Only You

The Fall Out

Aelin jumped back from Rowan, stumbling slightly as she increased the space between them. Her heart was beating erratically as she took in a disheveled, slightly out of breath Sam in front of her. His eyes were wide as he took in Rowan— who was staring right back at him. She struggled to create a coherent sentence as she assessed the situation.

"Aelin?" It was Rowan this time, stepping towards her again. She could sense his silent rage, whether at being interrupted or that there was another male nearby, she didn't know.

"I can't believe this." Sam mumbled quietly. With both hers and Rowan's Fae hearing, it was clear as day what he had said.

Still, Aelin did not say a word. She knew how it would look to Sam. That she was with another male only a week after they had ended things with each other; and Sam wouldn't understand that it was completely out of her control, that the mating bond was not something she could pick and choose— fate was in charge. And currently it seemed that fate had a sick sense of humour

"It didn't take you long, did it?" He let out a pained laugh.

"I would be careful what you say to your future queen." Rowan was by her side, his rage building with each moment Sam was here. She could feel his magic simmering, her own doing the same.

"I'll speak to her in any manner I wish. Who are you to tell me what I should do?" The gate still separated them; she feared if it had not been there Rowan would have already been on Sam, tackling him to the ground. Although she knew that if Rowan wished it, Sam would be on the floor already, merely using his magic.

"I'm her—"

Aelin silenced Rowan with a look. "Sam let me explain."

Sam shook his head, "Clearly I've been stupid and you've just been messing with me." Sam looked between her and Rowan and she could see him trying to add it up, to see what he missed. When he couldn't stand the sight of them he turned, moving back towards the city.

"Sam, please wait." Aelin was opening the gate and rushing to him. She grabbed his hand as she approached and pulled him to stop. "It isn't..." she couldn't find the words to explain, to tell Sam that she hadn't intended to hurt him, to let him find out like this.

"It isn't what? What it looks like?" He laughed again, yanking his hand from her grip as he did, like he was disgusted at the contact. "Save me the sob story, I don't care."

Aelin could feel the tears, could feel her heartbreaking all over again. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that Sam had to be collateral damage, that she had fallen in love with him, and let Sam fall in love with her, only to break his heart.

She tried to grab his hand, Sam moving away before she could. "He's my mate Sam, there was nothing I could do!" She had started to cry now, too many tears were being shed over this. She couldn't remember the last time she had cried this much. She stood in the middle of the path, Sam facing her again. His face held no emotion as he watched her cry, he didn't flinch when her sobs turned louder and she choked his name out.

Rowan came to her, his arms going around her, cradling her as she begged Sam not to walk away.

"I'm not the one who walked away, Aelin." He approached her, his expression stormy, the love and adoration that had once been, gone. "You are dead to me."

She tried to grab the edges of his coat, trying to stop him from leaving. She was begging and crying and she was wriggling out of Rowan's arms, guilt overwhelmed her. A queen to be, grovelling for at the feet of a man. Sam gave her one last look. He did not care that she was on her knees begging for forgiveness, he did not care as he dropped the gift he had given her in the dust; and he did not look back as he strode into the night, his figure slowly fading just like their love.