Prologue

Aelin had lost track of time in the iron box. She had been taken out of the box from time to time, but she never saw the sun or moon. Aelin was always in iron shackles. Knowing that Maeve was never going to let her die, Aelin was drawing up all her magic. She had a plan to unfold.

Cairn strutted through the Eastern dungeon, whip unfurling. With a slight nod to the guards, Cairn opened the iron box. He smirked.

"Not so powerful now are you, Majesty?" Said Cairn. Aelin just looked at him silently.

Then, the sound of chains clattering echoed through hallway. With a small smile, Aelin lit up the dungeon.

Chapter 1

Rowan flew for three days straight to Wendlyn. He crept through the halls of the fortress. He couldn't say he'd always loved this fortress, but he still knew it well enough that he knew where he was going, and how many guards were where. Rowan soon went down to the dungeon. Maeve probably would have kept Aelin's iron box in her throne room, but she'd get disdainful with the blood all over. Once Rowan reached the dungeon, he knocked out the guards and went in.

Aelin smiled a bit on the roof of a house in Doranelle. This reminded her of when she first saw Rowan in his hawk form. She would get on the next ship to Adarlan. Aelin thought of her mate, Rowan. She also thought of her court, Lysandra, Aedion, and Elide. Aelin had missed them so much during her "stay" in the iron box.

On a completely different note, Aelin thought of how eventually she will have to die. When it comes to it, it will be undoubtedly helpful if she died and made the new Lock in Erilea.

"Looking for someone?" Sneered Cairn. Rowan was both relieved and confused. Aelin had gotten out. The entire back of the dungeon had been burnt to cinders.

"It seems you lost your most valuable prisoner," said Rowan, slowly turning around.

"Yes, well, you also didn't anticipate you coming here sooner or later. I hope you will enjoy your prison cell, " said Cairn. "If you had come sooner, you could have been next to your poor mate's box."

"And what makes you think you can get me in a cell?"

"Well," said a smirking Cairn, "you obviously don't see that, or smell for that matter, Damarcus the new blood-sworn. "

Damarcus said, "You know, I'm a bit disappointed. I know Daemati have not appeared for a while, but you'd think Maeve would have her blood-sworn have stronger mind shields that are up 24/7."

Rowan just walked into the closest cell, glaring. Cairn locked the cell door.

"You see, with Daemati as strong as Damarcus, mind shields don't do too much. He convince nearly anyone to do what he wants," said Cairn.

"When I get out, I will kill you very slowly," snarled Rowan.

"We'll see about that," said Cairn, and walked out followed by Damarcus.