He didn’t deserve a quick end. He deserved
a slow, brutal bloodletting.
His punishment, his just reward for what
he’d done to his brother. The life he’d allowed
to be set in his shadow, had always known
remained in his shadow and hadn’t tried, not
really, to share the light.
A burn, violent and unflinching, tore
through him. As if someone had shoved his
shoulder into a furnace.
He deserved it. He welcomed it into his
heart.
He hoped it would destroy him.
Pain. The thing she had dreaded inflicting
upon them most, had fought and fought to
keep them from.
The scent of their burned flesh stung her
nostrils, and Maeve let out a low laugh. “Was
that a shield, Aelin? Or were you trying to put