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It didn’t so lanced to Lorcan He was frozen, eyes wide as Aelin knelt in the ed with sobs

He had done this Led theauntlets drew blood where they scraped into her neck, her jaw, as she heaved against the mask "Take it off!" The plea turned into a scream "Take it off!"

Over and over, the queen screamed it "Take it off, take it off, take it off!"

She was sobbing ah the ancient forest She said no other words Pleaded to no gods, no ancestors

Only those words, again and again and again

Take it off, take it off, take it off

Moveh the trees behind theo for his weapons told Elide who it was But any relief was short-lived as Rowan and Gavriel eed, a massive white wolf hauled between the flesh to the bone Fenrys

He was unconscious, tongue lagging fro before he set down the wolf and stalked for Aelin

The prince was covered in blood From his unhindered steps, Elide kneasn’t his

Fro his chin, his neck … She didn’t want to know

Aelin ripped at the i of the prince before her Her consort, husband, and mate

"Aelin"

Take it off, take it off, take it off

Her screams were unbearable Worse than those that day on the beach in Eyllwe

Gavriel caolden skin pale as he took in the frantic queen

Slowly, Rowan knelt before her "Aelin"

She only tipped her head up to the forest canopy and sobbed

Blood ran down her neck fro hat already coated her

Rowan reached out a treony Elide had little doubt was coursing through hiently, he closed his fingers around the

Aelin sobbed, her body shuddering with the force of it "Take it off "

Rowan’s eyes flickered, panic and heartbreak and longing shining there "I will But you have to be still, Fireheart Just for a fewinto so broken and raan ran his thumbs over her wrists, over those iron shackles As if it were nothing but her skin Slowly, her shaking eased

No, not eased, Elide realized as Rowan rose to his feet and stalked behind the queen But contained, turned inward Treh Aelin’s tense body, but she kept still as Rowan exa like shock, then horror and sorrow, flashed over his face, as he surveyed her back It was gone as soon as it appeared

A glance, and Gavriel and Lorcan drifted to his side, their steps slow Unthreatening

Across the s, Fenrys remained out, his white coat soaked with blood

Elide only walked to Aelin and took up the spot where Rowan had been

The queen’s eyes were closed, as if it took all her concentration to remain still for another heartbeat, to allow the, de from her, save for a companion if she needed one

Behind Aelin, Rowan’s blood-splattered face was gri the mask’s chains to the back of her head His nostrils flared slightly Rage--frustration

"I’ve never seen a lock like this," Gavriel ain

Elide put a hand on her knee Aelin had scraped it raw, rass stuck in her blood-crusted skin

She waited for the queen to shove her hand away, but Aelin didn’tsteady