The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

more clearly. He didn’t expect to bear the weight of the
crown for much longer.
“He will not survive the night,” Casteel assured him.
“None of them will.”
King Valyn nodded and then hesitated for a moment.
“Come to us when you are both ready. We will be waiting.”
I watched Casteel’s father make his way around us, the
wolven clearing a path for him.
“Wait. Please.” Aware of Casteel’s stare, I turned to
where his father stopped before the door. He looked back at
me. “You were at the ruins in the Wastelands. Thank you for
helping Casteel—for helping me,” I said, hoping I wasn’t
proven a fool later for thanking him. “Thank you.”
King Valyn’s head tilted to the side. “You don’t have to
thank me. You’re family now. Of course, I would help you.”
Home.
Kieran sat beside me in his wolven form as I stood
between the cypresses, under the splintered beams of
moonlight. The cliff’s edge overlooked Saion Cove’s nowdark
waters, reflecting the deep blues and blacks of the
night sky. From here, I could see the city lights glittering like
stars coming to rest beyond the trees and valleys. It all
looked like a beautiful canvas, almost unreal. It reminded
me a little of Carsodonia, but even in the middle of the
night, the bay would be full of ships, transporting people
and goods in and out. But it was peaceful here, with the
sound of the waterfalls and distant calls of nightbirds, and I
was shocked and relieved to feel the same as I had when I
stood in the Chambers of Nyktos.
I still felt like I was home.