#He is Rowan Whitethorn and she is Aelin Galathynius and he is not afraid they are not afraid

[acourtofquestions]

“ As it should be. They are ... If you ever meet them, you'll get it. She isn't an easy person to be with, to understand. Aelin frightens everyone." He snorted. "But not him. I think that's why she fell in love with him, against her best intentions. Rowan beheld all Aelin was and is, and he was not afraid." ”

[leiawritesstories]

Stunning

Rowaelin Month 2024, Day 7: All Dressed Up @rowaelinscourt

Word count: 3.2k

Warnings: flirting, swearing, rich people talk, badly concealed horniness, NSFW content, a few fun little hidden jokes teehee

A/N: hi hello this is technically for tomorrow BUT it's getting posted now because i'm taking the LSAT tomorrow and i'm going to be way too mentally exhausted to function, yayyyyy 😃 also, i might disappear for a little while after the exam, bc i also just started my senior year of college and it's a bit busier than i thought lol. anyway.....enjoy!!! at your own discretion please :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If the club was fancy, its VIP lounge was a study in luxury. A pair of black-suited bouncers flanked the door, their dark-shaded eyes constantly scanning the club, scrutinizing each and every person who approached the lounge doors. Rowan handed over the thick square of embossed ivory paper from his tux jacket pocket and nodded amiably at the bouncers as they checked his invitation and waved him in. Conspicuous as he’d felt before, when he was walking through the club in a custom three-piece designer tux, he felt positively unremarkable among the sea of haute couture that thronged the VIP lounge, all of them centered around a tall, elegant woman in a fitted sheath dress of molten gold with a slit that crept dangerously high up her right leg. Her head tipped an inch sideways with the echo of her laughter, and she rested one graceful hand on the forearm of the handsome man she was talking to, crimson-tipped fingernails contrasting sharply with his black jacket. 

Aelin Galathynius. 

The only daughter of perhaps the most influential voices in Terrasen’s political scene, Aelin filled the spotlight like she was born to it. Which she was. She’d been appearing in front of press cameras and journalists practically since her birth because Evalin Ashryver, the first female secretary of state, had wanted to show the world that a woman could have both a successful high-profile career and a family. Furthermore, her father was Rhoe Galathynius, the deputy prime minister, and he had personally taught his only daughter how to handle the press. 

At twenty-nine, Aelin was one of the most recognizable faces in Terrasen, though that was mostly due to her success as a former professional volleyball player and current coach, as well as an incredibly generous philanthropist, rather than her parents’ collective renown. Rowan had known Aelin since high school, had harbored a crush for her practically as long, and since he was also a retired athlete and the head of a foundation that supported talented young athletes whose families couldn’t afford their sports, he often crossed paths with Aelin at events like this one. 

She was chatting with Dorian Havilliard, the oldest son of Prime Minister Havilliard and a childhood friend of hers, when Rowan strolled over and nodded cordially at the dark-haired man. “Good to see you again, Havilliard. Do you mind?” 

“Not at all!” Dorian air-kissed Aelin’s cheeks. “Whitethorn, good to see you as well. I’ll have my assistant reach out to yours to schedule a proper meeting, yes?” He had recently indicated his interest in sponsoring one of Rowan’s foundation events. 

“Sounds perfect.” Rowan shook Dorian’s hand and pretended not to notice as the other man stage-whispered “he’s so hot” to Aelin before he left the two of them alone. 

“Rowan.” Aelin’s crimson lips curled into a smile. “What brings you here? I thought you usually avoided these little parties like the plague.” 

“I try,” he said dryly. “Unfortunately, there are several key donors here, and my VP practically threatened to strangle me if I didn’t show up and have a drink with them.” 

She chuckled and took a delicate sip of the champagne in her hand. “I wasn’t aware I was one of your key donors, Rowan.” 

“Maybe I’m using you as a human shield,” he teased. 

“I’m afraid I’m more of a spear than a shield,” she said with a wink. “That means I’ll charge at your big scary donors with you if you can work up the balls to ask.” 

“Can you blame me for hesitating?” He swiped a glass of champagne from a passing server’s tray and locked his gaze onto Aelin as he took a deep sip. “You look stunning in that dress, Aelin, and I’m afraid that’s all anyone will see.” 

“Ah, stop it.” She swatted his arm. “I’ll get their attention, and you’ll capture it like you always do with your cute little big-old-shy-guy smile and blush.” His cheeks heated, and she grinned. “There, you see? One of your usual protests that you ‘don’t do as much as you want to do’ and you’ll have those donors eating from the palm of your hand.” 

“I’d like to eat you from the palm of my hand,” he mumbled, mostly to himself. “You’re sure?” 

“Of course.” She set down her champagne and looped her arm through his. She lowered her voice to a throaty whisper. “And if you want to eat, Whitethorn, all you have to do is ask.” 

His pants tightened. He swallowed thickly, forced himself to think about the donors in order to control his traitorous body, and covertly poked Aelin in the ribs. “Quite a naughty thing to say, Aelin.” 

She winked lazily at him. “We’re at a club, Rowan. Certain things happen at clubs.” 

“Such a brazen woman.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear, and his lips just barely brushed her neck. “What kind of things are you thinking about, hmm?” 

“Schmoozing with donors, for one.” She laughed softly at his disgruntled expression and brushed a megawatt smile across her face as they approached one of the couples who were frequent donors to his foundation. “Connall, Sorscha, delighted to see you here!” 

Connall had been one of Rowan’s teammates, and he’d retired a year before Rowan so he could spend more time with his wife, Sorscha, and their family. “Surprised you made it, old man,” he joked as he clasped hands with Rowan and affectionately thumped him on the back. 

“Trust me, we both are,” Rowan deadpanned. “Sorscha, you look lovely as always. How are the little ones?” 

“Growing up too damn fast,” Connall sighed. 

Sorscha nodded in agreement. “Lyla started walking the other day; I turned around for five seconds and she made it into the other room. I almost had a heart attack.” She laughed. “And Gray has been obsessed with taking care of the garden, except that he doesn’t know the difference between the weeds and the herbs.” 

“Little guy brought his mama a fistful of ‘bad weeds’ that were actually dill,” Connall added, snickering. “Oh, and James is doing fantastic at the football camp.” 

Rowan smiled. “That’s amazing! How is it having him stay with you?” One of the projects he was trying to start involved pro athletes having orphans and foster kids stay with them when they participated in training camps for their sports. 

“We love it.” Con grinned down at his wife. “He’s still a little shy with the kids and he basically lives out of his duffle bag, but he’s a lot more talkative now.” 

“He seems more at ease,” Sorscha said. “It could be that he’s made friends at the camp, or that my son pretty much idolizes him because he’s a big boy who plays sports, but I think he’s also just more… comfortable.” 

“That’s almost exactly what we were hoping would happen.” Rowan squeezed Aelin’s hand, and she beamed up at him. “Good. Well, I hope this helps convince the board.” 

Con thumped Rowan’s shoulder. “We’re in your corner, man. I’d be happy to tell the board about our success if you need.” 

“I just might take you up on that.” Rowan shook Con’s hand and accepted Sorscha’s hug. “Thank you so much.” 

“See, that wasn’t so bad,” Aelin teased as they walked away, heading for another donor that Rowan had spotted. “You’re a natural—just get them talking about how much they want to help these kids or how much they love what they’re already doing, and they’ll give you their support.” 

His hand slid to her lower back, guiding her through the throngs of people. “Wish I had half as much confidence as you have, Ae.” 

��Stop that,” she chided. “Rowan, your foundation is hugely successful because of you. That much is evident, and I’ll keep trying to convince you of that until you accept it.” 

“I know a few ways you could convince me,” he murmured, half to himself. 

Her smile melted into lazy dangerousness, and sparks kindled behind her stunning turquoise eyes. “Do you, now?” 

His hand curled possessively around her hip. “I do.” Heat raced through her blood at the weight of his touch. “Dance with me.” 

“Of course.” 

They stepped into the swirl of couples dancing in the middle of the lounge, and Aelin gasped quietly when Rowan pulled her so close that she was almost flush against him, wrapping one arm around her waist with his hand on her hip and lacing his free hand with hers. So close she could feel the thrum of his heartbeat, she draped her free arm around his neck, fingers toying with the collar of his pressed black shirt. The song changed, shifting to a deep, pounding bass and sultry vocals, and her body moved in near-perfect tandem with his as he led her through the dance. 

“All that hockey training certainly gave you good moves, Ro,” she teased, flicking her gaze up to his through her lashes. 

He smirked languidly and rotated his hips in a borderline lustful circle. “And all your volleyball training probably gave you strong legs.” He tipped his head down and purred his next words into her ear. “But how long until they start shaking?” 

“Dream on, hockey boy,” she whispered, even as desire uncoiled between her legs at the sinful rasp of his voice. 

“Every night.” Her breath caught at the admission in those words, and when he brushed a thumb across her lips, she leaned into the touch. Her nod was confirmation enough, and he replaced his thumb with his lips, kissing her softly at first and then deeper, slower, the stroke of his tongue almost too slow for the heat pounding in her blood. 

In a hazy blur, they were in the club’s bathroom, Aelin sucking in a sharp breath as Rowan yanked her dress up around her waist and planted her bare ass on the marble countertop. He chuckled, a low dark gravelly rasp that curled up her spine like smoke, as his eyes traced down her body and discovered her lack of underwear. “Dangerous move, darling,” he murmured, attaching his lips to her neck and pressing his calloused thumb directly onto her clit. “No panties? Anyone could see you, Aelin.” 

“Anyone—ahh, Rowan!—isn’t going to see,” she panted, her words broken up with gasps and hitched breaths. “Just…fuck, just you.” 

“That’s what I like to hear.” Free hand reaching down the front of her dress to tease her hardened nipples, he thrust three fingers into her, reveling in her broken moan and the way her eyes scrunched shut in pain-edged bliss. “Hold still for me, pretty girl.” Wordlessly, she nodded, bracing her hands on the countertop to stabilize herself. He smirked and kissed her hard, swallowing her moans, and pumped his fingers roughly, bringing her to her first orgasm of the night within a few minutes. He worked her through the high, teasing her sensitive clit just enough to make her whimper when he withdrew his glistening fingers and licked them clean, gaze locked on her the whole time. 

“Please, Ro.” She whispered his name, her plea a raspy breath. “Need you to fill me up.” 

“Good girl.” He pushed his trousers and boxers down just enough for his cock to spring free, and her eyes went wide and dark as she stared at his size. 

“Th-that…” Her mouth went dry. “That’s not going to fit.” 

He brushed his thumb over her kiss-swollen lips. “It will, pretty girl. Trust me, it will.” He pushed one of her dress straps off her shoulder and palmed her breast. “Your pretty pussy took my fingers so well, Ae, getting all ready for my dick.” 

Her breath escaped in a shuddering groan. “How is it so hot when you say filthy things like that?” 

“Because you’re my dirty little good girl.” He smirked and tilted her chin up to brush a bare feather of a kiss over her smudged lipstick. “Can you stay quiet for me?” She nodded, and he kissed her as he dipped his fingers into her cunt again, working her in long slow strokes. When she wrapped her hand around his wrist and whispered that she was ready, he lined his cock up and pushed into her slowly, savoring the tight grip of her pussy around his dick and the muffled whimpers she made as she struggled to stay quiet while accommodating the size of his velvet steel schlong. 

“Rowan,” she choked out, near desperate. “Please!” 

“Good fucking girl,” he groaned, and he rocked into the cradle of her hips, thrusting with increasing force. Gripping her waist, he pinned her to the counter and fucked her hard, and she buried her face in his shoulder to muffle the uncontrollable moans that tore from her throat. The soap dish clattered to the floor, and he just kicked it underneath the sink and thrust harder, hurtling them both towards climax. Aelin tipped her head back and rasped out his name as she came, ecstasy written all over her features, and he groaned her name as he came inside of her. As their bodies stilled, he gently pulled out, smirking at the sight of his rowillymilk dripping down her legs. 

She trailed a finger between her thighs and lifted it to her lips, licking their cum off and humming softly in pleasure. “Delicious.” 

He growled and pulled his pants back up and lifted her off the counter, stopping to fix her dress before he laced his fingers with hers and led her out of the bathroom and back through the flashing strobe lights of the lounge and out a side door. “Your place or mine?” 

“Mine.” She flicked a heated glance at him from under her darkened lashes. “Got a few toys I like to use in my bedroom.” 

“Get in the car.” Rowan pulled the passenger door of a sleek black SUV open with more force than strictly necessary, the muscled lines of his body tense, the gleam of his eyes predatory. Aelin touched the smudged lipstick at the corner of her mouth, wiping it away as she slid gracefully into the car. He closed the door and went around to the driver’s side, and she sucked in a half-surprised, half-aroused gasp when he accelerated down the dark, empty city streets with a hand splayed on her thigh. Heat pulsed between her legs, radiating outward from the warm, firm weight of his palm atop her leg. 

She at least had enough of her wits to direct him towards her townhouse. “Turn left here,” she directed, guiding him down the familiar path to her home. “First right, then second right.” He navigated the turns with expert precision, and it was only minutes before he’d pulled into the single parking space marked out in front of her property. 

A sudden, thick silence blanketed the vehicle, and Aelin had the urge to caress Rowan’s face when she caught sight of the faint uncertainty nearly buried in his fiery gaze. So she did, gently tracing her fingertips across his cheekbones. “Welcome to my home, Ro.” She winked lazily. “Want me to show you my bedroom?” 

His lingering hesitation melted into molten, commanding desire. “That’s my good girl.” The praise flowed over her like sunlight. “Can you get out of the car, Ae, or do you need to be carried?” 

“Someone has a high opinion of himself.” She clicked her tongue and smoothly climbed out of the car. He prowled around from the driver’s side, banded one thickly muscled arm around her waist, and pressed her back against the door. 

“Still so naughty,” he murmured. “What should we do about that, hmm?” 

“Why don’t you come inside and show me?” she whispered right back. 

He kissed her, and it would have been sweet if not for the cum sticking to her thighs. “Good girl.” Hand in her hand, he followed her into her townhouse, locked the front door behind them, and waited all of twenty seconds for her to drop her small purse before he hauled her over his shoulder and stormed up the stairs. She managed to point him towards her bedroom door, and he set her onto her bed with uncharacteristic gentleness. 

And tore her dress down the middle. 

She was halfway through an outraged gasp when he yanked her hips to the edge of the mattress, dropped to his knees, and licked her dripping pussy. Her outrage kindled into lust, and she plunged her fingers into his hair, shoving him closer as his tongue drew harsh patterns on her needy clit. Through the incoherent, garbled whimpers and moans streaming from her throat, she managed to reach sideways and grab her wand vibrator from her bedside table and switch the toy on before tracing the buzzing tip around her stiff, aching nipples. 

“What,” Rowan growled, “do you think you’re doing, hmm?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just took the vibrator from her and replaced his tongue with the toy, teasing her cunt with too-light touches and biting kisses, ignoring her breasts altogether. “Did I say you could touch yourself, Ae?” 

“N–no, sir,” she whispered. Calling him sir had been impulsive, but it felt so right. 

He swore filthily and shoved his pants off, letting his massive meat pole spring free. “That’s correct. Now be a good girl and put your hands above your head.” The vibrator skimmed her throbbing pussy and dipped farther back, circling the rim of her ass, and her fists curled into the pillows above her head as words failed her. He seemed pleased with her obedience, because he kept the toy there as he returned his mouth to her cunt and devoured her, tongue spearing into her and teeth scraping her most sensitive parts. It couldn’t have been more than two minutes before stars exploded across her vision as she came so hard she shook with the force of it. 

He turned off the vibrator, threw it across the floor, stripped out of the rest of his clothes, and hauled her up the bed, kissing and nipping up her body as he went. “Don’t hold back,” she breathed, the words shaky from the last waves of her orgasm but no less confident. 

“Scream for me, pretty girl,” was all he said in response, and he flipped them over and pulled her down onto his cock. She was so wet that her cunt slid down effortlessly, and he didn’t give her any time to adjust before he lifted her hips up and down, helping her ride his dick at a frenetic pace. “Fuck, Aelin!” 

“Fuck, Rowan!” she screamed in tandem, head falling back in bliss. He sat up, deepening the angle, and fucked her relentlessly, until she was a mess of broken cries of his name. 

“Come with me,” he ordered, and he pinched her clit sharply. She screamed his name to the gods as she shattered, and he came with her, burying himself deep. He rocked his hips gently as she shook, working her through every last second of the drawn-out orgasm, milking his own pleasure. As she calmed and rolled off of him, sprawled onto her stomach, he ran his fingers through her hair, smoothing the mussed strands. “So fuckin’ good, Fireheart.” 

She turned onto her side and grinned, linking her fingers with his. “Happy anniversary, my love. Should we do that again next year?”

~~~

TAGS:

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@mariaofdoranelle

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

@renxzs

@anarchiii

@fauna-flora11

[golden-kingdom]

And the Season Feels New to Me Because You're Here - Part 2

Written for the 12 Days of Rowaelin: First Holiday Season Together (@rowaelinscourt)

Summary: A month before Christmas, rich hotel heiress Aelin Ashryver Galathynius is running away from her future after a fight with her father and hides at a resort in the Staghorn Mountains. When she has a ski accident and hits her head, she loses her memory and nobody knows who she is. Rowan Whitethorn is a widower who owns a small inn in town and father to 6-year-old Thalia. When, after much insistence from his daughter, Rowan offers Aelin a place to stay, the two have to spend time together against their will. Rowan cannot stand spoiled and self-centered Aelin, and Aelin hates how cold and guarded Rowan is. Thalia thinks it would take a Christmas miracle for them to finally get along.

Inspired by Falling for Christmas (2022)

Word Count: 3.4k

Warnings: Some language

Note: This chapter was heavily inspired by the movie, but I promise the rest of the story will not be as similar.

Masterlist

Read it on AO3

Aelin woke up and stretched out. She reached for her phone on her bedside table like every morning. She opened her eyes to check the time, but realized she was holding a TV remote instead. What the hell? She looked around and didn’t recognize the room she was in. It was modest and simple, far from the luxury she usually preferred. She was laying in a double bed which was far too small for her taste. The sheets were a bit scratchy and the mattress was way too firm. Where was she? 

Then, it all came back to her. The accident, the hospital, the amnesia, Rowan and Thalia… She realized this wasn’t a bad dream; this was all real. She sat up in bed and put her face in her hands, sighing deeply. She stayed there for a few minutes, wallowing in self-pity. Then she forced herself to get up and get dressed. She picked the least ugly sweater out of the pile and found some pants that kind of fit her. She really needed new clothes she thought as she looked at herself in the mirror. She washed her face and brushed her hair, groaning about the lack of skincare and make up in the bathroom. She put her long golden hair in a high ponytail and figured this was the best she could do with what she had.

She checked the time on the clock and realized it was already 10:30am. She had slept more than twelve hours. Fortunately, her headache from yesterday was gone and she felt overall better physically. Her stomach grumbled. She left her room to look for Rowan.

She found him quickly. He was at the reception desk with two guests. She waited until he was done and walked over to him.

"Well, look who decided to show up. Did you sleep well?" he said as he noticed her.

"I would like to remember you I had a terrible accident yesterday and the doctor said rest would help me recover faster," she defended herself. "But if you really want to know, no, I didn’t sleep well. The bed is uncomfortable."

He mumbled something she couldn’t hear and gave her an annoyed look. He went back to working on his computer, ignoring her. She cleared her throat, trying to get his attention again.

"I’m hungry," she declared. "Could you make me breakfast?"

"Breakfast is served until 9:30am. I’m afraid you’re gonna have to make it yourself or wait until lunch," he replied, not even bothering to look up from the screen.

When he noticed she wasn’t moving, he remembered she didn’t know where the kitchen was.

"Come, I’ll show you where the kitchen is," he said as he left his desk and walked towards the back.

She followed him through a door that led to a room with a few tables made of wood covered with checkered tablecloths.

"This is the dining room," he explained.

Then he walked through another door to his right.

"And here’s the kitchen."

The kitchen was pretty small, but well furnished. There was a large opening in the wall, and you could see the dining room through it. They heard Thalia arrive and she sat at the bar in the dining room, across the kitchen counter. She didn’t have school today because of yesterday’s events, but she would have to go back tomorrow.

"Celaena!" she greeted Aelin with a big smile.

She smiled back and waved at the young girl. Then she went about making breakfast. If only she could figure out how to turn on this damn stove. She groaned.

"Here, that’s how you turn the stove on," explained Rowan, doing it for her.

She mumbled an embarrassed thank you. She went to the fridge and took out two eggs. She walked back to the stove and cracked them open in the pan. Although it was more like crashing them. Bits of the shell were mixed with the eggs.

"Have you ever even cooked eggs before? You’re destroying them," Rowan said, exasperated by her incompetence.

Aelin turned red. She felt like an idiot, and she was infuriated by his tone.

"Never mind, I’ll do it for you," he said as he took her place in front of the stove and removed the bits of shell from the pan. "Go sit with Thalia. Watch and learn."

Aelin left the kitchen and went on the other side to sit at the bar. She watched Rowan move around the kitchen with the skills of someone with years of practice. As the eggs cooked, he went to get bacon from the fridge. He put it in a frying pan on the stove. When everything was cooked, he served a plate and put it in front of Aelin. She looked down at the food and frowned.

"I don’t eat bacon," Aelin said.

"What? Bacon is so good!" Thalia exclaimed. "Have you tried it before?"

"I don’t know," Aelin admitted.

"How can you know you don’t like bacon if you don’t remember anything?" asked Rowan pointedly.

Thalia looked up at her with an expectant and encouraging look, so she took a bite and gave it a try. The girl was right, it was delicious.

"It’s delicious!" she said as she took another bite and then another. She hummed in contentment.

Thalia laughed good-naturedly and Rowan rolled his eyes.

"Were there any call asking for me this morning?" she asked as she was eating.

"I’m afraid not," he replied, feeling sorry for her all of the sudden.

"I don’t understand why no one is looking for me," she uttered in a sad voice.

"Were you able to remember anything?" Rowan asked.

"No, but the doctor said if I did normal things, my memory might come back."

"Well, we definitely could use some help around here," he said.

"Like what?" she inquired, unsure.

"Just simple chores around the lodge, nothing too difficult."

"Alright, I guess. If there’s a chance it can help me remember," she conceded.

…

They were standing in one of the guest rooms of the lodge. Rowan had told Aelin to follow him after she was done eating, and here they were, staring at an unmade bed.

"So, this should be simple enough. I want you to undo the bed and remake it," he explained as he handed her fresh sheets and pillowcases. "You think you can manage?"

"Of course, I can. I’m not a child," she said.

"Then I’ll leave you to it. Come find me when you’re done. I’ll be in the next room."

He left her to her own device, and she started undoing the bed. She had no memory of ever doing this, but the doctor said she should remember how to do normal things. When she had removed the dirty sheets and pillowcases, she put them in a pile on the floor. She grabbed the new fitted sheet and tried to figure out how she should go about putting it on the bed. She got onto the bed and pulled one corner of the sheet and tucked it under the bed. She went to grab the opposite corner of the sheet and pulled it, but the corner she had already tucked under the bed got undone. She groaned and tried again. And again. It wasn’t working. There had to be something wrong with this fitted sheet; it couldn’t be that hard. After another failed attempt, she let out a small scream of frustration.

Rowan appeared in the doorway to see what was happening and chuckled when he saw the state of the bed. She gave him an annoyed look.

"There’s something wrong with this sheet. It won’t stay put," she said.

He walked over to the bed and took the sheet from her. In a minute, he had tucked all four corners properly under the bed.

"Have you actually ever made a bed?" he asked her.

"I don’t think so…" she replied, embarrassed.

He sighed, but he gave her a small encouraging smile.

"Let’s try something else," he told her.

He left to grab some stuff to clean the bathroom in a closet and then came back. He motioned for her to follow him inside the bathroom adjacent to the room. She made a disgusted face but entered anyway.

"You can clean the sink and the shower with this product. This one is for the mirror. And this is to wash the toilet," he explained.

She made a note of his instructions in her head. He went back to what he was doing, and she was left alone in the bathroom. She took a deep breath and went to work.

Twenty minutes later, she was deep into cleaning the bathroom. Everything was going well so far. She only had the toilet left to clean. She pushed aside her revulsion for the task and grabbed what Rowan had told her was a toilet brush. She poured the cleaner inside and started scrubbing. She put the brush down the lip and into the drain to clean it, but it got stuck. She tried pulling it out, but it wasn’t budging. 

"Damn it."

She pulled on the brush with all her force and it finally came out, but apparently it broke something inside the toilet because water came gushing out, hitting her in the face. She stepped back in shock and screamed. There was water everywhere and the toilet was still spurting more. Rowan ran into the bathroom and looked at the scene with horror and shock.

"What the hell did you do?" he exclaimed, reaching for the valve to shut off the water. Water finally stopped gushing out. He looked around the bathroom that was now flooded in dismay.

"I’m so sorry," said Aelin, tears pooling in her eyes. "I didn’t mean to, I swear. The brush got stuck and I pulled hard and then water started spurting out of the toilet and I didn’t know what to do. I’m really sorry."

Rowan looked furious. She was expecting him to scream at her, but he breathed in and out, pinching the bridge of his nose, and said: "Just- just go take a shower and change your clothes, I’ll take it from there. And for the love of gods don’t touch anything else."

Aelin sniffled loudly and exited the bathroom, not looking back at the mess she had made.

She went back to her room, removed her wet clothes, and took a long warm shower to clean off everything. When she got out, she picked some new clothes and got dressed. She grabbed her dirty clothes and walked to where she knew was a laundry room. She put her clothes inside the machine, poured some detergent and closed the lid. She made sure to click on the right buttons.

She went back to her room to look for a hairdryer but couldn’t find any. She decided to ask Thalia, not wanting to bother Rowan any more. She went to the girl’s room and found her playing quietly with her dolls on her bed.

"Hey Thalia. Do you know where I could find a hairdryer?" Aelin asked.

Thalia looked up at her, a smile on her face as always.

"You can use the one daddy dries my hair with. Sharing is caring," replied the girl.

She hopped off the bed and led her to a bathroom that must be hers and Rowan’s. She pointed to a cabinet and Aelin found a hairdryer inside. She thanked Thalia, who went back into her room.

After she had dried her hair, she walked back into the child’s room. Thalia was still playing with her dolls.

"Are those the dolls you mentioned yesterday?" she asked her.

"Yes, this is Celaena. Look she has long blonde hair like you."

Thalia handed her one of the dolls and Aelin took it in her hands, examining the doll.

"She’s very pretty," she said with a smile as she gave it back to the girl.

"Thank you. Santa gave it to me last Christmas. He always knows exactly what I want. He’s smart."

Aelin chuckled at that.

"What did you ask for Christmas this year?" she asked Thalia.

"A puppy!" the young girl exclaimed.

"Well, that’s a big gift. But I hope Santa brings you what you want."

Aelin looked around the room. This was a young girl’s dream bedroom even though it was quite small. The walls were painted a light pink and the four-poster bed was covered with a fluffy duvet with fairies on it. There were tons of plush animals and dolls on display. She noticed a picture on the girl’s desk. It was a picture of Rowan holding a beautiful woman with brown hair and chestnut eyes in his arms. They seemed happy and in love.

"Is that your mom?" Aelin inquired.

Thalia nodded sadly.

"She died when I was born. I never met her."

"I’m sorry, Thalia," Aelin said, sitting down next to her on the bed.

"I wish I had known her… Daddy talks to me about her, but it’s not the same," she admitted. 

"I understand," Aelin replied genuinely, squeezing her small shoulder.

Thalia jumped off the bed and went to grab a hairbrush on her desk.

"Will you brush my hair, Celaena? I can’t do it because of my arm and daddy is busy."

"Yes, of course. Come here."

Thalia walked back to the bed and sat in front of Aelin. Aelin started brushing her brown hair softly, making sure to get every knot, but never to hurt her. She suddenly had a vision of a blonde woman doing the same to her when she was a child. Maybe it was just her imagination playing tricks on her, but it seemed real.

"I think… I think my mother used to brush my hair like this," she whispered to Thalia.

"You remember your mommy?" the young girl asked with wide eyes.

"I think so."

Aelin continued brushing Thalia’s hair, trying to hold on to the vague memory, but a scream brought her out of her daydream.

"THALIA!" shouted Rowan.

Aelin and the young girl quickly stopped what they were doing and made their way to where the voice was coming from. As they arrived in the laundry room’s doorway, they both noticed the room was covered in soap bubbles. Rowan looked like he was on the verge of a break down.

"I didn’t do this," said Thalia vehemently.

"It’s my fault," admitted Aelin. "I must have put too much detergent in it. I’m really sorry."

"This is the last thing I needed today," he said, exasperation clear in his voice. "You’re worse than a child; I can’t leave you alone two minutes without a disaster happening!"

Distraught, Aelin ran off the stairs and dashed outside the lodge. She was on the verge of tears again. It wasn’t enough that she couldn’t remember who she was. No, she also had to be useless. She couldn’t do anything right. She was a mess and an inconvenience. Tears fell down her face. She wiped them off furiously before they could freeze in the cold air.

She had come outside in a rush and hadn’t bothered putting on a coat. It was freezing. She rubbed her hands together and breathed on them to warm them up. She knew she should go back inside, but she couldn’t face Rowan. Not yet. She found an old wooden shed and went inside. She sat down in silence. She felt so alone and lost. Where was her family? Where were her friends? Surely, she must have some. Were they looking for her? She wished she knew who they were. The doctor had said her memories could come back at any time, but she was already losing hope. If memories made us who we are, who were you when you lost them all? Who was she now?

When she felt too cold to stay outside anymore, she walked back inside the lodge. There wasn’t anyone in the lobby. She didn’t risk waiting for Rowan to walk in and headed straight to her room. She got into her ugly granny nightgown and sat in front of the fireplace, trying to warm up. She would do better tomorrow, she told herself. 

…

The next day, she stayed locked up in her room all day. Eventually though, she started getting hungry. She peaked her head out of her room to see if anyone was around. Lucky for her, the corridor was empty. It was already late in the evening, and everyone would have been done eating dinner by now. She would just grab something in the kitchen and head back to her room.

But when she got to the kitchen, she found Rowan doing the dishes and cleaning up. He turned around and looked at her, a dish towel thrown over his shoulder. She couldn’t tell if he was still mad. He grabbed a plate of food and handed it to her.

"I saved you some. I thought you would be hungry," he said in a blank voice.

"Thank you," Aelin replied warily as she took the plate.

She sat down at the bar and ate in awkward silence while Rowan continued cleaning the dishes. When he was done, he looked at her.

"We need wood for the fireplaces. Do you think you could fetch some in the backyard? I would do it, but it snowed and I need to shovel to make a path of access to the door."

She swallowed her last bite before replying.

"Yeah, okay."

She could do this. She wouldn’t make any mistake or cause any accident this time. She would prove Rowan wrong. She stood up and went to her room to grab a winter coat Rowan had lent her. It was way too big for her, and she floated in it, but it was better than freezing her ass off.

It was dark outside, the backyard only illuminated by a few lights. She walked towards the place where wood logs were kept. She took as much of them as she could in her arms and made her way back. The ground was icy, so she walked slowly. She felt her foot slip, but she was able to get her balance back. She was close to the door when she slipped again, and this time, she landed hard on her butt. The logs went flying behind her and made a loud noise as they hit the ground.

Rowan came running up from where he was shoveling snow. When he saw her on the ice, he kneeled next to her. 

"Are you okay?" he asked, worried.

"Yeah, I’m alright," she replied, rubbing her butt and groaning.

She made to get up and grab the logs back, but he stopped her.

"I’ll get it. Can you walk?" he asked.

She didn’t reply, but she stood up and walked slowly to the door. He grabbed the logs on the ground and followed her inside.

"Are you sure you’re okay? Did you hurt yourself?" he asked again, putting the wood down next to the fireplace in the lounge.

"I scratched my hands and I will definitely have a bruise on my ass, but other than that, I’m good. Don’t worry."

"Let me take a look at your hands," he pleaded.

He motioned for her to sit down on the couch. She took a seat and he did the same. He took her hands in his and he examined them.

"You’re bleeding! Wait here. I’ll go get something to clean it up and bandage it."

He left and came back seconds later with a first aid kit. He pulled a rubbing alcohol bottle out of it and poured some on a cotton ball. He took her hands in his hands again. 

"It’ll hurt a little," he warned her before applying the soaked cotton ball on her scratches.

She hissed in pain, and he apologized. He cleaned the wounds thoroughly and then bandaged both her hands delicately.

"Here you go," he said when he was done.

She removed her hands from his as soon as he was done.

"Thank you, but you didn’t have to do this. I’m fine," she reiterated.

"You’ll thank me again when your hands heal appropriately and you don’t get an infection."

"Fussy buzzard," she murmured under her breath.

"What did you say?" he asked, perplexed.

"Nothing. Good night," she said as she got up and headed up the stairs to her room.

"Good night, Celaena."

Tag list:

@backtobl4ck

@rowanaelinn

@morganofthewildfire

@leiawritesstories

@fireheart-violet

Tell me if you want to be added or removed!

[live-the-fangirl-life]

New York City, United States

A World Away Part 7

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn - World Travelers AU

Travel Tip #79: For the best experience in any city, try to pair the excitement of a tourist with the know-how of a local. Both perspectives will enlighten the other.

Part 6 | Fic Masterlist | MoodBoard | Read on Ao3

Warnings: Language

12,010 words

*******

“I’m so excited,” Lysandra beamed giddily to Elide who rolled her eyes but smirked in agreement. “We finally get to meet your mysterious, worldly man.”

The bustling sounds of Third Avenue were quieted by the terrace of flowers separating the outdoor tables from the rest of Manhattan. Aelin looked through the small spaces between half-open petals and watched as dark cars flew by, accented by the tell-tale bright yellow of a taxicab.

She snorted, going back to perusing the brunch menu. “He isn’t my anything. He’s just Rowan.” Aelin didn’t miss the sidelong glance her friends exchanged.

“I didn’t exactly mean it like that, but since you brought it up,” Lysandra drawled, sipping from her mimosa as a sly grin stretched across her face, widening at Aelin’s sigh. “This is Rowan we’re talking about. The same Rowan who met you halfway across the world for a four-day trek through the jungle.”

“It was not—” Aelin shook her head and put her menu down, but Elide cut in.

“The same Rowan with whom you spent an entire day in Marrakesh talking to,” The brunette raised a brow as Lysandra nodded fervently. “Completely blowing off your scheduled bazaar tour.”

“Okay,” the blonde tried to wave them off. “That wasn’t a big deal because I’d already been wandering around the bazaar—”

“Doesn’t change the fact that you spent hours catching up with a veritable stranger,” Lysandra retorted.

“He wasn’t a stranger. And it had been, like, seven months since we’d seen each other at that point.” Aelin argued, picking up her own glass of citrusy prosecco.

“Right,” Elide grinned. “Seven months since the two of you miraculously met in Santorini—”

“Technically we met on the boat to Santorini—”

“Where he was so enthralled by you,” Elide talked over her, trying to prove her point, “that he took your picture and used it as,” she turned towards Lysandra, feigning forgetfulness, and ignored the way Aelin sat back with her arms crossed, staring indignantly at them.

“His Enchanting Moment.” Lysandra finished helpfully.

Right. That had been a surprise. After Rowan had shown her the photo and brief magazine spread, Aelin went searching for the full edition. It wasn’t until a few weeks later while strolling through the streets of Barcelona that she found the magazine at a small roadside stand. She’d made friends with her hostel manager and got her to translate the multi-page article that held her image. Later, Aelin had found an English version which she bought as a keepsake along with a subscription to the magazine.

Aelin was saved from her friend’s prying by the waiter who came to take their orders. Once he’d walked away, she said, “Look, think whatever you want, just please don’t be weird when he’s here.”

Lysandra batted her eyelashes. “Why? Afraid we’ll embarrass you in front of your secret, jet-setting lover?”

Her friend laughed as Aelin threw a grape at her face. “I’m serious, Lys,” Aelin rolled her eyes, huffing a laugh as two of her closest friends teased her. “You too, Lochan. Rowan is my friend. Gods know it took us long enough to even get to that point. I don’t need you two meddling. And I really don’t want to lose my travel partner because you’ve somehow got it into your heads that there’s something between us.”

Her friends’ smirks softened, and they shared another look before Elide asked, “Is there something between you?”

That was complicated. So very complicated.

Aelin scoffed again but this time it felt a little hollow. “I’ve seen him a total of six times—”

“Tomorrow will make seven—”

“—in two years, El. And half of those were just us yelling and arguing with each other.”

Their food came, interrupting the conversation, but Lysandra leaned over and whispered, “Don’t think I missed how you didn’t actually answer El’s question.”

She didn’t respond as Lysandra sent her one last knowing look before thankfully steering the conversation elsewhere.

Two years. It had been two years since Rowan literally ran into her in Florence.

Sometimes, Aelin wondered how that irritable man had become such a central point in her life.

They talked all the time. Sharing stories of their adventures and the exciting things in their lives. It almost felt routine now to video call him after a busy explorative weekend to catch up. But it wasn’t just the big things, it was also the everyday mundane things like accidentally missing a train or ordering the wrong thing at a restaurant.

They had both tried to coordinate their schedules a dozen times in the last six and a half months, but it never seemed to work out. Which led them to the constant messaging and calls.

So, when she told Rowan about this celebration fundraiser that her parents—technically, the partnered companies of Galathynius Incorporated and Ashryver Assets—were throwing, and offered him an invitation sweetened with a bribe of seeing her, she’d been excitedly surprised at his immediate acceptance.

After Rowan had left Peru, Aelin stayed there for six more days. Then she’d spent three weeks doing just as she told him she would—she traveled through Bolivia to the Salar de Uyuni and walked across the mirror-like salt flats.

But then she had flown home to New York. And hadn’t left since.

Her parents were finally retiring from their roles as heads of the joint companies, and Aedion had spent the last six months under her parents’ wings, becoming more hands-on and in a place to easily transition towards leadership once her parents stepped down.

And Aelin, despite having no interest in working a corporate role, had grown up in the heart of the merged companies and knew the ins and outs of how to charm her way with the other Manhattan socialites. She had helped her cousin finalize contracts and secure donations, with this fundraiser being one of the last events to cement new partnerships before Aedion officially took over.

As much as she loved seeing her family, Aelin was getting antsy staying in one place for so long. She hoped having Rowan in the city would make her feel better. He always seemed to these days.

***

The flight wasn’t bad.

Rowan had learned in his years of traveling to always book the window seat so he wouldn’t have to constantly get up every time someone beside him needed to use the toilet. That, and the frequency of his flying had programmed him to be able to fall asleep as soon as he settled in. He’d felt the smooth take-off from Dublin and then they were touching down at JFK.

For once, he hadn’t brought his camera bag. It was odd, walking off the plane without the ever-present weight over his shoulder, but Rowan knew he didn’t want to spend the next few days with a lens in front of his face. Not when he hadn’t seen Aelin for half a year.

The thought of finally getting to see her in person again quickened his steps as he navigated towards baggage claim.

Rowan should’ve been expecting it. Especially given how much Aelin enjoyed teasing him.

He shouldn’t have been surprised to see her standing near baggage claim holding a large, brightly colored sign bedecked in glitter that read BUZZARD.

Rowan also shouldn’t have been surprised at how instantly his mood lifted to see her there, or the feeling he got when her own grin widened when she noticed him.

The closer he got, the more aggressively she gestured with the sign as if it was her personal mission to make as many people as possible aware that he was who she’d nicknamed after a bird.

Then he was standing in front of her. And then Aelin had her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him into a hug that he returned without hesitation. They were jostled as people moved around them and Aelin reluctantly stepped back.

“Hello Buzzard,” she grinned, her face shining with amusement and something else he couldn’t name.

He rolled his eyes but huffed a laugh, unable to stop the same grin from spreading across his face. “Aelin.”

She nudged his arm and said, “I’m so glad you were able to be here.” Her voice held a hint of a Manhattan accent that he hadn’t noticed before, her time back home must’ve brought out what she’d lost abroad.

“I had a good reason to come all this way.” He told her.

Aelin nodded, still smiling. “The party is going to be spectacular—you’ll love it.”

Rowan took a step forward, using the crowds of people as an excuse to be closer to her. “I wasn’t talking about the party.” He corrected, letting her hear what he wasn’t saying.

His words hung in the air as Aelin’s eyes widened a fraction. Something in her demeanor changed and Rowan swore her smile tugged upwards.

But the moment was interrupted by a muffled announcement about some flight arriving, and Aelin cleared her throat, blinking and dragging her eyes away from his. “Ready?”

“Yeah, let me just grab my bag,” he jerked his head towards the rotating conveyor belt slowly taking on more luggage as bags continued to get loaded off the plane.

Before he knew it, Rowan was sitting in the passenger seat of Aelin’s car, and they were driving towards the city.

“So,” Aelin reached over and turned down the music, keeping an eye on the traffic. “I know you’ve been to New York before, but I had a few ideas…”

They fell into an easy rhythm and soon Aelin was pulling the car into a garage just off Park Avenue. She got out, handing the keys to a nearby attendant.

Rowan walked around the car to get his bags from the trunk and shot her a questioning look. Aelin shrugged, “We have a few spots in here we pay for monthly. It’s nice to have the car nearby when you wanna get out of the city.” She waved goodbye to the attendant in thanks and Rowan followed as she walked out of the garage. “Aedion’s building is just around the block.”

“How’s it been living with him all these months?” Rowan asked, falling into step with her.

Aelin rolled her eyes and snorted. “Better than living with my parents. Aedion’s gone half the time at his girlfriend, Lysandra’s, place, and I get to pretend I have the apartment all to myself.”

He nodded, as much as he loved his parents, he wasn’t sure he could live with them for so long, having been on his own since university. “Lysandra—your arch-nemesis turned best friend turned cousin’s girlfriend,” Rowan recalled the details of Aelin’s friends from the countless conversations they’d had.

She laughed and pulled open the lobby door once they got to the building. “Gods, arch-nemesis, that sounds so dramatic.”

“Exactly why I wasn’t surprised you called her that.”

Aelin whirled and shot him a glare that was negated by the twitching of her lips.

“Ass.”

Rowan smirked, following Aelin into the elevator. “But not wrong.”

“Whatever. And for the record, she is my best friend first, Aedion’s girlfriend second.” she rolled her eyes but went on, “You’ll get to meet them and Elide tonight, we’re going for drinks in the West Village.” Aelin paused. “If you’re up for that, I mean. I didn't think about jetlag, fuck, it’s been so long since I’ve thought about jetlag.” She said the last bit more to herself and it came out laced with a longing he hadn’t expected.

“I slept on the plane,” he assured her. “No jetlag to worry about.”

She brightened at that. “Great.”

The elevator opened and Aelin strode out, leading him towards the only door on this side of the hall.

The apartment was spacious and bright in a way he hadn’t expected but realized probably made sense given who Aelin’s family was. The far wall was almost entirely made of windows, providing an unobstructed view over Central Park and the city beyond.

Hallways stretched both ways off the living room, one leading to a master bedroom (Aedion’s, and Lysandra’s whenever she stayed over) and a den (the current storage space for Aelin’s international book collection), while the other hall shot off from the kitchen and led to two bedrooms (Aelin’s and a guest room).

The kitchen flowed into the dining space and living room, all eccentrically decorated like it couldn’t settle on one particular style.

Aelin caught him checking out some of the pieces and pointed out, “That lamp over there, the mosaiced one, I got that on a day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. I had to find a way to ship it here right after because I only had my backpack on me.” She laughed, remembering.

Rowan snorted, setting his bag on the floor and nodding towards a wall of brightly colored, elaborate masks. “What about those?”

She ticked each one off, “First time to New Orleans, Venice during Carnival, New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and a Masquerade party in Berlin.”

He spotted all sorts of souvenirs and proof of her adventures, knowing without a doubt she had far more than what he could see. It was like being in a miniature museum of Aelin.

Aelin let him unpack before grabbing some snacks and spending the afternoon catching up on their time apart.

Rowan loved their messaging and video calls, but nothing could compare to the real thing.

***

They took the subway downtown and got to the bar shortly after she’d gotten a text from Elide confirming her and Rowan’s drink order.

She wove through the crowds, all too aware of how close Rowan walked behind her.

Aelin made a note to be careful of how much she drank tonight, she already felt intoxicated by Rowan’s presence. She didn’t need extra alcohol lowering her dwindling restraint. When he brushed against her back, pushed forward by someone hurrying past, he murmured an apology and she had to repress a shiver despite the warm atmosphere.

Thankfully, she spotted her friends in the back corner and headed towards them.

Elide noticed them first, her eyes widening as a sly smirk appeared. She arched a brow subtly enough that Aelin knew the look was just for her. Lysandra saw them next and set her cocktail down with a wide grin, dragging Aedion’s attention from her and to Aelin and Rowan at the end of the table.

“Hey, we made it!” Aelin grinned, raising her voice above the music. “Guys, this is Rowan.” She jerked her head unnecessarily at the unusually fidgety man beside her and then gestured to each of her friends. “Rowan, this is Elide, Lysandra, and my cousin Aedion.”

The ladies scooted further down the table as her cousin got up and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before holding a hand out to Rowan.

“Good to meet you, man,” Aedion said, grinning, as Rowan clasped his hand in a strong handshake. “We’ve all heard a lot about you.”

Rowan smirked and raised a brow at Aelin who glared at her cousin and shooed Rowan into the booth before sitting down at the end.

“Yeah,” Elide chimed in from Rowan’s other side, grinning her greeting as he and Aelin grabbed the two remaining drinks her friends had ordered for them. “It’s so nice to finally meet Mr. International Ignoramus.”

Rowan choked on his gin and tonic. “Excuse me?”

Aelin closed her eyes and muttered something about getting new friends.

She rolled her eyes at Elide and ignored the other’s laughter as she nudged Rowan and explained. “Do you remember on that ferry ride how when I asked you your name, I said you should tell me because you probably wouldn’t like the names I’d made up for you?” She shrugged, letting him fill in the blanks.

“International Ignoramus?” he asked incredulously. “Really?”

This time Aelin laughed, amused by the faint humor in his eyes as he questioned her.

“Mhm,” she grinned and leaned into him again. “That’s not even the worst one.”

Rowan loosed a sigh and shot her a long-suffering look that only made her laugh harder. “I don’t want to know.”

Lysandra snorted, ignoring his request. “You were also Dumbass Douchebag.”

“Worldly Wanker had a nice ring to it,” Aedion added, laughing.

Elide shook her head with a smirk, “I always liked Bitch-ass Birdbrain.”

Both Rowan and Aelin gaped at her friends. She, at least, was wondering if the floor beneath her could open up and swallow her whole.

Rowan sputtered a few times before whirling on her and demanding, “What is with you and calling me a bird?”

She grinned sheepishly. “You can’t really blame me…we didn’t get off to the best start.”

Rowan shook his head, choking out a laugh. “Buzzard wasn’t even something you thought up in the moment, was it? You’d had that one ready for a while,” he accused.

Aelin grinned wider, not denying it, and they all laughed at her and Rowan’s rocky beginnings.

An hour, and many more laughs later, Aelin was thrilled at how well Rowan fit with her friends. They were having a great time, and once they’d gotten past the nickname fiasco, she had more fun than she’d had in a while.

It made her happy to have all her favorite people together.

“I’ll get the next round, Aelin could you help me carry them over?” Lysandra asked, already hooking her arm through Aelin’s and pulling her from the table. Once they got to the bar and ordered their drinks, she swatted Aelin’s shoulder and hissed, “Aelin, why the hell are you two not together?”

Aelin’s brows flew up. “What?”

Her friend sighed but adamantly explained, “Oh, don’t give me that I have no idea what you’re talking about shit.” She waggled a finger in Aelin’s face, “You know exactly what I’m talking about. The chemistry? The sexual tension? I was sitting there just waiting for you both to say: ‘Surprise! We’ve been fucking this whole time.’”

Aelin huffed and grabbed two of the drinks the bartender passed them. “It’s not like that, Lys. Drop it. And I told you not to be weird, I don’t need you meddling.”

“That’s why I’m talking to you now.” Lysandra countered, looking pointedly at the bar and away from the table they’d just left. Her expression softened. “Babe, I felt like I was intruding on some private moment back there when all you two were doing was talking. All those inside jokes, the little glances when you think the other isn’t looking—not at all subtle, by the way. I haven’t seen you this…” she trailed off trying to find the right word. “Vibrant, since you came back to the city. Which is a little insulting,” she added, laughing.

Aelin snorted but couldn’t suppress the smile she felt growing, or the flutter in her chest as her friend so obviously liked the idea of her and Rowan together.

Lysandra grabbed the rest of the drinks, and they made their way back towards the table. Before they were within earshot, she finished, “I know it. El knows it. Even Aedion asked me if there was something between you two, and I love that man, but he never picks up on that kind of thing. All I’m saying is…don’t not go for it just because you’re scared of what might change.”

They got back to their group before Aelin could respond. A thousand thoughts flew through her mind at Lysandra’s words, and it must have shown on her face because Rowan shot her a concerned look as she reclaimed her seat next to him. Aelin waved him off and put a smile on.

She could overthink it later.

They went two more rounds before deciding to call it a night. Elide caught a taxi, waving goodbye and saying she’d see them at the fundraiser. Aelin, Rowan, Lysandra, and Aedion took an Uber back to the apartment; she and Rowan shared a wince as the couple disappeared down the opposite hall, their bodies already too intertwined for Aelin’s sanity.

Lysandra’s advice had, unfortunately, played on a constant loop. Like an annoyingly catchy song she couldn’t get out of her head. So, she mumbled goodnight to Rowan and quickly sequestered herself in her room, hoping a good night’s sleep would clear her mind…or offer some clarity.

***

Aelin barged into Rowan’s room the next morning, shocking him awake and getting a very distracting view of his bare chest as he flew up in alarm.

That didn’t help her when it came to considering Lysandra’s advice. Or maybe it did.

She blinked, hoping he didn’t notice her momentary pause, and announced that she had a full list of things she wanted to do and to be ready to go in a few minutes.

“The sun’s a-shining and time’s a-wasting,” she rambled, having no idea what she was saying. “I can promise you coffee and food.” She grinned overenthusiastically. “Let’s go!”

Then she rushed out to the living room and waited for Rowan to get ready as she willed her pulse to stop racing.

***

“I swear to gods,” Rowan lifted a hand as if to prove his point. “The little gremlin bit me. That’s the last time I work with a traveling zoo.”

Aelin laughed, tossing her head back, and felt the wind catch her hair. “Why were you photographing them at all?” She choked out between giggles, picturing Rowan’s ass getting bitten by a baby monkey. And then just Rowan’s ass.

He shrugged, lips twitching as he tried not to smirk, “They were touring around the British Isles and we did a small write-up about the company, normally those assignments don’t end with bite marks on my ass.”

Rowan winced and Aelin snorted at the disturbed look they garnered from the young mother passing them on the other side of the trail.

“Do you get a say in which assignments you take?” She asked through the last of her amusement.

Rowan shrugged and kept his eyes on the trail ahead of them.

After her promise of food and coffee, Aelin took Rowan to her bagel shop a few blocks away. When he dubiously eyed the line stretching almost outside the shop, she insisted the wait would be worth it.

They’d walked leisurely towards Central Park, staying mindful of the other pedestrians hurrying by. The morning was nice if a little breezy, and Aelin was glad she’d brought a light jacket as they each carried a large coffee and a fresh, loaded bagel, following the meandering trails of the park.

At her question, the laughter seemed to leave his face.

“No, not really.” He shrugged. “I mean, I have enough seniority to pick and choose to an extent, but only from the contracts already signed with the magazine.”

Aelin glanced sidelong at Rowan who was staring down the walkway in front of them, contemplative. She caught his quick look at her and raised a brow, waiting for him to go on.

“Actually, I’ve got some things in the works I haven’t told you about,” he hedged, and his voice held a thread of contained excitement.

“I’m listening,” she drawled, finishing her bagel and tossing the wrapper in the trash.

Rowan fixed her with a stern expression. “You can’t go around talking about yet.”

“My lips are sealed,” She smirked and mimed zipping her mouth shut only to immediately talk again. “Now I’m even more intrigued, what’s so secretive? Are you starting your own rival magazine?” she goaded with a grin.

Rowan huffed and rolled his eyes. “Actually, yes.”

Aelin stopped walking and Rowan turned back, a pace ahead, with a raised brow and a smirk at her shock.

“Wait, really?” her eyes were wide as she caught back up to him.

Rowan nodded. “I’ve been working with a few colleagues—friends—to create the plan for it.”

“Wow,” She grinned, pleased to see his face losing some of its guardedness at her support. “That’s amazing, Rowan.”

They sat down on a bench off to the side of the trail, right at the bend so they could still see the nearby pond.

“How’s that all gonna work?” Aelin asked, bending one leg on the bench and leaning against the armrest to face Rowan who stretched his arm across the back. “Do you all work together now? Are you just going to go in and quit one day, taking a chunk of the staff with you?”

“Kind of,” Rowan winced as he explained. “Only three of us work together right now. Lorcan, my own supervisor, is coming on as Editor. He’s used to making final calls and doesn’t mind the more logistically restrictive part of it. And Fenrys, who’ll head up the Public Relations and outreach—using his annoyingly effective charm to secure our contracts. I would, of course, direct Photography and work with the writers.”

Aelin liked the way Rowan talked. The more he told her about the project, the more animated he became. Aelin knew that despite how much he enjoyed the job he had now, he’d never been this inspired.

“My cousin, Enda, is a columnist for a small newspaper in Edinburgh, but he’ll be joining us as a chief writer. We’ve got a few other writers tentatively with us, but we won’t know for sure until we get this off the ground. Between us, we have the connections to get projects and stories right off the bat.”

Aelin propped her head on her hand, leaning against the back of the bench. “You’ve put a lot of work into this. How long have you been planning?”

Rowan finished his coffee and thought about it. “A couple of months?” he chuckled. “It started as a joke after our Editor-in-Chief made another ridiculous unilateral decision that ended with everyone having to essentially recreate their week’s work. But then it wasn’t a joke. And now we’re here.”

“Wait,” she cut in, her brain snagging on something he said. “You said your new editor was restricted. Isn’t that the most influential position?”

Rowan grinned, his face lighting up as if he’d been waiting for her to ask. “Technically, yes. I meant it's more physically restricting. See, we want to launch this as an online publication to start. Hopefully— eventually—we’ll transition into print too, but first and foremost, it’ll be digital.”

“That’ll definitely make it more accessible,” she commended, already thinking what else that could mean.

He nodded again. “Exactly. It would reach more people, it gives us more opportunities to grow, and we could work on projects that extend beyond Europe.”

Aelin’s heart was pounding in her chest as she added, almost tentatively, “You could work from anywhere you want.”

Rowan caught and held her gaze, his eyes full of intent. Dipping his chin, Rowan gave the barest of nods and confirmed, “I could work from anywhere I want.”

Something passed between them that Aelin couldn’t name, a mutual acknowledgment that neither dared to voice.

“How long—” her voice sounded strained so Aelin cleared her throat and asked again, “How long will it take before you can get it up and running?”

How long before we’re both untethered?

The way Rowan was looking at her made Aelin believe he knew exactly what she was thinking. Knew exactly what it implied.

He carded a hand through his hair and loosed a breath, and she felt like she needed to do the same. “I don’t know. There’s a lot of corporate bullshit we have to wade through and we’re still looking for a designer—”

“A digital designer?” she chimed in, sitting up straighter.

“Pretty much. It’s the Digital Editor and Designer.” Rowan rolled his eyes and hung his head back in frustration. “They’d be primarily working with Lorcan, and half the trouble is finding someone who can put up with him without wanting to run away or punch him.”

Aelin snorted at his disgruntled face and watched as a biker rode by with a dog running at his side.

“I’m not trying to insert myself in this,” she prefaced, and Rowan raised a brow. “But I know an amazing graphic designer who could probably knock your friend down a peg or two.” Aelin grinned as his brow rose further in skepticism

“Are you serious?” he sat up straighter. “Lorcan is a dick on a good day.”

“Oh, I’ve seen her tear down even the most dick-ish of men,” She laughed.

He arched a brow but leaned in, very interested in who she was talking about.

“Elide.” Aelin divulged, and his brows flew to his hairline. “She’s worked with GIAA—Galathynius Incorporated & Ashryver Assets—as a graphic designer in the marketing department for both divisions. Right now, she’s working more with Aedion as they transition him to Head Office. But that’s basically finalized, and I know for a fact she’s been looking for other projects. That’s not to say she’ll leave GIAA, but you could talk to her about this.”

Rowan listened and when she finished explaining his brows furrowed as if thinking how that could work.

“Now I’m just picturing Elide and Lorcan going toe to toe.” He choked on a laugh. “Yeah, she could definitely handle him. I’ll keep that in mind.”

***

They left the park shortly after, and Rowan marveled at how the massive, sprawling park fit so perfectly within the skyscrapers.

He felt lighter than he’d had in a while. It wasn’t like he’d been trying to hide his work plans from Aelin, but when he first started planning it seemed so intangible that why should he tell her when it most likely wouldn’t amount to anything. But it had. And the longer he put off talking about it, the weirder it felt to bring it up.

He was excited. For so many reasons he was itching to launch Coast to Cadre, but he wouldn’t lie and say he hadn’t thought about what it could mean to not have to be bound to Dublin.

And by the way she’d looked at him, Rowan swore Aelin was thinking the same thing.

Because that was one of the biggest obstacles, wasn’t it? Besides everything else that added pressure to his and Aelin’s relationship—friendship or otherwise—was the fact that she was always on the move. With the last six months being an exception, Aelin traveled wherever her feet took her. He loved that.

Despite the relative freedom afforded to him by his job, he was still forced to return to one place. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t go with her wherever she went. And he wouldn’t be that guy to ask her to stop traveling the way she does, for him.

All of that had been an unerring, colossal complication, and he’d resigned himself to make do with the fleeting time they had.

And now, for the first time, that had the potential to change.

They spent the rest of the afternoon hopping from attraction to attraction. Aelin brought him to the Museum of Modern Art, pulling him through the lines and up to the fifth floor to see Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s Agapanthus and Water Lilies in all their vivid, beautiful glory.

Afterward, they bought a hot dog and a gyro off a couple of street vendors, sharing their food on the steps of the New York Public Library.

“I’ve done Time Square,” Rowan assured her, and to his great amusement, she sighed in relief.

“Oh, thank gods, I don’t think I have the energy to brave Time Square this week,” Aelin admitted. “What about the Statue of Liberty?”

Snatching a falling piece of chicken from the gyro she held, Rowan nodded. “Yup, covered that.”

“Good. Empire State Building?”

“Most of the super touristy stuff I’ve done.” He guaranteed.

She arched a brow and reclined on the step behind her. “And you had the audacity to mock me when I say I do touristy things?”

Rowan rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I’ve also,” he ticked off on his fingers, recalling his last trip to New York, “walked across the Brooklyn bridge, been to Grand Central Station, and saw a Broadway show.”

“Which one?”

“The Lion King.”

“Nice.” She crumpled up her empty wrapper. “In that case, we have a bit more wiggle room in this week’s plans.”

Choosing to walk rather than use the subway or get a car, he and Aelin strolled the thirty-plus blocks back to Aedion’s apartment, making sure to stop for a dollar slice pizza on the way.

***

Rowan woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Throwing on a shirt and a pair of joggers, he checked his phone before walking out of the guestroom and towards the kitchen.

Aelin faced the coffee pot, impatiently waiting by the way she was fidgeting with the mug in her hands for the pot to fill. Grumbling a few choice words at the thing, she turned her head and tiredly nodded to him as he opened the cabinet she’d pointed out to him when he’d first arrived, and pulled out a mug of his own.

No sooner had the machine finished pouring than Aelin snatched the pot and poured a cup of the steaming liquid.

“G’Morning,” she yawned, carefully handing him the pot.

“Morning.” Rowan grabbed it and hid his chuckle at her drowsy state. “Not making enough for your cousin?” he joked, putting the empty pot back on and making sure the machine was off.

She fell into a chair at the circular dining table and shook her head which sent her messily tied bun flopping side-to-side. “He was gone when I woke up. If he wants coffee, he can make another pot.” She yawned again and Rowan didn’t bother hiding his grin this time.

Rowan watched Aelin yawn again and drown her coffee in sweetened creamer. “What, you still need all that sugar after trying the authentic stuff in the Andes?” he teased, his smirk growing when she glared at him and held eye contact as she poured more into her mug.

“Buzzard.” She grumbled the nickname like it was a curse which only made him laugh and she rolled her eyes while failing to hold back a smirk.

Resituating herself in the chair, she closed her eyes and happily sipped at her coffee, breathing in the caramel aromas.

It presented Rowan the opportunity to really look at her. Aelin leaned back in the chair with one leg bent underneath her and the other propped on the corner of the seat, allowing her to rest her cheek against her knee. Her golden hair was messily thrown in a bun atop her head with straggling locks falling out around her face. She was wearing leggings and an old, oversized band tee that he thought she’d gotten at some concert.

With the warm morning light filtering through the large windows, she looked like the picture of contentment.

She seemed so at ease, so calm and peaceful.

He wanted to see her like this more often.

All the time.

A key jingled in the lock and Aedion pushed open the door for Lysandra who held two dress bags, and closed it after him while carrying a large supply of fresh bagels and what looked like more of Lysandra’s bags.

Aelin’s head popped up and her gaze followed Aedion as he strode to the kitchen. “Bagels?” she asked hopefully, not really needing an answer.

“Good morning to you too, Cous.” He snarked back, rolling his eyes but moving the food to the table where Rowan and Aelin sat.

She affectionately nudged Aedion’s shoulder as she uncurled from her chair and picked out her breakfast.

Lysandra came back in, having deposited the dresses in Aelin’s room along with her other supplies. The four of them settled at the table, fixing their own bagels with a variety of cream cheeses, lox, and butters.

“When you’re done—no rush, babe, but it’s almost noon—you should shower,” Lysandra instructed Aelin who merely arched a brow and took a bite of her everything bagel. “The hairstylist will be here in an hour and a half, and the makeup artist an hour after that.” She explained.

Aelin snorted but nodded, muttering something about her mother and every godsdamned time.

“So you ladies get to be pampered but Rowan and I have to do our own makeup?” Aedion mockingly scoffed. “Not fair.”

Lysandra rolled her eyes and Aelin snorted again.

“Don’t worry,” Rowan chimed in dryly, “I’ll make sure your eyeliner is even.”

Aedion threw an arm around the back of his girlfriend’s chair and leaned over saying something about only having one friend at this table. Rowan would have focused on how pleased he felt to hear Aedion call him a friend, regardless of whether or not he was teasing, but instead he focused on Aelin who’d laughed into her coffee and was wiping droplets off her nose as she looked at him in amusement.

He grinned at her, and in that moment, he suddenly wished he could casually drape his arm around her like the couple sitting next to them, without second-guessing himself.

They spent another thirty minutes eating and talking before Aelin excused herself to start getting ready. Not long after, Lysandra followed her, and then all they could hear from Aelin’s bedroom was loud, upbeat pop music that ended up playing for the next several hours.

After breakfast—or lunch, he supposed—Rowan sat in the living room, trying to catch up on emails. He wasn’t sure how Aedion spent the time besides twice letting in the stylists, just as Lysandra warned they’d come.

Rowan had just finished skimming another assignment request when Aedion sunk into the sofa cushion beside him, setting two beers down on the coffee table.

Grunting a thanks, Rowan shut his laptop and grabbed one of the beers, finding the cold drink blessedly refreshing. Aedion did the same and looked like he was trying to say something but kept choosing not to, opening and closing his mouth over and over.

“Something up?” Rowan asked, confused, shifting to face Aelin’s cousin more directly.

Aedion took another sip and clasped Rowan on the shoulder, leveling him with a serious expression.

“Look,” he started in a way that for some reason made Rowan’s gut sink. “I’m not gonna go all big brother on you.” He assured, which somehow didn’t make Rowan feel any more relaxed.

“Aedion,” Rowan tried to interject, but the man went on.

“For one, I don’t want to assume about anything between the two of you and make whatever it is awkward. And, frankly, because Aelin would kick my ass if she thought I was trying to have any say in who she does or doesn’t…whatever with.”

Nodding, Rowan kept his mouth shut and waited as the blond got his thoughts together and took a swig of his beer.

“I just want to tell you,” he paused again, and Rowan wished Aedion would just spit it out already.

Did he think Aelin shouldn’t see him anymore? Rowan doubted Aelin would listen, but he certainly didn’t want to be on her family’s bad side if somehow, someday, they became more than what they were.

Or maybe Aelin would listen, and this would be the last time she sought him out. No more adventures, no more daily messaging, no more—

“I want you to know that you make her happy.”

Rowan froze, his bottle halfway to his lips. He wasn’t expecting Aedion to say that. Lowering his beer, he cleared his head and met Aedion’s stare.

It took him a second to respond, “Good. I’m glad,” he replied steadily, trying to ignore what those words did to him. “She deserves to be happy.” And then he added, unable to help himself, “She makes me happy.”

Aedion watched him a moment longer then nodded, “Good. Right. Okay.” He jerked his head toward the tv, “You wanna play Mario Cart?”

The next forty minutes passed like that until they both decided it was finally time to get ready.

Music still poured from Aelin’s room as he walked by it, recognizing one of the songs he’d recommended to her a month or so ago.

Rowan quickly showered, shaved, and brushed his hair back. The silvery strands were long enough to annoy him when they fell into his eyes, but not long enough to do much else with them. He used a small bit of gel, hating the way it usually felt and looked, but just enough to keep the pieces in place.

Donning his trousers and dress shirt, Rowan deftly knotted his dark green tie, knowing how good it looked with his eyes. He thought he heard voices convene in the living room, so he quickly grabbed his phone, wallet, and passport—he’d taken enough trips with Fenrys to learn to always keep the document on hand—and walked out.

As he walked into the living room, Lysandra and Aedion were there checking the status of their car. The latter gave him a nod while the former looked him over with an approving smirk. Based on how made-up she was in her gown and styling, Rowan took the compliment.

“There’s a car coming for you and Aelin,” Aedion told him.

Lysandra nodded, “She has it on her phone, it’ll be here soon.” The brunette looked at her own phone as it chimed and Aedion grabbed his jacket. “Ours is here. We’ll see you soon.”

The couple was halfway out the door when Lysandra turned back towards Rowan, Aedion waiting for her in the hall. The brunette glanced over his shoulder then met his eyes and winked. Closing the door behind her, Rowan was left to question the feline smirk she wore.

He heard the click of heels on the hardwood floor behind him a moment later.

When Aelin walked in, Rowan forgot how to breathe.

He’d never seen anyone so beautiful.

She looked like the sun personified. The cowl-necked bodice was a pure, liquid satin melting into golden sequins that lined the hem and inched up her body, shining in the light like living flames. Her hair cascaded down one side in waves and showed off the thin, shimmery straps holding the dress up. Aelin’s bright red lips curved into a smile and then a smirk as he continued to stare dumbfounded at her.

“You…look…” he finally managed in a strangled voice, “Amazing.” Stupefying. Dazzling. Exquisite. Breathtaking. Mind-numbingly distracting.

Her smirk softened as her eyes trailed over him. “Thank you,” she crooned. “You clean up rather dashingly yourself.”

He may have preened a little at that.

Aelin walked towards the table to set her bag down and Rowan choked.

The dress was backless. It curved barely an inch above the swell of her ass, connected at a singular point to the thin straps he’d seen a moment before. That’s when he noticed the large slit up the leg of the gown, showing off her golden heels and miles of smooth, tanned leg.

She was actively trying to kill him.

“The car just arrived, are you ready?” She asked, a mischievous spark in her eye as she looked over her exposed shoulder at him.

All Rowan could do was grunt in confirmation.

Aelin flounced out of the apartment and Rowan used all his concentration and willpower to keep his pounding blood northward.

The drive was a blur. Rowan tried to pay attention as Aelin occasionally pointed out landmarks or special places, but he couldn’t stop the spiral his mind had tumbled down.

When they arrived at the venue, all Aelin had to do was wave at the doorman and security guards before she led Rowan across the lobby and towards the waiting elevator. If she noticed the way nearly everyone’s eyes tracked her as she went, she didn’t show it, just held her head high as her heels clicked against the marbled floor. Not a small part of Rowan was smug about being the one to walk in at her side.

Aelin stepped in first and Rowan followed, both turning to face the silver, polished doors that blocked out the ambient noise of the lobby, reflecting their own blurred selves back at them. The tension was palpable, and Rowan couldn’t stop from shooting glances at Aelin’s reflection, only to avert his eyes when she tried looking at him.

Rowan couldn’t figure out what to say so he kept his mouth shut. Aelin didn’t offer him any hints to what she was thinking, and the charged silence was only cut by a faint melody coming through the speaker. Instead, he focused on the floor number rising. How long was this godsdamned ride?

Aelin loosed a long breath and seemed to ready herself for whatever they were walking into.

He chanced another look at her reflection. He hadn’t exaggerated when he’d told her she looked amazing. If anything, that was an understatement. An unacceptably inferior understatement. Rowan could barely take his eyes off of her. Every shift she made, every step she took, caused the golden fabric to ripple and shine a myriad of glowing shades. It was mesmerizing. She was mesmerizing.

The elevator dinged and Rowan shook himself, having to use far too much effort. This wasn’t the time or place…to do any of the things Rowan wanted. Not when they were about to be surrounded by people Aelin was helping to impress. Not when he wasn’t unquestionably certain that she saw him as anything more than a friend.

It was like night and day stepping into the sparkling party. If the ride up had been stiflingly quiet, this was wholly the opposite.

Tasteful, lively music flowed from beyond the polished dancefloor—small enough to merely be a courtesy and not an invitation to spin one’s partner—that took up the center of the room. Tall, round tables covered in crisp off-white cloth surrounded it, each reflecting the warm glow of the lights and artful chandeliers. On one side there was a long table housing various plates of foods and desserts, capped on one end by an elaborate chocolate fountain that Rowan was sure had Aelin’s name written all over it.

Aelin walked in front of him, and Rowan cursed himself as his gaze drifted down her exposed back straight to her round ass perfectly encased in shimmery gold.

Fuck.

He forced his eyes back to the party and spotted a large champagne tower in one corner, the round long-stemmed glasses reminding him of something out of a nineteen-twenties speakeasy. A server approached them with a tray of those same crystal glasses, and both Rowan and Aelin took one before the server drifted away.

Rowan wouldn’t be convinced that anyone at this party looked as spectacular as the woman beside him, but he couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t close. As Rowan’s eyes darted around the room he was once again relieved that he’d brought his best suit—not that he would’ve worn something shabby, but each guest was dressed to the nines; impeccable tailoring, perfectly styled hair, what he was sure had to be designer everything.

“Fireheart, there you are!”

He and Aelin turned to see a middle-aged woman with Aelin’s eyes and the same, if not a little more silvery, golden hair, gracefully hurry towards them.

Rowan waited, feeling a bit out of place as Aelin hugged her mother in a warm, but quick, embrace.

“Everything looks great, you even managed to have someone change all the lightbulbs to a warmer tone in time,” Aelin told her with a soft smirk, nodding around, before angling herself to see both her mother and Rowan. “Mom, this is Rowan–”

“Oh, yes, the photographer,” her mother smiled at him, and Rowan took her outstretched hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Galathynius,” he told her and caught Aelin raising a brow at his formalities. “Thank you for having me tonight.”

“Evalin.” she insisted not unkindly. “And it’s no trouble; a friend of Aelin’s is always welcome.”

Her attention refocused on her daughter and sighed. “Your father should be around here somewhere. I lost him some point between greeting the Courtland’s and Ytger’s.”

Aelin snorted softly and sipped from her champagne glass. “He’s probably hiding in some unused office returning phone calls and doing his best to avoid all this.”

Evalin rolled her eyes with that same exasperated fondness he sometimes caught on Aelin’s face. “That man,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Well, I’ll find him soon, he knows he has to make a speech later.”

Rowan watched Aelin take a breath and close her eyes a second too long as her mother implored, “Are you sure I can’t convince you to come up and say a little something? You know how charismatic you can be, and it would make your father and me so happy to have you stand up there with us and your cousin.”

Aelin tipped her head back, finishing her champagne with a flourish, and flashed her mother a strained smile. “I am here to schmooze.” she drawled and Evalin rolled her eyes at her daughter’s response. “That’s what I said I would do, and that’s what I am happy to do. I can stand up there with you and dad in impassioned solidarity as we celebrate Aedion and the company, but I’m not going to make some speech. Aedion should be the one in the spotlight tonight.”

Rowan downed the rest of his champagne. As if anyone else could command the attention when you’re here, doing so effortlessly.

“And Lys and I already helped tweak what he’d planned to say. It’ll be fine.” Aelin finished.

A server walked by and both he and Aelin reached for fresh glasses, Evalin still nursing the one she’d carried over. “Fine,” her mother sighed in resignation. “Oh, look, there are the Havilliard’s. Come.” She looped her arm through Aelin’s and began to whisk her away.

Aelin looked back over her shoulder with an apologetic wince. Rowan waved her off with a lifted glass, he’d expected that she would be busy schmoozing most of the night and went to find something to eat.

Rowan soon found himself at one of the tables with an empty hors d'oeuvres plate, watching the guests float around the fundraiser.

He spotted one man walk in wearing a floral embroidered suit, one he thought Fenrys would probably be able to pull off, that Rowan knew had to be designer—and far above his paygrade. A couple arrived, dressed in the style all elderly, affluent people seemed to adopt; he thought he’d spotted the same pearl necklace on half a dozen of the older women.

A woman strode in shortly after wearing a fitted dark blue suit that seemed to shimmer in the light, ignoring everyone else and putting most other suits to shame.

Rowan leaned against the table, one eye on Aelin who was smiling brightly and nodding at something one of her parents’ friends was saying, and one eye on the elevator doors, interested to see who exactly came to a party like this.

The woman in blue surveyed the room and when her eyes landed on him, they lit in recognition before she strolled towards him, a small grin playing on her features.

“Rowan,” Elide greeted him with a nod as she came to lean on the other side of his table. “What do you think?” The brunette asked, lifting her glass to the bustling party.

He flagged over a server and grabbed two new glasses of champagne, handing Elide one and putting their finished ones on the now-empty tray. Briefly, Rowan wondered if this was the perfect opportunity to talk to her about his potential business proposal, but opted to wait until he’d run the idea by his other partners.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he admitted, and by her snort, he hadn’t done a great job of hiding his disdain. It wasn’t that he hated things like this, no, that was a lie, he detested events like this. All the people, the unnecessary prepping and primping, the awful small talk—it wasn’t his idea of a good time.

Rowan’s eyes drifted back to Aelin, not having trouble finding her in the crowd despite her constant shuffling between conversations. She was why he was putting up with this party. And, fuck, she knocked the air from his lungs every time he laid eyes on her in that dress.

He took a long sip of champagne.

“Mmm,” Elide hummed knowingly, not missing a second of his internal struggle. “She’s good at this.”

They both watched Aelin continue to flatter and laugh with the wealthy men and women her family was hoping to coax into donating. She moved from person to person, radiating cool confidence and charm, and not once letting show how tiring it must be.

He had to keep reminding himself that it was a façade; all those too-wide grins and the way she would lean in and touch someone on the arm all the while encouraging them to open their hearts and investments. He knew it was a role she was playing.

But she played it exceedingly well.

***

She was exhausted.

Aelin was afraid her face would be forever distorted from the way she was near-constantly smiling.

Most of the people she’d been talking to were nice, some irreverent, and a lot just plain boring. She knew most of them, her family’s acquaintances. She’d been at some function or party not unlike this one, met someone’s uncle who worked with so-and-so’s sister who went to school with some person’s cousin—all the faces blurring together.

Right now, she was tuning out whatever this guy was saying. He seemed nice enough, but she was nodding along and trying to figure out when she could slip away for a plate of those chocolate-covered strawberries when her attention was snagged by movement in her periphery.

Aelin turned, her smile faltering as she watched the back of Rowan’s silver head disappear out onto one of the balconies. She caught Elide’s eye who stood at the same table she’d tracked Rowan leaving from, and furrowed her brows, silently asking her friend what happened, but Elide just gave her a pointed look and tried not to smile when Aelin whirled back to her conversation.

“Uh, excuse me,” she interrupted, only a little sorry as his brows raised and he stopped mid-sentence. She thanked the man, Sam, for his donation again and turned on her heel, grabbing a glass of champagne off a tray as she aimed for the balcony.

Aelin welcomed the warm breeze as she stepped into the night air. She could hear the cars zipping by below and the sounds of the city as the party faded with each step.

Rowan was leaning against the railing, resting his forearms on it, and holding a champagne glass in one hand. He seemed lost in thought, so she slowed her pace so she wouldn’t startle him. How bad would it be if a crystal glass was dropped from sixty stories up?

“Needed a breather?” She asked, coming to mirror his position next to him with her arms on the cool metal railing, raising a brow when he jerked at her voice.

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat and sipped his drink. “Yeah, just for a minute.”

“It’s a lot, I know.” Aelin closed her eyes and listened to the sounds around her. “One of the many reasons why I can’t do this full-time.”

“You seemed awfully comfortable from where I was standing.” The words were bitter as they left his mouth.

Aelin’s head snapped around as her brows flew up only to see Rowan close his eyes and wince as if he hadn’t meant to say that. She blinked. If she had to guess, he sounded…jealous? The tips of his ears were turning red as he opened and closed his mouth, and Aelin figured he truly hadn’t meant to sound so possessive.

Maybe it was the champagne, but she decided she didn’t mind it.

Aelin tipped her head back and laughed.

“Believe me,” she told him, turning to face him as he cautiously waited for her response. “I’m much more comfortable right now.”

Aelin held his gaze, hoping he understood what she was trying to say.

Rowan exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his shoulders, and Aelin pursed her lips in amusement as she looked back over the city.

They stood in comfortable silence, both relieved to have a moment away from the party inside.

“So,” he mused.

She arched a brow but kept her eyes on the city. “So.”

“Fireheart?” he asked, and she felt him shift to look at her better which only served to lessen the distance between them.

“I was wondering if you caught that.” Huffing a laugh, Aelin nodded wryly. “She’s called me that since I was a kid. Her little fireheart.”

He chuckled and Aelin glanced sidelong at him, trying her best not to get distracted by the loose strands of hair blowing in the wind.

“It fits.” He murmured with a definitiveness that surprised her. The irrevocability of someone who sought a word that was at their fingertips yet unable to grasp it, finally gaining the clarity to do so.

When Aelin lifted her glass to finish her champagne, her shoulder brushed his and she realized how close they were to one another.

She glanced over again as a lock of her hair fluttered in the breeze, only to find Rowan already staring at her. Aelin couldn’t name exactly what she saw in his face but the intensity of it caused her breath to hitch.

The sounds of traffic and people and music faded away until all she could hear was her rapidly beating heart and the sharp breaths they both took in the minuscule space between them.

At that moment all she could focus on was the man next to her. Rowan. Her friend, her companion, her one-in-a-million chance encounter. She looked into his pine-green eyes and remembered all the times she’d wished she was in a moment like this one.

Time seemed to slow as she unconsciously leaned closer. Rowan’s eyes darted down to her parted lips as her tongue swiped across her lower one. Lifting his gaze, he caught hers in a magnetic grip. She didn’t dare say anything, afraid to break the fragile moment that was unfolding. She felt his short intake of breath, close enough to tickle her skin, and then she was closing her eyes.

“Has anyone seen my scarf?”

Aelin and Rowan sprang apart, startlingly jarred by the unexpected voice.

“Evangeline!” Aelin realized, recovering first, and furrowing her brows at the young girl’s obvious intoxication. She avoided Rowan’s stare burrowing into the side of her head and ignored the way her cheeks were heating up. She cleared her throat. “Scarf. Your scarf is around your shoulders. You’re enjoying the party, I see.”

“Oh,” The girl giggled and touched the light green pashmina she wore. “Found it.”

Despite Aelin’s embarrassment, she chuckled at the grinning college freshman. “First time having this much complimentary champagne?”

Evangeline seemed to think about it before nodding. “Yeah. Most of the parties I go to just have cheap beer.” She leaned against the stone wall and almost slipped when her shoulder missed the edge.

Aelin wrapped an arm around her waist. “Okay, let’s go find Lysandra.” When she knew her friend’s adopted sister wouldn’t fall on her face, Aelin half-turned to Rowan and, without meeting his eyes, stammered, “I’ve, uh, gotta help with this, her.”

Then she hurried back into the party.

***

Fuck.

What the hell just happened?

Rowan's head was spinning.

He almost kissed Aelin. He and Aelin almost kissed. Better yet, Aelin almost kissed him.

The grin he hadn’t realized he wore dropped when the moment caught up to him and he watched Aelin stumble over an excuse and flea before they could finish what they’d started.

Did she regret it? Was she only caught up in the moment and now they’ll have to live with that awkwardness?

Fuck.

No. Rowan wasn’t going to let this go—let her go.

He downed the rest of his champagne and turned on his heel to head back into the party and find Aelin.

The ringing of his phone jerked him to a stop, momentarily confusing him. He glanced back into the brightly lit room and groaned before pulling out his cellphone and frowning when Lorcan’s name flashed across the screen.

The crease between his brows deepened when he realized it had to be passed three in the morning in Dublin.

“What?” he wanted to cut straight to the point so he could hang up and talk to Aelin.

Lorcan’s grunt greeted him. “Whitethorn. We’ve got a situation and don’t get fucking pissed at me, this is coming from higher up.”

Agitation immediately filled him at the tone of his friend’s voice. The only person outranking Lorcan in their division was the Editor-in-Chief, Maeve herself. “What, Lorcan? I’m kind of in the middle of something.”

“Yeah? So was I. My sleep's fucked. I got a call an hour ago that one of the asshole editors quit, no warning, and in a dick move deleted half of the spreads we need for next week’s publication.” He sighed over the speaker and Rowan closed his eyes, dreading the overtime he knew he’d have to put in when he got back.

Lorcan went on, “Maeve wants everyone working to fix it so we aren’t delayed. You’re on a flight back to Dublin asap.”

“I took a week off, she can’t go without my help for three more days? I don’t even write the articles.” Rowan let out a harsh laugh and scrubbed a hand down his face. “Fuck, fine, I’ll find a flight tomorrow.”

“No. I mean, you’re booked on a flight that’s leaving at one-thirty, your time, from JFK. There’s a car on its way to pick you up.”

Rowan said nothing as a ringing filled his ears.

“What? That’s ridiculous. She can’t do that” He seethed. “And how the fuck do you know where I am?”

“If you want to keep your godsdamned job, you’ll be on that flight. And your phone’s location is on, dumbass.” Lorcan cursed and yelled at someone on his end of the line. “Look, I don’t like this any more than you do, but it’s out of my hands.”

Rowan hung up.

“Fuck!” he hissed and carded a furious hand through his hair.

That was it. He couldn’t do this anymore. He couldn’t stay under Maeve’s thumb; she used every bit of power she held over her employees and exploited their need to keep their job.

His shoulders slumped in resignation. Because it was true for him. He couldn’t just quit. Not now. Coast to Cadre was nowhere near ready to support him enough for him to lose his job.

He would quit. Rowan had never been more sure of that, this godsdamned summoning being the final nail in the coffin.

But right now, he had to leave.

“Fuck,” he breathed, drawing out the expletive again as he squeezed his eyes shut and dragged a hand down his face, pocketing his phone.

Rowan took one more breath and willed his temper to abate as he walked back into the party. The hum of chatter and music immediately drowned out the sound of the city below them.

His eyes scanned the room and zeroed in on Aelin. Instead of finding her with Lysandra like he thought he would, she was standing next to a man with coiffed black hair, smiling widely and leaning into his arm and they talked.

Was that it? Was she so unsettled by what happened between them that she immediately latched onto someone else? Somewhere, deep in his brain, he knew logically that wasn’t true—that wasn’t Aelin.

But he wasn’t thinking logically right now.

Rowan caught her eyes and clenched his jaw hard as her smile faltered. He made a beeline for the elevators, ignoring the scathing looks as he pushed through the crowd, and took one down to the lobby before Aelin could follow.

Unfortunately, he got caught in the people trying to go up and past the security guards, that another elevator dinged behind him and a voice he would always know, called out.

“Would you slow down for one second?” She huffed, near-jogging in her heels as she sped to keep up with him.

Rowan didn’t stop until he’d swung through the revolving door of the front lobby. He didn’t have to hear the click of her shoes on the pavement to know she hadn’t let him walk away without an explanation. “I have to go,” he gritted out.

She gripped his arm, forcing him to look at her. Strands of Aelin’s blonde hair blew around her face in the breeze. She waited until he gave her his full attention. “I see that.” She hissed, exasperated. “Why? And were you seriously going to walk out without saying goodbye? Without a word after what just happened up there?”

He jerked his arm out from beneath her hand. He missed the warmth of her touch almost immediately, but unfortunately, all his frustration and jealousy that had been simmering won out. “You don’t have to play pretend with me. My car will be here any minute and you can go back upstairs and finish your schmoozing.”

Aelin crossed her arms as her brows shot up and looked at him like he’d grown a second head. “Pretend?” she scoffed. “Seriously, what the fuck is your problem. And, you still haven’t told me why you’re practically sprinting out of here.”

Rowan took a deep breath, trying to settle his temper before he said something he would regret. In a calmer voice, he explained, “I just got a call from my boss. One of our head editors went and quit without explanation, and the next issue of the magazine is set to go to publication this week. She needs all hands on deck, so I now have a ticket on the next flight to Dublin, which leaves in,” he twisted his wrist to look at his watch, ignoring the way Aelin’s expression grew dubious. “Two and half hours. There’s a car on its way to bring me to the airport. I don’t have time to backtrack through the city, I need to get through security and passport control, so if you could ship my things, I can pay you back however much it costs—”

Not for the first time, he was grateful he’d chosen to bring his passport.

“Let me get this straight,” she cut him off hotly and paced a few steps, unable to stay still. “Your boss calls you and demands you go back to work at nearly midnight on a Saturday, fly across the Atlantic on a flight leaving so soon that you don’t even have time to collect your things, and you agree to that at the drop of a hat?” her voice rose with every word before finally stepping closer to him and hissing, “And without so much as a goodbye?”

He couldn’t take it. Her frustration, her anger, her disappointment. He was upset, and her concerns were too much. Rowan snapped, his emotions fueling his words before he could stop himself. “I don’t have a choice—it’s my job, Aelin. You know, the thing that most people have so they can afford to live and eat and pay their bills.”

She scoffed loudly and narrowed her eyes at him, looking like she wanted to bite back at him. “Rowan, you know—"

But all the fight left him as soon as the words came out, and he loosed a long, heavy sigh. He felt tired—defeated. When he caught her stare again, she faltered, some of her anger dissipating as she took in his slumped shoulders and crestfallen face.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, trying to convey his regret and apology, encouraged by the fact that she didn’t pull her hand away when he gently took it in his. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you; you don’t deserve that. I’m not angry with you, it’s my boss, it’s this job, it’s this fucking situation—”

He stopped himself before he got too far off track and started again. He still couldn’t figure out what she was thinking but at least now she didn’t look like she wanted to kick him in the balls. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to leave, but I have to. And I’m sorry for trying to leave without saying goodbye. That wasn’t cool.”

“That was a dick move.” She corrected, a perfectly sculpted brow arched, and Rowan felt his lips twitch up. Both at his overwhelming relief that she was still listening to him, and at her using the same phrase Lorcan used earlier. He doubted either of them would like to know that.

Rowan nodded, interlacing their fingers and stepping closer. “A dick move, you’re right.”

Aelin stared at him for a long moment, trying to garner his level of sincerity. He squeezed her fingers in another silent apology and she looked down at their hands, rubbing her thumb over the back of his knuckle. He held back a shiver.

“Okay,” she said finally, looking back up at him. “When is the car supposed to get here?”

Rowan felt a weight lift off his shoulders, he hadn’t realized just how much he needed her to understand. “Any minute.”

The breeze picked up and Aelin crossed her arms to brace against the dip in temperature. As if on cue, a pair of headlights turned the corner, spotlighting them as the car pulled to a stop. Rowan wanted to say something else, tell her that he wanted nothing more than to say no, I won’t be flying overseas tonight. But he couldn’t.

There, engulfed in the bright light that blocked out the rest of the city, Aelin held his gaze and stepped towards him, searching his face until she found what she was looking for. Rowan held his breath as she rested her hands on his biceps and leaned forward to press her lips to his.

He was frozen for a split second, stunned by the feeling of her body pressed against his own. But then he rested his hands on her hips and pulled her closer, kissing her fiercely and trying to convey the feelings that had been mounting for two years. He was consumed by the feel of her, by the smell of her perfume, by her.

She slowly pulled away.

Rowan blinked. He was afraid the last few seconds were a figment of his imagination until he heard Aelin’s ragged breathing. Her eyes darted over his face and a small smile appeared as she took in his dazed expression.

“Have a nice flight, Rowan.” She whispered above the wind. Then she turned on her heel and walked back inside.

His brain finally caught up, and for the second time that night when all he wanted to do was chase after Aelin, he was interrupted. This time, by the loud blaring of a car horn that tore his attention from the retreating blonde and towards the car waiting to take him to the airport.

He opened the door but swung around and called back, just before she walked back into the building, “I’ll call you when I land!”

She paused and Rowan felt like his heart was beating out of his chest. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu as he waited to get into a car driving him to the airport, waiting on what she would say next.

Aelin turned, her eyes connecting with his as a smile blossomed on her face. Rowan felt his mouth curving up in time with hers.

“You better.” She called back in challenge.

His grin grew impossibly wider as he got into the car. Despite the mess he was walking into back home, Rowan felt like he could take on the world.

***

Part 8

*****

Taglist:

@acourtofsnakes @allthebooksunderthemoon @astra-ad-mare @becarefuloflove @booklover41802 @charlizeed @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @danibutterr @doubt-less @emily-gsh @enormousbooklover @foughtconquered @fromthelibraryofemilyj @hakunamatatazz @i-have-but-one-brain-cell @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato @jorjy-jo @lemonade-coolattas @mariamuses @mayhemories @midsizewitch @rowaelinrambling @morganofthewildfire @nerdperson524 @rowaelinismyotp @rowansfirebringer @sayosdreams @sheharahu @sleeping-and-books @stardelia @story-scribbler @superspiritfestival @themoonthestarsthesuriel @swankii-art-teacher @tomtenadia @westofmoon @whimsicallyreading @moodymelanist @realbookloverproblems @gracie-rosee @julemmaes @yesdreamblog @the-regal-warrior @rowanaelinn @thestoriesyoutell @autumnbabylon @sunflowermoonshinewrites @maastrash @annejulianneh111 @the-lonelybarricade

[tomtenadia]

Rowaelin month - A million dances

Day 8 - Rowaelin dancing\

This is a short one that I wrote in an hour. easy and fluffy... hope you’’ like it. ( @rowaelinscourt​)

Out in the outskirts lay an old mansion surrounded by woods.As the sun got lower at the horizon the sky turned red as sunset progressed. The soft tones bathed the beautiful building where a celebration was taking place. The imposing garden had an arch on one side, all decorated with kingsflames, chairs were all lined up behind it and pushed a little far back there was a white gazebo where people walked to for refreshments.

At the centre of the attention were Rowan and Aelin. It was their wedding day and both were now playing hosts.

It was June and the weather was mild for Orynth and Aelin wore a sleeveless green dress, while Rowan, her husband, had shedded his jacket, rolled the sleeves of his shirt and opened up the first two buttons of the collar. He was married, there was no more need to be formal and stiff, especially after Aelin had thrown her shoes to the side and was walking barefoot on the grass. 

They had decided for a simple wedding in a mansion with some close friends and their parents. The location was rustic and out in the countryside and Emrys had catered for them.

Rowan walked around the garden and pondered about that day. He had married his soulmate, something he never thought it would have been possible.

They had met in a a pub. Aelin had gone through a horrible breakup and had decided to go and drown her sorrows in alcohol. Rowan was at the pub with his friends that night and she had caught his attention.

Without being a creep he kept an eye on her all night. She was getting more and more inebriated and he was afraid someone might take advantage. And when a sleezebag of a man went to her and never left even after she had rejected him, he had intervened. He had taken her outside and had kept her company while she was sick. Rowan had taken her home and promised to bring her food the following day.

And that had been their start. Slowly, she became his best friend until it was so much more.

From a corner of the garden he watched her interacting with the guests and was looking forward to show off the surprise he had for her. He had been working on it since they got engaged.

He walked to her and his arms wound around her waist and landed on her still flat belly. She had told him a week before that she was pregnant and he had been the happiest of men “Hello mrs Whitethorn-Galathynius and peanut,” a gentle kiss on her temple and she turned in his arms burying her face in his chest “you need to allow me a dance, we have to, Ro. Peanut and I demand it.”

He sighed dramatically “fine, I guess I can dance with my beautiful wife. But it’s not fair to use our unborn child to accomplish your schemes.”

Her lips found his in a teasing kiss “I can show you tonight how much I am grateful.”

*

It was an hour later when the band appeared and started to set up in a corner of the garden. Aelin ran to them and asked them about the song she wanted as her first dance with Rowan and the band was happy to comply, then ran back to him.

“It’s time and you promised.”

With a big smile he followed. He’d follow her anywhere.

The band made an announcement and in that instant Rowan extended his hand to her in an invitation. Aelin accepted and walked closer to him as his arms pushed his wife against his chest, her head on his shoulder.

“The song…” he whispered quietly.

“You had made me dinner at your place, all romantic and all and then we danced in your living room. You made me feel safe. In your arms I always feel safe.”

Rowan kissed her head as tears threatened to spill, aware of how much those words meant to her.

He squeezed her hard, then while still holding her hand he pushed her away and made her pirouette and his heart swelled with joy at the sound of her laughter.

“When did you learn to dance?”

Their bodies were close once more, his arm around her back while the other held her hand against his heart “I might have taken some lessons just for the wedding.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my cranky husband?”

He laughed and let her pirouette once again “It’s a special day, I wanted to make you happy.”

When she joined him again they began swaying slowly as the song slowed down “You do make me happy,”

“Good, I take my wedding vows very seriously.”

Aelin rose on her tip toes to kiss him “well then you owe a few more dances, the other guests can wait.”

Rowan laughed and lifted Aelin in his arms and started spinning while his soul soared in happiness.

He’d dance a million dances with her.

TAGS:

@rowaelinismyotp​ @swankii-art-teacher​ @whimsicallyreading​ @elentiyawhitethorn​ @aelin-bitch-queen​ @bruiseonthefaceofhumanity​ @acreativelydifferentlove @mis-lil-red​ @thegreyj​ @sailorsassley​ @leiawritesstories​ @clairec79 @morganofthewildfire​ @sv0430​ @heartless--aromantic @autumnbabylon​ @rowanaelinn​ @backtobl4ck​ @susumaus98​ @gracie-rosee​ @mybloodrunsblue​ @tanvee1231 @avenrebekah​ @whoever-you-choose-to-love​ @theywillnotsingforme​ @universallytreepost  @black-daisy-water​ @goddess-aelin​ @whispers-in-the-darkest-heart

[mariaofdoranelle]

Royal Rebels — Prologue

Masterlist

I’m so so happy to show you this! I was going to wait a little more to post, but I got a little eager today and I already have an outline and 15k words so what’s the point of waiting? Lol

I’m going to use my general tag list now for the heads up and then make a different one for this au so let me know if you want to be tagged!

The prologue will be right below the synopsis. I hope you like it!

CW: cursing, small fire

Word count: 2,2k

˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜

When Queen Maeve starts taking merciless measures to save Doranelle from an economic collapse, two old enemies, frenemies with benefits, lovers, acquaintances, Princess Aelin Galathynius and Prince Rowan Whitethorn, must reunite to reach one goal: kill Maeve without starting a war. However, as they get closer to the Fae Queen, Aelin and Rowan might need to overcome old issues and wounds in order to work together efficiently, considering how quickly they could become the prey.

˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜

One year before

As Aelin sauntered into the closet she kept exclusively for her arms and armor collection, she mused about the line between loving a weapon and becoming one. Among her pieces it was easy to spot ones that were historical, personalized, jeweled, blades made of watered steel, armors made of gold. The room was big enough to have a small party inside, but Aelin didn’t want to stall. She took a deep breath, picked a dagger and some other blades and left.

Sneaking out of the castle wasn’t news to her, but she still got a little thrill on the first moments out on the streets. No guards, no bowing down or tiptoeing around her, not one person afraid of the Fire-Bringer. As much as Aelin looked forward to her future as a queen, she loved to be able to blend into the streets and just get lost in the crowds sometimes.

Thankfully, she didn’t need to ask directions to get to her favorite blacksmith. Aelin knew she could hire a small team just to forge and take care of her weapons if that was her wish, but she preferred to be discreet and take care of them herself. Every little thing Aelin did ended up being attached to her fire magic and reinforced people’s ideas on how she would act as a ruler, whether the opinion was good or bad. Her military power had been proved enough since her childhood, adding it to the attachment she had to her weapons and training... It would be too much, specially when Aelin’s temper occasionally got the best of her. Terrasen was a peaceful kingdom, if she tried hard enough, people would realize she could be a good match for a queen.

But she was used to it now, Aelin thought as she walked down the streets of Orynth and bought whatever street vendors tried to sell her, fulfilling her father’s exhausted wish that If you insist on sneaking out, at least help boosting the economy. When the sunlight got stronger and her skin started to tingle, Aelin thoughtlessly tugged at her magic, but stopped before her hand was filled with bright flames.

Anyway, her weapon situation wasn’t a real problem. Aelin could still do her thing. It just needed to be toned-down, so people wouldn’t perceive her as The Bloodthirsty Queen. However, that didn’t stop her from showing off to the few people she trusted, her cousin Galan being one of them. He was a bit late on his trip to visit her, something about two friends surprising him in Varese. She didn’t remember the details in the letter anymore, just told her court lady to include those friends in the arrangements.

Entering the costumer’s antechamber, Aelin waved at the blacksmith’s assistant, who already knew what she was there for. He immediately blushed and then waved back, but stumbled on a few boxes on his way because he kept looking at her while walking. Aelin only stopped to analyze her surroundings when an intoxicating smell of pine and snow assaulted her senses. When she looked for the source of it, there was a set of pine green eyes staring at her, sending a thrill on her body that made the flames beneath her skin dance.

Aelin had absolutely no control over her legs when she walked to him. It wasn’t even like her to flirt with random people. If anything happened, she would just tell herself she slipped and fell on hot stranger’s lap. “Well, that’s a fancy sword you have picked.”

Hot nice-smelling stranger had a tiny smirk on his lips before he opened his mouth and closed it again and looked at her thoughtfully. “Are you familiar with them?”

Aelin leaned on the table and stroked gently the blade closest to her. “Familiar enough to be one of Brullo’s favorite costumers. You seem like potential competition.” Aelin tilted her head, making her neck visible as her hair fell to the side, and sized him up.

Pine green-eyed stranger set his sword with a pine green hilt on the table and angled his body towards her, reducing their distance. “Is Brullo the blacksmith or the assistant? Do you think I can compete if it’s the latter?”

Aelin’s breath halted. “I think you can handle it just fine.”

Aelin could clearly see hot stranger’s pupils dilating until it swallowed most of his irises. “I assume you’re from Orynth.”

“I assume you aren’t.”

“No. I’ll be here for a handful of weeks, probably. It’s not up to me.”

“And that requires this gigantic sword?”

He twirled the sword on his hand. “I left mine at home, and you never know the next dragon you’ll have to slay.”

Was Hot Stranger a fantasy book reader too? Aelin smirked at him. “Are you here on vacation or on duty?”

Rowan glanced at a blonde Fae who had just neglected the weapons he was choosing to flirt with another costumer. After a deep sigh, he answered, “A mix of both.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Is that so?”

Hot Stranger snorted, “Sometimes you have to stop people from making a disaster.”

They were interrupted by the assistant coming with Aelin’s new dagger, which was absolutely stunning. Its size was perfect for her to carry around, and the blade was simple, slim and silver. However, the hilt was ornamented with gold in lots of small, wavy forms that looked like flames. She had payed in advance, so she put the blade away after admiring it for a little longer. Hot Stranger was looking thoughtfully at her when she focused back on him.

“What’s your name?”

Aelin hoped he didn’t see her fidget while she replied, “Celaena. Yours?”

“Rowan,” he said before slightly biting his lips, “Where can I find you in Orynth?”

She tilted her head and grimaced. “You won’t.” She wasn’t happy with that answer, he really seemed like a good ride. However, Aelin couldn’t. Rowan was completely off-limits. If her cousin Aedion or her father even suspected she had escaped the castle to buy weapons and ended up flirting with a foreign Fae stranger twice her size, she’d never see the end of it.

His brows furrowed. “Well, that’s a shame, Celaena.”

She took a deep breath. “Indeed.”

On her walk back home, Aelin kept replaying the moments with Rowan in her head, but she was sure it was because she was bored. In fact, she was so bored she got ready early reading in her room until Aedion picked her up.

“Excited, Ae? You’re not even late,” He said with raised eyebrows before linking arms with her.”

“Shut up. You know Galan is my second favorite cousin too.” Aelin was nodding at people they passed by with her chin raised as Aedion laughed in the middle of the hall.

When they entered the Throne Room, Galan’s party was already there. She smiled broadly at him and sent a tiny wave, until she swayed a little on her steps and her mouth fell open.

By the side of her cousin, was Rowan from the blacksmith and his blonde friend. Rowan was already blinking quickly at her, as if checking his own vision. When his friend whispered something to him, he gulped and straightened his posture immediately. Adding it to the sword she saw earlier, it was easy to tell he was a military man. He could be a general from a remote area of Wendlyn, that would explain why she had never seen him when visiting Varese. That thought made her smile, and when they looked back at each other, he nodded at her with a hint of a smile. Aelin didn’t even worry about lying her name to him, she seemed to be pretty much forgiven.

She had noticed Aedion eyeing her suspiciously, but she didn’t care. The announcement of the guests was mostly brief, but the longer it kept going, the more she became curious to know what he did back in Wendlyn with her cousin. Aelin’s heart started racing as Rowan started being announced.

Prince Rowan Whitethorn of Doranelle

Wait, what?

How in hell did Maeve’s nephew get inside her castle?

Aelin sensed Aedion’s body tense besides her, too.

Maeve, the creepiest person Aelin had ever known, even though she had only read letters from her. Asking her to visit Doranelle so they could get to know each other since Aelin was born.

Queen Maeve of Doranelle, the person Aelin knew was up to no good when it came to her.

Aelin had never set foot in Doranelle for a reason, but its Queen had found a way to sneak her people into her castle.

No fucking way.

After the guests were sent to their rooms, Aelin and Aedion locked themselves in a broom closet away from prying ears and started an emergency meeting.

Aelin blurted, “Do you think he’s trying to kill me?”

Aedion clenched his jaw, making some facial muscles jump. “Over my dead body.” He seemed to mull on something while started to crack his knuckles. “We should kill him first.”

Aelin’s eyes went wide. “Are you out of your mind? He’s the most powerful Fae alive, completely war material if we kill him out of the blue.” Her body stilled. “Maybe that’s exactly what Maeve wants.” Aelin was definitely not going to be the queen who murders her guests on their first day visiting.

As if sensing her thoughts, Aedion offered, “I can kill him if you want. Take the blame and shit.”

“No. Don’t.” Aelin’s thoughts were unfocused, her heartbeat racing as she thought on other solutions, but their hands were tied. Aelin started scratching her forehead. She didn’t know much, but of one thing she was sure.

Maeve’s best lackey was here on a mission, and her idiot cousin had just led him inside.

She knew Doranelle and Wendlyn were political allies, but she didn’t know Galan and the Whitethorns were freaking buddies.

Aelin was going to dismember Galan. And then incinerate what was left of her cousin.

One moment she was with Aedion, the other going towards the Guest Wing, her cousin hot on her heels. She didn’t need to ask which room he was at, the trail of his steps was easy to follow.

“Excuse me, boys. Would you mind staying back for a little while?” She said with a sweet smile at the castle’s guards stationed beside his door, who complied without a second thought. “Wait for me here, Aedion. You’ll know if you need to come.” Aelin stared at Rowan Whitethorn’s door for a few seconds and took a deep breath. It was going to be fine.

Then she set his door on fire until it burned to a crisp and barged into his room without announcing herself. But if you really thought about it, the fire was announcement enough. Despite her big entrance, Rowan didn’t even bat an eye at her. In fact, he was sat on a couch, tending for his daggers. Shirtless. But she wouldn’t be affected by his shirtlessness. It was absolutely disgusting, the way she could trace the movement of each muscle as he wiped—

“Good evening, Celaena,” he sneered her alias, “Can I help you?”

“Absolutely.” She sat on a chair across from him, her posture perfect as she assessed him.

Rowan raised his brows at her.

“I didn’t get to compliment your choice of sword at the blacksmith earlier.” She tilted her head. “Tell me, Whitethorn, apart from fictional dragons, which other fire-wielder creatures do you plan to kill with it?”

“I believe my plans didn’t work out the moment I reached Varese and was dragged here by Galan and Fenrys.”

Aelin’s pulse got even faster. Seriously? Was that really the best he could come up with? “Why would I trust Maeve’s killing dog?”

It was easy to spot Rowan’s nostrils flaring and the way he clenched his jaw. “I like to think I’d spend my time with something more challenging than murdering an attention-seeker little brat.”

“Then what are you here for? Watch me? You know, you must be very important to Her Immortal Majesty if she put you on nurse duty.”

He snarled, “I was not. Sent. By. Maeve.”

Aelin got up from her chair, her eyes wide. “I don’t believe you.”

Rowan rose from his couch too and scoffed at her, “Are you always this paranoid, Princess?”

“So, you come to Terrasen while your aunt has an scheduled visit to Adarlan and expect me to believe you have no hidden agenda?”

Rowan took a deep breath and said in a carefully controlled tone, “I command armies. Strictly. Do you see any troops here? Because she wouldn’t send me as a spy.”

Aelin squinted her eyes at him, trying to recall every detail in their exchange earlier. “Then what is the disaster you have to prevent?”

“Have you met Fenrys?”

Her eyes went wide. “Are you kidding me? He has charmed half the Court already!”

Rowan pinched his nose. “Of course he did.”

Aelin drew herself up to full height and narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t trust you, Whitethorn. And I don’t give a fuck about your relationship with Maeve. As long as you lead her armies and benefit from her government, I’ll be monitoring you.”

She didn’t know who stepped inside the personal space of the other, but they were close. Dangerously so. Their short breaths were mingling as they studied each other’s enraged faces. Aelin took a step back and started to leave, but not without hissing, “Don’t you dare think this conversation is over.” Too bad she couldn’t slam his door.

TAG LIST

@elentiyawhitethorn

@rowanaelinn

@leiawritesstories

[morganofthewildfire]

Throne of Glass Anniversary day 4 - Heir of Fire!!

-------

“You cannot pick and choose what parts of her to love.”

-------

“I claim you, Rowan Whitethorn. I don't care what you say and how much you protest. I claim you as my friend.”

--------

“Their hands clasped between them, he whispered into her ear, "I claim you, too, Aelin Galathynius.”

--------

“She was Aelin Ashryver Galathynius—­and she would not be afraid.”

--------

“It would not take a monster to destroy a monster - but light, light to drive out darkness.”

--------

[sassyhobbits]

Flowers in your Hair

a/n: so sorry i havent been able to put out writing in a long time! ive been busy and also the words havent been flowing properly so...

anyway, here’s something that had been sitting on my computer for a while and I hope everyone enjoys!

~~~

Despite everything Aelin Galathynius had endured in the kingdom of Doranelle, she could still find immense beauty within the city of rivers.

She had never really gotten a good look at the city. When she came with Rowan the first time to get answers about the Wyrdkeys from Maeve, she had been far too nervous to bother to take in her surroundings properly. The second time she was in Doranelle, she was trapped in an iron box. 

But this time, Aelin was visiting as a queen and was able to fully take in the splendor of the last stronghold of the Fae.

Even though she knew the city of stone and water had been built as a deterrent for Brannon and all of his ancestors (including her), Aelin found the bright streets charming. Her head was practically hanging out of the window of their carriage as they traveled towards the Whitethorn estate. She didn’t want to miss any details, this time. 

Aelin’s husband sat beside her, holding her hand and sending fond glances at her every once in a while. Though he hadn’t admitted it aloud, Aelin knew part of him was excited to show her where he had grown up properly for the first time.

It had been two years since the end of the war and Sellene had invited Aelin and Rowan to Doranelle for a brief visit. Aelin had been so wrapped up in everything her kingdom required that she hadn’t realized she was aching for a change of pace until one was offered to her. Besides, it had been far too long since Rowan had visited his home, anyway.

Aelin knew they were nearing the Whitethorn estate. Selene had wanted to meet here, where no bad memories lingered for Aelin. She truly appreciated her care. It would be nice to be able to enjoy the visit without unwanted memories hanging about.

Doranelle was quite pleasant this time of year. While in Terrasen, snow still covered the mountains, in Doranelle, the airs were much warmer and the snow had all melted away. The first grasses and flowers had already begun to sprout. 

Aelin’s gaze caught on a group of Fae milling about a small patch of green, setting up tables and decorations. Her brows furrowed. It wasn’t any holiday that she was aware of.

“Ro, what are they setting up for?”

Her husband glanced through the window to see what she was referencing. “Ah. Imbolc, I believe.”

“Imbolc?” Aelin repeated, testing the unfamiliar word on her tongue. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s a minor holiday for the Fae,” Rowan explained. “To celebrate the end of winter and the return of spring. My uncle will likely be holding his own get-together tonight on the estate.”

Aelin turned, grinning at her husband. “A party?”

His lips pressed together tightly. “I’m afraid that my family does not have the same definition of celebration as you do, Fireheart.”

Aelin waved a dismissive hand through the air. “It’s a celebration, isn’t it? It couldn’t be that bad. Even if your family is filled with boring old men like you.”

Rowan scoffed, throwing an arm around Aelin’s shoulders and tugging her close. He kissed the top of her head before murmuring, “Believe it or not, they’re far more boring than me.”

Aelin melted into her husband’s side, breathing in his pine and snow scent. He must have been exaggerating. Regardless of the opinion he held about his familys’ definition of celebration, it was a holiday. It was going to be fun.

....

Aelin had been completely, terribly, wrong.

Though she’d be dead before she admitted that to anyone. Especially Rowan. He would hold it over her head for the entirety of their immortal existence. 

The Whitethorn estate was a sprawling, beautiful piece of property. The home was almost a palace in itself, sculpted out of white stone in an ancient style. The gardens were stunning, well-managed even when Doranelle was just creeping out of winter. 

Aelin had met Rowan’s uncle once before. It was clear where her mate’s stony exterior came from. She greeted Rowan’s cousin Enda and his husband before receiving a warm welcome from Sellene, the Faerie queen of the east.

Technically, Aelin had just as much of a claim on Doranelle’s throne as Sellene did. Though she had absolutely no desire for another kingdom. Taking care of Terrasen was enough work as it was. 

She spent the afternoon greeting and being reintroduced to Rowan’s never ending stream of family. Her head was starting to spin as she attempted to tell the hundreds of silver heads apart.

But eventually, Aelin changed into a nicer gown as the sun began to set and time for the celebration to start crept closer and closer. It was a new piece of hers, long and white. The dress drooped off her shoulders, sleeves long and flowing. The skirts were airy, billowing around her legs and she strode around the rooms as she prepared. The dress was simpler than most of her other gowns, but it was beautifully made. 

Half of her hair was pulled back in tasteful braids, the rest of her golden waves were left to hang freely down her back. 

Rowan had kissed her and told her how beautiful she looked. With all the sweet nothings he whispered in her ear, it was unsurprising when he hauled her up on the vanity and started kissing her neck. Aelin was halfway through undoing his belt when they were interrupted by a polite knock on their door informing them that the celebrations were starting. 

Aelin had kissed her husband one last time with a whispered promise of, “Later.”

She was excited to celebrate her first Imbolc. The gardens of the Whitethorn estate had been decorated with white flowers and glowing candles, tables of food and wine flowing freely. 

She had high hopes that her husband had been exaggerating about how boring his family was and yet… 

It was nice, she supposed. There was a small band playing low, lovely songs, plenty of people milling about to make conversation with. The food provided was exquisite and the early spring wine simply wonderful. Rowan’s uncle and Sellene had invited other lords and ladies of Doranelle to the get-together. 

It wasn’t that she was having a bad time but… just beyond the towering gates of the Whitethorn estate, Aelin could hear others celebrating in a way that seemed much more intriguing to her. She could hear cherry, jubilant music, the sounds of whoops and cheers of delight. She could scent spiced meat being roasted and smoke from a bonfire. 

Aelin tried to focus back into the conversation she was having with Sellene and other ladies. Although part of her wanted to dance and drink until she was red in the face, she was a queen. And spending time with other royalty and nobility was part of the deal.

But she couldn’t stop keeping an ear out for that music.

…

Rowan was used to the kinds of parties his uncle threw. 

He started the evening with Aelin at his side. There were plenty of people in Doranelle who had wanted to thank them for their efforts made in the war. They both accepted their thanks gracefully, but when some of the warriors started asking for stories about battle, Rowan took over and allowed Aelin to find less dismal conversation.

He had kept an eye on her through the evening, admiring how beautiful she looked in that white dress under the moonlight. She charmed and dazzled all that she spoke to, a true queen through and through. 

Rowan got roped into a rather lengthy conversation debating some maneuvers made during a war he had fought over a hundred years ago. Eventually, he was aware of Sellene slipping up to his side, a quizzical look on her face.

“Where did your mate run off to?” she asked.

“She’s not here?”

Rowan sent a sweeping glance around the gardens, finding his cousin was right. Aelin was no longer here.

“She didn’t go to sleep without saying goodnight, did she?” Sellene asked.

Definitely not. It was far too early for her to go to bed, and even if she did, she likely would have found a way to coerce Rowan to come with her. Still, she certainly wasn’t in the gardens, but she was somewhere. And if Rowan knew Aelin at all…

His gaze snagged on the gates to the estate, finding one of the gilded doors opened a crack, leading to the music and laughter he could hear beyond. 

He knew where his wife was.

…

Rowan excused himself from the celebration on his family’s estate, slipping away before anyone could ask him where he was heading. He was out the gate, following the winding path down from the estate towards the surrounding village.

It was easy to find the celebration. It was situated on a small patch of green on the otherwise stone city. There were one or two bonfires burning, cooking some delicious smelling meat. There was a band playing bouncing music, a few Fae children running around, chasing each other, and stealing sweets. A large group of people dancing spun and leapt to the enchanting music. And, in the center of those dancing bodies, was the woman Rowan was looking for. 

Aelin was always stunning, but there were moments that took Rowan’s breath away. This was one of those moments.

The smile on his wife’s face was contagious as moved. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely shade of pink from either her smiling, her dancing, or likely the wine she had been drinking. Someone had twisted white flowers into her golden hair, she had lost her velvet slippers somewhere along the way, her bare feet moving swiftly across the grass. The hem of her dress had been stained by dirt, but Aelin didn’t seem to care. She lifted her skirts in her hand and twirled gracefully, locking elbows with another female before twisting towards another partner: a male who placed a respectful hand on her waist as they spun swifty. 

It made him happier than he expected to see Aelin learning the folk dances of Doranelle so quickly. It didn’t surprise him at all that she would master them.

Rowan wondered if the people around knew exactly who was dancing amongst them. Though tales of Aelin Galathynius had spread far and wide, she had only been in Doranelle twice. And neither of those visits had allowed her much time to make herself known amongst its people. 

Rowan, however, was much more recognizable. He pretended to ignore the curious glances people were sending his way, the hidden whispers. It was only so long before they put two and two together and realized that the woman he couldn’t take his eyes off of in the fine dress who had crashed their party was the Queen of Terrasen herself. 

Rowan didn’t know what possessed him, but he found himself slipping through the crowd, dodging the bodies of the dancers, until he had swept his wife up in his arms and began to lead her in the next dance.

Aelin’s face lit up in delight before raising a mischievous brow. “You found me.”

“You knew I would.”

She laughed. “I did. But I wasn’t expecting a dance. I only get those on special occasions.”

“It is a special occasion.” Rowan braced his hands on Aelin’s waist, lifting her as the others around them did this same. “It’s your first Imbolc.”

“Ah. I was hoping I convinced you with my stunning beauty and irresistible dancing.”

“Perhaps both are factors. Besides, my uncle’s party was growing dull.”

“Oh no! I’ve finally corrupted you into liking fun!”

Rowan flicked her nose and her laughter rang through the cool night air.

Although Rowan didn’t dance often, when he danced with Aelin, he always loved it. She danced with just as much grace and ferocity as she did when she fought. He would do anything to see that glimmer that shone in her eyes, to feel his magic and heart jump with joy to have her so close. 

The music sped up as it reached its climax, the dancers moving swifter to match the beat. His and Aelin’s bodies moved in question and answer to one another, not one misstep or fumble. Not that he expected there to be. 

The song and dance came to an end with Rowan twirling his wife back into his arms, both of them breathing a bit heavier than normal after exerting themselves. Aelin was smiling up at him, a few stray, golden hairs sticking to her forehead. Around them, people cheered and laughed, but to Rowan, it felt as if they were in their own world. 

Aelin threaded her fingers through Rowan’s hair, pushing up on her toes and pressing a lingering kiss to his lips.

“I think I love Imbolc,” she said breathily. 

Rowan smiled back down on her, kissing her again. “Then we’ll bring it back to Terrasen with us.”

Her grin didn’t fade as she rested her head against his chest. “I think I love you, too.”

Rowan held her close, resting his head on hers. 

He was pretty damn sure he loved her too.

[shyvioletcat]

For zoom interrupted could we have one where aelin is attending a meeting and Rowan is supposed to take care of Elspeth and well hell ensures

Well, I don’t know where this came from. But it’s here and it’s fluffy, so enjoy.

Zoom Interrupted

~~~~~

It was Rowan’s turn for ‘keeping the toddler out of the study’ today. Aelin had a meeting and they weren’t as accepting of interruptions as his colleagues were. Dorian didn’t mind, neither did Aedion, but a lot of the others had sticks up their asses and didn’t understand kids at all. At least with Dorian as her directing manager, Aelin wasn’t going to cop any flack for it if something happened. He just listened to the complaints, reminded those complaining of the situations they were in, and left it at that.

The only problem was that Elspeth had woken up today feeling like Aelin was the only person that existed in the whole entire world. She wouldn’t have a bar of him. Rowan had tried everything –– snacks, her favourite toys, cuddles, video chatting the grandparents. Nothing worked. The best he could manage was cartoons and being regulated to the opposite of the couch after she had pulled just about every possession she had into the living room and left it there. Even then she was still restless and whiny, every so often she whimpered a little. It was enough to break his heart.

Rowan was checking his phone ignoring the annoyingly high voices on the TV, when there was a loud clatter making him snap his eyes away from the screen. The remote had landed on the floor, the batteries spilling out.

“Elsie,” Rowan said sternly.

It was a mistake. Her green eyes went wide and started to fill with tears. Rowan sighed, he knew what was coming so he slipped off the couch to deal with the remote before it did. He’d just got the batteries in and the back on when Elsie cracked it, crying like her world was ending when all he’d done was say her name in a slightly lower octave than he usually used. Kneeling on the ground Rowan looked over at his daughter, who was now lying down on the couch, her little face heartbreakingly sad.

“I’m sorry, little one,” Rowan said gently. “But you can't throw the remote, it will––”

She didn’t let him finish.

Rowan sighed again, knowing this was a losing fight. “Do you––” more crying, “I can get you a chocolate milk, how about that?”

That caught his daughter’s attention and her crying stopped as she nodded at him. Rowan smiled triumphantly and pushed himself off the floor to go to the kitchen. He got out Elsie’s favourite sippy cup and the milk and the chocolate powder. Spooning in just enough that the milk was convincingly brown, Rowan screwed on the lid and went back to the living room.

“Elsie, here’s your…” Rowan’s voice trailed off when he took in the oddly quiet couch.

Elspeth was gone.

~~~~~

Aelin loved babies. And she loved making babies. It was just the in between bits she wasn’t too fond of. If the vomiting and near constant nausea, along with the fatigue, wasn’t bad enough there was also the fact she was shut in their little house with nowhere to go. Aelin understood why she couldn’t go out, she really did. But being stuck inside with a toddler and her husband with no one else to see face to face was driving her a little stir crazy.

At least today she had something to break up the monotony of the days. She had a meeting for work, meaning that she had to at least look somewhat presentable, giving her something to do and a reason to wash her hair. The hard part had been convincing Elspeth to play with her father for a while. She’d been extra clingy today and Aelin had to literally pry off the little hand that held her shirt in a vice grip. Throughout the meeting she’d heard muffled sounds of tantrums and Rowan’s efforts to placate their daughter, all in all it didn’t sound like it was going great.

And neither was Aelin. She’d zoned out a little while ago while Kaltain droned on about something that wasn’t relevant to Aelin so she put all her attention to keeping her breakfast in her stomach.

Then there was a silence and Aelin hoped that the meeting was over but then her name was being said, and from the tone of it, it wasn’t the first time.

“Aelin,” Dorian said.

She took in a deep breath, not quite exhaling as she said, “Yep.”

“Have you finished that manuscript?”

“Not yet,” Aelin managed to get out, swallowing back the nausea. It usually took Aelin no more than three days to finish a manuscript with her notes for the publishers. But she was more than a week behind on this one. It wasn’t her fault, every time she tried to read she just fell asleep.

“It was meant to be finished last Friday. I don’t think you’ve ever been late before,” Dorian mused.

Aedion snorts from his little rectangle. “Being late is kind of Aelin’s thing at the moment.”

Aelin sends her cousin a scathing look while Dorian looks confused.

“Well that’s it for today,” Dorian said. “Same time next week.”

“Before you go,” Aelin adds quickly before the call ends. “I need a minute with you Dorian.”

“Okay, I’ll just disconnect everyone else.” It took Dorian a minute but then it was just the two of them. “What’s up?”

Just then the door to the study swung open and then a small figure launched itself at Aelin. She gagged on impact, but managed to keep from actually throwing up.

“Elsie!” Dorian cheered. “How’s my favourite little gremlin?”

Aelin saw her daughter give Dorian a look on the screen that looked all too much like Rowan as she clung tighter to Aelin.

“Aw, what’s the matter, petal? Do you want to see the puppies?” Dorian asked.

Elsie nodded at that, wiping her nose on Aelin’s shoulder. Dorian’s dog had had puppies a few weeks ago, Aelin was a little jealous and had cried over the photos more than once. Dorian apparently had one on his lap and he lifted it up so they could see. Aelin’s eyes started to tear up immediately and the fluffy little things. It was enough to get Elsie’s attention and she moved forward, nearly knocking over a drink bottle, making Aelin jump up to catch it before it did some damage.

“Aelin Galathynius-Whitethorn, is that what I think it is?”

Aelin looked at her own screen, at the view Dorian had. The shirt she had worn today hugged her very small baby bump, all the more noticeable from the sideways angle she was standing at. Aelin readjusted Elsie who was currently tucked under her arm, and sat back down. “Yeah so… I’m going to have to put in for leave. I’m pregnant.”

“Again?” Dorian all but blurted.

“Hey,” Aelin pointed a finger at him, feeling irrationally angry. “What do you mean again? It’s only the second one.”

“Sorry,” Dorian said meekly.

“Well, you say it like it’s my fourth or something.” For some reason this conversation was now making her cry. Damned hormones.

“Did you just make my pregnant wife cry?”

Rowan now came into the study, no doubt looking for his escaped charge. He was scowling at Dorian, green eyes staring him down through the camera.

Dorian cleared his throat. “If we weren’t in lockdown I might be afraid for my life right now.”

“Lockdown won’t last forever,” Rowan threatened. “And I never forget.”

“Unless it’s contraceptives,” Dorian muttered.

That set Aelin cackling, her erratic emotions coming full circle, especially when she saw the faint blush on Rowan’s cheeks. Elsie started laughing too, cheered up by being in her mother’s arms and the little puppy.

Dorian sighed. “I hate to lose my best proofreader, again,” he added with a wry smile. “But congratulations. To all of you.”

“Thanks, Dor,” Aelin said, giving Rowan a nudge.

“Thanks,” Rowan said tightly, making Aelin roll her eyes.

“Okay, I’m gonna go before Rowan finds a way to murder me through a screen, we can work out deatils later.” That was all Dorian said before he ended the call.

“You’re the worst,” Aelin said, looking up at her husband.

Rowan sighed, “Sorry, I’m just tired.”

“How convenient, me too,” Aelin said. “How about we take a family nap?”

Rowan grinned at her as he helped her up from the chair while Elsie still clung to her. “Sounds perfect.”

~~~~~

Tags: @fucking-winchester-trash // @literary-licorice // @galyxsy // @tangledraysofsunshine // @highqueenofelfhame // @3am-reading // @soup-that-is-too-hawt // @aelinfire-bringer // @nalgenewhore // @highladyofthesith // @http-itsrebecca // @sleep-and-books // @alifletcher2012 // @westofmoon // @sleeping-and-books // @ttakeitbacknoww // @armixers-unite // @mariamuses // @chocolate-eating-bitch-queen // @velarian-trash // @queenofxhearts // @heroesofterrasen // @highladyofstoriesandmusic // @empire-of-wildfire // @camerooonchiu // @crackedship // @lowhangingtreebranches // @over300books // @yourwhisperingshadows // @thesirenwashere // @tswaney17 // @impossiblescissorspeachpaper // @cat5313 // @judelovescardan // @flowerspringsea // @chaoticskyy // @the-regal-warrior // @fanfictrash3000 // @blueeyes425 // @starseternalnighttriumphant // @bamchickawowow // @thehuntressofmoon // @giorgia-the-trashpanda // @flora-and-fae // @thereaderandfangirl // @illyrian-bookworm // @chemicha // @meltalgel // @gay-book-nerd // @that-odd-puzzle-piece // @i-love-all-books // @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato // @girl-who-reads-the-books // @hizqueen4life // @the-third-me // @1islessthan3books // @bestmelle // @cursebreaker29 // @b00kworm // @superspiritfestival // @aesthetics-11 // @maastrash // @mynewdreamwasyou // @the-last-apprentice // @charincharge // @firestarsandseneschals // @scarznstars // @absolute-dissapointment // @thesurielships // @df3ndyr // @trinitybailey2003 // @hellasblessed // @booknerdproblems // @larisssss // @sevenfreckles-for-sevenloves // @rolltide7 // @scandinavianromantic // @tillyrubes10 // @starwarsslytherin // @minaidss // @paytin77 // @jesstargaryenqueen // @anntheintrovert // @starbornvalkyrie // @loudphantomdragon // @woollycat22 // @claralady // @perseusannabeth // @fangirlprincess09 // @maddymelv // @sierrareads // @more-espresso-less-depresso-xx // @jlinez // @lysandra-ghost-leopard // @rowaelinismyotp // @pullnpeeltwizzlers // @anne-reads // @jadeaffliction // @gracie-rose // @elriel4life // @miserablesmusings // @tothestarswholistentodreamers // @thenerdandfandoms // @castielspelvis // @swankii-art-teacher // @grandma-noob-lord // @vanzetanze // @highlady-brittney // @story-scribbler // @linguine-panini // @pastasiren // @surielandiareendgame // @silentquartz // @littleboxofthunder // @empress-ofbloodshed // @booksbqueen // @rowanwhitethornisbae // @charlizeed // @feysand-loml // @aelin-queen-of-terrasen // @alyx801 // @amandaswallowtail // @louiseleblancdiggory // @abookishfreak // @danibutterr // @thegreyj // @lizzyfirebringer // @endlessdaydream // @magnifique1807

[rowanaelinn]

My Secret

rowaelin month day three - secret relationship @rowaelinscourt

Warning: nsfw, switch Aelin and switch Rowan.

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius loved her life.

As she walked in her house, in nothing but a silk nightgown and a robe, a glass of red wine in hand, she wondered about how good her life was.

It wasn’t usual to have alone moments in the Ashryver-Galathynius house. Since the two families joined when her parents married, their wealth increased, as well as their power and influence. But it also meant more people would spend their time in their house.

Aelin’s mamma, Evalin, was currently on a trip with her cousin, Alivia. They both had asked Aelin if she wished to join but she didn’t, loving her life in Orynth just fine she didn’t feel the need to escape every month. Aelin’s papa, Aedion, and Gavriel were away on business tonight. Aelin had wanted to join them, wanting to prove her usefulness in any other way than marrying, but her papa had refused. “I know what you can do, Fireheart, but our enemies don’t. Your talents are best kept hidden.” He had said, bringing a smirk on Aelin’s face.

One day she would go out there in her black suit, daggers strapped to her body, and she would show the men who always dismissed her as only a pretty face and an amazing ass who she really was.

“Miss Galathynius?” Someone called for her as she filled her glass of wine, not wanting to stop drinking so early in the night. She turned around to see Rowan Whitethorn standing at the kitchen’s entrance. He was dressed in his usual black suit that fitted him perfectly, showing his broad shoulders, and didn’t leave a lot of the imagination where his muscular torso was concerned.

“Rowan,” she took a sip of her wine, her back resting against the kitchen counter. “How can I help you?”

“Your cousin required me to stay here tonight. As protection.” As he said it he seemed to know how stupid it was. “Is he here?”

“I don’t need protection.”

“That’s what I would have told him if he didn’t outrank me.” She let out a low laugh at that, it was like Aedion to pull rank where it concerned her. Her cousin and entire family were overprotective, which could be understood when you lived in their world, but they never understood that Aelin didn’t need protection. No, the only person who seemed to know it was the man in front of her.

“Aedion, his papà, and mine are gone, I am afraid I’m the only person you will find in this house tonight.”

Something in his green eyes sparkled at that and at the way her tongue lapped a drop of wine that lingered on her upper lip after she took a sip. Rowan didn’t waste time before walking toward her, taking her head between his hands, and kissing her deeply. She put her glass on the island, wanting both her hands to be free to tangle in the silver hair of the man in front of her.

“I missed you,” he murmured on her lips before kissing her again.

“You saw me this morning,” she laughed softly before cupping the back of his neck to bring back his lips on hers. She could drown in his kisses, learned that a year ago when she kissed him by surprise. He was two years older than her and had started his initiation in her papà’s business a few years ago.

When she turned seventeen, Aelin noticed him for something else than one of her papà’s workers. Rowan wasn’t a direct part of her family, they shared no blood. His parents had died when he was two in a car crash and he had been adopted by his Emrys and Malakai who were very distant uncles of her papà.

He was neither a Galathynius nor an Arshyver, therefore he was lucky to be in her papà’s inner circle, but he had proved his loyalty to her family multiple times. He was the most cunning liar she knew beside herself, he could read someone so easily and know what their weakness was after a short conversation. It helped that he was a hell of a good shot and also, Aelin’s favorite characteristic about him, he knew how to use daggers.

“I missed having you to myself.” He kissed her lips then her cheeks. “Pretending I am not attracted to you when you yell at Cairn in front of your entire family isn’t the same as this.” His lips met hers another time but Aelin broke the kiss, her smile too big. He was right, it was so tiring to always pretend he was no one to her, but it was better to do that than having him dead.

“You were attracted to me today?”

“When you’re throwing knives? Fuck yeah.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and smiled at her. “But I’m always attracted to you, baby.”

She laughed loudly, not a sound she was used to making in this house that felt like death. “I can’t believe that.”

“That I’m always attracted to you?” He raised an eyebrow.

She softly punched his shoulder, he pretended to be hurt. “No, jackass. Have you seen me? Of course, you’re always attracted to me.” She winked and he laughed, rolling her eyes but didn’t deny it. “I just didn’t know you found me and my daggers that attractive.”

“What can I say?” He asked as he started kissing her neck. “I love to see a woman in power.”

Aelin tilted her head to the side to let him more skin to kiss as she laughed softly. Rowan looked back at her, a brow raised. “You don’t believe me.” It wasn’t a question, he knew her too well to doubt his interpretation of her body language.

“You never seemed to want me in power before,” he breathed as one of his hands gripped her hip. It was true, never once around Rowan had been Aelin in control. She remembered every single time he touched her, every single time he was buried deep inside her, and he was the one in control every single time. Whether he tied her up to his bed, his hands pinning hers above her head, or the words he whispered in her ear… No, she had never been in control whenever he was around.

His eyes darkened at the turn this conversation took, knowing exactly what was on her mind. “You never asked.”

Aelin swallowed. Well, this isn’t how she thought her evening would go. “Is this… Something you would want?”

He paused as if he was thinking very hard about his answer. Aelin didn’t want him to feel judged around her, gods she had told him her wildest fantasy, he could admit one of his. He might have read that on her face because he nodded softly. “I mean, yeah. Maybe.” He blushed.

Aelin looked at him, a smile on her face. It was so cute to see this man, this killer, blushing because of his kinks. “Amazing,” he sighed as he hid his head in her neck. “Now you think I’m weird.” Aelin understood him, it was hard for a man to admit he didn’t want to be in control, even harder with their lifestyle. In their world, the man was here to take care of everything and his woman was here to be pretty and having kids. Both of them had talked about how ridiculous it was, but it’s not like they could change it.

“I don’t,” she took his hair in her hands and pulled his head slightly so that he could look at her. “But I think,” she licked her lips, attracting his gaze as his grip on her waist tightened. It was almost too easy. “I think that you should get on your knees.” She ordered, pushing him to the ground. His breath caught as he fell on his knees, but the smirk on his face was ravishing. “Don’t smile, use your damn mouth to do something useful.” She said as she sat on the island, spreading her legs. She was just at the right height, he’d just have to lower his head a little and he could face her core.

“Anything you want, ma’am,” he murmured on the skin of her leg as he laid kisses on her inner thighs. She usually loved the teasing, but it wasn’t what she was looking for tonight.

“Take off my panties, Rowan.” Another ordered he obeyed, his eyes were so dark the green had almost vanished as he slid the already soaked fabric. The truth is, the idea of having Rowan under her control turned her on more than she wanted to admit. She had always liked to have men at her feet.

She spread her legs wilder, making her nightgown ride higher on her waist and exposing her sex. Rowan swore, his voice rough and deep, before lowering his mouth on her. Aelin threw her head back, a hand finding Rowan’s hair and pulling it as a reflex, as she ground herself on his face. “Faster,” she ordered, her voice still strong. She wanted to congratulate herself for it because inside, she was dying.

Rowan, like the good soldier he was, obeyed and found her clit, licking at it as fast as he could. One of his fingers found her entrance but before he could plunge into it, she yanked his head back. “Who the fuck told you to do that?” She asked, pulling his hair hard. He winced at it but didn’t use their safeword so Aelin kept going. “Huh?”

She climbed down from the island and took his chin between two fingers, forcing his dark pleading eyes to meet hers. She smirked at that, her pretty boy… “Answer me.”

“I thought it would please you,” his voice was smaller than she ever heard it and it would be lying to say it didn’t make her core clench around nothing.

“Don’t think, just do what I fucking say. Do you understand?” She asked as she tightened her grip on him, he let out a small whine. He nodded but it was not what Aelin wanted. Her hand slid from his chin to his throat. His eyes went wide when he realized, but Aelin didn’t squeeze yet, waiting for him to nod slightly to confirm he was okay with it. She would never hurt him, would rather die than doing so.

She thighed her hand softly, delighted to hear him moan loudly at that. He struggled to keep his eyes open, she knew it, but she didn’t want to make it easy for him. “Do you understand?” She asked a second time.

He nodded vivaciously. “Yes. Fuck, yes.” She almost didn’t see his hand drifting toward his groin, rubbing his more than prominent erection. He furrowed his brows and closed his eyes, taking pleasure at the friction. Aelin’s hand left his throat, when his eyes shot open and he opened his mouth to protest, Aelin slapped him.

For a second she was afraid she went too far, just because she loved being slapped by him didn’t mean he would like it too, but she stopped worrying when his hand clenched where it was grinding against his cock. Fuck, that was hot.

“I never said you could touch yourself, did I?” Her hand went back to his throat and squeezed harder than a few seconds before. His eyes rolled in the back of his head and he released a loud moan. “Now you’re going to listen to me and you’re going to make me come, or I won’t let you come.”

She let go of his neck, letting him breathe normally as she let her robe fall to the floor and slowly, feeling his gaze burning her skin, let a strap of her nightdress fall, then the second, letting the material graze the picked end of her breasts while falling on the ground. She let him look at her, still on his knees, because she fucking loved to see the power her body had on him.

When she reached to take the dagger strapped at her right thigh off, she had a habit of keeping one always on her, and only felt safe enough to take it off around Rowan, one of his hands shot to hers to stop her movement. She looked at him, a brow raised, amused to see pink on his cheeks. “Could you…” he swallowed. “Keep it?”

Oh.

Oh.

Fuck yes she could. She loved it when a man was unafraid of her and her daggers. “You dirty boy,” she smirked and bent to kiss him. It was messy and sloppy, just the way she loved it, and he listened to her. He didn’t touch her anywhere, keeping his hands to himself.

She rested her leg on his shoulder, exposing her sex entirely to Rowan. She would have been embarrassed if she wasn't so aroused. "Back to work," she smirked, cupping the back of his head to push it exactly where she wanted it.

Rowan feasted on her like a starved man, as if she was the only source of air in the world. He had always been good with his tongue, so good Aelin had begged for more and more the first night they spent together, but today, with the context, everything was so much better.

She needed to come once, just so she could stop focusing on her pleasure and start concentrating on his. He nibbled at her clit with his teeth, earning a cry from Aelin, and then, his tongue entered her and she screamed as he fucked her with it. He lapped at her from her entrance to her clit, hitting every spot that made her feel like she was floating.

Aelin rolled her hips, encouraging him to go faster. She looked down to find his eyes on her and her cunt clenched around his tongue. She was so fucking close. “Look at you,” she breathed, unable to hide the shaking of her voice. “You look so fucking good on your knees for me. Be a good boy and make me come.” She pulled his hair harder, making him moan loudly against her clit. The vibration sent her over the edge, pleasure consuming her as Rowan kept licking, sucking, nibbling at her because she had never told him to stop. He was so good for her.

“Stop,” she ordered when she rode out her orgasm, too sensitive for now. She looked at Rowan who was sitting on his heels, eyes full of wonder as he licked his lips still covered in her juices.

She wanted him. Right now. “Take your clothes off and get back to this position,” Aelin ordered, and less than a minute later, Rowan was naked and waiting on his knees for her. She held back a moan as she saw his cock, cock that seemed to be painfully hard. She smirked as she sat in front of him, facing him. Her hands wandered everything in his body except the parts she knew he loved: his cock and neck. He slightly bucked his hips up as one of her hands grazed the hairs on his lower stomach. She ignored it this time just because she took pity on him, the poor boy was begging her to touch him.

“You’re doing so good for me,” she whispered and he nodded, his breathing heavy. “But tell me, Rowan, do good boys get turned on by that?” Before he could furrow his brows at her question, she placed the sharp side of her dagger on his inner thigh. He tensed, body going entirely still. Aelin looked at him, trying to find any sign of discomfort but there was none. She watched as she carefully slid the knife on his leg, getting closer to the place he wanted her, applying enough pleasure for him to feel it but not enough to break his skin.

To her delight, his cock twitched as her dagger got nearer. Fuck, that was hot. Would she ever find another man who would be turned on by this? It was a foolish thought, the moment she tasted Rowan’s mouth she had known no one would ever compare.

“Ace…” he groaned and she smiled at the tone of his voice.

“What is it, baby?” She asked as she leaned down to start kissing the sensitive skin of his neck, keeping the dagger close to his groin just to keep him on edge. He whined at the feeling of her lips and Aelin decided she wanted to hear this sound for the rest of her life.

“Touch me.”

“But I’m touching you, aren’t I?” She asked as she nipped at his collarbone and she laughed at the small noise of pure desperation he made.

“Not here.”

“Where do you want me to touch you, Ro?” She looked at him and could only read desire on his face, good, she wasn’t doing too much. He bucked his hips up as if it would make her touch him.

“I need you,” he cried, leaning into her slightly but catching himself before he touched her and went back to his original position.

Taking pity on him, Aelin let the blade down on her floor and finally touched his rock-hard cock. He moaned loudly as she wrapped her fist around him, closing his eyes. But Aelin didn’t move, she kept her hand around the base of his dick and waited for him to open his eyes. He did it a few seconds after and as always she was struck by the love she could see in them. “Aelin…”

“Be good for me and fuck my hand, Ro,” she said as she kissed him. He didn’t question her and started thrusting his hips, seeking pleasure. Sometimes, Aelin’s grip would tighten, and sometimes she would almost let his cock out of her hand, only brushing it. “You look so good,” she murmured as she kissed his neck.

It was true, she could barely keep her eyes away from him, his eyes were almost closed but Aelin could see he was fighting to keep them open, his lips were parted and his brows furrowed. It should be illegal to be so handsome. “Are you okay?” She asked, voice softer than it had been since they started undressing. She needed to know he was finding pleasure in this. Rowan didn’t answer, he took his hands off his lap and took her head in his hands, forcing her into a kiss. It was a mess of lips, tongue, and teeth and Aelin loved every moment of it.

“I love you,” he groaned on her lips and she smiled. “So fucking much.”

She kissed him back, her hand leaving his cock to push him toward the floor, laying on him. She wanted to drag it out but she didn’t know when the men of her family would be back and there was no way she would let them know about Rowan and her. Inner circle or not, Rowan would be killed. The daughter of a don cannot be touched before she got married, that was like a law in her family and every other living human being in the same world as them.

Rowan didn’t bring any power, he was just a regular man working for her papà, it meant that no matter how she loved it, no matter how her heart arched at the idea of anyone else touching her, Aelin could never wed Rowan.

They had talked about it multiple times, Aelin had wanted to stop everything between them for his safety but he didn’t let her. To whatever end, he had told her when she said it would only result in heartbreak or death. He would love her to whatever end, would stay with her to whatever end, and would be hers to whatever end.

Aelin rolled her hips, straddling him as she sought friction. She knew her movements were killing Rowan too, but it was too good to stop. She spread her juices on his hard member, loving the friction on her clit. She was so worked up from their previous activity she could already feel her high building in her core. “Ace..” Rowan cursed under his breath, reaching for her hips but she slapped his hands away.

The sounds coming out of her mouth were sinful as she kept grinding on his cock, every roll of her hips bringing her closer. She couldn’t ignore Rowan’s pleading, the curses falling out of his perfect lips, they just turned her on even more.

Before she could realize it, Aelin was pinned on the cold floor of her kitchen, arms held about her head by Rowan as he topped over her. His breathing was heavy as if it had taken too much in him to control himself. “You are a fucking brat, you do know that?”

She couldn’t move with the weight of his body on hers but she smiled wildly. “There you are,” she murmured, eyes on his lips. She loved control, sure, but she loved this more and Rowan seemed to share the feeling.

“I’m going to fuck you so hard, Aelin, you won’t be able to sit without thinking of me for two days straight.” He growled as he kissed his way down to her breast, taking a nipple between his teeth and pulling at it. She screamed at the pain which transformed very soon into pleasure. He did the same to the other breast, biting her until pleasure met pain. “Please, Rowan,” she was weaker than him, begging so soon after he took the lead, but she didn’t care, not when she could still feel that tension in her core.

He kissed her mouth, letting go of her hands and she didn’t wait time before scratching his shoulders with her long nails. “I’m not gonna last long,” he warned her and she only kissed him.

As he spread her legs and teased her entrance with the leaking tip of his cock, she told him “Me neither.” With that, he slammed into her in one mighty stroke. She couldn’t hold back her scream as she felt her walls trying to adjust. Rowan was big, she didn’t have anyone to compare him with but from what she and her lady friends talked about, Rowan was definitely big.

Rowan didn’t move, he just kissed her with as much passion as he could. She rolled her hips, silently telling him he could move and when he did, the feeling was divine. “Fuck,” he cursed, letting his head drop in the crook of her neck.

She encircled his hips with her legs, allowing him to slide deeper, resulting in both of them moaning in each other’s mouths. “You feel so fucking good,” he groaned as he slammed into her as hard as he could. He knew her body better than anyone, knew how to get her over the edge quickly.

She released a loud moan when Rowan sat back on his heels, bringing her body with him as he moved and started thrusting into her harder. One of his hands found her clit and started playing with it as her hands gripped her breasts. It was so good she wasn’t aware of anything outside of their little bubble. She only felt Rowan, only saw Rowan, and only smelled Rowan, he was everywhere and she felt so much.

When she thought it couldn’t get better she felt something sharp and cold on the skin of her stomach. Her eyes shot open to find Rowan, a smirk on his face, holding her dagger on her. She threw her head back, cunt clenching around Rowan, making him groan. “More,” she managed to breathe and she didn’t have to ask twice before Rowan’s thrust became frantic and the sharp blade was pressing harder on her skin.

Release hit her and no matter how bad she tried she couldn’t have stayed silent, Rowan came with her, letting go of the knife as he spilled himself inside her without stopping his thrusts, prolonging both their orgasms.

They were both breathless as Rowan laid beside her and she laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you, too.” She said, he didn’t say anything, only kissed the crown of her head. She laid on her side, an arm around Rowan’s waist.

For minutes, the only sounds in the kitchen were the sound of their heavy breathing. There was something so relaxing about being with Rowan. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, never with him. She was just perfectly content to exist beside him. “Marry me,” Rowan breathed.

Aelin burst out laughing loudly, raising her head and expecting Rowan to be laughing as well but he wasn’t. His brows were furrowed and he looked… hurt. “Are you serious?” She asked, sitting. She couldn’t have that conversation naked on the floor, cum on her tights. “No.”

“Why?” He asked, sitting too. She hated seeing him that way, hurt flashing in his beautiful eyes.

“Because my papà would never allow it.”

“Then don’t tell him, let’s marry right now.”

Did he realize how stupid this idea was? “You want me to betray my family? Fuck, Rowan, you know how to ruin a moment.”

“I’m asking you to marry me!”

“You’re asking me to go against everything I believe in.” She screamed, tears in her eyes. She wasn’t angry at him, not for wanting a future with her, but she was angry at the impossibility of it.

“I cannot share you, Aelin. I thought I could but I can’t.”

“What happened to ‘to whatever end’?” her voice broke, tears streaming down her face. She hated it, hated her life and family so much right now. Rowan opened his mouth but was cut off by the door slamming and three male voices. Shit.

They were in such deep shit.

————

taglist:

@sheharahu // @morganofthewildfire // @thestoriesyoutell // @fromthelibraryofemilyj // @swankii-art-teacher // @itsforeverinnocent-blog // @becarefuloflove // @imnotsogoodatthis // @rowaelinismyotp // @a-court-of-milkandhoney // @feysand-loml // @surielandiareendgame // @live-the-fangirl-life // @story-scribbler // @loves-books // @fangirlprincess09 // @theysayitscrazy

[acourtofquestions]

Fenrys whispered, "Holy gods."

Not at the bridge that snapped down, soldiers teeming in the dark depths inside. But at who emerged from the keep archway behind them. What emerged. Rowan didn't know where to look. At the soldiers pouring out of the siege tower, leaping onto the battlements, or at Aelin.

At the Queen of Terrasen.

She'd found armor below the keep. Beautiful, pale gold armor that gleamed like a summer dawn. Holding back her braided hair, a diadem lay flush against her head. Not a diadem, but a piece of armor. Part of some ancient set for a lady long since buried. A crown for war, a crown to wear into battle. A crown to lead armies.

There was no fear on her face, no doubt, as Aelin hefted her shield, flipping Goldryn in her hand once before the first of Morath's soldiers was upon her. Rowan launched into movement, his blades finding their marks, but still he watched her.

Aelin slammed her shield against an oncoming warrior, Goldryn slicing through another before she plunged the blade into the soldier she'd deflected. She did it again, and again.

All while heading toward that siege tower. Unhindered. Unleashed.

A call went down the line. The queen has come.

She planted her line before the gaping maw of that siege tower, right in the path of those teeming hordes. Every moment of the training she'd done on the ship here, on the road, every new blister and callus—all to rebuild herself for this.

The queen has come.

Goldryn unfaltering, her shield an extension of her arm, Aelin glowed like the sun that now broke over the khagan's army as she engaged each soldier that hurtled her way. Five, ten—she moved and moved and moved, ducking and swiping, shoving and flipping, black blood spraying, her face the portrait of grim, unbreaking will.

"The queen!" the men shouted. "To the queen!"

And as Rowan fought his way closer, as that cry went down the battlements and Anielle men ran to aid her, he realized that Aelin did not need an ounce of flame to inspire men to follow. That she had been waiting, yanking at the bit, to show them what she, without magic, without any godly power, might do. He'd never seen such a glorious sight. In every land, every battle, he had never seen anything as glorious as Aelin before the throat of the siege tower, holding the line. Dawn breaking around them, Rowan loosed a battle cry and tore into Morath.

[leiawritesstories]

I wrote you a Christmas card 15 years ago confessing my feelings. Now it’s time to send it. - for the prompts :)

Awwwww 🥺🥺 this one is adorable, thank you for sending it ;)

word count: 936

warnings: none!

hope you enjoy!!

send some new year's prompts :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She found the envelope in a dusty old box up on the top shelf of her closet when she was (finally) cleaning out the giant mess that closet had become. Sure, it had taken a neighboring box toppling off the shelf and nearly whacking her before she finally decided it was time to clean, but when Aelin Ashryver Galathynius decided it was time to complete a task, she completed that damn task.

Grunting with the effort of carrying that shockingly heavy box, Aelin dropped it to the floor and groaned, stretching out her very sore arms. She wasn't as young as she used to be, that was for certain. And just what was that box? It felt like a ton of bricks, it did.

HIGH SCHOOL CRAP was printed on top of the box in black Sharpie, her bold teenage handwriting identifying the contents.

Ah.

Garbage, probably.

Wishing she'd had the foresight to throw away a lot more stuff, Aelin settled down next to the box, opened it up, and began rooting through piles of paper, projects, and assorted memorabilia from her high school years, occasionally laughing when she located something that sparked a particular memory.

And then she found the bright, holiday-red envelope she'd thrown into that box fifteen years ago, and time seemed to stop.

The envelope was still sealed, though its edges were curling and its corners wearing thin. Aelin's teenage handwriting still graced the front, the five carefully scripted letters washing a wave of memory through her whole body.

Rowan

The envelope--the card within--was addressed to Rowan.

Aelin gently placed the envelope aside, keeping it apart from the recycle pile and the keep pile, and only returned her attention to its siren call when she was finished cleaning out the box. Only then did she pick up the card--gingerly, half afraid it would spontaneously combust in her hands--and close her eyes and bask in the memory of her youthful crush on Rowan Whitethorn.

And then she made a spur of the moment decision, grabbed a pen, wrote the rest of his address on the envelope, stamped it, walked down to the mail area, and dropped it in the outgoing bin before she could talk herself down.

Returning to her apartment, she felt the oddest mix of satisfaction, nerves, terror, and comfort, knowing that her best friend would finally be able to read the silly little Christmas card she'd written fifteen years ago.

Better late than never.

Or something.

~

Hi Rowan,

If this seems creepy, please throw it away and never speak of it again, or I'll probably crawl into a hole and die. Okay? Awesome.

Anyway, since we'll never see each other face to face after I give you this, I just wanted to let you know that I have a hopelessly huge crush on you, Rowan Whitethorn. And we'll never see each other again because I'm going far far away to escape from the horror of writing out a love confession like some girl in a period romance.

Alright, I'm going to go hide now.

-Aelin Galathynius

Rowan read the card through.

Then he read it three more times, his jaw slacking even more each time, and eventually gave up and just flopped onto his couch, staring in shock at the Christmas card.

The Christmas card from fifteen years ago.

From Aelin.

For whom he still harbored the world's biggest crush.

Rowan Whitethorn had never considered himself a particularly religious man, but if there was ever a time to hear the voice of the divine whispering--or shouting--in his ear, that time was most definitely now. Now, with Aelin's card in his hands, his eyes tracing her loopy teenage handwriting with as much devotion as he'd traced her--well...gods, fine, he was only human. He could admit to having sex dreams every once in a while.

Or more frequently than that.

Before his rational mind could talk him down, Rowan abruptly stood up, stepped into the first pair of shoes he found, pulled on a jacket to ward off the December chill, went out to his car, and drove down the street. To see Aelin.

Even if her return address hadn't been on the envelope, Rowan still knew her address by heart. He'd certainly been to her place enough times--always as friends or coworkers, never how he dreamed--to know the way to her apartment building.

Adrenaline pounded in his ears as he parked, locked up his car, and walked into her building, hitting the elevator button for her floor on muscle memory alone and desperately trying to compose himself on the brief ride up. He had maybe three minutes, tops, before he stood at her door, and gods burn him, but he had no idea what to say.

How in all the hells did he tell the woman he'd been head over heels in love with for most of his godsdamn life, the woman who'd poured out her own feelings for him fifteen years ago in a Christmas card, that he loved her?

Standing in front of Aelin's apartment door, Rowan cleared his throat, suddenly so nervous that he seriously contemplated sprinting headlong out of the building.

And then the door opened, revealing Aelin, who leant against the door frame, her keen gaze trained on him. "Rowan?"

"I'm in love with you too," he blurted, the words pouring out in a half-jumbled rush. "Holy gods, Aelin, I love you too."

The grin that split her face could have powered the whole planet. "Then why aren't you kissing me, Rowan?"

It took him less than half a second to rectify the situation.

~~~

TAGS:

@live-the-fangirl-life

@superspiritfestival

@thegreyj

@wordsafterhours

@elentiyawhitethorn

@morganofthewildfire

@backtobl4ck

@rowanaelinn

@house-of-galathynius

@tomtenadia

@julemmaes

@swankii-art-teacher

@charlizeed

@booknerdproblems

@chronicchthonic14

@earthtolinds

@goddess-aelin

@sweet-but-stormy

@clea-nightingale

@autumnbabylon

@darling-im-the-queen-of-hell

@llyncooljones

@silentquartz

[golden-kingdom]

And the Season Feels New to Me Because You're Here - Part 6

Written for the 12 Days of Rowaelin: First Holiday Season Together (@rowaelinscourt)

Summary: A month before Christmas, rich hotel heiress Aelin Ashryver Galathynius is running away from her future after a fight with her father and hides at a resort in the Staghorn Mountains. When she has a ski accident and hits her head, she loses her memory and nobody knows who she is. Rowan Whitethorn is a widower who owns a small inn in town and father to 6-year-old Thalia. When, after much insistence from his daughter, Rowan offers Aelin a place to stay, the two have to spend time together against their will. Rowan cannot stand spoiled and self-centered Aelin, and Aelin hates how cold and guarded Rowan is. Thalia thinks it would take a Christmas miracle for them to finally get along.

Inspired by Falling for Christmas (2022)

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings: None

Author's note: This is the last part! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy it.

Masterlist

Read it on AO3

Aelin woke up to the feeling of Rowan’s breath on her face and the weight of his body against hers. She sighed in content and buried her head closer in his shoulder. She felt the rumble of his laugh.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," whispered Rowan in her ear.

She felt the press of his lips on her forehead. She hid her face from the light coming from the window. They had forgotten to close the curtains last night.

"Can we stay like this just for a little while longer?" she mumbled.

"I’m afraid not. Thalia is gonna wake up in any minute," he replied.

"You were much nicer in my dreams," she groaned.

He chuckled and grabbed her hand, bringing it to his mouth and kissing it.

"You better tell me all about this dream later," he said in a low voice. She felt warmth pool in her lower body. "But now we need to get out of bed," he added.

Aelin whined loudly and Rowan laughed again.

"You know, you’re unbelievable cute when you’re tired," he said. Aelin snorted at that.

She finally gave up and sat up, stretching out her limbs. She caught Rowan looking at her with a look that told her she wasn’t the only one who’d rather be doing other things right now.

"Enjoying the view?" she asked with a smirk.

"I love how you look in my shirt," he replied, smiling at her.

The door of the bedroom opened and a small body with brown hair jumped into the bed.

"DADDY IT’S CHRISTMAS WAKE UP!" Thalia yelled.

She noticed Aelin next to her father in bed but didn’t seem to care at the moment. She had a more pressing issue.

"Merry Christmas!" she exclaimed with a wide toothy smile.

They both laughed and got out of bed, following the young girl downstairs.

"Can I open my presents, daddy? Please!" she pleaded.

He nodded and she ran to the Christmas tree. Aelin and Rowan sat down on the couch, looking at her with fondness as the girl opened her gifts, screaming each time in glee. When she was done, Rowan got up from the sofa.

"Wait here. Santa left another present," said Rowan in a mysterious voice.

Aelin gave him a puzzled look, but he just smiled innocently and went in the dining room. He came back with a big red box in his hands. Thalia looked at it in awe. He set it in the middle of the lounge.

"Be careful. This is fragile," he warned her.

Thalia approached the present with curiosity in her eyes. She startled when the box moved and a small sound came out of it. She looked at her father, unsure, but he nodded. She opened the lid slowly and screamed when she saw what was inside.

"A PUPPY!" she cried out.

Rowan came next to her and grabbed the small dog from the box, holding it in his hands.

"Here, you can hold her, but you need to be gentle. You don’t want to hurt her," he explained calmly.

Thalia opened her arms and Rowan placed the puppy in her lap. She touched it delicately, marvelling at his soft golden fur. The puppy climbed on the young girl and licked her face. She laughed.

"This is the best Christmas gift ever!" she said.

Aelin came closer and sat down with them to see the dog. The puppy was tiny and full of energy, her small tail wagging in the air.

"You need to give her a name," said Rowan.

Thalia looked at the dog and thought, her small forehead creasing.

"Celaena, can you help me find a name?" she asked Aelin.

"Yes, of course," Aelin replied, considering the puppy before her. "What about Cookie?"

"No, it isn’t right," the girl said.

"How about Star?" Aelin tried again.

"I’m not sure," Thalia replied.

"Wait, I’ve got it! What do you think of Fleetfoot? Because she’s fast and she’s got big paws."

"I love it!" the child exclaimed. The dog seemed to agree, wagging her tail even faster.

While Thalia was petting and playing with Fleetfoot, Rowan picked up a present from under the tree. He turned towards Aelin.

"This is for you," he explained.

Her eyes got wide with surprise and she took the box in her hands. It was quite heavy. She unwrapped it and opened the box.

"You remembered?" she gasped. She looked at the big snow globe in wonder, her eyes filling with happy tears.

"I saw you looking at it when we went to the Christmas market, so I got it for you," Rowan said shyly.

"Thank you," she said in a small voice. She wiped her tears from her eyes and hugged him tightly.

Then she grabbed a small box and handed it to Rowan.

"This isn’t much, but I hope you like it."

Rowan opened the gift, taking out the watch from the box and admiring it. He gave her a soft smile.

"This is perfect," he said as he put it on his wrist.

The morning sun lit up his face and she thought maybe she was a little bit in love with him. She was about to tell him when there was a knock at the door of the lodge. They weren’t expecting new guests this morning, but sometimes people showed up without calling.

Rowan got up from the floor and walked over to the lobby, opening the door. There were two men standing on the front porch. One was in his fifties, with grey hair. He had a serious look on his face. The other one was a spitting image of Aelin, from the blonde hair to the turquoise eyes. He smiled at Rowan.

"Are we at the North Star lodge?" he asked in a nervous voice.

Rowan nodded.

"We’re looking for my cousin, Aelin Ashryver-Galathynius. We were told she was staying here," he explained quickly.

Rowan looked at Aelin sitting with Thalia in the lounge. They were playing with Fleetfoot and laughing. The young man followed his gaze and gasped.

"Aelin!" he exclaimed in a relieved voice.

Aelin looked up and gave a confused look to the man.

"I’m sorry. She hit her head while skiing and doesn’t remember anything from before the accident," Rowan explained to the men. He let them inside.

The older man approached Aelin, and when she looked in his eyes, she had a flash. She remembered him.

"Dad?" she asked him.

Her father stood in front of her, looking at her with a warm smile.

"Yes. We’ve been looking for you for weeks. We were so worried. But here you are," he said, hugging her.

She hugged him back, taking in what just happened. When he let her go, she noticed tears in his eyes.

"It’s okay, you’ve found me. I’m alright, I promise," she said, trying to comfort him.

The other man joined them. Aelin couldn’t remember who he was but felt like she should.

"Hey cousin," he said giving her a tentative smile.

"Hi," she replied, uncertain.

"You scared us, you know?" the blonde man said with a small laugh.

The sound triggered something in her brain and suddenly memories flooded her mind. She knew who she was. She was Aelin Ashryver-Galathynius.

"Aedion!" she exclaimed, jumping in his arms.

Aedion caught her and held her close, rubbing her back.

"We’re so happy we found you. How are you?" he asked her.

"I’m good, except for the small bit where I forgot everything," she joked.

"Have you been here all this time?" Aedion replied, letting her go.

That’s when Aelin noticed Rowan, standing awkwardly to the side with Thalia. The girl was holding Fleetfoot in her arms.

"Dad, Aedion, I’d like to introduce you to Rowan Whitethorn. He’s the owner of this place and he took me in when I had no one."

Rhoe approached Rowan with an extended hand.

"Pleased to meet, Mr. Whitethorn. Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter. We were so concerned for her, but it looks like she’s doing well thanks to you."

Rowan shook his hand firmly and smiled.

"And this is Thalia, his daughter," Aelin said, gesturing to the young girl.

Aedion kneeled down in front of the child.

"That’s an adorable puppy you’ve got there. What’s his name?" he asked with a big smile.

"Fleetfoot. Celaena found her name," Thalia replied warily.

"Her real name is Aelin, sunshine," said Rowan, but the girl didn’t seem to be happy with the change of name. Or the people coming in and ruining her Christmas morning.

"So, this is it, I guess?" said Rowan, looking at Aelin with a resigned smile.

"I guess," replied Aelin in a sad voice.

She went upstairs to her room to pick up her things. She didn’t have much so it wasn’t long before she came back down in the lobby where her father and Aedion were waiting for her. She turned toward Rowan.

"Thank you, for everything," she said in a small voice. She wanted to say more but she was struggling to find the words.

"Of course," he replied trying to sound detached.

Aelin looked at Thalia, who was holding Fleetfoot close to her heart. She had tears in her eyes.

"Will you forget us?" she said to Aelin.

"I could never forget you," replied Aelin. She kissed the top of her small head and petted the dog.

After one last goodbye, Aelin followed Rhoe and Aedion to the door.

"Don’t leave, Celaena! Please," cried Thalia.

Aelin stopped in her tracks and felt her heart break.

"She has to go, Thalia. She’s going home with her dad and her cousin," said Rowan, hugging his daughter.

Aelin couldn’t take it anymore. She walked outside and got into the big black car waiting for her. Her father and her cousin got in the front seats. Aedion started the car and Aelin looked at the North Star through the window, holding back her tears. She looked at it until it disappeared in the distance.

…

After stopping at the resort to grab Aelin’s luggage, they flew back to Orynth. Her father and Aedion refused to leave her alone in her big apartment, so she went to stay with her cousin. He had a huge loft downtown.

When she was settled in his guest room, she looked at the snow globe Rowan had given her just a few hours ago. She remembered now why it was so familiar. Her mother had one like this before she passed away when Aelin was ten.

She shook it and looked at the fake snowflakes falling on the small city and covering it in white. It reminded her of Summit Springs. She was happy to have her memories back, she truly was, but she couldn’t help but miss the small town in the mountains. Orynth was so different; it was huge and impersonal. She remembered she used to like it and enjoyed the luxury it offered, but it wasn’t the same anymore. It felt lonely.

She tried to go back to her regular life, but everything seemed so superficial compared to the genuine laughs she had shared with Rowan and Thalia. Everyone was expecting her to bounce right back, so she tried her best. But even seeing her best friend, Lysandra, and going shopping didn’t help improve her mood.

A few days passed in a haze. Everyone wanted to see her and hear about what happened to her. But she didn’t feel like talking about it. It was too personal to share, so she kept it minimal. People quickly got bored and moved on to another topic she didn’t care about.

She had her phone back and had wanted to text Rowan, but she realized she didn’t have his number. She wanted to know if Thalia was okay, if the lodge was doing well, if Fleetfoot was behaving in his new home… But mostly she wanted to tell him she missed him.

On the 31st, her father came over. She hadn’t really had much time to talk to him since they were reunited. He had a lot going on with the hotel business. She knew because Aedion kept talking on the phone about things she didn’t really understand like profits and shares.

"How are you doing, Fireheart?" he asked her. He hadn’t called her by this name since her mother had died.

"I’m alright. I think I remember almost everything now," she replied.

"I didn’t mean your amnesia, though it’s good to hear that. I meant, how are you really doing?"

"I don’t know…" she said honestly.

"You know, we never finished our discussion before you left for the mountains."

"Dad…" she started.

"Aelin, I just want you to be happy," he said.

"I don’t wanna work for the company, dad. I know you hoped I would take over when you retire, but it’s not what I want to do with my life. I want to find my own path. I’m sorry."

She looked at him, nervous about his reaction. She couldn’t read his face.

"Are you disappointed?" she asked in a small voice.

"No, you could never disappoint me, Fireheart. I’m so proud of you. You’ve really grown, I see it now. Your mother would be proud of you too," he said with a smile.

She smiled back, her body relaxing.

"Anyway, I have Aedion to take over the business someday," he added.

She looked outside by the large window. Snow was falling on Orynth and people were rushing home in the streets. She sighed.

"I miss Rowan and Thalia," she whispered.

"You should do what makes you happy and follow you heart," her father told her.

She thought about what she truly wanted. There was only place she could think of.

"I need to go back to work, but you know you can call me anytime, right?" he said.

"Yes. Thank you, dad," she said as she got up.

After he left, Aelin headed to her room and packed her bags. She smiled to herself; she was going back home.

…

It was snowing when Aelin arrived at the North Star. She thanked the taxi driver and headed down the pathway to the lodge. It was already late. Everyone would be inside partying.

As she walked, struggling with her luggage, she noticed someone sitting outside alone. The person got up and she caught a glimpse of Rowan’s face in the moonlight.

"Aelin?" he asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I forgot something," she replied.

She stopped in front of him, putting her luggage down. She took a deep breath and looked in his deep green eyes.

"All I’ve ever wanted those past weeks was a place to belong," she said. "Somewhere I could call home. And I didn’t even notice that I already found that. You are my home."

His eyes didn’t leave hers and she saw a flicker of hope in them.

"Leaving you and Thalia was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I’m here now," she added.

He broke the eye contact and looked at the snow on the ground.

"Shouldn’t you be at some fancy hotel party right now?" he asked her half-jokingly.

"There is nowhere else I’d rather be," she replied assuredly.

She took his hand, her thumb brushing lightly against his skin.

"I know I left, I’m sorry. But if you want me back, I’d like to stay… Because I love you," she said.

Rowan looked up, studying her face. He only found sincerity and love. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth.

"I can’t imagine my life without you, Aelin. I love you," he replied.

He grabbed her waist with his hands, pulling her closer and kissed her again. 

"I’m glad you’re here," he whispered when he finally pulled away.

She looked at him hesitantly before she said: "I talked with my dad. We would like to invest in the North Star."

"No. No way," he replied quickly and adamantly.

"You deserve it. And it’s my money. I want to spend it on something I care about. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here now and I want to help. Please let me," she pleaded.

"Alright," he sighed. "We’ll talk about it later."

They heard people shouting inside.

"You should probably go back. I can hear the countdown. I wouldn’t want to ruin your party," she said.

"You could never ruin anything," he replied, grabbing her hands.

They heard people cheer loudly inside the lodge as the clock turned to midnight. Rowan smiled at her tenderly and kissed her.

"Happy New Year," he whispered in her ear.

"Happy New Year," she replied.

The front door opened abruptly and Thalia came out. She looked with wide eyes at Aelin.

"You came back! I knew you would!" she exclaimed, running to her and hugging her with a big smile. Aelin hugged her back tightly.

A small ball of golden fur followed the young girl outside. Fleetfoot barked and jumped on Aelin’s legs excitedly. She kneeled down and petted her head. The dog ran in the snow happily, bouncing around. She was smaller than the mound of snow, so they could only see her popping in and out. They all laughed.

Thalia decided to join the dog and jumped into the snow with her. Aelin smiled brightly at the sight, feeling happy and content. She looked at Rowan who was watching his daughter with affection. The young girl grabbed some snow and threw a snowball their way, laughing loudly. This, right here, is where she belonged Aelin thought. She was finally home.

Tag list:

@backtobl4ck

@rowanaelinn

@morganofthewildfire

@leiawritesstories

@fireheart-violet

@autumnbabylon

Tell me if you want to be added or removed!

[cuquitalocita]

nothing like customer service |rowaelin month- day 1|

rowaelin masterlist

an: starting it off with a requested part two (prequel??) to this fic. hope you all enjoy and happy rowaelin month!

word count: 3,406

~~

Of two things, Rowan Whitethorn was one-hundred percent certain. 

One: he never should have applied for college if it meant getting a job like this to stay afloat.

Two: he didn’t get paid nearly enough to deal with customers like the woman in front of him. 

It was six in the morning, Rowan wagered. It probably wasn’t the woman’s fault she was so cranky. But it most definitely was her fault that she was choosing to take it out on Rowan on only his second day of work at the local cafe near campus. 

Rowan sighed, attempting not to show his rising frustration with the black-haired woman who had confronted him moments before, yelling with all she was worth. The sun wasn’t even out yet.

“Ma’am I-”

“Maeve.” Rowan allowed his posture to drop a smidge as his boss’s hand came to rest on his shoulder. The smaller man had to step beside Rowan to even be seen but by the raise of his brows, it was clear Malakai was familiar with the woman. “What seems to be the problem this morning?” 

The tense smile Malakai wore faded as Maeve turned her dark gaze on him, her eyes glittering. “It seems your new hire is quite useless, Malakai,” she hissed. “Can’t even make a simple cup of coffee.” 

Rowan was trying his best not to growl as Maeve locked eyes with him once more and gave him a cold smile. She knew damn well he hadn’t been the one making coffee. But it seemed this woman just wanted to see the world burn. Rowan knew something else he wanted to see burn too. 

“That would be my fault, I’m afraid.”

Rowan nearly jumped at the new feminine voice that sounded behind Maeve, clearly belonging to another woman. He didn’t need to see her to know she was younger, her voice almost musical compared to the deep rasp of Maeve’s. 

He stayed still as Maeve was lightly pushed to the side, revealing a girl he knew to be about his age. Rowan swore his breath caught in his throat as he took her in, wondering how he hadn’t noticed her on campus.

She was absolutely stunning. 

Golden blonde hair ran down her shoulders and covered her head with a beanie, just showing the red tips of her ears due to the fall wind and the tips of her cheeks and nose were stained red from the cold as well, almost making it impossible to see her freckles if one hadn’t been focused on her face. 

Rowan was. 

But what truly caught his gaze were her eyes. Bluer than he had ever seen before, he was just able to make out the golden ring around her pupils which somehow emphasized the pink of her lips. 

She smiled easily as if there was a single thing about Maeve that was even remotely amusing, and shot Malakai a knowing look. Unsurprisingly, her smile was truly breathtaking. 

The girl pointed to the coffee in Maeve’s hand- apparently loaded with enough cream and sugar to “kill a small animal” and locked eyes with Maeve. “I wasn’t paying attention when they called the order number and it seems you grabbed mine. I believe this-” she held up a small cup of coffee that looked jet black. “-is yours.”

“Miss Galathynius.” Maeve seemed to almost hissed the words. “Isn’t it a bit too early for me to be dealing with you this morning?” 

The girl didn’t balk, only raised a single brow in amusement as she adjusted the beanie on her head. “Always a pleasure running into you, Professor.” The small smile she wore would have infuriated Rowan had he been on the receiving end of it. Instead, it had him biting his tongue to keep from laughing as he looked between the women in front of him. 

He knew Maeve had looked familiar. He now recognized her as the statistics professor at the University. 

“Well,” Maeve didn’t respond to her. She turned back to Rowan with a glare that had him sitting up straight, his face unwavering. “Apparently you owe me a new coffee and I’ll be on my way.” She addressed the young man behind Rowan who quickly burst into action, a look of sheepish guilt on his face. 

Rowan handed her the coffee quickly enough and Maeve was headed to the door. She turned back to the blonde woman, shoving her sweet coffee into her hands with enough forced to knock over a small person or severely warn her had the coffee not been capped.

“I expect to see you in class this afternoon, Miss Galathynius.” The saccharine smile the girl returned held a spark of mischief. “That is if you deign to show up.” 

“I’ll be the one with a pen in my hand.” 

The bell rang out loud as the door smacked shut behind her. Rowan shook a little as some of the fall wind went up his back.

“Bitch.” Rowan barely heard the muttered word uttered by the woman in front of him. 

His head whipped around as he took in her eyes that were glued to the door that had just shut.

“Aelin…” Rowan had forgotten Malakai was even behind him. He turned to see the older man watching her with a warm smile. She returned it with a sheepish smile of her own as if caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. 

“Sorry,” she mumbled, even though she sounded anything but. 

The girl- Aelin finally turned to Rowan, pinning him with her blue gaze. She gave him a polite smile and it was made very clear to him that this woman could have anyone wrapped around her finger in a matter of moments. It slightly infuriated him. She was probably one of those people who believed she was entitled to everything in the world around her. That she could bat her pretty lashes and it would be done. 

“Can I just get a blueberry muffin?” She held up the coffee Maeve had shoved into her hand. “I guess I already have my coffee.” 

“Not thanks to you,” Malakai chirped as he walked back behind the counter. “I wonder, Aelin, do you go out of your way to infuriate the poor woman?”

Aelin looked ready to burst as she bit her lip and looked down at her feet, shaking her head. “Nope. That’s just a perk.” 

Malakai snorted as Rowan rang up her order. 

She made to pull out her wallet to pay but was stayed by Malakai’s hand. She glared at the older man as he waved off the cash. “Malakai-”

“No, Aelin, what have I said?”

“But I don’t work here anymore! I should pay just like everyone-” 

“And you have,” he insisted, shaking his head with a tone of finality. “Time and time again. Now take your muffin and get out of my new hire’s face.” 

Rowan jerked at the mention of him and Aelin smirked as she looked at him, her gaze running over his body. “Trust me,” she scoffed. “I bet he’d love for me to be in his face.” 

Luca choked on whatever he was eating as a dark blush attacked Rowan’s face. He attempted to cover it up as he leveled her with an unimpressed look. “Not likely, Princess. Don’t you have a class to go to?” 

“Couldn’t I ask you the same thing?” she replied. 

“That doesn’t concern you.” 

Her eyes narrowed. “Then why does my answer concern you?” 

Rowan shrugged. “It doesn’t. But if Maeve’s reaction to you was any sign, you need all the academic help you can get.” 

In what seemed like a second, the playful girl in front of him was gone. Her blue eyes hardened and she scoffed a cold sound, ruffling back into her purse and pulling out a small handful of coins. She dumped them furiously into the tip jar. 

“For the great service,” she snapped. 

She was out the door without taking her muffin. 

~~

Surprisingly enough, Aelin was back the next morning, ordering the same shock-inducing coffee with the same bright smile on her face. But this time it was Luca at the register, and the stumbling boy seemed to be in a wonderful conversation with her before she turned to Malakai. 

“Maeve’s a bitch,” was all she said.

“Takes one to know one,” Luca chipped in from his spot by the register. Aelin shot the boy a venomous glare that quickly had him turning back to the customer in front of him. Rowan hid his smile as he gave her his back. 

“Oh shut up, Luca. You’re not even out of high school yet.” 

Aelin threw her hands up in frustration, her blue eyes sparkling with a look Rowan was starting to think about more and more often. “What am I supposed to do? I’m an arts and humanities major!” 

“I think you can deal with Maeve for another semester and then never see her again,” Malakai said unhelpfully. 

“If I don’t set her classroom on fire first,” she muttered, causing Rowan to bite his tongue. There was no doubt in his mind that Aelin would do it. 

“What was that?”

“Nothing. I better get going if I want to make it to Hammel’s class on time. Thanks for the coffee again.” She raised herself out of the stool.

Before she could make her way to the door, Rowan shoved a bag into her hand, his face stoic. Her eyes flared with indignance before seeming to check herself. 

She eyed it warily before taking it gently and gazing inside. Aelin eyed him with pure bemusement.

“A blueberry muffin,” Rowan stated. She raised her brows once more.

“I can see that.” She placed a few coins in the tip jar. 

~~

It was times like these that Rowan was sure he wanted to quit his job. 

A young college girl stood in front of him sporting ridiculous-looking pigtails and a University sweater, and Rowan was more than sure he wouldn’t feel bad if he were to kick her out at that very moment. 

It was the third time this week the annoying brunette had decided something was wrong with her order and felt the need to comment on it. Rowan could admit that she had been quite polite about it, but he couldn’t care less when they were in the middle of another morning rush. 

“Luca,” he barked out, causing the teenager to spin around quickly with wide eyes. “Make me a small caramel latte. Quickly,” he enforced as he set to work. Rowan turned back to the girl in front of him as Luca shoved the new coffee into his hand. 

He gave her the coffee along with her money back and watched with rigid stillness as the girl tipped him and turned to leave the coffee shop.

Aelin watched him from her table in the corner, shaking with silent laughter at his tense shoulders. By the time the bell rang signaling the girl had left the shop, Aelin was holding a new blueberry muffin in her hand and gazing at the doorway. She turned back to Rowan as his jaw seemed ready to snap.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?” He met her gaze with a raised silver brow. 

“For what?” he snapped. “She complained. For the third time this week.” Aelin threw her head back and laughed.

“Oh, not for the order,” she smirked. “I meant for tolerating you.” Her blue eyes twinkled. Rowan turned back to prepare another order so she couldn’t see the twitch of his lips that almost looked like a smile. 

~~

It was another four days before Rowan saw her again.

She was back later than usual- this time in the afternoon on a Wednesday, and the cafe is basically empty apart from a few other college students. Unlike them, she gravitated straight to the bar top and dropped all of her heavy textbooks with a loud huff. 

“I don’t suppose you’d mind being an accomplice to arson?” she mused. Rowan was glad she couldn’t see the smile on his face as he prepared a coffee with his back to her. 

“Only if I get to light the flame,” he deadpanned as he handed the coffee off to the student it belonged to. He watched as Aelin dropped her textbook before catching it with her other hand.

“I’m sorry-” she choked out a laugh. “Did you just make… a joke?” Rowan said nothing but gestured to the clear cabinet of pastries in front of him, asking her what she wanted. Aelin pointed to a blueberry muffin in the window cabinet. Rowan bagged the muffin silently, pretending not to notice Aelin’s gaze on him or the insistent yearning to look at her. He handed her the muffin and Aelin took it without a word, the two working in silence until Aelin shoved her textbooks back into her backpack and dropped a few coins into the tip jar. 

Rowan’s words stopped her with her hand on the door handle.

“Thank you.” 

~~

It’s raining the next morning Rowan sees her. Fall was finally in full swing and Rowan had taken to wearing long sweatshirts that covered up most of the tattoo in his arm to keep him warm, much to Luca’s dismay. The kid claimed it was ‘way too cool to cover.’ 

Aelin walked in around her usual time, closing her umbrella with a large snap, and barely acknowledged Rowan as she walked up to the counter.

“Same as usual?”

Her response was a small silent nod and Rowan set to work, enjoying the amiable silence between them. But it was strange for Aelin. She was usually so chipper in the mornings and usually, she was the main thing that woke him up. He didn’t think he liked quiet Aelin. 

“Are you…” he cleared his throat. “Are you okay?”

Aelin’s eyes shot up to his own, surprise coating her features at his out-of-character question. She paused the movements of her fingers as she looked at him before shaking her head and continuing. 

“Yeah,” she shrugged, smiling a little bit. “I just hate the rain. It’s so glum.” 

“Nah.” The words were out of his mouth before he could think better of them. “Rain is pretty cool actually. It’s like… a reminder. That the world isn’t always pretty. And yet it still goes on another day.” 

The look of shock coating Aelin’s features had Rowan immediately feeling insecure and he realized he hadn’t meant to speak so honestly. But as Aelin’s smile softened, and she placed a few coins into the tip jar, Rowan allowed his own to turn up at the corners. 

Maybe he hadn’t regretted it.

~~

“All good customers today?” she asked. Aelin had returned during yet another afternoon during a rare time for her, with a sweet smile on her perfect face. Rowan groaned as she dropped a few coins into the tip jar.

“I think I’d like to take you up on that arson offer.” 

~~

Aelin is brooding today, Rowan notices the next morning as she glared down at the thick red ‘D’ on her paper. She had walked in without her usual brightness, her smiles dim, and her small talk bland. Rowan was too much of a coward to admit it more than bothered him. 

He observed her silently and ignored her glare, simply glancing between her face and her paper before clearing his throat. 

“You look beautiful today. I mean, not that you don’t look beautiful every day but…” Rowan didn’t think he had ever floundered for words harder in his life. He could feel a deep blush creeping up the back of his neck but was more than happy to see the tension in Aelin’s shoulders drop as a girlish smile covered her face. He wasn’t counting, but he swore she dropped more coins than usual today. 

Rowan waited until the door shut behind her before he gazed out the window, more than pleased to see a matching blush on her own cheeks as well.

~~

It had been a week.

An entire week since Rowan had last seen her, and he would be lying if he said it wasn’t bothering him. It was damn near embarrassing how often he perked up at the ring of the door every time someone walked in, only for them to slump back down when he realized it wasn’t the blonde he had been expecting. 

It was the middle of the day, the cafe relatively empty as Rowan gazed pathetically at the unmoving door. He jerked up as Malakai slammed down a tray of blueberry muffins next to him. He looked at the younger man and sighed. 

“It’s her finals week,” he said as if that explained everything. 

“Hmm?”

“She has her statistics final tomorrow and I told her to stay away and study. That’s why you haven’t seen her.”

“She can study here,” he couldn’t help but point out. Malakai only rolled his eyes.

“I hate to break it to you Rowan, but you aren’t the only one who gets distracted when she studies here.” The blush was back attacking the back of his neck in full force and Rowan turned away and began restocking the muffins. 

The thought had crossed his mind more than once- if what he and Aelin had could be anything more than just friends. But he had dismissed the thought as quickly as it had appeared. He liked Aelin- she was kind and funny and hardworking from what Rowan could tell. 

“You know she’d say yes,” Malakai supplied knowingly.

“What?” Rowan pretended to brew some more coffee.

“To… whatever it is that’s going on between you two. She wouldn’t say no, Rowan.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

But he did know. The fact had hit him in the face like a truck at high speed and the realization almost had Rowan dropping the pot of coffee on his feet.

He was in love with Aelin Galathynius. 

~~

“Rowan!”

The man in question barely had time to look up and see a wisp of blonde hair before a smaller body was thrown at him in a full hug. He felt the breath leave his body although it had nothing to do with the weight of the girl in his arms. No- he had been waiting months to have her here. 

Aelin smelled like lemon verbena and it was difficult for Rowan not to inhale the scent that was directly in his face as his nose touched her silky hair. He tried not to squeeze her too tight as he had no idea what was happening. Although he did feel Aelin let out what felt like a giggle as she finally pulled away, not leaving his arms as she looked up at him. 

She held up a thick stack of paper that read ‘STATISTICS FINAL EXAM.’ 

And next to it was thick red A-.

“I did it!” She was beaming at him.

“You did it,” Rowan repeated, unable to look away from the paper. But then it hit him. “You did it!” Lifting her up and squeezing her even tighter, Rowan spun Aelin in a circle, delighted in the laugh that sprang out of her. He wanted to record the sound and listen to it every night. 

Finally, he put her down but once more, he refused to let her go. Aelin made no motion to move away either.

“All thanks to you,” she smirked. “Who knows what I would’ve done without my study buddy?” Rowan didn’t register anything she was saying. He was too busy looking at her mouth- at her perfectly pink lips and how much she wanted to kiss them.

She was saying something-

“Go out with me.” The words sprung out of their own volition. Aelin stilled in his arms, looking up at him with a raised brow before a brilliant smile cracked through.

Rowan didn’t think he was breathing as she reached up and placed a delicate kiss on his cheek, his skin burning at the contact. She grinned. 

“It took you long enough.”

Before he knew what was happening, Aelin had turned away and placed a few coins in the tip jar.

He didn’t need to count them to know it was quite a bit more than usual.

~~

the prompt was: i just realized i’m in love with you

taglist:

@story-scribbler

@rowaelinismyotp

@live-the-fangirl-life

@claralady

@surielandiareendgame

[live-the-fangirl-life]

Emergency Contact

Aelin Galathynius / Lorcan Salvaterre - BroTP Oneshot

Aelin is forced to pick a concussed Lorcan up from the hospital.

Masterlist | Read on Ao3

Warnings: Language

2091 words

*******

“Hello, is this Aelin Galathynius?” A calm voice asked through her phone.

Aelin held her glass of water as she answered the unknown number. She’d just gotten home from work and all she wanted to do was curl up with a book and facetime Rowan later. He was out of town for a conference for a few days and they made sure to talk every night.

“Yes, this is she. Who’s asking?” Aelin thought she could hear rhythmic beeping and the sound of people typing in the background.

“Hello Ms. Galathynius, I am calling from Orynth Medical Center to inform you that there’s been an accident and—”

“What?” She choked on a sip of water as her blood froze. “What happened?” Aelin ran a mental list of the people who could be in the hospital that would justify her being called. Did something happen to Rowan? Oh, gods. Aelin couldn’t think straight as she rushed to leave her apartment.

“Rowan?” she demanded breathlessly, “Is it Rowan? Whitethorn? I’m on my way.”

Was Rowan hurt? Or Aedion? Or Elide, or Lysandra, or—

“I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding. I am calling about Lorcan Salvaterre.”

Aelin halted her frantic dash to the door, one shoe on while holding her keys and trying to put her jacket on one-handed.

“Lorcan?” Why the hell would she be getting called about Lorcan?

“Yes, Ms. Galathynius, you are Mr. Salvaterre’s emergency contact.”

***

Sitting at a stoplight behind two other cars, Aelin glanced over at the man in her passenger seat.

Lorcan was a large man. Well over six foot and muscular, he was essentially a talking tree—something she referred to him as on multiple occasions because he hated it so much. He was not meant to fit in the front seat of her small car. His shoulders were hunched over and his legs bent tightly to squeeze into the space, and yet, he looked like he was having a wonderful time.

He had the widest, dopiest grin she’d ever seen on the man. It was bizarre. Disturbing.

“And her hair,” he added, “smells like…like…cinnamon.”

Lorcan had spent almost the entire car ride thus far talking about Elide. More specifically: everything he loves about Elide, how much he loves her, and that he’s abs-itively pos-olutely in love with her. It stunned Aelin more than anything because, to her knowledge, he hadn’t actually said those three words to her friend yet.

It was solely because of that—and because he was fully concussed, she supposed—that she didn’t throw him out of the car.

***

When Aelin arrived at the hospital and told the receptionist she was there to pick up Lorcan, she was ushered into a small patient’s room where Lorcan was sitting on the edge of a bed, looking dazed and entirely too big for the small bed.

“Galathynius!” he bellowed when he saw her, but immediately winced and grabbed his head at the loud sound.

Raising her brows, she turned towards the doctor who was standing and checking Lorcan’s charts.

“Ms. Galathynius, I presume?” the woman asked, amused. “My name is Dr. Towers. I’m not sure how much you are aware of, but Mr. Salvaterre was brought in with a moderate concussion.”

“Does that explain why he’s so,” Aelin looked at him, perturbed, “smiley?”

Dr. Towers’ lips quirked as she said, “Yes, I take it by your reaction that he isn't normally so cheerful?”

Aelin snorted, “Never.”

The doctor wrote another note down on the chart she held and glanced between Aelin and Lorcan. “He’s free to leave now, but he’ll need to be watched for any worsening symptoms. There’s a chance he’ll feel dizzy, nauseous, sensitive to sounds or light, or perhaps he’ll just continue like this,” she gestured to Lorcan who was now humming a Fleetwood Mac song under his breath.

“Right. Okay, Thank you Dr. Towers. I need to make a phone call and then I’ll get him out of here.”

The doctor nodded and sent one last amused glance back at Lorcan before leaving the room.

Aelin huffed a laugh and shook her head as she pulled her phone out and dialed a familiar number.

Aelin, somehow, managed to get Lorcan from the hospital room to her car after she’d called Elide to tell her what happened. Elide said she would go to Lorcan’s apartment to be there when Aelin and he arrived and would stay with Lorcan afterward.

***

“She so tiny.” He said dreamily, still staring out the window.

Aelin snorted. “Everyone is tiny compared to you, Salvaterre.”

His scoff was muffled by the hair that had fallen into his face. “But she’s tiny. Sometimes, I use her instead of my weights to work out, and its, its, super easy.”

Aelin tried to picture Lorcan lifting Elide above his head over and over and had to stifle a laugh.

“And it’s a good thing she’s so easy to lift because I can haul her up and get into some fucking great positions when we—”

“Okay, stop! I don’t need to hear about your apparently gymnastic sex life.” Aelin grumbled, trying desperately to get the image out of her head.

His grin grew into a wide smirk. “Oh yeah, the sex is amaz—”

“Shut up! No.”

Lorcan chuckled but mercifully stopped talking.

The quiet only lasted few seconds before he began explaining about the way Elide’s nose scrunches up when she gets frustrated.

Aelin’s phone ringing thankfully cut through the sound of Lorcan’s voice. She saw Elide’s name flash across the screen and quickly connected to it the car’s speakers and answered.

“El! Please tell me you’re ready to take your insane boyfriend off my hands.”

Elide’s sigh rang clearly through the speakers. “Yeah, I’m at his place. Thank you so much Aelin for picking him up. I have no idea why he put you as his Emergency Contact, I’m shocked you made it this far without killing each other.” She chuckled.

Glancing sidelong at Lorcan, Aelin was surprised he hadn’t reacted to Elide voice given the way he was describing it as delectable honey a few minutes ago, to Aelin’s great discomfort.

“The explanation I got—from a nurse that Lorcan, totally unprompted, told her because he’s majorly concussed—was that he didn’t put your name because he didn’t want to worry you,” Aelin heard Elide mutter something that sounded like I swear to god you big oaf —“And when he had to fill out the paperwork he and Rowan were in some kind of argument, so he decided to put my name down because he thought it would annoy the bitch-shit out of me.”

“For fucks sake, Lorcan.” Elide grumbled, and Aelin could picture Elide pinching the bridge of her nose.

It seemed that the sound of his name from Elide’s mouth was the siren call needed to gain Lorcan’s attention. His head whipped up and he grimaced at the sharp movement before a wide smile took over his face as he tried to find where her voice was coming from.

“’Lide, Ellie, baby, I was just talking about you.”

Aelin tried to keep the car straight as she used one arm to push Lorcan back into his seat. He’d tried climbing onto the console and gear shift to get closer to the center speaker.

“Lorcan Salvaterre how could you get admitted to the hospital and not tell me! I had to get a call from Aelin. Aelin! After I make sure you’re gonna live through your stupid concussion, you’re going to have to explain to me why Aelin is your emergency contact.”

“Elide, hang on a second,” Aelin watched as Lorcan shrunk back into the edge of his seat which was impressive given his size. “Maybe tone it down a notch. Your hulking brute of a boyfriend is tearing up and I’m trying to decide if I should take a picture just to prove that Salvaterre has feelings after all.”

It was quiet a moment before Elide said, this time much gentler, “Oh, Lor, I’ll see you in a few minutes. Aelin? Just get him back to me in one piece, okay?”

“No promises.”

“Aelin.”

Aelin sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Yes, El, we’ll see you in a few minutes.” Aelin looked over at Lorcan who’d once again resumed staring out the windshield, “Hey, El? I haven’t had a chance to text Ro, can you fill him in?”

Elide snorted, “I already am. See you soon.” The call ended with a steady beep.

***

The car ride was blissfully silent for three full blocks before Lorcan said, without preamble, “I’m going to ask Elide to marry me.”

Aelin almost swerved the car into the opposite lane. She whipped her head towards him in shock, but he was staring straight ahead with a determination she hadn’t thought he’d have the coherency to possess. A million thoughts raced through Aelin’s mind but all she sputtered was, “Wha—? Marry you?”

Lorcan nodded sagely and when he turned towards her his eyes seemed less foggy than they had minutes ago, almost as if the change in subject was helping him clear his head. Which, given what he’d just stated, shocked Aelin.

He kept nodding and Aelin forced herself to focus on the road. She knew Elide and Lorcan were serious; Elide told her a few times that she saw a future with the stoic man—something Aelin still couldn’t understand—but despite that, Aelin was positive they hadn’t even said ‘I love you’ to each other yet. That alone made what Lorcan told her at the start of their ride surprising, but this...Lorcan—Lorcan—blatantly saying he was going to ask Elide to marry him…

Aelin looked at the man sitting next to her. He was a pain in the ass, rude, and brutal. To everyone but Elide, that is. And he made her happy—again, Aelin didn’t know how—but he did, and that was all that mattered.

And by the sound of it, Lorcan wasn’t going anywhere. Reluctantly, she could admit that he wasn’t so bad. He pissed her off no end, but he was a good guy, and deep down, really deep down, he was a softy. Not that he would ever admit that.

Aelin took a deep breath and looked again at Lorcan who was nodding along to the song playing on the radio.

“You’re asking Elide to marry you?”

Lorcan’s head swiveled towards hers and a wide grin spread across his face, making his normally harsh features look younger.

“Someday. One day. Not yet, but, yeah, she’s it.”

His dopey grin sobered for a moment and he held her gaze as he said as seriously as he could, “I know Ellie is like a sister to you, and even though I think you’re kind of a bitch,” he snorted, “you’re a bitch who loves her.”

Aelin rolled her eyes because despite it being an insult it almost sounded like a compliment. She leveled a look at him. “You’re a bitch who loves her.”

“Also, true.”

Aelin snorted and focused on the road. “Salvaterre, I don’t know how much of this you’re going to remember, but I’m going to say it anyway.”

As she pulled up to a stoplight, Aelin turned her full attention on Lorcan and made sure he was listening as she said, “Elide is the best person I know. She is sweet, and kind, and has a heart of gold. She also won’t hesitate to cut a bitch,” she looked pointedly at Lorcan, “Elide can handle herself, and if you ever hurt her, she will make you wish you were never born. And once she’s done with you, I will find you and I will burn your body to ashes before I scatter your remains in the desert. Understood?”

Lorcan was smart enough to have a hint of fear in his eyes, but told her vehemently, “I have no intention of ever hurting her or being the cause of any pain,” then he flashed her a purely male smirk and leaned back in his seat, “Unless she asks me to.”

“Gross.” Aelin’s gag wasn’t entirely fake. Serious talk over, then. Fine. As Lorcan went back to describing the way Elide’s perfume smelled, Aelin resigned herself to the fact that she was going to have Lorcan in her life for a very long time.

She couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped as she watched him sing along to some top-forties pop song. Fine, she could handle Lorcan. She was almost looking forward to it. Almost.

*****

Taglist:

@acourtofsnakes @allthebooksunderthemoon @astra-ad-mare @becarefuloflove @bisexual-genderfluid-loki @booklover41802 @charlizeed @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @danibutterr @doubt-less @emily-gsh @enormousbooklover @foughtconquered @fromthelibraryofemilyj @hakunamatatazz @i-have-but-one-brain-cell @in-love-with-caramel-macchiato @jorjy-jo @lemonade-coolattas @mariamuses @mayhemories @midsizewitch @miserablesmusings @morganofthewildfire @nehemikkele @rowaelinismyotp @rowansfirebringer @sayosdreams @sheharahu @sleeping-and-books @stardelia @story-scribbler @superspiritfestival @surielandiareendgame @swankii-art-teacher @tomtenadia @westofmoon @whimsicallyreading @ladygabrielli1997 @moodymelanist @realbookloverproblems @gracie-rosee @julemmaes @yesdreamblog @the-regal-warrior @rowanaelinn @thestoriesyoutell @autumnbabylon

[tomtenadia]

Scary feelings - Rowaelin month day 1

Prompt: I just realised I am desperately in love with you

(I suck at titles)

----

Rowan Whitethorn was not a fan of crowds. Or people in general.

It was a Friday night and his flat was far too crowded for his own tastes, but he and his colleagues would take turns in organising get togethers and eventually his time came around. People might call him a loner and a grump but he just loved peace and quiet.

“Come on grampa, have fun.” Shouted Fenrys across the living room with a bottle of beer in his hands, offering one to hm as well. Rowan sighed heavily and joined the blonde man and plopped on the sofa ignoring the ruckus around him. He had already enough.

He was busy hating the evening when someone sat at his side: the smell of lemon and verbena familiar to his nostrils. He turned and saw Aelin sprawled on the couch and a beer in her hand. Most of the people were teachers working in the same high school. Rowan was the biology teacher and Aelin had recently been hired to be the new PE teacher after the previous one retired. She was friendly with everyone and he was positive that every single male teacher had a crush on her. She was gorgeous. Rowan had no issues admitting that. He had seen her once in shorts after one of her classes. Legs perfectly tanned and going on for days. Hair gold as the sun and the most amazing turquoise eyes he had ever seen, with a ring of gold in them. He had slammed against the wall and his students laughed at him that day. He had been dumbstruck, and in every other occasion they had to interact he had to work very hard to keep his cool. They were colleagues, they had to be professional.

“Good to see that you know how to chill, Whitethorn.” Her voice broke his reverie and when he turned he saw her taking a drink of her beer, her head tilted back and her neck exposed. Rowan stood quickly and moved away. What was happening to him? Why all of a sudden he felt the urge to lean forward and kiss the column of her neck, tracing his tongue along it and nip at the sweet spot at its base?

“You okay, man?” Asked Aedion who had noted him running away like a possessed person “did my cousin made lewd jokes again?”

Rowan leaned against the wall and shook his head “no, she is fine. I just needed to stand a bit. This is too much for me.”

Aedion patted his shoulder and left him alone and slowly his gaze returned to Aelin. She was talking to Fenrys and laughing at something that the young TA had said and something irrational rose in him. Damn, was he jealous?

She must have felt him staring because her head slowly turned and her gaze landed on him and the smile she gave him almost stopped his heart. He tried to smile back and failed and saw her raise an eyebrow at him as if in question at his reaction. Slowly he tried to regain control of his emotions, that was something he was good at, appear like an emotionless bastard. Wasn’t that the reason Lyria dumped him for another man? Because he was incapable of showing love and was just a block of ice who pretended to have feelings? He pushed back from the wall and walked to Lorcan. If Rowan had a reputation of being cold, no one beat Lorcan. He was the math teacher and probably one of the most hated ones at that.

“You look a mess.” Said the dark-haired man.

“You look like you are having fun instead. Very unusual for you.”

“I got my eyes on the small brunette near Galathynius, do you know her?”

“I think she is a friend of Aelin. She is called Elide if I remember the introductions.”

Lorcan took a sip of his beer and kept staring at the woman “well, she is definitely my type.” And with a powerful move Lorcan pushed away from the wall.

“Don’t fuck up.” Said Rowan to the man while he was walking away. Lorcan was not the most stable when it came to relationships.

*

He was alone on the balcony to enjoy fresh air and peace when a person joined him and leaned against the rail at his side.

Lemon verbena. He inhaled the scent and kept looking straight at Orynth at night.

“You seem off, Whitethorn.”

“I am okay,” he sipped the last of his beer and kept ignoring her, afraid of what he would do if he stared at her.

“Looks like the rumour are true.” She turned and her back was now against the rail, her arms at her chest. 

He allowed himself a peek and his chest tightened. She had a green dress with a puffy skirt and she was breathtaking. A deep urge to kiss rose in him.

“What rumours?” He said in a gruff voice.

“That you are a loner and a bit of a cranky old bastard.”

Rowan chuckled “I love my reputation. It keeps people away.”

“Who hurt you? Who made you like this?” She asked, moving a step closer to him.

Rowan stood motionless and stared in the depth of her blue eyes. How could she know? Only a handful of people knew how Lyria had crushed him. 

“She doesn’t know what she gave up.” Commented Aelin quietly.

Now confusion was clear on his face.

Aelin leaned forward and finished her beer “It’s just a mask. How do I know? Because I have one too. I am the happy easy going PE teacher who is lovable and chatty.” And her tone changed all of a sudden “my fiancee dumped me a week before our wedding. He found himself a newer version. It broke me and having a mask makes it easier to deal with people.” She confessed and Rowan could not look away from the pain in her face and tried to restrain himself from hugging her.

“Lyria left me for another man. Apparently I am incapable of love.”

Aelin gently took his hand “You just haven’t found the right person yet.” She squeezed it and then walked away leaving him alone once more. His heart raced madly in his chest

**

Going back to work after the party had been tragic. Rowan had spent the weekend thinking about Aelin and what she had told him. Thinking as well at the pesky feeling that had slowly started to creep up. Because the more he thought about it, the more he realised that he was falling for her. He had been since the beginning when she joined the team of professors. She was incredible, and funny and apparently very caring as well. The previous day he had seen her in the school yard consoling two young teenagers who were distressed and crying in her arms. He had followed the scene from the distance and that’s when it hit him. He was in love with her. Madly. He had tried to deny the feeling for a while and it worked until that damned party. Until that moment on the balcony. 

He walked back to his class and sat at his desk trying to ignore the pounding of his chest. Pushing away the realisation that his feeling for Aelin went deeper than he thought.

A deep sigh of relief left him when the next class walked in the room. 

Later he was on his way to the break room, a book in his hands and his messenger bag strapped on his shoulder when he crashed into someone.

“What the heck.” Said the outraged female voice.

Rowan looked down and saw Aelin crouched down collecting scattered papers. He kneeled quickly and helped her “I am sorry.”

“Do you always walk and read?”

“Most times,” he smiled “I am usually better at knowing what goes around me.” He passed her the last few papers and stood. Aelin was now in front of him “come, have lunch with me.”

Rowan was taken aback by the offer. He made a step for the teachers room, but Aelin grabbed his hand “come with me, I know a better place.”

Silently he followed her, realising that he would probably follow her no matter what. 

Hand in hand they walked around the ground until Aelin stopped in a quiet corner of the yard and sat under an oak tree. It was a nice spring day and the weather was turning warm.

Aelin sat down, back against the trunk and he stood for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Eventually he took a seat at her side and took out his lunch from the bag: a chicken salad that contained more vegetables than chicken.

Aelin looked at the tub and its contents in disgust.

“That’s why you are always grumpy… if my lunch looked that sad, I’d be grumpy to.” And she extracted a plastic tub containing an obscene portion of lasagna “my mum made it for me the other day. I went to hers for lunch and she cooked for an army.”

She stabbed the food with a fork and then turned it to him “try it.”

Rowan looked at her puzzled.

“Come on Whitethorn, I don’t have the plague. Give it a go.”

Rowan caved and took the bite she offered. The food was amazing and found himself smiling in satisfaction.

“Look, I made you smile and it made you all the way more handsome.”

His eyes popped open in surprise at her comment.

Aelin laughed and the sound of her happiness brought him joy. He’d do anything to see her smile. Her face would lit in up in the most stunning way. Gods, he was in far, far deeper than he thought.

“What?” She asked at her expression.

“You are the most stunning woman I ever met.” He said and then realised that he had uttered those words out loud. Shit. 

She smiled again and took another bite and Rowan decided it was now or never. He had to tell her and also brace for a crushing rejection. There was no way she was into him. She could have every man, why would she choose him?

He cleared his voice “I am in love with you,” he admitted, looking in her eyes “I think I have been for a while but it dawned on me at that party at my flat. You are stunning, intelligent, fierce, caring and funny and I think and I am totally and utterly in love with you.”

She placed her plastic container on the side and he thought he had just ruined everything.

“Go on,” was all she said “let it all out.”

“I promised myself never again. It was not worth it. But then you arrived and threw that to the winds.” He ran a hand through his hair “I was even jealous of you talking to Fenrys at the party. That’s why I kept to myself. I could finally put a label on my feelings and it scared me. I was never good at dealing with emotions and probably everyone is right, I am a cold heartless bastard.”

“Maybe,” she said brushing his hair “but in front of me I see a man who can be very capable of love if the right person comes along.”

Rowan was again speechless and his eyes closed on instinct at the feeling of her hand brushing his hair.

“Say it again.”

His eyes popped open in a question and Aelin nodded.

“I am desperately in love with you.”

She smiled again and his breath hitched.

“And what are we going to do about that professor Whitethorn?”

“Maybe I can take you out to dinner?”

Aelin leaned forward to kiss his cheek “I’d love that very much.”

And in that instant he realised that for her… for her he could try again.