Chapter 485
Trying not to watch the way that Cassian's large hands gripped Elain's pale thighs, Lucien instead tried to force himself to focus on trying to keep Feyre balanced upon his shoulders. It was easier than he had expected, and he supposed that was down to some of her own skill. She had been taught well by the Illyrians how to manage her balance and keep herself centred, and he appreciated that now.
He understood the rule about mates not being able to pair up for this game, and he knew that he would have taken any attack on Elain far too seriously if they had been paired with one another, but he really would have preferred having her sitting on him than Feyre, and he really would have preferred not having Cassian's hands on her at all. He knew that there was nothing behind it, no reason for the jealousy, and he knew that if Cassian had not been gripping her the way that he was, Elain would likely fall off of those broad shoulders and into the water, but Lucien could just not seem to stop his eyes returning to where those large hands were placed firmly upon his mate's thighs. He felt his blood quicken, and his skin heat, and he tried to force it all down. Sense didn't seem to play a part in this kind of jealousy though. Gritting his teeth, Lucien said nothing. He would control this. He would keep it leashed.
"So," Feyre summed up, having just heard Cassian's explanation of the rules to Elain. "The first one to fall into the water loses?"
"That's it." Cassian was grinning at them, clearly under the impression that he and Elain would be victorious.
"And us?" Lucien asked, wanting clarification on the actual rules that Cassian wanted to follow. "Are we allowed to assist, or are we to keep our hands to ourselves?" He had seen this game played in various different ways. In the Autumn Court it was common for those on the bottom to battle among themselves while those on their shoulders also did their best to unseat their opponents. Cassian's answering smile was wide.
"How about we focus on trying to keep Elain and Feyre where they are?"
"Very well." Lucien wrapped his hands around Feyre's ankles. She needed no further support for her balance than that, and he didn't think he wanted Rhys' attention focused on him in any negative way. He was already unable to stop gritting his teeth over Cassian's hands on Elain, he didn't want to know what Rhys would do to him if his hands ended up somewhere on Feyre that the High Lord of the Night Court didn't like.
"Are we ready then?" Cassian asked, "Are you two prepared to lose?"
"A little cocky, are we?" Feyre laughed, and Lucien wondered if that had been a real question. In all the centuries he had known Cassian, Lucien didn't think he had ever not seen the Illyrian cocky.
"There's nothing wrong in having confidence in one's abilities." Cassian replied, readying himself in a stance Lucien knew would be difficult to get him out of. He didn't think that anybody throwing themselves at the Illyrian would shift him from that position. It was going to take something really special to force Cassian to give ground.
"That'll be rectified soon enough." Feyre sounded about as confident as Cassian, and Lucien knew that somebody's ego was about to be checked.
"Ready," he agreed, looking up at Elain. He could feel the nervousness coming from her, and he understood why. It was not a part of her nature to be aggressive, and she would, no doubt, be at a disadvantage here. Feyre had become quite adept at battle and it was no surprise that Elain would be anxious about it. He knew this wasn't exactly going to be fair, especially if their rules were stating that Cassian couldn't really do anything to assist Elain.