Kingdom of Ash

Aelin picked at her nails. “Impressive.”
Yet the face that turned toward her—
Exhaustion. Grief.
“I heard,” Aelin said quietly, lowering her
hands but not approaching.
Manon said nothing, her silence conveying
everything Aelin needed to know.
No, she was not all right. Yes, it had
destroyed her. No, she did not wish to talk
about it.
Aelin only said, “Thank you.”
Manon nodded vaguely. So Aelin walked
toward the witch, then past her. Right to
where Abraxos sat, gazing toward Theralis.
The blasted patch of earth.
Her heart strained at the sight of it. The
wyvern and the earth and the witch behind
her. But Aelin sat down beside the wyvern.
Brushed a hand over his leathery head. He
leaned into her touch.