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Elain was seething.
It was the hottest day of the year in the Night Court, which typically had more mild temperatures during the warmer seasons. Elain had been up since before dawn, frantically ensuring all of her carefully planned preparations for Nesta and Cassian’s mating ceremony that day were in line. She had been planning it for months, happily insisting on taking on the task despite not being required to. She enjoyed feeling like she had a purpose, as the Inner Circle often left her out of most court discussions, and she did not have much interest in training with Nesta and the priestesses at the House of Wind. So she had thrown herself into planning the most elaborate, magical celebration she could with the advantage of using Rhysand’s endless line of credit.
Everything was in place. The main courtyard in the vast gardens of the River House had been flipped into a botanical masterpiece of a setting where her sister and her mate could traditionally accept their bond surrounded by friends. Chairs wreathed in vines and various floral arrangements were carefully placed in the plush grass before a large willow tree. The leaves of the willow tree were swept to the side, gathered in vines, and curtained a slightly raised platform that practically glittered with the sunlight that poked through the tree’s foliage. Magical fae lights floated above the courtyard that would illuminate the area once the sun began to set. There was a designated area for socializing, catered by a restaurant Cassian had mentioned was his favorite in Velaris. Elain had even secured an ensemble of musicians that often performed in Velaris, as Nesta loved their style of music.
Her sister was beyond happy and grateful for the work she did. Everything looked gloriously perfect and many guests had taken the time to compliment her work. She should be happy, proud of her efforts and excited for her sister’s big day. But she was standing at the edge of the courtyard, furiously fanning herself with a lilac fan embroidered with roses that matched her dress, as she watched him across the lawn.
He had not visited Velaris in months. Had not attended Winter Solstice and opted to spend the holiday with his human friends beyond the wall. With Vassa . He was here now, though. She had even known that he arrived the night prior, simply because the shock of the proximity of his mere presence had flooded her every sense.
And now he stood feet away from her, had not acknowledged her once, not even a polite greeting, and was laughing with and standing very close to a female from the Dawn Court. She was gorgeous, long black hair that fell nearly to her waist and gleamed in the sunlight. Her features were sharp, dark up-tilted eyes paired nicely with her golden-brown complexion. She had one hand that appeared to be made of golden metal, though it did not take away from her beauty. Elain watched as Lucien leaned closer to her and whispered something, looking around cautiously. The female’s cheeks flushed, eyes wide, as she let out a surprised laugh and then playfully slapped his chest.
Elain was seeing red. The heat of the day mixing with the heat of her rage and making her insides feel like they were about to boil over. She knew, rationally, that she did not have much grounds to be angry with his neglect toward her. He likely believes that his disregard for her in the past months is what she wanted, given her adamant avoidance of him and his feeble attempts at getting to know her. However, after not only losing her fiance because of him , because of this bond , but also Azriel’s rejection which she found out was enforced because of what he might do, the rage within her had inflamed. Was she the only one ruined for any chance of romance because she was bonded to him? And he could just ignore the bond and live his life, fooling around with human women and any courtier he wishes with no restriction?
If her life, her happiness, was being dictated by her bond to this male, surely he should make more effort? Rather than going on with his life ignoring her as she suffers the consequences.
Sweat was pouring down Elain’s back as she watched the Dawn female lean close to Lucien’s face, brushing a hand over his temple as she peered at his mechanical eye. She was so close, too close, and Lucien’s relaxed demeanor around her was a state she had rarely ever seen him in. He shows up after months of nothing and has the audacity to not only continue to ignore her, but flaunt another female right in front of her?
Elain’s thoughts were interrupted by Feyre’s soft voice, “The hydrangeas look absolutely lovely with- Elain? Are you alright? You’re downright flushed.” She whipped her head toward her younger sister, still rapidly fanning herself as the heat was unbearable. Feyre had a concerned look on her face, eyeing the fan and then flitting her gaze back to Elain’s chest that was rapidly rising and falling.
“I’m… I… I think I just am overheated I-” Elain sensed a new set of eyes on her, burning into her skin. She glanced back at her previous target, finding Lucien had turned away from the female, now watching her tentatively with furrowed brows from across the courtyard. Her eyes locked with his for a brief, scorching moment, and it was all too much.
“Excuse me.” Elain turned on her heel away from her sister, from the prying eyes of her mate, and began swiftly walking down the path that led deeper into the gardens that she knew so well. She didn’t stop to look back once, willing her erratic breathing to get under control as she approached her favorite spot in the garden, the spot that she went to when she needed to think, be alone.
There was an area decked in lavender and sunflowers, a small willow tree overseeing the flowers, and a gurgling fountain with lily pads nestled next to a wooden bench. Elain often came here to read and escape, the sound of the fountain setting her at ease.
With a deep sigh, she plopped down on the bench, closing her eyes as she willed her heartbeat to slow down. Still gripping the fan in her hand, she breathed in through her nose and exhaled slowly out through her mouth. She removed the pearl clip from her hair, freeing the top layers of the locks and ran her fingers through them, smoothing out the tension that had built up.
Her eyes were still closed as she tried to focus on the calming fountain before her, but a strong scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke accompanied by the scuffing of boots on stone interrupted her meditation. Shooting her eyes open, she looked up at Lucien Vanserra before her. Dressed in dark brown trousers that hugged his muscular thighs perfectly, and a loose white shirt with billowing sleeves covered by an evergreen vest, he was the depiction of elegant masculine beauty. His hands were casually placed in his pockets as he inspected the tall bushel of lavender to his side. He met her gaze and held it, standing less than five feet away from her now.
“You have single handedly rivaled the Spring Court’s gardens with what you have achieved here. In the Night Court of all places.” He glanced around them then brought his gaze back to her.
She simply stared at him, slightly hunched over as she sat on the bench. He raised an eyebrow at her, a silent indication that screamed let it out . So she did.
She rose from the bench to stand, still a safe distance from him and though he towered over her she wanted to impose as much dominance as possible. “I don’t know what sort of business you and Rhysand have, but you might as well be a stranger to this court. You have been gone for months . What are you even doing here now?” She had balled her fists at her sides, not entirely sure what exactly she wanted to say to him, just letting the words tumble out.
Lucien removed his hands from his pockets and gestured around him with both hands, “I was invited.” He stated.
Elain exhaled out her nose roughly in annoyance, “Why bother? You clearly are more than happy residing as far away from the Night Court as possible. It is not as if Nesta would have been offended if you chose to forgo the invitation.” She crossed her arms in front of her, leaning back on her heels.
“Forgive me, my lady, but you are sounding far too put off about my distance than the female I knew before. The female that repelled my presence, would refuse to even look at me when I was in the same room as her. I would think you’d be delighted at my absence.” Lucien shot back at her, sending an oily twinge of guilt down her spine. He was right . She was not willing to back down, though.
“Do you understand how many problems you have caused in my life by merely existing? I will forever be defined by this… this thing that binds us! It is as if I have lost free will because I am tied to you. Meanwhile, you are able to go dally with your human queen, or the lot of eligible females in Prythian. Nobody to stop you on my account .” She was exposing too much, but she could not stop her stream of consciousness vocalizing itself in her frustration.
Lucien took a step toward her, his eyebrows knitted together, “Be sure, Elain, I have no intentions to stop you from pursuing what- who you want. Although, it sounds as though you have issues with me spending time with other females? Do you wish for me to sit around for the rest of my days alone hoping for you to come to me? When you have clearly demonstrated your disinterest?” His voice had risen, causing Elain to lean back where she stood a bit, but she straightened her spine and dared a step even closer to him.
“You come here after months of silence, and do not utter even a “hello” to me. This cursed bond is supposed to be sacred to the fae yet you come here and cling to another female right in front of me. Yet I am unable to pursue other males.” To her surprise and displeasure, Lucien’s lips quirked up on one side, just slightly, exposing a deep dimple on his left cheek. His shoulders relaxed as he replied.
“I could be mistaken, but you sound as if you are perhaps a bit jealous, my lady?” His eyes scanned her face before dropping down to her heaving chest, where her blush had spread. He had leaned dangerously close to her, his face now inches from her own as Elain glared at him, her eyes locked on his as he arrogantly smirked down at her.
Elain had never been more flustered in her life. Stamping her foot like a child, she clutched the fan still fisted in her hand and swatted the right side of Lucien’s chest, just below his shoulder. “I loathe you.” She blurted out. Lucien looked down to where she had hit him in shock for just a moment. For a split second, Elain almost considered apologizing for her hideous behavior, but Lucien snatched her wrist in one hand, using his other hand to take the fan from her grip and then to her utter shock he swatted her left shoulder back. Not enough to actually hurt, but the sentiment was clear.
“I loathe you .” He snapped back at her. Elain’s mouth had dropped open, she was scowling at him, seething as she locked eyes with him and burned all of her rage she could conjure into his gaze. They held eye contact, both breathing unevenly, in silence for a few devastatingly long seconds before Elain made the mistake of dropping her gaze just a fraction. To his lips.
His full lips were perfect. Elegantly angled at the corners to make a mischievous smile. His bottom lip was slightly plumper than his top lip, creating an almost pouty resting state, and it looked impossibly soft. Elain could not tear away her eyes from his lips, her thoughts immediately switching to a drastically different place in her subconscious than the rage she was feeling before. She had relaxed her hands, previously balled into tight fists, and felt her shoulders sag. Without realizing it, she had leaned forward enough that the tips of her shoes brushed his own. She stopped for a moment to steady herself, about to regain her control and look back up into his eyes, but a warm, calloused hand slipped behind her neck and pressed her forward.
Her lips found his with ease. She shut her eyes automatically and sighed into the kiss, wrapping her hands around his neck. They moved rhythmically together, their heartbeats synchronizing as she sunk further into him. Lucien’s grip on the back of her neck angled her head so he could deepen the kiss, teasing her bottom lip with his teeth. Elain let out a gasp as his other hand slid down her side, squeezing her waist, and he swept his tongue into her mouth.
She was lost. Could not even remember how this began or why, she was just so relieved to feel him. She wound her hands in his soft, thick hair, scratching his scalp as he let out a rumbling groan into her mouth. His hand kneaded her hip, sending shocks of pleasure through her as she attempted to press herself closer to him.
Slowly, Elain felt her left foot lift off of the ground, raising up as her calf bent at her knee and she leaned more into Lucien to maintain balance as she stood on only her right foot. The only other time this had ever happened, was the first time she kissed Grayson. That thought was enough to break her from her stupor and her eyes shot open wide. “Mmmmh!” She exclaimed into the kiss as she shoved at his shoulders.
Lucien stumbled back, breathing heavily as he looked at her with a playful look in his eyes. Elain scowled at him as she huffed out a sharp breath, “How dare you! You can’t just go around kissing people thinking it will solve problems!” She turned quickly and began walking away from him, every nerve in her body tingling. It was a moment of weakness, she told herself, nothing more.
She heard footsteps follow closely behind her as she approached the babbling fountain, “Why not? It seemed to relax you.” Lucien’s voice held a humorous tone as his hand closed around her upper arm, twirling her around, “Do you want to kiss again?” He smirked down at her, that gods-forsaken dimple appearing once again.
“You’re just trying to confuse me.” She quipped. His eyebrows furrowed in mock-confusion.
“What’s confusing about a kiss? You were enjoying yourself.” His infuriating smirk returned and Elain ripped her arm from his grip.
“It’s just this bond. This bond is making me think I like it, and you know that so you are taking advantage of it!” Elain was shaking, mostly from the ecstasy that she had just experienced, but also from her incessant need to defy these feelings. Lucien chuckled, delicately fixing the strap of her dress that had fallen off her shoulder in their escapade.
“I think you’re scared. You’re scared that possibly, it is not just the bond that draws you to me.” Lucien leaned in so his lips were right next to her ear, eliciting gooseflesh to rise up on her skin. “Do you know why I have not been to the Night Court in months? Because when I am near enough to you, I can see your dreams . Those naughty dreams you have about me, about us. They were fucking torturing me.” He hissed against her neck.
Elain was mortified, trembling with horror at the revelation that he had shared her scandalous dreams of him. The dreams that had her waking in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, impossibly wet between her thighs and moaning in need. For him.
Shoving her embarrassment aside, she stepped back from him, the back of her knees knocking into the side of the fountain’s pond and she almost slipped. Lucien shot out an arm to steady her, and in her stubborn haste to swat him away she lost her footing and gripped the sleeve of his shirt as she tumbled into the fountain, dragging him in with her.
She flailed beneath the surface of the surprisingly deep pond of the fountain before breaking out of the water and sucking in a mouthful of air. A lilypad covered her head and she snatched it off, tossing it back into the water. She heard Lucien resurface just beside her, refusing to look at him. Lucien was silent for a beat as he shook out his hair, then began laughing . Elain looked down at her drenched lilac gown, plastered to her skin and basically translucent now. She practically growled as Lucien continued to snicker beside her.
As she began to wade her way to the edge of the fountain pond Elain shot at him, “I have an idea, why don’t you go back underwater, and I’ll count to a million.” Lucien stopped laughing and began scrambling through the water to get to her.
“Elain, wait. Just hold on a second-” She had already exited the fountain and was pressing with determination towards the courtyard. Nesta’s ceremony was to begin any minute and she would not miss it to go change her ruined clothing.
When she reached the courtyard, discreetly taking her seat in the front row next to Feyre, she smoothed out her soaked dress and tucked her wet hair behind her ears. She felt Feyre’s incredulous stare from beside her but refused to acknowledge it. “Do not. Ask.” She spoke firmly as she stared straight ahead right before the musicians began playing the song Nesta would descend to the altar to.
The ceremony was beautiful, just as she had intended, and Nesta and Cassian had their hands bound together in black ribbon, signifying the tether of their mating bond. Elain’s thoughts were swirling, staring at that symbolic ribbon, at the adoration in her older sister and her mate’s eyes as they officiated their bond. Her heart clenched almost painfully, and she clasped her hands together in her lap in an attempt to ground herself.
Hesitantly, she turned her head towards the row to the left of her, where she knew he would be seated. There he sat, equally as disheveled and drenched as her, sharing the state of her ridiculousness, and he was already staring right back at her.
As the music accompanying the ceremony reached its crescendo, she held her stare with Lucien once again, his eyes firm and intense as he stared back at her. She found that she dreaded him possibly leaving the Night Court tomorrow, not to be heard from for months, or who knows how long. Though she was fighting it with all she could, she wanted him to stay .
Slowly, Elain held his gaze as she hesitantly offered him a slight smile, a silent indication of how she truly felt. Lucien returned it, his russet eye sparking with some understanding between the two.