Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)

by Sarah J. Maas

“I am growing bored of this,” Maeve said, her silver tray of food forgotten. She leaned forward on her throne, the owl behind her rustling its wings. “Do you believe, Aelin Galathynius, that I will not make the sacrifices necessary to obtain what I seek?” She had forgotten how to speak. Had not uttered a word here, anyway. “Allow me to demonstrate,” Maeve said, straightening. Fenrys’s eyes flared with warning. Maeve waved an ivory hand at Connall, frozen beside her throne. Where he’d remained since he’d brought the queen’s food. “Do it.” Connall drew one of the knives from his belt. Stepped toward Fenrys. No. The word was a cold clang through her. Her lips even formed it as she jerked against the chains, lines of liquid fire shooting along her legs. Connall advanced another step. Glass crunched and cracked beneath her. No, no— Connall stopped above Fenrys, his hand shaking. Fenrys only snarled up at him. Connall raised his knife into the air between them. She could not surge to her feet. Could not rise against the chains and glass. Could do nothing, nothing— Cairn gripped her by the neck, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise, and ground her again into the blood-drenched shards. A rasping, broken scream cracked from her lips. Fenrys. Her only tether to life, to this reality— Connall’s blade glinted. He’d come to help at Mistward. He had defied Maeve then; perhaps he’d do it now, perhaps his hateful words had been a deception— The blade plunged down. Not into Fenrys. But...