Chapter 561

Elain was already pacing back and forth in front of the ornate little couch in their room, and Lucien headed toward her and that couch slowly. She went back and forth and back and forth as he watched her, and then he sank down onto the couch, lifting one of the pretty cushions she had procured from somewhere, and sat it on his lap. His eyes continued to follow his mate as she paced without stopping.

"You seem stressed, Petal…"

Elain looked at him, her dark eyes on his face, but she continued to pace back and forth. Lucien watched her wringing her hands together tightly, and he just waited for her to tell him what it was that had gotten her in such a state. He knew that Elain wasn't exactly fond of Vassa, and he had expected some kind of reaction from his mate once the mortal woman had arrived, but he hadn't expected this kind of reaction. Lucien had been expecting some interesting territorial displays as Elain attempted to contain her jealousy, but this was not that kind of reaction.

"She… I don't know what is wrong with her." Elain said, and Lucien just watched her, waiting for her to clarify. "I don't know if she is the way she is now because of what has been done to her, and what she has had to suffer through. She's jealous of me… of … my life, I suppose. I think she sees some kind of comparison between us in that the lives we have now were forced upon us and not our own choice, but she thinks that I have gotten out of it far better than she has being made High Fae and getting you… while she is still … well… cursed."

"I suppose she might see it that way." Lucien agreed, thinking about it. They had both been young mortal women two years ago, and now their lives were vastly different. From Vassa's perspective, Elain probably did have a wonderful life, and he hoped from Elain's perspective she did as well. "That… might…" he frowned, trying to imagine what Vassa would be thinking about that. "Did she threaten you?" he asked, hoping that was not the case.

"I'm not sure." Elain sighed, "She's obviously hurting and struggling with the way things are now, but I… kind of think… she might… seem to believe that you might make it better."

Blinking, Lucien looked at Elain. "She what?"

"I don't know what she has planned, but she kept saying that you and she are the same and that the two of you would be a better match than you and I, and perhaps she intends to act on that…" Elain stopped pacing and dropped down onto the couch beside him.

"Petal, I would never…"

"I know." Elain took his hands, and Lucien watched her squeeze them gently. "But she might…"

He tried not to think about Ianthe tricking him and getting him tied to that tree; tried not to think about the way her hands had fumbled with him until his pants had hung open. Shame flushed through him quickly and he closed his eyes. "Ugh…"

"I'll not allow it." Elain said, and her gentle hand stroked his cheek. Lucien opened his eyes to see her watching him in a way that suggested that she knew exactly where his mind had gone. "I won't."

"I cannot see Vassa attempting to chain me to a tree and assault me." He tried to make a joke of it, but his voice sounded hollow even to himself.

"She might try anything." Elain said, "I doubt she's used to hearing the word 'No'."