Chapter 409

The air in the Throne Room seemed to shift when Rian's shield fell. Both males on the dais took a shocked step back, and Rian looked pissed off. Elain would have laughed if she hadn't been too scared. Ashk stood tall beside her, and the look of admiration on her face as she watched her son was clear for all to see. Helion too, looked pleased, and Elain hoped that Lucien had noticed. The newly confident way in which her mate was holding himself suggested that he had.

They all stared up at the dais, watching the two males try to take stock of what had happened. Rian turned his head to look to Colm for instruction and the older male licked his dry lips as he thought. One of Colm's hands gripped Rian by the elbow then, pulling him closer as something was whispered in the dark-haired male's ear. The magic in the air hummed throughout the Throne Room, and a faint shimmer seemed to hang in the air around Colm, but then Helion had reached forward, and that shimmer vanished. Colm all but hissed, glaring down at them, and another shimmer appeared, this one stronger. Helion repeated his gesture and it vanished.

"You are out of options," the High Lord said, "And you are out of time."

"Not yet." Colm was holding himself more regally than Elain would have thought anyone about to meet their death could have. "Not quite…"

"Lucien," Helion said mildly, and Lucien stepped forward with his father. The shield that Rian had tried to throw up around himself and Colm yet again flickered, and Elain watched Lucien focus. Her mate frowned a little, evidently still trying to come to grips with how to control this ability. She knew that he would master it fairly quickly however. "When it comes down," Helion went on, addressing his son in a manner one might discuss the morning weather, "do not hesitate, and do not spare them."

"As you say." Lucien replied, his eyes never leaving the shield and the two males up on the dais.

A shudder moved through Elain when Colm adjusted his stance, balancing himself as he drew a long bronze sword. He would fight bodily when the shields stopped being useful. When Rian was done, and unable to produce another, Colm was planning on relying on his own ability. Elain wondered when the last time he had done that had been.

The sight of Colm's sword seemed to spark something in those remaining in the Throne Room, and the two guards who had been with Lucien moved closer to Elain and Ashk. Ashk herself seemed to draw herself up, pressing Elain in the direction of the guards, as if ushering her toward them. Elain allowed it somewhat, but her eyes kept returning to Lucien who seemed to have taken the task of destroying Rian's shields when the dark-haired faerie threw them up.

"I will not go." She said softly, her eyes on her mate, but her words directed to his mother. "I will not leave."

"I would not ask it of you, Elain." Ashk murmured, "But I would like you further away from what is about to happen."

Taking two steps backward, Elain planted her feet again, watching with bated breath as Rian hissed in irritation and then strode for the edge of the dais. He drew his own blade again, and she flinched a little at the memory of his cold steel against her skin. "I tire of these games." He said, cold eyes on Lucien. "Let's dance, you and I."

"Your offer flatters me. I thought you'd never ask…" Lucien held his own blade loosely in his hand, and he gave a mock semi-bow to Rian; ever the courtier. Elain smiled, but steadied herself. She had never gotten used to seeing Lucien fight, and she didn't think that she ever would. She had seen him cut and slashed and hurt several times, and each time she felt like her heart may just stop in shock and never beat again.

"Shut your mouth." Rian stepped quickly down the stairs.

"Never been able to…" Lucien skirted around, finding empty space, both of his eyes following every move Rian made. "Don't think you'll be the one to teach me how."

"I'll teach you a few things."

Lucien laughed then. "Ohh… You promise?"