Kingdom of Ash

Perhaps it was not a lack of fear, but rather a lack of … of whatever mortals deemed vital to their souls.

Her mother placed a phantom hand over Aelin’s heart. It is the strength of this that matters. No matter where you are, no matter how far, this will lead you home.

“Aren’t I a little old for faerie stories?”

Who do you wish to be? “Someone worthy of my friends,” he said into the quiet night. “A king worthy of his kingdom.” For a heartbeat, snow-white hair and golden eyes flashed into his mind. “Happy,” he whispered, and wrapped a hand around Damaris’s hilt. Let go of that lingering scrap of terror.

“Fenrys … You know, I don’t actually know your family name.” Fenrys threw a roguish wink at the queen. “Moonbeam.”
“It is not,” Aelin hissed, choking on a laugh. Fenrys laid a hand on his heart. “I am blood-sworn to you. Would I lie?”

Aelin sighed up at the ceiling. “What’s another fancy title, I suppose?”

“You flew back onto the battlefield to peck out the eyes of our enemies?” Her gasp echoed off the rock. “And ate those eyes?”

“We came,” Manon said, loud enough that all on the city walls could hear, “to honor a promise made to Aelin Galathynius. To fight for what she promised us.” Darrow said quietly, “And what was that?” Manon smiled then. “A better world.”

“I do not accept this.”

“I would go in your stead, if I could.” Her own heart cracked. “I know.”

“I can’t bear it, Aelin. I can’t.”

So Dorian said to them both, “Yes.”

“No sweet farewells, Princess?”

“Even when you’re … there,” he said, his pine-green eyes so bright under the moon. “I am with you.” He laid a hand on her heart. “Here. I am with you here.” She laid her own hand on his chest, and breathed his scent deep into her lungs, her heart. “As I am with you. Always.”

So many worlds. More than she could contemplate. Would her dreams forever be haunted by them?

“It’s too early for that sort of philosophical bullshit,”

“I suppose you’re the only person who can decide that.”

“Lord Lorcan Lochan?”

“We’re putting a rug over it,” Aelin told him. Lysandra laughed. “Something tacky, I hope.”
“I’m thinking pink and purple. Embroidered with flowers. Just what Erawan would have loved.”

“We promised everyone a better world,” she said after a moment, voice solemn. “So we’ll start with that.”
“Starting small,” Fenrys said. “I like it.”

Rowan kissed her. “A new library and Royal Theater,”

“Not all of us are courageous enough to take on Dark Lords, you know.”

“You could just marry each other,” Yrene said, and Dorian whipped his head to her, incredulous. “It’d make it easier for you both, so you don’t need to pretend.”

Aelin let out a long sigh. “Will you let me cry in bed for the rest of today like a pathetic worm,” she asked at last, “if I promise to get to work on rebuilding tomorrow?”

“Would you like me to bring you cakes and chocolate so your wallowing can be complete?”
“If you can find any.”
“You destroyed the Wyrdkeys and slew Maeve. I think I can manage to find you some sweets.”