Kingdom of Ash

immortal blade piercing her heart. The queen
bowed her head, panting, and took Aelin’s
outstretched hand.
Aelin drew close. Just as she slid
something onto Maeve’s finger.
And whispered in Maeve’s ear, “Then go to
hell.”
Maeve reared back, but too late.
Too late, as the golden ring—Silba’s ring,
Athril’s ring—shone on her pale hand.
Aelin backed to Rowan’s side as Maeve
began to scream.
Screaming and screaming toward the dark
sky, toward the stars.
Maeve had wanted the ring not for
protection against Valg. No, she was Valg.
She’d wanted it so that no other might have it.
Yet when Elide had given it to Aelin, it had
not been to destroy a Valg queen. But to keep
Aelin safe. And Maeve would never know it—