Authors Note – So I'd like to begin by thanking everyone who read the last chapter but especially my reviewers as this chapter is for you because you asked for more.

I'd especially like to thank Flora Silverthrush for adding this story to her C2 Archive, you have no idea how much that meant to me. I hope that this chapter lives up to that.

For the second time in as many days, Rowan found himself slumped at the table in his room at Mistward. He was glaring at the map in front of him as though the paper had caused him some sort of mortal offence but his thoughts couldn't be further away from the surface before him.

He'd lost his temper today, badly. He'd bitten her. He could still taste the sweetness of her blood in his mouth. She had tasted wild and warm, the heat of her still sparked within him. She was most definitely an heir of fire, her soul was like embers ready to ignite at the slightest provocation. Her flames crackled against his ice, drawing it out in an almost playful manner. It had been a heady combination and before he could stop himself he'd bitten her harder, deeper. He'd wanted more, her blood made him feel more alive than he had in centuries and awoke in him a craving he'd thought long gone.

Her growl had rumbled through him and she'd pushed with such strength that it took him by surprise and there before him was that wild creature he'd tasted. Elongated canines glimmered beneath molten eyes, her face framed by twin pointed ears. She was breathtaking, primal and alive. He grinned at her even as he tasted the bitterness left in his mouth, the evidence that he had just bitten the female of another even if their bond was turning putrid. He'd felt almost proud of her shift but that's when it had all gone to hell.

His magic was so close to the surface from her blood, then he'd felt hers rising up and he'd felt the need to try and draw her out. Something about that fire of hers called to him, made his magic sing. However he hadn't accounted for how afraid of her flames she was, couldn't understand how she could be afraid of something that was so much a part of her. She'd almost incinerated him and most of the surrounding area so he'd suffocated those flames, so beautiful and deadly.

He hadn't let his awe at the force of her power show, instead he'd questioned her about her lover out of some masochistic curiosity. When she'd slipped into herself, begun drowning in whatever loss had brought her here he'd lashed out at her and threatened her. He wondered if he'd ever forget those dead eyes and the vehemence of her voice as she balked at the physical punishment. He'd of thought that with the devastation of her country and family she would of learnt not to be such a spoiled brat but he was wrong.

All he seemed to be was wrong around her. He'd pushed her further; trying to harness that anger that accommodated her first shift but she'd just turned and left. He'd followed her progress in his hawk form, sharp eyes catching the glint of her hair in the sunlight. He'd confronted her again, just as badly as the first time. He'd forced her to say it and the agony of those words still ripped through him.

"Because she is dead, and I am left with my worthless life!" He could easily believe that she considered herself worthless because she could not save her friend. Her friend had been good and yet it was Aelin who survived, a broken girl with the burden of fixing the world. The burden of defeating the monster that resided in a glass castle across the ocean.

He'd let her leave after that conversation, he fully expected that she would have been back by now. This was what she had wanted and after she had cooled down from her little temper tantrum she would of had to come back despite her pride. It was dark now though and there was a sick feeling in his gut that something was wrong. She had no weapons; her scent hadn't approached his rooms to retrieve the blades stashed under his bed.

So he waited. Dinner came and went, even Emrys's excellent cooking hadn't been able to remove the traces of her that still lingered on his tongue. He heard the last patrol of the night coming back through the barrier, their quiet chatter as they discussed the news with those on the wall rising above the sound of the storm that had begun. They'd seen a fire, up in one of the caves, pitied the poor soul who had lit it as it had been too far for them to get to on the patrol with the weather as it was.

Rowan clenched the edge of the table so hard that it splintered beneath his fingers. She wouldn't be so stupid as to light a fire when he'd expressly told her not to on the way here. Then he remembered the look in her eyes as she'd turned away from him and fully believed her capable of ignoring every warning sign in her misery. Once more he heard that whispered voice where it had insidiously imprinted itself on his mind.

Please don't leave me in the dark…

He was out of his rooms before he'd even fully formulated a plan. He ran down the stairs, demi-fae leapt out of his path but he barely registered them. The patrol was still walking into the fortress when he reached them; he skidded to a stop directly before them. Somehow the leader managed to understand his request for the location of the fire despite all his snarling and growling. He demi-fae had barely finished speaking before Rowan had shifted and was flying swiftly in the direction given. He paid no attention to the whispers of the awestruck men and women below, just pulled on the winds to aid his flight.

He could see the firelight in the distance, a bright light on the landscape. A summons to all the fell creatures in this sprawling forest. Stupid, stupid girl. He'd kill her himself when he found her, he'd at least try to beat that arrogance out of her. If he didn't hurry though she'd be dead before he got to her.

He saw her rise from the fire and dart out into the storm and darkness of the forest. He dove down into the trees; he'd need scent to track her now. Using a flash of lightning from the storm as cover he shifted back into his fae form, landing deftly in the brush. He was immediately assaulted by the foul scent of skinwalkers. He swore and immediately shifted the wind to blow their scent away from him and to conceal his.

He scented the air, trying to pick on her location. He sweet smoky scent hit him, she was further up the slope and he was closer to her than the skinwalkers but still he couldn't tell precisely where they were. He began to move silently through the trees towards her, he could hear her running now. Her mortal body was light but not stealthy enough to escape unnoticed from those creatures. He sent a wind to shift the direction of her scent and found the hollow opening of a tree to await her.

She was close now; he could hear the heaviness of her breathing as she raced towards him. He was almost impressed with the nimbleness of her human form. He read her movements and positioned himself to catch her as she went past however he didn't prepare for the way she swung herself around the tree and straight into him. He could see her easily in the dark as she swung at him with a sharpened stick; he grabbed her wrists to prevent her from stabbing him. He gritted his teeth in frustration as she began to twist, attempting to get a kick in. She suddenly paused and he took the opportunity to drag her back into the hollow of the tree.

He ignored the way her breath felt against his face as she panted from the exertion of her desperate run downhill. He'd already thought up his plan, his magic was useless here their only chance to escape was to run. If they made it to the river then the skinwalkers wouldn't be able to follow them but that depended on Aelin shifting. He told her as much, and almost marveled when she did as he said, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. He provided her with cool clean air and watched her intently even as he calculated what to do if she couldn't shift.

It would most likely lead to his own death but he would not abandon her to be pulled apart by skinwalkers. He would fight, to save this girl who did nothing but piss him off. He didn't allow himself time to analyse why. He saw something minute change in her expression and then cursed, throwing himself over her small frame to cover the light of her shift. He took in the delicate points of her ears as she covered her mouth with her hand, no doubt pushing back the nausea caused by the foul smell of those things. He listened to the forest beyond, not allowing himself to react to the words the skinwalkers hissed.

Easing away from her he explained how they would escape. He didn't look at her as he passed her a pair of his own daggers, just studied the forest before them, looking for the right moment to run. He could smell them closing in, hear their steps. He would wait until they were close then send them in the other direction to buy them time while they doubled back. They both readied themselves to run. He sent a phantom wind through the brush and as soon as the creatures gave chase he launched himself from their hiding place, Aelin close behind.

They ran and he could hear the skinwalkers turn back, but Aelin was slower than she should be. He cursed and slowed, unwilling to leave her behind. She should be faster in her fae form but she wasn't used to it and that might just kill them both. He heard her slip behind him and was steadying her before it could cost them too much time. As soon as she was running on her own again he was back in the lead, scanning the forest for their pursuers.

He could hear the roaring of the river ahead; see the lighting of the distance up ahead. He gripped his weapons tighter as he heard the slightest of movement up ahead, an ambush. He was still monitoring Aelin behind him, the others were gaining on her but he couldn't stop with one of them ahead too.

The fourth skinwalker jumped and he heard Aelin's shouted warning even as he turned and neatly decapitated the creature, centuries of combat and training allowing him to instinctively react to the attack. His pace didn't falter and he was glad when Aelin's didn't either. They were so close to the edge now, his sole focus on reaching the edge. He could hear the enraged skinwalkers behind them. Then he was hurtling over the cliff edge, Aelin's whispered plea coming too late.

He twisted to see her jump over the cliff and then look back as the three monsters jumped after her. He watched in horror, realising too late his mistake. She was looking at those creatures with fierce determination; he could feel the heat of her. When she told him to shift he didn't question it. He just shifted, swooping away from her as she threw her power out into the night.

The rain turned to steam in the wake of that brilliant blue wildfire. Their pursuers were incinerated; they barely had time to scream as they hit that wall of fire that melted the flesh they wore. The stench was rancid but Rowan only had eyes for the now unconscious girl hurtling toward the river below. She hit the surface even as he dove; grabbing her shirt in his talons he hauled her to the bank.

He shifted back into his fae form and pulled her the rest of the way out of the river. He checked her pulse and breathing before turning his attention to the fires burning above them. It took all his concentration to suffocate those fires, he was almost glad of it if only to distract him from his relief that the girl hadn't completely burnt herself out with that display. Hadn't anyone taught her anything about using her power? Had they instilled nothing but fear of it in her?

He watched her as she came around, how she looked at the burnt forest in terror. He decided in that moment with grim determination that he would teach her all he could because a gift that strong could easily destroy her. He owed her that much for saving his life. That didn't mean that he was going to go easy on her though, they were just getting started.