Done. It was done, here on this unnamed field before Perranth. Then a call went across the breaking lines. The fleeing men began to pause. To turn toward the direction of the news. Aedion skewered a Morath soldier on his sword before he fully understood the words. The queen has come. The queen is at the front line. For a foolish heartbeat, he scanned the sky for a blast of flame. None came. Dread settled into his heart, fear deeper than any he’d known. The queen is at the front line—at the right flank. Lysandra. Lysandra had taken on Aelin’s skin. He whirled toward the nonexistent right flank.
Done. It was done, here on this unnamed field before Perranth. Then a call went across the breaking lines. The fleeing men began to pause. To turn toward the direction of the news. Aedion skewered a Morath soldier on his sword before he fully understood the words. The queen has come. The queen is at the front line. For a foolish heartbeat, he scanned the sky for a blast of flame. None came. Dread settled into his heart, fear deeper than any he’d known. The queen is at the front line—at the right flank. Lysandra. Lysandra had taken on Aelin’s skin. He whirled toward the nonexistent right flank. Just as the golden-haired queen in borrowed armor faced two ilken, a sword and shield in her hands. No. The word was a punch through his body, greater than any blow he’d felt. Aedion began running, shoving through his own men. Toward the too-distant right flank. Toward the shape-shifter facing those ilken, no claws or fangs or anything to defend her beyond that sword and shield. No. He pushed men out of the way, the snow and mud hindering each step as the two ilken pressed closer to the shifter-queen. Savoring the kill. But the soldiers slowed their fleeing. Some even re-formed the lines when the call went out again. The queen is here. The queen fights at the front line. Exactly why she had done it. Why she had donned the defenseless, human form. No. The ilken towered over her, grinning with their horrible, mangled faces. Too far. He was still too damn far to do anything— One of the ...
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