The world was still burning.

The Hollowbone Valley steamed with wombfire. Ash clung to my naked skin, but I didn’t feel it. I was no longer flesh. Or rather, I was more than flesh now.

I stood barefoot on the sacred grove where the First Mother had once bled the world into being.

And I wore a crown made of bone and smoke.

Not one was placed on me.

One that grew from my skull.

Kael stood at the edge of the crater, his eyes wide not with lust, but fear.

“Ardyn… what have you ...