The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Maiden. And that made me think of all those years I had
been forced to remain quiet. To allow anything to be said in
front of me or about me or to me. To accept whatever was
done to me.
And I’d been so worried about his parents accepting me,
even before Casteel and I had stopped pretending and
admitted that what we felt for one another was real. I still
wanted their acceptance, but what was done to me had
been done to both of us. We hadn’t chosen to be put into
that situation. Those who called Atlantia their home had.
Her people had. I pushed through the burn in my throat
because I had to.
Because I wore no veil now.
Some instinct told me that what happened right now
could very well shape the dynamics of my relationship with
Casteel’s parents from here on out. The gods knew it was
already on shaky ground, but they weren’t the Teermans,
who had been my guardians when I lived in Masadonia.
They were not Queen Ileana and King Jalara. And I didn’t
escape one Crown only to be silenced and patronized by
another.
I met and held her gaze as I shut down my senses, not
allowing myself to read anyone in the room. At this moment,
what I felt mattered. “It’s over because not only is lecturing
Casteel irrelevant and serves no purpose other than to
imply he’s guilty of something, when in reality, your people
are the only ones who are guilty.” My chin lifted a notch.
“But also because it’s a rather repetitive, tiresome
conversation at this point.”
Queen Eloana’s nostrils flared as she inhaled a sharp
breath. Her lips parted.
But I wasn’t done. “Furthermore, regarding what
happened in the Wastelands spreading beyond those who
were present, I’m not sure that is a concern. As I understand
it, the wolven are loyal to me and won’t do anything that
causes harm to come to me. Is that not correct, Kieran?”