Kingdom of Ash

way.”
“How,” Maeve asked again. “How did you
not break?”
“Because I am not afraid,” Aelin said.
“Your fear of Erawan and his brothers drove
you, destroyed you. If there was ever anything
worthwhile to destroy.”
Maeve hissed, and Aelin chuckled. “And
then there was your fear of Brannon. Of me.
Look what it brought about.” She gestured to
the room around them, the world beyond it.
“This is all you’ll have left of Doranelle. This
illusion.”
Maeve’s power rumbled through the room.
Aelin’s lips pulled back from her teeth.
“You hurt my mate. Hurt the woman you
tricked him into thinking was his mate. Killed
her, and broke him.”
Maeve smiled slightly. “Yes, and I enjoyed
every moment of it.”