Kingdom of Ash

the old king was panting through the pain.
Close now. The gold loops and circles of
the Lock solidified.
Still more was needed. To bind this place,
to bind all worlds.
He would never forgive her.
Her mate.
She had needed him to let her go, needed
him to accept it. She would never have been
able to do it, to come here, had he been
begging her not to, had he been weeping as
she had wanted to weep when she had kissed
him one last time.
Come back to me, he had whispered.
She knew he’d wait. Until he faded into the
Afterworld, Rowan would wait for her to
return. To come back to him.
Aelin’s magic tore out of her, a piece so
vital and deep that she cried out, swaying.
Only the king’s grip kept her from falling.