The queen looked at the nails, the teeth, and grinned.
Honestly–it was a shame that Manon had to kill her.

And Elide sobbed as Manon Blackbeak emerged, smiling faintly.
As Manon Blackbeak saw her and Aelin, knee-to-knee in the grass, and mouthed one word.

Hope.

How can I take away somebody who means the world to someone else? Even if she is my enemy.

But perhaps the monsters needed to look out for each other every now and then.

I'm going to call in old debts and promises. To raise an army of assassins and thieves and exiles and commoners.

Aelin was no savior to rally behind, but a cataclysm to be weathered.