The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

We passed on the offer as we sat in the thickly
cushioned settee—the kind I could easily imagine curling up
in to read a book.
Just not that damn diary.
Kieran remained standing, taking up a guard position
behind the settee, and it didn’t escape me that that was
exactly what he was doing. He was standing guard directly
behind me, his hand resting on the hilt of his sheathed
sword.
That had to send a rather uncomfortable message.
“I hope what you saw of Atlantia yesterday has shown
you that your experiences with us so far are not who we
are,” King Valyn stated, his stare nearly as intense as his
son’s as he revealed their knowledge of how we’d spent the
day before. He and his wife sat. “And those you may have
met yesterday are more of a representation.”
“I want nothing more than for that to be true,” I
admitted. “What I’ve seen so far of Saion’s Cove has been
lovely.”
His father nodded. “I want to make sure that is the only
truth you come to know.”
“We learned last night that we owe you our gratitude,
something else I should’ve said already.” The Queen’s
citrine-bright gaze fixed on me. I tasted the lemon of
curiosity, a tart blast of confusion, and the tangy
undercurrent of sorrow. “Thank you for aiding the child who
was injured in the carriage accident. You prevented a great,
unnecessary tragedy.”
I glanced at Casteel, unsure of how to answer. You’re
welcome seemed like an odd way to respond in this
situation. His hand tightened around mine. “I…I only did
what I could to help her.”
The King arched a brow. “Only did what you could? You
saved that child’s life. That was no simple act.”
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable.