A Haunting Past - Throne of Glass

Chapter 1

Rowan - Past

The scent hit him before he saw her. A delicate, flowery scent. Looking around, Prince Rowan Whitehorn found the source of that scent. His mate. A petite fae standing behind a flower cart, quickly making a bouquet for the customer standing before her.

He drew nearer, the woman working slower until she stopped to look up. Her eyes shown bright. Mate. She knew it too.

The customer snapped at the woman and she finished making the bouquet and handed it off; the customer grumbling and offering no thanks.

Rowan approached the cart, and the woman froze. He had to admit, he was rather surprised that this was his mate. Mates are meant to be equal to some capacity. Yet, he towered over her, and he was almost certain he was more powerful. Fear radiated off of the woman as he stood before her.

"Mate," he breathed. He saw her shudder at the words and her fear slowly retreated. "What is your name?"

He may be fae, and his animalistic needs clawing at the surface, but he would not give in. Not now. Not here. Not as the rest of his group was still within the crowd.

"Lyria," she breathed looking up at him. "And yours?"

"Rowan."

"Prince Rowan Whithorn?"

Of course she had heard of him; he wasn't at all surprised. Although no claim to any throne, he was still a prince, and therefore still worthy of his title.  Though that is how most people knew him: a prince, or an aspiring warrior in Queen Maeve's army.

"Yes," he responded simply. "Though I have a distant claim to any throne, I prefer just Rowan."

She nodded in understanding. Then came a long pause. What were they to do now? Many mates would disappear for days upon finding each other, though Rowan couldn't do any of that. Not while he was here on business. Which, Gavriel was now calling out to him.

"Where can I find you? I'd like to get to know you better," Rowan inquired.

Lyria thought for a moment as she studied Rowan. "Right here," she gestured behind her, a flower shop. "I live above the shop. If you come at night just knock on the door or call up, I am sure to hear you."

"Rowan, hurry!" Gavriel called once more.

Lyria looked down the road and gave Rowan a look before he took her hand and kissed it. "I will return, I promise."

Rowan took off down the road to catch Gavriel and left Lyria at the flower stand, determined to return that night.