Kingdom of Ash

each other, and when the music had sped up,
Rowan had spun and dipped and twirled her,
the skirts of her black gown revealing Aelin’s
feet, clad in golden slippers.
Feet that moved so quickly over the floor
that embers sparked at her heels. Trailed in
the wake of her sweeping dress.
Faster and faster, Aelin and Rowan had
danced, spinning, spinning, spinning, the
queen glowing like she’d been freshly forged
as the music gathered into a clashing close.
And when the waltz slammed into its
triumphant, final note, they halted—a perfect,
sudden stop. Right before the queen threw her
arms around Rowan and kissed him.
Nesryn was still smiling about it, sore feet
and all, as she stood in the dusty chamber that
had become the headquarters for the
khaganate royals, and listened to them talk.
“The Healer on High says it will be another