Something missing...

Chapter 2

Aelin 

 I awoke in a strange bedroom I did not recognise. A bedroom, not a tight iron coffin. That's when I scented him. Rowan. I cried out and whimpered as I looked to my right to find him still asleep. My mate. I sat and waited for him to awaken but it only took him a few minutes before his eyes quickly opened and he shot up and looked at me. We just stared at each other before I got up and left the room, trying to work out where I was in the castle before I turned a familiar corner. The throne room. I can still see my mother and father sat by my uncles throne, proud. Aedion stood up form the banquet table where he and lysandra sat eating and came and took my hand. He brought me to the table and sat me down placing a piled up plate filled with food. I wanted to heave at the thought of eating the food but held it in as Aedion looked at me with pain in his eyes. I looked into his and wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug and then Lysandra. I heard him before I saw him, Rowan walked in as I was hugging Lysandra. When I retreated from her warm embrace I got up off my chair and prowled towards my mate. I stood on my tiptoes as I must have shrunk due to my weight loss and kissed him deeply as he wrapped his hands around my newly healed back still being cautious and soft. We parted and I looked into his eyes and said,

" I missed you, everyday every minute I missed you" I meant every word but then I said" but we need to go to Doranelle, I'm sorry if I keep pestering but there are two reasons; one I need to retrieve something that Maeve took from me and I need to pay her back for her crimes" He nodded and took in a breath, breathing me in.

"I love you so much, but please just tell me what you need to get back from Maeve, we can decide together whether it is worth going back for. Please" I only shook my head and whispered,

" Trust me Rowan it is worth it and I can't tell you right now, I don't want to give you or myself false hope, but if she does have it... we need it back or she'll use it against me. Rowan I really want to tell you but I just...can't. Not until we are at Doranelle." He only nodded before Manon came strolling in.

" Well hello Aelin enjoy your sleep?," she grinned at me to which I y grinned back and purred sweetly,

"I really enjoyed being hit it the back of my head with solid iron claws and dragged across the sea on the back of a Wyvern." She only replied with a bow and stalked off to pile a plate full of food.

"Well I guess we are going to Doranelle," Rowan said slowly. My head shot up and I stared at Rowan before grabbing him into a full embrace. I whispered in his ear,

"Thank you" Then there was a warmth at my neck that ran down my back. His tears warmed my neck and my back.