#aelin galythinius

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Rowan: *cool and collected, badass, level-headed* I got this under control.

Aelin: *gets a paper cut* Ouch

Rowan: *panics, crashes into everything in his haste* OMFG ARE YOU OK?! YOU’RE BLEEDING! THAT’S IT, WE’RE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!

Rowan: Everybody shut up. *picks up phone* Hey, mom.

Lysandra:HIIIIIIIIII!!!!

Aelin: Come back to bed!

Fenrys: Aye! Pass the weed!

Aedion: *blasting out curse words*

Dorian: PUT YOUR PANTS BACK ON!

[Aelin and Rowan are glaring at each other]

Lysandra: Do you smell that?

Aedion: *sniffs the air* What?

Lysandra: *points to Aelin and Rowan* The scent of sexual tension is in the air.

Aelin: *gets in Rowan’s face with low hum and a sexy smile*

Rowan: *watches intently*

Aelin: *puts her hand under his chin*

Aelin: *leans into his ear*

Aelin: I think we should have Chinese for dinner.

Aelin: *sits back down*

Rowan: Oh, for the love of-

Rowan: *repeatedly smacks Aelin with a pillow*

Friendly reminder that Rowan Whitethorn is one of the most respectful Sarah J Mass men.

Words can’t describe how much I loved reading about him and how he felt about Aelin. He was full prepared to allow her to marry someone else if it meant saving Terrasen. He respected her decisions despite his feelings towards her. And an honourable mention goes to the gold nightgown scene where he told her they should wait before they truly got involved with each other. Now that’s a real man right there.

Ok so I need some help.

I really like to write, but I’ve never written a fic. I don’t know where to start and I can’t seem to be able to come up with a solid idea. Like I really want to write a rowaelin one, but I don’t know what I want it to be about except that it’s going to be a modern AU.

Does anybody have any tips or ideas for me? I would be extremely grateful for any help!

Also if anyone wanted to check out my work I have it posted on Wattpad, it’s called ancientdaisy56

Thank you!

Throne of Glass Characters and their music taste

This is all just my personal opinion so take this as you will

Dorian: Would love pop music. Like One Direction, Shawn Mendes, the top 40? All his jam. I also think he would be the kinda guy to be constantly singing Tik Tok songs annoying the hell out of his friends.

Rowan: He would love RnB. All the relaxing vibes would help him keep his cool around Aelin. I feel like he would like Khalid a lot and I’m not just saying that because he’s the only RnB artist I know lol.

Aelin: She would definitely listen to Doja Cat and Megan thee Stallion. It’s Girl Boss music and she is the girl boss. I also get the vibe she would enjoy listening to Queen. I don’t know why, but I think it fits her vibe.

Chaol: He would probably listen to Imagine Dragons and Twenty One Pilots. He would also say he hated Dorians music, but would secretly love jamming out to One Direction because lets be honest that shit slaps.

Aedion: Definitely a classic rock guy. Journey, AC/DC, and Van Halen would all be up his ally. Maybe even some Billy Joel. And we all know Aelin would force him to listen to her music so he would secretly have a playlist of the songs he likes.

Lysandra: Harry Styles. Her favourite album would probably be fine line with the self titled album as a close second. She would also enjoy some Coldplay, more than likely their earlier stuff.

Manon: She would listen to Panic at the Disco. Not High Hopes, while she would like it, her favourite era would be I write Sins not Tragedies. Billie Eilish would also be her jam, especially her newer stuff.

Okay but…

If I won’t be able to stand in the edge of a cliff waiting for the dawn beside my fey mate to march with our army for a war while Harry Potter Lilly’s theme song plays in the background and the cold wind blows my hair…


WHAT’S THE FUCKING POINT???

*Rowan eating a cake Aelin made*

Aelin : How is the cake?

Rowan : It’s good

Aelin : Is it Bussin?

Rowan : …….

Aelin : Say it or I won’t be your queen

Rowan : *sighs* it’s Bussin

Aelin : Say the last part too

Rowan : …..

Rowan : SHEEE-



• I’M SORRY THIS WAS WAY FUNNIER IN MY HEAD •

Book quotes that made me believe in love again~ part 2, because these are all so adorable I just couldn’t fit them into one post<3

•He pushed, simply because he damn well couldn’t stop himself,

“And what do you deserve?” A slow smile, indeed a plains-cat readying for the kill. Then, “Certainly more than a bastard-born nobody.”

~Nesta my queen letting her romantic side show for a second :’) so vulnerable. Huh? What? Unresolved trauma? No- this is 100/10 romance bb

•"You don’t even know what you’re saying,” Kenji tells him. “You’re acting crazy—”

“I was happier,” Adam says, “when I thought she was dead.”

“You, of all people,” Adam says to me. He looks so disgusted. “I trusted you—told you things I never should’ve told you— I can’t believe you’d do this to me. That you’d fall for him. What the hell is wrong with you?” he demands, his voice rising in pitch. “How sick in the head do you have to be?”

~Adam Kent to his girlfriend<3 fights can be so sexy. especially when a guy calls his girlfriend fucked in the head uwu. every girl’s dream :))wishing she was dead aaahhh love is love okay.

•His growls of pleasure filled the tent, drowning out the distant cries of the injured and dying. Life and death—hovering so close, whispering in our ears.

And I hoped that this shard of life we offered up, this undimming light between us, would drive death a bit further away. At least for another day.

~feysand my fav power couple. getting down and dirty in a battlefield like the rulers they are. What? oh no not fighting for their homeland no no that’s for basic bitches<33 romantics do seggsy time in battles ;) it’s called feminism okay look it up

•“You care for me,” Will said. His voice was cool and sure. “And you know that I admire you, the way that all women know when a man admires them. Now you have come to tell me you will be here, available to me, for as long as I might wish it. I am offering you what I thought you wanted.”

“You cannot mean that.”

“And you cannot have imagined I meant anything more,” Will said. “There is no future for a Shadowhunter who dallies with warlocks. One might befriend them, employ them, but not …”

~will my bestie offering the girl he loves to be his whore<3 unusual but I don’t kink shame here :) spread loveee,hashtag speaking from the heart

•"Hear my judgment,” Cardan says, authority ringing in his voice. “I hereafter exile Jude Duarte to the mortal world until such time as she is pardoned by the crown. Until then, let her not step one foot in Faerie or forfeit her life.”

I gasp. “But you can’t do that!”

He looks at me for a long moment, but his gaze is mild, as though he’s expecting me to be fine with exile. As though I am nothing at all. “Of course I can,” he replies.

“But I’m the Queen of Faerie,” I shout, and for a moment, there is silence.

Then everyone around me begins to laugh.

“Deny it then,” I yell. “Deny me!”

He cannot, of course, so he does not.

~cardan my fairie romeo sweeping Jude off her feet by exiling her<3 *I think I’ve seeeenn this film beforeeee* he really thought he showed some huge ass ravenclaw energy here :) who said long distance can’t be steamy?

•“I lied,” he said. “Demons lie, Clary. You know, there are some kinds of wounds you can get when you’re a Shadowhunter—internal injuries from demon poison. You don’t even know what’s wrong with you, but you’re bleeding to death slowly inside. That’s what it’s like, just being your brother.”

“But Aline—”

“I had to try. And I did.” His voice was lifeless. “But God knows, I don’t want anyone but you. I don’t even want to want anyone but you.”

Clary’s voice had sunk to a whisper. “I don’t want anyone but you, either.”

~awww this is like the new “being your friend isn’t enough”,, brotherly love<3 okay friends to lovers enemies to lovers WHAT ABOUT SIBLINGS TO LOVERS HUHHH

•"You—Reid, you also made an oath to me. You’re my husband, and I’m your wife.”

His hands dropped to his sides. Defeated. A spark of hope flared in my chest. But then he closed his eyes—seeming to collapse in on himself—and when he opened them again, they were void of all emotion. Empty. Dead.

“You are not my wife.”

What was left of my heart shattered completely.

~Reid my new bff being loyal to his religion and telling Lou that she’s not his wife :’) so pure. true love 101. *so there you go-o can’t make a wife outta a WITCH* his mentor is the hot priest from fleabag<3 “you love me? It’ll pass<3”

•“Why don’t I give you the lashing you deserve?”

He looked so dead set on it that she blinked. “If you ever take a whip to me, I will skin you alive.” Rowan paused his stalking. “You’re worthless.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

He went on, “You would probably have been more useful to the world if you’d actually died ten years ago.”

She just looked him in the eye and said, “I’m leaving.”

~ughhh what is it with men’s dirty talk being “I wish you were dead” it’s so poetic :’) again, bird love confessions are…unique, so cut rowan some slack. also threatening to whip her kinkyyyy<333

•Juliette supposed it was her turn to walk away. The lover and the liar, the liar and the lover. They switched those roles between themselves like it was a game.

“I tell the truth,” Juliette said again. Each word was a blade that sliced through her tongue, cutting her twice as deep as the harm she put out into the world. “Wake up. This entire dalliance between us has been an extraction of information.”

“Juliette, don’t say such—”

~Juliette and Roma spending the whole book pining over each other and confessing their feelings, to reach this end. because love<333

•“Don’t worry, tracker. You’ll know when our deal is up.” He shoved me belowdecks, but not before I heard his parting words to Mal—“I’ll be certain you hear it when I make her scream.”

~love triangles can be sooo beautiful especially when you’ve been kidnapped by one of the guys and the other has the personality of a wet towel<33 but love is love so-

The trope where a character has lots of scars and is given the opportunity to heal them but while the healer is doing their thing the character looks at a particular scar and goes “No, not this one.” because it reminds them of something they survived will ALWAYS, ALWAYS SERVE

Part 2 of my Valentine’s post

Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3


Valentine’s Day is just a capitalist scam that monetizes people’s need to show love BUT HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO THEM<3

The Fire-breathing bitch-queen herself clothed in her flames.I got the idea for this after watching

The Fire-breathing bitch-queen herself clothed in her flames.

I got the idea for this after watching The Ancient Magus’ Bride (highly recommend, by the way). If you’ve seen it you know which scene I mean. 


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togincorrectquotes:

Aelin: I guess you could say I’ve…fallen for you *winks*

Rowan: You literally just rolled down an entire flight of stairs, how are you even alive-

pessimisticlatte:

Rowan: Fireheart, why are there scratches on your back?


Aelin,afterbeingexplicitlytoldbyRowannottotryandpataferalcat: I’m having an affair

Aedion in the distance:*facepalms*

negativenesta:

Aelin: *sneaks in through window at 3 am*

Aedion, turning on the lights and turning around in his chair: So where were you?

Aelin: Uh…with Rowan?

Rowan, turning around in his own chair: Want to try again?

charincharge:

rowaelin high school bff au
masterlist

AN: Thank you all for being so patient with me as we embark upon this final stretch of IDWTW! I think there will be approx. 15 chapters left until the end (and we’re already over 300k lololol). This signals the beginning of the end, and there’s a lot to unpack in this one. I really enjoyed writing it, and I hope you enjoy reading it. I’ve been waiting for this reveal for LITERAL YEARS. I hope it makes as much sense to you as it did for me. 5k words of getting into it. See you on the other side. Can’t wait to hear what you all think!!!

Based on the prompts:

  • Person A: “I’m glad you are here.” Person B: “Really? Admitting that you missed me, are we?”

Aelin forced a smile and saw it reflected back on her cousin’s face as he rounded the corner toward her table. Her mind was reeling. What the hell was Aedion doing here? Of all places to be on New Year’s Eve, the tiny diner on the suburban outskirts of Orynth was the last place she thought she’d find him. And that wasn’t even taking into consideration the extremely surprising company he was keeping.

Adion’s blue-gold eyes crinkled at the corners as he scrunched up his face in a carefully constructed expression of surprise and joy as he wrapped her in a giant bear hug, pulling her out of the booth and into his thick embrace.

“What the hell, Aed?” Aelin muttered into his ear as he squeezed her tighter.

He ignored her, simply putting her back onto the floor with an ungraceful thud and ruffling her hair, as if she were a small child. She poked at his side and simultaneously stuck her tongue out in his direction, expressing her annoyance in the only way she knew how, causing a genuine sliver of joy to appear in his turquoise eyes.

Keep reading

This chapter made me so happy!!!! They finally made up and then the hints of a new romance have me 

rowanwhitethornisbae:

Hey! I know its been a while so click on the master list if you want to catch up or even start. Im going to try to start updating more frequently in the next few months. Thanks to everyone for reading!!

TW: Language, drinking, sexual references, blood

Faking It Masterlist

Aelin woke with a start to the sound of her phone ringing.

“Shit.” She swore, quickly realizing she must’ve fallen asleep after her conversation with Fenrys. She hung up on the call, silencing that obnoxious ringing as she sat up in bed. Aelin hadn’t bothered to check who it was, but she knew she’d figure it out if she went back downstairs.

It was probably Lysandra, calling to make sure Aelin wasnt already passed out drunk somewhere. It wouldn’t be the first time. Groaning internally, she picked herself up off the bed. Despite her falling asleep, the duvet covers looked unruffled. Still, she fluffed the pillow briefly in an attempt to ease her own discomfort at sleeping in Dorian’s room.

With one last look to confirm that the room appeared undisturbed, Aelin closed the door shut behind her. She made it halfway down the staircase when the exhaustion hit her. It was a familiar feeling, like when you were abruptly waken from sleep to attend a six am practice at school. Still, she clung extra hard onto the railing for a moment in order to gain her bearings once again.

As her eyes finally focused, she could make out the throng of high schoolers in the living room below her. Her eyes adjusted to the colourful lights as she scanned the area for a familiar face. She saw Lorcan first, and then Rowan beside him, the latter scowling. At first it didn’t seem odd, Rowan was always scowling at something. She took another few steps down the stairs, and with closer examination, realized something was wrong. 

Keep reading

rosiethorns88:A new sketch featuring a scene from Kingdom of Ash where Aelin and Rowan take a quie

rosiethorns88:

A new sketch featuring a scene from Kingdom of Ash where Aelin and Rowan take a quiet moment during their cave treasure pilfering to exchange rings! This was voted on by my Patreons for the August Sketch-a-Wish!


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People be like..

*high squeaky mocking voice* “You don’t actually want to live in a fantasy world.Those characters are so traumatized…”

Ok thanks, except I’m in the real world and I’m still getting traumatized and I don’t get to ride dragons here so ehhh maybe, I don’t know, just possibly.. I might be okay with just a tad bit of sword-themed-trauma.

Prisoner’s Game Pt. 4 (Rowaelin)

THANK YALL FOR BEING PATIENT I AM SO SORRY

Parts1\2\3

________________________________

Journal Entry #2000

Sometimes I think it wouldn’t be so bad to die.

To leave this island forever and not have to worry about being discovered anymore.

I wasn’t always this macabre, but two thousand days of checking over my shoulder and wishing for a man’s murder has dulled the wishful excitement I felt when I first got here.

Five years ago, I was grateful to even be alive.

I couldn’t believe a stranger give up everything for me and the others–couldn’t believe she’d agree to fight this battle because of my decision.

I have to actually remind myself to still be grateful to her, if I’m being honest.

Because sometimes I think about that night all those years ago, when she showed up in the darkest part of the night to kill me. When she’d held the knife with a trembling hand and told me that the price for betraying Arobynn Hamel was my life. When we discovered together that she couldn’t bring herself to kill me.

Sometimes I think it would be better if she would’ve just done it.

At least it would’ve been over.

At least I wouldn’t have to spend years on an island, living the same day over and over again. I think that’s what’s driving me mad, beyond anything else.

The predictability of my time.

Every day, I follow the same routine. The routine she laid out for me in a hushed whisper.

I wake up and go to the small café a mile down the road to watch the news. And every day, I pray to see Arobynn Hamel’s face next to to the words, “Breaking news: billionaire crime boss found dead.”

Because that was her only stipulation.

That the ten of us would stay on the island, hidden from sight, until news of his death was announced. In exchange, we got to live.

She’d warned me it would take a long time.

She’d told me to not get complacent.

And then she’d whispered what she planned to do.

Even now, over five years later, the words she’d whispered while shoving a plane ticket and a new passport into my hands were crystal clear.

“The devil isn’t going to go down easy.”

~Aelin~

The shaft of her recently-fashioned shiv was cold in her hand as she silently grabbed it from under her pillow.

The soft clink of the bars shutting again told her whoever had just snuck in her cell was now locked in with her.

Unfortunate for them.

She wasn’t afforded the luxury of a clock, but she knew it was the middle of the night. Normal visiting hours were far over. There was no one here but the bored night guards, four janitorial staff, and rows and rows of sleeping inmates.

And the idiot trying to sneak up behind her bed.

She kept her eyes closed as she listened to the quiet steps walk closer and closer. Right when she was about to turn around and attack, they stopped.

Then the weirdest thing happened. It sounded like whoever it was slid down the wall directly across from her bed.

A killer wouldn’t do that.

Curiosity piqued, Aelin turned her head to see who and what was going on.

It was dark in the cell, but she’d recognize that shock of silver hair anywhere.

“Rowan?” she whispered, so quietly she almost didn’t even hear herself. “What are you doing here?”

He didn’t respond, but the way his muscles tensed told her he’d heard her.

Slowly, she sat up so she could see him better and maybe figure out what was going on.

For the first time in a long time, he looked less than perfect. Far less than it, actually.

His hair was going every possible direction, like he’d been running hands through it and pulling on it. He was wearing a gray t-shirt, rumpled dress slacks, and tennishoes that weren’t even tied.

But that wasn’t what worried her most. It was the way he was sitting completely still and silent.

He didn’t even look like he was breathing.

“Hey,” she tried again. “What’s going on? Look at me.”

Another few heartbeats passed, and then he slowly shook his head.

“Please, Rowan. Just look at me.”

He winced, like hearing her say his name physically hurt him.

And then his head came up.

Deep green eyes met hers, and even though it was what she’d wanted, what she’d needed, Aelin instantly wished he’d look away.

Because with one look, she knew he’d figured it out.

He knew, and the pain and turmoil in his eyes… she’d put that there.

She’d seen him angry and sad and happy and everything in between, but she’d never seen him, or anyone else, look so broken.

He looked completely and utterly broken as he sat before her.

“Rowan,” she whispered, shaking her head even though she didn’t know why.

He bowed his head again, seemingly unable to even look at her.

“Ro,” she whispered, dropping to her knees in front of him.

Almost like the old nickname broke something inside him, Rowan’s shoulders started to shake.

And then he sobbed.

It was the kind of sob that couldn’t possibly be held in. The kind that made her heart clench and tears brew in her own eyes, the kind that told her how much pain he was in.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she put a hand on his arm. He shook off the touch like it burned him and looked up at her again.

“I ruined your life,” he croaked, the tears on his face reeking of self-hatred. “I ruined your life.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t.”

Anger bled into his tone. “I put you in prison for eight years for murdering people who aren’t even fucking dead, Aelin. I didn’t listen to you, didn’t look hard enough. I’ve had the clues you left me for eight years. We were in love, and I didn’t even try hard enough to… I… please explain to me how I didn’t ruin your life.”

“You did not ruin my life, Rowan,” she told him again, meaning every word.

“Eight years of your life, gone because of me. I don’t even understand how you can look at me.” He huffed a laugh, but he was far from amused. “No wonder you hate me.”

His chest was heaving, his hands were in fists, and his stubble-crested jaw was damp with tears.

And she’d thought he hadn’t cared.

Aelin felt like a fool–a horrible, stupid fool–for ever doubting him. For thinking him indignant.

Because this was technically what she’d wanted. What she’d plannedto happen.

She’d wanted it to hurt, had wanted him to feel an ounce of what she’d felt when he’d led the case against her.

But it wasn’t what she wanted anymore.

Moving slowly, Aelin crawled onto his lap, put her hands on the side of his face, and lifted his gaze to hers while she said, “Arobynn Hamel ruined my life, not you.”

He shook his head, breathing heavily. “No-”

She cut him off by wrapping herself around him.

Like she was trying to heal physical wounds, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled his head to her chest. She sank into him until there wasn’t an inch of space between them. Her hands wandered over his back as she held him tight to her.

He was stiffer than a board at first, but eventually he sagged against her, wrapping his arms around her in return.

It was like he was drowning in the sea, and she was the only thing preventing him from being swept away. He shook, his entire body trembling, and his arms became a vice around her.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered after a moment.

She shook her head, but it didn’t matter. He said it again, and again, and again, until his voice was hoarse and broken.

Aelin ran her hands over his back slowly, and just held him as pain he’d felt for eight years seemed to reach a crest.

Eventually he stopped crying and just laid against her, warm breath fanning across her collarbone.

“I’m so sorry, Aelin,” he whispered yet again.

“Please stop saying that. None of this is your fault. You aren’t the reason I’m in prison.”

“Yes, I am,” he insisted, shifting beneath her. “But I’m getting you out right now.”

He looked up, eyes bright with new-found purpose, and wiped the tears off his cheeks like they were distracting him.

“What?”

He nodded quickly. “We can bring those people back, and you can get your life back. I know it’s not the same, and I know I can’t get you these years back, but-”

“No.”

He paused. “No?”

She shook her head. “I can’t leave yet.”

“Leave? What the helldoes that mean?”

“It means I still have shit to do here. I’m not leaving before it’s done.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re acting like this is a hotel, not a high-security prison. And what do you even mean?”

Aelin had the good sense to feel a little guilty as she slowly got to her feet and walked to the wall at the back of the cell. A few well-placed taps later, it swung open.

Rowan’s mouth dropped open, then closed, then repeated the whole routine like he couldn’t decide what to say first.

He apparently figured it out, because it opened again so he accuse, “I knew you were robbing me! Where the fuck is my bed?”

She sighed and rubbed her temples. “That’s what you care about right now? Seriously?”

He grumbled something as he got to his feet and leaned into the makeshift doorway in the wall.

It took him a few moments to examine the ladder leading down to the tunnel, and then he straightened and looked at her again with a mixture of confusion, awe, and understanding on his face.

“You’ve been sneaking out this whole time.”

She nodded.

Most of her escapes had been in the past six months, but she’d occasionally left in the years before to check on something or track down a lead.

“You beat up your roommate so they’d put you back in solitary.”

Aelin nodded again.

“But how did you know they’d bring you to this cell?”

A small smile pulled on her lips. “Look again,” she told him, gesturing towards the open brick door.

He stuck his head in the hole again and couldn’t stifle his surprised intake of breath as he saw the other ladders.

He came back in the cell, and the expression on his face made her bite her lip to hold back a smile. “You… you tunneled intoprison?”

“Into every solitary cell,” she confirmed.

“When? Why?”

“One of my old jobs for Arobynn was to break a client of his out of solitary. I knew which cell he was in, but… getting locked up is kind of a right of passage for my former career, so I figured I’d plan ahead and give myself a way out, should I ever need it.” She smiled. “Hamel never could figure out how I did it, so it’s safe for me to use now.”

Rowan spent a long moment looking at her. “That’s… genius.”

“I tend to be,” she agreed.

They were both silent for a minute, then he said, “You need to tell me everything. Enough of both of us wasting time assuming what the other is thinking. We need to get everything out in the open, and we need to do it now.”

Aelin nodded, knowing it was true.

It was time to either finally trust him or kill him, and just the thought of the latter made something inside of her twist so hard she felt nauseous.

She nodded to the tunnel, not wanting to have the following conversation overheard by any prying ears. He nodded and followed her down, closing the door behind him.

When she knew they were alone, she started to explain.

“Maddison Kliff, my first so-called victim, funded her campaign for senator with money from Arobynn Hamel.”

Rowan’s eyebrows went up in surprise, but he nodded for her continue.

“He gave it to her, with the caveat that when she won, she’d vote against renewable energy for Rifthold. He has millions in oil, so when she did the exact opposite and voted for the green plan that switched the city to 70% electric, he took a pretty hard hit.” She took a deep breath. “The day after the vote, I got my orders to kill her.”

His jaw clenched.

“I went that night, thinking I could do it. Thinking I’d get it over with and never think about it again. I snuck in her townhouse and had everything set up.” She let out a laugh. “But then I realized my deal with Arobynn covered tenof Sam’s jobs. If I killed Maddison, and did a good enough job of it to get away with it, I knew he’d put nine more names on the list.”

“So you didn’t do it,” Rowan said, like he already knew but needed to hear her say it.

“So I didn’t do it.”

Aelin ran a hand through her hair, starting to pace. “I ran. And then I went back the next night with a suitcase, a new ID for her, and a plan.”

“Why Aruba?” he asked.

“I’d done all that research for our trip,” she said, a pang of sadness shooting through her at the memory of planning their first vacation together. “I didn’t have time to research another place. And I never told you, but the house I wanted us to rent? You kind of… own it.”

“I own a house in Aruba,” he repeated slowly, his tone making it clear he didn’t understand.

She rolled her eyes at his tone. “Arobynn might be a bastard I’d love to put in a grave, but he paid me well. I was eighteen and didn’t know what else to do with the money. So I bought a house.”

“In Aruba. In my name.”

She nodded. “No one can trace it back to you. It’s hidden in an off-shore corporation, owed by another off-shore corporation, but technically, yes, you’re the owner. It was going to be your Christmas present.”

“You bought me a house,” his lips twitched. “For a Christmas present.”

“I was in love with you,” she muttered. Then pointed out, “My lack of shopping impulse control really isn’t the point of the story.”

He rolled his eyes, still fighting a grin at her antics. “Please continue.”

“Right. So I sent her to the house in Aruba and told her to stay at the house with anyone else he wanted me to kill. I told her to not say a word to anyone besides those people, and that I’d be forced to actually kill her if she did. If Arobynn finds out they’re alive, he’ll send someone for me.”

She explained the list next. “He requires proof of all completed jobs, so I kept the "murder weapons” and made sure the crime scenes had enough blood to indicate the person couldn’t still be alive. It was mostly fake, but I took just enough blood from each of the victims and mixed it in to make it realistic enough to fool DNA scanners. Then I put the weapons in storage lockers he owns and wrote the numbers down so I wouldn’t forget them.“

Rowan nodded, most certainly remembering that part.

He was doing a good job of hiding his emotions, but she still saw how heavily this all weighed on him.

Everything he’d been feeling for eight years was hitting him at once, and while explanation made sense, it probably didn’t make him feel any better about the role he’d played in all of this.

He confirmed it by asking, "Why didn’t you tell me?”

He asked it almost casually, but she didn’t miss the pain he couldn’t keep from seeping into his voice.

“I wanted to,” she breathed. “Gods, I wanted to. I know now you investigated before giving the list to the cops, but to me, it looked like you found it and just turned me in. You never asked me. And you looked at me… you looked at me like you thought I was guilty. I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”

Rowan went quiet, regret and shame coming off of him in waves so thick she almost choked on it.

“How is all of this going to play out?” he asked, seemingly trying to force himself to think about something else. “And what do you have to do that you need to be in prison for?”

She hesitated, suddenly not wanting to tell him.

Not out of a lack of trust, but because if she told him… he’d realize she’s guilty of the crime she’s in prison for. He might go back to hating her, back to thinking her a horrible person.

And she just got him back.

She’s pulled from her thoughts when he reaches a hand out, slowly gripping her jaw to tilt her face to his.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, the words final.

Of course he knew what she was thinking just from looking at her face. He always was a little too astute.

A part of Aelin wanted to put on a brave face and act like that wasn’t exactly what she’d been worrying about, but a bigger part wanted him.Wanted him to see that even after all this time, she needed him.

So she forced down the witty jokes and sultry smiles she usually used as ways to hide her vulnerability and looked up at him.

“Promise?”

He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. “I promise, Aelin.”

His hand was still on her face, and he leaned in until his forehead rested against hers. “I’m never going to leave you again. I’m so… I’m so fucking sorry I did in the first place. I should’ve come to you, or at least listened when you told me you were innocent.”

“I’m sorry I thought you didn’t fight for me,” she said back. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

They’d both done things they regretted, but Aelin knew that now, no matter what, he was telling the truth. He wasn’t going to leave her.

The knowledge felt like a weight lifting off her shoulders, and just to lighten the mood, she whispered, “And I’m sorry I stole your bed.”

He pulled back to glare at her. “You’re going to explain one day how you even pulled that off. But I’d like the answer to my other question first.”

Aelin took a step back and ran a hand through her hair.

“Arobynn Hamel dying is the endgame, Rowan. I have to stay in prison so I can kill him and have an alibi no one will question.”

He paused, and for a moment, her fears skyrocketed, so she rushed to explain, “As long as he’s alive, those people have to be in hiding and I have to look like I killed them. Once he’s dead, I can bring them back without worrying Arobynn will kill them. Or me.”

He gave her a strange look, but she spoke before he could, explaining, “It’s why I’ve been in prison for so long. I would’ve killed him and ended it years ago, but I only found him a couple months ago. He’s been in hiding ever since I was locked up, because the FBI knew I was one of his and started looking for him.”

“Okay, but Aelin-”

She cut him off. “I know it’s insane and not at all ideal, but I need you to leave me in here. Just until he’s dead, and then it’s over.”

He stepped forward and grabs her shoulders, shaking her slightly.

And then he did the weirdest thing.

Hesmiled.

“What the hell do you look happyabout?” she demanded. “I’m being serious-”

It was his turn to interrupt her. “Aelin, if that’s the stipulation, you’re already free.”

Unease drifted through her stomach. “What do you mean?”

“I mean he’s already dead.”

Shock rushed through her so fast and thoroughly, her vision swam and she swayed in his grip. “What… what did you just say?”

“That’s why I came today, now. I actually figured out you were innocent two days ago, but I wasn’t going to come until I could tell you with certainty I was getting you out, and I knew you couldn’t bring everyone back without risking your life. I’ve spent the past 48 hours planning a jailbreak and a way to sneak you to somewhere the US doesn’t have extradition.”

He grinned again. “But then it was announced on the 11 o'clock news tonight that he died last week of pneumonia complications. His family kept it private because they wanted a small funeral, but he’s dead, Aelin.”

Still feeling the weight of shock, she argued, “He’s not dead.”

“But he is.”

“No,” she insisted, pushing away from him and starting to pace again. “He can’t be dead.”

His face softened at the panic in her voice. “Aelin, I know you wanted it to be you, but-”

“No, Rowan, you don’t understand. I mean he cannot physically be dead, because I haven’t finished killing him!”

It was his turn to be shocked.

“What do you mean you haven’t finished killing him?”

She took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. “I’ve been poisoning him since the day I figured out where he holes up. Turns out he has kidney problems and goes in once a week for dialysis. I show up and add a little… extra to his medication. The last time I went was less than a week ago, and while he might have been sick, he most definitely was still alive.”

Besides that, what were the odds that Rowan figured out her “victims” were still alive, and just two days later Arobynn croaks?

It would be one hell of a coincidence, and Aelin learned long ago to not believe in those.

His eyes went wide. “What? You mean he faked his death? Why the hell would he do that?”

“Because,” she said slowly, dread forming like a lead ball in her stomach as she realized what this meant for her, for the ten people whose lives she’d traded her freedom for. “I told Maddison and the others to wait for news of his death before coming back. I told them that until he was dead, they weren’t safe.”

She shook her head, whispering, “I told them to watch the news.”

Rowan realized what she was saying and cursed.

He knows.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lemme know in the comments if you want to be tagged!

Part 5 will (realistically) be out in the next three weeks. Sorry for the slow updates; school is consuming all my time and energy.

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