Chapter 338

There didn't seem to be anybody about. Elain found herself at the front of the group, leading the others down empty hallways, but so far they had found nobody. She had noticed a complete lack of windows, and she was beginning to really worry about where they might have been taken. The hallways were dark and only lit here and there by little balls of faelight which she was thankful for because nobody appeared to have gotten over the effects of the faebane and they couldn't make their own lights.

It also hadn't slipped Elain's notice that she was leading them. This wasn't a position that she was used to finding herself in but, when she remembered that one day she would be the Lady of the Day Court and she would be responsible for them, she found it rather encouraging. It was surprising to Elain that the others would fall in line behind her as she had never been the one that was followed or would generally bring forth that kind of subservience from others. Feyre inspired devotion from others, and they had always done as she had said, she was always the one to take charge. Even Nesta would do that, or force others to do as she wished through sheer force of will. Not Elain. Yet, when Elain looked over her shoulder in the hallway, the others were all still there, looking to her to lead them. Seeing their faces, pale and anxious, as they looked at her, she felt a strange heat flare to life in the pit of her stomach. This was something that she had to do; they were counting on her to do it. Determined, she turned back to the corner they had come to a stop at.

There was a door just around the corner and Elain eyed it thoughtfully for a moment. Then, turning back around to Amala and Eria she gestured for them to come closer. "Which room were you and the others kept in?"

"What?" Amala breathed, and Elain gestured at the door.

"We have to find the others before we can leave…" Elain whispered. Tisia began nodding behind Amala's shoulder.

"We can't leave them." The dark-haired one agreed.

"They were taken somewhere else." Amala said, and Eria nodded in confirmation. "We don't know where."

Elain bit her lip and turned back to the empty hallway and the door around the corner. They really shouldn't try to be leaving the others behind. Nobody knew what would happen to those who may be left. What if they all escaped and got back to the Palace and then something awful happened to those they'd abandoned? She didn't know what to do and she looked to Ashk.

Thankfully, the elder female seemed to know what she was thinking and when she spoke, Ashk's voice was low and soothing. "If we can escape, we must take that opportunity. Once we are safe, the High Lord will send others to come back for those who we could not help."

Nodding, Elain held Ashk's russet gaze in the dim light. She took the counsel that was being offered to her and she exhaled deeply. "Okay…"

Sneaking around the corner, Elain paused to listen at the door. She couldn't hear anything within, and she knew that she couldn't risk opening it. If there was someone in there that wouldn't take kindly to their escape, Elain didn't want to risk getting the others caught when they were looking to her to lead them out. With another exhale, Elain moved past the door, trying to move as quietly as she was able. The others followed suit and she headed quickly for the end of the next hallway. Instinctively, Elain reached for the bond, wanting that connection with her mate. Lucien would know what to do in this situation, and she doubted that his heart would be thumping so painfully against his ribs in the way that hers was. She blinked back tears when there was no connection to grasp hold of, and she felt the weight of what was happening settling on her. That fire within seemed to flare again, however, and she straightened her shoulders. The others behind her were still looking to her, and she would do this. Lucien wouldn't cave if he were in this situation, and neither would she. She was his mate, and they were matched for a reason.

Thinking about that, Elain quickened her step. That step came to a stuttering halt moments later when they neared the end of the hallway and came to an open door. There was bright light spilling into the hallway and Elain heard voices from within. Holding her hand out, she gestured for the others behind her to stop also and they all stood listening intently.