Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)

by Sarah J. Maas

“When you shatter the chains of this world and forge the next, remember that art is as vital as food to a kingdom. Without it, a kingdom is nothing, and will be forgotten by time. I have amassed enough money in my miserable life to not need any more—so you will understand me clearly when I say that wherever you set your throne, no matter how long it takes, I will come to you, and I will bring music and dancing.”

“Give our king the performance he deserves.”

these were her last moments, then at least she would go down fighting, to the sound of exquisite music.

She was the heir of fire. She was fire, and light, and ash, and embers. She was Aelin Fireheart, and she bowed for no one and nothing, save the crown that was hers by blood and survival and triumph.

Behind them, across the hall, the dancers shattered their roses on the floor, and Aedion grinned at his queen as the entire world went to hell.

She was a whirling cloud of death, a queen of shadows, and these men were already carrion.

But do not pretend that you are some meek, pathetic little girl when I can see that vicious mind working behind your eyes.”

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stay the course, but also plot another one. Adapt.”

Stones were eternal—flowers were not.

“Everybody is something. Even the most common witch has her coven.

“Welcome to the Blackbeaks.”

“You’re mine now.”

Artists are essential.”

Sam. Her Sam.

“Hello, Sam,” she breathed onto the river breeze.

I think—I think you would have been a wonderful king. I think they would have liked you more than me, actually.” Her throat tightened. “I never told you—how I felt. But I loved you, and I think a part of me might always love you. Maybe you were my mate, and I never knew it. Maybe I’ll spend the rest of my life wondering about that. Maybe I’ll see you again in the Afterworld, and then I’ll know for sure. But until then … until then I’ll miss you, and I’ll wish you were here.”

“Thank you for the oil,” he added. “My skin was a little dry.”

“Aelin,” she snapped. “My name is Aelin.

“As you wish,” he said, pocketing the combs. “Such a pity, though. Your enemies would have fallen to their knees if they ever saw you in it.” He’d almost fallen to his knees when he’d first seen her earlier tonight.

She would find that love again—one day. And it would be deep and unrelenting and unexpected, the beginning and the end and eternity, the kind that could change history, change the world.

It was so very easy to sit up and slice the knife across Arobynn’s throat.

Queen of the Assassins sounds so nice, doesn’t it?”

“I hear hell is particularly nice at this time of year.”

“You are sacred vessels,” the duke said. “It is an honor to be chosen.” “I find that a very male thing to assume.”

His Fireheart,

“Long live the queen.”

“I kept thinking about how you might never know that I missed you with only an ocean between us. But if it was death separating us … I would find you. I don’t care how many rules it would break. Even if I had to get all three keys myself and open a gate, I would find you again. Always.”

“I want to take my time with you—to learn … every inch of you. And this apartment has very, very thin walls. I don’t want to have an audience,” he added as he leaned down again, brushing his mouth over the cut at the base of her throat, “when I make you moan, Aelin.”

“I’ll even let you decide how I tell you: with words”—his eyes flicked once to her mouth—“or with my teeth and tongue.”

The smallest of them was sprawled on his belly, face buried in a mound of wildflowers.

This witch had been crafted from the darkness between the stars.

“I’ll bleed whatever color you tell me to.”

SCREAMING

“I want you to do lots of things to me,” the prince said, raking his eyes along the witch’s body.

DORIAN

But perhaps the monsters needed to look out for each other every now and then.

“How can I take away somebody who means the world to someone else? Even if she’s my enemy.”

“What if we go on,” he said, “only to more pain and despair? What if we go on, only to find a horrible end waiting for us?”

Aelin looked northward, as if she could see all the way to Terrasen. “Then it is not the end.”

“Even when we’re apart tomorrow, I’ll be with you every step of the way. And every step after—wherever that may be.”

So that smile … It struck him stupid every time he saw it and realized it was for him.

She said softly, “You make me want to live, Rowan. Not survive; not exist. Live.”

WITCH KILLER— THE HUMAN IS STILL INSIDE HIM

Light up the darkness, Majesty.”

Then she smiled with every last shred of courage, of desperation, of hope for the glimmer of that glorious future. “Let’s go rattle the stars.”

And his Fireheart, his queen,

Dorian. His name was Dorian.

“To a better future,” she said. “You came back,” he said, as if that were an answer.

They were infinite. They were the beginning and the ending; they were eternity.

“My name is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius,” she said. “And I am the Queen of Terrasen.”

It did not seem like a weakness to fight for those who could not defend themselves. Even if they weren’t true witches. Even if they meant nothing to her.

When she asks why, tell her I said that they would not let me bring the cloak she gave me, but I kept a piece of it. To remember that promise she made.