Stories were what Gansey had. Without the stories and all of their promise, the last 8 years of Gansey's life would have meant nothing. Gansey had followed stories all over the world, had shared them with anyone who would listen, and now had some for himself. Glendower was a story to share. Cabeswater was a story for only some.

Gansey's gaze didn't falter. Sacrifice is exactly what it was, and Gansey had done it without a second thought. He'd do it again. No other innocent person was going to die because of him.

"A life for a life," he said simply. Ronan didn't have to understand. Gansey wasn't going to apologize. In one fell swoop, he'd saved his best friend and kissed his true love. Not a part of him -- neither Cabeswater nor Richard Gansey III -- regretted it. In that moment, he'd been brave. He'd been King.