Chapter 229

The sleigh raced through the snow, and Elain grew more and more excited as the falling snowflakes swirled down around herself and Lucien as the wind whipped past them. Lucien adjusted the blanket over them and one of his arms wound around her waist beneath it, encouraging her to shift closer, and that was what she did. When she rested her head against Lucien's shoulder, and she felt how pleased he was, she smiled to herself, comfortable and happy.

"Where is it that we are going, Petal?" Lucien sounded unconcerned, and unaffected, but Elain could feel his burning curiosity, and she smiled even more widely.

"Oh, you will see."

"It's going to be dark soon…" his voice held a small note of concern, and she tilted her head to look up at him.

"I know." She said simply, and his metallic eye clicked and whirred as he looked down at her. Elain could just about see the cogs of her mate's mind working behind his russet eye, and she just smiled. After a moment, he nodded his acknowledgement, and she felt his arm tighten around her waist as he gave in. Elain made a small contented noise, snuggling into him beneath the blanket in the back of the sleigh.

She had spoken to Viviane earlier in the day, and she had asked the Lady of the Winter Court if there was anywhere particularly lovely that she and Lucien might go. It had taken Viviane all of two seconds of peering at Elain silently for the other female to figure out exactly what Elain had been asking. Viviane's pretty face had split into a wide smile, and she had nodded thoughtfully for a few moments.

Elain had been told that a sleigh would be prepared to take Lucien and herself somewhere special. They would be provided with everything they would need to spend the night in this place, and that all they would need to bring would be themselves. Viviane would tell Elain nothing aside from the fact that they would have a spectacular view and would be very comfortable. Elain had wished, at first, that she knew more, but when she had considered the fact that Lucien might somehow be able to glean some information from her down the bond, she got over that. The less she knew, the less likely it would be that he would find out. At least this way it would remain a surprise for him.

Having collected her mate at the appropriate time, Elain had found the sleigh where Viviane had said it would be, and there had been a lesser faerie with curved horns protruding from his forehead, waiting to drive them to their destination. The snow, which had at first been coming down thick and fast, had begun to lighten after a while, and Elain was pleased by the somewhat clear skies she could see ahead. Whatever view Viviane had been promising them would surely be more spectacular if they could actually see it without thick snow blocking everything out. She didn't know how long it would take to get there, but she was happy enough to sit in the back of the sleigh with Lucien, blankets over the two of them to ensure they were warm and comfortable.

Within the hour, the sleigh began to slow and Elain sat a little higher, trying to look around them. The trees were the same, and snow covered, and the land was a little more flat. The snow had indeed lightened until it was barely a light flurry, and Elain was ready to get out of the sleigh well before it had come to a stop. Lucien took the blanket from over her lap and began folding it while she jumped down into the thick snow, her eyes on a small domed building in front of her.

"Oh…" Lucien jumped down into the snow beside her, one of his arms going around her shoulders. "I've heard of these."

"Have you?" Elain glanced around as the sleigh began to move again, before it took off into the trees. She supposed that she and Lucien really were staying the night, then.

"Yes… with the view one gets of the sky from inside, the night is apparently especially beautiful."

Elain started toward the door of the little building. The structure looked mostly wooden, with some stone in the base, but the domed roof appeared to be entirely made of glass. "This is very cute." She said, finding the door unlocked. Pushing it open, Elain went inside, with Lucien hot on her heels.

"It is."

Inside the house was what appeared to be a single room, with a small bathroom on the other side. It wasn't big, but had a couple of benches around the edge and a small kitchenette area, but most of the space was taken up by a gigantic bed draped in blankets and furs. Elain couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "This is perfect."

"Oh, Petal, I do agree." Lucien moved for the bed, and Elain watched him turn and flop back onto it, falling deep into the pile of fur. "What excellent privacy we shall have."

"I am assuming that sleigh won't return until tomorrow morning."

"Divine." Lucien murmured, "Nobody to get in our way…"

Elain walked around the little room, taking everything in. This was exactly the kind of thing she had wanted when she had asked Viviane for ideas. She would have to remember to thank the Lady of the Winter Court tomorrow. As she turned toward the bed, Elain allowed herself to look her mate over. He looked wonderfully appealing sprawled across the bed in the manner that he was, his vibrant red hair in stark contrast to the pale ivory and greys of the blankets and furs. "You look comfortable." She said, and his eyes flicked directly to her.

"Come lay here with me, my love." He said, "Have a look at what we can see…"

Elain sank down onto the bed, settling her head against Lucien's shoulder. From this position, she could see straight out of the glass roof, and she smiled at the wonderful colours of the coming sunset. Purples and pinks and oranges. "The snow was stopping…" she murmured, and Lucien made a pleased sound.

"Yes." He agreed, "We will have a most spectacular view of the clear sky tonight…"

Elain smiled, not feeling like moving in the slightest. She knew that Viviane had ensured that dinner would be provided for them and, judging by the delicious scent in the air, she knew that their food had been kept in the kitchenette. A shower, she supposed, would probably also not go astray. Neither of these things seemed to matter however, with Lucien laying beside her, his heartbeat loud in her mind, and happiness washing over her down the bond from him.

"Do you like it?" she asked, and he gave a low laugh in response. "It is perfect, Petal."

"Good. That makes me happy." She turned her head just enough to press a gentle kiss to Lucien's jaw, and she gave a soft groan of appreciation when he turned his own head to bend and press his lips to hers. "Very happy…"