Akane's nerves were on edge, her aunt was not one to typically visit the demi-fae fortress, for she had a certain hatred for the demi-fae, and although she herself was not one of them, her senses were on high alert. Perhaps Maeve's sudden appearance had something to do with Rowan's disappearance a few months back, maybe he was coming back with some guest, some important fae or human that Maeve needed council with.

"Luca, do you know why Maeve is here?" The young fae asked quietly, walking into the kitchen, thinking of what could be the reasoning behind her aunt's sudden arrival. However, a shake of the head from Luca signaled he did not know the why Maeve was there either, no one seemed to know, not even Emrys. A small sigh left her lips as she watched Luca peel potatoes, easily becoming bored. The teen glanced around one last time before heading up the tower, looking for Maeve. If she couldn't get answers from anyone else, she would go to the source to find out what was going on.

Her feet hit the ground lightly, the stone floor cool against her bare feet, but they made no noise seeing as she was incredibly light on her feet. Akane looked at the sentries, giving them a half nod before speeding up the rest of the stairs and down the hallway, to the room that Maeve was currently in. A few seconds passed before she took a deep breath, her heart beating faster than normal although she had been in the presence of Maeve several times before. With Rowan as her cousin and guardian, appointed by Maeve to take care of her, she had been in Maeve's court before and spoke with the queen on several occasions. The teen was also in line to become one of Maeve's guards, she had declined the offer a few months ago, knowing it was a suicide mission to join Maeve's personal army at sixteen. With a soft knock on the door she entered, not waiting for Maeve's response to the knock, her aunt never seemed to respond to Akane's knocks.

In the harsh light of the room Akane's odd heterochromic eyes stood out more than usual, her right pine green, her left one amethyst in color. Her eyes were what set her apart from the rest of the fae population, she was the only graceling fae to have been born in nearly eighty centuries, a longer time than even Rowan had been alive, her eyes also had slit like pupils, making them more predatory and cat like. Her eyes ventured up to Maeve's face, the look of displeasure and annoyance on her face sent chills down Akane's spine, but she would not back down. Knowing where Rowan was, well that was the most important thing to her currently, and Maeve was the only one who knew; after all, Maeve had been the one to send her guardian away.

"Your Highness…" Akane murmured softly, bending into a bow, one knee on the ground, her head dipped in respect, but also to lower her eyes from Maeve's piercing, dark gaze. If she did not show respect to her aunt, the Fae Queen of Wendlyn, the punishment would be severe, no matter her heritage or relation to Maeve. The silence that then engulfed the two females was unbearable, the hairs on the back of her neck pricked up, sensing the danger of being alone in the room with Maeve. In order to gain the information Akane so desperately wanted, Maeve could force her to bond to herself and join her personal army. Akane's sensitive fae ears picked up on Maeve's approaching figure, her steps light, but sounding heavy with impending doom. Perhaps Maeve was coming closer to inspect her, but she could also be coming closer to punish or just talk to Akane, one never knew with Maeve. A flinch escaped Akane as cold fingers made contact with her hair, the feeling of fingers playing with her hair was foreign to the teen. No one had played with her hair since she was a child, since her parents had been so brutally killed by the skin walkers that attacked her family. Maeve was not one to show affection, so the action took Akane by surprise, and it scared her at the same time. With her neck bent downwards, head tilted to the ground, she was in a position where it would be easy for Maeve to attack or harm her without Akane having a chance of fighting back.

The fingers pulled away, as if sensing the discomfort that Akane was feeling, but they reappeared under her chin, jerking it upwards as the clothed feet of Maeve had appeared within her sight. "Look at me young graceling, have you decided to join me yet? Or are you here to find information out? Or did your dear Rowan send you away to me?" The queen's voice was harsh, and Akane's jaw muscles flexed as Rowan's name was mentioned, her eyes still looking at the ground and away from Maeve's cruel gaze. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a new pain searing through her face as Maeve's cold grip tightened, jerking her face up again, "I said look at me graceling. Look in my eyes Akane Whitethorn, I am not going to hurt you." Her words however said the other, the threat in them clearly visible, the taunt seeming to say that Akane would never be able to be an equal of the queen.

Akane lifted her gaze to look Maeve in the eye, the darkness of her aunt's eyes reflecting the lightness of her own irises, the colors that separated her from the rest of her kind. The look in Maeve's eyes surprised her though, a look of pity, of curiosity, and one of respect, maybe they were there as a trick, but the emotions appeared to be genuine. After swallowing down her fear, the fae opened her pink lips, "Where did you send Rowan? He left with no warning, he only told me to meet him here." Akane said, her voice stronger and clearer than she thought she could pull off, especially with the Queen gripping her chin the way she was. The emotions that flashed on Maeve's face were gone in an instant, but Akane had been able to see them, a look of shock, and a look of uncertainness, but it was replaced by a cold, unemotional face.

"I sent him to retrieve Aelin, Aelin Ashryver Galanthynius." The words hit Akane like a punch, and as Maeve's hand left her face, it fell, her head drooping, not knowing whether or not Maeve was playing a trick with her. Could Aelin really still be alive? Why hadn't Rowan told her, why hadn't anyone told her? Being from Terassen, having met Aelin and played with the demi-fae on several occasions, they had grown to be best friends, but she was supposedly killed on the same day that Adarlan took over.