Kingdom of Ash

He’d wondered during these months if he
should have done just that.
Lorcan swallowed. “I tried to get to her. To
Aelin. I tried to get to that box.” He added so
quietly only Elide could hear it, “I promise.”
His word was his bond, the only currency
he cared to trade in. He’d told her that once,
during those weeks on the road. Nothing
flickered in her eyes to tell him she
remembered.
Elide merely strode back for the camp.
Lorcan remained where he was.
He had done this. Brought this upon her,
upon them.
Elide reached the campfire, and Lorcan
followed at last, nearing its ring of light in
time to see her plop down beside Gavriel, her
mouth tight.
The Lion murmured to her, “He wasn’t
lying, you know.”