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Rowan only inclined his chin back to the young man And then inclined it toward his cousins, Enda and Sellene, seated near the aisle, the latter of who in silence when Rowan had told her that she was now Queen of Doranelle The Fae Queen of the East

His silver-haired cousin hadn’t dressed for her new title today, though--like Enda, she had opted for whatever clothing was the least battle-worn

Such changes would come to Doranelle--ones Rowan knew he could not predict The Whitethorn family would rule, Mora’s line restored to power at last, but it would ren would shape itself How the Fae would choose to shape the over them

How many of those Fae would choose to stay here, in Terrasen, would remain to be seen How do to ease and wealth? The Fae warriors he’d encountered these teeks had given hiaze toward the Staghorns, toward Oakwald, with longing As if they, too, heard the wild call of the wind

Then there was the other factor: the Fae who had dwelled here before Terrasen’s fall Who had answered Aelin’s desperate plea, and had returned to their hidden host the Wolf Tribe in the hinterlands to prepare for the journey here To return to Terrasen at last And perhaps bring sodom worthy of their return Worthy of all who lived here, hureat as it had once been--greater As great as what dwelled in the far South, across the Narrow Sea, proof that a land of peace and plenty could exist

The khaganate royals had told hidoether on the other side of the throne room, Chaol and Dorian with them Yrene and Nesryn also sat there, both lovely in dresses that Rowan could only assume had been borrowed There were no shops open--and none with supplies Indeed, it was a miracle that any of them had clean clothes at all

Manon, at least, had refused finery She wore her witch leathers--though her crown of stars lay upon her brow, casting its light upon Petrah Blueblood and Bronwen Crochan, seated on her either side

Aedion’s sas audible, and Rowan glanced to the open doors Then to where Lord Darrow stood beside the empty throne

Not an official throne--just a larger, finer chair that had been selected from the sad lot of candidates

Darrow, too, stared toward the open doors, face i out

A four-note suroaned as everyone twisted to the doors

Behind the dais, hidden beyond a painted wooden screen, a s a processional Not the grand, sprawling orchestra that nitude, but better than nothing

It didn’t arland of ribbons atop her braided black hair Every step limped, and Rowan kneas because she had asked Lorcan not to brace her foot She’d wanted toaisle on her oo feet

Poised and graceful, the Lady of Perranth kept her shoulders thrown back as she clutched the bouquet of holly before her and walked to the dais Lady of Perranth--and one of Aelin’s handmaidens For today

For Aelin’s coronation

Elide was halfway down the aisle when Lysandra appeared, clad in green velvet People murmured Not just at the remarkable beauty, but what she was

The shape-shifter who had defended their kingdoh as she glided down the aisle, and Aedion’s own head lifted at the sight of her The Lady of Caraverre

Then ca, those scars stretched wide in utter joy The young Lady of Arran Darroard Who had soh for hiree to this

To Aelin’s right to the throne

They had delivered the docuned by all of theht side of the throne Then Lysandra Then Evangeline

Rowan’s heart began thundering as everyone gazed down the now-e of Terrasen ringing out

And when the al and unbending, she appeared

Rowan’s knees buckled as everyone rose to their feet

Clad in flowing, gauzy green and silver, her golden hair unbound, Aelin paused on the threshold of the throne rooazed down the long aisle As if weighing every step she would take to the dais

To her throne