Chapter 371

The sky outside slowly began to lighten and Elain watched the horizon with what came close to dread. When that sun peeked over the grey in the east, Lucien would leave with his father and the guard. She was trying not to think about it, and definitely not think about it negatively, but she was acutely aware that this could be the last time she saw him. Whoever were doing this, trying to take over the Court, were not amateurs. It was evident that this had been long planned, and that they were not afraid of shedding blood. Many fae had already died, she had seen their bodies herself, and she knew that it would be all too easy for them to add Lucien to the list of the dead. In fact, Elain thought bitterly, they would likely be happy to do that. There was no pretending that they didn't want him gone. He was likely high on the list of those they wanted dead during this coup, and if he went out there, Elain was worried that he would be handing himself directly over to them.

Thinking of the future she had seen with him, she reached for her gift. Elain was not yet confident in being able to summon her visions whenever she wanted. She had been able to do it a handful of times on command, but she willed it to work now. If the future she had seen with Lucien, their younglings, was still there then she would be able to relax about him going out there. If that future was still possible then he would have to survive and come back. If that future still existed, then this would not go horribly wrong.

She closed her eyes, lifting her hand to wrap around the garnet at her throat. Her fingers traced the tiny golden leaves as she tried to force a vision to come, but all she saw was darkness and she sighed, falling back against the couch. She looked again to the window and swallowed thickly at the pale light beginning to rise over the horizon.

Across the room, Lucien turned from where he had been speaking with Ashk and Elain swallowed again at the look on his face. An instant later he was striding toward her, and she felt her heart beat shift to somewhat match his steps. She could hear his heart in her head and the fact that it had quickened significantly made Elain's breath catch in her throat.

"Petal…" he put a hand out for her when he reached the couch and Elain didn't hesitate to take it, allowing Lucien to pull her to her feet. He was moving then, taking her with him, and soon they were surrounded by shelves, books blocking them from view of anyone else in the library.

"Seeking a little privacy, are we?" She asked, eyes sliding over her mate and appreciating the molten metal appearance of his ruby hair in the warm faelight filling the library while the pale sunlight continued to grow outside.

The heated look he sent over his shoulder sent a different kind of warmth spreading through Elain and she didn't say another word. That was, until he had stopped by the far wall. His metallic eye clicked and whirred as he looked around them as if checking that they were out of sight and nobody would be looking their way. "What are you doing?" She breathed and he turned to her with a half grin quirking the sides of his mouth. "Lucien…?"

"It's almost sunrise…"

"I know…" her words sounded like a whimper, and Elain wished that she was able to sound like she had herself more together. It wouldn't be fair to Lucien if he had to go out there and leave her while knowing that she was terrified that he wouldn't return. She should be able to send him on his way with a brave face and a smile so that he could focus entirely on what he had to do and not suffer distraction thinking about her. If he was distracted then he was vulnerable and he might suffer injury he could have otherwise avoided. She had been so distracted herself, worrying about what might happen, that she had barely registered the fact that her mate's hands had been moving over her, pulling her to himself and stroking her gently, and she suddenly found herself wrapped in his arms, comfortable and comforted. Surprised, Elain almost gasped, pulled from her thoughts when Lucien's lips were suddenly against hers, and she opened to him, wrapping her own arms around his neck as she returned his kiss with feeling.