Aelin focused on Rowan's heavy, constant, reassuring breathing. She had had enough of waiting around. When Rowan had come she had decided to wait a little, to let him and Aedion adapt to each other, to sharing her. But weeks had come and gone, and they had made no progress, still snarling, having those insufferable staring contests, along with the rest of unending territorial bullshit. It was now, or never.

She was going to have to investigate the castle and- and- so much. So much. And now she had to deal with Abroynn. Aelin swallowed, and squeezed her eyes shut. Trying not to scream or curse for Rowan's sake. For the hundredth or so time this night, she tried to slip into sleep.

But no, it seemed like hours and she still couldn't sleep. Aelin was itching to start, to go to the castle and investigate. Well, night would be ideal- but she hadn't told Rowan.. but she would be back before he woke, and she wasn't going to fight- Aelin bit her lip. Yep. She was going.

As smoothly and silently as humanly possible- humanly, damn her non-fae form- she rose from the bed. And near silently padded to the closet. Rowan didn't even stir.

In the closet, Aelin had switched out her nightgown for her old, familiar, leather suit, and holstered her daggers to her thighs. She now crept across the bedroom floor, avoiding all the creaky boards, which were imprinted in her mind and exited the bedroom, not risking to close the door behind her.

Aelin bit her lip before strutting out into the cool night, she was a little concerned what would happened if Aedion or Rowan awoke to find her missing. But mostly she wasn't sure she could stomach seeing Dorian. She shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind and continued down the alleyways, her eyes on the beacon of light which was the glass castle.

It was surrounded. Completely. By Valg, by men. She stiffened as she saw one Valg that the others shied away from, that held himself with the arrogance of a king. The Valg tilted his head upward, for a second Aelin's breath caught- luckily she was down wind. They would not smell her. But her heart dropped as the moonlight casted on his face: unruly black hair, piercing blue eyes, and sharp features. It was him- Dorian- in so many ways, but in so many more it was not. This Dorian stood too straight and rigid, his eyes were devoid of Dorian's usual kindness and youth, and- and that collar. Aelin could feel the pressure build behind her eyes, there seemed to be none of the boy she loved, of her dear friend. She looked away before the sob could rise from her throat. Aelin spent the rest of the night observing the guards, memorizing their positions and cycles- and the far too few moments where the castle was vulnerable. But her mind never drifted far from the prince. It seem as though every way she looked there was another choice to be made, one with no good options- no lesser evil. Just evil.

Aelin saw the night turn to gray, and made her way back to the warehouse. She might have stayed a little too long, but she felt no need to rush. And didn't stop herself from staring at the door for a good fifteen minutes trying to adjust to the new weight on her heart.

When she opened the door it was still dark in the apartment, that was a good sign. As quietly as she could she nudged the still ajar door open. Aelin swallowed. The bed was unmade and crumbled... and Rowan-less.

Her head was slammed into the wall as a warm solid body pushed her against the wall.

"Rowan- it's me." she grunted.

A hoarse voice far too close to her ear snarled, "I know."

He held her there for a second. Torn between embracing her and inhaling her scent, or ripping her throat out for scaring him so much.

Aelin gasped when Rowan finally released her. She didn't even have a second to recover before he turned her around, checking for any sign of injury.

"I'm fine."

He growled but let her go. She turned to face him, he was staring at the ground, in the clothes he had fell asleep in, his short silver hair was ruffled- he must've been running his hands through it. For the hundredth time this week a silence hung between them. Damn, she hated this. Not being able to talk to him. Aelin chewed on her cheek and headed to the closet.

Rowan's hands were shaking- she had no idea. How reliant he was on her. How terrified he had been to awake to the empty bed. He had questions, so many questions. And he would be damned if Aelin didn't answer them.

He was surprised when Aelin emerged from the closet in one of his shirts. It was enormous on her, reminding Rowan just how small she was compared to him. Which was easy to forget with her larger than life attitude. A growl that he almost voiced went through his blood, it was a growl of pure fae male satisfaction. Though she oblivious to what it meant, to him, to fae, by wearing his shirt she was encased in his scent. For a moment all the urgent questions were wiped from Rowan's mind along with all his anger, and not the first time he found himself clenching his fists in an effort to keep himself from pulling Aelin close.

"Where did you go?" he said too quietly.

Aelin grumbled and waved her hand dismissively, sliding under the bedsheets.

Rowan snarled and sat on the bed next to her, "Aelin." he growled, putting as much icy coldness as he could in his eyes and words. Desperately trying to ignore how her scent was intermingled with his.

Aelin looked up at him, only now he saw the weight that was bearing down on her, weight that he would do anything to lessen.

"Fireheart?" he said softly and gently stroked her hair. Silently cursing himself for lacking the self control.

Aelin bit her lip. It would be good to tell him. Good for her. Good for him, to let him help, and to try and open things back up between them. She took a deep breath and began to tell him. When she got to the part about Dorian she broke into tears, and the next thing she knew she was wrapped around him, and he was holding her. His scent enveloping her.

They stayed like that until she had no more tears to cry. Until he laid her back down onto the mattress with heart breaking gentleness. Rowan made to move away but her voice stopped him.

"Stay?"

He nodded and layed back down beside her, his arm snaking around her waist and pulling her closer.

After a moment of no objection, he leaned forward and whispered, "Disappear like that again and I will kill you."

Aelin made a small noise that sounded suspiciously like a scoff before murmuring, "Territorial fae bastard"

I'm going to try and finish this story before EoS comes out. So the ending might be a little rushed and sloppy? Sorry! But then I'll start my ACOMAF and TOG crossover! And I'll probably want to write another TOG fanfic with the plot development from EoS!

(Hey guys if u haven't already check out charliebowater on instagram (I believe she has a tumblr and all that good stuff too) she does AMAZING fanart of ACOMAF and TOG! Like this is some professional shiz)