I like to think of this as one of the big moments for Dorian starting on his journey to becoming a man and a king. Ultimately, that journey has little to do with Aelin herself, but these are the initial stirrings that make him realize how complacent he’s been with his life—and that he might become something far more than that. Dorian is one of my favorite characters in this series, in part because he goes on this incredible journey from this sort of idle, flirtatious prince to this badass king who has to make very hard decisions. Aelin is basically the shove out the door that he needs to start that journey. And I love that even though they don’t wind up together, the bond Dorian and Aelin build in this book becomes one of the things that helps save the world by the end of the series.