Chapter 266

Elain's heart pounded in her chest, her blood thrumming through her veins and she felt almost electrified. Her mate's heartbeat kept a steady rhythm in her head, and she relished in that sound. It meant that he was alive and that was just the way she liked it. Her eyes swept the square, taking in the way that most of the Illyrian females were now facing the walls, their makeshift weapons and blades in their hands. Elain could see the fight in them now, she could see the way that they sway and shuffled, and she could almost feel the anger within them. They were done being quiet now. Smiling at that thought, she turned again to look for Nesta and Cassian.

"Where's Nes?" she asked Feyre who shook her head, running a hand though her hair.

"I have not seen her…"

"She's likely with Cassian." Azriel put in and Elain nodded, looking up at him.

"Yes," she agreed, "But where is he?"

"He may still be defending his position."

Elain's eyes slid to Lucien and he nodded his agreement. "Could be…" Her mate said, "He wouldn't be easily moved…"

Elain knew that was true, especially if Nesta had been with him. The two of them were stubborn enough to remain, even if they were in danger of being overrun. That thought didn't fill Elain with confidence, wishing that her sister would come back to her, let her know that they were safe. On the other hand, both Nesta and Cassian were likely too stubborn to die, and that was a much better way of thinking. Lucien's hand touched her shoulder, and Elain looked up at him, knowing that he had read something of what was going through her mind.

"We have to do something." Feyre said, and Elain saw her sister's pale eyes sweeping the square before lifting to the sky above them. Looking up, Elain squinted until she could see the faint shimmering of the shield Cassian had put across as a roof to keep their attackers out and prevent them from attacking from the air. "They're going to overrun the place…"

"Do you think they'll get in?" Elain asked, and Feyre didn't reply. Elain looked them from Azriel to Lucien, and both of them had glanced at her before lifting their own gazes to the sky. They didn't need to say anything for her to read that response. Yes. They would get in.

Sliding her hand into Lucien's, Elain bit her lip as she gazed skyward. If that shield broke, there would be no stopping them. Her blood had begun to feel like ice in her veins, and she felt more useless than ever. She looked toward the door to the square that lead to the hallway Cassian and Nesta had been defending. It was the only one still clear and open. For a second she considered what might happen if they all tried to sneak out that hall and made a run for it. She knew they wouldn't get far, and she dismissed the idea a moment later. They had to stay and defend this place, that was their only option. Lucien squeezed her hand, and she was thankful that they would have the chance to defend it together. They had promised one another that they wouldn't be separated, and they would be able to keep that promise here.

The pounding on the doors that they had fled through grew louder, and Elain began to wonder just how long those shields would last.

"If we're going to defend here," Lucien said, and everyone's eyes turned his way, "We will need Cassian and Nesta with us." His metallic eye clicked and whirred as he looked up at the sky, "We will need their strength, their power, to maintain these defences…" Lucien lifted one hand, making a vague gesture up above and around them. He stood a little straighter than he had been, and it was evident that his mind was moving quickly, going over any number of scenarios.

"That's the truth." Azriel murmured gently, and turned toward the door they were clearly all waiting for Cassian and Nesta to walk through. "I'll check on them…" He strode for the door then, and Elain just watched until he disappeared.

Lucien's arm slid around Elain's shoulders when the pounding on the doors grew louder. She could hear his heartbeat in her head growing more and more erratic, and she could feel his worry. The emotion poured from him, and Elain reached for the bond, wondering if she could take some of it from him. When she felt it, she pushed forward, reaching deeper, searching for the part that felt more like Lucien. The worry wrapped around her, even as she wrapped herself around her mate and she pressed her face into his shoulder as he held her.

"I'm so thankful that I have you." She breathed, and she felt his reaction to those words as well.

"As I am for you." He replied, heat pouring from him now. Elain felt that heat burning away the worry, and she smiled. "We will get through this, love." He breathed, lips against her ear, and Elain nodded. "We will get out of here, and we will go home."

"I know."

Movement nearby caught Elain's eye and she felt herself relax just a little bit when Azriel returned flanked by Cassian and Nesta. They were just fine, and Elain tried to use that bit of information to reassure herself about whatever they would have to do next. They had lost all exits now, and she knew that the entire building was surrounded. The pounding on the doors hadn't lessened at all, and some part of her felt the magic in the shields begin to shift. They would not hold forever, and Elain knew that whatever they were going to do, they would have to do soon.