Aelin drifted into consciousness, she could hear the violent pelting of rain on the apartment's walls, along with the chilly gusts of wind that rustled her hair and the sheets draped over her. And though Aelin's eyes were closed, she could feel his presence, the calm coldness that perfectly contrasted her blazing fire. She shivered as another gust of wind swept through the open window, instinctively she inched towards his warmth, ignoring the damp sheets- no doubt from the rain. And then Aelin drifted back to the void.
Aelin blindly reached out craving the warmth of his skin. Her eyes snapped open when she felt no warmth- no skin. First she smelt it, both so familiar, blood, blood- and pine and snow. Then she felt the thick sticky liquid. Finally her eyes adjusted, she wished they hadn't. Red. Red everywhere. The dampness had not been rain it had been blood. But not her parent's blood. She sat up, slowly- stunned. Not daring to breathe. She swallowed, skin peeled away. Revealing muscles and stark white teeth- beautifully contrasted by those green empty eyes. Not deep brown- not Sam's eyes. The throat, the brutal slash not on Nehemiah's thin ebony neck. Rowan's blood on the sheets. Rowan's skin stripped away. Rowan's neck gleefully butchered. Rowan. Rowan. Rowan. Was she screaming?
Was someone calling her name? Aelin felt a strong arm wrap around her and pull her from the bed. Her eyes shot open as she was pulled upright, into someone's lap. Aelin shut her mouth, and the screaming stopped. A hand protectively on her stomach was pushing her into their chest. She couldn't see anything. What had happened to the sunlight that was shining through the open window? Aelin could feel a hot breath on her ear, murmuring indecipherable words laced with concern. Finally she let out the breath she had been holding, when she inhaled her senses were filled with pine and snow. Pine and snow, with no blood. Aelin let out a sob of relief, and twisted around in his lap. She slung her arms around his neck, burying her face in it's crook, just inhaling Rowan.
Rowan sighed, silently thanking the gods she was at least physically unharmed. Though it was probably just a particularly bad nightmare, he still clutched the dagger he had grabbed when she had screamed in one hand. He pulled Aelin closer when he heard frantic footsteps in the apartment, and though he knew they were Aedion, he did nothing to stop the vicious growl that rose from his throat as the door swung open.
Aedion held a dagger in each hand, his eyes flickering to Aelin, who had not moved from Rowan's lap.
"What happened?" He half-yelled.
Rowan only snarled.
Aedion bared his teeth but seemed to think better of it when his eyes flicked back to Aelin.
"Is she hurt?", he said softly.
"Physically? no." Rowan replied. "Someone should check the perimeter." he continued.
Aedion took several steps towards the bed and outstretched his arms, "I'll hold her while you go check."
"You go check, I'm not leaving her."
"I don't take orders from you" He seethed, teeth bared.
Rowan's gaze darkened, "Don't do it for me, do it for her."
Both held the others gaze, refusing to break, monitoring each movement.
Aedion bit his lip, "Fine."
Sparing a glance at Aelin whose breathing had become deep and even- probably asleep, he turned and glided out the door.
Rowan shifted to a more comfortable position, careful not to wake her. He reached across the bed, pulling the blanket over her. Then tried to lay her down onto the mattress, but she only gripped him tighter. He sighed and put his knife on the bedside table, still within reach. Rowan scooted backwards, propping them up against the wall. For a second he sat there, Aelin in his lap, her face still buried in his neck. He pursed his lips, what had she dreamt about?
Rowan looked up as Aedion came back into the room.
"Nothing." Aedion said sternly.
"Good."
Rowan looked down at Aelin, expecting Aedion to return to his own room.
"I'm staying here for tonight."
Rowan looked up, his eyes darkening, "No you're not."
Aedion fought the urge to swallow, "I'm her cousin, if she wakes up again I want to be there to comfort her."
"She doesn't need you to comfort her, and if she needs someone I am here."
"I'm her cousin." He repeated.
Rowan bared his teeth in a vicious smile, "I'm her carranam. And blood bound."
Aedion clenched his fist around the dagger that was still in his hand. Rowan, of course, noticed, his smile only grew wider.
"Don't do it for me, Prince. Do it for her." Aedion retorted
He had had enough, Rowan shifted but before he could stand, the bundle in his arms murmured, "Let him stay."
He snarled, earning a hit on the back from Aelin. He ground his teeth but turned to gently roll her onto the mattress, though she resisted.
Aedion who was grinning ear to ear cheerfully asked, "Where?"
Aelin, not bothering to look up, dismissively patted the empty mattress to her right. Rowan's growl was cut off by Aelin reaching behind her to grab Rowan's wrist, tugging him down onto mattress.
Aedion swaggered to the bed and plopped himself down on the other side of Aelin. There was a fair distance between him and Aelin but Rowan still couldn't resist wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against his chest. Aedion glared at Rowan, who glared right back.
"No fae bullshit." she said groggily yet stern.
Aedion gave him a look before rolling over.
So I've heard that a lot of people dislike EoS. And I'm terrified that I won't like it. I think SJM might just be getting hate from people that don't ship Rowaelin, so maybe they became mates? NO SPOILERS THOUGH. I will find you and make what they did to Sam look merciful if you spoil me. Also, I'm like WAY behind on my writing schedule to finish this story before EoS, but I'M TRYING. School as just sucked the life from me...
BTW in earlier chapters it was established that in this fanfic Aedion had a crush on Aelin, that's completely out the window. No crush. Purely Platonic.
LIKE I CAN HANDLE MY SOUL BEING SPLIT INTO A MILLION PIECES, BUT I DON'T THINK I COULD HANDLE JUST NOT LIKING EOS!
So... hope you liked the chapter?