Kingdom of Ash

onto the battlefield to peck out the eyes of our
enemies?” Her gasp echoed off the rock. “And
ate those eyes?”
One of the soldiers tripped, the others
whipping their heads to them.
Rowan pinched her shoulder. “Thank you
for that.”
She inclined her head. “You’re very
welcome.”
Aelin kept smiling as they found food and
ate a quick lunch—it was midday, they’d
learned—sitting side by side in a dusty, half-
forgotten stairwell. Much like the days they’d
spent in Mistward, knee to knee and shoulder
to shoulder in the kitchen while listening to
Emrys’s stories.
Though unlike those months this spring,
when Aelin set down her plate between her
feet, she slid her arms around Rowan’s neck
and his mouth instantly met hers.