Throne Of Glass Fic - Tumblr Posts

this was so good! I'm a sucker for fight-and-make-up types of fics 🥰🥰this hit the spot!!

all through July i have a goal to write, write, write. happy birthday to me! so to start off here's a little something i had come to mind! enjoy!

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Apologies and Anniversaries

Rowan had two things on his mind as he left his office Monday night. First, he needed to find the largest bouquet of lilies and kingsflame and buy it, second to find the largest box of chocolate and buy that too. Maybe two boxes of chocolates.

It was rather unfortunate that he had come to the point of buying his wife gifts in the hopes that she would forgive him and not be mad over the fact that he had been working far too much lately. And he knew Aelin well enough that she really wouldn’t be mad. Maybe, hopefully, not even say anything about it.

Unfortunately, Rowan had screwed up more than any man ever should.

He’d missed their one-year anniversary.

And Aelin had been planning a weekend getaway for them in the Staghorns. So instead of spending it together Aelin had gone off to the cabin out in the mountains and Rowan stayed in the city to work.

Flowers and chocolates would not be enough. Not nearly.

Hell she was going to kill him. And if anyone could get away with murder, it was Aelin Whitethorn Galathynius.

After Rowan managed to secure the flowers and chocolates—the florist giving a long shake of her head and a whispered good luck—he made it home just before seven.

The apartment they lived in was less than ideal. Located smack in a city with too much traffic and not enough space it was less than ideal. Ever since they’d gotten married, they had wanted to find a house, something small but a home they could call their own. Though, as long as they were together, Rowan was happy.

As he fumbled with his keys, Rowan began to rehearse what he would say.

A client had a meltdown and I was the only one who could do anything.

We can watch as many reruns of Friends as you want.

Fenrys was useless in helping me out.

I’m sorry I’m such an idiot.

The client was worth fifty percent of my paycheck.

I’m quitting my job tomorrow.

None of them seemed to be enough.

Aelin knew of course how important his job was—she was a career woman herself and was working on applying to a doctoral program at Terrasen U. They respected each other for their desires and careers, hell, it had been what attracted Rowan to her in the first place.

Rowan entered the quiet apartment and did his best to not drop the flowers of the chocolates. He shut the door with a soft kick and headed deeper into the apartment. Aelin was nowhere in sight. Rowan wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He set the flowers and chocolates on the dining room table and tried his best not to sound guilty when he called out.

“Hey, I’m home.”

No response.

He was definitely in trouble.

“Babe?” He looked down the hall toward their bedroom but there wasn’t any indication that she was there.

Sitting on the counter was a take-out menu for their favorite Thai food. Maybe this wasn’t as bad as he thought it was.

“Well, well, well.”

Rowan winced at the tone of Aelin’s voice and looked up as she entered the kitchen.

Aelin swept by wearing the silk robe Rowan bought for her on her birthday a few months ago. The robe was short and thin, hardly covering anything. She didn’t look at him as she poured herself a glass of ginger ale. She did however notice the flowers and chocolate.

The look she gave him could have cut steel.

“Aelin,” he began, though he really had no idea what he would say.

The woman in question took a long sip of her drink as she continued watching him.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Aelin snorted. She walked to the kitchen table and ran finger over one of the lilies. The touch was so gentle and careful.

“I am mad at you,” she said finally. Sighing, Aelin set the still fizzing soda down and gathered the flowers, taking a long moment to breathe them in. The small smile she had was enough that Rowan could hope she wouldn’t try killing him tonight.

“I know,” he said.

She found a vase hiding away in one of their cabinets and filled it with water before neatly arranging the flowers. Once again, she traced one of the lilies lightly, an almost distant look growing in her eyes.

“I tried,” Rowan said as he ran a hand through his hair. “I did everything I could to get out of working. But Perrington insisted I had to be the one to pass off on anything in the project. And after the stock market shutdown…”

It all sounded very, very bad in his head and Rowan hated himself for every word that came out of his mouth.

“I will make it up to you,” he said. “I don’t know how but I will.”

Aelin set the vase back on the table and looked up at him, tears brimming her lashes.

Knowing he was entirely the one at fault for all of this, Rowan went quickly to her side and cupped her face in his hands. He brushed the tears from her eyes before they had a chance to fall.

“Fireheart,” he began.

Aelin shook her head but didn’t pull away from his touch. “I’m fine.”

Rowan wasn’t entirely sure that he believed her, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled her into a tight embrace. She growled into his chest.

“I’m still mad at you,” came her muffled words.

“That’s fine,” he said. He pulled back only to kiss her forehead again and trail kisses down her cheek to the corner of her lips.

Aelin pulled away from him then to frown. “You don’t get to kiss me and think you're forgiven.”

“I wasn’t expecting to be,” Rowan replied, even though that was what he was hoping for. He rested his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him.

“I am just as important as work,” she added. “More. I was really looking forward to our weekend together, Ro. I planned everything.”

“It will never happen again,” he promised, “I’ll make sure of it.”

Aelin sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Good, because I have something for you.”

Before Rowan could speak, Aelin hurried back down the hall to their room. Rowan almost followed. But just as quickly as she’d gone, she was back with a small black bag in hand, white tissue paper poking out in every direction.

“What’s this?” he asked, still utterly confused.

“Happy anniversary,” Aelin said as she handed him the bag.

Rowan looked at her confused. “We said no presents.”

His wife merely shrugged and gave him a small smile as more tears slipped from her eyes.

Having no idea what to think, Aelin wasn’t much of a crier, Rowan pulled out the tissue paper from the bag until his hand grabbed something far more solid than paper. He pulled out a rolled-up piece of fabric and carefully unfolded it.

At first, Rowan had no idea what to make of it. First was the long, thin piece of plastic, then was the tiny scrap of fabric that was certainly not a new nightgown for Aelin.

Rowan frowned as he looked at the items. “Fireheart?”

He spoke so softly as he looked at what was in his hands; the little baby onesie with simple script Coming Soon on the front and a pregnancy test.

“Fireheart,” he said again, trying to put a bit more force behind his voice, but emotion was welling quickly in his throat.

Aelin laughed then and ran her hands over her cheeks as she cried. “I’m pregnant, Ro. We’re having a baby.”

Without second thought, Rowan set the onesie and pregnancy test on the table and drew Aelin to him. He gently wiped the tears from her skin and cupped her face in his hands knowing there were tears in his eyes too.

“I love you,” Rowan said as he leaned in to press a kiss to Aelin’s forehead. “I love you.” A chaste kiss to her lips. “I love you.” Lower until he knelt before her, hand ghosting up and down the bare skin of her thighs. He pressed a kiss to her belly through the thin silk robe.

Aelin laughed again and ran her hands through his hair, her nails scratching lightly against his scalp.

“Oh really? Because aren’t you the one who left me all alone on our anniversary?” Her playful tone ended abruptly when Rowan’s tightened against her thighs and he slowly stood up, his fingers running in hot trails up her body.

“Mmm,” he hummed. “I have more apologizing to do, don’t I?”

“Yes,” Aelin said simply and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss.

Rowan swept her into his arms, her legs immediately wrapping around his waist. He nipped at her bottom lip with his teeth, promising exactly how he planned on apologizing.

“Well, I think I know just how to start,” he said and carried her down to their room.

end.

#

Tags: This is my general TOG tag list, let me know if you'd like to be added to this and/or my ACOTAR lists :)

@morganofthewildfire// @aelinchocolatelover // @more-espresso-less-depresso-xx // @bamchickawowow // @ireallyshouldsleeprn // @courtofjurdan // @sassys-world // @sleeping-and-books // @superspiritfestival // @chieflemming // @julemmaes // @lysandra-ghost-leopard // @firestarsandseneschals // @rapunzel1523 //@booksofthemoon // @fangirlprincess09 // @highladysith // @tillyrubes10 // @bri-loves-sunflowers // @rowaelinismyotp // @sheharahu // @1islessthan3books // @fromthelibraryofemilyj // @vanzetanze // @jlinez // @foughtconquered // @thenerdandfandoms // @acciowests // @rowaelin-cressworth //@cassianscool // @thegreyj // @acourtofsjmtrash // @story-scribbler // @hellasblessed // @jesstargaryenqueen // @amoretheiwa // @jorjy-jo // @danibutterr // @live-the-fangirl-life // @strangevil321 // @pastasiren // @foreverfallingforthestars // @beanco8 // @whimsicallyreading // @infernoqueen19 // @mis-lil-red

Do you plan to continue twin wounds?

Hello! I think this is the first message I’ve ever answered, and it’s so cool! Thank you for asking!

Unfortunately, I have hit a bit of a creative rut in terms of Throne of Glass fanfic, and I do not plan to write more of this series :( that answer could change, of course, and I still adore that story! If you ever have a prompt, I could try to type up a fluffy lil one shot! 😊❤️

Hope this helped :)

(And thanks for reading!!)

Well....🤭🤭

Twin Wounds Chapter 9 is here!!

Guess you inspired me! I can't say I'll be able to finish the series, but I have another chapter already written after this. I read through my huge Google Doc with all of Twin Wounds and got pretty inspired :) thanks to whoever asked this <333

if you need a refresher on what was happening in this story(as I did lol) my masterlist is below! :D

Google Docs

sarahjswift masterlist <3

Word Count: 1.2k

Tag List <33: @backtobl4ck, @aelinchocolatelover, @renxzs, @blue-bird17, @autumnbabylon, and @throneofshadows

Warnings: Language & Triggering Topics

Enjoy!

__

Rowan was surprised but not stunned that he was about to have a conversation about his patient’s - and crush’s - progress to her cousin. Weirder things have happened, he thought to himself. 

Now, he was awkwardly shuffling through Aelin’s file, now updated with her progress over the weeks. He cleared his throat. “So, what do you want to know?”

“Just, like…,” Aedion trailed off, looking out the small window. “How is she doing? Sorry, that’s probably stupid.”

“No, it’s alright. Aelin is doing very well, and I can already see her progress, physically and mentally.” Aedion loosed a breath of relief, grinning. 

“Oh, thank the Gods. I don’t know what I’d do if this didn’t work…rehab was kind of a last resort.”  

“I understand. That’s how it is with a lot of our clients - but I assure you, there are hundreds of options for people struggling. People respond to different things differently. I’m happy to say that Aelin is doing well. She isn’t thriving, but she’s definitely shown improvement.”

“I can tell,” Aedion interrupted. “She was just this…shell before. Now I can see hints of who she was before Sam. That anger, for example…you know, it’s encouraging to see her feeling emotions again.”

“I definitely agree. I think what Aelin needed was a change of scenery. Some fresh faces, things like that,” Rowan replied. “She’s been attending group therapy and one-on-one sessions with me. She’s been doing well, but she still won’t open up.”

Aedion’s jaw clenched. “Yep, that sounds about right. She would never talk to me. It made things so hard, and it had an effect on our closeness.”

“Ah, so you two were always close?”

“Oh, yeah. We’ve been inseparable since we were born. We’ve been at each other’s sides through so many things. When my mom died, she was there for me…and then later, when hers passed, I was there.”

“When did her parents die?”

“She was twenty-two. It was really hard on her - she was close to both.” Aedion’s voice was ragged, and he took a deep breath. “It was rough on all of us. Evalin was kind of my mother as well, since she took me in after my mom went.” He wiped away a tear running down his cheek.

Rowan nodded, his respect for the man in front of him growing. “I appreciate you sharing this with me. I know you may not feel…the best about giving me all of Aelin’s personal details. But I promise, all this just helps me, help her.”

__

I promise, I’ll come visit soon. Call me tomorrow, okay? Love you, Ae.

Aelin stared up at her popcorn ceiling, replaying her final moments with her cousin over and over. She lay curled up, wrapped in…His…old hoodie. There was still a lingering scent on it, and she let her tears drip onto the fabric as she inhaled deeply. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. She sat up and wiped away her tears, standing and walking over. One of the nurses she was less familiar with stood there, a friendly smile on his face. “Ready for dinner, Aelin?”

“Yeah,” she sighed, and followed him down the hallway. 

“Don’t look so glum! Tonight is special,” he said cheerfully. “As well as an ice cream sundae for dessert, there will be a movie playing in the cafeteria for everyone to enjoy!”

Aelin raised her eyebrows, interest sparking. Ice cream and a movie? That used to be her definition of a perfect night. Walking into the cafeteria, she quickly picked up a bowl of rice and beans, cheese melted on top of it. She found her seat at the usual table, sipping some of her lemonade as she sat. It was refreshing. She liked it. 

“Excited for the movie?” Elide asked, a smile on the female’s face. 

Aelin nodded. “Do you know what it’ll be?” Tiela asked. 

“Pretty sure it’s an old Disney!” Lucas grinned excitedly, rubbing his palms together. The table quickly dissolved into an animated conversation, the patients discussing their favorite of Walt’s classics. Lysandra turned to Aelin and leaned in, green eyes sparking. 

“Did Aedion leave?” she asked quietly. 

Aelin raised her eyebrows. “I don’t even want to know why you are asking that question.” 

Lysandra winked, and Aelin sighed. “Yep, he left. He’ll be back soon, though.” 

“Thanks!” She turned back around and leapt into the conversation. 

Aelin blew out a breath and allowed herself a small, brief smile. Oddly enough, she could picture her cousin and her therapy friend together. If Aedion was brave enough to ask, she knew he’d get a yes. 

After their plates had been cleared and the patients were happily eating their chocolate-sauce drizzled sundaes, the nurses wheeled in a projector. Bambi came onto the screen, and the cafeteria settled peacefully. There was something innately comforting in the old cartoon style, even as some wiped away tears at Bambi’s tragedy. Aelin felt a sense of peace for the first time in…a while. 

She felt somebody’s eyes on her, and she turned to find Rowan looking at her. At her gaze, he started and whipped away. Aelin kept her eyes on him, though, and so she caught him when he - almost immediately - peeked back. He sheepishly smiled, and when Aelin’s lips tilted up to mirror it, the smile stretched into a breathtaking..beam. He looked absolutely devastating. 

Aelin let herself admire him for a couple seconds before turning back to the screen. Still, for the rest of the film she felt butterflies in her stomach, a flush in her cheeks. 

__

After the film wrapped up, everybody began heading back to their dorms. With a satisfied appetite, a mouth filled with the sweet taste of ice cream, and an almost…happy feeling from a boy’s smile, Aelin felt like she was in middle school again, drawing hearts on her math worksheets whenever her first boyfriend, Dorian, looked her way. She walked with Lysandra and Elide, listening to their pleasant chatter. 

“Oh, I love that movie,” Elide sniffled. “Always makes me cry, though.” 

“I think we should watch Sleeping Beauty next,” Lysandra said, playing with a strand of her hair. “That was always my favorite.” 

“That does not surprise me in the slightest,” Aelin said. With her cat-like eyes and prowling gait, Lysandra looked like Maleficent herself. 

The women turned to her, smiles on their faces. No matter how much Aelin had softened toward them since she’d arrived, it was still rare that she actually added to the conversation. “What was your favorite Disney movie growing up, Aelin?” Elide asked her, dark eyes soft and sweet. 

For the first time in a long time, Aelin thought back to the happiness of her childhood, before darkness had overtaken it. She avoided the memory of her parents, and instead brought to her mind images of her younger self coming home from school to pop a DVD into their TV. 

“Probably The Lion King,” she replied, and Lysandra and Elide nodded instantly, grinning. 

“Ugh, so good,” Lysandra said. 

“I loved the Just Can’t Wait to Be King scene,” Aelin said, smiling slightly. She ignored the happy shock on the women’s faces as they saw her expression. She was smiling so much today. “I’d always wondered what it would be like to be royalty.”

Do you plan to continue twin wounds?

Hello! I think this is the first message I’ve ever answered, and it’s so cool! Thank you for asking!

Unfortunately, I have hit a bit of a creative rut in terms of Throne of Glass fanfic, and I do not plan to write more of this series :( that answer could change, of course, and I still adore that story! If you ever have a prompt, I could try to type up a fluffy lil one shot! 😊❤️

Hope this helped :)

(And thanks for reading!!)

After months…a tiny little update. For some backstory??? Idk lmao I reread this and then went back into the document that had the full story..most of it is garbage but I liked this sooo

I’m currently without a laptop but I will do my best to write more of this story since it is my favorite thing I’ve written!

FOUR MONTHS PREVIOUSLY

“Aelin, have you seen Rowan’s Instagram?”

Aelin gaped at Aedion. Her cousin, like the rest of her friend group, had been tip-toeing around the subject of her recent breakup. Just the sound of her ex-boyfriend’s name brought tears to her eyes, and the other day she’d had a breakdown over Rowan’s favorite fork. “N-no, of course not. Why?”

Aedion hesitated. “Well…” he trailed off, his eyes darting everywhere but her.

“What, Aedion?” Aelin asked sharply. When he didn’t respond, she snatched her phone out of her pocket, opened Instagram, and typed in Rowan’s profile with shaking fingers. She tapped on the newest post, and for a moment was caught in him, his beauty caught through the lens, beautiful eyes tired. He had dark circles and messy hair, but a huge smile was plastered on his face. Aelin tore her eyes off him and focused on the full picture - and sucked in a sharp breath.

Lyria stood next to him, curved around Rowan in a not-friends way. Leaning her head onto Rowan’s shoulder with her hand in his, Lyria was radiant with the force of her smile. The caption read; Can’t believe I finally get to announce this - Rowan Whitethorn, guitarist and backup singer for The Cadre - mine! My boyfriend, everyone! <3

Aelin was half-aware of the tears slipping down her cheeks as she flipped through the rest of the post. Millions of likes, picture after picture of the two, at the beach, Lyria’s house doing face masks, all those times Rowan had assured her they were “just friends”. There was a video, too, and knowing she would regret it Aelin clicked on it.

It was a short clip of Lyria zooming in on Rowan’s sleeping face as her cat burrowed into his neck. Lyria’s clear giggles sounded through the microphone as Rowan snored, and then Aelin’s gaze couldn’t see through the tears anymore.

“Aw, Ae…,” Aedion said softly, climbing up onto the couch with her and wrapping her into a hug. She sobbed onto her cousin’s shoulder, heart ripped open over and over and over.

“He…said…they…were…just…friends,” Aelin hiccupped, wiping away the stream of tears. “How…could he…do this?”

Aedion’s jaw was tense, eyes tight with anger. “I’m going to kill that bastard, I will...”

@aelinchocolatelover

@renxzs @mariaofdoranelle @blue-bird17

❤️

Emails I Can't Send-Rowaelin Fanfic

This is actually one of my favorite things I've ever written. It's based off of the song emails i can't send by Sabrina Carpenter. That whole album is so underrated - go listen to it! If you want, listen to the song while reading. The song is so so heartbreaking and I just had to write about it. :)

(I know I haven't posted in a while, so I thought this would be perfect because I love it so much. I wrote it back in August <33)

Word Count: 1k

Warnings: Language, some suggestive language

Tag List: @backtobl4ck, @aelinchocolatelover, @renxzs, @blue-bird17, @luell1q

__

The song had come from everything and nothing at the same time. She’d written it on a crumpled piece of paper, droplets of her tears weakening the page, at three in the morning. All of her hurt and pain and fear from that night put into a couple scrawling paragraphs. 

Now, standing backstage in the wings, Aelin took a deep breath. The crew buzzed around her, Lysandra last-minute checking her makeup, hair and outfit before she went onstage. “Are you going to be okay?” her friend asked, emerald eyes filled with concern. “I know it’s an emotional song for you to sing live, and…you know, Rowan’s out there…”

Aelin winced as the sound of her ex-boyfriend’s name sliced through her heart. It was a pain she was used but not invulnerable to. “I’ll be fine,” she said, more to herself than anything. Nevermind Rowan was seated somewhere in the audience with the rest of his band, and soon he’d be about to hear a breakup song about him…no, never mind that. 

__

Rowan was trying very hard not to think about what was coming next, about how the woman he loved with everything he had was about to be feet away from him. He’d never heard the song she was singing, very purposefully - whenever it came on the radio, which was every day, he’d cranked down the volume quickly. 

Rowan took a gulp of champagne and tried to think of other things. He and his band, The Cadre, had given a decent performance, performing their song K. It was a crowd-pleaser, one of their first hits about Gavriel’s wife, Krystal. He sat at the table with the band - his brothers, really - their partners, and Maeve, the band manager. 

Over the speakers, the host boomed; “Please put your hands together for Aelin Galathynius!”

__

Aelin took a deep breath and stepped out onto the stage, immediately hit with the white-hot spotlight. She stood in front of the standing microphone and smiled as the audience cheered.

“Thank you,” she said, her own voice echoing back at her through the earpiece. “And thanks to all the fans who got me here, performing at the Grammys. This is my new single, emails I can’t send.”

She tuned out the clapping and focused on the instrumentals leaking into her left ear. Nodding to Aedion, her cousin on piano, she took a deep breath. 

__

“It’s times like these, wish I had a time machine so I could see what you did October 13th,” she sang. “At 10:15, were you really asleep or were you lying to me and the family?”

Rowan’s stomach emptied out. October 13th, the night of Aelin’s album release party and one of their biggest fights. The night he’d lied, saying he was with Lorcan when he’d been over at Lyria’s, comforting her while she cried. Comforting Lyria over the record label rejection, when he should’ve been with Aelin, celebrating with her. 

He gazed up at Aelin, who looked heartbreakingly beautiful in a simple white crop top with princess sleeves and low-rise jeans, that showed off her muscled body in a stupidly perfect way. He couldn’t help but think of how he would peel those clothes off her if he hadn’t been such an idiot…get a grip, man. Creep. 

“There’s no us in us when I’m lacking trust,” Aelin continued, and he forced his mind into the present - even worse. Her expression was reserved as her eyes floated over the audience, looking or not looking for one person. “You wanna discuss, ugh, you disgust me…”

The words sliced through him. You disgust me. 

__

Aelin couldn’t tell if she sounded good or not, but she was getting into the mood of the song now. “Don’t make me cuss you out, why’d you let me down? Don’t say sorry now.”

Her voice was rising as she got to the climax of the song, the part she’d truly poured out of the sobs that had wracked her body that night. “And thanks to you I, I can’t love right, I get nice guys and villainize him,” she crooned. “Read their texts like they're having sex right now, scared I’ll find out that it’s true..”

As she sang, she closed her eyes and unlocked the gates she’d built brick by brick over the past five months, the pain and despair from Rowan flowing out her heart and into her voice. “And if I do, then I blame you for every worst that I assume; when I’m 45 someone calls me their wife and he fucks,” at that word, her voice broke in the crooning sort of way that she loves, “our lives in one selfish night.” The lyric, the story, the truth. 

__

Rowan was in heaven because the subject of his every desire was standing in front of him singing with the most beautiful voice he’d ever heard, and he was in hell because she was singing a heartbreaking song about him. 

“Don’t think I’ll find forgiveness as fast as mom did,” Aelin said, and that was the moment when her beautiful, beautiful eyes rested on Rowan. Electricity coursed through him as she did, and he held her gaze as if her irises were his last lifeline. The most heartbreaking and despairing expression flickered across her exquisite face and it was all Rowan could do not to leap out of his chair and hold her as she pointed an accusing finger at him and cried; “And God, I love you, but you’re such a dipshit.”

__

“Please fucking fix this,” Aelin neared-whispered as the song crested, the instrumentals fading and becoming sadder, more mellow. She blinked away the tears blurring her vision, Rowan’s piercing green eyes sending sparks through her body, “‘Cause you were all I looked up to.” and Lyria placed a possessive hand on her boyfriend’s arm, placing a kiss to his muscled shoulder, “And now I can’t even look at you,” and Aelin looked away and lowered her arm as the roaring of the audience overwhelmed the room. 

Hello everyone!!

I just wanted to let the few amazing people who read my fics know that I am going to be mostly posting my work on ao3 now, since it is much easier.

I’m going to be uploading many more updates to my fic “emails I can’t send” which is now titled “spotlight on me, baby where are you?”

You can find my ao3 through my master list, which is my pinned post, or just search for me through the same username!

Thank you! I adore all those who comment on my work 🥰

Here is the third chapter of spotlight on me, baby where are you? (Originally a one shot named “emails I can’t send”)

I’m having so much fun writing this series!

Word Count: 1.7k

Enjoy! Please let me know what you think! 😚

~~

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Well, she couldn’t do that in the peace-killing device she wore. Aelin was pretty sure her dress was slowly suffocating her.

“At least you look hot,” Lysandra had shrugged when Aelin had mentioned this to her best friend and stylist. “And that’s all that matters at the Grammy after party, isn’t it?”

Now, Aelin blew out a breath as she stared out the tinted window to the building before her. Everywhere, celebrities were exiting their luxury vehicles and sashaying their way towards the party. She thought they looked like ants crawling over their nest.

“Ready?” Aedion, sitting on the other side of the car, asked. He was clad in sweats and a white T-shirt, hair pulled back. Lysandra leaned against him, a hand on her boyfriend’s knee, the green-eyed beauty wearing a simple black dress. For a moment, Aelin was overcome with a devastating envy; not just for her friends’ obvious bliss in their relationship, but for their life. After the Grammys performance, their job was done, and they could drive home and relax on the couch, watch Netflix, and go to sleep.

Not Aelin. No, because of the life she’d so desperately wanted, she’d squeezed into her dress and was carted off into the limo moments after the exhausting event that was the Grammys. Now, she would spend the next five hours maintaining her perfect image, avoiding the cruel paparazzi and pandering to the ones she knew her agent had paid. She’d be lucky if she got to sleep before five in the morning. That is, if she could sleep at all.

Aelin couldn’t help feeling alone. She’d never tell anyone else this, of course; complaining about her life just felt privileged and spoiled. The only person who truly understood was…

Was…

Gone. Somebody else’s to love.

Snapping back to reality, Aelin forced a smile and nodded. “Of course.”

She turned back to the window and took a final breath, closing her eyes as she let her face melt into the mask she’d perfected over the time since her break into the industry; the arrogance, the casual beauty, the always-present amusement. Looking over her shoulder, she shot her friends a wink before the door opened and she stepped out onto the street.

Instantly, she was overwhelmed by the chaos of it all; the flash of the cameras, the shouting of the paparazzi.

“Aelin, over here!”

“Aelin, how did it feel to perform at the Grammys without any nominations?”

“Here, Aelin!”

“Aelin, who are you wearing tonight?”

“Look here, Aelin!”

“How were the Grammys, Aelin?”

“One smile, Aelin!”

“Aelin, how did it feel to perform your pointed single in front of ex Whitethorn?”

A wave of cold washed over Aelin, and she swallowed and locked her spine. Plastering a smirk on her face, she moved toward the entrance, letting her hips swing with every step. She felt and saw the lightbulbs flash, and kept her eyes on the entrance. The guard at the door gave her a smile and a nod, stepping aside to let her in. Aelin walked through the threshold and sighed, shoulders slumping for one second before she forced her posture perfect again.

Here we go.

__

The music was too loud.

Much, much too loud - meant to drown out the chatter of the industry’s finest. Rowan wondered how much people paid to have their music played at events like these.

“Rowan?”

Rowan blinked and looked down, straight into big brown eyes. Lyria smiled softly up at him, the action lighting up her face from pretty to beautiful. She reached out, curled her fingers around Rowan’s dress shirt and tugged. Obliging her, Rowan leaned down, turning his head so she could whisper into his ear.

“Can we go find the rest of the group?” she asked, her lips grazing the shell of his ear. Rowan pulled back and nodded, offering her his arm to take as they left the room. Instantly, the chaos of the main room was muted as they stepped into a hallway. “Oh, it was agonizingly loud in there, wasn’t it?” Lyria asked.

“I don’t understand why they always crank the music up to the top volume,” Rowan grumbled, shaking his head. “I was about to lose feeling in my ears.”

Lyria giggled, a soft, breathy sound. “Good thing I saved you.”

“Good thing.”

They made their way through the crowds, craning their necks to find the rest of The Cadre. Rowan welcomed the quiet Lyria offered him, letting his mind wander. He still felt shaky, totally on edge. How could he go on through this stupid party, full of vain, vapid people, after what had happened just two hours before? He didn’t know how he’d held on so long without breaking down, honestly. Most likely thanks to Lyria’s sweet presence.

“There!” the girl in question said, pointing through the crowd. Rowan instantly saw the backs of the heads of Gavriel, Fenrys, and Lorcan, and began gently tugging Lyria towards them. He felt his spirits rise at the thought of talking to his friends, debriefing the Grammys, discussing the awards…They reached the group and his friends turned, letting him see who they were all talking to -

Oh, gods.

Oh, fucking gods.

Standing there, in all her glory. Dressed in a tight red dress that stopped mid-thigh and hugged every curve, sleeveless with a dipping neckline. A gold necklace was draped across a perfect collarbone, drawing the eyes to a delightful amount of cleavage - just enough to tease but modest enough to maintain control. Golden hair swooped back with gold clips, two perfect strands framing the face..that face. High cheekbones. A pair of full lips painted red to match the dress. Darkened eyelashes and a cat eye to accentuate those blue, fiery eyes.

At the sight, Rowan almost fell to his knees.

He thought half-hysterically that far below him, some dark god was laughing his ass off as Rowan drowned in those eyes…that perfect shade of blue, that untamable fire he’d always adored…

Rowan forced his gaze away from Aelin Galathynius, and just like that, he was in control again. His legs were once again steady and strong. His heart, on the other hand, was still hammering like he’d run a race.

“Oh, Rowan!” Gavriel stammered, looking nervous. Rightfully so. Rowan was going to kill him once they were out of here. “We - we were looking for you, but we couldn’t find you guys…” His voice trailed off, most likely thanks to the death-promise that was undoubtedly in Rowan’s eyes.

“We were in the main room,” Lyria replied for him. “It got too loud for Rowan, though. Old man.” She chuckled, patting his arm.

Old man. Rowan wondered if Lyria knew what she was doing, making that joke. He dared a glance…

Her eyes were full of flame, lips pursed. His gaze dropped to her hand, currently holding a flute of champagne, and watched her slender pointer finger tap against the glass, an almond nail clacking against the surface. Her tell, one that no amount of media training could stamp out of her. She was angry.

Rowan felt the ghost of a smile around his mouth. He loved the sight of Aelin Galathynius in a rage.

No. He tamped down on the thought before it could go any farther.

He knew why she was mad. He let the train of thought carry him away, to better times…

Old man…

Old man…

—“You old man!” The fond joke he’d grown accustomed to hearing. He’d rolled his eyes and ruffled her hair, smirking at her shrieks of fake rage.

“Sorry, we’ve got to get home…this old man here needs to be in bed before eleven.” The excuse she’d give their friends whenever his hands would trace below her lower back, or when he’d press pleading kisses to the back of her neck when nobody was looking. It was his favorite insult, given that it usually led to fingernails dragging down his back, a head thrown back in ecstasy, pleasure unlike he’d ever known.

“You’re such an old man.” The words he’d beheld in her eyes after his stiff and formal introduction to her father. She hadn’t even had to say anything for him to understand. He’d thrown her a wink and pressed a kiss to her mouth, reveling in her delighted laughter, arms around his neck. He’d pulled her to him, hugging her tight, breathing in her lemon verbena shampoo. Glancing up, he’d seen her father watching them at the door and knew the sight had won the man’s approval more than any conversation would. —

Rowan pushed away the memories. The joy of those days had now turned to despair. The once-beloved words, old man, as sacred as phrases of love, felt distorted and dirty coming from Lyria’s pink lips. Clearing his throat, he opened his mouth to speak-

“Rowan can’t stay in one place for long before he leaves, can he?”

All heads whipped to the cool-faced beauty standing before them. The words were dripping with acid, but in a voice so melodic it almost didn’t pierce Rowan’s heart.

Almost.

Gavriel, Fenrys, and Lorcan shifted, all finding the floor, their drinks, the ceiling suddenly riveting. Rowan swallowed and squared his shoulders. “Aelin-” he began.

“I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had that problem with my boyfriend,” Lyria’s soft voice floated up from next to him, edged with a steel he’d never heard before from her. “We left because I wanted to.” She turned to him, smiling, and stroked his cheek once before letting her hand fall and grasp his tightly. “He’s always so responsive to my needs,” she said sweetly. Honeyed words, meant to choke.

Aelin’s nostrils flared, and she cocked her head in a move so animalistic a distant voice in Rowan’s mind wondered if she was descended from a leopard. A terrifying smile graced her mouth, eyes frozen in rage. Part of Rowan shrank back as his gaze darted from woman to woman. One feline and dangerous, the other doe-eyed and deceptively soft.

The soft part of Lyria, he saw, had gone as quickly as her loyalty to Aelin.

Aelin took one step forward. A single step, that had the entire group bracing themselves. Her words were breathy and tinged with dark amusement.

“Let’s see how long that lasts, sweetheart.”

@aelinchocolatelover @renxzs @throneofshadows @mariaofdoranelle