The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

everything from the time he was held prisoner to the
decisions I had to make. My natural inclination was to turn
down any claim to the Crown immediately. It was the only
sensible reaction. I had no idea how to be a Queen of
anything, not even a pile of ashes. And while Casteel might
not have been raised from birth to take the throne, he had
been raised a Prince. I’d seen him with his people and
already knew he would make a wonderful King. But me? I
was raised as the Maiden, and very little of that upbringing
would be of any use. I had no desire to govern people,
determine what they could and couldn’t do, and assume
that kind of responsibility. Where was the freedom in that?
The freedom to live my life as I saw fit? I had no hunger for
power, no great ambition…
But I said nothing as I sat there, enjoying the simple feel
of Casteel’s hand stroking my hair. I would’ve enjoyed his
touch even more if I hadn’t realized there was an entirely
different way to look at this. I had no idea how to rule, but I
could learn. I would have Casteel at my side, and who would
be a better teacher? Governing people did not necessarily
equate to controlling them. It could mean protecting them,
just as I knew Casteel would—like I knew his parents had
done to the best of their ability. How they may or may not
feel about me didn’t change the fact that they cared for
their people. That they were nothing like the Royals of Solis.
That kind of responsibility was frightening, but it could also
be an honor. I had no thirst for power, but maybe that was
the key to being a good leader? I wasn’t sure. But I knew I
had great ambitions. I wanted to free the people of Solis
from the tyranny of the Ascended, and what could be more
ambitious than that? But how could I achieve that when I
refused to bear the burden of a Crown? Who knew what kind
of influence Casteel and I would be able to wield regarding
Solis if we were forced to abandon Atlantia, leaving it to be
ruled by someone who could have very different intentions
when it came to Solis and the Ascended? Someone who may