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

by Sarah J. Maas

“You’re bleeding—” “I’m fine,” she said onto his shirt. Chaol pulled back, scanning her face. The bloody temple. “That is anything but fine,” he said, whipping his head toward Eretia. “She’s hurt—” Eretia rolled her eyes. “Good to see none of this put you out of your usual spirits.” Chaol gave the woman a flat stare. Hafiza peered over Eretia’s shoulder and wryly asked Yrene, “Are you certain this pushy man was worth the cost?” Before Yrene could answer, Chaol demanded, “What cost?” A stillness crept over them, and even Yrene looked to Hafiza as the woman extracted herself from Eretia’s care. The Healer on High said quietly, “The damage was too great. Even with all of us … Death held you by the hand.” He turned to Yrene, dread curling in his stomach. “What did you do,” he breathed. She didn’t meet his stare. “She likely made a fool’s bargain, that’s what,” Eretia snapped. “Offered to pay the price without even being told what it was. To save your neck. We all heard.” Eretia was close to not having a functioning neck herself, but Chaol said as calmly as he could, “Pay the price to whom?” “Not a payment,” Hafiza corrected, setting a hand on Eretia’s shoulder to quiet her, “but a restoration of balance. To the one who likes to see it intact. Who spoke through me as we all gathered within you.” “What was the cost,” Chaol rasped. If she’d given up anything, he’d find a way to retrieve it. He didn’t care what he had to pay, he’d— “To keep your life tethered in this world, we had...