Rowan stood with his queen in the rain, breathing in her scent, and let her steal his warmth for as long as she needed.

Even when we’re apart tomorrow, I’ll be with you every step of the way. And every step after—wherever that may be.

Tell me that we’ll get through tomorrow. Tell me that we’ll survive the war. Tell me—” She swallowed hard. “Tell me that even if I lead us all to ruin, we’ll burn in hell together.

I spent centuries wandering the world, from empires to kingdoms t wastelands, never settling, never stopping - not for a moment. I was always looking toward the horizon, always wondering what waited across the next ocean, over the next mountain. But I think ... I think that whole time, all these centuries, I was just looking for you.

It would all be fine, even if it went to hell, so long as he was here with her.

Her scent hit him. For a second, he could only breathe it deep into his lungs,his Fae instincts roaring that this was his family, this was his queen, this was Aelin. He would have known her even if he were blind. Even if there was another scent entwined with hers. Staggeringly powerful and ancient and—male. Interesting.