The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Chambers of Nyktos from the road. I wondered what kind of
shape the Temple was in. Sighing, I faced forward. My heart
skipped in my chest as I looked ahead and saw the Pillars of
Atlantia once again. The marble and limestone columns
were so high they nearly reached the clouds. Shadowy
markings etched the stone in a language I couldn’t read.
This was the resting place of Theon, the God of Accord and
War, and his sister Lailah, the Goddess of Peace and
Vengeance. The columns were connected to a wall that was
as large as the Rise that surrounded the capital of Solis and
continued on as far as I could see.
Home.
I still felt that way. It was the skip in my chest. The
sense of rightness. I looked over my shoulder at Casteel to
tell him as much, but I picked up on the anger brewing
inside him. It pooled in my mouth like acid, and his concern
was a too-thick cream in the back of my throat.
“I’m okay,” I told him.
“I wish you’d stop saying that.” His grip tightened on
the reins. “You’re not okay.”
“Am, too,” I insisted.
“You’re tired.” Casteel looped his arm loosely around my
waist. “You’ve been through a lot. There’s no way you’re
okay.”
I stared at his grip on the reins. Sometimes I wondered if
he could feel my emotions or read my thoughts. He
couldn’t, but he knew me better than those who’d known
me for years. It was sort of amazing how that had happened
in such a relatively short period of time. But right now, I
almost wished he didn’t. I blinked back the hot rush of
pointless tears. I didn’t even understand why I suddenly felt
so emotional, but I didn’t want it weighing on his mind. I
started to reach for him but stopped, dropping my hand into
my lap instead. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“For what?”