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No, it was certainly not at all like their time at Mistward as she crawled into Rowan’s lap, not entirely caring that anyone ht stride up or down the stairs, and kissed him silly

They halted, breathless and wild-eyed, before she could decide that it really wouldn’t be a bad idea to unfasten his pants right there, or that his hand, discreetly and lazily rubbing that dahs, should be inside her

If Aelin was being honest with herself, she was still debating hauling him into the nearest closet when they set off to find their colazed eyes and she kneas debating the sa her blood cooled when they entered the ancient study near the top of the keep and beheld the gathered group Fenrys and Gavriel were already there, Chaol with then of Elide or Lorcan

But Chaol’s father, unfortunately, was present And glowered as they entered these desk

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood with Nesryn, Sartaq, and Hasar, handsoy His brown eyes elco, his smile easy She liked hi a hand without looking up froraceful bow

Aelin offered one back, Rowan doing the sa"

"You can actually thank my father for that And Yrene," said Kashin, his use of their language as flawless as his siblings’

Indeed, Aelin had much to thank the healer for

Nesryn’s sharp eyes scanned Aelin froht?"

"Just needed to rest" Aelin jerked her chin at Rowan "He requires frequent naps in his old age"

Sartaq coughed, keeping his head down as he continued studying the ood spirits, I see"

Aelin s it lasts"

The

Rowan motioned to the desk and asked the royals, "Have you decided--where you shall march now?"

Such a casual, calm question As if the fate of Terrasen did not rest upon it

Hasar opened her o north with you If only to repay you for saving our army--our people"

Aelin tried not to look too relieved

"Gratitude aside," Hasar said, not sounding very grateful at all, "Kashin’s scouts have confir its efforts So it is there that we shall go"

Aelin wished she had not eaten such a large lunch "How bad is it?"

Nesryn shook her head, answering for Prince Kashin, "The details werenorthward, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake"

Aelin kept her fists at her sides, avoiding the urge to rub at her face

Chaol’s father said, "I hope that power of yours can be suain"

Aelin let an ember of that power smolder in her eyes "Thank you for the arift," the Lord of Anielle countered with asmile

Sartaq cleared his throat "If you and your companions are recovered, then we’ll press northward as soon as we are able" No objections fro thethe map Aelin traced the route they’d follow "We’d have to pass directly before the Ferian Gap We’ll barely clear the other end of this lake before we’re in another battle"

"So we draw the whatever forces wait in the Gap, then sneak up on them from behind"

"Adarlan controls the entire Avery," Chaol said, drawing an invisible line inland from Rifthold "To pass north, we have to cross that river anyway In picking the Gap as our battleground, we’ll avoid thein the midst of Oakwald The ruks, at least, would be able to provide aerial coverage Not so with the trees"

Rowan nodded "We’d need to march the majority of the host up into the mountains, then--to coh terrain, though We’ll need to pick our route carefully"

Chaol’s father grumbled Aelin lifted her brows, but his son answered, "I sent out es To contact the wild h the mountains to the Gap"

Ancient enemies of this city "And?"

"They do But at a cost"