Graphic Violence, Viewer Discretion Advised.

She crouched in the shadows, keenly watching the man stumble out the club. She could kill him now. One flick of a wrist was all it would take to end his life. But it would be too quick, too clean, too painless. This man deserved to suffer.

The man turned and coughed, and Aelin emerged from the shadows, she was going to have fun with this. She waltzed pass him, swaying her hips. Not even sparing him a glance.

"Hey don't leave so soon ,sugar." He slurred, grabbing her arm and pulling her against him.

Aelin hid her smirk, and gasped. Feigning surprise. He leaned in, his breath caressing her ear, she didn't bother hiding her shiver. His breath stank of ale. She was pinned against him, this would trap most. But she was not most. His free hand was pressed against Aelin's stomach and was dangerously inching upward.

She pulled her arm forward and twisted, a pop echoed through the slums as her shoulder dislocated. Aelin could've sworn she heard someone gasp. She had dislocated her bones so many times during her training that she only felt a slight prick of pain. The man released his grip immediately, clearly shocked.

Aelin spun to face him. He stood there, his mouth hung open, and his eyes wide. She flashed him an innocent smile, and stepped towards him. Aelin rolled her shoulder and another pop sounded as it relocated. He snapped out of his shock and stumbled back.

"Don't leave so soon, Sugar" she sneered and stalked towards him, beckoning him with her finger.

He shook his head, and turned to run. Aelin grinned again and grabbed his wrist, she laced her leg in front of him and he fell face first to the floor. She snickered and knelt beside him, leaning near his ear.

"So flustered sweetheart?" She whispered.

Aelin grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him up, standing as she did. She dragged him over to the curb, snarling. She bent down and grabbed a fist full of his hair, jerking his head up, and pulling him forward more. Slamming his open mouth on the curb, then she stood.

"As this agonizing pain courses through you, remind yourself that if you had never touched those women, you would not have met this end." She said coldly. The man lying on the floor whimpered.

Aelin snarled and raised her foot, smashing it down on the back of his head. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the alley filled with his scream as hi jaw shattered. She chuckled without humor.

"Oh it's just the beginning, sunshine."

Aelin snatched the man's hair and yanked him to his knees, his face was mangled and broken. He was whimpering and crying. She slid the knife from her sleeve out and stabbed it into his nape. He screamed, the sound mostly the gurgling of blood. Aelin dug into the wound and grabbed his spine. She yanked backward, hard, his flesh ripping apart as his spine was torn from him. He couldn't even scream as his body crumbled like a sack of potatoes. She had done this a million times. It was an honor she reserved for those special monsters of men, it sent a rush of adrenaline through her and she sighed, still holding his spine.

She dangled the spine in front of her, "Looks like someone has no backbone", she proclaimed, a whisper of a smile passing on her features.

Aelin examined her nails, she had gotten blood under them, goddamn it.

Something clattered behind her as it hit the cobblestone, she swiveled, still holding the monster's spine. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw Rowan standing there, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open, his dagger on the ground. Rowan never look surprised, never. She swallowed, he finally saw her as what she was, a monster.

They both looked away as, Chaol and Aedion stepped forward. Her heart sunk further.

"Is that human?" Chaol asked, pointing at the the spine shocked. He hadn't seen all of it. Maybe Aedion hadn't either.

"He was more monster than man." She replied coldly. And glanced at Rowan, his face was emotionless, probably like hers.

Rowan hated that he couldn't read her face. She stood there calm and collected, her arms crossed, still holding the man's spine. While he was crumbling inside. He didn't know what to think, Rowan just wanted to help her and hold her.

He had been staring at her she snarled and pushed past them, their hands brushed and Rowan grabbed it, pulling her close. She drew in a sharp breath, and snarled, they were inches apart.

"Aelin?" Rowan begged.

Their breaths were mingling.

"Aelin please."

She growled and pulled away.

Rowan snarled and bit his lip. He sighed and followed her down the alley. That was what he was, the loyal guard, trailing his queen. Never to be her equal. When had he become so self pitying? He growled and continued down the alley, not daring to look at Aedion and Chaol after his rejection.