Chapter 9
"So… how are we going to do this?" Nesta sighed, finally looking at the others in the room, still holding Feyre and Elain in her arms after long minutes in which the others had blended into the background to avoid disturbing the sisters. Nesta would have preferred that they left the room, but she supposed the fact that she had frozen them for a good part of her outburst didn't exactly help that cause.
"Divination is the best way, girl," Amren finally spoke, reminding Nesta of her presence. Nesta sighed, and her arms tightened around Elain, especially remembering the last time she used that method here. Elain had ended up kidnapped, with Azriel and Feyre heading off on a suicide mission they barely escaped from, thanks to the unexpected help of Jurian and Tamlin.
"Fine… but we can't let what happened last time happen again. I want Lucien here. I know that if something happens, Rhys will prioritize Feyre above everything else. The problem is that Cassian and Azriel will do the same… I need someone who will prioritize Elain and her safety above all if I'm going to do this," she decided firmly.
"I can protect Elain," Azriel assured in a calm voice.
"You can, but she will never be your priority over Feyre," Nesta understood it wasn't personal from any of them. Feyre was the High Lady of the Night Court, and Cassian and Azriel were part of that court, so they had to prioritize their leader. Feyre was their responsibility; everyone else came secondary to that responsibility. But that didn't help her. She needed someone who could prioritize Elain, even over their own life. "So, I'll only do it this way—I want Lucien here," she insisted, and she didn't care if she was being alarmist. She preferred to err on the side of caution and have it not be necessary than for it to be necessary and for her not to have taken precautions. She knew neither she nor Feyre could live with that.
"I could do it, if that reassures you— I stay with Elain," Amren offered.
Nesta looked at her, confused, tilting her head and observing the short woman from head to toe. She even blinked.
"I don't mean to offend, but you're almost useless. The only thing you could do would be to die with her. You don't have any magical power to protect her, and physically, at the risk of judging by appearances, you seem to have the strength of a chicken, incapable of fighting," Nesta refused vehemently. "I mean, you used to be very powerful and all, but we both know that after Hybern, your only contribution is your incredible knowledge, not your strength," she tried to be conciliatory. She didn't want to antagonize Amren, but she wouldn't trust Elain's safety to her. In Amren's current condition, after the war with Hybern, Nesta doubted the female could even protect herself now. "Something tells me that, in combat, you're even more useless than the three of us," she said sincerely, though the offended look Amren gave her made it clear she hadn't succeeded in being honest without offending her. "Now you're just another high fae without any war training," she assured, because, as much as she didn't intend to offend her, Amren's feelings were irrelevant compared to Elain's safety. Instead, she looked at Rhys. "Bring him back, and we'll do the divination at that moment—not a moment before."
"Neste…" Elain tried to protest. Nesta shook her head.
"It's urgent," Elain tried to convince her.
"Fine, then have him come back urgently," Nesta shrugged without giving an inch. Rhysand let out a heavy sigh but nodded. Five hundred years had taught the High Lord that some battles weren't worth fighting. If bringing the male back to sit his ass next to Elain while Nesta performed a divination saved them all the drama, he would personally go fetch the other male, even though he could barely tolerate him.