Chapter 163

He had noticed that things had gone missing. Casting his eye around the room, Lucien tried to figure out exactly what had disappeared. Nothing specific of consequence, as if whoever had taken things had tried to figure out what wouldn't be missed. Wondering idly if he should say something to Helion, Lucien frowned. Who would want to take random things from them?

Getting to his feet, he began prowling around the room. There were several books missing, as well as some of Elain's dresses. Many of the trinkets she had begun keeping by the bed were also gone, and he turned to head into the bathroom. The small basket of soaps and salts that Elain had kept by the bathtub was gone and Lucien spun back around. He had to tell Helion. Somebody was stealing from them.

Elain had gone down to dinner when Nesta had knocked on their door earlier, and he had decided to take his time getting ready. That was when he had first noticed that things had vanished. The vanity at which Elain sat to get ready was nearly clear, instead of strewn with her things, and then he had looked around the rest of the room.

Moving to stand in the doorway, Lucien let his eyes sweep the room again. Trying to see if he could sense anything of whoever had been in here, he held his breath for a moment before taking a slow deep breath, scenting the air. There was nothing but his own scent and the heady floral scent of Elain. He didn't think anybody else had been in here.

Lucien froze. If nobody but Elain and himself had been in the room, then that would mean that Elain had taken everything. Where had she put it all? Why had she done it? Was she planning on leaving? The thought just about knocked Lucien back a step. Surely that wasn't it. She was planning on accepting the bond. They were moving forward, not backward. Had she decided that this was not what she had wanted? No. He wouldn't let his mind go there. There was another reason. There was something that he was missing.

Deciding that he would just ask her what she was doing, Lucien straightened his jacket before he headed out the door and to dinner. He wouldn't let his brain or his panic get ahead of him. Elain loved him, and she wanted to be with him. He knew this was fact.

The moment he walked through the door, he spotted her sitting at the table beside Nesta. The seat on Elain's right was empty and he knew that she had saved it for him as she usually did. The realisation warmed his heart nearly as much as the happiness that hit him down the bond when he sank into that chair beside her and she turned to look at him. "Lucien…" she breathed, low enough that nobody else would have heard her. He blinked, his eyes on her face when she reached out and lay her hand on his knee beneath the table. "Make sure you pay attention to Nesta and Cassian." She grinned at him, "It's hilarious."

She was acting no different with him than usual and he couldn't take his eyes off of her face. She noticed. "ah…" he murmured, and Elain tilted her head.

"What is the matter?" She asked and Lucien resisted a sigh. He should just ask. He knew that.

"Some things are missing from our room." Elain's eyes widened just a little, and Lucien's breath caught in his throat. She clearly had not intended for him to notice. "…why?" he asked. He watched as her expression changed and her gaze sharpened as she looked at him.

"What did you think?" she asked, her eyes locked onto his face. "I can feel your… uncertainty."

"I… at first, I thought someone had been stealing from us."

Elain shook her head. "No, it was me." Her expression softened then, and she smiled shyly at him. "I can't tell you why. Not yet."

Lucien felt his heart flutter in his chest then. "Oh…" she wasn't intending to leave him, he could see that. "When can you tell me?"

"I can't tell you that, either."

"You're being very mysterious, Petal."

"Yes…" Elain's grin widened even further and she leaned into him, pressing her lips gently to his cheek. "You'll just have to manage a while."

"Well…" Lucien brought one of his hands up to her cheek, his fingers ghosting over her neck lightly. "not too long, I hope."

"Not too long." She agreed, her eyes holding his. Lucien touched a finger to the tip of her nose, watching as her face brightened in another smile. "I love you." She said, and Lucien got the distinct impression that she was saying it to reassure him.

"I know." He let his eyes slip past her to Nesta. "Tell me of this drama with Cassian?"

Allowing herself to get caught up the antics at the table, Elain had almost forgotten about what had gone on earlier in the day. As the High Lords began entering the room and taking up places at the table, she could feel their eyes on her. Nobody had said anything about Sorcha at all, but she knew that was where the thoughts at the table had gone.

Glancing up and along the table, Elain realised that Tarquin was still looking at her, and her pulse quickened in her veins. What did he want? Did he expect her to apologise for walking out on the meeting earlier? Did he want to know what she thought about Sorcha's execution? Elain didn't know. She didn't know what to do or say, but something in her chest eased a little when Lucien's hand slid into hers beneath the table.

"It's okay, Petal." He breathed and Elain turned her eyes on him. He squeezed her hand and she nodded her acknowledgement. At the sound of Cassian's low laugh, Elain turned his way to see the Illyrian wink at her.

"Nesta said that you didn't let those High Lords push you around." He said, and Elain felt herself blush slightly. "Good." He went on. "Keep it up."

Glancing then at her sister, Elain raised an eyebrow and Nesta just stared back at her. "Were they annoyed after I left?"

"No." Nesta replied softly, "They said it was unfortunate that you didn't feel you could vote with them, but that it needed to be done."

Elain made a face and reached for her goblet, taking a sip of wine. "Did they discuss the trade route?"

"No." Nesta told her, "They said they would meet regarding that tomorrow, and then return to their Courts the day after."

"Oh…" Elain glanced up the table again. "Does that include Feyre and Rhys?"

"I suppose so."

"And will you be returning to the Night Court with them?" She turned back to Nesta who was studying her.

"I will stay as long as you want me to, Elain." Her sister smiled at her, "You know that, right?" Elain smiled and nodded when Nesta's hand reached out and skimmed down her arm. "I know what you're planning… and… I will stay until after it's done."

Unexpected relief washed through Elain at those words and she found herself blinking back tears. "Thank you." She breathed and Nesta gave her a gentle smile.

"You're welcome."