The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

fault either. You were trying to find your brother then. You
had no idea what Alastir would do or that I even existed.
Don’t you take on that kind of guilt. Please.”
“She’s right, son.” His father cleared his throat. “This is
not on you.”
“And you truly think you hold no responsibility in this?”
Casteel said, his eyes never leaving mine.
“No, we do,” his mother said quietly. “We didn’t like
what was done, but we did not disagree with it. And that is
something we’ve lived with since then and will continue to
live with.”
“Just like those you killed to protect the location of
Iliseeum?” Casteel broke my hold as he turned to his
parents. “Is that another thing you both live with?”
“It is,” King Valyn confirmed, and if either were
surprised that we had learned about Iliseeum’s location,
they didn’t show it. “And if you become King, you will have
to do many things that will turn your stomach, haunt your
dreams, and that you’ll have to live with.”
The truth in that statement silenced Casteel. For a
second. “I’m sure there will be, but if I discover that any of
my people took part in harming or killing a child, they will
find themselves in the Abyss, where they belong. That will
never be blood that sits on my hands.”
Sorrow pierced through the walls surrounding King
Valyn. “I hope and pray that it never does.”
“Prayers aren’t needed,” Casteel replied coolly as he
picked up my hand and pressed a kiss to the center of my
palm.
“Wait,” Kieran blurted out, startling me. “I don’t
understand how Malec is her father. I know it’s never been
stated what happened to him, but it’s been safely assumed
that he’s not alive, and hasn’t been for centuries. After all,
why wouldn’t he have returned to claim the throne?”
I jerked. That was what hadn’t made sense about Malec
being my father. Yes, no one appeared to know what had