her, in thanks for Elena.
But—
Aelin reached inward, toward that place
inside her soul.
She put a hand to her chest. Put a hand
there and felt the heart beating within.
The Fae heart. The cost.
She had given all of herself. Had given up
her life.
The human life. Her mortality. Burned
away, turned to nothing but dust between
worlds.
There would be no more shifting. Only this
body, this form.
She told them so. And told them what had
occurred.
And when she was done, when Rowan
remained holding her, Aelin held out her hand
once more, just to see.
Perhaps it had been a final gift of Mala’s,
lily
(lily)
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