Sorry guys, it's a bit shorter of a chapter than normal but I hope you enjoy anyways! Reviews are always welcome, thank you all so much for the support, favorites and follows. It makes me happy to see that you are enjoying the story!

-Mistblade

When Rowan entered the gym, he saw Aelin doing tricks on floor.

That was putting it mildly.

Aelin was pulling stunts that even the bravest gymnasts didn't try for years. Triple arabians, back double punches, any combination of moves. What was so fascinating is she was mixing in her MMA training. During her flips she tucked tighter, she was mixing kicks and punches into her flips and twists. Rowan stood quietly, watching. Aelin, unaware pulled a double back handspring into a double pike. He heard her swear colourfully when she landed funny. With immortal grace, he walked up behind her.

"Need some help?" He asked.

Aelin whirled, fists up. She relaxed slightly, recognizing Rowan. "No. You think that I need it?"

"Fine, but if you're ankle is sprained because of your performance don't blame me."

Aelin stuck her out her tongue. "What do you want?" She asked as she limped over to the side of the floor.

"I don't know. How about an explanation, Aelin?"

By that point, Aelin was sitting and wrapping her ankle. When he said her name with such venom, she started. "What? Do you think that because you're in with my cousin you get my life's story?"

"No, but I think that as your fellow training member from both Mistward Academy and here that I deserve some explanation."

"No."

At that one word, Rowan whipped around. Aelin gazed back at him defiantly, "Just because you were at Mistward and you trained with me, I don't have to tell you anything. Not a SINGLE DAMN THING!"

The shouting got the attention of the gymnasts who were there for training. Rowan growled, "Then what are you going to tell Aedion?"

"Nothing yet," Aelin said curtly.

"What about training?"

"I won't be there," She said. "I have a meeting."

"Fine. You do what you want. But if you go back to the way you were in Mistward, it's not my fault."

Aelin's only response was to grab her bag and head out. Rowan didn't know the first thing about her past life, she hadn't told him about any details. All he knew is that she was running away from her past. She snorted, finding it funny that she was heading right to the man who had dictated her past. Pushing open the doors, Aelin strolled outside into the sunny day. It was absurdly happy, with the sky cloudless and the birds chirping to one-another. Strolling down Kingscott way, Aelin made a sharp right then left into the warehouse district. Looking up and around she made sure that there wasn't anyone tailing her. Spotting a second story window that was half open, Aelin began to climb up. It wasn't terribly hard: her runners were grippy enough for good traction and she had been doing this for most of her life. Sliding through the window, Aelin dropped soundlessly onto the walkway. She could hear muted voices coming from below her. Dismounting, she fell to the ground and rolled into the dark warehouse. Shifting into a swaggering walk took less than a heartbeat.

A voice from the back called out to her: "Celaena, so wonderful to see you again. I see that exile is treating you well."

Aelin turned to face Arobynn. He was the same as ever: long auburn hair and steel gray eyes, well muscled and lounging as if he hadn't a care in the world. From past experiences, Aelin knew that the relaxed posture was a ruse; Arobynn was always ready to fight.

"Arobynn, what do you want?" was her wary response. She did not want to work for him, not one bit. But with the look in his eyes, she could see that he had an ace up his sleeve.

"I just wanted to ask you if you were interested in a competition that's happening," he said, the gleam still there.

"Why? What do you know that could possibly interest me?"

"I heard from a little birdy that your newly arrived cousin would be partaking in a match."

"Who is the competitor and who told you this?" She asked. Aedion partaking in a match was not the worst thing in the world; but the competitor...

"I did," Arobynn smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, "and the competitor is the Shadow."

The words that ran through her head were so vulgar that even sailors would be amazed. Aedion fighting the Shadow? She couldn't let that happen, because there were two people who went as the Shadow: an fighter who fought to kill and herself.

"How nice," Aelin responded, as blandly as she could. "I suppose that I wouldn't be posing as the Shadow this round?"

"No, not this round. Have you considered working for me again?" Arobynn's change of the subject almost caught Aelin off guard.

Almost.

"I don't know; I still have to think over it. Suppose I did come back to work for you, would you let me fight in my cousin's place? I've always wanted to know who would come out on top: the shadow or I," Aelin forced herself to be indifferent, even though her body was screaming it was a trap.

"I could make that arrangement, provided you worked both the MMA and Gymnastic rings: clean or dirty for at least three months." Arobynn glanced at his nails, the picture of boredom.

"Well then, I suppose that I could do that. But I thought that you had Lysandra for gymnastics."

"An extra competitor never went amiss. Do we have a deal?"

"We do.

They clasped hands, sealing the deal.

Aelin could only think that she had made a big mistake; but if it came with her cousins safety it was worth it.