Rowan didn't know how he ended up in this mess. Well, he thought sulkily, standing in a corner of Aelin's apartment while staring out of one of her windows, that wasn't necessarily true. He knew exactly how he'd ended up in Aelin's apartment on a Saturday evening at one of her infamous parties. She'd invited him, after their not-a-date-date, and he'd said no.

He said no, dammit.

But then she fluttered her pretty eyelashes at him, dragged here fingers down his bicep in a way that made his skin burn in the wake of her touch, and said that she really wanted him to be there. He never stood a chance.

Now here he stood, amidst a crowd of buzzed strangers with annoying pop music blaring in his ears, and there was not enough beer in the entire country to make any of it seem bearable. He wasn't sure where Aelin had gotten to. The apartment wasn't even that big and yet he couldn't find hide nor hair of her anywhere. Taking another swig of his beer, he frowned when he realized the bottle was empty and so he made his way to the kitchen to claim another.

Once he stepped into the kitchen, Rowan realized immediately that he shouldn't have. The room was occupied by a young man-well, younger than him, but probably older than Aelin-with long blond hair and a young woman with long, dark brown hair. The two were standing very close together, seemingly just a moment or two away from embracing one another. Not wanting to interrupt, Rowan turned about face and tried to escape.

He never did have much luck.

"Hey!" the young man called after him. The white haired male would have ignored him, had he not immediately followed up with, "Rowan, right?"

Sighing, Rowan turned back around and nodded. Brows furrowing, the older man took in the younger's features and realized with a disturbing shock that he looked almost exactly like Aelin. They even had the same blue and gold eyes. Aelin didn't mention having a brother, but he had to be related to her one way or another.

Nodding in confirmation, Rowan decided to do the civilized thing and extend his hand. The young blond shook it, his grip firm and almost bone breaking-not that Rowan would ever let on-and introduced himself, "I'm Aedion, Aelin's cousin." He grinned, lupine like, and raked his eyes over Rowan's form, licking his bottom lip when his gazed flickered back up to Rowan's. "She's told me all about you."

Snorting, the dark haired woman from earlier, smacked Aedion on the chest, none too lightly, either, and forced the blond to release Rowan's hand. "Play nice, wolf boy, or Aelin will skin your hide."

Aedion huffed out a laugh, and if Rowan wondered whether his flirtation earlier was serious or in jest, the look in the young man's eyes as he stared down at the brown haired woman cleared that up for him promptly. "I'm Lysandra, by the way," she smiled at him, so sweetly it made Rowan's teeth ache, and extended her hand to him as well. They shook hands and then were left in a slightly awkward bout of silence.

"So Aelin finally dragged you to one of these things, huh?" Aedion asked, an all too knowing smirk and complimentary quirked eyebrow adorning his face.

Rowan shrugged, not wanting to admit how apt the word dragged was. "I figured it was about time I experienced one of her parties from this side of the door."

"Sure it was," Aedion said with a faux sympathetic nod of his head. "Be careful with her, Rowan," Aedion clapped him on his shoulder, and the white haired man thought he was about the receive the cliche don't hurt her, or else, speech. "She's a spit fire. Stand too close and you'll get burned." He gave Rowan a wink-and a final appreciative glance-before folding Lysandra's hand into his own and walking out of the kitchen.

Rowan stared after them, not really sure what to make of that final bit of advice, but decided to just shake it off and grab another beer from the fridge. He contemplated staying in the now empty kitchen for the rest of the party in hopes of avoiding anyone else, but decided that was cowardly. And Rowan wasn't a coward.

Walking back into the busy living room, he thought he caught a flash of Aelin disappearing around a corner, but was stopped by two young men before he could fully investigate. One was taller and broader than the other, though not as tall as himself, with brown hair cut short in military fashion. The other was softer looking, with dark, almost pitch black hair, and blue eyes that held an icy glint within their depths.

"Can I help you?" Rowan asked slowly, not sure what he was getting in to. They looked ready for a fight and although Rowan knew he could take them both without spilling a drop of his beer, he always liked to know why he was getting into a fight first.

"Dorian, ask him," the taller one nudged the shorter in the ribs with his elbow.

"What?" No!" He hissed. "We have to build up to it. Do you know how rude it would be if I just-"

"Just ask me," Rowan said dryly, trying not to roll his eyes at their shenanigans. He was more mature than that-or so he told himself.

"Well, see," Dorian began, ever so diplomatically, "my friend Chaol here has a relative in-" this time Rowan really did roll his eyes. It seemed Dorian wouldn't be cutting straight to the point then.

Luckily for Dorian, Chaol seemed to notice Rowan's lack of patience and cut him off, "-are you related to Manon Blackbeak?"

Raising an eyebrow, he couldn't help but ask, "Who?"

Chaol pointed, none too discreetly, over at a tall, white haired woman standing in the corner of the room. She was surrounded by two other women, a scantily clad blonde and a shorter, dark haired woman with a prosthetic limb where the lower half of her right leg should have been. The white haired woman looked up, noticing Chaol's pointing, and her lip curled back in an aggressive sneer.

Rowan had to admit, he could see why they'd think he and this Manon were related, due to their hair coloring, but he quickly shook his head, "No, were not related. At all."

Dorian pouted, seemingly put out, "Damn," he muttered, but then gave Rowan a sly grin, "I was hoping you could introduce us."

"Isn't she friends with Aelin?" Rowan asked, scanning the room again to see if said woman was in sight. She wasn't. "Can't she introduce you two?"

"She could," Dorian said slowly, reluctantly. Rowan knew there was more behind that tone, but didn't care to press. "But she's more frenemies with Manon than actual friends, if you know what I mean."

"Then why's she here at all?"

"Aelin's childhood friends with Elide, so she always gets an invite," Chaol explained with a shrug, "Elide is friends with Manon. And Manon always tags along when Elide decides to come. And Astrid." He added, almost as an afterthought.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Rowan had to force himself to remain calm and not pull at his hair. Why he was even still talking to these two numb skulls was a mystery to him. "So why don't you ask Elide to introduce you?"

"I've tried!" Dorian wailed dramatically. "She's so shy though, I can barely get out a 'hey, can you,' before she's scurrying out of the room! I'm running out of ideas!"

Rowan blinked down at the boy. "Why don't you just go up and talk to her?"

Chaol and Dorian blinked. Twice. Thrice. "You know," Chaol said slowly, "he's got a point."

Stroking his chin with his thumb, Dorian hummed as he mulled over the advice. Snapping his fingers, he nodded, "Right. Right, well, I guess there's nothing to lose. Wish me luck." He turned to Chaol, breathed out of his nose harshly, then walked up to Manon as a man walked onto a battlefield.

Rowan frowned and shook his head at the ridiculousness that just occurred. Taking a sip of his beer, he looked down at Chaol who took the signal and walked away and over to a dark skinned woman with a roguish smile and the toned arms any trainer would dream of. Scanning the room again for Aelin, Rowan found himself almost face to face with a different dark skinned woman than the one he saw with Chaol. The woman in front of him was tall, thin as a spear, and had long, dark braids that reached down to her waist.

She smiled kindly at him and nodded, "Hello, I'm Nehemia. You must be Rowan." The white haired man frowned, wondering how so many people automatically knew his name, but nodded in confirmation all the same. Nehemia's smile grew, her happiness radiating off her in waves and illuminating her beauty. Rowan vaguely wondered how Aelin had collected such an attractive group of friends. "Aelin's told me much about you. She really enjoyed your breakfast for dinner date."

Rowan's eyebrows rose infinitesimally. So it was a date. That was good to know. "How do you know Aelin?" He asked after a momentarily lapse of silence. Small talk never was his strong suit.

"We were roommates in college. I was a transfer student, actually." This time her words had a soft lilt to them. The smallest sign of an accent.

"From Eyllwe?" He guessed, and Nehemia nodded, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Rowan gave her a small, almost shy smile. "I thought I detected an accent."

"Very good ear! I've worked hard to mask it, but I guess I can't fool everyone. Have you ever been?"

"Just a couple of times-for work. Unfortunately I didn't have much time to really enjoy it."

"That is unfortunate," Nehemia agreed solemnly. "Perhaps next time you go it will be more for pleasure than business and you'll be able to enjoy yourself. Let me know if you ever have the chance. I can give you all the ins and outs of all the best restaurants and attractions. None of that awful nonsense they recommend on Yelp."

Grinning, Rowan nodded his head in thanks, "If I ever go back, you'll be the first person I call."

Nehemia preened, apparently very pleased with his answer, before waving at someone behind him. "Aelin!" she called out, and just like that, the ever elusive smoke that was Aelin appeared at his side. Aelin bumped her shoulder against his in silent greeting while giving her attention to her friend. "Where is Fleetfoot? I was looking forward to seeing her."

"She had to get her shots so she's at the Faliq farm for the week. You should have seen her, Nehemia! She loves it up there." Grinning proudly, she added, "She's even caught a few wild rabbits, too."

Shaking her head, Nehemia chuckled softly, "I can only imagine the hell she's raising on the farm."

"I promise, though, next time you're over she'll be here."

"Good," Nehemia nodded regally before shaking her empty class around, frowning at the left over ice. "Well this needs refreshing," she gave Aelin a meaningful look before looking up to Rowan. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Rowan."

Rowan nodded in response and watched as she effortlessly made her way through the crowd and towards the kitchen. "So," Aelin drawled out the word while taking a half step closer to him. "You andNehemia seemed to be getting along well."

Shrugging, Rowan smirked when he began to feel Aelin's body heat against his chest. "Yeah, she almost made it-" he cut himself off, realizing he was about to say something terribly rude and possibly offensive.

"Bearable?" Aelin finished with a wicked grin. When Rowan grinned back sheepishly, she laughed. "I'm impressed you lasted so long, honestly. I expected you to be gone hours ago." She tentatively reached out and hooked two fingers around two of his own. When his fingers squeezed around hers she smiled softly. "I guess that means you really like me, huh?"

Gulping, Rowan could barely nod. His gaze kept flashing between her eyes-so blue and so brilliant with that ring of gold-and down to her mouth. Eventually he found the skills needed to speak, "It wasn't so bad," he said hoarsely, referring to the party.

"Yeah?" She tilted her head to the side. "Well I think we can do better than that."

Before Rowan's brain could untangle itself enough to understand her words, Aelin reached up on her tip toes and kissed him. Rowan exhaled sharply, all breath leaving him. Her mouth was hot on his and when he felt her tongue reach out and lick at his upper lip, he all but melted on the spot.

He wanted to deepen the kiss-God, did he ever-but just as he tilted his head and opened his mouth to grant her access, right before he could fully bring his arms around her, a sharp, howling whistle cut through their bubble of bliss. Aelin pulled away to glare at her cousin and flipped him the bird. Aedion merely laughed and returned the favor. "Get a room!" He jeered.

Sticking her tongue out at him, Aelin rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to Rowan. Her face lost some of its tension when she met his green eyes. "How about now?" She asked, her eyes alight with mischief.

It took a few moments for Rowan to process what she said, and then another few moments to understand the context. When he did he grinned down at her, "Better," he said, leaning down to kiss her again, lightly this time so as to not attract any unwanted attention. "Much better."

"Good," Aelin said while intertwining their fingers. Tugging at his hand lightly, she nodded towards a hallway away from the party. Rowan raised a questioning eyebrow. "So," Aelin drawled, slowly leading him through the people and towards the hallway. "About that room . . ." She trailed off, biting down on her lower lip.

Eyes blazing, Rowan tightened his grip on her hand and answered thickly, "Lead the way."

A/N: Please review! If I continue with this I think I'll either have Aelin meet Rowan's cadre next or have Rowan find out about Aelin's dating history with Chaol and Dorian. Let me know which you'd prefer (or, which you'd prefer first).