Chapter 488

She was doing far better than she had anticipated, and Elain couldn't help the laugh that burst from her. Feyre looked completely surprised, and almost as if she could not quite believe that she hadn't already unseated Elain and won. It was thanks to the bond, Elain knew that. Lucien had flung that door wide open and she was able to sense what he was going to do moments before it happened; as a result, she knew when Feyre would be in reach, and when her sister would therefore be trying to grasp at her. Time after time, Elain was able to pull herself from her sister's reach and she could see Feyre getting more and more confused.

"Come on, Elain!" Nesta's voice surprised Elain from the side of the pool and she glanced at her older sister. Nesta's own eyes were on Rhys who sat nearby as he continued to cheer on his mate, and Elain appreciated Nesta's attempt to even out the sideline support.

"I'm here too, Ness." Cassian remarked, half turning her way, and Elain gripped him in surprise as he moved beneath her.

"Yes, how could anyone overlook that?" Nesta's reply was dry, but Elain heard the affection behind the words.

"What's this favouritsim?" Feyre asked, looking between Elain and Nesta, and Cassian scoffed a laugh before Elain could even say anything by way of reply.

"You have your vocal supporter." The Illyrian said, "We get Nesta."

As Cassian stopped moving, Elain was able to loosen her hold on him, no longer fearing that she would fall, and she returned her attention to their opponents. Russet and gold eyes were on her, and she smiled at Lucien, finding him watching her. He was evidently waiting for her to be ready again and, down the bond, she felt him intend his next move. Before he did anything, however, Feyre had tapped him on the head, as if to urge him forward, and Elain blinked.

"Sure you don't want reins?" She asked her younger sister, and Feyre smiled at her.

"That would be useful."

Ice seemed to fill Elain's veins and she snaked her hand out, wrapping it around Feyre's wrist and yanking her as hard as she could. Lucien was not some beast that Feyre could command wordlessly, and it pissed Elain off that her sister didn't even seem to notice what she had said and done. But of course she hadn't.

Elain had been unprepared for Feyre to break her hold on her wrist and, a moment later, she found her sister had gripped her shoulder and was instead pulling her forward. Cassian's hold on Elain's legs tightened and he shifted his weight, trying to keep himself beneath her to prevent her falling as Elain struggled, trying to get Feyre's hand off of her.

Gripping the bond, Elain realised that Lucien was about to step away, back from her and, right as he began to move, Elain reared back. Feyre was forced to choose, either to keep hold of Elain and fall, or to let her go and remain on Lucien's shoulders. She chose to release Elain and made a face as she was forced to retreat. Elain glanced down at her mate and his own face was unreadable, but she knew what he was doing. Feyre seemed to notice too, as she gave a small huff.

"Lucien, you're doing this deliberately…"

"Perhaps." He replied, but there was no denial in his tone. Feyre looked down at him, and Elain could easily read her sister's impatience. "Just trying to make things fair." He added and Feyre pouted for a second before nodding.