eChapter 152

Hearing Lucien's voice, Elain whipped her head around. He was walking out onto the balcony, coming toward her, and her breath caught in her throat. "Lucien!" In an instant Elain was on her feet, her heart thundering, and she ignored the pain in her leg, as she lurched across the balcony toward him. "…Lucien."

"Here." He strode to meet her, and the tightness within Elain eased when Lucien's arms came around her, enveloping her in his strong embrace. He held her tightly, and Elain slid her hands up to the back of his neck, pulling her head back just enough to try and look up at him. She heard his metallic eye click and whir as he looked her over, felt his hands moving up her back and over her, and then he'd brought his lips down to hers and Elain wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him.

"Petal…" Lucien broke the kiss well before Elain would have, and she met his eyes again as he looked at her. "Why can't I feel the bond…?" he asked, frowning. "I can't feel you… I… I thought…" both of his hands came up to caress her cheeks, his thumbs tracing her cheekbones. "But you're here…"

"Yes…" Elain stared up at him, her own eyes taking in every detail of his face. "I can't hear your heart." Her voice hitched a little at the words, and she slid one of her hands down to settle over his heart. "Some of the wine was dosed with faebane." She said softly, watching as anger slid behind his russet eye, "When I awoke and couldn't hear you…" she rubbed her hand gently over his chest, "I panicked."

"What…" he frowned, looking down at her, and she knew that he'd noticed her trying to keep her weight off of her sore leg. "Petal…?" bending, Lucien swept her up into his arms, holding her gently to himself, "What's wrong with your leg?"

"Got a bit squished." She breathed, one of her hands returning to his face. "I still can't hear your heart…" she murmured, "It's just… silent." She was unable to help the tears welling in her eyes and, when she blinked, she felt them spill and fall.

"It'll come back." He told her softly, "Faebane doesn't last." Elain nodded, closing her eyes when Lucien kissed the tears from her cheeks. "Are you alright, my love?" he asked, and she nodded again, opening her eyes to look at him.

"Yes…" Elain brought her other hand up, now holding his face in both hands as she stared into his eyes.

"Are you certain?" he asked, and she smiled, still staring at him.

"Yes." Her hands moved, stroking Lucien's face as he held her. "It feels so strange to be able to touch you, and not hear your heart respond…"

"Trust me, Petal." He breathed, turning with her in his arms, "It's responding." His eyes flicked to something nearby and Elain turned her head to find Nesta standing there, watching them.

"We should go inside." Her sister said and Lucien made a sound of agreement. "Rhys says that Helion wishes to speak with us in his private sitting room."

"We'd better go, then." Lucien's voice was low and Elain looked up at him again to find his eyes on her. "You know I'm not putting you down…"

"She's barely able to walk anyway." Nesta said, and Elain watched as Lucien's eyes shifted to her leg before returning to her face.

"Are you in pain?" he asked, and she gave a light shrug. She was. Her leg hurt, but she didn't want him to put her down. This was far better, and it made her far happier to be held by him. If she couldn't feel him through the bond, couldn't hear the reassuring thump of his heart, then she would keep the feel of his arms around her. "Petal?"

"I feel better with you holding me."

She watched as he warred with himself internally, and she could see him battling with the choices before he nodded and strode after Nesta. Feyre appeared beside their eldest sister and Elain felt herself further relax, able to see the three people she cared most about in the world. It didn't matter how much pain she was in, as long as her family was okay and she had Lucien, everything would be fine.

When they walked into Helion's private study, Elain dragged her eyes away from her mate's face and forced herself to look around the room. Helion and Ashk were sitting by a bookcase, and Tarquin and Thesan were nearby with Tamlin standing beside them. She saw Eris gesture to an armchair by the fire and Lucien moved toward his brother before gently setting Elain down in the chair. Not wanting to lose contact with him, Elain lifted one of her hands to close around Lucien's wrist, not letting him go.

"You wished to speak with us" Viviane's voice asked from the doorway and Elain glanced around to see her walk into the room with Kallias and Rhys.

"Yes." Helion got to his feet, drawing himself to his full height, and Elain felt the tension in the room shift. There was wariness here. "I wish to inform you that what happened this evening was not of my design."

"We didn't think it was." Rhys said, his voice careful.

"Nevertheless." Helion went on, "I wanted to assure you that everything will be done to ensure the ones responsible will be punished accordingly."

"Have you found them?" Tarquin asked, his eyes on the High Lord of the Day Court. Helion seemed to shift, as if uncomfortable.

"I have my suspicions, but…" he paused, "as yet, she is proving elusive."

"It was that wretched Priestess, wasn't it?" Viviane asked, "We knew she would do something awful…"

Elain did not miss Helion's amber eyes flicking toward Lucien for an instant. "I apologise for not recognising sooner what was to happen…"

"We will help to locate the one responsible." Eris said, "Let us know what we can do."

"I have ordered a search of the Palace." Helion said, standing straight again. "Those wishing to participate will assemble in the front entrance by the gate."

Silently, Elain watched as Eris, Tarquin, Thesan, and Tamlin headed out the door. Viviane and Kallias moved out of their way and drew closer to the fire with Feyre and Rhys. When Helion gave a soft sigh and sank back into his chair beside Ashk, Elain watched as The Lady of the Autumn Court rubbed a soothing hand up and down his thigh and he lay a gentle hand atop hers. "This could have started a war." The High Lord of the Day Court said, his voice weary, "Could have undone everything we've worked for."

"Working together will help them feel united." Lucien put in a moment before he went down on his knees beside Elain's chair. Helion nodded, his eyes on his son.

"Still, I should have recognised Sorcha for what she was." His amber eyes flicked toward Elain, "I should have seen that she would target you."

"Me?" Elain asked, "How do you know that she did?"

"That pitcher of wine was placed directly in front of you." Nesta said, her voice cold. "She gave it to you."

"Perhaps she also wished to prevent you seeing what she intended to do. She knows of your abilities…" Helion added.

Lucien's eyes were fierce when he looked again at Elain. She may not have been able to feel him through the bond, but she could tell that heat was flowing through him. That fire was in his eyes again, and his hair looked like molten metal. Gently, Elain brought a hand to his cheek, caressing him soothingly, and she watched as that fire softened to a gentle warmth. She just held his gaze as she felt Lucien slide a hand down her calf to her ankle, and then that warmth seemed to spread from his hand through her leg, consuming any and all pain that it came across.