Chapter 156

When Elain opened her eyes in the morning, the first thing she noticed was Lucien's heartbeat. He was laying beside her, his red hair splayed out across his pillow, and Elain gripped his arm, grinning as she pulled herself up. He began to stir and Elain climbed over him, looking down at him when he opened his eyes, blinking in the light.

"Mmm…" he groaned, lifting a hand to rub a his face. "Petal?"

"Good morning." She was still grinning, and she brushed her fingers through his hair, smoothing it down. Watching him, Elain saw the moment that he noticed the bond.

"I… can…" he paused, looking up at her and she nodded, her grin even more wide than before. Lucien smiled back at her, his fingers tracing up her arm to her shoulder. "Can you?"

"Yes!" Elain bent forward, pressing her lips to his as both her hands went to his face, "Oh, yes." She listened with joy as she heart his heartbeat quicken, and pleasure flushed through him, meeting her down the bond. Relief hit her next, and Elain embraced it, seeking to deepen the kiss. Lucien's arms wrapped around her, pulling her down against himself as he responded to her kiss, and she gave a soft groan as heat filled her.

"Didn't I tell you it would come back?" he smiled at her when she eventually lifted her head to look at him, and Elain nodded.

"You did."

Meeting his eyes, Elain held Lucien's gaze as he reached up to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. With her chest pressed against his, Elain took great joy in the fact that she could feel his heart beating in his chest as well as hear it in her head. "It does feel much better, doesn't it?" he said gently, and Elain nodded her head.

"Much more right." She agreed. Then, remembering what Ashk had promised her before the balcony had collapsed the night before, she was unable to help another smile. Helion had said that the suite he had been preparing for them was ready, and Ashk had promised to show it to her.

"Are you smiling at something in particular?" Lucien asked, raising an eyebrow and Elain tilted her head as she looked at him.

"What would I possibly be smiling about?"

"Well, I don't know, Petal." There was a soft purr to Lucien's voice now, and Elain felt one of his hands sliding up her back. "Could be that you've managed to pin a handsome Fae Lord beneath you in bed…"

"Oh?" She made a show of looking him over, "And what would I do with such a male?"

"Whatever you fancied."

"Maybe…" Elain breathed, leaning forward again, "maybe I just want to lay here and listen to your heart."

"Ah…" When Lucien's fingers threaded their way into Elain's hair she closed her eyes. She could feel his longing and she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Unfortunately, I don't think we could get away hiding in here all day."

"No, I suppose not." There would be much to be done today after what had happened last night. "I wonder if they found Sorcha."

"I guess we will find out." His fingers moved through her hair, and Elain enjoyed his fingers moving against her scalp. "We have about an hour before breakfast." He said, glancing at the window.

"Is that some fancy Day Court power?" she asked, her own eyes going to the window and taking in the sunshine.

"Maybe." He replied, "But… it does give us some time." One of his hands, slid down the back of her neck, "Time to just lay here…" she heard his heart settle into a steady rhythm and she nodded.

"Yes…" Laying her cheek against Lucien's chest, Elain released a deep breath. "Such a strong heart…" she murmured, and heard him give a soft chuckle in response.

Getting comfortable, Elain stayed where she was, just listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. She hoped that she never came across faebane ever again, as she never wanted to be without the reassuring presence of that steady rhythm. Lucien's hand was moving slowly up and down her back, and, after a few moments she realised that he had been speaking to her. "Sorry?" she asked, glancing up at his face.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Oh." Elain smiled at him, "I was hoping that I never have to deal with faebane again." His hand kept moving up and down her back. "I never thought I would be here…" she went on, "I used to wonder if the fae rode toads around and caught lifts with sparrows…"

Lucien laughed and she felt his lips brush against her forehead. "They must have been some large sparrows…"

"I've seen Cassian." She replied, "Not convinced I was wrong."

The choking sound that Lucien made then had Elain grinning and she pushed herself up to meet his eyes. "Who would be more offended by that?" he asked, "Cassian or Nesta?"

"Ohhh…" Elain smirked, "Don't tell either one."

"I want to tell both." He replied, "Just to see what happens…"

"You want me murdered?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"I would protect you."

"Well, I don't want you murdered."

"That, Petal…" Lucien smiled, "Is good to know."

"Ah." Elain kissed him and then pushed herself up and off of him. "It's probably time to get up." She said, "I would very much prefer to bathe before seeing anyone else." She remembered the last time she had gone knocking on Helion's door and he had scented her. Lucien murmured his agreement and followed her toward the bathroom.

Setting about filling the tub with hot water, Elain moved around the room, collecting the things she would be wearing for the day, and thinking about what she would be prioritising. She figured that when they got to breakfast, they would be informed of what had happened during the night. Any news of Sorcha would no doubt be the first thing on everyone's minds, and Elain would definitely want to see if everyone had been healed. There would, of course, be the issue of what to do with those who had died. She also very much wished to go with Ashk to have a look at the suite Helion had prepared for herself and Lucien.

When she returned to the tub and dipped her hand in to test the water, Elain began to wonder what kind of suite it might be. What would Helion have deemed necessary for them during the mating frenzy? No doubt there would be a bed. That was a given. What else would they need? There would clearly be a bathroom, and he had mentioned food. It would be good to have food in there so that they wouldn't need to leave the suite, and nobody would have to come and bring them anything. A self-sufficient suite would be safest. They needed other things in there as well, though. Elain knew that the frenzy was usually fairly intense, but she didn't suppose they would be having sex the whole time. That seemed excessive. And exhausting.

"Petal?" Lucien's voice sounded amused, and she realised that he had been tugging on the bond. Had he somehow gleaned a little of what she had been thinking? She felt herself blush as she glanced at him.

"Yes?"

She saw the moment he decided to let it go and he gestured at the bathtub. "Are you getting in?"

"Of course." Elain stepped into the hot water, glancing at him when he did the same. When she sank down into the water, Lucien moving with her, Elain felt his hand come to rest on the back of her neck and she leaned into him, listening to the way his heart beat, steady and sure. It was, she had decided, her very favourite sound.