Chapter 173

Curled up on the couch before the fireplace, Elain leaned into Lucien. Dinner had been most enjoyable, and they had decided that an evening together on the couch was in order. She gave a contented sigh when he wrapped a fluffy blanket around her, tucking her into himself more tightly, and she watched him as he flicked a hand at the fireplace an instant before flames burst to life within.

"I wish that I could do that." She breathed, and he slid an arm around her, holding her to his side.

"I'll tell you what." He murmured, and Elain lay her head against his shoulder. "Any time you want a fire, I'll make you one."

"Any time?" she asked, and felt him nod. Elain smiled again, "My own personal little furnace…" Lucien laughed and she felt his lips brush her temple.

"How about we refer to me as something more dashing…" he suggested.

"Did you have anything in mind?" Elain looked up at him with a grin.

"O'marvellous and most impressive Lord of the Flame…"

Elain sat up, a small cackle escaping her as she looked at Lucien. "Is that so?" she asked, "What else do you have?"

"The extraordinary and exceedingly debonair…" Lucien wasn't even done when Elain cracked up again, covering her face with one hand as she laughed.

"You don't like that one either?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Alright, what do you have, then?"

Elain wrapped her arms around one of Lucien's as she leaned into him again, looking up to meet his eyes as she thought. "Hmm…" she smiled, "Just the one." When he raised a questioning eyebrow at her, waiting for her to tell him what it was, she smiled more widely. "Mate."

"Ah." Lucien smiled back at her, and Elain could feel his pleasure down the bond. He leaned into her then, pressing his lips to her forehead. "I like it."

"I thought you might."

"I love hearing you say it." He murmured, his lips against her hair. "Say it again…"

Smiling to herself, Elain listened to his heart. "Mate…" That heartbeat, so strong in her head, increased in pace, and she felt another wave of pleasure wash over her down the bond. She felt him kiss her again and she repeated herself, "Mate."

Lucien moved suddenly, one of his arms going around and under Elain's legs and he lifted her feet into his lap. She leaned back against the armrest, her eyes on him. She looked at the way that the fire lit up his vibrant ruby hair and, as he moved, it looked again like molten metal. When he looked at her, the firelight glinted off of his metallic eye, and Elain found herself almost transfixed by him. "How did I get such a beautiful mate?" she asked, and Lucien winked at her.

"An extraordinary and exceedingly debonair one, too…"

"Humble, as well." She met his eyes as he wrapped his hands around one of her feet and began to gently massage it. "Ohhh… oh…" Tilting her head back against the headrest, Elain let out a pleasured groan, her eyes rolling in her head before she closed them. "That is fantastic."

"I am so glad that you enjoy it."

"How… are you so good at that…?"

"I'm good at many things." He replied, winking at her, and Elain felt herself blush. "I've had a lot of education…"

"Yes, but this specifically…"

"The Dawn Court." He told her, "I've been there several times over the years… and I used to know this faerie who was a bit of a healer. He had travelled all over Prythian. He'd picked up several different techniques from all corners… he taught me some of them."

"Is he still there?" Elain asked, and Lucien shook his head.

"I heard that he never returned from the last trip he went on. Vanished, they say."

"I'm sorry…"

Lucien nodded his head in acknowledgement, and moved his hands to her other foot. Elain's eyes closed again and she bit back another groan. She could feel how pleased he was with himself, and the reactions he was drawing from her, and she decided that she wouldn't try to hold in any further sounds. It had always been clear to her that Lucien very much enjoyed the sounds that she made, and she wanted to encourage him to remove the leash he kept on himself, so that meant that she should set an example.

The next several minutes were spent with Lucien expertly moving his hands over Elain's foot and up her ankle while she just about writhed in pleasure on the couch. When he eventually finished, Elain lifted her eyes to his face again, knowing that her own was slightly flushed. "I have something for you." She told him, and he gave her a lascivious smirk. She half kicked at him in response, shaking her head. "Something else."

"Oh?"

Elain slipped her hand down the side of the couch, reaching for the small box she had stashed there earlier, when Lucien had been dishing up their dinner. She could feel his eyes on her, but she remained determined upon her task until her fingers found the firm edge of the box and she pulled it out. "I had this made for you," she breathed, "In celebration… of… us… the bond… our future together, but also your past and who you are and how you came to be who you are." She met his surprised eyes and held the box out.

Lucien took it, not a word coming from him. He then opened the box and stared at the garnet and sunstone wrist cuff inside. Elain heard his heartbeat just about go through the roof. "It… it's to represent…" She drew a shuddery breath, her eyes still on his face, trying to read his expression. "The garnet is the Autumn Court… and the sunstone…" she bit her lip, "Day…"

Without a word, Lucien lay the box in his lap and turned away. He reached for the edge of the couch and over it, and Elain heard him rummaging through his pack before he sat up again and held a small box out to her.

Curiosity flooded Elain and she quickly opened it, staring at the sunstone ring she found inside. Speechless, she lifted her free hand to touch the garnet necklace she still wore, and her eyes met Lucien's. They had had almost the same thought. Somehow, they had thought to celebrate this in the same way, and with the same symbolism. She watched as he slipped the wrist cuff on, his gentle fingers tracing the garnet and sunstones, and she pulled the ring he had given her from its box and slipped it onto her finger.

They were the same, even in this. "… Mate." She breathed, and Lucien's adoration hit her down the bond with such force that it was as if her breath had been taken from her. Shuddering when he lifted a hand to lay over the garnet necklace that she wore, Elain reached for him, wanting to be closer.

"Thank you." He whispered, and she nodded. "This was perfect…" his hand brushed the cuff she had given him, and she smiled.

"I can hardly believe we had the same idea." She replied, and Lucien tilted his head.

"I love it." One of his hands came to her cheek, "and I love you."

Elain shifted closer again until she could wrap her arms around his neck. She didn't know what else to say to him, and was more than happy that she didn't have to think of anything when Lucien leaned in and closed the space between them with a deep kiss. She never took the garnet necklace off, and she knew that the sunstone ring would get much the same treatment. She felt as if wearing them would be like having Lucien with her at all times, even when he was elsewhere, and especially if he was far enough away that feeling him through the bond became difficult.

When he lifted her into his lap, Elain went willingly, her hands sliding up and down his arms from his shoulder to the cuff she could feel warm against his skin. Lucien didn't break the kiss however, and Elain had no more intention of it than he did.