She knew it was the latter that sent him flying these days.
She would never stop being grateful for that. For the light, the life in Rowan’s eyes.
The same light she knew shone in her own.
Aelin reached the heavy curtains, feeling for the handle to the balcony door. With a final smile to Rowan, she slipped into the morning sun and chill breeze.
She went still, her hands slackening at her sides, as she beheld what the dawn had revealed.
“Rowan,” she whispered.
From the rustle of sheets, she knew he was instantly awake. Stalking toward her, even as he shoved on his pants.
But Aelin didn’t turn as he rushed onto the balcony. And halted, too.
In silence, they stared. Bells began pealing; people shouted.
Not with fear. But in wonder.
A hand rising to her mouth, Aelin scanned the broad sweep of the world.
The mountain wind brushed away her tears, carrying with it a song, ancient and lovely. From the very heart of Oakwald. The very heart of the earth.
Rowan twined his fingers in hers and whispered, awe in every word, “For you, Fireheart. All of it is for you.”
Aelin wept then. Wept in joy that lit her heart, brighter than any magic could ever be.
For across every mountain, spread beneath the green canopy of Oakwald, carpeting the entire Plain of Theralis, the kingsflame was blooming.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Finishing up a series that I’ve been working on for (literally) half of my life is no easy task. But finding a way to properly thank all the people who have played a part in making this dream of mine come true is equally daunting.
I suppose I should start with my parents, to whom this book is dedicated and whose love for reading inspired my own. Thank you for reading to me every night when I was growing up, for never telling me I was too old for fairy tales, and for empowering me to follow my dreams.
None of this would have been possible without my fearless and lovely agent, Tamar Rydzinski. Tamar: You signed me when I was a twenty-two-year-old unpublished writer, and believed in this series when no one else did. Working with you these past ten years has been a privilege and a joy—thank you for being my champion, my fairy godmother, and most important, my friend.
Over the course of this series, I’ve had the honor of working with several fantastic editors. To Margaret Miller: thank you for taking a chance on this book, and for your insightful and genius editorial guidance throughout the years. I am a better writer for having worked with you. To Michelle Nagler and Cat Onder: thank you for your support, your vision, and your kindness. To Laura Bernier: thank you for all your help with Tower of Dawn—working with you on it was such a delight. To Bethany Strout: Thank you so freaking much for all your wonderful and crucial feedback on Kingdom of Ash. You helped me shape this book into something I’m truly proud of. And to Kamilla Benko: we haven’t been working together that long, but it’s already such a pleasure!
To Lynette Noni: thank you, thank you, thank you for your insanely brilliant notes on this book, for reading it multiple times, and for all those last-minute catches. I’m so glad our paths crossed in Australia all those years ago.
To the entire team at Bloomsbury, present and past, who have worked so tirelessly on these books: Cindy Loh, Cristina Gilbert, Kathleen Farrar, Nigel Newton, Rebecca McNally, Emma Hopkin, Lizzy Mason, Erica Barmash, Emily Ritter, Alona Fryman, Alexis Castellanos, Courtney Griffin, Beth Eller, Jenny Collins, Phoebe Dyer, Nick Parker, Lily Yengle, Frank Bumbalo, Donna Mark, John Candell, Yelena Safronova, Melissa Kavonic, Oona Patrick, Liz Byer, Diane Aronson, Kerry Johnson, Christine Ma, Linda Minton, Chandra Wohleber, Jill Amack, Emma Saska, Donna Gauthier, Doug White, Nicholas Church, Claire Henry, Lucy MacKay-Sim, Elise Burns, Andrea Kearney, Maia Fjord, Laura Main Ellen, Sian Robertson, Emily Moran, Ian Lamb, Emma Bradshaw, Fabia Ma, Grace Whooley, Alice Grigg, Joanna Everard, Jacqueline Sells, Tram-Anh Doan, Beatrice Cross, Jade Westwood, Cesca Hopwood, Jet Purdie, Saskia Dunn, Sonia Palmisano, Catriona Feeney, Hermione Davis, Hannah Temby, Grainne Reidy, Kate Sederstrom, Hali Baumstein, Charlotte Davis, Jennifer Gonzalez, Veronica Gonzalez, Elizabeth Tzetzo. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this series a reality. I adore you all.
To the team at the Laura Dail Literary Agency: you guys are badasses and I love you. To Giovanna Petta and Grace Beck: thanks so much for your help. To Jon Cassir and the team at CAA: thank you for being so fantastic to work with, and for finding such good homes for my books. To Maura Wogan and Victoria Cook: thank you for being such a stellar legal team. To David Arntzen: thank you for all your guidance and kindness these years. To Cassie Homer: thank you for being the best damn assistant out there! To Talexi: thank you for the gorgeous covers!
A heartfelt and massive thank-you to all my marvelous publishers around the world: Bosnia: Sahinpasic, Braziclass="underline" Record, Bulgaria: Egmont, China: Honghua Culture, Croatia: Fokus, Czech Republic: Albatros, Denmark: Tellerup, Estonia: Pikoprit, Finland: Gummerus, France: Editions du Seuil, Georgia: Palitra, Germany: DTV Junior, Greece: Psivhogios, Hungary: Konyvmolykepzo, Israeclass="underline" Kor’im, Italy: Mondadori, Japan: Villagebooks, Korea: Athena, Lithuania: Alma Littera, Netherlands: Meulenhof/Van Goor, Norway: Gyldendal, Poland: Wilga, Portugaclass="underline" Marcador, Romania: RAO, Russia: Azbooka Atticus, Serbia: Laguna, Slovakia: Slovart, Slovenia: Ucila International, Spain: Santillana & Planeta, Sweden: Modernista, Taiwan: Sharp Point Press, Thailand: Nanmee Books, Turkey: Dogan Kitap, Ukraine: Vivat. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll get to meet all of you in person one day!
I would not have gotten this far if it was not for some of my very first readers: the Fictionpress community. How can I convey my gratitude for all you have done? Your love for these characters and this world gave me the courage to try to get published. Thank you for staying until the very end.
One of the best parts of this journey has been the friends I’ve made along the way. Thank you and endless love to Louisse Ang, Steph Brown, Jennifer Kelly, Alice Fanchiang, Diyana Wan, Laura Ashforth, Alexa Santiago, Rachel Domingo, Jessica Reigle, Jennifer Armentrout, Christina Hobbs, Lauren Billings, and Kelly Grabowski. To Charlie Bowater: Getting to know you has been such a highlight of my career, and your incredible art has inspired me in so many ways. Thank you for all your hard work (and for being a total genius).
To my family: Thank you for your unwavering love. It has carried me farther than you know. To my in-laws, Linda and Dennis: thank you for taking such good care of Josh and me these past few months (okay, let’s be honest: for the past fourteen years!), and for being such wonderful and selfless grandparents.
To you, dear reader: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. None of this would have been possible without you. I could write another thousand pages about how grateful I am, and will always be. But in the end, all I can think to say is that I hope that your dreams, whatever they may be, come true. I hope you pursue those dreams with your whole heart; I hope you work toward them no matter how long it takes, no matter how unlikely the odds. Believe in yourself, even if it feels that the world does not. Believe in yourself, and it will carry you farther than you could imagine. You can make it. You will make it. I’m rooting for you.
To Annie, my canine companion and (other) best friend: You sat by my side (… or in my lap, or on the couch, or at my feet) while I wrote these books. If I could, I’d gift you an endless supply of rabbit chews for all your unconditional love—and for all the happiness you’ve brought me. I love you forever and ever, baby pup.