A/N: Hey fellow booknerds, I need help. To be able to speed up the uploading process I'm searching for beta readers. What I want are people who can give me their honest opinion (all critique welcome) and give me a few hints of where the grammar has to have another check.
Are you interested, just send me a PM.

Guest – Thank you! I'm absolutely going to keep that in mind, I'm also going to pretend that I understood was pivotal is and that I didn't googled it.

Dwiertella – My friend, hello! Sorry for keeping you waiting for 20 more days. And as always, thank you for the support.

Antagonist406 – Never underestimate our Fire Breathing Bitch Queen. Never.

Blac Hide – 20 days, you for the review, I'm so glad you still like the story. Let's be honest, I hadn't slept in a long time when I wrote the thing about the sea. Tired TildaL writes weird shit. So this chapter… Oh damn.

Softballpulp12 – Aelin sass, it's found on the shelf between Rowaeiln- and marshmallowfluff. The best thing is, it's never out of stock.

THANK YOU ALL! Your support is what keeps me going. Seriously I can't thank you enough.

Chapter 36. The Immortal Bitch Queen

Aelin's perspective

They didn't say anything when Rowan filled the bath for Aelin or as he helped her scrub away all dried blood from her skin. Words wasn't needed. A slight smile, a raised eyebrow or a slow blink of an eye was enough.

When Rowan had grinned too smug, Aelin had given him a foam beard. She couldn't remember when she had laughed so hard last. She knew one thing for sure, Rowan didn't fit in a beard.

Aelin dressed in her tinker's construct suit and burnt her old clothes. Rowan stood a few feet away and watched her with a perplexed face.

What is it Buzzard?

"How could you defeat Arobynn if he was carrying the Wyrdkey?"

"I was always his weakness. When he had me, nothing else mattered and Luca… He saved me" Aelin's words died out and she held a hand to her throat. She was back in the dessert, felt the knife penetrate her skin. No, it wasn't real. She shook her head and continued.

"I took the Wyrdkey from him before I threw him into another realm."

Rowan grabbed her and kissed her forehead and breathed in her scent.

Aelin felt the tingling sensation in her spine again. "We should go now. Maeve is waiting for us in the throne-room."

How do you know?

Aelin mentioned to the Wyrdkey around her neck, Rowan nodded and took her hand and started to walk to the door. But Aelin stood put.

"I said we should go, not that we are going."

She will be mad.

That's the point. Aelin grinned at Rowan's shocked face, but he just took a deep breath and smiled back. A warm feeling spread in Aelin chest, Rowan believed in her.

Aedion's perspective

He stopped outside the oak-door to Rowan's room and was about to knock, but the door was flung open and Aelin waved him in.

She was no longer covered in blood, but Aedion hadn't been able to get the picture of his blood-soaked cousin out of his head. He walked right up to her and growled, "don't do that again."

Aedion didn't wait for an answer, but embraced her. He breathed in her scent and his pulse slowed down to normal for the first time since she had left.

Aelin broke of the hug after a few seconds and gave him a slight smile.

"Now tell me, what did you find out about the agreement between the Fae queen and king Glaston?" She didn't what for an answer, she turned to Rowan instead. Aedion knew that they were communicating without words again. He shouldn't be jealous, still it stung.

Aelin grinned to Rowan and he shook his head. Aedion had a feeling that the old bastard had believed that Aedion just had been partying and not gathering information for the past weeks. So that's why Rowan always looked like he wanted to punch Aedion in the face whenever they met.

Aedion smirked to the grumpy Fae who still looked like he wanted to punch Aedion in the face, before Aedion answered Aelin's question.

"Maeve came to the court a few months ago. She and the king made an agreement, but the terms of the deal are secret."

Aelin looked meaningful at Aedion and he grinned back. She knew him all too well.

Aelin's perspective

Aedion had never been satisfied with only knowing a part of the truth. He had done anything to find out what was kept hidden from him. Therefor he had been Aelin's spy and information gatherer when they were children.

He told her the terms of the agreement and half an hour later, Aelin's plan had gotten a few touchups and she knew what had to be done.

Aelin walked to the throne-room with her entourage. Rowan was strategically placed on her right side and Aedion on her left. She had a strong feeling that that would bother Maeve. Aelin took a deep breath before she put on an arrogant grin and held her chin high. She was going to have a pissing contest with The Immortal Bitch Queen.

When they entered the room, the males walked a step behind her. Aelin's Fae sent could easily pick up the sweet nervousness that filled the air. The king sat on his throne and queen Maeve stood next to him. She was breathtakingly beautiful with her raven hair and dark eyes.

"I heard you decided to join us Maeve." Aelin showed no sign of obedience to the immortal queen, no titles and no respect. It was all a part of her plan. A stupid plan that just might work.

"Aelin Galathynious, I see you finally decided to show up." The queens tone was sharp and her look intense.

"Oh I'm so sorry, I had important matters to take care of," purred Aelin.

"Like where my half-breeds are." Oh, that wasn't Maeve's sharp tone she had heard before, this was.

"I wouldn't call them yours. The demi-Faes decided to join me." Aelin was out on deep waters.

Maeve stood up and walked over to Aelin, Rowan tried to step in front of Aelin to protect her, but she waved him off. Trust me, she told him with a look before smirking at the immortal queen. This might be deep waters, but who had water magic? Yes, Aelin had.

"Who gave them that right?" Maeve was close now and every bone in Aelin's body told her to run.

"I did. You never cared about us half-breeds that doesn't have any special power, so I thought you wouldn't mind if I took them off your hands."

The queen whispered, "I do mind."

Aelin had to fight against her instincts now. She concentrated on her breathing for a second and felt comfort from the magic in her veins. Her name was Aelin Ashryver Galathynious and she would not be afraid. Especially not of the Fae I front of her.

Aelin's grin widened. "I'm sorry. But they have special right's in your land, that means that they are a different from your own people. And the half-breeds decided to join me, the bastard queen. Isn't that fitting?" Aelin leaned forward and whispered, "What are you going to do? Remember, your people still burn and so do you."

Maeve made a strange sound, Aelin was prepared when the queen clawed her in the face. She flinched, but didn't back away, she just whispered, "do you smell that? Ashryver blood." She held Maeve's gaze for a long second before she turned around to her uncle.

His face was pale and when he saw how the blood flowed down from the thin scratches on her face, it became even paler. He clenched his fists and his face started to turn read. He slowly rose from his throne and took a deep breath.

"What is this? How do you dare to hurt someone of my blood when you have promised to protect us?" His Ashryver eyes were locked on the immortal queen.

"That half-breed broke a treaty." Maeve's voice was like a knife and her eyes shoot lightning bolts.

Rowan voice broke through the silence and Maeve stared at him. "No, my queen didn't. The special laws for the demi-Faes made her actions legal. All of Fae blood from Erilea can seek sanctuary in your fortresses and so can all of Fae blood from Wendlyn. But only seek sanctuary, they do not become a part of your society."

"Is that true queen Maeve?" It was clear that the king had to use all of his self-restraint not to scream.

After his words followed a long silence.

"Then my niece didn't break any treaty, but you did."

The whole room held its breath. The tension was so thick that you could feel it. Rowan grabbed Aelin's hand and she could feel a cold stream of air that eased the pain in her face.

"You will be their death. You will kill the half-breeds just as you kill everyone else you come close to. They will scarify their lives to save yours, a worthless scarify."

Aelin knew what Maeve was doing, still it worked – the words cut deep. Aelin could feel her power acing and wanting out. Rowan's hand was suddenly ice-cold. But she didn't care, it wasn't enough. The power wanted out, she had to let it out.

"Rowan, Aedion, step away." Her voice sounded calm, it was nothing like how she felt.

Instead of walking away, Rowan walked closer. Put his hand on her cheeks and stared in her eyes.

You are its master; you are in control.

His comforting scent filler her nose and she nodded slowly. He was right.

She turned to Maeve once again and smiled wider than ever.

"Fighting for what you love are always worth dying. One day, you might understand. Or maybe not. Still, thank you for the aid in the upcoming war. The demi-Faes will be a great resource."

Maeve cringed and then walked past Aelin out of the room. She stopped in the door and turned maround.

"First a flower girl and now a bastard. You really know how to pick them prince Rowan." This time it was Aelin who was holding Rowan back. She put a hand on his cheek and smiled at him. The tension around his mouth softened when he met her stare.

Aelin heard the sound of claws against limestone and turned around.

Two wolves; one black as the moonless night and one white as snow, emerged from the shadows and followed in their queen's step.

If two of The Cadre were here, then Gavriel also might be here. She turned her gaze back to Rowan. She knew he was thinking the same. Aelin looked over at Aedion who had a smug grin spread across his lips. Was she going to turn his world upside down.

The Immortal Bitch Queen Vs The Fire Breathing Bitch Queen.

Maeve 0, Aelin 1