#cannot believe we’re seeing st fic get published now

[evilrry]

you’re gonna look me in the eye and tell me that’s not literally joe keery?

[featherymalignancy]

I live for literally all of your works but one of my favorite things so far is the incorporation of ToG characters in In Vino Veritas! Rowan and Cassian’s friendship is something I never knew I needed in my life

YAY! I was so nervous if the cross-over was going to work but I decided to go for it and I’m really pleased with the way it turned out. Also in conceiving how they all know each other, this insanely clear story about Rowaelin’s origin story went down, so see below to get a sneak peak! 🏐 🍺 ♥️ 

Rowaelin One-Shot: First Look

This story takes place four years before In Vino Veritas. It’s also my first TOG fic, though you’ll recognize a familiar ACOTAR face or two! It will be NSFW, and it will also be published ??? (aka sometime after the next chapter of LaLH!)

**also a quick note, I sometimes change physical details about characters because canon isn’t the boss of me. If a character’s appearance is slightly changed or they are coded as a person of color when they weren’t explictly denoted as such in canon,  I assure you those are conscience choices. You’re been...warned? Advised? Idk, I just wanted to give you a heads-up, it’s all intentional! ♥️ 

The Eyes of Texas

Rowan Whitethorn—a Navel academy graduate and recently discharged second lieutenant—takes a break from studying of the police academy exam in Los Angeles to fly back to his native Hawaii and compete in a twos volleyball tournament with his ex, one of the best sand players on the amateur circuit.

Beyond Remy’s devious machinations to win Rowan back, the biggest impediment to victory is the so-called Ashryver twins, a pair of cousins from Miami with a reputation of their own. Rowan can’t help but admire the gorgeous and sharp-tongued Aelin Galathynius, who’s more than ready to give Remy a run for her money—both on the court and in the race for Rowan’s affection.

The Eyes of Texas SNEAK PEAK

“I can’t believe you voluntarily chose to play with her,” Fen said with distaste, watching as Remy stalked off, huffing. “She is a fucking nightmare.”

“Here, here,” Cash said, and Rowan rolled his eyes.

“We’ve been playing together forever,” he protested. “And Remy know we aren’t...seeing each other anymore.”

“Does she?” Lor drawled. “Just because you’re not banging her right now doesn’t mean she’d done with you, Whitethorn. Remelle St. James is not a girl you can just walk away from.”

“We’re twos partners, not soulmates,” Ro said. “And if playing with Remy means winning this tournament, I don’t really care what you jackasses think of it, or of her.”

“Her sets cannot be worth it,” Lorcan drawled, sounding bored.

“She’s the best amateur female player in this tournament,” Rowan snapped back.

“Please,” Fen said. “She’s barely top three.”

“And who’s number one, then?”

Fen grinned, dark eyes fiendish.

“You haven’t heard? There’s a chick here from the University of Texas, and apparently she’s—“

“Holy shit,” Cash interrupted, eyes skating over Rowan’s shoulder. “Who is that?”

Rowan turned in time to watch the hottest woman he’d even seen sauntering towards them. She was taller than average—easily pushing six feet—and corded with a sleek musculature that would have heralded her as a volleyball player even if they weren’t at a tournament. Her gorgeously tanned legs went on for an eternity, and he felt his mouth go dry at seeing the minuscule bikini bottoms she wore, the burnt orange Lycra hugging a toned ass that told him she probably had a damn good vertical. Her long blond hair was pulled into a high ponytail and braided in the popular style, and when she turned to smirk at him in a flash of pearly teeth and dazzling blue eyes, he felt a little weak.

“Goddamn,” Cash said, interrupting Rowan’s reverie. “She is gorgeous.”

“That’s her,” Fen said. “The Texas chick, Aelin Galathynius. Ro, I hope you and Remy can pull it together for this match. Otherwise this girl is gonna fuck you up.”

They all watched as she trotted onto the court, stretching in a way Rowan was afraid was going to make his board shorts too tight.

“Holy shit, I want to marry her,” Cash said, and Rowan felt a prickle of irritation.

Before he could address it, or—more realistically—dismiss it, Lor gave an unimpressed snort.

“She’s too tall.”

“I don’t understand how a guy pushing seven feet can have a maximum height restriction for the women he dates,” Fen said.

Lor only shrugged with a smirk, but Rowan was barely listening. He felt another twinge of displeasure zip down his spine as he watched a muscular blonde frat star stride onto the court towards the Galathynius girl, who beamed at seeing him.

“Who is that?” He asked, trying to sound bored. “Her boyfriend?”

“Cousin,” Lor said, expression gloriously bored. “Aedion Ashryver. I played him in a tournament in Miami last year. He’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen.”

“High praise, coming from you,” Fen said, earning only a sneer in response.

They watched as Ashryver took several exploratory swings, Aelin working our her wrists. Rowan admired her form as she gave her cousin a perfect set and he crushed the ball into a sand on a punishing downward trajectory.

“Nice hands,” Cash said, eyes alight with appreciation as she shot a quick set to Aedion to a similarly successful result.

“I can block him,” Rowan said, trying to read Aedion’s form for flaws. “He’s swinging hard, but he’s hit that same spot every time.“

“That’s not going to be enough on its own,” Lor said dryly. “Your best bet is to force Galynthius to receive first then shut her down on the block. I bet her swing is weak.”

Rowan nodded, trying to get his mind right as Remy headed back towards them, jerking her head towards the court to indicate they needed to to warm up as well.

“Good luck, champ,” Fen said. “Make sure you find out if she’s single for Cash.”

Rowan flipped him off and jogged onto the court, trying to ignore the way Aelin Galynthius’s eyes raked him appreciatively as he passed her.

YAY!! Can’t wait to hear what y’all think, and if this sounds good to you, please tell your friends! Look for The Eyes of Texas, coming soon!