She realized that Rowan saw each of those thoughts and more as he reached into his tunic and pulled out a dagger. Her dagger. He extended it to her, it’s long blade gleaming as if...

Aelin is alive.

She should not remember what it was like to be free.

They had survived, when so many had not. And no one ­else could understand what it was like to bear it, unless they had lost as much.

Why bother? Maybe the world’s not worth saving.” She knew he meant it, too. Those lifeless eyes spoke volumes.

Her cheek against the moss, the young princess she had been – Aelin Galathynius – reached a hand for her. ‘Get up’, she said softly.

Aelin Galathynius smiled at her, hand still outreached. “Get up.” the princess said.Celaena reached across the earth between them and brushed her fingers against Aelin’s.And arose.