The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

limb. I pray that the death you dealt them was slow and
painful.”
“It wasn’t slow for most.” An image surfaced of them
clutching their heads and screaming as their bodies
contorted. “But it was painful for all.”
“Good.” His gaze held mine. “Don’t spend a second on
guilt or pity. None of them—and especially not Alastir—
deserve that.”
I nodded.
“I promise you if anyone else was involved in this, they
will be found, and they will pay. The same goes for anyone
else who seeks to threaten you. No matter who.”
He meant those words, and instinct told me that no one
was excluded. Not even his parents.
“And I promise the same to you. I will allow no one to
harm you,” I swore, the center of my chest thrumming.
“I know.” Casteel took my hands and pulled me down
so I was sitting on the edge of the soft bed. A long moment
passed. “I’m your husband, right?” he asked, remaining
crouched.
My brows lifted at the unexpected question. “Yes?”
“Now, I don’t know a whole lot about being a husband,”
he said as he placed my hands in my lap, and I really had no
idea where he was going with this. “Do you know what’s
carved into our rings? It’s in old Atlantian,” he told me when
I shook my head. “Both say the same thing. Always and
forever. That is us.”
“Yes,” I whispered, my throat tightening. “It is.”
“Obviously, I don’t have experience in the whole
marriage department, but be that as it may, you’re my wife.
That means we don’t pretend anymore, correct? That,
always and forever, we are real with one another.”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Not about anything. Not even when you don’t want me
to worry. I know you’re strong and so resilient it’s fucking
unbelievable, but you don’t have to always be strong with