Chapter 263

Shadows passed overhead, and Elain had only just turned to look up when her mate had grabbed her, lifting her bodily off the ground, before he'd pulled her into a nearby garden. She'd gasped, but Lucien's hand was over her mouth, stifling any sound she might make as his other arm, right around her body squeezed her back against himself. Realising that there was a legitimate reason for what he had done, Elain relaxed back against Lucien, lifting her eyes to the sky as he had done. She could feel his anxiety building and she watched silently as dozens and dozens of Illyrians flew overhead.

Lucien's breath was hot against her cheek, and she could feel him stiffening, hear his heartbeat increase and Elain turned her head to look at him. He dropped his hand from her mouth and she just stared at him for a moment. "By the Cauldron…" she murmured, "It's happening…"

Panic hit Elain down the bond from Lucien then, before he evidently caught hold of it and forced it down. She saw him school his face into his Courtly mask of confidence, and then he smiled at her. "It's alright, Petal." He said, "We're ready…"

"Are we?" She hadn't realised that her hands were shaking before she felt Lucien take hold of them in his big warm hands. He held her steady, and she tried to focus on his heartbeat, her own shifting to match.

"Listen to me." He said, and Elain's brown eyes lifted to meet his, both russet and gold. "This will not be like your dream." He said, "Every choice we have made since you awoke was different to that. Nothing will be the same, we have seen to it. It's all going to be different."

"What if it's worse?" she asked, and Lucien frowned for a moment before he shook his head.

"Not possible, Petal. In your dream we were unprepared and caught by surprise. Thanks to you, we are not."

Elain nodded, trying to take in his words. They had put plans into action. Cassian had come up with a way to defend this place, and Feyre had said that she had told Rhys of the problem. Her friends were very good at this and very powerful, she knew that.

It still didn't stop the dread building within her, however. "Remember what we said…?" she asked, her eyes still on her mate's face. "We'll stay together."

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Petal." His thumb traced Elain's cheek, and warmth spread through her, soothing as it went.

"Alright…" she leaned into his touch before he lowered his hand, his eyes moving around them for a moment. "Time to go…"

"Yes." He stood up, climbing out of the garden, and he then reached back in to help Elain to her feet. Her own eyes scanned the sky as she came clear of the bush they had been hiding in. There were no more Illyrians in the air but, if her dream had been accurate, she knew that they were on their way from the lower streets. "We need to let Cassian know, if he isn't already aware."

"He has to be…" Elain's gaze caught on the black swirling smoke, rising from the same place it had in her dream. She felt sick as she turned away. "He has to have seen them."

"Let's find out." Lucien took her hand and pulled her along up the path as they headed back for the doors to the training square. She looked around them, thankful that everyone seemed to have gotten up here in time. Without anyone down in the streets, however, Elain knew that those Illyrians would find their way up here even sooner. They would know, with the streets empty, that something had happened and they would come looking, even more ready for a fight. The thought sent shivers through Elain, and she held tightly to Lucien's hand.

They skirted the edge of the building until they came to the first set of doors. Azriel was there, his eyes directed toward the smoke rising high into the air now, and Lucien came to a sudden stop before the Shadowsinger.

"They're here." Azriel said, and Lucien nodded.

"They are." Lucien's fingers tightened around Elain's wrist and she stepped closer to him, "Does Cassian know?"

"Saw them go over." Azriel replied, and Elain frowned as she looked at him, wondering if he was really flickering in and out of the shadows, or if it were her imagination. "Everyone else is in position."

"We're on our way." Lucien drew Elain further up the path, toward the narrow doorway that he had been assigned to defend.

"Elain should go inside with the others…"

"Not a chance." Elain replied, lifting her chin as she looked at her friend. Azriel's gaze moved over her quickly, and she saw the moment that he realised that she would not be talked out of this or forced to leave her mate. He nodded in acceptance, and she turned to keep following Lucien. She would, after all, follow him anywhere.