>>Aelin
My legs felt frozen to the ground, my spine stiff, and my heart—
It was burning.
Shame still coiled deep in my chest, but now it was joined by a flicker of resistance, of refusal. Of… defiance.
I had power. Somewhere inside me, I knew I did. And yet here I was, cowering behind someone again. Hiding behind a frail woman and then a warrior's sword, waiting to be protected while the world burned outside.
I had something powerful enough to fight these monsters, to find their cores without much effort, and yet…
I wasn't just someone anymore. I was the queen.
And I didn't want to be someone who ran.
My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I slowly met Ariston's eyes. He noticed the hesitation, the way I didn't move.
His expression softened—but only a little. "Princess, please," he said, quieter now, "we don't have time."
But I didn't lift my hand.
I looked past him—at the shattered monster on the floor, at Seraphine
I didn't move.
