The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

He nodded. “Do you think I don’t fear failing the people?
Making the wrong choices? Setting the entire kingdom on
the wrong path? Because I do, and I know my parents still
do, to this very day. My father would probably tell you that
you would most likely do just that if you stopped being
afraid of failing. He would also say that kind of fear keeps
you brave and honest.”
But couldn’t that kind of fear make you indecisive, too?
Stop you before you even traveled down a road? The fear of
failing was powerful, just as fear of the unknown and
uncharted destinies was. And I’d felt that kind of terror a
hundred or so times in my life. When I went to the Red Pearl.
When I smiled at the Duke, knowing what would come from
doing so. When I joined Casteel under the willow. I’d been
scared then. I’d been terrified when I finally admitted to
myself what I felt for Casteel, but I hadn’t let fear stop me
then. This was different, though. So much more important
than forbidden kisses.
This was more important than us.
“What about your brother? Ian? How would that be
affected?”
“The only thing that would change is that we would
negotiate as the Queen and King instead of the Princess and
Prince,” he answered.
“I doubt that would be the only thing that changed,” I
said wryly. “We would come to the table with far more
power and authority, I imagine.”
“Well, yeah, that too.” Casteel’s arms tightened around
me. “You don’t have to decide today, Poppy,” he said, much
to my relief. “You have time.”
Some of the knots loosened in my stomach. “But not a
lot.”
“No,” he confirmed as his gaze swept over my face. “I
would’ve liked for you to see a little of Atlantia before you
made up your mind. What happened last night—”