The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Standing by a large window overlooking a garden was
the Commander of the Crown Guard. Hisa stood quietly, her
hands clasped behind her back.
“Hawke.” The nickname was a soft breath on the
Queen’s lips as she refocused on her son.
“Mother,” he said, and I noticed a roughness to his voice
that stung my eyes. It struck me then that they hadn’t had a
chance to even speak since his return.
She rushed forward, tripping over the corner of a cream
rug. Casteel was there, catching her before she even really
stumbled. She laughed as she threw her arms around him.
“I was so glad when I heard that you planned to see us
today. Look at you.” Casteel’s mother drew back, clasping
his cheeks. She brushed at his hair. “Look at you,” she
repeated and then pulled him in for another hug, one tighter
and longer than the first. Casteel didn’t just allow it, he
welcomed it.
Watching him be held by his mother softened…well, it
softened every part of me. He was Casteel, the Dark One.
I’d seen him remove a man’s heart with barely a flicker of
emotion and launch himself into trees and use his fangs to
tear through throats. He was capable of great strength and
terrible violence, and yet, right now, he was only a boy in
his mother’s arms.
“Mother.” His voice was a bit rough around the edges.
“You may be cracking a rib or two of mine.”
Her laugh was light and happy as she pulled back.
“That’s doubtful.” She placed a hand on his cheek again.
“Have you gotten taller?”
“No, Mother.”
“You sure?” she asked.
“The boy stopped growing ages ago, right around the
time he stopped listening to us,” his father finally spoke,
and his tone was fond despite the words.
She laughed again, patting Casteel’s cheek. She may
have said something else because Casteel nodded and then