The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

everything. There is nothing greater than her, and I do
mean nothing.”
My lips parted on a breathy inhale as I stared at Casteel.
A messy, little ball of emotions climbed its way up my
throat.
“I do not doubt that, son. I was there when you came to
and realized that she was gone. I saw you, and I have never
seen you like that. I will never forget it,” his father said, and
my head snapped in his direction. That was twice now that
someone had said that. “And I can even understand your
need to protect her. Gods, do I understand that.” He
dragged a hand over his face, stopping to scratch at the
beard. “But as the King, I cannot approve of what you did.”
Casteel’s hand slipped from mine as several of the
wolven looked at the King. A cold, utterly frightening sort of
anger brewed inside the Prince—the kind of rage I knew had
been one of the reasons he had come to be known as the
Dark One. “I wasn’t aware that I asked for your approval.”
My heart stuttered as his father snorted. “I think that’s
obvious, considering that the deed is already done.”
“And?” Casteel challenged in a voice that was too soft.
Too calm.
Tiny hairs rose all over my body as my palm became
damp around the hilt of the wolven dagger. A great sense of
wariness rose from the wolven. They became eerily still.
“Wait,” I said, unsure if I was speaking to them or if I spoke
to every living creature in the room. “Casteel took a huge
risk, one that many would agree he shouldn’t have taken,
but he did. It’s over. I’m not a vampry.” I thought of the
blood hunger I’d experienced upon awakening. “Or at the
very least, I am not like the others. And while he may be
deserving of the lecture—”
His father arched a brow while Casteel frowned at me.
“It feels a little irrelevant right now,” I stressed.
“You’re right,” King Valyn said after a moment. “He’s
lucky. Or you are. Or I and the entire kingdom are because