Rowan took a deep breath, and stepped into the gaping purple hole, pushing all the doubts that filled his head away. When his foot pasted the threshold, the world behind him disappeared along with the portal and ground beneath him. He was thrown into a free fall, that had him frantically shifting into hawk form. As Rowan glided through the foreign air he observed the land below him, reluctantly tearing his eyes from the purple skies and breathtaking mountains. The dark of night shrouded most of the land's details from him, but a cluster of lights indicated civilization. So Rowan, like a moth, blindly flew towards those lights.

What Rowan found was surreal, a patch of perfection the city was. Filled with music and art. Aelin would have loved this, if they ever had the time, he would bring her here, he thought as he watched from a branch. He soon noticed the pointy ears sticking out from hair and hats, and after scenting the air he realized it was a city full of fae. A few of the residents, though smelling similar to the fae he knew, look nothing like them. Possibly branches from fae? He did not know, and he didn't care much. Rowan was here to find Aelin, he could give two shits about this world.

A group of people came down the street, the other seemed to part for them, giving them pleasant smiles and nods. Five fae, Rowan counted, three males, two females. The male at the front, black hair, hands in his pockets, had a pained expression, while a female with long blonde hair feverishly yelled at him. On the male's right was a small female with short black hair, and though her outward appearance suggested fae, the aura she emitted was otherworldly. Behind her were two others, leathery black wings adoring their backs. These males were fae, and something nagged at the back of Rowan's mind, he briefly recalled a mentioning of winged fae.

The black haired fae stopped abruptly and turned to look straight at him with dark eyes,"Who are you? You do not smell of the night court?"

Her companions all turned, the winged males pulling out swords, the female in a fighting position, the raven haired male's hands remained in his pockets, a trace of terror passed his face before it was stomped out, leaving it expressionless.

"You do not smell of any court for that matter.", the female drawled with an excited grin.

Rowan, accepting his discovery, swooped down, shifting back into his fae form. He kept his hands at his sides, in easy reach of his weapons.

"I am Rowan Whitethorn." He had the time nor the patience for fake a alias.

The fae look towards the wingless male and Rowan followed their stares. He stood more upright, with a purpose, though his face still remained weary.

"And where are you from?", he questioned.

"I am not from a land, or world, you would know of, and I am not allied with any land on this world."

Puzzled looks passed the winged males' faces. The short female only retorted, "Try me."

Rowan did not moved his eyes to her when answering, "Terrasen."

The male's eyebrows rose, "And what brings you here, Rowan?"

Rowan battled with himself, he didn't want to give anything about how important Aelin was to Terrasen, or him.

"I am here to retrieve someone."

"Who?"

Rowan swallowed a growl, "A female who accidentally... came here." , he said with more than a hint of unintended aggression.

There was a moment of tense silence.

"You should come with us."

Rowan nodded.

The black haired male began down the cobble street, the two females followed him with no hesitation. Rowan look towards the two males, one who gestured with a hand for him to follow them. He did as he was told, annoyed that he was so close to finding her, and instead he was being escorted.

They stopped when they had reached a house- no he corrected himself- a home. They entered, Rowan noting the tension and sharp looks he was getting from all but the wingless male. They surrounded him in a circle of sorts, watching his every move. The male stood at the front, hands still in his pockets, the two females flanking him. One winged male stood behind him, blocking the door. He glanced around the room, looking for the missing male. After several sweeps of the room, he found him sulking in a corner. Surrounded by what appeared to be shadows. Rowan surveyed the room, it was homely, and he noticed that all the furniture had been designed to accustom wings. His eyes settled back on the wingless male.

"My name is Rhysand, by the way."

Rowan was growing sick of this, he just wanted to find Aelin, and had know idea why they had brought him here.

"Is there something you would like to ask me?"

"Well, I would like to know how you got here. And, I would like to know more about the female you are looking for." Rowan stiffened, "As well as more about your world."

When Rowan said nothing, Rhysand continued, "You must understand, it's hard to believe you came here from another world."

"With all due respect, I have no desire to make friends here, I do not care for your politics or anything else of this world. I only want to find the female and return to my world. The sooner you let me search, the sooner I am gone. So unless you have heard of a female from another world, I wish to leave."

Rhysand's demeanor did not change, as he paced around the room, "And what if I had heard of this female."

Every nerve on Rowan's body buzzed with aggression, if Rhysand knew of Aelin, Rowan would do anything to get that information. Rowan's mind was spinning, what if he didn't only know of Aelin, what if had her.

But Rowan only said, "Then I would hope you would tell me."

"How am I to know you do not mean harm to this female." Rhysand questioned, while examining his nails.

Rowan wasn't quite able to swallow his growl this time. Him hurt Aelin, his fireheart. He'd rather die. "I would never harm her."

The male paused in his pacing, turning to look Rowan in the eyes, "Anyone can say that, how am I to know you mean it?"

There was a list of thing he could say that would erase all doubt: Carranam. Queen. Wife. Mate. But if he were to say any of these thing Aelin could be used as a weapon against him, she could be hurt even- Something brushed up against his mind, Rowan's whole body tensed. His mind's forgotten walls shooting up, forcing the presence out. He saw Rhysand's eyes widened. And Rowan couldn't contain his anger, he advanced on the male, the others around him reaching for their weapons.

"Mind reader.", he growled in the males face. Rowan had encountered few, but he knew that feeling. They were dangerous, some even able to manipulate and destroy minds. Maeve had trained him to lock them out. He had long since stopped putting up his mental shields, and now it had come back to bite him in the ass. Rowan just prayed he had pushed him out before he could've gotten anything.

Rhysand's eyes were wide, but not with fear or shock Rowan realized. It looked like pain.

Rhysand threw up a hand halting his companions who had been advancing on him, before breathlessly saying, "She's your mate."

"She's your mate" he repeated, all arrogance gone. The pain now clear in his eyes.

Rowan took another step toward him, snarling, "If you lay one finger on her, if you withhold one fragment of information, I will kill you very, very slowly."

"I won't." Rhysand said apologetically, stepping back.

"Anyone can say that, how am I to know you mean it?" Rowan mockingly replied. Still angry, but with a rising panic.

Rhysand ran a hand through his hair, "I promise I won't, and I won't try and enter your mind anymore."

"You expect me to believe you? I can't just look into your mind and see your intentions."

He sighed, "I know what it's like."

Rowan opened his mouth to object or clarify he didn't give a damn, but the blonde female beat him to it, "Rhys, you don't have to tell him."

But the male continued, "I was recently... separated.. from my mate too."

He was still on edge, but he felt a little more trusting of Rhysand.

"I haven't heard of any strange happenings in my court, but if I do, I will inform you immediately."

Rowan nodded.

"I assume you don't have a place to stay, or food. If you want, I can arrange a place for you to stay. And if you need any information or supplies, just ask."

"Thank you, but I would prefer to leave.", he said sternly.

Rhysand nodded, "Of course, you are free to go."

At his word the male in front of the door moved aside, and Rowan left.

HOPE YOU LIKE IT