“That was an order.” She knocked his hand away. “You’re needed inside. Leave the barrier to me.” “You don’t know if it’ll work—” “It will work,” she snarled. “I’m the expendable one, Rowan.” “You are heir to the throne of—” “Right now, I am a woman who has a power that might save lives. Let me do this. Help the others.” Rowan looked at the ward-stones, at the fortress and the sentries scrambling to help below. Weighing, calculating. At last, Rowan said, “Do not engage them. You focus on that darkness and keeping it away from the barrier, and that’s it. Hold the line, Aelin.”
