Chapter 417

Cool air swept into the room when the doors opened and Lucien got to his feet quickly as the High Lord strode in, followed by several guards and courtiers. The soft crying and low murmur of conversation around the room fell silent and everyone waited to see what they would be told.

"It seems," Helion announced as Lucien moved closer, "that the threat has passed. You may all return to your rooms." He softened a little, "get some rest and we will further discuss what comes next in the morning." Glancing around then, Helion frowned and Lucien lifted a questioning eyebrow when amber eyes met his, "We will need to check on the kitchen staff… something needs to be organised for dinner…"

"They fled the palace." Lucien told him, recalling the faeries he had met earlier who were trying to get out of the palace and away from what had been happening. "… we could have food brought up from the city."

"Yes." Helion looked back to the rest of the room. "Dinner will be in the dining hall at the same time as usual for those who would like to attend."

Faeries were already getting to their feet and moving for the door, and Lucien just watched as Helion turned to give instruction to a guard nearby. Wanting to know what they had found, or had not found, he just waited until the room emptied a little further. He had thought that they would have been given more information than they were free to return to their rooms, although, Lucien supposed, that was the main thing that many of them had wanted to hear. Perhaps the High Lord had known that.

"Are they truly all gone?" He finally asked when Helion gave him a small smile, acknowledging the fact that Lucien was still standing silently beside him and had not left.

"It appears that way."

"…how is that possible?"

Nodding slowly, Helion lifted a hand and ran it through his black hair. "They clearly knew their way around the palace, and they have used that knowledge to get out. We will run patrols through the corridors during the night, and begin clearing away… cleaning up…" his father's face twitched, and Lucien realised that the High Lord didn't quite know how to phrase what needed to be done in the Throne Room. "We will need to make a list… of those…who have been killed."

"If you like," Lucien offered, "when you have your list, I could write to the families to let them know what has happened…"

Helion's amber eyes almost looked like honey as he considered that and he tilted his head. "Thank you," he replied gently, "If you could draft several different letters, I think I would like to actually write to them myself."

"As you wish." Lucien knew that a letter from the High Lord would mean more to the families who had lost someone, would be more personal. "I think they would appreciate it coming from your own hand."

"I owe them that."

Elain appeared at Lucien's elbow then, and he wrapped an arm around her waist without even having to look at what he was doing. Just the heat of her leaning into him, against him, was comforting and he didn't think he would be able to let go.

"Is it really safe?" She asked, and Lucien felt her gaze shift from him, presumably to Helion.

"You are no longer in danger, Elain." The High Lord's words were solid and sure, and Lucien felt Elain's relief at hearing them. "I will have my personal guard patrolling the corridors all night."

"Are you certain you trust all of them?" She asked, and Lucien recalled they had been certain they'd been betrayed by someone on Helion's Guard.

"I have noted who is missing." Helion said simply, "They will find no rest within the borders of the Day Court." Which meant that he was having them hunted down as they spoke. Lucien held Elain a little closer, pleased with that. When his father's hand came down on his shoulder, he lifted his eyes once again. "You two may go bathe and rest." Helion said, "You need not linger here any longer. I will send for you if you are needed."

Elain went directly for the door to the bathroom, the moment that she was back in their room. She heard the lock click behind her as Lucien secured it, and relief at finally being away from the public eye flooded through her. She felt Lucien follow her into the bathroom, as she bent to turn the taps on. Hot water poured into the tub and Elain stood straight, pushing her hair back over her shoulders, watching the water swirl as it began to steam.

"I see we have similar priorities, Petal." His voice was low and warm against the back of Elain's neck and she leaned back against her mate when his arms came around her waist. Eyes closing at the comfort that embrace offered, Elain let out a soft sigh.

"I want to wash it all off of me." She breathed, "I can feel it on my skin…"

"Me, too."

The water was perfectly delicious when Elain sank into it a few minutes later, and the relief was practically instant. The heat of that water seemed to move through her, and she could feel the taint of the day leeching away. She scrubbed at her face and her neck, dipping back afterwards to get the dirt and blood out of her hair. Then, when she sank back against the edge of the tub, finally feeling clean, she let her eyes move over her mate who was combing his fingers through his own wet ruby hair.

Lucien's skin was smooth and perfect, although the blood and holes in his shirt and jacket told her that he'd taken several injuries throughout the day. She was glad to see that they had all healed, and another part of her relaxed at the sight. When his eyes met hers, he gave her a confident grin, hands squeezing the excess water from his hair. She knew that he'd flexed his arms on purpose and she couldn't help a grin of her own. "See something you like, Petal?"

"Perhaps…"

"Would you like a closer look?"

"I might…" Elain smiled again when Lucien slid closer to her, the water swirling around him. She lifted one of her hands, running it over his skin, reassuring herself that any and all injuries had been properly healed, and she tilted her head when his strong fingers moved up the back of her neck, meeting his gaze. His eyes were intense and she got the feeling that he was trying to look into her rather than just at her. "See something you like?" she asked, and his grin returned.

"Every time I look at you." He murmured, fingers moving firmly against the back of her neck and up into her wet hair. Elain's eyes closed at that absolutely delicious sensation and she had to work not to just sink down into the hot water and turn to mush. She smiled when his lips met her forehead and she leaned into his firm chest allowing his other hand to move down her back. This was what she had needed even more than the hot bath. "Are you ready to get out?" he asked, and Elain didn't so much as open her eyes, just nodding silently against his hot skin.