Chapter 392
Elain was burning inside. She could feel Lucien, feel his heart beating as if it were her own. It was almost difficult for her to keep her focus on what was actually in front of her when it seemed that something was drawing her mind down the bond toward her mate. Elain almost felt as if she could slip into Lucien's mind and, when she got a glimpse of the hallway outside with the large double doors at the end, she knew that it was because he was right behind those doors. He was here, and things were about to get messy.
"They're here…" She breathed, glancing at Ashk nearby. The older female didn't look her way and Elain bit her lip. She didn't want to risk speaking any louder in case someone else heard her. She did not want the soldiers at the door to be laying in wait. The only advantage that Lucien and the others might have would be the element of surprise, and Elain was not about to be the one to ruin that for them. When Ashk's pretty russet eyes slid her way, meeting her gaze, Elain knew that she had been heard indeed. Ashk smiled then, and Elain knew that the other was confident that this was going to go well for them. Still, Elain could not shake her own worry. There were so many dead in here, it would not be a stretch of the imagination to think that more would be added.
What was their plan? Elain looked around the room yet again, trying to figure out what Helion would do when he entered. No doubt there would be fighting, but what was to be the goal? Were they going to try and kill or subdue everyone in the room before moving on to whatever was next? Would they go mainly for Colm to take out the leader? Elain supposed that would be a good way to get everyone else to lay down their weapons. Helion was the High Lord, however, and didn't appear to follow anyone's rules but his own. Elain had no true way of knowing what his plan would be and she knew that she would just have to wait and see like everyone else.
"Be ready…" She said to the others nearby, and Tisia lifted a questioning eyebrow at her. Lowering her voice now that she had their attention, Elain went on. "When they come through those doors, do not get caught in the way of the fighting."
"Right…" Sheera nodded, glancing around them. "We should split into groups, to get out of the way, moving different directions…" Elain rather thought that was a good idea and nodded her agreement, her eyes sliding to the double doors as she found herself unable to look away.
"We need to get out of the hall." Kera was murmuring to the others. "They cannot fight the High Lord and follow us."
"We cannot run away and leave the High Lord." Tisia replied, frowning. Ales took her hand, his eyes on her face. Elain could see him trying to work out which side he would agree with. He evidently wanted Tisia away from harm, but there was understanding there that clearly indicated he understood her desire to stay out of loyalty. Tisia looked back at him, apparently reading that in his face herself. "I will not abandon Helion."
Ales, to his credit, did not argue. He squeezed Tisia's hand before glancing around at the rest of them. Eyes everywhere were glancing at the double doors, and away, as they tried not to be too obvious, and Elain hoped that neither Colm nor Rian noticed the sudden interest in the entryway. Perhaps she should not have said anything at all.
There was silence as Helion pushed open the double doors as he likely had a million times before. The act looked natural and Helion looked unhurried and unbothered. It was as if he was simply on his way to his throne on a regular day. His blade in his left hand had to be out of the ordinary, however. Lucien followed behind him, eyes sweeping the room, his metallic eye clicking and whirring as he tried to get a read on what was going on, because there was definitely no sound to give it away.
The absence of screaming had to be a good thing, he figured. But then he saw the dead faeries piled on the left side of the room, and his heart plummeted into his stomach. The scent of death filled the air and Lucien tried not to gag.