himself struggling to speak past the tightness
in his throat.
And then Aelin stood before Dorian and
Chaol, and Rowan stepped back, falling into
line beside Aedion, Fenrys, Lorcan, Elide,
Ren, and Lysandra. Their fledgling court—the
court that would change this world. Rebuild it.
Giving their queen space for this last,
hardest good-bye.
She felt as if she had been crying without end
for minutes now.
Yet this parting, this final farewell ...
Aelin looked at Chaol and Dorian and
sobbed. Opened her arms to them, and wept as
they held each other.
“I love you both,” she whispered. “And no
matter what may happen, no matter how far
we may be, that will never change.”
“We will see you again,” Chaol said, but