The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

the kiyou were given mortal form. Not to serve the
elemental bloodlines, but to serve the children of the gods.
If the deities hadn’t…” He trailed off with a shake of his
head. “When the gods gave the kiyou mortal form, we were
bonded to them and their children on an instinctual level
that is passed down generation after generation. And that
instinctive bond recognizes you.”
I understood what he was saying on a technical level,
but fundamentally, it was utterly insane to me. “That’s
just… I’m just Poppy, blood of the gods or not—”
“You’re not just Poppy, and that has nothing to do with
you not becoming a vampry,” Casteel placed a hand on my
shoulder. “And I mean it, Princess. I can’t say for sure that
you’re not some sort of deity. What I saw you do? What I’ve
seen and heard that you have done? You’re unlike any of us,
and I still can’t believe I didn’t put it together when I first
saw that light around you.”
“How did you not know?” I looked up at Kieran. “If my
blood really is that potent, how did no wolven know what I
was?”
“I think we did, Poppy,” Kieran answered. “But just like
Casteel, we didn’t connect what we were seeing or feeling
when we were around you.”
Understanding crept into me. “That’s why you said I
smelled like something dead—”
“I said you smelled of death,” Kieran corrected with a
sigh. “Not that you smelled like something dead. Death is
power, the old kind.”
“Death is power?” I repeated, not entirely sure at first
how that made sense. But then it occurred to me. “Death
and life are two sides of the same coin. Nyktos is…”
“He’s the God of Life and Death.” Kieran’s gaze flicked
to Casteel. “And this explains why you thought her blood
tasted old.”
“Ancient,” Casteel murmured, and I started to frown.
“Her blood tastes ancient.”