Chapter 153

Concentrating, Lucien ran his hands up and down Elain's calves. Again and again, from ankle to knee and back, he pushed as much of his healing magic into her as he could. She had said that something had fallen on her and he couldn't stop picturing the body of that faerie who had been crushed to death by the debris from the balcony. If something like that had fallen on Elain, then she was extremely lucky that she was alive. Also, he was afraid that she had other injuries which he could not see. The bruise on her leg and her pain had been evident, but that didn't mean that was all that she was dealing with.

"Are you alright?" he asked, still on his knees before her, and his eyes on her face.

"Yes." Elain's own eyes had been on the other side of the room, where Helion and Ashk sat, but she looked down at him, meeting Lucien's anxious gaze. Lucien still could not stop his hands from moving over her, stroking and caressing.

"Are you certain?"

"My leg no longer hurts."

He couldn't stop running his hands over her, couldn't stop touching her, and he couldn't make himself move any further away, because then he wouldn't be able to reach her, and he couldn't have that. "Anything else?" he asked softly, and she shook her head, reaching one of her own hands out, her fingers brushing his cheek. Lucien nodded his acceptance, and sank down onto the plush rug, leaning his shoulder against her chair, and keeping one of his hands loosely around Elain's ankle, as he returned his attention to the other conversation taking pace in the room.

"Something has to be done." Nesta sounded like she was on a knife's edge, just about ready to slip and explode.

"I assure you." Helion replied, his voice clearly intended to soothe. "This will be taken seriously."

"You can't even find her."

"We will."

"How can you be sure? She could be long gone by now."

"No." Helion shook his head, and Nesta tilted her head, clearly waiting for an explanation. "Where would she have gone that would give her what she wants?"

"I don't know?" Nesta replied, "She probably wanted to avoid punishment."

"She wants power." Lucien put in, his gaze sliding from Helion to Nesta. Those blue-grey eyes fixed on him, steely as ever. "It's unlikely that she's even left."

"Oh?" there was a clear challenge in her voice then and Lucien nodded.

"My take," he began, "is that she wanted to prevent Elain from seeing anything of what was to come, the balcony or any of it. She laced the wine in front of her with faebane so that her magic would be affected. She wanted others to be helpless too, so that she would be able to do more." He saw Nesta narrow her eyes, and he went on to clarify, "Sorcha, I would wager, wished to make herself invaluable in the rebuilding and dealing with the aftermath…"

"Then where is she?" This was Feyre and Lucien shook his head.

"I don't know."

"Maybe she's dead?" Rhys asked, and Lucien flicked a glance at him.

"I doubt," Helion put in "that Sorcha was able to do this alone."

"Which means…" Rhys replied, "That you have a problem."

"Yes." Helion sighed, and Lucien watched as his mother took the High Lord's hand, "I hadn't thought anyone in my Court would have been capable of such a thing, let alone had the desire for it." Helion's amber eyes flicked around the room. "I had thought everyone was content."

"There will always be those who want more." Ashk said gently, "And they can all too easily be persuaded to do any number of things for it." Lucien supposed that his mother had seen more than her share of that type of Court manoeuvring in the Autumn Court. He had certainly seen enough of it in his own time there.

"Did she really think," Feyre muttered, "that drugging and killing Elain would get her the power she desired?"

"Wasn't just Elain she wanted to kill." Nesta said softly, "Although I have no doubt if she had have done that, she would have flung herself at Lucien as soon as possible." Lucien raised an eyebrow at Nesta who went on, "I'll bet that she was hoping to kill enough of the Court to create holes and opportunities for herself."

"She wanted to be a key supporter in the rebuilding." Lucien agreed, "She would have thought she could rise within the Court." He turned his head when he felt one of Elain's hands slide into his hair. She was frowning as she looked at him. "Petal?" he murmured, voice low enough so that only she would hear him.

"It's nothing." She breathed.

"Doesn't look like nothing."

"Just the thought of her trying to come after you… once I was dead…"

"She would have found her endeavour unsuccessful." He told her and she tilted her head. "She's made to think that I could ever want another after I've loved you."

Elain's pretty lips curved in a gentle smile, and Lucien ran his fingers from her ankle, slowly up her calf, his eyes lifting to meet her brown.

"Silky court-trained charmer…" she purred and Lucien smiled widely.

"You can thank my mother for that."

"Ah…" Elain's eyes flicked across the room before looking back to Lucien and shaking her head, "I don't think that I will." She replied gently, "At least, not right now." She sat back in her chair and Lucien watched her resist a yawn.

Running his hand up and down her calf again, he turned his gaze back to the others. Kallias had slid an arm around Viviane, who was resting back against him, and even Nesta had allowed herself to sink into a comfortable looking chair. It seemed as if Helion had noticed the same thing because he lifted a hand to call an end to any latent conversations.

"The search will continue until Sorcha and anyone assisting her are found. It is late, however, so the rest of you may retire for the evening." He got to his feet, "If you do, I would urge caution. Just be aware of what is happening around you until those who mean us harm have been caught."

"I could do with a bath." Viviane agreed, pushing away from Kallias and standing straight. Lucien watched her turn to her mate, holding a hand out to him.

"That does sound good." Elain's soft voice made Lucien turn to look at her. He got to his feet then, holding his own hand out to her. "Thank you." Elain allowed him to pull her to her feet and he made sure he was ready to catch her at the slightest sign of discomfort. She seemed steady enough, however and he smiled when one of her hands came to rest on his arm.

"Are you alright?" he asked and she nodded. Lucien took her hand, bringing it to her lips, pleased when he saw her blush at his actions and glance around them to see if anybody else had been watching. "Let's get you that bath." He said and she smiled before looking toward her sisters.

"I'll see you in the morning." She said to them and Lucien only heard Feyre's and Nesta's soft murmured responses before Elain had moved toward him, wrapping an arm around his waist. He was unable to help himself, pulling her tightly against his body as he turned them for the door. Sparing a quick glance over his shoulder, he saw his mother get to her feet, her own eyes on Helion, and Lucien figured they would both be fine. No doubt the High Lord of the Day Court would return to his makeshift infirmary and see to those who were still injured before he retired for the night. But, seeing as that was not his duty, Lucien cared now for nothing except taking care of Elain. He was keen to get her into a warm bath, and then reassure himself that she was truly no longer injured by inspecting every inch of her he could find.