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walked away—no, walked up to Elide.
Lorcan tried and failed to stand. His body,
it seemed, still needed a moment.
So he could only watch as Aelin said to
Elide, “I am not offering you the blood oath.”
Vow or no, he debated throwing the queen
into the ocean for the devastation that clouded
Elide’s face. But the Lady of Perranth kept her
chin high. “Why?”
Aelin took Elide’s hand with a gentleness
that cooled Lorcan’s rising temper. “Because
when we return to Terrasen, if I am to be
given the throne, then you cannot be bound to
me.” Elide’s brows crossed. “Perranth is the
second-most powerful House in Terrasen,”
Aelin explained. “Four of its lords have
decided that I am unfit for the throne. I need a
majority to win it back.”
“And if I am sworn to you, it jeopardizes
the integrity of my vote,” Elide finished.