucien might be wanting that she hadn't considered. Aside from that one time, where she had asked him if she could try getting on top of him, they hadn't actually discussed it much. Everything had just kind of happened naturally. Perhaps there were things that he liked that she had never even thought of. Elain thought that was likely, considering how much more experience with it all he had compared with her.

Would he tell her? She figured that he probably would. She should have asked before now, she thought. But, at least she would do so now.

Her eyes closed as she allowed her fingers to slip between her thighs. She found herself already hot and slick and, with a soft gasp, she began to gently rub herself in slow circles.

As the sun had faded behind the horizon, someone had come to let Elain know that dinner was about to be served and she had wandered down to the dining hall that she and Lucien had found earlier for lunch. Her mate was not there, and neither was the High Lord.

Figuring that they would be late, Elain had sat and eaten her dinner, talking quietly with Nuan who had appeared not long after she herself had arrived. The other faerie had told her a little more about what she would be doing in the Day Court soon enough, and Elain had talked to her a little bit about her life before she had been made fae, and about her sisters.

Even if Nuan hadn't been Lucien's friend, and even if she hadn't helped him in such a way, Elain thought that she would have liked Nuan anyway. There was a kindness to the other female, and Elain felt comfortable with her. She liked that Nuan would speak of things that were outside the 'everyday' that so often dominated small talk, and she had stories that were interesting to listen to. Nuan had been all over Prythian and she seemed to have something to say on every topic.

It wasn't until their dishes were cleared away that Elain looked to the window once again, frowning at the darkness beyond. Evidently Nuan saw this and a small frown appeared between her onyx eyes.

The door to the room flew open then and a handsome male faerie stalked in, his white feathered wings shifting behind him.

"Aelius," Nuan said, her tone low, "what is the matter?"

"The High Lord has not returned…" The faerie, Elain thought he might have been Thesan's Captain of the Guard, replied. "Nor has the emissary…"

Getting to her feet, Elain looked at him. "Where are they?" she asked, her voice catching in her throat.

"I don't know." Aelius shook his head. "They were in the granaries this afternoon, but then went for a walk to discuss whatever it was they needed to discuss… they were last seen out by the western fields…"

Elain tried to swallow panic as Nuan got to her feet. "I take it you have sent a search?"

"Of course I have!"

Elain watched the Captain of the Guard, who seemed more than a little frazzled himself. "Is this… unusual?" she asked, "Does he often go for walks…"

"Not without informing us and he's always back by nightfall…" Aelius's eyes fixed on Elain, "Unless the emissary thought to-"

Not even wanting to hear whatever accusation he was about to make, Elain cut him off. "No." she said, her voice sharp, "There's no way this would have been planned… you need to find them…" she moved toward Aelius, "You need to find your High Lord." She stared at him. "Find my mate!"