The Space Between

Chapter 1

There was only so much plot she could stand. Where was the romance she was promised, the steamy, spicy, no plot smut book she had picked up from the back corner of the market after her daily training was over. Abilyn Whitethorn Ashryver Galathynius snapped her book shut and hurtled it onto the bed, as she stood and left the room. Bored out of her mind, she made her way to the Throne Room, where her mother and father, Aelin and Rowan Whitethorn Ashryver Galathynius, Queen and King of Terrasen, were taking grievances from their people. Even hearing people complain would be less boring than just sitting alone in her room.

None of her mother and fathers friends had children that were around her age for her to interact with. Lorcan and Elide were expecting their second child soon but their first still hadn't Settled yet and was in no position to entertain Abi, who had settled a few years ago. The rest of their Court was either off running their own kingdom, or didn't have any children.

So she had to find ways to entertain herself, and today that would consist of listening to people complain about how this guy stole from this other guy, but the other man's wife was the one who actually took the things to give to the original guy. The drama was more entertaining than any book she could find at the Market. But when she entered the throne room, it was silent. Empty. Her parents weren't even sitting on their thrones. Something must be wrong.

The little voice in the back of her mind was trying to scream at her that YOU ARE JUST BORED AND ARE CREATING A FAKE SCENARIO, but she ignored it and continued to pull her dagger out of the sheath on her thigh. Scanning the room with her magic and her senses she felt nothing off. Until she felt a pressure against her ears, almost as if they popped, and felt a presence behind her. She took one step back, grabbed the intruder by the wrists, kicked her leg back, knocking the person off their feet. She turned and fell with them as she pinned them to the ground and positioned her dagger against their throat.

The intruder released a small grunt as he hit the ground. Looking up to see Abi above him, a small smile crossed his lips.

"Well, it's good to see you too, Aelin." The male smiled in full and tried to get up. The corded muscles of his chest shifted under Abi's forearm. She pushed him back down hard, and pressed the dagger in drawing blood. His brows creased as his gaze searched her face.

Her mother Aelin and her looked very similar, almost identical, same face, same golden blonde hair, same build, except for one thing, and as the males eyes landed on her own, a deep green, the green of Terrasen, realization lit his features.

"Not Aelin." He starred.

"No not Aelin, what do you want with my mother." He hissed in pain as the dagger slid further into his skin, his blood mixing with the blond long hair pooling under his head.

"Mother!?" He said almost startled, but quickly schooled his features.

Just then the doors to the throne room groaned open. The giant doors boomed as they revealed Abi's mother and father speaking quietly to themselves. Her mother looking, giddy? Her mother was a lot of things, sarcastic, secretive, badass, but giddy was not a common one on her list.

As Abi met Aelin's eyes and she assessed the situation, her mothers giddy presence quickly evaporated. She grabbed Rowan's sleeve. Seeing her daughter on top of a male intruder with a dagger to his throat was probably the last thing she was expecting.

"Abilyn, what, may I ask, are you doing?" Rowan asked, his eyebrows raised.

"Abilyn." The male under her whispered under his breath, his gaze once again searching her face.

"I came to alleviate my boredom and was given a lovely introduction to this male. Woo seems to have snuck in. I'm not sure what he's trying to do, but I can question him if you need me to. I can-" She was cut off as her mother spoke.

"No you will not question him. You will remove your dagger from his throat, and get off of him." Her mother said amused.

A strangled sound of disbelief left Abi's mouth as she did as she was told, trying not to look like a younger version who would pout and stomp her foot after not getting what she wanted. She just wanted a little action, and now her mother was taking away her one chance at just that.

"Now that we have that under control, would you like to tell me what's going on, Fenrys?" Aelin looked to the male who had also just gotten off the floor dusting off his pants.

"I got back early and thought I would surprise you." He said pointing to Abi. "Clearly I have been gone longer than I realized, if I didn't even know that she existed. I thought she was you."

"Ah yes, well, things... have happened." Aelin smiled at Abi.

"Fenrys Moonbeam, meet our daughter Abilyn Whitethorn Ashryver Galathynius."