Disclaimer: I do not own any characters referenced

They had been waiting for the food for the past quarter of an hour already, and Aelin had drained her drink. "It wasn't poisoned after all." She stated blatantly.

Then Rowan's phone rang. A face-time call. "Huh... I don't know this number." He mused. She leaned over the table to check his phone screen and her eyes widened. "No! Rowan! Don't-" But he had already answered the call. There was a short pause before the face of a very familiar young man showed up on his phone-screen. "-pick up the phone". Aelin finished her statement. Too late.

"Rowan." Aedion's voice was distorted through the speakers. "May I ask WHERE THE HELL MY COUSIN IS?!" Rowan cringed and turned down the volume. They were already getting stares. He growled, but before he could answer, Aelin reached out to him. "Give me the phone." He handed it to her, albeit reluctantly.

Aedion was glaring at her through the screen. "Hello, Aedion." She greeted, not bothering to mask her annoyance. "Laena. Where are you?" "At a restaurant, so keep your voice down, you goddamn egghead."

Fenrys peeked over her shoulder.

Silence.

"Laena... Why are you at a restaurant with a famous model..?" His voice was like venom. Aelin face-palmed, "Goddamnit, Rys." But Fenrys was completely awe-struck. Slowly, he turned his head to face Rowan.

"Rowan... Is that Gavriel's..?" The addressed issued a defeated sigh and nodded. "Does Ae know?" He shook his head. "Does he know?" He shook his head again. "...Does Gavriel know?" And again.

Not to mention, Aedion and Aelin were extremely confused. "Laena. What is he-" Fenrys hung up the call, with the phone still in Aelin's hand. "What was that about?" She demanded, handing the cell back to Rowan. Fenrys stared her dead in the eye, and in a raspy voice, no more than a whisper, and wide eyes, he spoke; "We know his daaaaaaaaad..."

"His dad?" Aelin was unconvinced, "His father." She repeated. Fenrys nodded. "A friend of ours... Our brother - Gavriel."

She blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"Is he a cocky bastard?" She then asked, unfazed, taking both men aback. "Yes." Rowan answered blatantly. Fenrys raised his eyebrows; "How did you know?" "Like father, like son. Aedion must've gotten it from someone." There was a moment of silence before Fenrys erupted into fits of laughter.

"I'm surprised we haven't been thrown out of this restaurant yet." She giggled. Fenrys laughter was contagious. Even Rowan smiled; "Truly, a miracle." "But Rowan..." Aelin furrowed her brows skeptically, "Why don't you have your own classmate's phone number?"

The addressed shrugged; "I deleted it. The idea of being acquainted to that whiny blonde wasn't very appealing to me." She laughed. "I understand the feeling. Too bad, I don't have a choice." The mockery of a pout spread across her lips and Fenrys cooed.

He pinched her cheek and grinned; "Fret not, my precious youngling! I shall protect you from that evil yellow monkey!" She snorted and slapped away his hand, rubbing her sore cheek. "Precious youngling my ass. But please, go ahead and teach the monkey a lesson. He desperately needs it." Fenrys grinned and nodded eagerly.

"Your food." Ianthe seethed as she approached the table, a platter of the appetizers in hand. "Took you long enough." Aelin muttered, purposely loud enough for the waitress to hear. Ianthe struggled to contain her anger. "I need to go to the bathroom." Aelin stated and stood up, "what are you still here for?" She asked Ianthe, "You need a royal dismissal, or what?" A growl.

Aelin went to stalk by her. She noticed the triumphant smirk on Ianthe's lips a heartbeat to late. Aelin consciously tripped over the outstretched foot and did a sharp breath intake. The bitch was going to pay. She started imagining the terrible ways she would take revenge on the waitress, as she squeezed her eyes shut and awaited the hard impact of her body on the cold tiles. But before her face could connect with the ground, she felt strong arms wrap around her waist.

She was halted mid-air and twisted, allowing her eyes to open. She expected to see Rowan's pine eyes staring back at her, but instead found herself face to face with Fenrys. Up close, his onyx orbs were one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. Like a burning abyss of darkness.

She stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, before she realized how close they were. He must've darted from his chair the moment he saw her trip. He was slightly crouching, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and their faces inches apart. His long, golden hair caressed her jaw as he slowly stood upright, lifting her with him.

She had never noticed how truly beautiful the male was.

"Ahem." Rowan cleared his throat, tearing both adolescents from their trance like state. Fenrys quickly released Aelin from his hold, his face unusually flushed, but he masked it well; putting on a cocky smirk and leaning to whisper in her ear: "Better be careful, Ae... There won't always be a handsome prince to save you~"

She scoffed and punched him in the shoulder. While Ianthe's face was one of pure aggravation and envy, Rowan masked his emotions well. But Fenrys knew him better than that. Barely noticeable, there was a glint of jealousy in his eyes. Fenrys loosed a chuckle. Why not use the opportunity?

He let his head lower from Aelin's ear, to the point where his lips were caressing her collarbone and breathed against her neck. She shuddered against the unexpected warmth and a blush crept onto her cheeks.

Fenrys grinned and went back to his seat, saluting Aelin in the process. When he let his gaze drift back to Rowan, he wasn't shocked in the slightest to find pure, flaming rage. "Fenrys... What the hell do you think you're doing?" "Me? I just saved Ae, like a good friend should. Right?" He leaned his chair back and wrapped an arm around Aelin's shoulder, who was now seated again, having completed recovered from the incident.

She raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't brush him off. Rowan narrowed his eyes, but before he could retort, Ianthe spoke up; "Your main course shall be served in due time. Goodbye." Her words were no longer laced with overplayed sweetness or the attempt to seduce. She turned around and walked away.

Rowan glowered; "let's eat."

Aelin simply nodded, unaware of the mischievous sparkle in Fenrys' eyes.

Luckily, when they had finished, a different waiter dropped off the main course. A dark haired man, in his late 30s.

"Thank the gods. I don't think I could stand seeing that garbage disposal of a waitress again without actually vomiting." Aelin poked around at her risotto with her fork. Fenrys and Rowan nodded in agreement. Then Fenrys smirked. "Ae darling~ Do you want to try some of my steak?" He gestured to the loin cutlet and potato salad on his plate.

A barely noticeable growl rumbled in the back of Rowan's throat. "Can I?" Aelin asked, mouth watering at the sight of the juicy meat. "Open wide~" Fenrys skewered a chunk of the steak with his fork and waved it in front her face. She cocked an eyebrow skeptically, but eventually complied.

"I can feed myself, you know," She stated between chews, "with my own silverware." Fenrys simply grinned and scooped up his own slice of meat. "Of course-" Rowan stood up, his chair emitting a terrible screeching noise as it dragged along the floor.

"I'm going to the bathroom." He excused himself, his voice unusually cold.

"What's his problem?" Aelin muttered as she watched his retreating back.

Fenrys simply grinned deviously and shrugged; "I have no idea."

A/N: Another short - and late - chapter, I know. And I'm incredibly sorry. I just hope you now that I'm so appreciative of all of you guys who always support me. I know I've said it before, but it's really true x3

I hope you enjoyed the chapter though! Fenrys is so fun to write, as well as Rowan's jealousy XD Please review! Ja ne!