Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #0.1–0.5, 1–7)

by Sarah J. Maas

“We’re leaving.” Elide’s low voice cut through the roaring silence of his thoughts. “The ruks are ready,” she added. There was no fear or pity on her face, her black hair gilded by the torches and campfires. Of all of them, she’d mastered the news with little difficulty, stepping up to the desk as if she’d been born on a battlefield. “I didn’t know,” he said, voice strained. Elide knew what he meant. “We have bigger things to worry about anyway.” He took a step toward her. “I didn’t know,” he said again. She tipped her head back to study his face and pursed her mouth, a muscle ticking in her jaw. “Do you want me to give you some sort of absolution for it?” “I served her for nearly five hundred years. Five hundred years, and I just thought her to be immortal and cold.” “That sounds like the definition of a Valg to me.” He bared his teeth. “You live for eons and see what it does to you, Lady.” “I don’t see why you’re so shocked. Even with her being immortal and cold, you loved her. You must have accepted those traits. What difference does it make what we call her, then?” “I didn’t love her.” “You certainly acted like you did.” Lorcan snarled, “Why is that the point you keep returning to, Elide? Why is it the one thing you cannot let go of?” “Because I’m trying to understand. How you could come to love a monster.” “Why?” He pushed into her space. She didn’t balk one step. Indeed, her eyes were blazing as she hissed, “Because it will help me understand how I did the same.” Her...