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Elain sat in her garden, soaking in the last vestiges of light. Dusk was upon them and her sisters and the Inner Court were gearing up for a night out to enjoy the warm weather.
On her bench, Elain drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees. It had been several years now that she had lived at the Night Court and she was content enough.
Wasn’t she?
She loved being around her sisters and extended family (because that’s really how it felt with all of the Inner Court members). She loved helping take care of Nyx and other people in the city with the community gardens she had started. Helping maintain the grounds at the River House and the townhouse was fun and kept her busy. She had even been helping Feyre plan and host parties (since that had never exactly been her sister’s strong suit–she seemed a willing learner, though, which pleased Elain).
She took a deep breath, scenting the lemon verbena and salt on the air, layering with the evening primrose she had planted around her bench. In the evenings, she loved sitting here just to breathe and enjoy a little more sunlight. Velaris was lovely, but it was in the northernmost part of Prythian. Somehow, even during the summers, the nights seemed to last forever. And because it was so far north, it really didn’t have too much humidity year-round.
Elain watched the fae lights start flickering on as the last of the sunlight slipped away, taking its coat of pink, purple, and gray along with it. The sight was, as always, lovely, but she didn’t see what she really wanted to see.
She took one more deep breath, then unfolded herself and headed back inside the River House.
Just as she reached the entry hall, she came across everyone getting ready to head out. Feyre spotted Elain and grinned. “Last chance, Elain! Sure you don’t want to join us?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Elain smiled back. “I’m absolutely wiped out from running around with Nyx and visiting the community gardens to help harvest. Besides, I went with you the last several times–I think I’m safe to sit this one out.”
She waved them on and added, “I’m just going to have a quiet night tonight. Don’t be too surprised if you’re a little lighter in your liquor cabinet, though.”
The group laughed and Rhys grinned as well. “Have at it. We’ll see how much is left tomorrow between you and Lucien ransacking my cabinet tonight!”
“Do try to keep him out of trouble, won’t you?” Feyre pecked Elain on the cheek, as did Nesta (who muttered, “Don’t you think it’s time?” with a raised eyebrow). Elain shot Nesta a look that clearly said to shut up.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow!” Elain waved again before turning to go to the sitting room.
When everything with Koschei was going on, Elain and Lucien had found themselves naturally becoming friends and really getting to know one another. Just when she had felt ready to try and progress their relationship romantically, Beron had died (well, had been assassinated) and the truth of Lucien’s parentage had come out. It took him a couple of months to slowly start living at the Day Court and take on the mantle of being Helion’s heir, officially leaving his role as Emissary of the Night Court.
He had been living in Day full time for a couple of years now and the two still visited and exchanged letters, becoming steadfast friends. They had not, however, progressed their relationship further. Lucien had given Elain the space she needed to relearn herself and gain some sort of foothold in her new role and life. She was not about to disrespect him by not showing him the same consideration.
But, Cauldron, she was so besotted with him. She wanted to see so badly if he was still interested in a romantic relationship.
Stepping into the sitting room, she found him lounging on one of the chaises, a tumbler of amber liquid in hand.
Of course, her heart stuttered at the sight. She had learned how to dull the sound of h is, but he had never quite heard hers the same way–a fact she was grateful for more and more.
“Hello, Luc.” She swept by him to the liquor cabinet.
“Hello, Lain.” She swore she could hear the smirk in his voice as she poured a glass similar to his. “Good day?”
“It was. Exhausting, really. I can’t say I could muster the energy for Rita’s.” Elain settled herself on the loveseat closest to his head on the chaise.
He grunted, “I feel very much the same. After being in Day Court, it’s like I literally cannot get enough sunlight up here even though it’s the same amount as back home.”
Elain loved that he was already calling Day Court home.
“It’s funny. I was thinking something like that earlier.” She sipped her whiskey before kicking off her shoes and pulling her feet under her on the loveseat. “You know what one thing is that I truly miss from the human lands?”
“What’s that?” Lucien sat up more so he could face her, golden eye glinting in the fae light.
“Fireflies. At our cabin, in the evenings, I’d watch the fireflies over the tall grasses in the forest clearings. It always made me think that those little bugs were trying their damnedest to keep the sunlight going a little longer.” She glanced at him and shrugged. “It isn’t humid enough nor consistently warm enough for them here.”
Lucien frowned, his brows furrowing. “I’ve never really thought about itl, but you’re right. I’ve never seen any here.”
He sat up straight and planted his feet on the floor. “We should fix that.”
Elain scoffed. “We are not introducing an entire species to this court for one of my whims.”
“No, not like that!” Lucien set his glass on the table. “Let’s go somewhere and see them.”
“Right now?”
“As good a time as any, right?”
She raised an eyebrow. “It’s fully dark outside. Where would we go right now?”
“I’ve got an idea in mind. Come on–we’ll run out of time if you hesitate too long.” He stood and held out his hand.
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d ask how many you’ve had.” Elain took a healthy sip of her liquor and set the tumbler on the table. She took his hand and stood.
He grinned, a wicked glint in his eyes. “Hold on.”
“Wha–Lucien, what are you doing?!” Elain screeched as he picked her up bridal style and dashed out the door, winnowing as soon as he could.
One moment, they were in the darkness and the next, Elain heard gentle waves and found herself bathing in dusk once again. “Where are we?”
“It’s one of Summer’s westernmost islands. There’s a freshwater lake in the center.” Lucien set her down gently. “I thought we might stand a good chance of seeing some here.”
She spun around, drinking in the wind, the humid press of the air, the waves lapping on the lakeside beach by them, the tall grasses swaying. Elain let out a delighted laugh. “This place is wonderful , Lucien! How did you find out about it?”
“Well, when you’ve been around as long as I have….”
Elain rolled her eyes and then swatted at his arm, “Okay, I get it, you decrepit thing!”
“That hurt!”
A flash. Elain shushed him. “Did you see it?”
His eyes followed her pointing finger to the field of swaying grasses. One light. Then another.
Before long, Elain and Lucien were watching the dancing golden lights of fireflies in front of them, the rays of the sun lighting up the lake beside them as a pool of molten gold.
Elain felt a crash of joy and wonder rush through her. She reached out and took Lucien’s hand. “This is exactly what I needed. Thank you.”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles a smidge longer than he should have. “You’re welcome, Elain.”
Elain’s breath nearly stilled at the contact. Gathering her courage, she whispered, “Lucien.”
“Yes?”
“Can I kiss you?”
She felt him stiffen. “Did you just ask to kiss me?”
She cleared her throat and said a little louder, “Yes, I did.”
“Thank the Cauldron.”
HE swooped down and kissed her, his hands cradling her face as her hands went to his chest. She felt such warmth, she felt she was floating and she felt that golden thread in her heart sing.
They broke apart and rested their foreheads against the other’s panting. Lucien chuckled. “There’s no turning back now, Elain. One touch of you is enough to fill me, but I’m always going to crave more.”
“Lucien. That was kind of the idea.” She gave him a peck on the lips. “I want you here for a very long time.”
A gorgeous smile on his lips mirroring her own, they reached for another kiss.