Kingdom of Ash

through Elide’s body, and her friend
disappeared.
An illusion. She had fallen for an illusion,
and had left herself open, vulnerable—
Aelin twisted back toward Maeve, flames
rising again, but too late.
Hands of shadow wrapped around her
throat. Immovable. Eternal.
Aelin arched, gasping for any bit of air as
those hands squeezed and squeezed—
The chamber melted away. The stones
beneath her became mud and snow, the roar of
the river replaced by the din of battle. They
flashed between one heartbeat and the next,
between illusion and truth. Warm air for bitter
wind, life for sure death.
Aelin wreathed her hands in flame, ripping
at the shadow lashed around her throat.
Maeve stood before her, robes billowing as
she panted. “Here is what shall happen, Aelin