"What is ashwood?" Celaena asked, not looking at Feyre.

Feyre looked at Celaena, her eyes were glazed over, this was the first thing she had said in hours. She looked more broken, more in pain than she had when she had appeared on the dining room table, torn apart and bleeding.

"Ashwood is a wood that drains Fae of their magic and energy." She replied.

Celaena swallowed, "Like Iron?"

"Iron doesn't affect Fae in this world."

After a nod, they fell back into silence. In the light of the Day Court, Celaena's golden hair was a living flame, Feyre was surprised Celaena hadn't burned her alive after she had winnowed Aelin from Tamlin and refused to winnow her back. They had shouted and argued until Aelin had finally agreed to continue to the Night Court, where Rhysand and the court would be able to help get Rowan back.

Now the flame she had thought would burn her alive was gone from Celaena's eyes.

Feyre chewed her cheek, "Who is Rowan?" she had asked before but Celaena had avoided the question.

"It's complicated-"

"Her mate." a familiar voice growled.

They spun on their heels, the flame collar reappeared around Feyre's neck and the daggers returned to Celaena's hands, her own growl answering.

Cassian stood tall, sword in hand, his stare unusually serious.

The girl- Aelin, was deathly thin, bandaged, and mangled. And her eyes, when they met his. Layers and layers of pain, sorrow, and worry. It disturbed him enough that he didn't kill her on sight even with his Highlady in danger.

"Who are you?" she snarled, knuckles whitening around the twin daggers.

Cassian ran an eye over Feyre, he saw no bruises or marks, and though she was thinner than he remembered, it was barely noticeable when she stood next to Aelin.

Feyre spoke freely despite the fire around her, "That's Cassian, he's from the night court."

"How do you know about Rowan?" Aelin demanded, taking a smooth, practiced step forward. Cassian almost grinned, Rowan had good tastes, with more meat on her bones the female would have been stunning, and from the way she moved and held her daggers she was more skilled of a warrior than most of his soldiers.

Cassian gave her a quizzical look, "Release her and maybe I'll tell you, Aelin."

Feyre's eyebrows shot up and she twisted her neck towards the growling female, "Aelin?"

The fire surrounding Feyre's neck disappeared, but Aelin didn't answer.

Feyre turned on the girl, refusing to be ignored, "Why does he think your name is Aelin?"

Aelin sighed, "Because it is."

The way she spoke and snarled, it's something he still recognized in Feyre, the mortal youth, although he fangs and pointed ears told him she was fae. Something was off about her, and she was most definitely young, why would someone want to capture her? How could someone with so little life be damaged and mangled like this?

Feyre crossed her arms and stepped next to the Aelin, "Why would you lie about your name?"

Cassian was beginning to doubt this was a hostage situation.

"Why does it matter? It's just a name that in this world has zero connotation." Aelin said defiantly, keeping her eyes on Cassian.

"Then why lie about it?"

"I have many names and Aelin and Celaena happen to be two of them." She finished with a practiced authority, that allowed no questions.

"Feyre, are you okay?" Cassian asked, sidestepping closer to her.

Feyre smiled at him, taking a few steps before wrapping her arms around his waist, "I'm fine Cassian." She pulled back, grabbing his shoulder, "Your wings! They've healed!" He smiled at her and nodded, his ears and nose still focused on tracking Aelin. Feyre must have noticed because she reassured, "Celaena- Aelin, whatever, is okay, she's my friend."

Cassian looked towards Aelin, who was glaring at him, "We need to get to Rhysand he's going mad."

"Is everyone okay?" Feyre asked.

"Yes, everyone is fine, Feyre but we need to get to him."

Aelin strutted up to him, "How do you know Rowan?"

Cassian looked at her, now she was closer he could see all the small and not so small cuts and bruises peppering every inch of exposed skin, "All will be explained when we find Rhys."

"No, tell me now, if you've touched him I will burn you and your whole world to the ground." Aelin commanded.

Admittedly, Cassian was taken aback by the frail girl's complete disregard that he towered above her, was clad in full armor with an expertly crafted sword in hand, and was a famed commander of the most powerful Highlord's army.

All Cassian could do was stare at Aelin, busy deciphering what wounds caused what scars, before he fought past his sympathy to growl, "We did not lay a hand on your mate, we provided him with food and shelter, which you kindly repaid in kidnapping our Highlady."

Aelin opened her mouth but he continued, "You will both stay here, I will fly, find and bring Rhysand and the court back here. If anything goes wrong Feyre, winnow to the house and we'll find you."

Feyre nodded, and Cassian sheathed his sword, he extended his wings, preparing for the burst of energy needed to ascend, but not before a small voice said, "Thank you."

His eyes snapped to Aelin, where he could only assume the gentle voice came from, Cassian surveyed her frame again, she was a mystery. He brought his wings down, launching into the air.

Aelin was so close, had been so close to getting to Rowan, she could feel the bond tugging on her heart constantly. And she wasn't sure what it meant, was Rowan doing that purposely? To try to guide her to him, was it just something that happened when they were both aware of the bond, and both searching. Or, the final option, which she dared not consider unless she was fine with burning Feyre alive, that the yanking, the torturous pulsing, was from Rowan's pain. That each pull represented the crack of a whip, or the slice of a knife as he was slowly cut open and pulled apart. Aelin lowered herself to the ground, before her legs collapsed against her will.

She rubbed her wrists, her hands pulling up grass. Aelin knew they were obvious signs of weakness, Abroynn would have hit her on the back of the head for it, but he wasn't here, it was only Feyre. So she kept wringing her wrists, and fidgeting with blades of grass which she burned in her fingers.

"Rowan is your mate," Feyre said, looking at the flame, "I'm sorry I winnowed you away."

Aelin nodded, closing her fist around the grass to stifle it. There was no point in getting mad at her now.

"How did you meet?" Feyre asked, sitting down across from her.

Aelin look at her, Feyre was trying to lessen her grin, but it was useless, of course she would be happy. She was reuniting with her mate, and if Aelin had had more energy she would have used some of it to be glad for her, but all her energy was honed on the mate bond between her and Rowan.

"He saw me first, passed out on a roof, drunk and out of my mind." Feyre let out an amused scoff, and Aelin continued, "I stuck my tongue out at him. I only realized he was a scary fae warrior that could and would beat my ass, not some random hawk, when he approached me in an alley, as I was being shooed by a lady who thought I was a beggar."

Feyre smiled sweetly, "Is that when you realized you were mates?"

Aelin looked at her, and the simple question brought a flood of emotion, she cleared her throat, her voice still sounding raspy when she said, "No, he didn't realize either, we were," she trailed off, wondering if it would only be a waste of breath, "both in bad places and we hated each other."

The female opposite her shifted, getting into a more comfortable and more permanent position, "When did you realize?"

Again, a question that was supposed to be simple and joyous but just wasn't in her life, everything had a tragic consequence or backstory.

"I found out when he took an arrow for me, but he didn't realize, and I never told him."

Feyre raised her eyebrows, "Rhys, my mate, he also knew that we were mates and never told me."

She said it with enough strain that Aelin looked up, "How did you react?" she asked. Aelin hadn't even thought of how Rowan would feel that she lied. Her mind was swarming with thoughts of how he would take it, if he would want to be her mate, if he would feel guilty. But not if he would hate her for hiding it.

"I was pissed, I dumped his body at the house and then stayed in a cottage for a week."

Aelin's shoulders slumped, so when they finally did meet he may just be mad at her.

Feyre offered a smile, "What did he do when he found out."

Aelin shifted and clutched her knees, "I don't know, I wasn't there. And I haven't seen him since he was told."

"I'm sure it'll be fine"

Feyre was planning to further comfort Aelin, but then the pounding of those always strong wings sounded and all thoughts, all sympathy was swept away with the wind they caused.

She stood and spun in one fluid motion, her eyes were already blurred with tears and she heard rather than saw his feet land on the ground. Before he was able to rise from his crouch Feyre charged, chests and lips slamming into one another. He rose fully, taking her with him, and the next thing she knew, her legs were wrapped around his waist. Their lips crashing together, her tongue already coated in his taste, and her body already buzzing to taste more.

He pulled back slightly, kissing away her tears, his tongue lingering on her skin. And Feyre gasped, finally able to see those beautiful violet eyes.

"Hello, Feyre darling." breathed Rhysand, her Highlord, her mate, her complete equal.

Hey! Sorry for the delayed update, just ya know, life. You all have been so kind to me and thank you so, so much. I'm on break soon so hopefully that means I'll get off my ass and write.

Oh yes, and special shoutout to Lovesick131, who is writing a Rowaelin Fanfic which I am beta-ing! Check it out if you feel like it.