Empire-of-Storms

["Faster\t and\t faster,\t those\t three\t bulls\t closed\t in.\t Lysandra\t remained\t at\t the\t mouth\t of\t the bay. Holding\tthe\tline. Aedion\u2019s\theart\tstopped. \u201cShe\u2019s\tdead,\u201d\tone\tof\tthe\tsentries\thissed.\t\u201cOh,\tgods,\tshe\u2019s\tdead\u2014\u201d \u201cShut\t your\t rutting\t mouth,\u201d\t Aedion\t snarled,\t scanning\t the\t bay,\t slipping\t into\t that\t cold, calculating\t place\t that\t allowed\t him\t to\t make\t decisions\t in\t battle,\t to\t weigh\t the\t costs\t and risks. Dorian,\thowever,\tgot\tthe\tidea\tbefore\the\tdid. Across\tthe\tbay,\thand\tuplifted\tand\tflickering\tbright\tas\ta\tstar,\tDorian\tsignaled\tLysandra again\tand\tagain\twith\this\tpower.\tCome\tto\tme,\tcome\tto\tme,\tcome\tto\tme,\tthe\tking\tseemed\tto call. The\tthree\tbulls\tsank\tbeneath\tthe\twaves. Lysandra\tturned,\tplunging\tdown\u2014 But\tnot\ttoward\tDorian. Aelin\tstopped\tshouting.\tAnd\tDorian\u2019s\tmagic\twinked\tout. Aedion\tcould\tonly\twatch\tas\tthe\tshape-shifter\u2019s\tshadow\tsoared\ttoward\tthe\tthree\tbulls, meeting\tthem\thead-on. The\tthree\twyverns\tspread\tout,\tso\thuge\tAedion\u2019s\tthroat\twent\tdry. And\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime,\the\thated\this\tcousin. He\t hated\t Aelin\t for\t asking\t this\t of\t Lysandra,\t both\t to\t defend\t them\t and\t to\t secure\t the Mycenians\t to\t fight\t for\t Terrasen.\t Hated\t the\t people\t who\t had\t left\t such\t scars\t on\t the\t shifter that\t Lysandra\t was\t so\t willing\t to\t throw\t her\t life\t away.\t Hated\t \u2026\t hated\t himself\t for\t being stuck\tin\tthis\tuseless\ttower,\twith\ta\twar\tmachine\tonly\tcapable\tof\tfiring\tone\tshot\tat\ta\ttime. Lysandra\t aimed\t for\t the\t wyvern\t in\t the\t middle,\t and\t when\t only\t a\t hundred\t yards separated\tthem,\tshe\tveered\tleft. They\tbroke\tformation,\tone\tdiving\tlow,\tone\tkeeping\tto\tthe\tsurface,\tand\tthe\tother\tfalling back.\t They\t were\t going\t to\t herd\t her.\t Herd\t her\t to\t a\t spot\t where\t they\u2019d\t surround\t her\t from every\tangle\tand\tthen\trip\ther\tto\tshreds.\tIt\twould\tbe\tmessy\tand\tvicious. But\tLysandra\tshot\tacross\tthe\tchannel.\tHeaded\u2014 Headed\tright\tfor\tthe\tfinal\tremaining\twarship. Arrows\trained\tdown\ton\ther. Blood\tbloomed\tas\tsome\tfound\ttheir\tmark\tthrough\ther\tjade\tscales. She\tkept\tswimming,\ther\tblood\tsending\tthe\tbull\tclosest\tto\ther,\tthe\tone\tnear\tthe\tsurface, into\ta\tfrenzy,\tpushing\thimself\tfaster\tto\tgrab\ther,\tbite\ther\u2014","Lysandra\tneared\tthe\tship,\ttaking\tarrow\tafter\tarrow,\tand\tleaped\tout\tof\tthe\twater. She\t crashed\t into\t soldiers\t and\t wood\t and\t the\t mast,\t rolling,\t writhing,\t and\t bucking,\t the twin\tmasts\tsnapping\tunder\ther\ttail. She\thit\tthe\tother\tside,\tflipping\tdown\tinto\tthe\twater,\tred\tblood\tshining\teverywhere\u2014 Just\tas\tthe\twyvern\ton\ther\tass\tleaped\tonto\tthe\tship\tin\ta\tmighty\tarc\tthat\ttook\tAedion\u2019s breath\taway.\tBut\twith\tthe\tjagged\tstumps\tof\tthe\tmasts\tjutting\tup\tlike\tlances\u2026 The\tbull\tlanded\tatop\tthem\twith\ta\tcrunch\tthat\tAedion\theard\tacross\tthe\tbay. He\tbucked,\tbut\u2014that\twas\twood\tnow\tpiercing\tthrough\this\tback. And\tbeneath\this\tenormous\tweight\t\u2026\tthe\tship\tbegan\tto\tcrack\tand\tsink. Lysandra\twasted\tno\ttime\tin\tgetting\tclear,\tand\tAedion\tcould\tbarely\tdraw\tbreath\tas\tshe shot\tacross\tthe\tbay\tagain,\tthe\ttwo\tbulls\tso\thorribly\tclose\tthat\ttheir\twakes\tmerged. One\t dove,\t the\t depths\t swallowing\t him\t from\t sight.\t But\t the\t second\t one,\t still\t on\t her tail\u2026 Lysandra\tled\tthat\tone\tright\tinto\tDorian\u2019s\trange. She\t drew\t in\t as\t close\t to\t the\t shore\t and\t looming\t tower\t as\t she\t could\t get,\t bringing\t the second\tbull\twith\ther.\tThe\tking\tstretched\tout\tboth\thands. The\t bull\t raged\t past\u2014only\t to\t halt\t as\t ice\t lashed\t across\t the\t water.\t Solid\t ice,\t such\t as there\thad\tnever\tbeen\there. The\t sentries\t beside\t Aedion\t fell\t silent.\t The\t bull\t roared,\t trying\t to\t wrest\t himself\t free\u2014 but\tthe\tking\u2019s\tice\tgrew\tthicker,\ttrapping\tthe\twyvern\twithin\tits\tfrozen\tgrip.\tWhen\tthe\tbeast stopped\tmoving,\thoarfrost\tlike\tscales\tcovered\thim\tfrom\tsnout\tto\ttail. Dorian\tloosed\ta\tbattle\tcry. And\t Aedion\t had\t to\t admit\t the\t king\t wasn\u2019t\t that\t useless\t after\t all\t as\t the\t catapult\t behind Dorian\tsprang\tfree,\tand\ta\trock\tthe\tsize\tof\ta\twagon\tjettisoned\tinto\tthe\tbay. Right\tatop\tthe\tfrozen\twyvern. Rock\tmet\tice\tand\tflesh.\tAnd\tthe\twyvern\tshattered\tinto\ta\tthousand\tpieces. Rolfe\t and\t some\t of\t his\t men\t were\t cheering\u2014people\t were\t cheering\t from\t the\t docks\t in town. But\tthere\twas\tone\tbull\tleft\tin\tthe\tharbor.\tAnd\tLysandra\twas\u2026 She\thad\tno\tidea\twhere\tthe\tbull\twas. The\tlong\tgreen\tbody\tthrashed\tin\tthe\twater,\tdipping\tbeneath\tthe\twaves,\tnear-frantic. Aedion\tscanned\tthe\tbay,\trotating\tin\tthe\tgunner\tchair\tas\the\tdid,\tsearching\tfor\tany\thint of\tthat\tcolossal\tdark\tshadow\u2014 \u201cYOUR\tLEFT!\u201d\tGavriel\troared\tacross\tthe\tbay,\tmagic\tno\tdoubt\tamplifying\this\tvoice. Lysandra\ttwisted\u2014and\tthere\tthe\tbull\twas,\tspeeding\tout\tof\tthe\tdepths,\tas\tif\the\twere\ta","shark\tambushing\tprey. Lysandra\t threw\t herself\t into\t movement.\t A\t field\t of\t floating\t debris\t lay\t around\t her,\t the sinking\tships\tof\ttheir\tenemy\tlike\tislands\tof\tdeath,\tand\tthere\twas\tthe\tchain\t\u2026\tIf\tshe\tcould maybe\tget\ton\tit\tand\tclimb\thigh\t\u2026\tNo,\tshe\twas\ttoo\theavy,\ttoo\tslow. She\tagain\tstreaked\tpast\tDorian\u2019s\ttower,\tbut\tthe\tbull\twouldn\u2019t\tget\tnear.\tHe\tknew\tdoom awaited\t him\t there.\t He\t kept\t just\t out\t of\t range,\t playing\t with\t her\t as\t she\t launched\t back\t into the\tfield\tof\tdebris\tbetween\tthe\tenemy\tships.\tToward\tthe\topen\tsea. Aelin\tand\tthe\tothers\twatched\thelplessly\tfrom\tthe\treef\toutcropping\tas\tthe\ttwo\tmonsters swept\t by,\t the\t bull\t sending\t bits\t of\t broken\t hulls\t and\t masts\t into\t the\t air\u2014aiming\t at\t the shifter. One\tstruck\tLysandra\tin\tthe\tside,\tand\tshe\twent\tdown. Aedion\tshot\tout\tof\this\tseat,\ta\troar\ton\this\tlips.\tBut\tthere\tshe\twas,\tblood\tstreaming\tfrom her\tas\tshe\tswam\tand\tswam,\tas\tshe\tled\tthat\tbull\tthrough\tthe\theart\tof\tdebris,\tthen\tcut\tback \u2014sharply.\tThe\tbull\tfollowed\tthrough\tthe\tblood\tclouding\tthe\twater,\tblasting\tthrough\tdebris that\tshe\tnimbly\tdodged. She\u2019d\tworked\thim\tinto\ta\tblood-frenzy. And\tLysandra,\tdamn\ther,\tled\thim\tto\tthe\tremnants\tof\tenemy\tships,\twhere\tValg\tsoldiers were\t trying\t to\t save\t themselves.\t The\t bull\t exploded\t through\t soldier\t and\t wood\t as\t if\t they were\tveils\tof\tgossamer. Leaping\t through\t the\t water,\t twining\t around\t debris\t and\t coral\t and\t bodies,\t the\t sunlight glinting\ton\tgreen\tscales\tand\truby\tblood,\tLysandra\tled\tthe\tbull\tinto\ta\tdance\tof\tdeath. Each\tmovement\tslower\tas\tmore\tof\ther\tblood\tleaked\tinto\tthe\twater. And\tthen\tshe\tchanged\tcourse.\tHeading\tinto\tthe\tbay.\tTo\tthe\tchain. And\tcut\tnorth\u2014toward\thim. Aedion\texamined\tthe\tmassive\tbolt\tbefore\thim. Three\thundred\tyards\tof\topen\twater\tseparated\ther\tfrom\tthe\trange\tof\this\tarrow. \u201cSWIM,\u201d\tAedion\troared,\teven\tif\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\thear.\t\u201cSWIM,\tLYSANDRA!\u201d Silence\tfell\tacross\tthe\tentirety\tof\tSkull\u2019s\tBay\tas\tthat\tjade\tsea\tdragon\tswam\tfor\ther\tlife. The\tbull\tgained\ton\ther,\tdiving\tdown. Lysandra\t passed\t under\t the\t links\t of\t the\t chain,\t and\t the\t shadow\t of\t the\t bull\t spread beneath\ther. So\tsmall.\tShe\twas\tso\tsmall\tcompared\tto\thim\u2014one\tbite\twas\tall\tit\twould\ttake. Aedion\t slammed\t himself\t back\t into\t the\t gunner\t chair,\t gripping\t the\t levers\t and\t pivoting the\tmachine\tas\tshe\tswam\tand\tswam\tfor\thim. One\tshot.\tThat\twas\tall\the\u2019d\thave.\tOne\tgods-damned\tshot.","Lysandra\t hurled\t herself\t forward,\t and\t Aedion\t knew\t she\t was\t aware\t of\t the\t death\t that loomed.\t Knew\t she\t was\t pushing\t that\t sea\t dragon\u2019s\t heart\t to\t near-stopping.\t Knew\t that\t the bull\t had\t reached\t the\t bottom\t and\t now\t launched\t himself\t up,\t up,\t up\t toward\t her\t vulnerable belly. Only\ta\tfew\tmore\tyards,\tonly\ta\tfew\tmore\theartbeats. Sweat\t slid\t down\t Aedion\u2019s\t brow,\t his\t own\t heart\t hammering\t so\t violently\t all\t he\t could hear\twas\tits\tthunder.\tHe\tshifted\tthe\tspear,\tslightly,\tadjusting\this\taim. The\tbull\traged\tup\tfrom\tthe\tdeep,\tmaw\topen,\tready\tto\trip\ther\tin\thalf\twith\tone\tblow. Lysandra\t passed\t into\t range\t and\t leaped\u2014leaped\t clean\t out\t of\t the\t water,\t all\tsparkling scales\t and\t blood.\t The\t bull\t jumped\t with\t her,\t water\t streaming\t from\t his\t open\t jaws\t as\t they arced\tup. Aedion\tfired,\tslamming\this\tpalms\tinto\tthe\tlever. Lysandra\u2019s\t long\t body\t arched\t away\t from\t those\t jaws\t as\t the\t bull\t lifted\t clean\t out\t of\t the water,\tbaring\this\twhite\tthroat\u2014 As\tAedion\u2019s\tmassive\tspear\twent\tclean\tthrough\tit. Blood\t spurted\t from\t the\t open\t jaws,\t and\t the\t creature\u2019s\t eyes\t went\t wide\t as\t he\t reared back. Lysandra\tslammed\tinto\tthe\twater,\tsending\ta\tplume\tso\thigh\tit\tblocked\tout\tthe\tsight\tof both\tof\tthem\tas\tthey\tcrashed\tinto\tthe\tsea. When\t it\t subsided,\t there\t was\t only\t the\t shadow\t of\t them\u2014and\t a\t growing\t pool\t of\t black blood. \u201cYou\t\u2026\tyou\t\u2026\t,\u201d\tthe\tsentry\tbabbled. \u201cLoad\tanother\tone,\u201d\the\tordered,\tstanding\tfrom\this\tseat\tto\tscan\tthe\tbubbling\twater. Where\twas\tshe,\twhere\twas\tshe\u2014 Aelin\twas\tperched\ton\tRowan\u2019s\tshoulders,\tscanning\tthe\tbay. And\tthen\ta\tgreen\thead\tshot\tfrom\tthe\twater,\tblack\tblood\tspraying\tlike\tspindrift\tas\tshe hurled\tthe\tsevered\thead\tof\tthe\tbull\tacross\tthe\twaves. Cheering\u2014riotous,\twild\tcheering\u2014exploded\tfrom\tevery\tcorner\tof\tthe\tbay. But\tAedion\twas\talready\tup\tand\trunning,\thalf\tleaping\tdown\tthe\tstairs\tthat\twould\ttake him\t toward\t the\t beach\t that\t Lysandra\t now\t swam\t for,\t her\t own\t blood\t replacing\t the\t black ichor\tthat\tstained\tthe\twater. So\t slow,\t each\t of\t her\t movements\t was\t so\t painfully\t slow.\t He\t lost\t track\t of\t her\t as\t he descended\tbelow\tthe\ttree\tline,\this\tchest\theaving. Roots\t and\t stones\t wrenched\t at\t him,\t but\t his\t Fae-swift\t feet\t flew\t over\t the\t loam\t until\t it turned\t to\t sand,\t until\t light\t broke\t through\t the\t trees\t and\t there\t she\t was,\t sprawled\t on\t the beach,\tbleeding\teverywhere.","Beyond\tthem,\tout\tin\tthe\tbay,\tShip-Breaker\tdropped\tlow,\tand\tRolfe\u2019s\tfleet\tswept\tout\tto pick\toff\tthe\tsurviving\tsoldiers\u2014and\tsave\tany\tof\ttheir\town\tstill\tout\tthere. He\tvaguely\tnoted\tAelin\tand\tthe\tothers\tdiving\tinto\tthe\tsea,\tswimming\thard\tfor\tland. Aedion\tdropped\tto\this\tknees,\twincing\tas\tsand\tsprayed\tonto\ther.\tHer\tscaled\thead\twas nearly\tas\tbig\tas\the\twas,\tbut\ther\teyes\t\u2026\tthose\tgreen\teyes,\tthe\tsame\tcolor\tas\ther\tscales\u2026 Full\tof\tpain.\tAnd\texhaustion. He\tlifted\ta\thand\ttoward\ther,\tbut\tshe\tshowed\ther\tteeth\u2014a\tlow\tsnarl\tslipping\tout\tof\ther. He\theld\tup\this\thands,\tscooting\tback. It\t was\t not\t the\t woman\t who\t looked\t at\t him,\t but\t the\t beast\t she\u2019d\t become.\t As\t if\t she\t had given\therself\tso\tfully\tto\tits\tinstincts,\tthat\tit\thad\tbeen\tthe\tonly\tway\tto\tsurvive. There\twere\tgashes\tand\tslices\teverywhere.\tAll\tdribbling\tblood,\tsoaking\tthe\twhite\tsand. Rowan\t and\t Aelin\u2014one\t of\t them\t could\t help.\t If\t they\t could\t summon\t any\t power\t after what\tthe\tqueen\thad\tdone.\tLysandra\tclosed\ther\teyes,\ther\tbreathing\tshallow. \u201cOpen\tyour\tgods-damned\teyes,\u201d\tAedion\tsnarled. She\tsnarled\tback\tbut\tcracked\topen\tan\teye. \u201cYou\tmade\tit\tthis\tfar.\tDon\u2019t\tdie\ton\tthe\trutting\tbeach.\u201d The\teye\tnarrowed\u2014with\ta\thint\tof\tfemale\ttemper.\tHe\thad\tto\tget\tthe\twoman\tback.\tLet her\ttake\tcontrol.\tOr\telse\tthe\tbeast\twould\tnever\tallow\tthem\tnear\tenough\tto\thelp. \u201cYou\tcan\tthank\tme\twhen\tyour\tsorry\tass\tis\thealed.\u201d Again,\tthat\teye\twatched\thim\twarily,\ttemper\tflickering.\tBut\tan\tanimal\tremained. Aedion\t drawled,\t even\t as\t his\t relief\t began\t to\t crumble\t his\t mask\t of\t arrogant\t calmness, \u201cThe\tuseless\tsentries\tin\tthe\twatchtower\tare\tnow\tall\thalf\tin\tlove\twith\tyou,\u201d\the\tlied.\t\u201cOne said\the\twanted\tto\tmarry\tyou.\u201d A\t low\t snarl.\t He\t yielded\t a\t foot\t but\t held\t eye\t contact\t with\t her\t as\t he\t grinned.\t \u201cBut\t you know\twhat\tI\ttold\tthem?\tI\tsaid\tthat\tthey\tdidn\u2019t\tstand\ta\tchance\tin\thell.\u201d\tAedion\tlowered\this voice,\t holding\t her\t pained,\t exhausted\t stare.\t \u201cBecause\t I\t am\t going\t to\t marry\t you,\u201d\t he promised\ther.\t\u201cOne\tday.\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\tmarry\tyou.\tI\u2019ll\tbe\tgenerous\tand\tlet\tyou\tpick\twhen, even\tif\tit\u2019s\tten\tyears\tfrom\tnow.\tOr\ttwenty.\tBut\tone\tday,\tyou\tare\tgoing\tto\tbe\tmy\twife.\u201d Those\teyes\tnarrowed\u2014in\twhat\the\tcould\tonly\tcall\tfemale\toutrage\tand\texasperation. He\tshrugged.\t\u201cPrincess\tLysandra\tAshryver\tsounds\tnice,\tdoesn\u2019t\tit?\u201d And\tthen\tthe\tdragon\thuffed.\tIn\tamusement.\tExhaustion,\tbut\t\u2026\tamusement. She\t opened\t her\t jaws,\t as\t if\t she\u2019d\t try\t to\t speak,\t but\t realized\t she\t couldn\u2019t\t in\t this\t body. Blood\tleaked\tthrough\ther\tenormous\tteeth,\tand\tshe\tshuddered\tin\tpain. Brush\t snapped\t and\t crashed,\t and\t there\t were\t Aelin\t and\t Rowan,\t and\t his\t father\t and Fenrys.\tAll\tof\tthem\tsoaked,\tcovered\tin\tsand,\tand\tgray\tas\tdeath.","His\t queen\t staggered\t for\t Lysandra\t with\t a\t sob,\t flinging\t herself\t onto\t the\t sand\t before Aedion\tcould\tbark\ta\twarning. But\tLysandra\tonly\twinced\tas\tthe\tqueen\tlaid\ta\thand\ton\ther,\tsaying\tover\tand\tover,\t\u201cI\u2019m so\tsorry,\tI\u2019m\tso\tsorry.\u201d Fenrys\tand\tGavriel,\twho\thad\tmaybe\tsaved\ther\tlife\twith\tthat\tamplified\tshout\tabout\tthe bull\u2019s\tlocation,\tlingered\tnear\tthe\ttree\tline\tas\tRowan\tapproached,\tsurveying\tthe\twounds. Fenrys\tspotted\tAedion\u2019s\tglance,\tspotted\tthe\twarning\twrath\ton\this\tface\tif\teither\tof\tthem got\t near\t the\t shifter,\t and\t said,\t \u201cThat\t was\t one\t hell\t of\t a\t shot,\t boyo.\u201d\t His\t father\t nodded\t in silent\tagreement. Aedion\t ignored\t them\t both.\t Whatever\t well\t of\t magic\t his\t cousin\t and\t Rowan\t had depleted\twas\talready\trefilling.\tThe\tshifter\u2019s\twounds\tknitted\tclosed,\tone\tby\tone.\tSlowly\u2014 painfully\tslowly,\tbut\t\u2026\tthe\tbleeding\tstopped. \u201cShe\tlost\ta\tlot\tof\tblood,\u201d\tRowan\tobserved\tto\tnone\tof\tthem\tin\tparticular.\t\u201cToo\tmuch.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve\tnever\tseen\tanything\tlike\tthat\tin\tmy\tlife,\u201d\tFenrys\tmurmured.\tNone\tof\tthem\thad. Aelin\t was\t trembling,\t a\t hand\t on\t her\t friend\u2014face\t so\t white\t and\t drawn\t that\t any\t harsh words\the\u2019d\treserved\tfor\ther\twere\tunnecessary.\tHis\tqueen\tknew\tthe\tcost.\tIt\thad\ttaken\ther so\tdamn\tlong\tto\ttrust\tany\tof\tthem\tto\tdo\tanything.\tIf\tAedion\troared\tat\ther\tnow,\teven\tif\the still\t yearned\t to\t \u2026\t Aelin\t might\t never\t delegate\t again.\t Because\t if\t Lysandra\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t in the\twater\twhen\tthings\thad\tgone\tso,\tso\tbadly\u2026 \u201cWhat\t happened?\u201d\t he\t breathed,\t catching\t Aelin\u2019s\t eye.\t \u201cWhat\t the\t hell\t happened\t out there?\u201d \u201cI\tlost\tcontrol,\u201d\tAelin\tsaid\thoarsely.\tAs\tif\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\thelp\tit,\ther\thand\tdrifted\tto\ther chest.\tWhere,\tthrough\tthe\twhite\tof\ther\tshirt,\the\tcould\tmake\tout\tthe\tAmulet\tof\tOrynth. He\tknew\tthen.\tKnew\tprecisely\twhat\tAelin\tcarried.\tWhat\twould\thave\tsnagged\tRolfe\u2019s interest\t on\t that\t map\t of\t his\u2014similar\t enough\t to\t the\t Valg\t essence\t to\t get\t him\t to\t come running. Knew\t why\t it\t had\t been\t so\t important,\t so\t vital,\t she\t risk\t everything\t to\t get\t it\t from Arobynn\tHamel.\tKnew\tthat\tshe\thad\tused\ta\tWyrdkey\ttoday,\tand\tit\thad\talmost\tkilled\tthem all\u2014 He\twas\tshaking\tnow,\tthat\trage\tindeed\ttaking\tover.\tBut\tRowan\tsnarled\tat\thim,\tlow\tand vicious,\t\u201cSave\tit\tfor\tlater.\u201d\tBecause\tFenrys\tand\tGavriel\thad\ttensed\u2014watching. Aedion\tgrowled\tright\tback\tat\thim.\tRowan\tgave\thim\ta\tcold,\tsteady\tlook\tthat\tsaid\tif\the so\tmuch\tas\tbegan\tto\thint\tat\twhat\ttheir\tqueen\tcarried,\the\u2019d\trip\tout\this\ttongue.\tLiterally. Aedion\tshoved\tdown\tthe\tanger.\t\u201cWe\tcan\u2019t\tcarry\ther,\tand\tshe\u2019s\ttoo\tweak\tto\tshift.\u201d \u201cThen\t we\t wait\t here\t until\t she\t can,\u201d\t Aelin\t said.\t But\t her\t eyes\t drifted\t to\t the\t bay,\t where Rolfe\t was\t now\t being\t helped\t onto\t those\t rescue\t ships.\t And\t to\t the\t city\t beyond,\t still cheering.","A\t victory\u2014but\t very\t nearly\t a\t loss.\t The\t remnants\t of\t the\t Mycenians,\t saved\t by\t one\t of their\t long-lost\t sea\t dragons.\t Aelin\t and\t Lysandra\t had\t woven\t ancient\t prophecies\t into tangible\tfact. \u201cI\u2019ll\tstay,\u201d\tAedion\tsaid.\t\u201cYou\tdeal\twith\tRolfe.\u201d His\tfather\toffered\tfrom\tbehind\thim,\t\u201cI\tcan\tget\tsome\tsupplies\tfrom\tthe\twatchtower.\u201d \u201cFine,\u201d\the\tsaid. Aelin\t groaned,\t getting\t to\t her\t feet,\t but\t stared\t down\t at\t him\t before\t she\t took\t Rowan\u2019s extended\thand.\tShe\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u201cI\u2019m\tsorry.\u201d Aedion\tknew\tshe\tmeant\tit.\tHe\tstill\tdidn\u2019t\tbother\treplying. Lysandra\t groaned,\t the\t reverberations\t running\t up\t his\t knees\t and\t straight\t into\t his\t gut, and\tAedion\twhirled\tback\tto\tthe\tshifter. Aelin\tleft\twithout\tfurther\tgood-bye. The\tLion\tlingered\tin\tthe\tbrush,\tkeeping\tout\tof\tsight\tand\tsound\tas\tthe\tWolf\twatched\tover the\tdragon\tstill\tsprawled\tacross\tthe\tbeach. For\t hours,\t the\t Wolf\t remained\t there.\t While\t the\t outgoing\t tide\t cleared\t the\t harbor\t of blood.\t While\t the\t Pirate\t Lord\u2019s\t ships\t sent\t any\t remaining\t enemy\t bodies\t to\t the\t crushing blue.\t While\t the\t young\t queen\t returned\t to\t the\t city\t in\t the\t heart\t of\t the\t bay\t to\t handle\t any fallout. Once\t the\t sun\t had\t begun\t to\t set,\t the\t dragon\t stirred,\t and\t slowly,\t her\t form\t shimmering and\tshrinking,\tscales\twere\tsmoothed\tinto\tskin,\ta\tsnout\tmelted\tback\tinto\ta\tflawless\thuman face,\tand\tstumpy\tlimbs\tlengthened\tinto\tgolden\tlegs.\tSand\tcrusted\ther\tnaked\tbody,\tand\tshe tried\tand\tfailed\tto\trise.\tThe\tWolf\tmoved\tthen,\tslinging\this\tcloak\taround\ther\tand\tsweeping her\tinto\this\tarms. The\t shifter\t didn\u2019t\t object,\t and\t her\t eyes\t were\t again\t closed\t by\t the\t time\t the\t Wolf\t began striding\tup\tthe\tbeach\tto\tthe\ttrees,\ther\thead\tleaning\tagainst\this\tchest. The\t Lion\t remained\t out\t of\t sight\t and\t held\t in\t the\t offer\t of\t help.\t Held\t in\t the\t words\t he needed\t to\t say\t to\t the\t Wolf,\t who\t had\t downed\t a\t sea-wyvern\t with\t one\t arrow.\t Twenty-four years\told\tand\talready\ta\tmyth\twhispered\tover\tcampfires. Today\u2019s\t events\t would\t no\t doubt\t be\t told\t around\t fires\t in\t lands\t even\t the\t Lion\t had\t not roamed\tin\tall\this\tcenturies. The\tLion\twatched\tthe\tWolf\tvanish\tinto\tthe\ttrees,\theading\tfor\tthe\ttown\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe sandy\troad,\tthe\tshifter\tunconscious\tin\this\tarms. And\t the\t Lion\t wondered\t if\t he\t himself\t would\t ever\t be\t mentioned\t in\t those\t whispered stories\u2014if\this\tson\twould\tever\tallow\tthe\tworld\tto\tknow\twho\thad\tsired\thim.\tOr\teven\tcare.","38 The\tmeeting\twith\tRolfe\tonce\tthe\tharbor\twas\tagain\tsafe\twas\tquick.\tFrank. And\tAelin\tknew\tif\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tthe\thell\tout\tof\tthis\tcity\tfor\tan\thour\tor\ttwo,\tshe\tmight very\twell\texplode\tagain. Every\tkey\thas\ta\tlock,\tDeanna\thad\tsaid,\ta\tlittle\treminder\tof\tBrannon\u2019s\torder.\tUsing\ther voice.\t And\t had\t called\t her\t that\t title\t \u2026\t that\t title\t that\t struck\t some\t chord\t of\t horror\t and understanding\t in\t her,\t so\t deep\t she\t was\t still\t working\t out\t what\t it\t meant.\t The\t Queen\t Who Was\tPromised. Aelin\t stormed\t onto\t a\t spit\t of\t beach\t on\t the\t far\t side\t of\t the\t island,\t having\t run\t here, needing\t to\t get\t her\t blood\t roaring,\t needing\t it\t to\t silence\t the\t thoughts\t in\t her\t head.\t Behind her,\tRowan\u2019s\tsteps\twere\tquiet\tas\tdeath. Only\t the\t two\t of\t them\t had\t been\t in\t that\t meeting\t with\t Rolfe.\t Bloodied,\t soaked,\t the Pirate\t Lord\t had\t met\t them\t in\t the\t main\t room\t of\t his\t inn,\t the\t name\t of\t it\t now\t a\t permanent reminder\tof\tthe\tship\tshe\u2019d\twrecked.\tHe\tdemanded,\t\u201cWhat\tthe\thell\thappened?\u201d And\tshe\thad\tbeen\tso\ttired,\tso\tpissed\toff\tand\tfull\tof\tdisgust\tand\tdespair,\tthat\tit\thad\tbeen nearly\t impossible\t to\t muster\t the\t swagger.\t \u201cWhen\t you\t are\t blessed\t by\t Mala,\t you\t find\t that sometimes\tyour\tcontrol\tcan\tslip.\u201d \u201cSlip?\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t what\t you\t fools\t were\t talking\t about\t down\t there,\t but\t from\t where\t I was\tstanding,\tit\tlooked\tlike\tyou\tlost\tyour\tgods-damned\tmind\tand\twere\tabout\tto\tfire\ton\tmy town.\u201d Rowan,\tleaning\tagainst\tthe\tedge\tof\ta\tnearby\ttable,\texplained,\t\u201cMagic\tis\ta\tliving\tthing. When\t you\t are\t that\t deep\t in\t it,\t remembering\t yourself,\t your\t purpose,\t is\t an\t effort.\t That\t my queen\tdid\tso\tbefore\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate\tis\ta\tfeat\tin\titself.\u201d Rolfe\twasn\u2019t\timpressed.\t\u201cIt\tlooks\tto\tme\tlike\tyou\twere\ta\tlittle\tgirl\tplaying\twith\tpower too\tbig\tfor\tyou\tto\thandle,\tand\tonly\tyour\tprince\tjumping\tin\tyour\tpath\tmade\tyou\tdecide\tnot to\tslaughter\tmy\tinnocent\tpeople.\u201d Aelin\tclosed\ther\teyes\tfor\ta\theartbeat,\tthe\timage\tof\tRowan\tleaping\tin\tfront\tof\tthat\tfist of\t moonfire\t flashing\t before\t her.\t When\t she\t opened\t her\t eyes,\t she\t let\t the\t crackling assuredness\t fade\t into\t something\t frozen\t and\t hard.\t \u201cIt\t looks\t to\t me,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201clike\t the Pirate\tLord\tof\tSkull\u2019s\tBay\tand\tlong-lost\tMycenian\their\thas\tjust\tallied\twith\ta\tyoung\tqueen so\t powerful\t she\t can\t decimate\t cities\t if\t she\t wishes.\t It\t looks\t to\t me\t like\t you\t have\t made yourself\t untouchable\t with\t that\t alliance,\t and\t any\t fool\t who\t seeks\t to\t harm\t you,\t usurp\t you, will\t have\t me\t to\t contend\t with.\t So\t I\t suggest\t you\t salvage\t what\t you\t can\t of\t your\t precious ship,\t mourn\t the\t dozen\t men\t I\t take\t full\t responsibility\t for\t losing\t and\t whose\t families\t I\t will","compensate\taccordingly,\tand\tshut\tyour\trutting\tmouth.\u201d She\tturned\ttoward\tthe\tdoor,\texhaustion\tand\trage\tnipping\tat\ther\tbones. Rolfe\tsaid\tto\ther\tback,\t\u201cDo\tyou\twant\tto\tknow\twhat\tthe\tcost\tof\tthis\tmap\twas?\u201d She\thalted,\tRowan\tglancing\tbetween\tthem,\tface\tunreadable. She\tsmirked\tover\ther\tshoulder.\t\u201cYour\tsoul?\u201d Rolfe\tlet\tout\ta\thoarse\tlaugh.\t\u201cYes\u2014in\ta\tway.\tWhen\tI\twas\tsixteen,\tI\twas\tbarely\tmore than\ta\tslave\ton\tone\tof\tthese\tfestering\tships,\tmy\tMycenian\theritage\tjust\ta\tone-way\tticket\tto a\tbeating.\u201d\tHe\tlaid\ta\ttattooed\thand\ton\tthe\tThresher\u2019s\tlettering.\t\u201cEvery\tcoin\tI\tearned\tcame back\there\u2014to\tmy\tmother\tand\tsister.\tAnd\tone\tday\tthe\tship\tI\twas\ton\tgot\tcaught\tin\ta\tstorm. The\tcaptain\twas\ta\thaughty\tbastard,\trefused\tto\tfind\tsafe\tharbor,\tand\tthe\tship\twas\tdestroyed. Most\t of\t the\t crew\t drowned.\t I\t drifted\t for\t a\t day,\t washed\t up\t on\t an\t island\t at\t the\t edge\t of\t the archipelago,\t and\t awoke\t to\t find\t a\t man\t staring\t down\t at\t me.\t I\t asked\t if\t I\t was\t dead,\t and\t he laughed\tand\tinquired\twhat\tI\twanted\tfor\tmyself.\tI\twas\tso\tdelirious\tI\ttold\thim\tthat\tI\twanted to\tbe\tcaptain\u2014I\twanted\tto\tbe\tPirate\tLord\tof\tSkull\u2019s\tBay\tand\tmake\tthe\tarrogant\tfools\tlike the\tcaptain\twho\thad\tkilled\tmy\tfriends\tbow\tbefore\tme.\tI\tthought\tI\twas\tdreaming\twhen\the explained\t that\t if\t he\t were\t to\t grant\t me\t the\t skills\t to\t do\t it,\t there\t would\t be\t a\t price.\t What\t I valued\t most\t in\t the\t world,\t he\t would\t have.\t I\t said\t I\u2019d\t pay\t it\u2014whatever\t it\t was.\t I\t had\t no belongings,\t no\t wealth,\t no\t people\t anyway.\t A\t few\t coppers\t would\t be\t nothing.\t He\t smiled before\the\tvanished\tinto\tsea\tmist.\tI\tawoke\twith\tthe\tink\ton\tmy\thands.\u201d Aelin\twaited. Rolfe\tshrugged.\t\u201cI\tmade\tit\tback\there,\tfinding\tfriendly\tships\tusing\tthe\tmap\tthe\tstranger had\t inked\t there.\t A\t gift\t from\t a\t god\u2014or\t so\t I\t thought.\t But\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t until\t I\t saw\t the\t black sheets\tover\tmy\tcottage\u2019s\twindows\tthat\tI\tbegan\tto\tworry.\tAnd\tit\twasn\u2019t\tuntil\tI\tlearned\tthat my\tmother\tand\tsister\thad\tused\ttheir\tlittle\tmoney\tto\thire\ta\tskiff\tto\tgo\tlooking\tfor\tme\u2014and that\tthe\tskiff\thad\treturned\tto\tharbor\tbut\tthey\thad\tnot\u2014that\tI\trealized\tthe\tprice\tI\u2019d\thanded over.\tThat\u2019s\twhat\tthe\tsea\tclaimed.\tWhat\the\tclaimed.\tAnd\tit\tmade\tme\tsoulless\tenough\tthat I\tloosed\tmyself\tupon\tthis\tcity,\tthis\tarchipelago.\u201d\tRolfe\u2019s\tgreen\teyes\twere\tas\tmerciless\tas the\t Sea\t God\t who\t had\t gifted\t and\t damned\t him.\t \u201cThat\t was\t the\t price\t of\t my\t power.\t What shall\tyours\tbe,\tAelin\tGalathynius?\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\treply\tto\thim\tbefore\tstorming\tout.\tThough\tDeanna\u2019s\tvoice\thad\techoed\tin\ther mind. The\tQueen\tWho\tWas\tPromised. Now,\tstanding\ton\tthat\tempty\tbeach\tand\tmonitoring\tthe\tglimmering\texpanse\tof\tthe\tsea as\tthe\tlast\tof\tthe\tsun\tvanished,\tRowan\tsaid\tbeside\ther,\t\u201cDid\tyou\twillingly\tuse\tthe\tkey?\u201d No\thint\tof\tjudgment,\tof\tcondemnation.\tJust\tcuriosity\u2014and\tconcern. Aelin\t rasped,\t \u201cNo.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t what\t happened.\t One\t minute\t it\t was\t us\t \u2026\t then\t she came.\u201d\t She\t rubbed\t at\t her\t chest,\t avoiding\t the\t touch\t of\t the\t golden\t chain\t against\t it.\t Her throat\t tightened\t as\t she\t took\t in\t that\t spot\t on\t his\t own\t chest,\t right\t between\t his\t pectorals. Where\ther\tfist\thad\tbeen\taimed.","\u201cHow\t could\t you?\u201d\t she\t breathed,\t a\t tremor\t running\t through\t her.\t \u201cHow\t could\t you\t put yourself\tin\tfront\tof\tme\tlike\tthat?\u201d Rowan\t took\t a\t step\t closer\t but\t no\t farther.\t The\t crashing\t of\t waves\t and\t cries\t of\t gulls heading\thome\tfor\tthe\tnight\tfilled\tthe\tspace\tbetween\tthem.\t\u201cIf\tyou\thad\tdestroyed\tthat\tcity, it\twould\thave\tdestroyed\tyou,\tand\tany\tsort\tof\thope\tat\tan\talliance.\u201d Shaking\tbegan\tin\ther\thands,\tspreading\tto\ther\tarms,\ther\tchest,\ther\tknees.\tFlame\tand\tash curled\ton\ther\ttongue.\t\u201cIf\tI\thad\tkilled\tyou,\u201d\tshe\thissed,\tbut\tchoked\ton\tthe\twords,\tunable\tto finish\tthe\tthought,\tthe\tidea\tof\tit.\tHer\tthroat\tburned,\tand\tshe\tsqueezed\ther\teyes\tshut,\twarm flames\t rippling\t around\t her.\t \u201cI\t thought\t I\u2019d\t found\t the\t bottom\t of\t my\t power,\u201d\t she\t admitted, magic\talready\toverflowing,\tso\tsoon,\ttoo\tsoon\tafter\tshe\u2019d\temptied\therself.\t\u201cI\tthought\twhat I\tfound\tin\tWendlyn\twas\tthe\tbottom.\tI\thad\tno\tidea\tit\twas\tall\tjust\tan\t\u2026\tantechamber.\u201d Aelin\t lifted\t her\t hands,\t opening\t her\t eyes\t to\t find\t her\t fingers\t wreathed\t in\t flame. Darkness\tspread\tover\tthe\tworld.\tThrough\tthe\tveil\tof\tgold\tand\tblue\tand\tred,\tshe\tlooked\tat her\t prince.\t She\t raised\t her\t burning\t hands\t helplessly\t between\t them.\t \u201cShe\t stole\t me\u2014she took\t me.\t And\t I\t could\t feel\t her\u2014feel\t her\t consciousness.\t It\t was\t like\t she\t was\t a\t spider, waiting\tin\ta\tweb\tfor\tdecades,\tknowing\tI\u2019d\tone\tday\tbe\tstrong\tand\tstupid\tenough\tto\tuse\tmy magic\t and\t the\t key\t together.\t I\t might\t as\t well\t have\t rung\t the\t dinner\t bell.\u201d\t Her\t fire\t burned hotter,\tbrighter,\tand\tshe\tlet\tit\tbuild\tand\trise\tand\tflicker. A\twry,\tbitter\tsmile.\t\u201cIt\tseems\tshe\twants\tus\tto\tmake\tfinding\tthis\tLock\ta\tpriority,\tif\tyou were\tgiven\tthe\tmessage\ttwice.\u201d Indeed.\t \u201cIsn\u2019t\t it\t enough\t to\t contend\t with\t Erawan\t and\t Maeve,\t to\t do\t the\t bidding\t of Brannon\t and\t Elena?\t Now\t I\t have\t to\t face\t the\t gods\t breathing\t down\t my\t neck\t about\t it\t as well?\u201d \u201cPerhaps\t it\t was\t a\t warning\u2014perhaps\t Deanna\t wished\t to\t show\t you\t how\t a\t not-so- friendly\tgod\tmight\tuse\tyou\tif\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tcareful.\u201d \u201cShe\tenjoyed\tevery\trutting\tsecond\tof\tit.\tShe\twanted\tto\tsee\twhat\tmy\tpower\tmight\tdo, what\t she\t could\t do\t with\t my\t body,\t with\t the\t key.\u201d\t Her\t flames\t burned\t hotter,\t shredding through\ther\tclothes\tuntil\tthey\twere\tash,\tuntil\tshe\twas\tnaked\tand\tclothed\tin\tonly\ther\town fire.\t \u201cAnd\t what\t she\t called\t me\u2014the\t Queen\t Who\t Was\t Promised.\t Promised\t when?\t To whom?\tTo\tdo\twhat?\tI\u2019ve\tnever\theard\tthat\tphrase\tin\tmy\tlife,\tnot\teven\tbefore\tTerrasen\tfell.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019ll\tfigure\tit\tout.\u201d\tAnd\tthat\twas\tthat. \u201cHow\t can\t you\t be\t so\t \u2026\t fine\t with\t this?\u201d\t Embers\t sprayed\t from\t her\t like\t a\t swarm\t of fireflies. Rowan\u2019s\tmouth\ttightened.\t\u201cTrust\tme,\tAelin,\tI\tam\tanything\tbut\tfine\twith\tthe\tidea\tthat you\tare\tfair\tgame\tto\tthose\timmortal\tbastards.\tI\tam\tanything\tbut\tfine\twith\tthe\tidea\tthat\tyou could\tbe\ttaken\tfrom\tme\tlike\tthat.\tIf\tI\tcould,\tI\twould\thunt\tDeanna\tdown\tand\tpay\ther\tback for\tit.\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s\tthe\tGoddess\tof\tthe\tHunt.\tYou\tmight\tbe\tat\ta\tdisadvantage.\u201d\tHer\tflames\teased\ta bit.","A\thalf\tsmile.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\ta\thaughty\timmortal.\tShe\u2019s\tbound\tto\tslip\tup.\tAnd\tbesides\t\u2026\t\u201d\tA shrug.\t \u201cI\t have\t her\t sister\t on\t my\t side.\u201d\t He\t angled\t his\t head,\t studying\t her\t fire,\t her\t face. \u201cPerhaps\tthat\u2019s\twhy\tMala\tappeared\tto\tme\tthat\tmorning,\twhy\tshe\tgave\tme\ther\tblessing.\u201d \u201cBecause\tyou\u2019re\tthe\tonly\tone\tarrogant\tand\tinsane\tenough\tto\thunt\ta\tgoddess?\u201d Rowan\t shucked\t off\t his\t boots,\t tossing\t them\t onto\t the\t dry\t sand\t behind\t him.\t \u201cBecause I\u2019m\tthe\tonly\tone\tarrogant\tand\tinsane\tenough\tto\task\tMala\tFire-Bringer\tto\tlet\tme\tstay\twith the\twoman\tI\tlove.\u201d Her\t flames\t turned\t to\t pure\t gold\t at\t the\t words\u2014at\t that\t word.\t But\t she\t said,\t \u201cPerhaps you\u2019re\tjust\tthe\tonly\tone\tarrogant\tand\tinsane\tenough\tto\tlove\tme.\u201d That\t unreadable\t mask\t cracked.\t \u201cThis\t new\t depth\t to\t your\t power,\t Aelin,\t changes nothing.\t What\t Deanna\t did\t changes\t nothing.\t You\t are\t still\t young;\t your\t power\t is\t still growing.\t And\t if\t this\t new\t well\t of\t power\t gives\t us\t even\t the\t slightest\t advantage\t against Erawan,\t then\t thank\t the\t rutting\t darkness\t for\t it.\t But\t you\t and\t I\t will\t learn\t to\t manage\t your power\t together.\t You\t do\t not\t face\t this\t alone;\t you\t do\t not\t decide\t that\t you\t are\t unlovable because\t you\t have\t powers\t that\t can\t save\t and\t destroy.\t If\t you\t start\t to\t resent\t that\t power\u2026\u201d He\tshook\this\thead.\t\u201cI\tdo\tnot\tthink\twe\twill\twin\tthis\twar\tif\tyou\tstart\tdown\tthat\troad.\u201d Aelin\t strode\t into\t the\t lapping\t waves\t and\t sank\t to\t her\t knees\t in\t the\t surf,\t steam\t rising around\t her\t in\t great\t plumes.\t \u201cSometimes,\u201d\t she\t admitted\t over\t the\t hissing\t water,\t \u201cI\t wish someone\telse\tcould\tfight\tthis\twar.\u201d Rowan\t stepped\t into\t the\t bubbling\t surf,\t his\t magic\t shielding\t against\t the\t heat\t of\t her. \u201cAh,\u201d\the\tsaid,\tkneeling\tbeside\ther\tas\tshe\tstill\tgazed\tout\tover\tthe\tdark\tsea,\t\u201cbut\twho\telse would\t be\t able\t to\t get\t under\t Erawan\u2019s\t skin?\t Never\t underestimate\t the\t power\t of\t that insufferable\tswagger.\u201d She\tchuckled,\tstarting\tto\tfeel\tthe\tcool\tkiss\tof\tthe\twater\ton\ther\tnaked\tbody.\t\u201cAs\tfar\tas memory\t serves,\t Prince,\t it\t was\t that\t insufferable\t swagger\t that\t won\t your\t cranky,\t immortal heart.\u201d Rowan\tleaned\tinto\tthe\tthin\tveil\tof\tflame\tnow\tmelting\tinto\tnight-sweet\tair\tand\tnipped her\tlower\tlip.\tA\tsharp,\twicked\tbite.\t\u201cThere\u2019s\tmy\tFireheart.\u201d Aelin\tlet\thim\tpivot\ther\tin\tthe\tsurf\tand\tsand\tto\tface\thim\tfully,\tlet\thim\tslide\this\tmouth along\t her\t jaw,\t the\t curve\t of\t her\t cheekbone,\t the\t point\t of\t her\t Fae\t ear.\u201cThese,\u201d\t he\t said, nibbling\t at\t her\t earlobe,\t \u201chave\t been\t tempting\t me\t for\t months.\u201d\t His\t tongue\t traced\t the delicate\t tip,\t and\t her\t back\t arched.\t The\t strong\t hands\t at\t her\t hips\t tightened.\t \u201cSometimes, you\u2019d\t be\t sleeping\t beside\t me\t at\t Mistward,\t and\t it\u2019d\t take\t all\t my\t concentration\t not\t to\t lean over\tand\tbite\tthem.\tBite\tyou\tall\tover.\u201d \u201cHmmm,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\ttipping\tback\ther\thead\tto\tgrant\thim\taccess\tto\ther\tneck. Rowan\tobliged\ther\tsilent\tdemand,\tpressing\tkisses\tand\tsoft,\tgrowling\tnips\tto\ther\tthroat. \u201cI\u2019ve\tnever\ttaken\ta\twoman\ton\ta\tbeach,\u201d\the\tpurred\tagainst\ther\tskin,\tsucking\tgently\ton\tthe space\t between\t her\t neck\t and\t shoulder.\t \u201cAnd\t look\t at\t that\u2014we\u2019re\t far\t from\t any\t sort\t of\t \u2026 collateral.\u201d\tOne\thand\tdrifted\tfrom\ther\thip\tto\tcaress\tthe\tscars\ton\ther\tback,\tthe\tother\tsliding to\tcup\ther\tbackside,\tdrawing\ther\tfully\tagainst\thim.","Aelin\t spread\t her\t hands\t over\t his\t chest,\t tugging\t his\t white\t shirt\t over\t his\t head.\t Warm waves\tcrashed\tagainst\tthem,\tbut\tRowan\theld\ther\tfast\u2014unmovable,\tunshakable. Aelin\tremembered\therself\tenough\tto\tsay,\t\u201cSomeone\tmight\tcome\tlooking\tfor\tus.\u201d Rowan\t huffed\t a\t laugh\t against\t her\t neck.\t \u201cSomething\t tells\t me,\u201d\t he\t said,\t his\t breath skittering\talong\ther\tskin,\t\u201cyou\tmight\tnot\tmind\tif\twe\twere\tdiscovered.\tIf\tsomeone\tsaw\thow thoroughly\tI\tplan\tto\tworship\tyou.\u201d She\tfelt\tthe\twords\tdangling\tthere,\tfelt\therself\tdangling\tthere,\toff\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tcliff. She\tswallowed.\tBut\tRowan\thad\tcaught\ther\teach\ttime\tshe\thad\tfallen\u2014first,\twhen\tshe\thad plummeted\tinto\tthat\tabyss\tof\tdespair\tand\tgrief;\tsecond,\twhen\tthat\tcastle\thad\tshattered\tand she\thad\tplunged\tto\tthe\tearth.\tAnd\tnow\tthis\ttime,\tthis\tthird\ttime\t\u2026\tShe\twas\tnot\tafraid. Aelin\tmet\tRowan\u2019s\tstare\tand\tsaid\tclearly\tand\tbaldly\tand\twithout\ta\tspeckle\tof\tdoubt,\t\u201cI love\t you.\t I\t am\t in\t love\t with\t you,\t Rowan.\t I\t have\t been\t for\t a\t while.\t And\t I\t know\t there\t are limits\tto\twhat\tyou\tcan\tgive\tme,\tand\tI\tknow\tyou\tmight\tneed\ttime\u2014\u201d His\tlips\tcrushed\tinto\thers,\tand\the\tsaid\tonto\ther\tmouth,\tdropping\twords\tmore\tprecious than\t rubies\t and\t emeralds\t and\t sapphires\t into\t her\t heart,\t her\t soul,\t \u201cI\t love\t you.\t There\t is\t no limit\t to\t what\t I\t can\t give\t to\t you,\t no\t time\t I\t need.\t Even\t when\t this\t world\t is\t a\t forgotten whisper\tof\tdust\tbetween\tthe\tstars,\tI\twill\tlove\tyou.\u201d Aelin\t didn\u2019t\t know\t when\t she\t started\t crying,\t when\t her\t body\t began\t shaking\t with\t the force\t of\t it.\t She\t had\t never\t said\t such\t words\u2014to\t anyone.\t Never\t let\t herself\t be\t that vulnerable,\t never\t felt\t this\t burning\t and\t unending\t thing,\t so\t consuming\t she\t might\t die\t from the\tforce\tof\tit. Rowan\tpulled\tback,\twiping\taway\ther\ttears\twith\this\tthumbs,\tone\tafter\tanother.\tHe\tsaid softly,\tbarely\taudible\tover\tthe\tcrashing\twaves\taround\tthem,\t\u201cFireheart.\u201d She\tsniffed\tback\ttears.\t\u201cBuzzard.\u201d He\t roared\t a\t laugh\t and\t she\t let\t him\t lay\t her\t down\t on\t the\t sand\t with\t a\t gentleness\t near reverence.\tHis\tsculpted\tchest\theaved\tslightly\tas\the\tran\tan\teye\tover\ther\tbare\tbody.\t\u201cYou\t\u2026 are\tso\tbeautiful.\u201d She\tknew\the\tdidn\u2019t\tjust\tmean\tthe\tskin\tand\tcurves\tand\tbones. But\tAelin\tstill\tsmiled,\thumming.\t\u201cI\tknow,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tlifting\ther\tarms\tabove\ther\thead, setting\tthe\tAmulet\tof\tOrynth\tonto\ta\tsafe,\thigh\tpart\tof\tthe\tbeach.\tHer\tfingers\tdug\tinto\tthe soft\tsand\tas\tshe\tarched\ther\tback\tin\ta\tslow\tstretch. Rowan\t tracked\t every\t movement,\t every\t flicker\t of\t muscle\t and\t skin.\t When\t his\t gaze lingered\ton\ther\tbreasts,\tgleaming\twith\tseawater,\this\texpression\tturned\travenous. Then\t his\t gaze\t slid\t lower.\t Lower.\t And\t when\t it\t lingered\t on\t the\t apex\t of\t her\t thighs\t and his\teyes\tglazed,\tAelin\tsaid\tto\thim,\t\u201cAre\tyou\tgoing\tto\tstand\tthere\tgawking\tall\tnight?\u201d Rowan\u2019s\t mouth\t parted\t slightly,\t his\t breathing\t shallow,\t his\t body\t already\t showing\t her precisely\twhere\tthis\twas\tgoing\tto\tend. A\tphantom\twind\thissed\tthrough\tthe\tpalms,\twhispered\tover\tthe\tsand.\tHer\tmagic\ttingled","as\tshe\tfelt,\tmore\tthan\tsaw,\tRowan\u2019s\tshield\tfall\tinto\tplace\taround\tthem.\tShe\tsent\ther\town power\ttracing\tover\tit,\tknocking\tand\ttapping\tat\tthe\tshield\tin\tsparks\tof\tflame. Rowan\u2019s\tcanines\tgleamed.\t\u201cNothing\tis\tgetting\tpast\tthat\tshield.\tAnd\tnothing\tis\tgoing\tto hurt\tme,\teither.\u201d Something\ttight\tin\ther\tchest\teased.\t\u201cIs\tit\tthat\tdifferent?\tWith\tsomeone\tlike\tme.\u201d \u201cI\t don\u2019t\t know,\u201d\t Rowan\t admitted.\t Again,\t his\t eyes\t slid\t along\t her\t body,\t as\t if\t he\t could see\t through\t skin\t to\t her\t burning\t heart\t beneath.\t \u201cI\u2019ve\t never\t been\t with\t \u2026\t an\t equal.\t I\u2019ve never\tallowed\tmyself\tto\tbe\tthat\tunleashed.\u201d For\tevery\tbit\tof\tpower\tshe\tthrew\tat\thim,\the\u2019d\tthrow\tback\tat\ther.\tShe\tbraced\therself\ton her\telbows,\tlifting\ther\tmouth\tto\tthe\tnew\tscar\ton\this\tshoulder,\tthe\twound\tsmall\tand\tjagged \u2014as\tbroad\tas\tan\tarrowhead.\tShe\tkissed\tit\tonce,\ttwice. Rowan\u2019s\t body\t was\t so\t tense\t above\t hers\t she\t thought\t his\t muscles\t would\t snap.\t But\t his hands\twere\tgentle\tas\tthey\tdrifted\tto\ther\tback,\tstroking\ther\tscars\tand\tthe\ttattoos\the\u2019d\tinked over\tthem. The\t waves\t tickled\t and\t caressed\t her,\t and\t he\t made\t to\t settle\t over\t her,\t but\t she\t lifted\t a hand\tto\this\tchest\u2014halting\thim\tdead.\tShe\tsmiled\tagainst\this\tmouth.\t\u201cIf\twe\u2019re\tequals,\tthen I\tdon\u2019t\tunderstand\twhy\tyou\u2019re\tstill\thalf\tclothed.\u201d She\tdidn\u2019t\tgive\thim\tthe\tchance\tto\texplain\tas\tshe\ttraced\ther\ttongue\tover\tthe\tseam\tof\this lips,\t as\t her\t fingers\t unlatched\t the\t buckle\t of\t his\t worn\t sword\t belt.\t She\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t he\t was breathing. And\tjust\tto\tsee\twhat\the\u2019d\tdo,\tshe\tpalmed\thim\tthrough\this\tpants. Rowan\tbarked\ta\tcurse. She\t laughed\t quietly,\t kissed\t his\t newest\t scar\t again,\t and\t dragged\t a\t finger\t down\t lazily, indolently,\tholding\this\tgaze\tfor\tevery\tsingle\tinch\tshe\ttouched. And\twhen\tAelin\tlaid\ther\tpalm\tflat\ton\thim\tagain,\tshe\tsaid,\t\u201cYou\tare\tmine.\u201d Rowan\u2019s\t breathing\t started\t again,\t jagged\t and\t savage\t as\t the\t waves\t breaking\t around them.\tShe\tflicked\topen\tthe\ttop\tbutton\tof\this\tpants.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tyours,\u201d\the\tground\tout. Another\tbutton\tpopped\tfree.\t\u201cAnd\tyou\tlove\tme,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tNot\ta\tquestion. \u201cTo\twhatever\tend,\u201d\the\tbreathed. She\tpopped\tthe\tthird\tand\tfinal\tbutton\tfree,\tand\the\tlet\tgo\tof\ther\tto\ttoss\this\tpants\tinto\tthe sand\tnearby,\ttaking\this\tundershorts\twith\tthem.\tHer\tmouth\twent\tdry\tas\tshe\ttook\tin\tthe\tsight of\thim. Rowan\t had\t been\t bred\t and\t honed\t for\t battle,\t and\t every\t inch\t of\t him\t was\t pure-blooded warrior. He\twas\tthe\tmost\tbeautiful\tthing\tshe\u2019d\tever\tseen.\tHers\u2014he\twas\thers,\tand\u2014 \u201cYou\tare\tmine,\u201d\tRowan\tbreathed,\tand\tshe\tfelt\tthe\tclaiming\tin\ther\tbones,\ther\tsoul.","\u201cI\tam\tyours,\u201d\tshe\tanswered. \u201cAnd\tyou\tlove\tme.\u201d\tSuch\thope\tand\tquiet\tjoy\tin\this\teyes,\tbeneath\tall\tthat\tfierceness. \u201cTo\twhatever\tend.\u201d\tFor\ttoo\tlong\u2014for\ttoo\tlong\thad\the\tbeen\talone\tand\twandering.\tNo longer. Rowan\t kissed\t her\t again.\t Slow.\t Soft.\t A\t hand\t slid\t up\t the\t plane\t of\t her\t torso\t while\t he lowered\t himself\t over\t her,\t his\t hips\t nestling\t against\t hers.\t She\t gasped\t a\t bit\t at\t the\t touch, gasped\ta\tbit\tmore\tas\this\tknuckle\tgrazed\tthe\theavy,\taching\tunderside\tof\ther\tbreast.\tAs\the leaned\tdown\tto\tkiss\tthe\tother. His\t teeth\t grazed\t over\t her\t nipple,\t and\t her\t eyes\t drifted\t closed,\t a\t moan\t slipping\t out\t of her. Oh,\tgods.\tOh,\tburning,\trutting\tgods.\tRowan\tknew\twhat\the\twas\tdoing;\the\treally\tgods- damned\tdid. His\t tongue\t flicked\t against\t her\t nipple,\t and\t her\t head\t tipped\t back,\t her\t fingers\t digging into\this\tshoulders,\turging\thim\tto\ttake\tmore,\ttake\tharder. Rowan\t growled\t his\t approval,\t her\t breast\t still\t in\t his\t mouth,\t on\t his\t tongue,\t his\t hand making\t lazy\t strokes\t from\t her\t ribs\t down\t her\t waist,\t down\t her\t thighs,\t then\t back\t up.\t She arched\tin\tsilent\tdemand\u2014 A\tphantom\ttouch,\tlike\tthe\tnorthern\twind\tgiven\tform,\tflicked\tover\ther\tbare\tbreast. Aelin\tburst\tinto\tflames. Rowan\t laughed\t darkly\t at\t the\t reds\t and\t golds\t and\t blues\t that\t erupted\t around\t them, illumining\tthe\tpalms\tthat\ttowered\tover\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tbeach,\tthe\twaves\tbreaking\tbehind him.\tShe\tmight\thave\tpanicked,\tmight\thave\tbeen\tmortified,\thad\the\tnot\tlifted\this\tmouth\tto hers,\t had\t those\t phantom\t hands\t of\t ice-kissed\t wind\t not\t kept\t working\t her\t breasts,\t had\t his own\t hand\t not\t continued\t stroking,\t closer\t and\t closer\t to\t where\t she\t needed\t him.\t \u201cYou\u2019re magnificent,\u201d\the\tmurmured\tonto\ther\tlips,\this\ttongue\tsliding\tinto\ther\tmouth. The\t hardness\t of\t him\t pushed\t against\t her,\t and\t she\t bucked\t her\t hips,\t needing\t to\t grind herself\t against\t him,\t to\t do\t anything\t to\t ease\t the\t building\t ache\t between\t her\t legs.\t Rowan groaned,\t and\t she\t wondered\t if\t there\t was\t any\t other\t male\t in\t the\t world\t who\t would\t be\t so naked\t and\t prone\t with\t a\t woman\t on\t fire,\t who\t would\t not\t look\t at\t those\t flames\t with\t any ounce\tof\tfear. She\t slid\t her\t hand\t between\t them,\t and\t when\t she\t closed\t her\t fingers\t around\t him, marveling\t at\t the\t velvet-wrapped\t steel,\t Rowan\t groaned\t again,\t pushing\t into\t her\t hand.\t She pulled\t her\t mouth\t from\t his,\t staring\t into\t those\t pine-green\t eyes\t as\t she\t slid\t her\t hand\t along him.\tHe\tlowered\this\thead\u2014not\tto\tkiss\ther,\tbut\tto\twatch\twhere\tshe\tstroked\thim. A\troaring\twind\tfull\tof\tice\tand\tsnow\tblasted\taround\tthem.\tAnd\tit\twas\ther\tturn\tto\thuff\ta laugh.\t But\t Rowan\t gripped\t her\t wrist,\t drawing\t her\t hand\t away.\t She\t opened\t her\t mouth\t in protest,\t wanting\t to\t touch\t more,\t taste\t more.\t \u201cLet\t me,\u201d\t Rowan\t growled\t onto\t the\t sea-slick skin\tbetween\ther\tbreasts.\t\u201cLet\tme\ttouch\tyou.\u201d\tHis\tvoice\ttrembled\tenough\tthat\tAelin\tlifted his\tchin\twith\ther\tthumb\tand\tforefinger.","A\t flicker\t of\t fear\t and\t relief\t shone\t beneath\t the\t glazed\t lust.\t As\t if\t doing\t this,\t touching her,\twas\tas\tmuch\tto\tremind\thim\tthat\tshe\thad\tmade\tit\ttoday,\tthat\tshe\twas\tsafe,\tas\tit\twas\tto pleasure\ther.\tShe\tleaned\tup,\tbrushing\ther\tmouth\tagainst\this.\t\u201cDo\tyour\tworst,\tPrince.\u201d Rowan\u2019s\t smile\t was\t nothing\t short\t of\t wicked\t as\t he\t pulled\t away\t to\t run\t a\t broad\t hand from\ther\tthroat\tdown\tto\tthe\tjuncture\tof\ther\tthighs.\tShe\tshuddered\tat\tthe\tsheer\tpossession in\t the\t touch,\t her\t breath\t coming\t in\t tight\t pants\t as\t he\t gripped\t either\t thigh\t and\t spread\t her legs,\tbaring\ther\tfully\tfor\thim. Another\t wave\t crashed,\t parting\t around\t them,\t the\t cool\t water\t like\t a\t thousand\t kisses along\ther\tskin.\tRowan\tkissed\ther\tnavel,\tthen\ther\thip. Aelin\tcouldn\u2019t\ttake\ther\teyes\tfrom\this\tsilver\thair\tshining\twith\tsalt\twater\tand\tmoonlight, from\tthe\thands\tholding\ther\twide\tfor\thim\tas\this\thead\tdipped\tbetween\ther\tlegs. And\tas\tRowan\ttasted\ther\ton\tthat\tbeach,\tas\the\tlaughed\tagainst\ther\tslick\tskin\twhile\ther hoarse\tcries\tof\this\tname\tshattered\tacross\tpalm\ttrees\tand\tsand\tand\twater,\tAelin\tlet\tgo\tof\tall pretense\tat\treason. She\tmoved,\thips\tundulating,\tbegging\thim\tto\tgo,\tgo,\tgo.\tSo\tRowan\tdid,\tsliding\ta\tfinger into\t her\t as\t his\t tongue\t flicked\t that\t one\t spot,\t and\t oh,\t gods,\t she\t was\t going\t to\t explode\t into starfire\u2014 \u201cAelin,\u201d\the\tgrowled,\ther\tname\ta\tplea. \u201cPlease,\u201d\tshe\tmoaned.\t\u201cPlease.\u201d The\t word\t was\t his\t undoing.\t Rowan\t rose\t over\t her\t again,\t and\t she\t let\t out\t a\t sound\t that might\thave\tbeen\ta\twhimper,\tmight\thave\tbeen\this\tname. Then\tRowan\thad\ta\thand\tbraced\tin\tthe\tsand\tbeside\ther\thead,\tfingers\ttwining\tin\ther\thair, while\t the\t other\t guided\t himself\t into\t her.\t At\t the\t first\t nudge\t of\t him,\t she\t forgot\t her\t own name.\tAnd\tas\the\tslid\tin\twith\tgentle,\trolling\tthrusts,\tfilling\ther\tinch\tby\tinch,\tshe\tforgot\tthat she\twas\tqueen\tand\tthat\tshe\thad\ta\tseparate\tbody\tand\ta\tkingdom\tand\ta\tworld\tto\tlook\tafter. When\tRowan\twas\tseated\tdeep\tin\ther,\ttrembling\twith\trestraint\tas\the\tlet\ther\tadjust,\tshe lifted\t her\t burning\t hands\t to\t his\t face,\t wind\t and\t ice\t tumbling\t and\t roaring\t around\t them, dancing\tacross\tthe\twaves\twith\tribbons\tof\tflame.\tThere\twere\tno\twords\tin\this\teyes;\tnone\tin hers,\teither. Words\tdid\tnot\tdo\tit\tjustice.\tNot\tin\tany\tlanguage,\tin\tany\tworld. He\tleaned\tin,\tclaiming\ther\tmouth\tas\the\tbegan\tto\tmove,\tand\tthey\tlet\tgo\tentirely. She\t might\t have\t been\t crying,\t or\t it\t might\t have\t been\t his\t tears\t on\t her\t face,\t turning\t to steam\tamid\ther\tflames. She\tdragged\ther\thands\tdown\this\tpowerful,\tmuscled\tback,\tover\tscars\tfrom\tbattles\tand terrors\tlong\tsince\tpast.\tAnd\tas\this\tthrusts\tturned\tdeeper,\tshe\tdug\tin\ther\tfingers,\tdragging her\tnails\tacross\this\tback,\tclaiming\thim,\tmarking\thim.\tHis\thips\tslammed\thome\tat\tthe\tblood she\tdrew,\tand\tshe\tarched,\tbaring\ther\tthroat\tto\thim.\tFor\thim\u2014only\thim. Rowan\u2019s\t magic\t went\t wild,\t though\t his\t mouth\t on\t her\t neck\t was\t so\t careful,\t even\t as\t his","canines\tdragged\talong\ther\tskin.\tAnd\tat\tthe\ttouch\tof\tthose\tlethal\tteeth\tagainst\ther,\tthe\tdeath that\thovered\tnearby\tand\tthe\thands\tthat\twould\talways\tbe\tgentle\twith\ther,\talways\tlove\ther \u2014 Release\t blasted\t through\t her\t like\t wildfire.\t And\t though\t she\t could\t not\t remember\t her name,\tshe\tremembered\tRowan\u2019s\tas\tshe\tcried\tit\twhile\the\tkept\tmoving,\twringing\tevery\tlast ounce\tof\tpleasure\tfrom\ther,\tfire\tsearing\tthe\tsand\taround\tthem\tto\tglass. Rowan\u2019s\town\trelease\tbarreled\tthrough\thim\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\tit,\tand\the\tgroaned\ther\tname so\tthat\tshe\tremembered\tit\tat\tlast,\tlightning\tjoining\twind\tand\tice\tover\tthe\twater. Aelin\theld\thim\tthrough\tit,\tsending\tthe\tfire-opal\tof\ther\tmagic\tto\ttwine\twith\this\tpower. On\tand\ton,\tas\the\tspilled\thimself\tin\ther,\tlightning\tand\tflame\tdanced\ton\tthe\tsea. The\tlightning\tcontinued\tto\tstrike,\tsilent\tand\tlovely,\teven\tafter\the\tstilled.\tThe\tsounds\tof the\tworld\tcame\tpouring\tback\tin,\this\tbreathing\tas\tragged\tas\tthe\thiss\tof\tthe\tcrashing\twaves while\the\tbrushed\tlazy\tkisses\tto\ther\ttemple,\ther\tnose,\ther\tmouth.\tAelin\tdrew\ther\teyes\taway from\t the\t beauty\t of\t their\t magic,\t the\t beauty\t of\t them,\t and\t found\t his\t face\t to\t be\t the\t most beautiful\tof\tall. She\t was\t trembling\u2014and\t so\t was\t Rowan\t as\t he\t remained\t in\t her.\t He\t buried\t his\t face\t in the\tcrook\tof\ther\tneck\tand\tshoulder,\this\tuneven\tbreath\twarming\ther\tskin.\t\u201cI\tnever\t\u2026\t,\u201d\the tried,\tvoice\thoarse.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tit\tcould\tbe\u2026\u201d She\t ran\t her\t fingers\t down\t his\t scarred\t back,\t over\t and\t over.\t \u201cI\t know,\u201d\t she\t breathed.\t \u201cI know.\u201d Already,\t she\t wanted\t more,\t already\t she\t was\t calculating\t how\t long\t she\u2019d\t have\t to\t wait. \u201cYou\tonce\ttold\tme\tthat\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tbite\tthe\tfemales\tof\tother\tmales.\u201d\tRowan\tstiffened\ta\tbit. But\tshe\twent\ton\tcoyly,\t\u201cDoes\tthat\tmean\t\u2026\tyou\u2019ll\tbite\tyour\town\tfemale,\tthen?\u201d Understanding\tflashed\tin\tthose\tgreen\teyes\tas\the\traised\this\thead\tfrom\ther\tneck\tto\tstudy the\t spot\t where\t those\t canines\t had\t once\t pierced\t her\t skin.\t \u201cThat\t was\t the\t first\t time\t I\t really lost\tcontrol\taround\tyou,\tyou\tknow.\tI\twanted\tto\tchuck\tyou\toff\ta\tcliff,\tyet\tI\tbit\tyou\tbefore\tI knew\t what\t I\t was\t doing.\t I\t think\t my\t body\t knew,\t my\t magic\t knew.\t And\t you\t tasted\u2026\u201d Rowan\tloosed\ta\tjagged\tbreath.\t\u201cSo\tgood.\tI\thated\tyou\tfor\tit.\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tstop\tthinking\tabout it.\tI\u2019d\twake\tup\tat\tnight\twith\tthat\ttaste\ton\tmy\ttongue\u2014wake\tup\tthinking\tabout\tyour\tfoul, beautiful\t mouth.\u201d\t He\t traced\t his\t thumb\t over\t her\t lips.\t \u201cYou\t don\u2019t\t want\t to\t know\t the depraved\tthings\tI\u2019ve\tthought\tabout\tthis\tmouth.\u201d \u201cHmmm,\t likewise,\t but\t you\t didn\u2019t\t answer\t my\t question,\u201d\t Aelin\t said,\t even\t as\t her\t toes curled\tin\tthe\twet\tsand\tand\twarm\twater. \u201cYes,\u201d\t Rowan\t said\t thickly.\t \u201cSome\t males\t enjoy\t doing\t it.\t To\t mark\t territory,\t for pleasure\u2026\u201d \u201cDo\tfemales\tbite\tmales?\u201d He\t began\t to\t harden\t again\t inside\t her\t as\t the\t question\t lingered.\t Oh,\t gods\u2014Fae\t lovers. Everyone\tshould\tbe\tso\tdamn\tlucky\tto\thave\tone.\tRowan\trasped,\t\u201cDo\tyou\twant\tto\tbite\tme?\u201d Aelin\t eyed\t his\t throat,\t his\t glorious\t body,\t and\t the\t face\t she\t had\t once\t so\t fiercely\t hated.","And\t she\t wondered\t if\t it\t were\t possible\t to\t love\t someone\t enough\t to\t die\t from\t it.\t If\t it\t were possible\t to\t love\t someone\t enough\t that\t time\t and\t distance\t and\t death\t were\t of\t no\t concern. \u201cAm\tI\tlimited\tto\tyour\tneck?\u201d Rowan\u2019s\teyes\tflared,\tand\this\tanswering\tthrust\twas\tanswer\tenough. They\t moved\t together,\t undulating\t like\t the\t sea\t before\t them,\t and\t when\t Rowan\t roared her\tname\tagain\tinto\tthe\tstar-flecked\tblack,\tAelin\thoped\tthe\tgods\tthemselves\theard\tit\tand knew\ttheir\tdays\twere\tnow\tnumbered.","39 Rowan\t didn\u2019t\t know\t whether\t to\t be\t amused,\t thrilled,\t or\t slightly\t terrified\t that\t he\u2019d\t been blessed\t with\t a\t queen\t and\t lover\t who\t had\t so\t little\t care\t for\t public\t decency.\t He\u2019d\t taken\t her three\ttimes\ton\tthat\tbeach\u2014twice\tin\tthe\tsand,\tthen\ta\tthird\tout\tin\tthe\twarm\twaters.\tAnd\tyet his\tvery\tblood\twas\tstill\telectrified.\tAnd\tyet\the\tstill\twanted\tmore. They\u2019d\t swum\t into\t the\t shallows\t to\t wash\t off\t the\t sand\t crusted\t on\t them,\t but\t Aelin\t had wrapped\t her\t legs\t around\t his\t waist,\t kissed\t his\t neck,\t then\t licked\t his\t ear\t the\t way\t he\u2019d nibbled\t hers,\t and\t he\t was\t buried\t in\t her\t again.\t She\t knew\t why\t he\t needed\t the\t contact,\t why he\u2019d\tneeded\tto\ttaste\ther\ton\this\ttongue,\tand\tthen\twith\tthe\trest\tof\this\tbody.\tShe\u2019d\tneeded\tthe same. He\tstill\tneeded\tit.\tWhen\tthey\u2019d\tfinished\tafter\tthat\tfirst\ttime,\the\u2019d\tbeen\tleft\treeling,\tto pull\t his\t sanity\t back\t together\t after\t the\t joining\t that\t had\t \u2026\t unleashed\t him.\t Broken\t and remade\thim.\tHis\tmagic\thad\tbeen\ta\tsong,\tand\tshe\thad\tbeen\u2026 He\u2019d\tnever\thad\tanything\tlike\ther.\tEverything\the\u2019d\tgiven\ther,\tshe\u2019d\tgiven\tright\tback\tto him.\tAnd\twhen\tshe\thad\tbit\thim\tduring\tthat\tsecond\tcoupling\tin\tthe\tsand\t\u2026\tHis\tmagic\thad left\t six\t nearby\t palm\t trees\t in\t splinters\t as\t he\u2019d\t climaxed\t hard\t enough\t that\t he\t thought\t his body\twould\tshatter. But\tonce\tthey\twere\tfinished,\twhen\tshe\u2019d\tactually\tmade\tto\twalk\tback\tto\tSkull\u2019s\tBay\tin nothing\tbut\ther\tflames,\the\u2019d\tgiven\ther\this\tshirt\tand\tbelt.\tWhich\tdid\tlittle\tto\tcover\ther\tup, especially\tthose\tbeautiful\tlegs,\tbut\tat\tleast\tit\twas\tless\tlikely\tto\tstart\ta\triot. Barely,\tthough.\tAnd\tit\u2019d\tbe\tobvious\twhat\tthey\u2019d\tdone\ton\tthat\tbeach\tthe\tmoment\tthey stepped\twithin\tscenting\trange\tof\tanyone\twith\ta\tpreternatural\tsense\tof\tsmell. He\u2019d\tmarked\ther\u2014richer\tthan\tthe\tscent\tthat\thad\tclung\tto\ther\tbefore.\tMarked\ther\tdeep and\t true,\t and\t there\t was\t no\t undoing\t it,\t no\t washing\t it\t away.\t She\u2019d\t claimed\t him,\t and\t he\u2019d claimed\t her,\t and\t he\t knew\t she\t was\t well\t aware\t of\t what\t that\t claiming\t meant\u2014just\t as\t he knew\t\u2026\tHe\tknew\tit\thad\tbeen\ta\tchoice\ton\ther\tpart.\tA\tfinal\tdecision\tregarding\tthe\tmatter\tof who\twould\tbe\tin\ther\troyal\tbed. He\t would\t try\t to\t live\t up\t to\t that\t honor\u2014try\t to\t find\t some\t way\t to\t prove\t he\t deserved\t it. That\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tbet\ton\tthe\twrong\thorse.\tSomehow.\tHe\u2019d\tearn\tit.\tEven\twith\tso\tlittle\tto\toffer beyond\this\town\tmagic\tand\theart. But\the\talso\tknew\this\tqueen.\tAnd\tknew\tthat\tdespite\tthe\tenormity\tof\twhat\tthey\u2019d\tdone, Aelin\thad\talso\tkept\thim\ton\tthat\tbeach\tto\tavoid\tthe\tothers.\tAvoid\tanswering\ttheir\tquestions and\t demands.\t But\t he\t made\t it\t one\t foot\t inside\t the\t Ocean\t Rose,\t saw\t the\t light\t in\t Aedion\u2019s room,\tand\tknew\ttheir\tfriends\twould\tnot\tbe\tso\teasily\tdeterred.","Indeed,\t Aelin\t was\t scowling\t up\t at\t the\t light\u2014though\t worry\t quickly\t replaced\t it\t as\t she remembered\t the\t shifter\t who\t had\t been\t so\t thoroughly\t unconscious.\t Her\t bare\t feet\t were silent\ton\tthe\tstairs\tand\thallway\tas\tshe\thurried\tfor\tthe\troom,\tnot\tbothering\tto\tknock\tbefore flinging\topen\tthe\tdoor. Rowan\t loosed\t a\t sharp\t breath,\t trying\t to\t draw\t up\t his\t magic\t to\t cool\t the\t fire\t still\t in\t his blood.\t To\t calm\t the\t instincts\t roaring\t and\t raging\t at\t him.\t Not\t to\t take\t her\u2014but\t to\t eliminate any\tother\tthreat. A\t dangerous\t time,\t for\t any\t Fae\t male,\t when\t they\t first\t took\t a\t lover.\t Worse,\t when\t it meant\tsomething\tmore. Dorian\t and\t Aedion\t sat\t in\t the\t two\t armchairs\t before\t the\t darkened\t fireplace,\t arms crossed. And\ther\tcousin\u2019s\tface\twent\tpale\twith\twhat\tmight\thave\tbeen\tterror\tas\the\tscented\tAelin \u2014the\tmarkings\tboth\tseen\tand\tinvisible\ton\tthem. Lysandra\tsat\tin\tbed,\tface\tdrawn\tbut\teyes\tnarrowed\tat\tthe\tqueen.\tIt\twas\tthe\tshifter\twho purred,\t\u201cEnjoy\tyour\tride?\u201d Aedion\t didn\u2019t\t dare\t move\t and\t was\t giving\t Dorian\t a\t warning\t look\t to\t do\t the\t same. Rowan\t bit\t down\t against\t the\t rage\t at\t the\t sight\t of\t other\t males\t near\t his\t queen,\t reminding himself\tthat\tthey\twere\this\tfriends,\tbut\u2014 That\tprimal\trage\tstumbled\tas\the\tfelt\tAelin\u2019s\tshuddering\trelief\tupon\tfinding\tthe\tshifter mostly\t healed\t and\t lucid.\t But\t his\t queen\t only\t shrugged.\t \u201cIsn\u2019t\t that\t all\t these\t Fae\t males\t are good\tfor?\u201d Rowan\t raised\t his\t brows,\t chuckling\t as\t he\t debated\t reminding\t her\t how\t she\u2019d\t begged him\t throughout,\t how\t she\u2019d\t said\t words\t like\t please,\t and\t oh,\t gods,\t and\t then\t a\t few\t extra pleases\tthrown\tin\tfor\tgood\tmeasure.\tHe\u2019d\tenjoy\twringing\tthose\trarely\tseen\tmanners\tfrom her\tagain. Aelin\t shot\t him\t a\t glare,\t daring\t him\t to\t say\t it.\t And\t despite\t just\t having\t her,\t despite\t the fact\t that\t he\t could\t still\t taste\t her,\t Rowan\t knew\t that\t whenever\t they\t found\t their\t bed\t again, she\twould\tnot\tget\tthe\trest\tshe\twanted.\tColor\tstained\tAelin\u2019s\tcheeks,\tas\tif\tshe\tsaw\this\tplans unfold,\tbut\tshe\tlifted\tthe\tamulet\tfrom\taround\ther\tneck,\tdropped\tit\tonto\tthe\tlow-lying\ttable between\t Aedion\t and\t Dorian,\t and\t said,\t \u201cI\t learned\t that\t this\t was\t the\t third\t Wyrdkey\t when\t I was\tstill\tin\tWendlyn.\u201d Silence. Then,\t as\t if\t she\t hadn\u2019t\t shattered\t any\t sense\t of\t safety\t they\t still\t possessed,\t Aelin withdrew\tthe\tmangled\tEye\tof\tElena\tfrom\ther\tpack,\tchucked\tit\tonce\tin\tthe\tair,\tand\tjerked her\tchin\tat\tthe\tKing\tof\tAdarlan.\t\u201cI\tthink\tit\u2019s\ttime\tyou\tmet\tyour\tancestor.\u201d Dorian\tlistened\tto\tAelin\u2019s\tstory. About\tthe\tWyrdkey\tshe\u2019d\tsecretly\tcarried,\tabout\twhat\thad\thappened\ttoday\tin\tthe\tbay, about\thow\tshe\u2019d\ttricked\tLorcan\tand\thow\tit\twould\teventually\tlead\tthe\twarrior\tback\tto\tthem","\u2014hopefully\t with\t the\t other\t two\t keys\t in\t his\t hands.\t And,\t if\t they\t were\t lucky,\t they\t would have\t already\t found\t this\t Lock\t she\t had\t been\t ordered\t twice\t now\t to\t retrieve\t from\t the\t Stone Marshes\u2014the\tonly\tthing\tcapable\tof\tbinding\tthe\tWyrdkeys\tback\tinto\tthe\tgate\tfrom\twhich they\u2019d\tbeen\thewn\tand\tending\tthe\tthreat\tof\tErawan\tforever. No\tnumber\tof\tallies\twould\tmake\ta\tdifference\tif\tthey\tcould\tnot\tstop\tErawan\tfrom\tusing those\tkeys\tto\tunleash\tthe\tValg\thordes\tfrom\this\town\trealm\tupon\tErilea.\tHis\tpossession\tof two\tkeys\thad\talready\tled\tto\tsuch\tdarkness.\tIf\the\tgained\tthe\tthird,\tgained\tmastery\tover\tthe Wyrdgate\tand\tcould\topen\tit\tto\tany\tworld\tat\twill,\tuse\tit\tto\tsummon\tany\tconquering\tarmy \u2026\tThey\thad\tto\tfind\tthat\tLock\tto\tnullify\tthose\tkeys. When\t the\t queen\t was\t done,\t Aedion\t was\t silently\t fuming,\t Lysandra\t was\t frowning,\t and Aelin\twas\tnow\tsnuffing\tout\tthe\tcandles\tin\tthe\troom\twith\thardly\ta\twave\tof\ther\thand.\tTwo ancient\t tomes,\t withdrawn\t from\t Aedion\u2019s\t crammed\t saddlebags,\t lay\t open\t on\t the\t table.\t He knew\tthose\tbooks\u2014he\thad\tno\tidea\tshe\u2019d\ttaken\tthem\tfrom\tRifthold.\tThe\twarped\tmetal\tof the\tEye\tof\tElena\tamulet\tsat\tatop\tone\tof\tthem\tas\tAelin\tdouble-checked\tthe\tmarkings\ton\tan age-spotted\tpage. Darkness\tfell\tas\tshe\tused\ther\town\tblood\tto\tetch\tthose\tmarkings\ton\tthe\twooden\tfloor. \u201cLooks\tlike\tour\tbill\tof\tdamages\tto\tthis\tcity\tis\tgoing\tto\trise,\u201d\tLysandra\tmuttered. Aelin\t snorted.\t \u201cWe\u2019ll\t just\t move\t the\t rug\t to\t cover\t it.\u201d\t She\t finished\t making\t a\t mark\u2014a Wyrdmark,\tDorian\trealized\twith\ta\tchill,\tand\tstepped\tback,\tplucking\tup\tthe\tEye\tin\ther\tfist. \u201cNow\twhat?\u201d\tAedion\tsaid. \u201cNow\twe\tkeep\tour\tmouths\tshut,\u201d\tAelin\tsaid\tsweetly. The\t moonlight\t spread\t on\t the\t floor,\t devoured\t by\t the\t dark\t lines\t she\u2019d\t etched.\t Aelin drifted\tover\tto\twhere\tRowan\tsat\ton\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tbed,\tstill\tshirtless\tthanks\tto\tthe\tqueen currently\twearing\this\tshirt,\tand\ttook\tup\ta\tspot\tbeside\thim,\ta\thand\ton\this\tknee. Lysandra\twas\tthe\tfirst\tto\tnotice. She\tsat\tup\tin\tthe\tbed,\tgreen\teyes\tglowing\twith\tanimal\tbrightness\tas\tthe\tmoonlight\ton the\t blood-marks\t seemed\t to\t shimmer.\t Aelin\t and\t Rowan\t jerked\t to\t their\t feet.\t Dorian\t just stared\tat\tthe\tmarks,\tat\tthe\tmoonlight,\tat\tthe\tbeam\tof\tit\tshining\tthrough\tthe\topen\tbalcony doors. As\t if\t the\t light\t itself\t were\t a\t doorway,\t the\t shaft\t of\t moonlight\t turned\t into\t a\t humanoid figure. It\tflickered,\tits\tform\tbarely\tthere.\tLike\ta\tfigment\tof\ta\tdream. The\thair\ton\tDorian\u2019s\tarms\trose.\tAnd\the\thad\tthe\tgood\tsense\tto\tslide\tout\tof\this\tchair\tand onto\ta\tknee\tas\the\tbowed\this\thead. He\twas\tthe\tonly\tone\twho\tdid\tso.\tThe\tonly\tone,\the\trealized,\twho\thad\tspoken\tto\tElena\u2019s mate,\tGavin.\tLong\tago\u2014another\tlifetime\tago.\tHe\ttried\tnot\tto\tconsider\twhat\tit\tmeant\tthat he\t now\t carried\t Gavin\u2019s\t sword,\t Damaris.\t Aelin\t had\t not\t asked\t for\t it\t back\u2014did\t not\t seem inclined\tto\tdo\tso.","A\tmuffled\tfemale\tvoice,\tas\tif\tit\twere\tcalling\tfrom\tfar\taway,\tflickered\tin\tand\tout\twith the\timage.\t\u201cToo\u2014far,\u201d\ta\tlight,\tyoung\tvoice\tsaid. Aelin\t stepped\t forward\t and\t shut\t those\t ancient\t spellbooks\t before\t stacking\t them\t with\t a thump.\t\u201cWell,\tRifthold\tisn\u2019t\texactly\tavailable,\tand\tyour\ttomb\tis\ttrashed,\tso\ttough\tluck.\u201d Dorian\u2019s\thead\tlifted\tas\the\tglanced\tbetween\tthe\tflickering\tfigure\tof\tmoonlight\tand\tthe young\tqueen\tof\tflesh\tand\tblood. Elena\u2019s\troughly\tformed\tbody\tvanished,\tthen\treappeared,\tas\tif\tthe\twind\titself\tdisturbed her.\t\u201cCan\u2019t\u2014hold\u2014\u201d \u201cThen\t I\u2019ll\t make\t it\t quick.\u201d\t Aelin\u2019s\t voice\t was\t sharp\t as\t a\t blade.\t \u201cNo\t more\t games.\t No more\thalf-truths.\tWhy\tdid\tDeanna\tarrive\ttoday?\tI\tget\tit:\tfinding\tthe\tLock\tis\timportant.\tBut what\tis\tit?\tAnd\ttell\tme\twhat\tshe\tmeant\tby\tcalling\tme\tthe\tQueen\tWho\tWas\tPromised.\u201d As\t if\t the\t words\t jolted\t the\t dead\t queen\t like\t lightning,\t his\t ancestor\t appeared,\t fully corporeal. She\t was\t exquisite:\t her\t face\t young\t and\t grave,\t her\t hair\t long\t and\t silvery-white\u2014like Manon\u2019s\u2014and\ther\teyes\t\u2026\tStartling,\tdazzling\tblue.\tThey\tnow\tfixed\ton\thim,\tthe\tpale\tgown she\twore\tfluttering\ton\ta\tphantom\tbreeze.\t\u201cRise,\tyoung\tking.\u201d Aelin\tsnorted.\t\u201cCan\twe\tnot\tplay\tthe\tholier-than-thou-ancient-spirit\tgame?\u201d But\tElena\tsurveyed\tRowan,\tAedion.\tHer\tslender,\tfair\tneck\tbobbed. And\t Aelin,\t gods\t above,\t snapped\t her\t fingers\t at\t the\t queen\u2014once,\t twice\u2014drawing\t her attention\t back\t to\t her.\t \u201cHello,\t Elena,\u201d\t she\t drawled,\t \u201cso\t nice\t to\t see\t you.\t It\u2019s\t been\t a\t while. Care\tto\tanswer\tsome\tquestions?\u201d Irritation\t flickered\t in\t the\t dead\t queen\u2019s\t eyes.\t But\t Elena\u2019s\t chin\t remained\t high,\t her slender\tshoulders\tback.\t\u201cI\tdo\tnot\thave\tmuch\ttime.\tThe\tconnection\tis\ttoo\thard\tto\tmaintain so\tfar\tfrom\tRifthold.\u201d \u201cWhat\ta\tsurprise.\u201d The\ttwo\tqueens\tstared\teach\tother\tdown. Elena,\t Wyrd\t damn\t him,\t broke\t first.\t \u201cDeanna\t is\t a\t god.\t She\t does\t not\t have\t rules\t and morals\tand\tcodes\tthe\tway\twe\tdo.\tTime\tdoes\tnot\texist\tfor\ther\tthe\tway\tit\tdoes\tfor\tus.\tYou\tlet your\tmagic\ttouch\tthe\tkey,\tthe\tkey\topened\ta\tdoor,\tand\tDeanna\thappened\tto\tbe\twatching\tat that\texact\tmoment.\tThat\tshe\tspoke\tto\tyou\tat\tall\tis\ta\tgift.\tThat\tyou\tmanaged\tto\tshove\ther out\tbefore\tshe\twas\tready\t\u2026\tShe\twill\tnot\tsoon\tforget\tthat\tinsult,\tMajesty.\u201d \u201cShe\tcan\tget\tin\tline,\u201d\tAelin\tsaid. Elena\tshook\ther\thead.\t\u201cThere\tis\t\u2026\tthere\tis\tso\tmuch\tI\tdid\tnot\tget\tto\ttell\tyou.\u201d \u201cLike\tthe\tfact\tthat\tyou\tand\tGavin\tnever\tkilled\tErawan,\tlied\tto\teveryone\tabout\tit,\tand then\tleft\thim\tfor\tus\tto\tdeal\twith?\u201d Dorian\trisked\ta\tglance\tat\tAedion,\tbut\this\tface\twas\thard,\tcalculating,\tever\tthe\tgeneral \u2014fixed\ton\tthe\tdead\tqueen\tnow\tstanding\tin\tthis\troom\twith\tthem.\tLysandra\u2014Lysandra\twas","gone. No,\t in\t ghost\t leopard\t form,\t slinking\t through\t the\t shadows.\t Rowan\u2019s\t hand\t was\t resting casually\t on\t his\t sword,\t though\t Dorian\u2019s\t own\t magic\t swept\t the\t room\t and\t realized\t the weapon\twas\tto\tbe\tthe\tphysical\tdistraction\tfrom\tthe\tmagical\tblow\the\u2019d\tdeal\tElena\tif\tshe\tso much\t as\t looked\t funny\t at\t Aelin.\t Indeed,\t a\t hard\t shield\t of\t air\t now\t lay\t between\t the\t two queens\u2014and\tsealed\tthis\troom,\ttoo. Elena\t shook\t her\t head,\t her\t silver\t hair\t flowing.\t \u201cYou\t were\t meant\t to\t retrieve\t the Wyrdkeys\tbefore\tErawan\tcould\tget\tthis\tfar.\u201d \u201cWell,\t I\t didn\u2019t,\u201d\t Aelin\t snapped.\t \u201cForgive\t me\t if\t you\t weren\u2019t\t entirely\t clear\t on\t your directions.\u201d Elena\tsaid,\t\u201cI\tdo\tnot\thave\ttime\tto\texplain,\tbut\tknow\tit\twas\tthe\tonly\tchoice.\tTo\tsave\tus, to\t save\t Erilea,\t it\t was\t the\t only\t choice\t I\t could\t make.\u201d\t And\t for\t all\t their\t snapping\t at\t each other,\t the\t queen\t exposed\t her\t palms\t to\t Aelin.\t \u201cDeanna\t and\t my\t father\t spoke\t true.\t I\u2019d thought\t\u2026\tI\u2019d\tthought\tit\twas\tbroken,\tbut\tif\tthey\ttold\tyou\tto\tfind\tthe\tLock\t\u2026\t\u201d\tShe\tbit\ther lip. Aelin\t said,\t \u201cBrannon\t said\t to\t go\t to\t the\t Stone\t Marshes\t of\t Eyllwe\t to\t find\t the\t Lock. Where,\tprecisely,\tin\tthe\tmarshes?\u201d \u201cThere\t was\t once\t a\t great\t city\t in\t the\t heart\t of\t the\t marshes,\u201d\t Elena\t breathed.\t \u201cIt\t is\t now half\t drowned\t on\t the\t plain.\t In\t a\t temple\t at\t its\t center,\t we\t laid\t the\t remnants\t of\t the\t Lock.\t I didn\u2019t\t \u2026\t My\t father\t attained\t the\t Lock\t at\t terrible\t cost.\t The\t cost\t \u2026\t of\t my\t mother\u2019s\t body, her\tmortal\tlife.\tA\tLock\tfor\tthe\tWyrdkeys\u2014to\tseal\tshut\tthe\tgate,\tand\tbind\tthe\tkeys\tinside them\tforever.\tI\tdid\tnot\tunderstand\twhat\tit\thad\tbeen\tintended\tfor;\tmy\tfather\tnever\ttold\tme about\tany\tof\tit\tuntil\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate.\tAll\tI\tknew\twas\tthat\tthe\tLock\twas\tonly\table\tto\tbe\tused once\u2014its\tpower\tcapable\tof\tsealing\tanything\twe\twished.\tSo\tI\tstole\tit.\tI\tused\tit\tfor\tmyself, for\tmy\tpeople.\tI\thave\tbeen\tpaying\tfor\tthat\tcrime\tsince.\u201d \u201cYou\tused\tit\tto\tseal\tErawan\tin\this\ttomb,\u201d\tAelin\tsaid\tquietly. The\t pleading\t faded\t from\t Elena\u2019s\t face.\t \u201cMy\t friends\t died\t in\t the\t valley\t of\t the\t Black Mountains\tthat\tday\tso\tI\tmight\thave\tthe\tchance\tto\tstop\thim.\tI\theard\ttheir\tscreaming,\teven in\tthe\theart\tof\tErawan\u2019s\tcamp.\tI\twill\tnot\tapologize\tfor\ttrying\tto\tend\tthe\tslaughter\tso\tthat the\tsurvivors\tcould\thave\ta\tfuture.\tSo\tyou\tcould\thave\ta\tfuture.\u201d \u201cSo\tyou\tused\tthe\tLock,\tthen\tchucked\tit\tinto\ta\truin?\u201d \u201cWe\t placed\t it\t inside\t the\t holy\t city\t on\t the\t plain\u2014to\t be\t a\t commemoration\t of\t the\t lives lost.\t But\t a\t great\t cataclysm\t rocked\t the\t land\t decades\t later\t \u2026\t and\t the\t city\t sank,\t the\t marsh water\t flowed\t in,\t and\t the\t Lock\t was\t forgotten.\t No\t one\t ever\t retrieved\t it.\t Its\t power\t had already\tbeen\tused.\tIt\twas\tjust\ta\tbit\tof\tmetal\tand\tglass.\u201d \u201cAnd\tnow\tit\u2019s\tnot?\u201d \u201cIf\tboth\tmy\tfather\tand\tDeanna\tmentioned\tit,\tit\tmust\tbe\tvital\tin\tstopping\tErawan.\u201d \u201cForgive\tme\tif\tI\tdo\tnot\ttrust\tthe\tword\tof\ta\tgoddess\twho\ttried\tto\tuse\tme\tlike\ta\tpuppet to\tblow\tthis\ttown\tinto\tsmithereens.\u201d","\u201cHer\tmethods\tare\troundabout,\tbut\tshe\tlikely\tmeant\tyou\tno\tharm\u2014\u201d \u201cBullshit.\u201d Elena\tflickered\tagain.\t\u201cGet\tto\tthe\tStone\tMarshes.\tFind\tthe\tLock.\u201d \u201cI\ttold\tBrannon,\tand\tI\u2019ll\ttell\tyou:\twe\thave\tmore\tpressing\tmatters\tat\thand\u2014\u201d \u201cMy\tmother\tdied\tto\tforge\tthat\tLock,\u201d\tElena\tsnapped,\teyes\tblazing\tbright.\t\u201cShe\tlet\tgo of\ther\tmortal\tbody\tso\tthat\tshe\tcould\tforge\tthe\tLock\tfor\tmy\tfather.\tI\twas\tthe\tone\twho\tbroke the\tpromise\tfor\thow\tit\twas\tto\tbe\tused.\u201d Aelin\t blinked,\t and\t Dorian\t wondered\t if\t he\t should\t indeed\t be\t worried\t when\t even\t she was\tspeechless.\tBut\tAelin\tonly\twhispered,\t\u201cWho\twas\tyour\tmother?\u201d Dorian\transacked\this\tmemory,\tall\this\thistory\tlessons\ton\this\troyal\thouse,\tbut\tcouldn\u2019t recall. Elena\t made\t a\t sound\t that\t might\t have\t been\t a\t sob,\t her\t image\t fading\t into\t cobwebs\t and moonlight.\t\u201cShe\twho\tloved\tmy\tfather\tbest.\tShe\twho\tblessed\thim\twith\tsuch\tmighty\tgifts, and\tthen\tbound\therself\tin\ta\tmortal\tbody\tand\toffered\thim\tthe\tgift\tof\ther\theart.\u201d Aelin\u2019s\tarms\tslackened\tat\ther\tsides. Aedion\tblurted,\t\u201cShit.\u201d Elena\t laughed\t humorlessly\t as\t she\t said\t to\t Aelin,\t \u201cWhy\t do\t you\t think\t you\t burn\t so brightly?\tIt\tis\tnot\tjust\tBrannon\u2019s\tblood\tthat\tis\tin\tyour\tveins.\tBut\tMala\u2019s.\u201d Aelin\tbreathed,\t\u201cMala\tFire-Bringer\twas\tyour\tmother.\u201d Elena\twas\talready\tgone. Aedion\tsaid,\t\u201cHonestly,\tit\u2019s\ta\tmiracle\tyou\ttwo\tdidn\u2019t\tkill\teach\tother.\u201d Dorian\t didn\u2019t\t bother\t to\t correct\t him\t that\t it\t was\t technically\t impossible,\t given\t that\t one of\tthem\twas\talready\tdead.\tRather,\the\tweighed\tall\tthat\tthe\tqueen\thad\tsaid\tand\tdemanded. Rowan,\tremaining\tsilent,\tseemed\tto\tbe\tdoing\tthe\tsame.\tLysandra\tsniffed\taround\tthe\tblood- marks,\tas\tif\ttesting\tfor\twhatever\tremnants\tof\tthe\tancient\tqueen\tmight\tbe\taround. Aelin\t stared\t out\t the\t open\t balcony\t doors,\t eyes\t hooded\t and\t mouth\t a\t tight\t line.\t She unfurled\ther\tfist\tand\texamined\tthe\tEye\tof\tElena,\tstill\theld\tin\ther\tpalm. The\tclock\tstruck\tone\tin\tthe\tmorning.\tSlowly,\tAelin\tturned\tto\tthem.\tTo\thim. \u201cMala\u2019s\t blood\t flows\t in\t our\t veins,\u201d\t she\t said\t hoarsely,\t fingers\t closing\t around\t the\t Eye before\tshe\tslipped\tit\tinto\tthe\tshirt\u2019s\tpocket. He\t blinked,\t realizing\t that\t it\t indeed\t did.\t That\t perhaps\t both\t of\t them\t had\t been\t so considerably\t gifted\t because\t of\t it.\t Dorian\t said\t to\t Rowan,\t if\t only\t because\t he\t might\t have heard\tor\twitnessed\tsomething\tin\tall\this\ttravels,\t\u201cIs\tit\ttruly\tpossible\u2014for\ta\tgod\tto\tbecome mortal\tlike\tthat?\u201d Rowan,\twho\thad\tbeen\twatching\tAelin\ta\tbit\twarily,\ttwisted\tto\thim.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tnever\theard\tof such\ta\tthing.\tBut\t\u2026\tFae\thave\tgiven\tup\ttheir\timmortality\tto\tbind\ttheir\tlives\tto\tthat\tof\ttheir","mortal\tmates.\u201d\tDorian\thad\tthe\tdistinct\tfeeling\tAelin\twas\tdeliberately\texamining\ta\tspot\ton her\tshirt.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tcertainly\tpossible\tMala\tfound\ta\tway\tto\tdo\tit.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tnot\tjust\tpossible,\u201d\tAelin\tmurmured.\t\u201cShe\tdid\tit.\tThat\t\u2026\tpit\tof\tpower\tI\tuncovered today\t \u2026\t That\t was\t from\t Mala\t herself.\t Elena\t might\t be\t many\t things,\t but\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t lying about\tthat.\u201d Lysandra\tshifted\tback\tinto\ther\thuman\tform,\tswaying\tenough\tthat\tshe\tset\therself\tdown on\tthe\tbed\tbefore\tAedion\tcould\tmove\tto\tsteady\ther.\t\u201cSo\twhat\tdo\twe\tdo\tnow?\u201d\tshe\tasked, her\tvoice\tgravelly.\t\u201cErawan\u2019s\tfleet\tsquats\tin\tthe\tGulf\tof\tOro;\tMaeve\tsails\tfor\tEyllwe.\tBut neither\tknows\tthat\twe\tpossess\tthis\tWyrdkey\u2014or\tthat\tthis\tLock\texists\t\u2026\tand\tlies\tdirectly between\ttheir\tforces.\u201d For\t a\t heartbeat,\t Dorian\t felt\t like\t a\t useless\t fool\t as\t they\t all,\t including\t him,\t looked\t to Aelin.\tHe\twas\tKing\tof\tAdarlan,\the\treminded\thimself.\tEqual\tto\ther.\tEven\tif\this\tlands\tand people\thad\tbeen\tstolen,\this\tcapital\tcaptured. But\t Aelin\t rubbed\t her\t eyes\t with\t her\t thumb\t and\t forefinger,\t loosing\t a\t long\t breath.\t \u201cI really,\t really\t hate\t that\t old\t windbag.\u201d\t She\t lifted\t her\t head,\t surveying\t them\t all,\t and\t said simply,\t\u201cWe\tsail\tfor\tthe\tStone\tMarshes\tin\tthe\tmorning\tto\thunt\tdown\tthat\tLock.\u201d \u201cRolfe\tand\tthe\tMycenians?\u201d\tAedion\tasked. \u201cHe\t takes\t half\t his\t fleet\t to\t find\t the\t rest\t of\t the\t Mycenians,\t wherever\t they\u2019re\t hiding. Then\tthey\tall\tsail\tnorth\tto\tTerrasen.\u201d \u201cRifthold\tlies\tbetween\there\tand\tthere,\twith\twyverns\tpatrolling\tit,\u201d\tAedion\tcountered. \u201cAnd\t this\t plan\t depends\t on\t if\t we\t can\t trust\t Rolfe\t to\t actually\t follow\t through\t on\t his promise.\u201d \u201cRolfe\t knows\t how\t to\t stay\t out\t of\t range,\u201d\t Rowan\t said.\t \u201cWe\t have\t little\t choice\t but\t to trust\t him.\t And\t he\t honored\t the\t promise\t he\t made\t to\t Aelin\t regarding\t the\t slaves\t two\t and\t a half\tyears\tago.\u201d\tNo\tdoubt\twhy\tAelin\thad\tmade\thim\tconfirm\tit\tso\tthoroughly. \u201cAnd\tthe\tother\thalf\tof\tRolfe\u2019s\tfleet?\u201d\tAedion\tpushed. \u201cSome\t remain\t to\t hold\t the\t archipelago,\u201d\t Aelin\t said.\t \u201cAnd\t some\t come\t with\t us\t to Eyllwe.\u201d \u201cYou\t can\u2019t\t fight\t Maeve\u2019s\t armada\t with\t a\t fraction\t of\t Rolfe\u2019s\t fleet,\u201d\t Aedion\t said, crossing\this\tarms.\tDorian\tbit\tback\this\town\tagreement,\tleaving\tthe\tgeneral\tto\tit.\t\u201cLet\talone Morath\u2019s\tforces.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\tthere\tto\tpick\ta\tfight,\u201d\twas\tall\tAelin\tsaid.\tAnd\tthat\twas\tthat. They\tdispersed\tthen,\tAelin\tand\tRowan\tslipping\toff\tto\ttheir\town\troom. Dorian\t lay\t awake,\t even\t when\t his\t companions\u2019\t breathing\t became\t deep\t and\t slow.\t He mulled\tover\teach\tword\tElena\thad\tuttered,\tmulled\tover\tthat\tlong-ago\tappearance\tof\tGavin, who\t had\t awoken\t him\t to\t stop\t Aelin\t from\t opening\t that\t portal.\t Perhaps\t Gavin\t had\t done\t it not\tto\tspare\tAelin\tfrom\tdamnation,\tbut\tto\tkeep\tthose\twaiting,\tcold-eyed\tgods\tfrom\tseizing her\tas\tDeanna\thad\ttoday.","He\t tucked\t the\t speculation\t away\t to\t consider\t when\t he\t was\t less\t prone\t to\t leaping\t to conclusions.\tBut\tthe\tthreads\tlay\tin\ta\tlattice\tacross\this\tmind,\tin\thues\tof\tred\tand\tgreen\tand gold\t and\t blue,\t glimmering\t and\t thrumming,\t whispering\t their\t secrets\t in\t languages\t not spoken\tin\tthis\tworld. An\t hour\t past\t dawn,\t they\t departed\t Skull\u2019s\t Bay\t on\t the\t swiftest\t ship\t Rolfe\t could\t spare. Rolfe\t didn\u2019t\t bother\t to\t say\t good-bye,\t already\t preoccupied\t with\t readying\t his\t fleet,\t before they\tsailed\tout\tof\tthe\tsparkling\tharbor\tand\tinto\tthe\tlush\tarchipelago\tbeyond.\tHe\tdid\tgrant Aelin\t one\t parting\t gift:\t vague\t coordinates\t for\t the\t Lock.\t His\t map\t had\t found\t it\u2014or\t rather, the\t general\t location.\t Some\t sort\t of\t wards\t must\t be\t placed\t around\t it,\t the\t captain\t warned them,\t if\t his\t tattoo\t could\t not\t pinpoint\t its\t resting\t place.\t But\t it\t was\t better\t than\t nothing, Dorian\tsupposed.\tAelin\thad\tgrumbled\tas\tmuch. Rowan\t circled\t high\t above\t in\t hawk\t form,\t scouting\t behind\t and\t ahead.\t Fenrys\t and Gavriel\twere\tat\tthe\toars,\thelping\trow\tthem\tout\tof\tthe\tharbor\u2014Aedion\tdoing\tso\tas\twell,\tat a\tcomfortable\tdistance\tfrom\this\tfather.Dorian\thimself\tstood\tat\tthe\twheel\tbeside\tthe\tsurly, short\t captain\u2014an\t older\t woman\t who\t had\t no\t interest\t in\t speaking\t to\t him,\t king\t or\t not. Lysandra\tswam\tin\tthe\tsurf\tbelow\tin\tsome\tform\tor\tanother,\tguarding\tthem\tfrom\tany\tthreats beneath\tthe\tsurface. But\t Aelin\t stood\t alone\t on\t the\t prow,\t her\t golden\t hair\t unbound\t and\t flowing\t behind\t her, so\tstill\tthat\tshe\tmight\thave\tbeen\tthe\ttwin\tto\tthe\tfigurehead\tmere\tfeet\tbeneath.\tThe\trising sun\t cast\t her\t in\t shimmering\t gold,\t no\t hint\t of\t the\t moonfire\t that\t had\t threatened\t to\t destroy them\tall. But\teven\tas\tthe\tqueen\tstood\tundimming\tbefore\tthe\tshadows\tof\tthe\tworld\t\u2026\ta\tlick\tof cold\ttraced\tthe\tcontours\tof\tDorian\u2019s\theart. And\t he\t wondered\t if\t Aelin\t was\t somehow\t watching\t the\t archipelago,\t and\t the\t seas,\t and the\tskies,\tas\tif\tshe\tmight\tnever\tsee\tthem\tagain. Three\t days\t later,\t they\t were\t nearly\t out\t of\t the\t archipelago\u2019s\t strangling\t grasp.\t Dorian\t was again\tat\tthe\thelm,\tAelin\tat\tthe\tprow,\tthe\tothers\tscattered\ton\tvarious\trounds\tof\tscouting\tand resting. His\tmagic\tfelt\tit\tbefore\the\tdid.\tA\tsense\tof\tawareness,\tof\twarning\tand\tawakening. He\tscanned\tthe\thorizon.\tThe\tFae\twarriors\tfell\tsilent\tbefore\tthe\tothers. It\tlooked\tlike\ta\tcloud\tat\tfirst\u2014a\twind-tossed\tlittle\tcloud\ton\tthe\thorizon.\tThen\ta\tlarge bird. When\t the\t sailors\t began\t rushing\t for\t their\t weapons,\t Dorian\u2019s\t mind\t at\t last\t spat\t out\t a name\tfor\tthe\tbeast\tthat\tswept\ttoward\tthem\ton\tshimmering,\twide\twings.\tWyvern. There\t was\t only\t one.\t And\t only\t one\t rider\t atop\t it.\t A\t rider\t who\t did\t not\t move,\t whose white\thair\twas\tunbound\u2014listing\ttoward\tthe\tside.\tAs\tthe\trider\tnow\twas. The\t wyvern\t dropped\t lower,\t skimming\t over\t the\t water.\t Lysandra\t was\t instantly\t ready,","waiting\tfor\tthe\tqueen\u2019s\torder\tto\tshift\tinto\twhatever\tform\twould\tfight\tit\u2014 \u201cNo.\u201d\tThe\tword\tripped\tfrom\tDorian\u2019s\tlips\tbefore\the\tcould\tthink.\tBut\tthen\tit\tcame\tout, over\tand\tover,\tas\tthe\twyvern\tand\trider\tsailed\tcloser\tto\tthe\tship. The\twitch\twas\tunconscious,\ther\tbody\tleaning\tto\tthe\tside\tbecause\tshe\twas\tnot\tawake, because\tthat\twas\tblue\tblood\tall\tover\ther.\tDon\u2019t\tshoot;\tdon\u2019t\tshoot\u2014 Dorian\twas\troaring\tthe\torder\tas\the\thurtled\tfor\twhere\tFenrys\thad\tdrawn\this\tlongbow,\ta black-tipped\tarrow\taimed\tat\tthe\twitch\u2019s\texposed\tneck.\tHis\twords\twere\tswallowed\tby\tthe shouting\t of\t the\t sailors\t and\t their\t captain.\t Dorian\u2019s\t magic\t swelled\t as\t he\t unsheathed Damaris\u2014 But\tthen\tAelin\u2019s\tvoice\tcut\tover\tthe\tfray\u2014Hold\tyour\tfire! All\tof\tthem\thalted.\tThe\twyvern\tsailed\tclose,\tthen\tbanked,\tcircling\tthe\tboat. Blue\tblood\tcrusted\tthe\tbeast\u2019s\tscarred\tsides.\tSo\tmuch\tblood.\tThe\twitch\twas\tbarely\tin the\tsaddle.\tHer\ttan\tface\twas\tleeched\tof\tcolor,\ther\tlips\tpaler\tthan\twhale\tbone. The\t wyvern\t completed\t its\t circle,\t sweeping\t lower\t this\t time,\t readying\t to\t land\t as\t near the\tboat\tas\tpossible.\tNot\tto\tattack\t\u2026\tbut\tfor\thelp. One\tmoment,\tthe\twyvern\twas\tsoaring\tsmoothly\tover\tthe\tcobalt\twaves.\tThen\tthe\twitch listed\t so\t far\t that\t her\t body\t seemed\t to\t go\t boneless.\t As\t if\t in\t that\t heartbeat,\t when\t help\t was mere\tfeet\taway,\twhatever\tluck\thad\tkept\ther\tastride\tat\tlast\tabandoned\ther. Silence\tfell\ton\tthe\tship\tas\tManon\tBlackbeak\ttumbled\tfrom\ther\tsaddle,\tfalling\tthrough wind\tand\tspindrift,\tand\thit\tthe\twater.","PART\tTWO FIREHEART","40 The\tsmoke\thad\tbeen\tstinging\tElide\u2019s\teyes\tfor\tthe\tbetter\tpart\tof\tthe\tgray\tmuggy\tmorning. Just\t farmers\t burning\t fields\t left\t to\t fallow,\t Molly\t had\t claimed,\t so\t the\t ashes\t might fertilize\t the\t earth\t for\t next\t year\u2019s\t harvest.\t They\t had\t to\t be\t miles\t away,\t but\t the\t smoke\t and ash\twould\ttravel\tfar\ton\tthe\tbrisk\tnorthward\twind.\tThe\twind\tthat\tled\thome\tto\tTerrasen. But\t they\t weren\u2019t\t headed\t to\t Terrasen.\t They\t were\t headed\t due\t east,\t straight\t toward\t the coast. Soon\tshe\u2019d\thave\tto\tcut\tnorthward.\tThey\thad\tpassed\tthrough\tone\ttown\u2014only\tone,\tand its\tdenizens\thad\talready\tbeen\tfatigued\tof\troving\tcarnivals\tand\tperformers.\tEven\twith\tthe night\tbarely\tunder\tway,\tElide\talready\tknew\tthey\twould\tlikely\tonly\tmake\tenough\tmoney\tto cover\ttheir\texpenses\tfor\tstaying. She\thad\tattracted\ta\tgrand\ttotal\tof\tfour\tcustomers\tto\ther\tlittle\ttent\tso\tfar,\tmostly\tyoung men\tlooking\tto\tknow\twhich\tof\tthe\tvillage\tgirls\tfancied\tthem,\tbarely\tnoticing\tthat\tElide\u2014 beneath\t the\t makeup\t pasted\t thick\t as\t cream\t on\t her\t face\u2014was\t no\t older\t than\t they\t were. They\u2019d\t scampered\t off\t when\t their\t friends\t had\t rushed\t by,\t whispering\t through\t the\t star- painted\tflaps\tthat\ta\tswordsman\twas\tputting\ton\tthe\tshow\tof\ta\tlifetime,\tand\this\tarms\twere nearly\tthe\tsize\tof\ttree\ttrunks. Elide\t had\t glowered,\t both\t at\t the\t feckless\t young\t men\t who\t vanished\u2014one\t without paying\u2014and\tat\tLorcan,\tfor\tstealing\tthe\tshow. She\twaited\tall\tof\ttwo\tminutes\tbefore\tshoving\tout\tof\tthe\ttent,\tthe\tenormous,\tridiculous headdress\tMolly\thad\tplunked\ton\ther\thair\tsnagging\ton\tthe\tflaps.\tBits\tof\tdangling\tbeads\tand charms\thung\tfrom\tthe\tarching\tcrest,\tand\tElide\tbatted\tthem\tout\tof\ther\teyes,\tnearly\ttripping over\ther\tmatching\tbloodred\trobes\tas\tshe\twent\tto\tsee\twhat\tall\tthe\tfuss\twas\tabout. If\tthe\tyoung\tmen\tof\tthe\ttown\thad\tbeen\timpressed\tby\tLorcan\u2019s\tmuscles,\tit\twas\tnothing on\twhat\tthose\tmuscles\twere\tdoing\tto\tthe\tyoung\twomen. And\tolder\twomen,\tElide\trealized,\tnot\tbothering\tto\tsqueeze\tthrough\tthe\ttightly\tpacked crowd\t before\t the\t makeshift\t stage\t on\t which\t Lorcan\t stood,\t juggling\t and\t throwing\t swords and\tknives. Lorcan\t was\t not\t a\t natural\t performer.\t No,\t he\t had\t the\t gall\t to\t actually\t look\t bored\t up there,\tbordering\ton\toutright\tsullen. But\t what\t he\t lacked\t in\t charm\t he\t made\t up\t for\t with\t his\t shirtless,\t oiled\t body.\t And\t holy gods\u2026 Lorcan\tmade\tthe\tyoung\tmen\twho\thad\tvisited\ther\ttent\tlook\tlike\t\u2026\tchildren.","He\t balanced\t and\t hurled\t his\t weapons\t as\t if\t they\t were\t nothing,\t and\t she\t had\t the\t feeling the\t warrior\t was\t merely\t going\t through\t one\t of\t his\t daily\t exercise\t routines.\t But\t the\t crowd still\toohed\tand\taahed\tat\tevery\ttwist\tand\ttoss\tand\tcatch,\tand\tcoins\tstill\ttrickled\tinto\tthe\tpan at\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tstage. With\tthe\ttorches\taround\thim,\tLorcan\u2019s\tdark\thair\tseemed\tto\tswallow\tthe\tlight,\this\tonyx eyes\t flat\t and\t dull.\t Elide\t wondered\t if\t he\t was\t contemplating\t the\t murder\t of\t everyone drooling\tover\thim\tlike\tdogs\taround\ta\tbone.\tShe\tcouldn\u2019t\tblame\thim. A\t trickle\t of\t sweat\t slid\t through\t the\t crisp\t spattering\t of\t dark\t hair\t on\t his\t sculpted\t chest. Elide\t watched,\t a\t bit\t transfixed,\t as\t that\t bead\t of\t sweat\t wended\t down\t the\t muscled\t grooves of\this\tstomach.\tLower. No\t better\t than\t those\t ogling\t women,\t she\t said\t to\t herself,\t about\t to\t head\t back\t into\t her tent\t when\t Molly\t observed\t from\t beside\t her,\t \u201cYour\t husband\t could\t just\t be\t sitting\t up\t there, fixing\t your\t stockings,\t and\t women\t would\t empty\t their\t pockets\t for\t the\t chance\t to\t stare\t at him.\u201d \u201cHe\thad\tthat\teffect\twherever\twe\twent\twith\tour\tformer\tcarnival,\u201d\tElide\tlied. Molly\t clicked\t her\t tongue.\t \u201cYou\u2019re\t lucky,\u201d\t she\t murmured\t as\t Lorcan\t hurled\t his\t sword high\tin\tthe\tair\tand\tpeople\tgasped,\t\u201cthat\the\tstill\tlooks\tat\tyou\tthe\tway\the\tdoes.\u201d Elide\twondered\tif\tLorcan\twould\tlook\tat\ther\tat\tall\tif\tshe\ttold\thim\twhat\ther\tname\twas, who\t she\t was,\t what\t she\t carried.\t He\u2019d\t slept\t on\t the\t floor\t of\t the\t tent\t each\t night\u2014not\t that she\u2019d\tever\tonce\tbothered\tto\toffer\thim\tthe\troll.\tHe\tusually\tcame\tin\tafter\tshe\u2019d\tfallen\tasleep, and\tleft\tbefore\tshe\tawoke.\tTo\tdo\twhat,\tshe\thad\tno\tidea\u2014perhaps\texercise,\tsince\this\tbody was\t\u2026\tlike\tthat. Lorcan\t chucked\t three\t knives\t in\t the\t air,\t bowing\t without\t one\t bit\t of\t humility\t or amusement\tto\tthe\tcrowd.\tThey\tgasped\tagain\tas\tthe\tblades\taimed\tfor\this\texposed\tspine. But\t in\t an\t easy,\t beautiful\t maneuver,\t Lorcan\t rolled,\t catching\t each\t blade,\t one\t after another. The\tcrowd\tcheered,\tand\tLorcan\tcoolly\tlooked\tat\this\tpan\tof\tcoins. More\tcopper\u2014and\tsome\tsilver\u2014flowed,\tlike\tthe\tpatter\tof\train. Molly\t let\t out\t a\t low\t laugh.\t \u201cDesire\t and\t fear\t can\t loosen\t any\t purse\t strings.\u201d\t A\t sharp glance.\t\u201cShouldn\u2019t\tyou\tbe\tin\tyour\ttent?\u201d Elide\tdidn\u2019t\tbother\tresponding\tas\tshe\tleft,\tand\tcould\thave\tsworn\tshe\tfelt\tLorcan\u2019s\tgaze narrow\t on\t her,\t on\t the\t headdress\t and\t swaying\t beads,\t on\t the\t long,\t voluminous\t robes.\t She kept\tgoing,\tand\tendured\ta\tfew\tmore\tyoung\tmen\u2014and\tsome\tyoung\twomen\u2014asking\tabout their\t love\t lives\t before\t she\t found\t herself\t again\t alone\t in\t that\t silly\t tent,\t the\t dark\t only illuminated\tby\tdangling\tcrystal\torbs\twith\ttiny\tcandles\tinside. She\t was\t waiting\t for\t Molly\t to\t finally\t shout\t the\t carnival\t was\t over\t when\t Lorcan shouldered\t through\t the\t flaps,\t wiping\t his\t face\t with\t a\t scrap\t of\t fabric\t that\t was\t most definitely\tnot\this\tshirt.","Elide\tsaid,\t\u201cMolly\twill\tbe\tbegging\tyou\tto\tstay,\tyou\trealize.\u201d He\t slid\t into\t the\t folding\t chair\t before\t her\t round\t table.\t \u201cIs\t that\t your\t professional prediction?\u201d She\t swatted\t at\t a\t strand\t of\t beads\t that\t swayed\t into\t her\t eyes.\t \u201cDid\t you\t sell\t your\t shirt, too?\u201d Lorcan\tgave\ta\tferal\tgrin.\t\u201cGot\tten\tcoppers\tfrom\ta\tfarmer\u2019s\twife\tfor\tit.\u201d Elide\tscowled.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tdisgusting.\u201d \u201cMoney\tis\tmoney.\tI\tsuppose\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tneed\tto\tworry\tabout\tit,\twith\tall\tthe\tgold\tyou\u2019ve got\tstashed.\u201d Elide\theld\this\tstare,\tnot\tbothering\tto\tlook\tpleasant.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tin\ta\trare\tgood\tmood.\u201d \u201cHaving\t two\t women\t and\t one\t man\t offer\t a\t spot\t in\t their\t beds\t tonight\t will\t do\t that\t to\t a person.\u201d \u201cThen\twhy\tare\tyou\there?\u201d\tIt\tcame\tout\tsharper\tthan\tshe\tintended. He\t surveyed\t the\t hanging\t orbs,\t the\t woven\t carpet,\t the\t black\t tablecloth,\t and\t then\t her hands,\t scarred\t and\t calloused\t and\t small,\t gripping\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t table.\t \u201cWouldn\u2019t\t it\t ruin your\truse\tif\tI\tslipped\toff\tinto\tthe\tnight\twith\tsomeone\telse?\tYou\u2019d\tbe\texpected\tto\tthrow\tme out\ton\tmy\tass\u2014to\tbe\theartbroken\tand\traging\tfor\tthe\trest\tof\tyour\ttime\there.\u201d \u201cYou\tmight\tas\twell\tenjoy\tyourself,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\tleave\tsoon\tanyway.\u201d \u201cSo\tare\tyou,\u201d\the\treminded\ther. Elide\ttapped\ta\tfinger\ton\tthe\ttablecloth,\tthe\trough\tfabric\tscratching\tagainst\ther\tskin. \u201cWhat\tis\tit?\u201d\the\tdemanded.\tAs\tif\tit\twere\tan\tinconvenience\tto\tbe\tpolite. \u201cNothing.\u201d It\twasn\u2019t\tnothing,\tthough.\tShe\tknew\twhy\tshe\u2019d\tbeen\tdelaying\tthat\tturn\tnorthward,\tthe inevitable\tdeparture\tfrom\tthis\tgroup\tand\tfinal\ttrek\ton\ther\town. She\tcould\tbarely\tmake\tan\timpact\tat\ta\tbackwater\tcarnival.\tWhat\tthe\thell\twould\tshe\tdo in\t a\t court\t of\t such\t powerful\t people\u2014especially\t without\t being\t able\t to\t read?\t While\t Aelin could\tdestroy\tkings\tand\tsave\tcities,\twhat\tthe\thell\twould\tshe\tdo\tto\tprove\ther\tworth?\tWash their\tclothes?\tClean\ttheir\tdishes? \u201cMarion,\u201d\the\tsaid\troughly. She\tlooked\tup,\tsurprised\tto\tfind\thim\tstill\tthere.\tLorcan\u2019s\tdark\teyes\twere\tunreadable\tin the\tdimness.\t\u201cYou\thad\tplenty\tof\tyoung\tmen\tunable\tto\tstop\tstaring\tat\tyou\ttonight.\tWhy\tnot have\tsome\tfun\twith\tthem?\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d\t she\t snapped.\t The\t thought\t of\t a\t stranger\t touching\t her,\t of\t some\t faceless, nameless\tman\tpawing\tat\ther\tin\tthe\tdark\u2026 Lorcan\tstilled.\tHe\tsaid\ttoo\tcalmly,\t\u201cWhen\tyou\twere\tin\tMorath,\tdid\tsomeone\u2014\u201d","\u201cNo.\u201d\tShe\tknew\twhat\the\tmeant.\t\u201cNo\u2014it\tdidn\u2019t\tget\tthat\tfar.\u201d\tBut\tthe\tmemory\tof\tthose men\ttouching\ther,\tlaughing\tat\ther\tnakedness\t\u2026\tShe\tshoved\tit\taway.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\tnever\tbeen\twith a\tman.\tNever\thad\tthe\tchance\tor\tthe\tinterest.\u201d He\t cocked\t his\t head,\t his\t dark,\t silken\t hair\t sliding\t over\t his\t face.\t \u201cDo\t you\t prefer women?\u201d She\t blinked\t at\t him.\t \u201cNo\u2014I\t don\u2019t\t think\t so.\t I\t don\u2019t\t know\t what\t I\t prefer.\t Again,\t I\u2019ve never\t\u2026\tI\u2019ve\tnever\thad\tthe\topportunity\tto\tfeel\t\u2026\tthat.\u201d\tDesire,\tlust,\tshe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow.\tAnd she\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\thow\tor\twhy\tthey\u2019d\twound\tup\ttalking\tabout\tthis. \u201cWhy?\u201d\t And\t with\t all\t of\t Lorcan\u2019s\t considerable\t focus\t honed\t in\t on\t her,\t with\t the\t way he\u2019d\t glanced\t at\t her\t red-painted\t mouth,\t Elide\t wanted\t to\t tell\t him.\t About\t the\t tower,\t and Vernon,\t and\t her\t parents.\t About\t why,\t if\t she\t were\t to\t ever\t feel\t desire,\t it\u2019d\t be\t a\t result\t of trusting\tsomeone\tso\tmuch\tthat\tthose\thorrors\tfaded\taway,\ta\tresult\tof\tknowing\tthey\twould fight\ttooth\tand\tclaw\tto\tkeep\ther\tfree\tand\tnever\tlock\ther\tup\tor\thurt\ther\tor\tleave\ther. Elide\topened\ther\tmouth.\tThen\tthe\tscreaming\tstarted. Lorcan\t didn\u2019t\t know\t why\t the\t hell\t he\t was\t in\t Marion\u2019s\t ridiculous\t little\t oracle\u2019s\t tent.\t He needed\t to\t wash,\t needed\t to\t clean\t away\t the\t sweat\t and\t oil\t and\t feel\t of\t all\t those\t ogling\t eyes on\thim. But\t he\u2019d\t spotted\t Marion\t in\t the\t crowd\t while\t he\u2019d\t finished\t up\t his\t piss-poor performance.\tHe\thadn\u2019t\tseen\ther\tearlier\tin\tthe\tevening\tbefore\tshe\u2019d\tput\ton\tthat\theaddress and\t those\t robes,\t but\t \u2026\t maybe\t it\t was\t the\t cosmetics,\t the\t heavy\t kohl\t around\t her\t eyes,\t the way\t the\t red-painted\t lips\t made\t her\t mouth\t look\t like\t a\t fresh\t piece\t of\t fruit,\t but\t \u2026\t he\u2019d noticed\ther. Noticed\tthe\tway\tthe\tmen\thad\tspotted\ther,\ttoo.\tSome\thad\toutright\tgawked,\twonder\tand lust\twritten\tacross\ttheir\tbodies,\tas\tMarion\tlingered,\toblivious,\tat\tthe\tedge\tof\tthe\tcrowd\tand watched\tLorcan\tinstead. Beautiful.\tAfter\ta\tfew\tweeks\tof\teating,\tof\tsafety,\tthe\tterrified,\tgaunt\tyoung\twoman\thad somehow\t gone\t from\t pretty\t to\t beautiful.\t He\u2019d\t ended\t his\t performance\t sooner\t than\t he\u2019d intended,\tand\tby\tthe\ttime\the\tlooked\tup\tagain,\tMarion\twas\tgone. Like\ta\tgods-damned\tdog,\the\u2019d\tpicked\tup\ther\tscent\tamong\tthe\tcrowd\tand\tfollowed\ther back\tto\tthis\ttent. In\tthe\tshadows\tand\tglowing\tlights\twithin,\twith\tthe\theaddress\tand\tdangling\tbeads\tand dark\tred\trobes\t\u2026\tthe\toracle\tincarnate.\tSerene,\texquisite\t\u2026\tand\tutterly\tforbidden. And\t he\u2019d\t been\t so\t focused\t on\t cursing\t himself\t for\t staring\t at\t that\t ripe,\t sinful\t mouth while\t she\t admitted\t she\t was\t still\t untouched,\t that\t he\t hadn\u2019t\t detected\t anything\t amiss\t until the\tscreaming\tstarted. No,\the\u2019d\tbeen\ttoo\tbusy\tcontemplating\twhat\tsounds\tmight\tcome\tfrom\tthat\tfull\tmouth\tif he\tslowly,\tgently,\ttaught\ther\tthe\tart\tof\tthe\tbedroom. The\t attack,\t Lorcan\t supposed,\t was\t Hellas\u2019s\t way\t of\t telling\t him\t to\t keep\t his\t cock\t in\t his","pants\tand\tmind\tout\tof\tthe\tgutter. \u201cGet\t under\t a\t wagon\t and\t stay\t there,\u201d\t he\t snapped\t before\t hurtling\t out\t of\t the\t tent.\t He didn\u2019t\twait\tto\tsee\tif\tshe\tobeyed.\tMarion\twas\tsmart\u2014she\tknew\tshe\u2019d\tstand\ta\tbetter\tchance at\tsurvival\tif\tshe\tlistened\tto\thim\tand\tfound\tshelter. Lorcan\t loosed\t his\t gift\t through\t the\t panicking\t carnival\t site\u2014a\t wave\t of\t dark,\t terrible power\t sweeping\t out\t in\t a\t ripple,\t then\t rushing\t back\t to\t tell\t him\t what\t it\t sensed.\t His\t power was\tgleeful,\tbreathless\tin\ta\tway\the\tknew\ttoo\twell:\tdeath. At\tone\tend\tof\tthe\tfield\tlay\tthe\toutskirts\tof\tthe\tlittle\ttown.\tAt\tthe\tother,\ta\tcopse\tof\ttrees and\tendless\tnight\u2014and\twings. Towering,\t sinewy\t forms\t plunged\t down\t from\t the\t skies\u2014his\t magic\t picked\t up\t four. Four\tilken\tas\tthey\tlanded,\tclaws\tout\tand\tbaring\tthose\tflesh-shredding\tteeth.\tThe\tleathery wings,\tit\tseemed,\tmarked\tthem\tas\tsome\tslight\tvariation\tof\tthe\tones\twho\thad\ttracked\tthem in\tOakwald.\tA\tvariation\u2014or\ta\trefining\tof\tan\talready\truthless\thunter. People\tran,\tscreaming\u2014toward\tthe\ttown,\ttoward\tthe\tcover\tof\tthe\tdark\tfields\tbeyond. Those\tdistant\tfires\thad\tnot\tbeen\tset\tby\tfarmers\tto\tburn\ttheir\tidle\tfields. They\t had\t been\t set\t to\t cloud\t the\t skies,\t to\t hide\t the\t scent\t of\t these\t beasts.\t From\t him.\t Or any\tother\tgifted\twarriors. Marion.\tThey\twere\thunting\tMarion. The\t carnival\t was\t in\t chaos,\t the\t horses\t were\t shrieking\t and\t bucking.\t Lorcan\t plunged toward\t where\t the\t four\t ilken\t had\t landed\t in\t the\t heart\t of\t the\t camp,\t right\t where\t he\u2019d\t been performing\tminutes\tbefore,\tin\ttime\tto\tsee\tone\tland\tatop\ta\tfleeing\tyoung\tman\tand\tflip\thim onto\this\tback. The\tyoung\tman\twas\tstill\tscreaming\tfor\tgods\twho\twould\tnot\tanswer\tas\tthe\tilken\tleaned down,\tflicking\tfree\ta\tlong\ttalon,\tand\topened\tup\this\tbelly\tin\ta\tsmooth\tswipe.\tHe\twas\tstill screaming\twhen\tthe\tilken\tlowered\this\tmutilated\tface\tand\tfeasted. \u201cWhat\t in\t burning\t hell\t are\t those\t beasts?\u201d\t It\t was\t Ombriel,\t a\t long-sword\t out\u2014and gripped\tin\ta\tway\tthat\ttold\thim\tshe\tknew\thow\tto\twield\tit.\tNik\tcame\tthundering\tup\tbehind her,\ttwo\trough,\tnear-rusted\tblades\tin\this\tmeaty\thands. \u201cSoldiers\t from\t Morath,\u201d\t was\t all\t Lorcan\t supplied.\t Nik\t was\t eyeing\t the\t blade\t and hatchet\tLorcan\thad\tdrawn,\tand\the\tdidn\u2019t\tthink\tto\tpretend\tto\tnot\tknow\thow\tto\tuse\teither,\tto be\ta\tsimple\tman\tfrom\tthe\twilds,\tas\the\tsaid\twith\tcold\tprecision,\t\u201cThey\u2019re\tnaturally\table\tto cut\tthrough\tmost\tmagic\u2014and\tonly\tbeheading\twill\tkeep\tthem\tdown.\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re\tnearly\teight\tfeet,\u201d\tOmbriel\tsaid,\tface\tpale. Lorcan\t left\t them\t to\t their\t assessments\t and\t fear,\t stepping\t into\t the\t ring\t of\t light\t in\t the heart\tof\tthe\tcamp\tas\tthe\tfour\tilken\tfinished\tplaying\twith\tthe\tyoung\tman.\tThe\thuman\twas still\talive,\tsilently\tmouthing\tpleas\tfor\thelp. Lorcan\tlashed\tout\twith\this\tpower\tand\tcould\thave\tsworn\tthe\tyoung\tman\thad\tgratitude in\this\teyes\tas\tdeath\tkissed\thim\tin\tgreeting.","The\tilken\tlooked\tup\tas\tone,\thissing\tsoftly.\tBlood\tslid\tfrom\ttheir\tteeth. Lorcan\ttunneled\tinto\this\tpower,\tpreparing\tto\tdistract\tand\taddle\tthem,\tif\ttheir\tresistance to\t magic\t held\t true.\t Perhaps\t Marion\t would\t have\t time\t to\t run.\t The\t ilken\t who\t had\t ripped open\t the\t belly\t of\t the\t young\t man\t said\t to\t him,\t laughter\t dancing\t on\t its\t gray\t tongue,\t \u201cAre you\tthe\tone\tin\tcharge?\u201d Lorcan\tsimply\tsaid,\t\u201cYes.\u201d It\ttold\thim\tenough.\tThey\tdid\tnot\tknow\twho\the\twas,\this\trole\tin\tMarion\u2019s\tescape. The\tfour\tilken\tsmiled.\t\u201cWe\tseek\ta\tgirl.\tShe\tmurdered\tour\tkin\u2014and\tseveral\tothers.\u201d They\tblamed\ther\tfor\tthe\tilken\u2019s\tdeath\tthose\tweeks\tago?\tOr\twas\tit\tan\texcuse\tto\tfurther their\t own\t ends?\t \u201cWe\t tracked\t her\t to\t the\t Acanthus\t crossing\t \u2026\t She\t may\t be\t hiding\t here, among\tyour\tpeople.\u201d\tA\tsneer. Lorcan\twilled\tNik\tand\tOmbriel\tto\tkeep\ttheir\tmouths\tshut.\tIf\tthey\tso\tmuch\tas\tstarted\tto reveal\tthem,\tthe\thatchet\tin\this\thands\twould\tmove. \u201cCheck\tanother\tcarnival.\tWe\u2019ve\thad\tthis\tcrew\tfor\tmonths.\u201d \u201cShe\tis\tsmall,\u201d\tit\twent\ton,\tthose\ttoo-human\teyes\tflickering.\t\u201cCrippled\ton\tone\tleg.\u201d \u201cWe\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tanyone\tlike\tthat.\u201d They\u2019d\thunt\ther\tto\tthe\tends\tof\tthe\tearth. \u201cThen\tline\tup\tyour\tcrew\tso\twe\tmight\t\u2026\tinspect\tthem.\u201d Make\tthem\twalk.\tLook\tthem\tover.\tLook\tfor\ta\tdark-haired\tyoung\twoman\twith\ta\tlimp and\twhatever\tother\tmarkers\ther\tuncle\thad\tprovided. \u201cYou\u2019ve\t scared\t them\t all\t away.\t It\t might\t be\t days\t before\t they\t return.\t And,\t again,\u201d Lorcan\t said,\t hatchet\t flicking\t a\t bit\t higher,\t \u201cthere\t is\t no\t one\t in\t my\t caravan\t who\t matches such\t a\t description.\u201d\t Behind\t him,\t Nik\t and\t Ombriel\t were\t silent,\t their\t terror\t a\t reek\t that shoved\titself\tup\this\tnose.\tLorcan\twilled\tMarion\tto\tremain\thidden. The\tilken\tsmiled\u2014the\tmost\thideous\tsmile\tLorcan\thad\tbeheld\tin\tall\this\tcenturies.\t\u201cWe have\tgold.\u201d\tIndeed,\tthe\tilken\tbeside\tit\thad\ta\thip-pouch\tsagging\twith\tit.\t\u201cHer\tname\tis\tElide Lochan.\tHer\tuncle\tis\tLord\tof\tPerranth.\tHe\twill\treward\tyou\thandsomely\tto\tturn\ther\tover.\u201d The\t words\t hit\t Lorcan\t like\t stones.\t Marion\u2014Elide\t had\t \u2026\t lied.\t Had\t managed\t to\t keep him\tfrom\teven\tsniffing\tthe\tlie\ton\ther,\thad\tused\tenough\ttruths\tand\ther\town\tgeneral\tfear\tto keep\tthe\tscent\tof\tit\thidden\u2014 \u201cWe\tknow\tno\tone\tby\tsuch\ta\tname,\u201d\tLorcan\tsaid\tagain. \u201cPity,\u201d\t the\t sentinel\t crooned.\t \u201cFor\t if\t you\t had\t her\t in\t your\t company,\t we\t would\t have taken\t her\t and\t left.\t But\t now\u2026\u201d\t The\t ilken\t smiled\t at\t its\t three\t companions,\t and\t their\t dark wings\t rustled.\t \u201cNow\t it\t seems\t we\t have\t flown\t a\t very\t long\t way\t for\t nothing.\t And\t we\t are very\thungry.\u201d","41 Elide\t had\t squeezed\t herself\t into\t a\t hidden\t floor\t compartment\t in\t the\t largest\t of\t the\t wagons and\tprayed\tthat\tno\tone\tdiscovered\ther.\tOr\tbegan\tburning\tthings.\tHer\tfrantic\tbreathing\twas the\t only\t sound.\t The\t air\t grew\t tight\t and\t hot,\t her\t legs\t trembled\t and\t cramped\t from\t staying curled\tin\ta\tball,\tbut\tstill\tshe\twaited,\tstill\tshe\tkept\thidden. Lorcan\thad\trun\tout\u2014he\u2019d\tjust\trun\tinto\tthe\tfray.\tShe\u2019d\tfled\tthe\ttent\tin\ttime\tto\tsee\tfour ilken\u2014winged\t ilken\u2014descend\t upon\t the\t camp.\t She\t had\t not\t lingered\t long\t enough\t to\t see what\thappened\tafter. Time\tpassed\u2014minutes\tor\tperhaps\thours,\tshe\tcouldn\u2019t\ttell. She\thad\tdone\tthis.\tShe\thad\tbrought\tthese\tthings\there,\tto\tthese\tpeople,\tto\tthe\tcaravan\u2026 The\tscreaming\tgrew\tlouder,\tthen\tfaded.\tThen\tnothing. Lorcan\tmight\tbe\tdead.\tEveryone\tmight\tbe\tdead. Her\tears\tstrained,\tand\tshe\ttried\tto\tquiet\ther\tbreathing\tto\tlisten\tfor\tany\tsounds\tof\tlife,\tof action\t beyond\t her\t small,\t hot\t hiding\t space.\t No\t doubt,\t it\t was\t usually\t reserved\t for smuggling\tcontraband\u2014not\tat\tall\tintended\tfor\ta\thuman\tbeing. She\tcouldn\u2019t\tstay\thidden\tmuch\tlonger.\tIf\tthe\tilken\tslaughtered\tthem\tall,\tthey\u2019d\tsearch for\tany\tsurvivors.\tCould\tlikely\tsniff\ther\tout. She\twould\thave\tto\tmake\ta\trun\tfor\tit.\tHave\tto\tbreak\tout,\tobserve\twhat\tshe\tcould,\tand sprint\tfor\tthe\tdark\tfields\tand\tpray\tno\tothers\twaited\tout\tthere.\tHer\tfeet\tand\tcalves\thad\tgone numb\tminutes\tbefore\tand\tnow\ttingled\tincessantly.\tShe\tmight\tvery\twell\tnot\teven\tbe\table\tto walk,\tand\ther\tstupid,\tuseless\tleg\u2014 She\tlistened\tagain,\tpraying\tto\tAnneith\tto\tturn\tthe\tilken\u2019s\tattention\telsewhere. Only\tsilence\tgreeted\ther.\tNo\tmore\tscreaming. Now.\tShe\tshould\tgo\tnow,\twhile\tshe\thad\tthe\tcover\tof\tdarkness. Elide\tdid\tnot\tgive\ther\tfear\tanother\theartbeat\tto\twhisper\tits\tpoison\tinto\ther\tblood.\tShe had\t survived\t Morath,\t survived\t weeks\t alone.\t She\u2019d\t make\t it,\t she\t had\t to\t make\t it,\t and\t she wouldn\u2019t\tat\tall\tmind\tbeing\tthe\tqueen\u2019s\tgods-damned\tdishwasher\tif\tit\tmeant\tshe\tcould\tlive \u2014 Elide\t uncoiled,\t shoulders\t aching\t as\t she\t quietly\t eased\t the\t trapdoor\t up,\t the\t little\t area rug\tsliding\tback.\tShe\tscanned\tthe\tinterior\tof\tthe\twagon\u2014the\tempty\tbenches\ton\teither\tside \u2014then\t studied\t the\t night\t beckoning\t beyond.\t Light\t spilled\t from\t the\t camp\t behind\t her,\t but ahead\t\u2026\ta\tsea\tof\tblackness.\tThe\tfield\twas\tperhaps\tthirty\tfeet\taway.","Elide\twinced\tas\tthe\twood\tgroaned\twhile\tshe\thefted\tthe\ttrapdoor\thigh\tenough\tfor\ther\tto slither,\t belly-down,\t over\t the\t floorboards.\t But\t her\t robe\t snagged,\t yanking\t her\t into\t a\t stop. Elide\tgritted\ther\tteeth,\ttugging\tblindly.\tBut\tit\thad\tcaught\tinside\tthe\tcrawl\tspace.\tAnneith save\ther\u2014 \u201cTell\t me,\u201d\t drawled\t a\t deep\t male\t voice\t behind\t her,\t from\t near\t the\t driver\u2019s\t seat.\t \u201cWhat would\tyou\thave\tdone\tif\tI\twere\tan\tilken\tsoldier?\u201d Relief\tturned\ther\tbones\tto\tliquid,\tand\tElide\theld\tin\ther\tsob.\tShe\ttwisted\tto\tfind\tLorcan covered\t in\t black\t blood,\t sitting\t on\t the\t bench\t behind\t the\t driver\u2019s\t seat,\t legs\t spread\t before him.\tHis\taxe\tand\tsword\tlay\tdiscarded\tbeside\thim,\tcoated\tin\tthat\tblack\tblood\tas\twell,\tand Lorcan\tidly\tchewed\ton\ta\tlong\tstalk\tof\twheat\tas\the\tgazed\tat\tthe\tcanvas\twall\tof\tthe\twagon. \u201cThe\t first\t thing\t I\t might\t have\t done\t in\t your\t place,\u201d\t Lorcan\t mused,\t still\t not\t looking\t at her,\t \u201cwould\t have\t been\t to\t ditch\t the\t robe.\t You\u2019d\t fall\t flat\t on\t your\t face\t if\t you\t ran\u2014and\t the red\twould\tbe\tas\tgood\tas\tringing\tthe\tdinner\tbell.\u201d She\ttugged\tat\tthe\trobe\tagain,\tand\tthe\tfabric\tripped\tat\tlast.\tScowling,\tshe\tpatted\twhere it\thad\tcome\tfree\tand\tfound\ta\tloose\tbit\tof\twood\tpaneling. \u201cThe\t second\t thing\t I\t might\t have\t done,\u201d\t Lorcan\t went\t on,\t not\t even\t bothering\t to\t wipe away\t the\t blood\t splattered\t on\t his\t face,\t \u201cis\t tell\t me\t the\t gods-damned\t truth.\t Did\t you\t know those\tilken\tbeasts\tlove\tto\ttalk\twith\tthe\tright\tencouragement?\tAnd\tthey\ttold\tme\tsome\tvery, very\tinteresting\tthings.\u201d\tThose\tdark\teyes\tat\tlast\tslid\tto\ther,\tutterly\tvicious.\t\u201cBut\tyou\tdidn\u2019t tell\tme\tthe\ttruth,\tdid\tyou,\tElide?\u201d Her\t eyes\t were\t wide,\t her\t face\t leeched\t of\t color\t beneath\t the\t cosmetics.\t She\u2019d\t lost\t the headdress\t somewhere,\t and\t her\t dark\t sheet\t of\t hair\t slid\t free\t of\t some\t of\t its\t pins\t as\t she climbed\t from\t the\t hidden\t compartment.\t Lorcan\t watched\t every\t movement,\t assessing\t and weighing\tand\tdebating\twhat,\texactly,\tto\tdo\twith\ther. Liar.\tCunning\tlittle\tliar. Elide\tLochan,\trightful\tLady\tof\tPerranth,\tcrawled\tout,\tslamming\tthe\ttrapdoor\tshut\tand glaring\t at\t him\t from\t where\t she\t knelt\t on\t the\t floor.\t He\t glared\t right\t back.\t \u201cWhy\t should\t I have\t trusted\t you,\u201d\t she\t said\t with\t impressive\t coldness,\t \u201cwhen\t you\t were\t stalking\t me\t for days\tin\tthe\tforest?\tWhy\tshould\tI\thave\ttold\tyou\ta\tthing\tabout\tme\twhen\tyou\tcould\thave\tsold me\tto\tthe\thighest\tbidder?\u201d His\tbody\tached;\this\thead\tthrobbed\tfrom\tthe\tslaughter\the\u2019d\tbarely\tmanaged\tto\tsurvive. The\tilken\thad\tgone\tdown\u2014but\tnot\twillingly.\tAnd\tthe\tone\the\u2019d\tkept\talive,\tthe\tone\tNik\tand Ombriel\thad\tbegged\thim\tto\tkill\tand\tbe\tdone\twith,\thad\ttold\thim\tvery\tlittle,\tactually. But\tLorcan\thad\tdecided\this\twife\tdidn\u2019t\tneed\tto\tknow\tthat.\tDecided\tit\twas\ttime\tto\tsee what\tshe\tmight\treveal\tif\the\tlet\tsome\tlies\tof\this\town\tfool\ther. Elide\t glanced\t at\t his\t weapons,\t at\t the\t reeking\t blood\t coating\t him\t like\t oil.\t \u201cYou\t killed them\tall?\u201d He\t lowered\t the\t wheat\t stalk\t from\t his\t mouth.\t \u201cDo\t you\t think\t I\u2019d\t be\t sitting\t here\t if\t I","hadn\u2019t?\u201d Elide\tLochan\twasn\u2019t\tsome\tmere\thuman\ttrying\tto\treturn\tto\ther\thomeland\tand\tserve\ther queen.\tShe\twas\ta\troyal-blooded\tlady\twho\twanted\tto\tget\tback\tto\tthat\tfire-breathing\tbitch\tin the\t North\t to\t offer\t whatever\t aid\t she\t could.\t She\t and\t Aelin\t would\t be\t well\t suited\t for\t each other,\the\tdecided.\tThe\tsweet-faced\tliar\tand\tthe\tinsufferable,\thaughty\tprincess. Elide\tslumped\tonto\tthe\tbench,\tmassaging\ther\tfeet\tand\tcalves. \u201cI\u2019m\trisking\tmy\tneck\tfor\tyou,\u201d\the\tsaid\ttoo\tquietly,\t\u201cand\tyet\tyou\tdecided\tnot\tto\ttell\tme that\tyour\tuncle\tisn\u2019t\tjust\ta\tmere\tcommander\tat\tMorath,\tbut\tErawan\u2019s\tright\thand\u2014and\tyou are\this\tprized\tpossession.\u201d \u201cI\t told\t you\t enough\t of\t the\t truth.\t Who\t I\t am\t makes\t no\t difference.\t And\t I\t am\t no\t one\u2019s possession.\u201d His\t temper\t yanked\t at\t the\t leash\t he\u2019d\t been\t careful\t to\t keep\t short\t before\t tracking\t her scent\t to\t this\t wagon.\t Outside,\t the\t others\t were\t hurriedly\t packing,\t readying\t to\t flee\t into\t the night\t before\t the\t villagers\t decided\t to\t blame\t them\t for\t the\t disaster.\t \u201cIt\t does\t make\t a difference\twho\tyou\tare.\tWith\tyour\tqueen\ton\tthe\tmove,\tyour\tuncle\tknows\tshe\u2019d\tpay\ta\tsteep price\tto\tget\tyou\tback.\tYou\tare\tnot\ta\tmere\tbreeding\tasset\u2014you\tare\ta\tnegotiation\ttool.\tYou might\tvery\twell\tbe\twhat\tbrings\tthat\tbitch\tto\ther\tknees.\u201d Rage\t flashed\t in\t her\t fine-boned\t face.\t \u201cYou\t keep\t plenty\t of\t secrets,\t too,\t Lorcan.\u201d\tShe spat\this\tname\tlike\ta\tcurse.\t\u201cAnd\tI\tstill\thaven\u2019t\tbeen\table\tto\tdecide\tif\tI\tfind\tit\tinsulting\tor amusing\tthat\tyou\tthink\tI\u2019m\ttoo\tstupid\tto\tnotice.\tThat\tyou\tthought\tI\twas\tsome\tfear-addled girl,\ttoo\tgrateful\tfor\tthe\tpresence\tof\tsuch\ta\tstrong,\tbrooding\twarrior\tto\teven\tquestion\twhy you\t were\t there\t or\t what\t you\t wanted\t or\t what\t your\t stake\t in\t all\t this\t is.\t I\t gave\t you\t exactly what\tyou\twanted\tto\tsee:\ta\tlost\tyoung\twoman\tin\tneed\tof\thelp,\tperhaps\ta\tbit\tskilled\tat\tlying and\tdeceit,\tbut\tultimately\tnot\tworth\tmore\tthan\ta\tfew\tseconds\u2019\tconsideration.\tAnd\tyou,\tin all\t your\t immortal\t arrogance,\t didn\u2019t\t think\t twice.\t Why\t should\t you,\t when\t humans\t are\t so useless?\tWhy\tshould\tyou\teven\tbother,\twhen\tyou\tplanned\tto\tabandon\tme\tthe\tmoment\tyou got\twhat\tyou\tneeded?\u201d Lorcan\tblinked,\tbracing\this\tfeet\ton\tthe\tfloor.\tShe\tdidn\u2019t\tback\tdown\tan\tinch. He\t couldn\u2019t\t remember\t the\t last\t time\t anyone\t had\t spoken\t to\t him\t like\t that.\t \u201cI\t would\t be careful\twhat\tyou\tsay\tto\tme.\u201d Elide\tgave\thim\ta\thateful\tlittle\tsmile.\t\u201cOr\twhat?\tYou\u2019ll\tsell\tme\tto\tMorath?\tUse\tme\tas your\tticket\tin?\u201d \u201cI\thadn\u2019t\tthought\tto\tdo\tthat,\tbut\tthank\tyou\tfor\tthe\tidea.\u201d Her\tthroat\tbobbed,\tthe\tonly\tsign\tof\ther\tfear.\tAnd\tshe\tsaid\tclearly\tand\twithout\ta\thint\tof hesitation,\t\u201cIf\tyou\ttry\tto\tbring\tme\tto\tMorath,\tI\twill\tend\tmy\town\tlife\tbefore\tyou\tcan\tcarry me\tover\tthe\tKeep\u2019s\tbridge.\u201d It\twas\tthe\tthreat,\tthe\tpromise,\tthat\tchecked\this\tanger,\this\tutter\trage\tthat\t\u2026\tthat\tshe\thad indeed\tplayed\tinto\this\texpectations\tof\ther,\this\tarrogance\tand\tprejudices.\tHe\tsaid\tcarefully, \u201cWhat\tis\tit\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tcarrying\tthat\tmakes\tthem\thunt\tyou\tso\trelentlessly?\tNot\tyour\troyal","blood,\tnot\tyour\tmagic\tand\tuse\tfor\tbreeding.\tThe\tobject\tyou\tcarry\twith\tyou\u2014what\tis\tit?\u201d Perhaps\tit\twas\ta\tnight\tfor\ttruth,\tperhaps\tdeath\thovered\tclose\tenough\tto\tmake\ther\ta\tbit reckless,\t but\t Elide\t said,\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t a\t gift\u2014for\t Celaena\t Sardothien.\t From\t a\t woman\t kept imprisoned\tin\tMorath,\twho\thad\twaited\ta\tlong\ttime\tto\trepay\ther\tfor\ta\tpast\tkindness.\tMore than\tthat,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u201d A\tgift\tfor\tan\tassassin\u2014not\tthe\tqueen.\tPerhaps\tnothing\tof\tnote,\tbut\u2014\t\u201cLet\tme\tsee\tit.\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d They\tstared\teach\tother\tdown\tagain.\tAnd\tLorcan\tknew\tthat\tif\the\twanted,\the\tcould\twait until\t she\t was\t asleep,\t take\t it\t for\t himself,\t and\t vanish.\t See\t what\t might\t make\t her\t so protective\tof\tit. But\the\tknew\t\u2026\tsome\tsmall,\tstupid\tpart\tof\thim\tknew\tthat\tif\the\ttook\tfrom\tthis\twoman who\thad\talready\thad\ttoo\tmuch\tstolen\tfrom\ther\t\u2026\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\tif\tthere\twas\tany\tcoming back\t from\t that.\t He\u2019d\t done\t such\t despicable,\t vicious\t things\t over\t the\t centuries\t and\t hadn\u2019t thought\ttwice.\tHe\u2019d\treveled\tin\tthem,\trelished\tthem,\tthe\tcruelty. But\t this\t \u2026\t there\t was\t a\t line.\t Somehow\t \u2026\t somehow\t there\t was\t a\t gods-damned\t line here. She\t seemed\t to\t pick\t up\t on\t his\t decision\u2014with\t whatever\t gift\t she\t had.\t Her\t shoulders slumped,\tand\tshe\tstared\tblankly\tat\tthe\tcanvas\twall\tas\tthe\tsounds\tof\ttheir\tgroup\tnow\tgrew closer,\ttheir\turging\tto\thurry\tand\tpack,\tleave\twhat\tcould\tbe\tspared. Elide\t said\t quietly,\t \u201cMarion\t was\t my\t mother\u2019s\t name.\t She\t died\t defending\t Aelin Galathynius\tfrom\ther\tassassin.\tMy\tmother\tbought\tAelin\ttime\tto\trun\u2014to\tget\taway\tso\tshe could\tone\tday\treturn\tto\tsave\tus\tall.\tMy\tuncle,\tVernon,\twatched\tand\tsmiled\tas\tmy\tfather, the\tLord\tof\tPerranth,\twas\texecuted\toutside\tour\tcastle.\tThen\the\ttook\tmy\tfather\u2019s\ttitle\tand lands\t and\t home.\t And\t for\t the\t next\t ten\t years,\t my\t uncle\t locked\t me\t in\t the\t highest\t tower\t of Perranth\tCastle,\twith\tonly\tmy\tnursemaid\tfor\tcompany.\tWhen\tI\tbroke\tmy\tfoot\tand\tankle, he\tdid\tnot\ttrust\thealers\tenough\tto\tlet\tthem\ttreat\tit.\tHe\tkept\tbars\ton\tthe\ttower\twindows\tto keep\tme\tfrom\tkilling\tmyself,\tand\tshackled\tmy\tankles\tto\tkeep\tme\tfrom\trunning.\tI\tleft\tfor the\tfirst\ttime\tin\ta\tdecade\twhen\the\tshoved\tme\tinto\ta\tprison\twagon\tand\tdragged\tme\tdown\tto Morath.\tThere,\the\tmade\tme\twork\tas\ta\tservant\u2014for\tthe\thumiliation\tand\tterror\the\tdelights in.\tI\tplanned\tand\tdreamed\tof\tescaping\tevery\tday.\tAnd\twhen\tthe\ttime\tcame\t\u2026\tI\ttook\tmy chance.\tI\tdid\tnot\tknow\tabout\tthe\tilken,\thad\tonly\theard\trumors\tof\tfell\tthings\tbeing\tbred\tin the\t mountains\t beyond\t the\t Keep.\t I\t have\t no\t lands,\t no\t money,\t no\t army\t to\t offer\t Aelin Galathynius.\tBut\tI\twill\tfind\ther\u2014and\thelp\ther\tin\twhatever\tway\tI\tcan.\tIf\tonly\tto\tkeep\tjust one\tgirl,\tjust\tone,\tfrom\tever\tenduring\twhat\tI\tdid.\u201d He\t let\t the\t truth\t in\t her\t words\t sink\t into\t him.\t Let\t them\t adjust\t his\t view\t of\t her.\t His\t \u2026 plans. Lorcan\t said\t roughly,\t \u201cI\t am\t over\t five\t hundred\t years\t old.\t I\t am\t blood-sworn\t to\t Queen Maeve\tof\tthe\tFae,\tand\tI\tam\ther\tsecond-in-command.\tI\thave\tdone\tgreat\tand\tterrible\tthings in\ther\tname,\tand\tI\twill\tdo\tmore\tbefore\tdeath\tcomes\tto\tclaim\tme.\tI\twas\tborn\ta\tbastard\ton the\t streets\t of\t Doranelle,\t ran\t wild\t with\t the\t other\t discarded\t children\t until\t I\t realized\t my","talents\t were\t different.\t Maeve\t noticed,\t too.\t I\t can\t kill\t faster\u2014I\t can\t sense\t when\t death\t is near.\t I\t think\t my\t magic\t is\t death,\t given\t to\t me\t by\t Hellas\t himself.\t I\t am\t in\t these\t lands\t on behalf\tof\tmy\tqueen\u2014though\tI\tcame\twithout\ther\tpermission.\tShe\tmight\tvery\twell\thunt\tme down\tand\tkill\tme\tfor\tit.\tIf\ther\tsentinels\tarrive\tlooking\tfor\tme,\tit\tis\tin\tyour\tbest\tinterest\tto pretend\t not\t to\t know\t who\t and\t what\t I\t am.\u201d\t There\t was\t more,\t but\t \u2026\t Elide\t had\t remaining secrets,\ttoo.\tThey\u2019d\toffered\teach\tother\tenough\tfor\tnow. No\t fear\t tainted\t her\t scent\u2014not\t even\t a\t trace\t of\t it.\t All\t Elide\t said\t was,\t \u201cDo\t you\t have\t a family?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d \u201cDo\tyou\thave\tfriends?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\tHis\tcabal\tof\twarriors\tdidn\u2019t\tcount.\tGods-damned\tWhitethorn\thadn\u2019t\tseemed\tto care\twhen\the\tabandoned\tthem\tto\tserve\tAelin\tGalathynius;\tFenrys\tmade\tno\tsecret\the\thated the\t bond;\t Vaughan\t was\t barely\t around;\t he\t couldn\u2019t\t stand\t Gavriel\u2019s\t unbreakable\t restraint; and\tConnall\twas\ttoo\tbusy\trutting\tMaeve\tlike\tan\tanimal\tmost\tof\tthe\ttime. Elide\tangled\ther\thead,\ther\thair\tsliding\tacross\ther\tface.\tHe\talmost\tlifted\ta\thand\tto\tbrush it\tback\tand\tread\ther\tdark\teyes.\tBut\this\thands\twere\tcovered\tin\tthat\tfilthy\tblood.\tAnd\the\thad the\tfeeling\tElide\tLochan\tdid\tnot\twish\tto\tbe\ttouched\tunless\tshe\tasked\tto\tbe. \u201cThen,\u201d\tshe\tmurmured,\t\u201cyou\tand\tI\tare\tthe\tsame\tin\tthat\tregard,\tat\tleast.\u201d No\t family,\t no\t friends.\t It\t hadn\u2019t\t seemed\t quite\t so\t pathetic\t until\t she\t said\t it,\t until\t he suddenly\tsaw\thimself\tthrough\ther\teyes. But\t Elide\t shrugged,\t rising\t to\t her\t feet\t as\t Molly\u2019s\t voice\t barked\t from\t nearby.\t \u201cYou should\tclean\tup\u2014you\tlook\tlike\ta\twarrior\tagain.\u201d He\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t if\t she\t meant\t it\t as\t a\t compliment.\t \u201cNik\t and\t Ombriel,\t unfortunately, realized\tyou\tand\tI\tare\tperhaps\tnot\twhat\twe\tseem.\u201d Alarm\tflashed\tin\ther\teyes.\t\u201cShould\twe\tleave\u2014\u201d \u201cNo.\t They\u2019ll\t keep\t our\t secrets.\u201d\t If\t only\t because\t they\u2019d\t seen\t Lorcan\t lay\t into\t those ilken,\tand\tknew\tprecisely\twhat\the\tcould\tdo\tto\tthem\tif\tthey\tso\tmuch\tas\tbreathed\twrong\tin their\tdirection.\t\u201cWe\tcan\tstay\tawhile\tyet\u2014until\twe\tget\tclear\tof\tthis.\u201d Elide\t nodded,\t her\t limp\t deep\t as\t she\t headed\t for\t the\t back\t of\t the\t wagon.\t She\t sat\t on\t the edge\t before\t climbing\t off,\t her\t wrecked\t ankle\t too\t weak\t and\t painful\t to\t ever\t jump.\t Yet\t she moved\twith\tquiet\tdignity,\thissing\ta\tlittle\tas\ther\tfoot\tmade\tcontact\twith\tthe\tground. Lorcan\twatched\ther\tlimp\tinto\tthe\tnight\twithout\tso\tmuch\tas\ta\tbackward\tglance\tat\thim. And\the\twondered\twhat\tthe\thell\the\twas\tdoing.","42 Death\tsmelled\tlike\tsalt\tand\tblood\tand\twood\tand\trot. And\tit\thurt. Darkness\tembrace\ther,\tit\thurt\tlike\thell.\tThe\tAncient\tOnes\thad\tlied\tthat\tit\tcured\tall\tills, if\t the\t slice\t of\t pain\t across\t her\t abdomen\t was\t any\t indication.\t Not\t to\t mention\t the\t pounding headache,\tthe\tsheer\tdryness\tof\ther\tmouth,\tthe\tburning\tsting\tin\tthe\tother\tcut\ton\ther\tarm. Perhaps\t the\t Darkness\t was\t another\t world,\t another\t realm.\t Perhaps\t she\u2019d\t gone\t to\t the hell-realm\tthe\thumans\tso\tfeared. She\thated\tDeath. And\tDeath\tcould\tgo\tto\thell,\ttoo\u2014 Manon\t Blackbeak\t cracked\t open\t eyelids\t that\t were\t too\t heavy,\t too\t burning,\t and\t squinted against\tthe\tflickering\tlantern\tlight\tthat\tswayed\tupon\tthe\twood\tpanels\tof\tthe\troom\tin\twhich she\tlay. Not\t a\t real\t bedroom,\t she\t realized\t by\t the\t reek\t of\t salt\t and\t rocking\t and\t creaking\t of\t the world\taround\ther.\tA\tcabin\u2014on\ta\tship. A\t small,\t dingy\t one,\t with\t barely\t space\t for\t this\t bed,\t a\t porthole\t too\t small\t for\t her shoulders\tto\teven\tsqueeze\tthrough\u2014 She\tbolted\tupright.\tAbraxos.\tWhere\twas\tAbraxos\u2014 \u201cRelax,\u201d\tdrawled\ta\ttoo-familiar\tfemale\tvoice\tfrom\tthe\tshadowed\tspace\tnear\tthe\tfoot\tof the\tbed. Pain\t flared\t in\t Manon\u2019s\t belly,\t a\t delayed\t response\t to\t her\t sudden\t movement,\t and\t she glanced\tbetween\tthe\twhite\tbandages\tthat\tnow\tscratched\tagainst\ther\tfingers\tand\tthe\tyoung queen,\tlounging\tin\tthe\tchair\tby\tthe\tdoor.\tGlanced\tbetween\tthe\twoman\tand\tthe\tchains\tnow around\tManon\u2019s\twrists,\taround\ther\tankles\u2014anchored\tinto\tthe\twalls\twith\twhat\tappeared\tto be\tfreshly\tdrilled\tholes. \u201cLooks\t like\t you\t owe\t me\t a\t life\t debt\t once\t more,\t Blackbeak,\u201d\t Aelin\t Galathynius\t said, cold\thumor\tin\ther\tturquoise\teyes.\tElide.\tHad\tElide\tmade\tit\there\u2014 \u201cYour\tfussy\tnursemaid\tof\ta\twyvern\tis\tfine,\tby\tthe\tway.\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow\thow\tyou\twound up\t with\t a\t sweet\t thing\t like\t that\t for\t a\t mount,\t but\t he\u2019s\t content\t to\t sprawl\t in\t the\t sun\t on\t the foredeck.\t Can\u2019t\t say\t it\t makes\t the\t sailors\t particularly\t happy\u2014especially\t cleaning\t up\t after him.\u201d","Find\t somewhere\t safe,\t she\u2019d\t told\t Abraxos.\t Had\t he\t somehow\t found\t the\t queen? Somehow\tknown\tthis\twas\tthe\tonly\tplace\tshe\tmight\tstand\ta\tchance\tof\tsurviving? Aelin\t braced\t her\t feet\t on\t the\t floor,\t boots\t thudding\t softly.\t There\t was\t a\t frank\t sort\t of impatience\twith\tany\tsort\tof\tbullshit\tthat\thad\tnot\tbeen\tthere\tthe\tlast\ttime\tManon\thad\tseen the\t woman.\t As\t if\t the\t warrior\t who\t had\t laughed\t her\t way\t through\t their\t battle\t atop\t Temis\u2019s temple\thad\tlost\ta\tbit\tof\tthat\twicked\tamusement\tbut\tgained\tmore\tof\tthe\tcunning\tcruelty. Manon\u2019s\tbelly\tgave\ta\tthrob\tof\tpain\tthat\tmade\ther\tbite\ther\tlip\tto\tkeep\tfrom\thissing. \u201cWhoever\tgave\tyou\tthat\twound\twasn\u2019t\tjoking,\u201d\tthe\tqueen\tsaid.\t\u201cTrouble\tat\thome?\u201d It\twasn\u2019t\tthe\tqueen\u2019s\tbusiness,\tor\tanyone\telse\u2019s.\t\u201cLet\tme\theal,\tand\tthen\tI\u2019ll\tbe\ton\tmy way,\u201d\tManon\trasped,\ther\ttongue\ta\tdried,\theavy\thusk. \u201cOh,\tno,\u201d\tAelin\tpurred.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tnot\tgoing\tanywhere.\tYour\tmount\tmay\tdo\twhatever\the pleases,\tbut\tyou\tare\tnow\tofficially\tour\tprisoner.\u201d Manon\u2019s\thead\tstarted\tspinning,\tbut\tshe\tforced\therself\tto\tsay,\t\u201cOur?\u201d A\t knowing\t little\t smile.\t Then\t the\t queen\t rose\t gracefully.\t Her\t hair\t was\t longer,\t face leaner,\tthose\tturquoise\teyes\thard\tand\thaunted.\tThe\tqueen\tsaid\tsimply,\t\u201cHere\tare\tthe\trules, Blackbeak.\tYou\ttry\tto\tescape,\tyou\tdie.\tYou\thurt\tanyone,\tyou\tdie.\tYou\tsomehow\tbring\tany of\t us\t into\t trouble\t \u2026\t I\t think\t you\t get\t where\t I\u2019m\t going\t with\t this.\t You\t step\t one\t foot\t out\t of line,\tand\tI\u2019ll\tfinish\twhat\twe\tstarted\tthat\tday\tin\tthe\tforest,\tlife\tdebt\tor\tno.\tThis\ttime\tI\tdon\u2019t need\tsteel\tto\tdo\tit.\u201d As\tshe\tspoke,\tgold\tflames\tseemed\tto\tflicker\tin\ther\teyes.\tAnd\tManon\trealized\twith\tno small\tthrill,\teven\twith\ther\tpain,\tthat\tthe\tqueen\tcould\tindeed\tend\ther\tbefore\tshe\u2019d\tget\tclose enough\tto\tkill. Aelin\tturned\tfor\tthe\tdoor,\ther\tscarred\thand\ton\tthe\tknob.\t\u201cI\tfound\tiron\tsplinters\tin\tyour belly\tbefore\tI\thealed\tyou.\tI\tsuggest\tyou\tdon\u2019t\tlie\tto\twhoever\tcan\ttolerate\tbeing\taround\tyou long\tenough\tto\tget\tthe\tfull\tstory.\u201d\tShe\tjerked\ther\tchin\ttoward\tthe\tfloor.\tA\tpitcher\tand\tcup lay\tthere.\t\u201cWater\u2019s\tnext\tto\tthe\tbed.\tIf\tyou\tcan\treach\tit.\u201d Then\tshe\twas\tgone. Manon\tlistened\tto\ther\tsteady\tfootsteps\tfade.\tNo\tother\tvoices\tor\tsounds\tbeyond\tthe\tlap of\twaves\tagainst\tthe\tship,\tthe\tgroan\tof\tthe\twood,\tand\u2014gulls.\tThey\thad\tto\tstill\tbe\twithin range\tof\tthe\tcoast,\tthen.\tSailing\tto\twhere\t\u2026\tshe\u2019d\thave\tto\tfigure\tthat\tout. Once\tshe\thealed.\tOnce\tshe\tgot\tout\tof\tthese\tirons.\tOnce\tshe\tgot\tonto\tAbraxos. But\tto\tgo\twhere?\tTo\twhom? There\t was\t no\t aerie\t to\t receive\t her,\t no\t Clan\t who\t would\t shield\t her\t from\t her grandmother.\tAnd\tthe\tThirteen\t\u2026\tWhere\twere\tthey\tnow?\tHad\tthey\tbeen\thunted\tdown? Manon\u2019s\tstomach\tburned,\tbut\tshe\treached\tfor\tthe\twater.\tPain\tlashed\ther\thard\tenough that\tshe\tgave\tup\tafter\ta\theartbeat. They\thad\theard,\tno\tdoubt\u2014what\tshe\twas.\tThe\tThirteen\thad\theard.","Not\tjust\ta\thalf-blooded\tCrochan\t\u2026\tbut\tthe\tlast\tCrochan\tQueen. And\ther\tsister\t\u2026\ther\thalf\tsister\u2026 Manon\tstared\tat\tthe\tshadowed,\twooden\tceiling. She\tcould\tfeel\tthat\tCrochan\u2019s\tblood\ton\ther\thands.\tAnd\ther\tcape\t\u2026\tthat\tred\tcape\twas draped\t over\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t bed.\t Her\t sister\u2019s\t cape.\t That\t her\t grandmother\t had\t made\t her wear,\tknowing\twho\tit\tbelonged\tto,\tknowing\twhose\tthroat\tManon\thad\tslit. No\tlonger\tthe\tBlackbeak\their,\tCrochan\tblood\tor\tno. Despair\t curled\t like\t a\t cat\t around\t the\t pain\t in\t Manon\u2019s\t belly.\t She\t was\t no\t one\t and nothing. She\tdid\tnot\tremember\tfalling\tasleep. The\t witch\t slept\t for\t three\t days\t after\t Aelin\t reported\t that\t she\t had\t awakened.\t Dorian\t went into\tthat\tcramped\tcabin\twith\tRowan\tand\tthe\tqueen\tevery\ttime\tthey\thealed\ta\tlittle\tbit\tmore of\ther,\tobserving\tthe\tway\ttheir\tmagic\tworked,\tbut\tnot\tdaring\tto\ttry\tit\ton\tthe\tunconscious Blackbeak. Even\tunconscious,\tManon\u2019s\tevery\tbreath,\tevery\ttwitch,\twas\ta\treminder\tthat\tshe\twas\ta born\t predator,\t her\t agonizingly\t beautiful\t face\t a\t careful\t mask\t to\t lure\t the\t unwary\t to\t their doom. It\tfelt\tfitting,\tsomehow,\tconsidering\tthat\tthey\twere\tlikely\tsailing\tto\ttheir\town\tdoom. As\t Rolfe\u2019s\t two\t ships\t had\t escorted\t them\t down\t the\t coast\t of\t Eyllwe,\t they\u2019d\t kept\t well away\t from\t the\t shore.\t A\t wicked\t storm\t had\t them\t mooring\t among\t the\t small\t cluster\t of islands\t off\t Leriba\u2019s\t waters,\t and\t they\u2019d\t only\t survived\t thanks\t to\t Rowan\u2019s\t own\t winds shielding\tthem.\tMost\tof\tthem\thad\tstill\tspent\tthe\tentirely\tof\tit\twith\ttheir\thead\tin\ta\tbucket. Himself\tincluded. They\t were\t nearing\t Banjali\t now\u2014and\t Dorian\t had\t tried\t and\t failed\t not\t to\t think\t of\t his dead\tfriend\twith\tevery\tleague\tcloser\tto\tthe\tlovely\tcity.\tTried\tand\tfailed\tnot\tto\tconsider\tif Nehemia\t would\t have\t been\t with\t them\t on\t this\t very\t ship\t had\t things\t not\t gone\t so\t terribly wrong.\t Tried\t and\t failed\t not\t to\t contemplate\t if\t that\t touch\t she\u2019d\t once\t given\t him\u2014the Wyrdmark\t she\u2019d\t sketched\t over\t his\t chest\u2014had\t somehow\t \u2026\t awakened\t that\t power\t of\t his. If\tit\thad\tbeen\ta\tcurse\tas\tmuch\tas\ta\tblessing. He\thadn\u2019t\thad\tthe\tnerve\tto\task\twhat\tAelin\twas\tfeeling,\tthough\the\tfound\ther\tfrequently staring\ttoward\tthe\tcoast\u2014even\tif\tthey\tcouldn\u2019t\tsee\tit,\teven\tif\tthey\twouldn\u2019t\tget\tclose. Another\t week\u2014perhaps\t less,\t if\t Rowan\u2019s\t magic\t helped\u2014would\t have\t them\t at\t the eastern\t edge\t of\t the\t Stone\t Marshes.\t And\t once\t they\t were\t in\t range\t \u2026\t they\u2019d\t have\t to\t trust Rolfe\u2019s\tvague\tdirections\tto\tguide\tthem. And\t avoid\t Melisande\u2019s\t armada\u2014Erawan\u2019s\t armada\t now,\t he\t supposed\u2014waiting\t just around\tthe\tpeninsula\tin\tthe\tGulf\tof\tOro. But\tfor\tnow\t\u2026\tDorian\twas\ton\twatch\tin\tManon\u2019s\troom,\tnone\tof\tthem\ttaking\tany\trisks","where\tthe\tBlackbeak\their\twas\tconcerned. He\t cleared\t his\t throat\t as\t her\t eyelids\t shifted,\t her\t dark\t lashes\t bobbing\t up\u2014then\t lifting wholly. Gold\tsleep-murky\teyes\tmet\this. \u201cHello,\twitchling,\u201d\the\tsaid. Her\tfull,\tsensuous\tmouth\ttightened\tslightly,\teither\tin\ta\trepressed\tgrimace\tor\tsmile,\the couldn\u2019t\t tell.\t But\t she\t sat\t up,\t her\t moon-white\t hair\t sliding\t forward\u2014her\t chains\t clanking. \u201cHello,\tprinceling,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\tGods,\ther\tvoice\twas\tlike\tsandpaper. He\tglanced\tat\tthe\twater\tjug.\t\u201cCare\tfor\ta\tdrink?\u201d She\t had\t to\t be\t parched.\t They\u2019d\t barely\t been\t able\t to\t get\t a\t trickle\t down\t her\t throat,\t not wanting\tto\trisk\ther\tchoking\tor\tfreeing\tthose\tiron\tteeth\tfrom\twherever\tshe\tkept\tthem. Manon\tstudied\tthe\tpitcher,\tthen\thim.\t\u201cAm\tI\tyour\tprisoner,\ttoo?\u201d \u201cMy\tlife\tdebt\tis\tpaid,\u201d\the\tsaid\tsimply.\t\u201cYou\u2019re\tnothing\tto\tme\tat\tall.\u201d \u201cWhat\thappened,\u201d\tshe\trasped.\tAn\torder\u2014and\tone\the\tallowed\ther\tto\tmake. But\t he\t filled\t the\t glass,\t trying\t not\t to\t look\t like\t he\t was\t calculating\t her\t range\t in\t those chains\tas\the\thanded\tit\tto\ther.\tNo\tsign\tof\ther\tiron\tnails\tas\ther\tslim\tfingers\twrapped\taround the\t cup.\t She\t winced\t slightly,\t winced\t a\t bit\t more\t as\t she\t lifted\t it\t to\t her\t still-pale\t lips\u2014and drank.\tAnd\tdrank. She\tdrained\tthe\tglass.\tDorian\tsilently\trefilled\tit\tfor\ther.\tOnce.\tTwice.\tThrice. When\tshe\tat\tlast\tfinished,\the\tsaid,\t\u201cYour\twyvern\tflew\tstraight\tas\tan\tarrow\tfor\tus.\tYou tumbled\toff\tthe\tsaddle\tand\tinto\tthe\twater\tbarely\tfifty\tyards\tfrom\tour\tship.\tHow\the\tfound us,\twe\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tWe\tgot\tyou\tout\tof\tthe\twater\u2014Rowan\thimself\thad\tto\ttemporarily\tbind your\tstomach\ton\tthe\tdeck\tbefore\twe\tcould\teven\tmove\tyou\tdown\there.\tIt\u2019s\ta\tmiracle\tyou\u2019re not\tdead\tfrom\tblood\tloss\talone.\tNever\tmind\tinfection.\tWe\thad\tyou\tdown\there\tfor\ta\tweek, Aelin\t and\t Rowan\t working\t on\t you\u2014they\t had\t to\t cut\t you\t open\t again\t in\t some\t spots\t to\t get the\tbad\tflesh\tout.\tYou\u2019ve\tbeen\tin\tand\tout\tof\tit\tsince.\u201d Dorian\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tlike\tmentioning\tthat\the\u2019d\tbeen\tthe\tone\twho\u2019d\tjumped\tinto\tthe\twater. He\u2019d\tjust\t\u2026\tacted,\tas\tManon\thad\tacted\twhen\tshe\u2019d\tsaved\thim\tin\this\ttower.\tHe\towed\ther nothing\tless.\tLysandra,\tin\tsea\tdragon\tform,\thad\tcaught\tup\tto\tthem\tmoments\tlater,\tand\the\u2019d held\tthe\twater-heavy\tManon\tin\this\tarms\tas\the\u2019d\tclimbed\tonto\tthe\tshifter\u2019s\tback.\tThe\twitch had\tbeen\tso\tpale,\tand\tthe\twound\ton\ther\tstomach\t\u2026\tHe\u2019d\talmost\tlost\this\tbreakfast\tat\tthe sight\tof\tit.\tShe\tlooked\tlike\ta\tfish\twho\u2019d\tbeen\tsloppily\tgutted. Gutted,\tAelin\thad\tconfirmed\tan\thour\tlater\twhen\tshe\theld\tup\ta\tsmall\tsliver\tof\tmetal,\tby someone\twith\tvery,\tvery\tsharp\tiron\tnails. None\tof\tthem\thad\tmentioned\tthat\tit\tmight\thave\tbeen\tpunishment\u2014for\tsaving\thim. Manon\twas\tassessing\tthe\troom\twith\teyes\tquickly\tclearing.\t\u201cWhere\tare\twe.\u201d \u201cOn\tthe\tsea.\u201d","Aelin\thad\tordered\the\tnot\tgive\ther\tany\tinformation\tabout\ttheir\tplans\tand\twhereabouts. \u201cAre\tyou\thungry?\u201d\the\tasked,\twondering\twhat,\texactly,\tshe\tmight\teat. Indeed,\tthose\tgold\teyes\tslashed\tto\this\tthroat. \u201cReally?\u201d\tHe\tlifted\ta\tbrow. Her\tnostrils\tflared\tslightly.\t\u201cOnly\tfor\tsport.\u201d \u201cAren\u2019t\tyou\t\u2026\tpartially\thuman,\tat\tleast?\u201d \u201cNot\tin\tthe\tways\tthat\tcount.\u201d Right\u2014because\tthe\tother\tparts\t\u2026\tFae,\tValg\t\u2026\tIt\twas\tValg\tblood\tthat\thad\tshaped\tthe witches.\t The\t very\t prince\t that\t had\t infested\t him\t shared\t blood\t with\t her.\t From\t the\t black\t pit of\t his\t memory,\t images\t and\t words\t slithered\t out\u2014of\t that\t prince\t seeing\t the\t gold\t eyes Dorian\t now\t met,\t screeching\t at\t him\t to\t get\t away\t \u2026\t Eyes\t of\t the\t Valg\t kings.\t He\t said carefully,\t\u201cSo\twould\tyou\tconsider\tyourself\tmore\tValg\tthan\thuman,\tthen?\u201d \u201cThe\tValg\tare\tmy\tenemy\u2014Erawan\tis\tmy\tenemy.\u201d \u201cAnd\tdoes\tthat\tmake\tus\tallies?\u201d She\t revealed\t no\t indication\t either\t way.\t \u201cIs\t there\t a\t young\t woman\t in\t your\t company named\tElide?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\tWho\tin\thell\twas\tthat?\t\u201cWe\u2019ve\tnever\tencountered\tanyone\twith\tthat\tname.\u201d Manon\t closed\t her\t eyes\t for\t a\t heartbeat.\t Her\t slender\t throat\t bobbed.\t \u201cHave\t you\t heard news\tof\tmy\tThirteen?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tthe\tfirst\trider\tand\twyvern\twe\u2019ve\tseen\tin\tweeks.\u201d\tHe\tcontemplated\twhy\tshe\u2019d asked,\twhy\tshe\u2019d\tgone\tso\tstill.\t\u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tif\tthey\u2019re\talive.\u201d And\twith\tthose\tiron\tshavings\tin\ther\tgut\u2026 Manon\u2019s\tvoice\twas\tflat\tand\tcold\tas\tdeath.\t\u201cTell\tAelin\tGalathynius\tnot\tto\tbother\tusing me\t for\t negotiations.\t The\t Blackbeak\t Matron\t will\t not\t acknowledge\t me,\t either\t as\t heir\t or witch,\tand\tall\tyou\twill\tget\tout\tof\tit\tis\trevealing\tyour\tprecise\tlocation.\u201d His\tmagic\tflickered.\t\u201cWhat\thappened\tafter\tRifthold?\u201d Manon\t lay\t back\t down,\t angling\t her\t head\t away\t from\t him.\t Spindrift\t from\t the\t open porthole\tcaught\tin\ther\twhite\thair\tand\tset\tit\tshimmering\tin\tthe\tdim\tcabin.\t\u201cEverything\thas\ta price.\u201d And\tit\twas\tthose\twords,\tthe\tfact\tthat\tthe\twitch\thad\tturned\ther\tface\taway\tand\tseemed\tto be\twaiting\tfor\tdeath\tto\tclaim\ther,\tthat\tmade\thim\tcroon,\t\u201cI\tonce\ttold\tyou\tto\tfind\tme\tagain \u2014it\tseems\tlike\tyou\tcouldn\u2019t\twait\tto\tsee\tmy\thandsome\tface.\u201d Her\tshoulders\tstiffened\tslightly.\t\u201cI\u2019m\thungry.\u201d He\tsmiled\tslowly. As\tif\tshe\u2019d\theard\tthat\tsmile,\tManon\tglared.\t\u201cFood.\u201d","But\t there\t was\t still\t an\t edge\u2014a\t too-fragile\t edge\t limning\t every\t line\t of\t her\t body. Whatever\t had\t happened,\t whatever\t she\t had\t endured\t \u2026\t Dorian\t draped\t an\t arm\t along\t the back\t of\t his\t chair.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t coming\t in\t a\t few\t minutes.\t I\u2019d\t hate\t for\t you\t to\t waste\t away\t into nothing.\t It\u2019d\t be\t a\t shame\t to\t lose\t the\t most\t beautiful\t woman\t in\t the\t world\t so\t soon\t into\t her immortal,\twicked\tlife.\u201d \u201cI\tam\tnot\ta\twoman,\u201d\twas\tall\tshe\tsaid.\tBut\thot\ttemper\tlaced\tthose\tmolten\tgold\teyes. He\tgave\ther\tan\tindolent\tshrug,\tperhaps\tonly\tbecause\tshe\twas\tindeed\tin\tchains,\tperhaps because,\teven\tthough\tthe\tdeath\tshe\tradiated\tthrilled\thim,\tit\tdid\tnot\tstrike\ta\tchord\tof\tfear. \u201cWitch,\t woman\t \u2026\t as\t long\t as\t the\t parts\t that\t matter\t are\t there,\t what\t difference\t does\t it make?\u201d She\teased\tinto\ta\tsitting\tposition,\tdisbelief\tand\texhausted\toutrage\ton\tthat\tperfect\tface. She\tbared\ther\tteeth\tin\ta\tsilent\tsnarl. Dorian\t offered\t a\t lazy\t grin\t in\t return.\t \u201cBelieve\t it\t or\t not,\t this\t ship\t has\t an\t unnatural number\t of\t attractive\t men\t and\t women\t on\t board.\t You\u2019ll\t fit\t right\t in.\t And\t fit\t in\t with\t the cranky\timmortals,\tI\tsuppose.\u201d She\t glanced\t toward\t the\t door\t moments\t before\t he\t heard\t approaching\t footsteps.\t They were\tsilent\tuntil\tthe\tknob\tturned,\trevealing\tAedion\u2019s\tfrowning\tface.\t\u201cAwake\tand\tready\tto rip\tout\tthroats,\tit\tseems,\u201d\tthe\tgeneral\tsaid\tby\tway\tof\tgreeting.\tDorian\trose,\ttaking\tthe\ttray of\twhat\tlooked\tto\tbe\tfish\tstew\tfrom\thim.\tHe\twondered\tif\the\tshould\ttest\tit\tfor\tpoison\tfrom the\tlook\tAedion\twas\tgiving\tManon.\tShe\tglared\tright\tback\tat\tthe\tgolden-haired\twarrior. Aedion\tsaid,\t\u201cI\twould\thave\tshot\tyou\tand\tyour\trunt\tof\ta\twyvern\tclean\tout\tof\tthe\tsky\tif given\tmy\tway.\tBe\tgrateful\tmy\tqueen\tfinds\tyou\tmore\tuseful\talive.\u201d Then\the\twas\tgone. Dorian\tset\tthe\ttray\twithin\tManon\u2019s\treach\tand\twatched\ther\tsniff\tat\tit.\tShe\ttook\ta\tslow, cautious\tbite\u2014as\tif\tletting\tit\tslide\tinto\ther\thealing\tbelly\tand\tseeing\thow\tit\tsettled\tthere.\tAs if\t indeed\t testing\t it\t for\t poison.\t While\t she\t waited,\t Manon\t said,\t \u201cYou\t don\u2019t\t give\t orders\t on this\tship?\u201d It\t was\t a\t focused\t effort\t not\t to\t bristle.\t \u201cYou\t know\t my\t circumstances.\t I\t am\t now\t at\t the mercy\tof\tmy\tfriends.\u201d \u201cAnd\tthe\tQueen\tof\tTerrasen\tis\tyour\tfriend?\u201d \u201cThere\tis\tno\tone\telse\tI\u2019d\twant\tguarding\tmy\tback.\u201d\tOther\tthan\tChaol,\tbut\t\u2026\tit\twas\tno use\teven\tthinking\tabout\thim,\tmissing\thim. Manon\tat\tlast\ttook\tanother\tbite\tof\ther\tfish\tstew.\tThen\tanother.\tAnd\tanother. And\t he\t realized\t she\t was\t avoiding\t speaking\t to\t him.\t Enough\t so\t that\t he\t asked,\t \u201cIt\t was your\tgrandmother\twho\tdid\tthat\tto\tyou,\twasn\u2019t\tit?\u201d Her\tspoon\tstilled\tin\tthe\tchipped\twooden\tbowl.\tSlowly,\tshe\tturned\ther\tface\ttoward\thim. Unreadable,\ta\tface\tcrafted\tof\tnightmares\tand\tmidnight\tfantasies. \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\u201d\t he\t admitted,\t \u201cif\t the\t cost\t of\t saving\t me\t that\t day\t in\t Rifthold\t was\t \u2026\t was","this.\u201d \u201cFind\tout\tif\tmy\tThirteen\tare\talive,\tprinceling.\tDo\tthat,\tand\tI\tam\tyours\tto\tcommand.\u201d \u201cWhere\tdid\tyou\tlast\tsee\tthem?\u201d Nothing.\tShe\tswallowed\tanother\tspoonful. He\tpushed,\t\u201cWere\tthey\tpresent\twhen\tyour\tgrandmother\tdid\tthat\tto\tyou?\u201d Her\t shoulders\t curved\t a\t bit,\t and\t she\t scooped\t another\t spoonful\t of\t cloudy\t liquid\t but didn\u2019t\tsip.\t\u201cThe\tcost\tof\tRifthold\twas\tthe\tlife\tof\tmy\tSecond.\tI\trefused\tto\tpay\tit.\tSo\tI\tbought my\tThirteen\ttime\tto\trun.\tThe\tmoment\tI\tswung\tmy\tsword\tat\tmy\tgrandmother,\tmy\ttitle,\tmy legion,\t was\t forfeit.\t I\t lost\t the\t Thirteen\t while\t I\t fled.\t I\t do\t not\t know\t if\t they\t are\t alive,\t or\t if they\t have\t been\t hunted\t down.\u201d\t Her\t eyes\t snapped\t to\t his,\t bright\t from\t more\t than\t the\t steam of\t her\t stew.\t \u201cFind\t them\t for\t me.\t Learn\t if\t they\t live\t or\t if\t they\t have\t returned\t to\t the Darkness.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re\tin\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tthe\tocean.\tThere\twon\u2019t\tbe\tnews\tof\tanything\tfor\ta\twhile.\u201d She\twent\tback\tto\teating.\t\u201cThey\tare\tall\tI\thave\tleft.\u201d \u201cThen\tI\tsuppose\tyou\tand\tI\tare\tboth\theirs\twithout\tcrowns.\u201d A\thumorless\tsnort.\tHer\twhite\thair\tshifted\tin\tthe\tsea\tbreeze. Dorian\trose\tand\twalked\tto\tthe\tdoor.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tdo\twhat\tI\tcan.\u201d \u201cAnd\u2014Elide.\u201d Again,\tthat\tname.\t\u201cWho\tis\tshe?\u201d But\t Manon\t was\t back\t at\t her\t stew.\t \u201cJust\t tell\t Aelin\t Galathynius\t that\t Elide\t Lochan\t is alive\u2014and\tlooking\tfor\ther.\u201d The\tconversation\twith\tthe\tking\ttook\teverything\tout\tof\ther.\tOnce\tthat\tfood\twas\tin\ther\tbelly, once\tshe\u2019d\tdowned\tmore\twater,\tManon\tlay\tback\tin\tbed\tand\tslept. And\tslept. And\tslept. The\tdoor\tbanged\topen\tat\tone\tpoint,\tand\tshe\thad\tthe\tvague\trecollection\tof\tthe\tQueen\tof Terrasen,\tthen\ther\tgeneral-prince,\tdemanding\tanswers\tabout\tsomething.\tElide,\tperhaps. But\tManon\thad\tlain\tthere,\thalf\tawake,\tunwilling\tto\tthink\tor\tspeak.\tShe\t wondered\t if she\twould\thave\tstopped\tbothering\tto\tbreathe,\tif\ther\tbody\thadn\u2019t\tdone\tit\tall\ton\tits\town. She\t had\t not\t realized\t how\t impossible\t the\t survival\t of\t the\t Thirteen\t might\t indeed\t have been\t until\t she\t was\t practically\t begging\t Dorian\t Havilliard\t to\t find\t them\t for\t her.\t Until\t she had\tfound\therself\tdesperate\tenough\tto\tsell\ther\tsword\tfor\tany\tnews\tof\tthem. If\tthey\teven\twanted\tto\tserve\ther\tafter\teverything.\tA\tBlackbeak\u2014and\ta\tCrochan. And\t her\t parents\t \u2026\t murdered\t by\t her\t grandmother.\t They\t had\t promised\t the\t world\t a","child\tof\tpeace.\tAnd\tshe\thad\tlet\ther\tgrandmother\thone\ther\tinto\ta\tchild\tof\twar. The\tthoughts\tswirled\tand\teddied,\tsapping\ther\tstrength,\tmuting\tcolors\tand\tsounds.\tShe awoke\t and\t saw\t to\t her\t needs\t when\t necessary,\t ate\t when\t food\t was\t left,\t but\t she\t let\t that heavy,\tmeaningless\tsleep\ttake\thold. Sometimes,\tManon\tdreamed\tthat\tshe\twas\tin\tthat\troom\tin\tthe\tOmega,\ther\thalf\tsister\u2019s blood\t on\t her\t hands\t and\t in\t her\t mouth.\t Sometimes,\t she\t stood\t beside\t her\t grandmother,\t a witch\t fully\t grown\t and\t not\t the\t witchling\t she\u2019d\t been\t at\t the\t time,\t and\t helped\t the\t Matron carve\t up\t a\t handsome,\t bearded\t man\t who\t begged\t for\t her\t life\u2014his\t offspring\u2019s\t life. Sometimes,\tshe\tflew\tover\ta\tlush\tgreen\tland,\tthe\tsong\tof\ta\twestern\twind\tsinging\ther\thome. Often,\tthe\tdream\twas\tthat\ta\tgreat\tcat,\tpale\tand\tspeckled\tlike\told\tsnow\ton\tgranite,\tsat\tin the\t cabin\t with\t her,\t its\t long\t tail\t slashing\t back\t and\t forth\t when\t it\t noticed\t her\t glazed attention.\tSometimes,\tit\twas\ta\tgrinning\twhite\twolf.\tOr\ta\tcalm-eyed\tgolden\tmountain\tlion. Manon\twished\tthey\u2019d\tput\ttheir\tjaws\taround\ther\tthroat\tand\tcrunch\tdown. They\tnever\tdid. So\tManon\tBlackbeak\tslept.\tAnd\tso\tshe\tdreamed.","43 Lorcan\t was\t still\t wondering\t what\t the\t hell\t he\t was\t doing\t three\t days\t later.\t They\u2019d\t left\t that plains\t town\t far\t behind\t them,\t but\t the\t terror\t of\t that\t night\t lay\t draped\t over\t the\t carnival caravan\tlike\ta\theavy\tblanket\twith\teach\tmile\tthe\twagons\thurried\tdown\tthe\troads. The\tothers\thadn\u2019t\twised\tup\tto\thow,\texactly,\tthey\u2019d\tsurvived\tthe\tilken\u2014hadn\u2019t\trealized the\tilken\twere\tnear-impossible\tto\tkill,\tand\tno\tmere\tmortal\tcould\thave\tslain\tone,\tlet\talone four.\t Nik\t and\t Ombriel\t gave\t him\t and\t Elide\t a\t wide\t berth\u2014and\t only\t catching\t their\t wary, examining\t stares\t at\t the\t dinner\t campfire\t every\t night\t revealed\t they\t were\t still\t piecing together\twho\tand\twhat\the\twas. Elide\t kept\t well\t away\t from\t him,\t too.\t They\t hadn\u2019t\t had\t a\t chance\t to\t set\t up\t their\t usual tents\t thanks\t to\t fleeing\t so\t quickly,\t but\t tonight,\t safely\t within\t the\t walls\t of\t a\t small\t plains town,\tthey\u2019d\thave\tto\tshare\ta\troom\tat\tthe\tcheap\tinn\tMolly\thad\tbegrudgingly\tpaid\tfor. It\t was\t hard\t not\t to\t watch\t Elide\t as\t she\t took\t in\t the\t town,\t then\t the\t inn\u2014the\t keen-eyed observation,\tthe\thint\tof\tsurprise\tand\tconfusion\tthat\tsometimes\tcrossed\ther\tface. He\tused\ta\ttendril\tof\this\tmagic\tto\tkeep\ther\tfoot\tstabilized.\tShe\tnever\tcommented\ton\tit. And\t sometimes\t that\t dark,\t fell\t magic\t of\t his\t would\t brush\t up\t against\t whatever\t it\t was\t she carried\u2014the\tgift\tfrom\ta\tdying\twoman\tto\ta\thotheaded\tassassin\u2014and\trecoil. Lorcan\thadn\u2019t\tpushed\tto\tsee\tit\tsince\tthat\tnight,\tthough\the\u2019d\tspent\ta\tgreat\tdeal\tof\ttime contemplating\twhat\tmight\thave\tcome\tout\tof\tMorath.\tCollars\tand\trings\twere\tlikely\tthe\tstart of\tit. Whitethorn\t and\t the\t bitch-queen\t had\t no\t idea\t about\t the\t ilken\u2014perhaps\t about\t the majority\tof\thorrors\tElide\thad\tshared\twith\thim.\tHe\twondered\twhat\ta\twall\tof\twildfire\twould do\t to\t the\t creatures\u2014wondered\t if\t the\t ilken\t were\t somehow\t training\t against\t Aelin Galathynius\u2019s\tarsenal.\tIf\tErawan\twas\tsmart,\the\u2019d\thave\tsomething\tin\tmind. While\t the\t others\t trudged\t into\t the\t ramshackle\t inn\t in\t search\t of\t food\t and\t rest,\t Elide informed\t Molly\t that\t she\t was\t going\t on\t a\t walk\t along\t the\t river,\t and\t headed\t into\t the cobblestone\t streets.\t And\t though\t his\t stomach\t was\t grumbling,\t Lorcan\t trailed\t her,\t ever\t the husband\twishing\tto\tguard\this\tbeautiful\twife\tin\ta\ttown\tthat\thad\tseen\tbetter\tdays\u2014decades. No\t doubt\t caused\t by\t Adarlan\u2019s\t relentless\t road-building\t across\t the\t continent\t and\t the\t fact that\tthis\ttown\thad\tbeen\tleft\tfar\tfrom\tany\tartery\tthrough\tthe\tland. The\t thunderstorm\t he\u2019d\t scented\t building\t on\t the\t horizon\t lumbered\t toward\t the\t stone- wrought\t town,\t the\t light\t shifting\t from\t gold\t to\t silver.\t Within\t minutes,\t the\t thick\t humidity was\twashed\taway\tby\ta\tsweep\tof\twelcome\tcoolness.\tLorcan\tgave\tElide\tall\tof\tthree\tblocks before\the\tfell\tinto\tstep\tbeside\ther\tand\tsaid,\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tgoing\tto\train.\u201d","She\tslid\ta\tflat\tglance\tat\thim.\t\u201cI\tdo\tknow\twhat\tthunder\tmeans.\u201d The\t walled\t town\t had\t been\t built\t on\t either\t side\t of\t a\t small,\t half-forgotten\t river\u2014two large\t water\t gates\t on\t either\t end\t demanding\t tolls\t to\t enter\t the\t city\t and\t tracking\t the\t goods that\tpassed\tthrough.\tOld\twater,\tfish,\tand\trotting\twood\treached\thim\tbefore\tthe\tsight\tof\tthe muddy,\t calm\t waters\t did,\t and\t it\t was\t precisely\t at\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t river\t docks\t that\t Elide paused. \u201cWhat\t are\t you\t looking\t for?\u201d\t he\t asked\t at\t last,\t an\t eye\t on\t the\t darkening\t skies.\t The dockworkers,\t sailors,\t and\t merchants\t monitored\t the\t clouds,\t too,\t as\t they\t scurried\t about. Some\tlingered\tto\ttie\tup\tthe\tlong,\tflat-bellied\tbarges\tand\tlatch\tdown\tthe\tsmooth\tpoles\tthey used\t to\t navigate\t the\t river.\t He\u2019d\t seen\t a\t kingdom,\t perhaps\t three\t hundred\t years\t ago,\t that relied\ton\tbarges\tto\tsail\tits\tgoods\tfrom\tone\tend\tto\tanother.\tIts\tname\teluded\thim,\tlost\tto\tthe catacombs\t of\t his\t memory.\t Lorcan\t wondered\t if\t it\t still\t existed,\t tucked\t away\t between\t two mountain\tranges\ton\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe\tworld. Elide\u2019s\t bright\t eyes\t tracked\t a\t group\t of\t well-dressed\t men\t heading\t into\t what\t looked\t to be\ta\ttavern.\t\u201cStorms\tmean\tlooking\tfor\tshelter,\u201d\tshe\tmurmured.\t\u201cShelter\tmeans\tbeing\tstuck inside\twith\tnothing\tto\tdo\tbut\tgossip.\tGossip\tmeans\tnews\tfrom\tmerchants\tand\tsailors\tabout the\t rest\t of\t the\t land.\u201d\t Those\t eyes\t cut\t to\t him,\t dry\t humor\t dancing\t there.\t \u201cThat\t is\t what thunder\tmeans.\u201d Lorcan\tblinked\tas\tshe\tfollowed\tafter\tthe\tmen\twho\u2019d\tentered\tthe\tdockside\ttavern.\tThe first\tfat\tdrops\tof\tthe\tstorm\tplunked\tonto\tthe\tmoss-speckled\tcobblestones\tof\tthe\tquay. Lorcan\t followed\t Elide\t inside\t the\t tavern,\t some\t part\t of\t him\t admitting\t that\t for\t all\t his five\t hundred\t years\t of\t surviving\t and\t killing\t and\t serving,\t he\u2019d\t never\t quite\t encountered someone\t so\t \u2026\t unimpressed\t with\t him.\t Even\t gods-damned\t Aelin\t had\t some\t sense\t of\t the threat\the\tposed.\tMaybe\tliving\twith\tmonsters\thad\tstripped\taway\ta\thealthy\tfear\tof\tthem.\tHe wondered\thow\tElide\thadn\u2019t\tbecome\tone\tin\tthe\tprocess. Lorcan\t took\t in\t the\t details\t of\t the\t taproom\t by\t instinct\t and\t training,\t finding\t nothing worth\ta\tsecond\tthought.\tThe\treek\tof\tthe\tplace\u2014unwashed\tbodies,\tpiss,\tmold,\twet\twool\u2014 threatened\tto\tsuffocate\thim.\tBut\tin\tthe\tspan\tof\ta\tfew\tmoments,\tElide\thad\tgrabbed\therself\ta table\t near\t a\t cluster\t of\t those\t people\t from\t the\t docks\t and\t ordered\t two\t tankards\t of\t ale\t and whatever\twas\tthe\tlunch\tspecial. Lorcan\t slid\t into\t the\t ancient\t wooden\t chair\t beside\t hers,\t wondering\t if\t the\t damn\t thing would\tcollapse\tunder\thim\tas\tit\tgroaned.\tThunder\tcracked\toverhead,\tand\tall\teyes\tshifted\tto the\tbay\tof\twindows\toverlooking\tthe\tquay.\tRain\tfell\tin\tearnest,\tsetting\tthe\tbarges\tbobbing and\tswaying. Lunch\t was\t dropped\t before\t them,\t the\t bowls\t clattering\t and\t sending\t the\t goopy\t brown stew\tsplashing\tover\tthe\tchipped\trims.\tElide\tdidn\u2019t\tso\tmuch\tas\tlook\tat\tit,\tor\ttouch\tthe\tales that\twere\tplunked\tdown\twith\tequal\tdisinterest\tfor\ta\ttip,\tas\tshe\tscanned\tthe\troom. \u201cDrink,\u201d\tElide\tcommanded\thim. Lorcan\t debated\t telling\t her\t not\t to\t give\t him\t orders,\t but\t \u2026\t he\t liked\t seeing\t this\t small, fine-boned\tcreature\tin\taction.\tLiked\tseeing\ther\tsize\tup\ta\troom\tof\tstrangers\tand\tselect\ther","prey.\t Because\t it\t was\t a\t hunt\u2014for\t the\t best\t and\t safest\t source\t of\t information.\t The\t person who\t wouldn\u2019t\t report\t to\t a\t town\t garrison\t still\t under\t Adarlan\u2019s\t control\t that\t a\t dark-haired young\twoman\twas\tasking\tquestions\tabout\tenemy\tforces. So\t Lorcan\t drank\t and\t watched\t her\t while\t she\t watched\t others.\t So\t many\t calculating thoughts\tbeneath\tthat\tpale\tface,\tso\tmany\tlies\tready\tto\tspill\tfrom\tthose\trosebud\tlips.\tPart\tof him\twondered\tif\this\town\tqueen\tcould\tfind\ther\tuseful\u2014if\tMaeve\twould\talso\tpick\tup\ton\tthe fact\tthat\tit\twas\tperhaps\tAnneith\therself\twho\u2019d\ttaught\tthe\tgirl\tto\tlook\tand\tlisten\tand\tlie. Part\tof\thim\tdreaded\tthe\tthought\tof\tElide\tin\tMaeve\u2019s\thands.\tWhat\tshe\u2019d\tbecome.\tWhat Maeve\twould\task\ther\tto\tdo\tas\ta\tspy\tor\tcourtier.\tPerhaps\tit\twas\tgood\tthat\tElide\twas\tmortal, life\t span\t too\t short\t for\t Maeve\t to\t bother\t honing\t her\t into\t quite\t possibly\t her\t most\t vicious sentinel. He\twas\tso\tdamn\tbusy\tthinking\tabout\tit\tthat\the\tnearly\tdidn\u2019t\tnotice\twhen\tElide\tleaned back\tcasually\tin\ther\tchair\tand\tinterrupted\tthe\ttable\tof\tmerchants\tand\tcaptains\tbehind\tthem. \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean,\tRifthold\tis\tgone?\u201d Lorcan\tsnapped\tto\tattention.\tBut\tthey\u2019d\theard\tthe\tnews\tweeks\tago. The\tcaptain\tnearest\tthem\u2014a\twoman\tin\ther\tearly\tthirties\u2014sized\tup\tElide,\tthen\tLorcan, then\t said,\t \u201cWell,\t it\u2019s\t not\t gone,\t but\t \u2026\t witches\t now\t control\t it,\t on\t behalf\t of\t Duke Perrington.\tDorian\tHavilliard\u2019s\tbeen\tousted.\u201d Elide,\tthe\tcunning\tlittle\tliar,\tlooked\toutright\tshocked.\t\u201cWe\u2019ve\tbeen\tin\tthe\tdeep\twild\tfor weeks.\tIs\tDorian\tHavilliard\tdead?\u201d\tShe\twhispered\tthe\twords,\tas\tif\tin\thorror\t\u2026\tand\tas\tif\tto avoid\tbeing\theard. Another\t person\t at\t the\t table\u2014an\t older,\t bearded\t man\u2014said,\t \u201cThey\t never\t found\t his body,\t but\t if\t the\t duke\u2019s\t declaring\t him\t not\t to\t be\t king\t anymore,\t I\u2019d\t assume\t he\u2019s\t alive.\t No use\tmaking\tproclamations\tagainst\ta\tdead\tman.\u201d Thunder\t rattled,\t almost\t drowning\t out\t her\t whisper\t as\t she\t said,\t \u201cWould\t he\u2014would\t he go\tto\tthe\tNorth?\tTo\t\u2026\ther?\u201d They\t knew\t precisely\t who\t Elide\t meant.\t And\t Lorcan\t knew\t exactly\t why\t she\u2019d\t come here. She\twas\tgoing\tto\tleave.\tTomorrow,\twhenever\tthe\tcarnival\trolled\tout.\tShe\u2019d\tlikely\thire one\tof\tthese\tboats\tto\ttake\ther\tnorthward,\tand\the\t\u2026\the\twould\tgo\tsouth.\tTo\tMorath. The\t companions\t swapped\t glances,\t weighing\t the\t appearance\t of\t the\t young\t woman\u2014 and\t then\t Lorcan.\t He\t attempted\t to\t smile,\t to\t look\t bland\t and\t unthreatening.\t None\t of\t them returned\t the\t look,\t though\t he\t must\t have\t done\t something\t right,\t because\t the\t bearded\t man said,\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tnot\tin\tthe\tNorth.\u201d It\twas\tElide\u2019s\tturn\tto\tgo\tstill. The\t bearded\t man\t went\t on,\t \u201cRumor\t has\t it,\t she\t was\t in\t Ilium,\t trouncing\t soldiers.\t Then they\t say\t she\t was\t in\t Skull\u2019s\t Bay\t last\t week,\t raising\t hell.\t Now\t she\u2019s\t sailing\t elsewhere\u2014 some\tsay\tto\tWendlyn,\tsome\tsay\tto\tEyllwe,\tsome\tsay\tshe\u2019s\tfleeing\tto\tthe\tother\tside\tof\tthe world.\tBut\tshe\u2019s\tnot\tin\tthe\tNorth.\tWon\u2019t\tbe\tfor\ta\twhile,\tit\tseems.\tNot\twise\tto\tleave\tyour","home\tundefended,\tif\tyou\task\tme.\tBut\tshe\u2019s\tbarely\ta\twoman;\tshe\tcan\u2019t\tknow\tmuch\tabout warfare\tat\tall.\u201d Lorcan\tdoubted\tthat,\tand\tdoubted\tthe\tbitch\tdidn\u2019t\tmake\ta\tmove\twithout\tWhitethorn\tor Gavriel\u2019s\tson\tweighing\tin.\tBut\tElide\tloosed\ta\tshuddering\tbreath.\t\u201cWhy\tleave\tTerrasen\tat all?\u201d \u201cWho\t knows?\u201d\t The\t woman\t turned\t back\t to\t her\t food\t and\t company.\t \u201cSeems\t like\t the queen\t has\t a\t habit\t of\t showing\t up\t where\t she\u2019s\t least\t expected,\t unleashing\t chaos,\t and vanishing\t again.\t There\u2019s\t good\t money\t to\t be\t had\t from\t the\t betting\t pool\t about\t where\t she\u2019ll show\tup\tnext.\tI\tsay\tBanjali,\tin\tEyllwe\u2014Vross\there\tsays\tVarese\tin\tWendlyn.\u201d \u201cWhy\tEyllwe?\u201d\tElide\tpushed. \u201cWho\tknows?\tShe\u2019d\tbe\ta\tfool\tindeed\tto\tannounce\ther\tplans.\u201d\tThe\twoman\tgave\tElide\ta sharp\tlook\tas\tif\tto\tsay\tto\tkeep\tquiet\tabout\tit. Elide\t returned\t to\t her\t food\t and\t ale,\t the\t rain\t and\t thunder\t drowning\t the\t chatter\t in\t the room. Lorcan\t watched\t her\t drink\t the\t entire\t tankard\t in\t silence.\t And\t when\t it\t seemed\t the\t least suspicious,\tshe\trose\tand\tleft. Elide\t went\t to\t two\t other\t taverns\t in\t the\t town\u2014followed\t the\t same\t exact\t pattern.\t The news\tshifted\tslightly\twith\teach\trecounting,\tbut\tthe\tgeneral\tconsensus\twas\tthat\tAelin\twas on\tthe\tmove,\tperhaps\tsouth\tor\teast,\tand\tno\tone\tknew\twhat\tto\texpect. Elide\t walked\t out\t of\t the\t third\t tavern,\t Lorcan\t on\t her\t heels.\t They\t hadn\u2019t\t spoken\t once since\tshe\u2019d\tgone\tinto\tthat\tfirst\tinn.\tHe\u2019d\tbeen\ttoo\tlost\tin\tcontemplating\twhat\tit\twould\tbe like\tto\tsuddenly\ttravel\ton\this\town\tagain.\tTo\tleave\ther\t\u2026\tand\tnever\tsee\ther\tagain. And\t now,\t staring\t up\t at\t the\t rain\t and\t the\t thunder,\t Elide\t said,\t \u201cI\t was\t supposed\t to\t go north.\u201d Lorcan\tfound\thimself\tnot\twanting\tto\tconfirm\tor\tobject.\tLike\ta\tuseless\tfool,\the\tfound himself\t\u2026\thesitating\tto\tpush\ther\ttoward\tthat\toriginal\tpath. She\tlowered\ther\tface,\twater\tand\tlight\tgilding\ther\thigh\tcheekbones.\t\u201cWhere\tdo\tI\thead now?\tHow\tdo\tI\tfind\ther?\u201d He\tdared\tsay,\t\u201cWhat\tdid\tyou\tglean\tfrom\tthe\trumors?\u201d\tHe\u2019d\tbeen\tanalyzing\teach\ttidbit of\tinformation,\tbut\twanted\tto\tsee\tthat\tclever\tmind\tat\twork. And\t some\t small\t part\t of\t him\t wanted\t to\t see\t what\t she\u2019d\t decide\t about\t their\t splitting ways,\ttoo. Elide\tsaid\tsoftly,\t\u201cBanjali\u2014in\tEyllwe.\tI\tthink\tshe\u2019s\tgoing\tto\tBanjali.\u201d He\ttried\tnot\tto\tlook\ttoo\trelieved.\tHe\u2019d\tarrived\tat\tthe\tsame\tconclusion,\tif\tonly\tbecause it\t was\t what\t Whitethorn\t would\t have\t done\u2014and\t he\u2019d\t trained\t the\t prince\t himself\t for\t a\t few decades. She\tscrubbed\tat\ther\tface.\t\u201cHow\t\u2026\thow\tfar\tis\tit?\u201d"]