“Deep down, you know it’s not really fair, that
those gods picked you. That Elena picked you
instead of him. She bought you time to live,
yes, but you were still chosen to pay the price.
Her price. And the gods’.”
Arobynn ran a long-fingered hand down the
side of her face. “Do you see what I tried to
spare you from all these years? What you
might have avoided had you remained
Celaena, remained with me?” He smiled. “Do
you see, Aelin?”
She could not answer. Had no voice.
Cairn hit bone, and—
Aelin lunged upward, hands grasping for her
thigh.
No chains weighed her. No mask
smothered her.
No dagger had been twisted into her body.
Breathing hard, the scent of musty sheets