Chapter 345

The far wall was well and truly ablaze and the smoke was thick and oily as it coiled around them like some kind of serpentine monster. Elain's arm throbbed from where she had fallen to the floor and landed on her elbow. At least, she figured, she wasn't choking as much down here as the smoke was rising as it coiled and she could see that it was far thicker toward the roof. Ashk moved nearby as she narrowly dodged the flying flames of the closest male, and Elain's' breath caught at the sight. The redhead hadn't yet used her own ability, and Elain wondered if she really had been bluffing about the faebane wearing off.

Another of the males was advancing on Eria and Noor by the door, and Elain was about to tell them to run when Tisia grasped at Elain's dress again, and she realised that one of the males they had seen in the kitchen earlier was now before them. This was the one with the flames, and he was evidently giving up on chasing Ashk with his fire. "Even if we don't directly get the others, it was you she wanted…"

Elain looked up at him, her blood seeming to freeze in her veins. She and Tisia were sprawled on the floor, and there was nowhere to run even if she was able to get to her feet in time. She watched as more flames erupted in the palm of his hand and she felt Tisia grip her more tightly. Nothing could be done.

She felt Lucien before she saw him. Elain was suddenly very aware of her mate's presence as he arrived like a soothing balm in the scorching room, and then a flash of red hair moved before her and he was there, deflecting the stream of flames that were racing toward her.

Those flames hit the only chair in the room not already ablaze and reduced it to ashes within a second. Tears welled in Elain's eyes then, both at the thought of what she might have looked like if those flames had reached her, and in relief that Lucien was right there, within reach when she had been fairly sure she wouldn't see him ever again. He moved again and the male before Elain, the one who had tried to burn her, suddenly burst into flames himself. For the briefest of moments, Elain thought that he had lost control of his own fire, but then she realised that it had been Lucien who had done it. He stood in front of her, his stance braced, and she knew that the expression on his face would have been a formidable one.

Lucien made a wide gesture and the doors to the hall flew open. "Run." He told Eria and Noor who were still there together. They turned immediately and fled into the hallway, and Elain heard Tisia whimper from beside her. No doubt her friend let as if she had been left behind, but Elain knew that everything was going to be alright now that Lucien was here. She took Tisia's hand and told her so.

"We're going to be okay now…" she breathed, "You'll see.."

Lucien made another gesture and half the fires in the room went out. His snarl sounded utterly feral and Elain was surprised that the other males who were still in the room hadn't wet themselves and fled instantly. One of them had hold of Ashk's arm and Lucien snarled again. Ashk attempted to shake the male's grip from her but failed and, a moment later, he released her with a pained yelp as flames raced up his sleeve to his shoulder and neck. Evidently, Elain realised, Ashk hadn't been bluffing about her abilities.

She could feel Lucien as he stood in front of her, standing directly between her and the rest of the room. So much of what was swirling through him was racing down the bond toward her, and she could feel his desire to protect, his anger at those who had done this, and his relief at having found her. Lucien's heartbeat was thundering in Elain's head and it was the most welcome sound she had ever heard.

The males facing them all eyed one another doubtfully, and Elain knew that they were trying to work out what to do. Clearly whoever had been giving them their orders hadn't included a situation like this.

"He's the Heir…" one muttered, but the other shrugged.

"Better him than us…" He looked at the first, "He's not even from the Day Court…"

Elain felt Lucien's reaction to those words, and she wanted to reach out to him, to touch him and remind him that Helion had shown time and time again that that didn't matter to him. The males however, took that moment to pull their swords free and run at Lucien who was forced back several steps as he produced his own weapon. When the heel of Lucien's boot touched Elain's foot, he stopped moving back and held his ground, bringing his sword up to deflect a powerful blow aimed at him.

Ashk was then beside Elain, crawling to them and wrapping her arms around Elain and Tisia as they watched Lucien and the other males moving back and forth. Elain didn't know how well these Day Court Courtiers could fight, but after a few moments she could tell that they were not as good as Lucien was. That made sense to her, as she hadn't seen a training ring like the one that had been in the Autumn Court.

After a few moments, Lucien had disarmed one and Elain stared at him as he appeared to be glowing. A strange golden light seemed to be emanating from beneath Lucien's skin and Elain felt her jaw drop as she watched him. He grew brighter and brighter until she couldn't look any more and had to avert her eyes.