Vex’ahlia calls in a favour and Aelin answers — because Vex doesn’t ask twice and whatever is out there isn’t something Aelin can walk away from in good conscience. What Vex doesn’t mention is the rest of them. Seven companions, a dragon problem, and something ancient and unstable sitting underneath all of it that nobody fully understands yet. Aelin wasn’t supposed to stay. She’s very good at not staying. But then there’s a goliath who calls her a goddess with complete sincerity, a bard who is somehow already her problem, and a rogue in the corner who hasn’t said much but notices everything — including, she suspects, rather more than she’d like. She was only supposed to be here until the job was done.