Chapter 264

It was bizarre, Lucien thought, that the screaming was coming from behind him, within the training square, as those inside became aware of the impending threat. They were well protected, he knew that, and nobody was going to get past Cassian, Azriel, or himself. It had seemed that everyone from the camp had come up here, and he was glad that nobody would be caught unprepared down in the town. He also knew that the absence of anyone down there would send those hunting them right up here. It wouldn't be long until they had been found, and then he knew that they were going to have to fight.

Glancing at Elain who stood silently at his shoulder, Lucien tried to remind himself that she would fare better by his side. He knew that he would do everything in his power to protect her and, having her where he could see her, he knew that he would not be worried about her, hoping that she hadn't been hurt. It did still worry him, however, that she was being placed in greater danger out here with him than she would be inside with the others. There would be no talking her into going back there and hiding, however. Not that he wanted that either. Lucien frowned as he turned back to the road outside. This whole thing was messy, and he didn't know what he should be doing.

Elain's gentle hand came to rest at his back and he gave her a thankful smile. "It's okay, Petal." He said, even though he didn't know if that were the truth. He paused then, "Although… remember that you need to give me some space." He pulled his sword free and made a slow motion around himself. "If I'm to fight, I'll need space to move. I don't want to end up catching you with a blade…"

"Yes…" She nodded and stood back a little, having taken a step away from him. He reached out to her then, hating that his words had made her retreat. She took his hand, her wide brown eyes looking up at him. He could see the fear in her face, and he could feel it down the bond. "If I tell you to get close, though." He drew her in, tucking her to his side. "I want you to instantly get in here…"

"Alright…" She lay her cheek against his chest, and Lucien bent his head to press a kiss to her hair, breathing her in. He hoped that this wasn't the last time he was going to be able to hold her in his arms. "Can we go home after this?" She looked up at him then, and Lucien pressed a soft kiss between her eyes. "Back to the Day Court?"

"Yes…" he knew his voice was thick, and warmth exploded through his chest. He wanted that so very much. He wanted that probably more than he had wanted anything in his life, aside from Elain herself. "Yes, we will go home after this."

His mate leaned into him, letting out a sigh, and Lucien squeezed her a little. "Good…" she murmured, "I can't wait." Neither could he.

She could hear them coming, long before they came into view. The smoke had thickened, indicating new fires had been lit, and it swirled its way up the hill until it surrounded their building and Elain had to squint to actually see the Illyrians coming into view. Their whoops and calls had been clear enough for the past five minutes and they had had the intended effect, at least upon Elain. Her heart was thundering in her ears, and she knew that she was on the verge of panic. Lucien's heartbeat, though, had remained steady in her head, and she focused on that as she watched her mate.

He had placed himself in the centre of the doorway he was to defend, and Elain had stood to the side, keeping him in view, but making sure she kept out of the way. He had been right to remind her that he needed space to move. She wouldn't have thought of it, and gotten too close, and then she would have ended up getting herself killed or preventing him from defending himself properly. It was something that she would have to watch, something that she would have to keep at the forefront of her mind.

The arrow came out of nowhere, striking Lucien in the chest, and he grunted, doubling over with a cry of pain. She gasped, falling backward as another followed it. Her mate fell backward, collapsing to the stone floor as thundering feet sounded outside an instant before several large shapes came though the doorway, dark wings spread wide…

Gasping, Elain staggered, catching herself against the wall with a hand pressed to cold stone. Lucien's eyes were on her, she could feel them, and she could hear that metallic eye clicking and whirring as he looked her over. "Petal?" he asked, and the concern was clear in his voice, "What did you see?"

Elain forced her eyes open, looking at Lucien as she tried to force herself to process what she had just seen even as her ears continued to ring. "Lucien…" she breathed, watching as he warred within himself to remain in the doorway, or go to her. "Arrows…" she said, her voice growing stronger, "They're going to fire arrows at you…"

"They…" Lucien blinked and then hurriedly threw some sort of shield up in front of himself. Elain heard the arrows strike it, saw her mate flinch at the contact, and she watched with horror as he struggled to maintain the shield as several more arrows came their way. "Stay… there…" he breathed, and she knew he meant to stay behind the wall. "What was next…?"

"When you fell they came in…"

"Not… happening…" Lucien's voice was a growl now, and Elain watched as he channelled more power into his shield.