The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

swallowed hard, wanting to forget what that had felt like.
Wanting to forget that Casteel had experienced that over
and over for decades. How had he found himself? I was in
awe of him, and I was in love with him.
I love you. Those words repeated themselves over and
over in my mind—words that were tattooed on my skin and
carved into my bones. What I felt for him was far more
powerful than words, but words were important. Of all
people, I knew the power of speaking up, of being able to do
so honestly and openly without hesitation. I knew the
importance of not holding back now because when I’d lain
there in those ruins, with my blood leaking out of my body,
I’d never thought I would have the chance to say those
words to him.
My fingers curled around his side as I met his gaze once
more. “I love you.”
Casteel’s hand halted its movements under my hair and
halfway up my back. “What?” he whispered. His eyes had
widened slightly, and his pupils were dilated a little. I could
see his surprise and felt it like a rush of cold air against my
skin. Why did he seem so astonished? He had to know.
But Casteel couldn’t read emotions like I could. I had
told him how he made me feel and showed it when I held
the blade to my throat during the battle at Spessa’s End—
more than ready to end my life if it meant saving his. But I’d
never said the words.
And I needed to. Desperately.
I pressed the tips of my fingers against his cheek as I
drew in a shallow breath. “I love you, Casteel,” I said. His
chest stilled against mine and then rose sharply. “I love—”
Casteel kissed me, his lips moving over mine so gently,
so tenderly. It was a sweet and slow kiss as if it were the
very first time our lips had ever come together, as if he
were learning the shape and feel of my mouth against his.
He shuddered, and a wave of tears reached my eyes.