Kingdom of Ash

Mala’s.
“Here,” she said, extending the ring
between their tubs, suds dripping off her
fingers.
Aelin blinked at the ring. “Why?”
“Because between the two of us, you’re
more likely to face Erawan or Maeve.”
Aelin didn’t reach for it. “I’d rather you
keep it.”
“And I’d rather you have it,” Elide
challenged, holding the queen’s stare. She
asked softly, “Haven’t you given enough,
Aelin? Won’t you let one of us do something
for you?”
Aelin glanced down to the ring. “I failed.
You realize that, don’t you?”
“You put the keys back in the gate. That is
not failure. And even if you had failed in that,
I would give this ring to you.”
“I owe it to your mother to see that you