The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

I took a shallow breath. “If the people in the Chambers
had changed their minds before it was too late and they had
survived, I wouldn’t want to see them killed now.”
Casteel opened his mouth as he lowered his glass to the
cream-hued linen covering the table.
“I know what you’re going to say. You would see them
killed. I would see them given a second chance if they were
misled. And after,” I stressed, “they were punished
appropriately. It’s obvious they were taught or…
indoctrinated into this way of thinking. And those who may
have known what the others were involved in? The ones
who have concerns now? That can be changed.”
He eyed me as he dragged his fingers over the rim of
his glass. “You really believe that?”
“Yes. I do. People can’t be killed simply because they
have concerns. That is something the Ascended would do,” I
told him. “And if we believe that people aren’t able to
change the way they think and what they believe or how
they behave, then what is the point of giving the Ascended
a chance to change their ways? What would be the point of
hoping for change in anything?”
“Touché,” he murmured, tipping his glass to me.
“You don’t believe that people are capable of change?” I
asked.
“I do,” he admitted. “I just don’t care if they are if
they’re the people who’ve harmed you.”
“Oh.” I picked up another small cube of cheese. That
wasn’t exactly surprising to hear. I moved onto something
we really hadn’t discussed, not even when it was brought up
with Jasper. “Well, you need to start caring. I don’t want
people killed because they don’t trust me or like me. I don’t
want to be a part of that.”
“You’re asking me to care about those who potentially
had knowledge of those who have not only betrayed me but
also betrayed you,” he countered quietly. “I believe the