“
Behind them, across the hall, the dancers shattered their roses on the floor, and Aedion grinned at his queen as the entire world went to hell.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
She looked at them, at the three males who meant everything—more than everything. Then she smiled with every last shred of courage, of desperation, of hope for the glimmer of that glorious future. “Let’s go rattle the stars.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Ten years of shadows, but no longer. Light up the darkness, Majesty.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Aelin took a step forward.
One step, as if in a daze.
She loosed a shuddering breath, and a small, whimpering noise came out of her - a sob.
And then she was sprinting down the alley, flying as though the winds themselves pushed at her heels.
She flung herself on the male, crashing into him hard enough that anyone else might have gone rocking back into the stone wall.
But the male grabbed her to him, his massive arms wrapping around her tightly and lifting her up. Nesryn made to approach, but Aedion stopped her with a hand on her arm.
Aelin was laughing as she cried, and the male was just holding her, his hooded head buried in her neck. As if he were breathing her in.
"Who is that?" Nesryn asked.
Aedion smiled. "Rowan.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Whatever you had to do to survive, whatever you did from spite or rage or selfishness … I don’t give a damn. You’re here—and you’re perfect. You always were, and you always will be.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
…Aedion Ashryer let himself be led into the darkness…
He did not mind dying.
Though he still wished he’d gotten a chance to see her—just once.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
She wondered whether the queen knew. Rowan did. Aedion did. And Arobynn did. He had understood that with Rowan, she was no longer afraid of him; with Rowan, Arobynn was now utterly unnecessary. Irrelevant.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
You deserve to be happy,” he said. And meant it. She deserved the joy he so often glimpsed on her face when Rowan was near—deserved the wicked laughter she shared with Aedion, the comfort and teasing with Lysandra. She deserved happiness, perhaps more than anyone.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
A gold coin says he misses," Fenrys rasped.
"Save your breath for healing," Aelin snapped.
"Make it two," Aedion said behind them. "I say he hits."
"You can all go to hell," Aelin snarled. But then added, "Make it five. Ten says he downs it with the first shot.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
Gods help him when Hasar and Aedion met.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6))
“
Aedion touched her shoulder. “Welcome home, Aelin.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
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.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
She knew he meant it. He’d burn the library, the city or the whole world to ashes if she asked him. It was their bond, marked by blood and scent and something else she couldn’t place. A tether as strong as the one that bound her to her parents. Stronger, in some ways.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
Tell Aelin Galathynius that Wendlyn has never forgotten Evalin Ashryver,” Galan said to him, to Aedion. “Or Terrasen.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
Gavriel smiled at him. "Close the gate, Aedion," was all his father said. And then Gavriel stepped beyond the gates. That golden shield spreading thin.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7))
“
The useless sentries in the watchtower are now all half in love with you,” he lied. “One said he wanted to marry you.”
A low snarl. He yielded a foot but held eye contact with her as he grinned. “But you know what I told them? I said that they didn't stand a chance in hell. Because I am going to marry you,” he promised her. “One day. I am going to marry you. I'll be generous and let you pick when, even if it's ten years from now. Or twenty. But one day, you are going to be my wife.”
He shrugged. “Princess Lysandra Ashryver sounds nice, doesn't it?
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
A smile tugged at her lips, and her eyes - their eyes - sparkled. 'Hello, Aedion.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Rowan’s head was still angled as he asked, “Your mothers were cousins, Prince, but who sired
you?”
Aedion lounged in his chair. “Does it matter?”
“Do you know?” Rowan pressed.
Aedion shrugged. “She never told me—or anyone.”
“I’m guessing you have some idea?” Aelin asked.
Rowan said, “He doesn’t look familiar to you?”
“He looks like me.”
“Yes, but—” He sighed. “You met his father. A few weeks ago. Gavriel
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
You survived; I survived. We’re together again. I once begged the gods to let me see you — if only for a moment. To see you and know you’d made it. Just once; that was all I ever hoped for.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
One day. I am going to marry you. I'll be generous and let you pick when, even if it's ten years from now. Or twenty. But one day, you are going to be my wife.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
and Aedion grinned at his queen as the entire world went to hell.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
And Chaol was afraid, but not for himself. He was afraid of what would come when Aedion and Aelin were reunited. For he'd seen in her that same glittering ember that made people look and listen. Had seen her stalk into the council with Councilor Mullison's head and smile at the King of Adarlan, every man in that room enthralled and petrified by the dark whirlwind of her spirit. The two of them together, both of them lethal, working to build an army, ignite their people... He was afraid of what they would do to his kingdom.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
Why don’t you get to the point,” she drawled. “I want to have a few hours of sleep tonight.” Not a lie. With every breath, exhaustion wrapped tighter around her bones.
“I would have thought,” Arobynn said, “given how close you two were and your abilities, that you’d somehow be able to sense it. Or at least hear of it, considering what he was accused of.”
The prick was enjoying every second of this. If Dorian was dead or hurt—
“Your cousin Aedion has been imprisoned for treason—for conspiring with the rebels here in Rifthold to depose the king and put you back on the throne.”
The world stopped.
Stopped, and started, then stopped again.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Aedion shrugged. “I find pleasure in both, depending on my mood and the person.” One of his former lovers still remained one of his closest friends—and most skilled commanders in his Bane. “Attraction is attraction.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
So Aedion leaned in, and kissed Lysandra, kissed the woman who should have been his wife, his mate, one last time. “I love you.” Sorrow filled her beautiful face. “And I you.” She gestured to the western gate, to the soldiers waiting for its final cleaving. “Until the end?” Aedion hefted his shield, flipping the Sword of Orynth in his hand, freeing the stiffness that had seized his fingers. “I will find you again,” he promised her. “In whatever life comes after this.” Lysandra nodded. “In every lifetime.” Together, they turned toward the stairs that would take them down to the gates.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7))
“
I like the new scar Captain.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
I’ll make one more promise,” she said, folding her bloodied hand into a fist as she lowered it before them. Darrow tensed.
Her blood dripped onto the sacred soil of Terrasen, and her smile turned lethal. Even Aedion held his breath beside her.
Aelin said, “I promise you that no matter how far I go, no matter the cost, when you call for my aid, I will come. I promise you on my blood, on my family’s name, that I will not turn my back on Terrasen as you have turned your back on me. I promise you, Darrow, that when the day comes and you crawl for my help, I will put my kingdom before my pride and not kill you for this. I think the true punishment will be seeing me on the throne for the rest of your miserable life.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
But the king was frowning. "I expected you a month ago."
Aedion actually had the nerve to shrug. "Apologies. The Staghorns were slammed with a final winter storm. I left when I could."
Every person in the hall held their breath.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
The two princes stared at each other, one gold and one silver, one her twin and one her soul-bonded. There was nothing friendly in the stares, nothing human - two Fae males locked in some unspoken dominance battle.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Lysandra's smile grew. "I like your fangs," she said sweetly.
Aelin choked on her grape. Of course Lysandra did.
Rowan gave a little grin that usually sent Aelin running. "Are you studying them so you can replicate them when you take my form, shape-shifter?"
Aelin's fork froze in midair.
"Bullshit," Aedion said.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
At dawn, Aedion had burst in, demanding why they weren’t ready to leave—to go home. Lysandra had shifted into a ghost leopard and chased him out. Then she returned, lingering in her massive feline form, and again sprawled beside Aelin. They managed to get another thirty minutes of sleep before Aedion came back and chucked a bucket of water on them. He was lucky to escape alive.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Rowan Whitethorn is a legend. And so is his—what do you call them?”
“Cadre,” she said glumly.
“The six of them …” Aedion loosed a breath. “We used to tell stories about them around fires. Their battles and exploits and adventures.”
She sighed through her nose. “Please, please don’t ever tell him that. I’ll never hear the end of it, and he’ll use it in every argument we have.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
The king picked up his goblet, swirling the wine inside. 'I didn't receive word that your legion was here.'
"They're not."
Chaol braced for the execution order, praying he wouldn't be the one to do it. The king said, "I told you to bring them, General."
"Here, I was thinking you wanted the plesure of my company.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
Are you ashamed of what I've done?" she dared to ask.
His brow creased. "Why would you ever think that?"
She couldn't quite look him in the eye as she ran a finger down the blanket. "Are you?"
Aedion was silent long enough that she lifted her head - but found him gazing toward the door, as though he could see through it, across the city, to the captain. When he turned to her, his handsome face was open - soft in a way she doubted many ever saw. "Never," he said. "I could never be ashamed of you.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
Lorcan rolled his eyes, and Aelin deemed that acceptance enough as she asked them all, “Did anyone bother to sleep?” Only Fenrys lifted his hand. Aedion frowned at the dark stain on the stones. “We’re putting a rug over it,” Aelin told him. Lysandra laughed. “Something tacky, I hope.” “I’m thinking pink and purple. Embroidered with flowers. Just what Erawan would have loved.” The Fae males gaped at them, Ren blinking. Elide ducked her head as she chuckled. Rowan snorted again. “At least this court won’t be boring.” Aelin put a hand on her chest, the portrait of outrage. “You were honestly worried it would be?” “Gods help us,” Lorcan grumbled.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7))
“
Her heart—it had been meant for her heart.
And he had taken that arrow for her.
The killing calm spread through her like hoarfrost. She’d kill them all. Slowly.
They reached the second bridge just as Aedion’s barrage of arrows halted, his quiver no doubt emptied. She shoved Rowan onto the planks. “Run,” she said.
“No—”.
“Run.”
It was a voice that she’d never heard herself use—a queen’s voice— that came out, along with the blind yank she made on the blood oath that bound them together.
His eyes flashed with fury, but his body moved as though she’d compelled him. He staggered across the bridge, just as—
Aelin whirled, drawing Goldryn and ducking just as the Wing Leader’s sword swiped for her head.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4))
“
So what if you burned a few books? Those librarians deserve it. When we're older, maybe we'll burn it to the ground together."
She knew he meant it. He'd burn the library, the city, or the whole world to ashes if she asked him. It was their bond, marked by blood and scent and something else she couldn't place. A tether as strong as the one that bound her to her parents, stronger in some ways.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
But her attention was on the prince across from her, who seemed utterly ignored by his father and his own court, shoved down near the end with her and Aedion.
He ate so beautifully, she thought, watching him cut into his roast chicken. Not a drop moved out of place, not a scrap fell on the table. She had decent manners, while Aedion was hopeless, his plate littered with bones and crumbs scattered everywhere, even some on her own dress. She’d kicked him for it, but his attention was too focused on the royals down the table.
So both she and the Crown Prince were to be ignored, then. She looked at the boy again, who was around her age, she supposed. His skin was from the winter, his blue-black hair neatly trimmed; his sapphire eyes lifted from his plate to meet hers.
“You eat like a fine lady,” she told him.
His lips thinned and color stained his ivory cheeks. Across from her, Quinn, her uncle’s Captain of the Guard, choked on his water.
The prince glanced at his father—still busy with her uncle—before replying. Not for approval, but in fear. “I eat like a prince,” Dorian said quietly.
“You do not need to cut your bread with a fork and knife,” she said. A faint pounding started in her head, followed by a flickering warmth, but she ignored it. The hall was hot, as they’d shut all the windows for some reason.
“Here in the North,” she went on as the prince’s knife and fork remained where they were on his dinner roll, “you need not be so formal. We don’t put on airs.”
Hen, one of Quinn’s men, coughed pointedly from a few seats down. She could almost hear him saying, Says the little lady with her hair pressed into careful curls and wearing her new dress that she threatened to skin us over if we got dirty.
She gave Hen an equally pointed look, then returned her attention to the foreign prince. He’d already looked down at his food again, as if he expected to be neglected for the rest of the night. And he looked lonely enough that she said, “If you like, you could be my friend.” Not one of the men around them said anything, or coughed.
Dorian lifted his chin. “I have a friend. He is to be Lord of Anielle someday, and the fiercest warrior in the land.
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3))
“
Tell the others,” Aelin breathed, trying to find the right words. “Tell the others that I am sorry. Tell Lysandra to remember her promise, and that I will never stop being grateful. Tell Aedion … Tell him it is not his fault, and that …” Her voice cracked. “I wish he’d been able to take the oath, but Terrasen will look to him now, and the lines must not break.” Elide nodded, tears sliding down her blood-splattered face. “And tell Rowan …” Aelin’s soul splintered as she saw the iron box the escorts now carried between them. An ancient, iron coffin. Big enough for one person. Crafted for her. “And tell Rowan,” Aelin said, fighting her own sob, “that I’m sorry I lied. But tell him it was all borrowed time anyway. Even before today, I knew it was all just borrowed time, but I still wish we’d had more of it.” She fought past her trembling mouth. “Tell him he has to fight. He must save Terrasen, and remember the vows he made to me. And tell him … tell him thank you—for walking that dark path with me back to the light.” They
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))
“
Aedion fell to his knees in the sand as Wendlyn’s armada spread before them. I promise you that no matter how far I go, no matter the cost, when you call for my aid, I will come, Aelin had told him she’d sworn to Darrow. I’m going to call in old debts and promises. To raise an army of assassins and thieves and exiles and commoners. And she had. She had meant and accomplished every word of it. Rowan counted the ships that slid over the horizon. Counted the ships in their own armada. Added Rolfe’s—and the Mycenians he was rallying in the North. “Holy gods,” Dorian breathed as Wendlyn’s armada kept spreading wider and wider. Tears slid down Aedion’s face as he silently sobbed. Where are our allies, Aelin? Where are our armies? She had taken the criticism—taken it, because he knew she hadn’t wanted to disappoint them if she failed. Rowan put a hand on Aedion’s shoulder. All of it for Terrasen, she had said that day she’d revealed she’d schemed her way into getting Arobynn’s fortune. And Rowan knew that every step she had taken, every plan and calculation, every secret and desperate gamble … For Terrasen. For them. For a better world. Aelin
”
”
Sarah J. Maas (Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass, #5))