She would be his wife, his queen. She was already his equal, his match, his mirror in so many ways. And with their union, the world would know it. But he could see the bars of the cage that would creep closer, tighter, every day. And either break her wholly, or turn her into something neither of them wished her to ever be. “You would marry me, all so we could aid Terrasen in this war?” “Aelin is willing to die to end this conflict. Why should she bear the brunt of sacrifice?” And there it was, her answer, though he knew she didn’t realize it. Sacrifice.
