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"Together, Aelin," he promised, and she heard the rest of the words in every place their bodies joined Together they would face this, together they would find a way

Release crested within her once htness

And just when it broke, Aelin sank her teeth into Rowan’s neck, clai him as he’d claimed her

His blood, powerful and wind-kissed, filled her h hiled in each other

Together we’ll find a way, their ether

CHAPTER 42

Lorcan was given the last watch of the night, which allowed him to witness the sunrise over the now-distant horizon

Would he ever see it again--Wendlyn, Doranelle, any of that eastern land?

Perhaps not, considering what they sailed to in the west, and the immortal army Maeve had no doubt set on their heels Perhaps they were all doo onto the deck to learn what the , he almost told them from where he stood by the prow Water and sun and a whole lot of nothing

Fenrys spotted hi sht would cohtness from his bones, to let Fenrys tear into hiht try to kill him, but Lorcan wouldn’t do it Not after what Fenrys had endured--what he’d ed from belowdecks, hair braided and smooth As if she’d been up before the dawn She barely looked his way, though he knew she ell aware of his location Lorcan blocked out the hollow pang in his chest

But Aelin spied him, and there was more clarity in her face than there’d been these past few days as she stalked for where he stood More of that swagger in her gait, too

The sleeves of her white shirt had been rolled to the elbow, her hair braided back Goldryn and a long knife hung fro by the bristling energy that buzzed around her

Lorcanthe sered nearby, also dressed for sparring, the wariness in his eyes telling Lorcan enough: the prince had no idea what this was about

But the young queen crossed her arms "Do you plan to sail with us to Terrasen?"

An unnecessary question for dawn, and in the middle of the sea "Yes"

"And you plan to join us in this war?"

"I’ there to enjoy the weather"

Ari to work"

Lorcan waited for the list of orders and de hi steel-hardened

"You were Maeve’s second-in-command," she said, and Elide turned their way "And now that you aren’t, it leaves you as a powerful Fae iances I don’t know or really trust Not when Maeve’s army is likely on the move toward the continent at this verywith us, when you ood graces, can I?"

He opened his hty tone, but Aelin went on "So I’ll make you an offer, Lorcan Salvaterre" She tapped her bare forearm "Swear the blood oath to me, and I’ll let you roam wherever you wish"

Fenrys cursed behind the in his head

"And what, exactly," he et out of it?"

Aelin’s eyes slid over her shoulder To where Elide watched, ain, a touch of syance "You will be allowed into Terrasen That is what you will get Where you choose to live within Terrasen’s borders will not be my decision"

Not her decision, or his But that of the dark-haired fe at them

"And if I refuse?" Lorcan dared ask