The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Atlantia. Perhaps a little less powerful due to Casteel’s
elemental bloodline, but still…powerful.
I couldn’t even think about that at the moment. “But
Nyktos had two children,” I said, remembering the painting
of the large, gray cats. “They only had one child between
the two of them?”
She nodded.
“I still do not understand how Malec is her father, then,”
Kieran stated, and I was right there with him.
“Where is Malec entombed?” Casteel asked.
His mother walked over to where his father sat. “I do not
know what the area would be called now, as so much of that
land has changed in the years since. But it would not be
hard to locate. Trees the color of blood, the likes of which
grow at the Chambers of Nyktos and now flourish across the
Skotos Mountains, will mark the land that entombs him.”
I gasped. “The Blood Forest outside of Masadonia.”
Casteel looked at me and then at Kieran. “You know
something I’ve always wondered? Why the Blood Crown
sent you to live in Masadonia when it would have been safer
for you to be in the capital.”
As did I.
“Because her blood would’ve been too much of a lure to
the Ascended, and she would’ve been placed with someone
the Crown trusted,” his father said, and my stomach twisted
with nausea.
“I’ve had serious doubts about the Blood Crown’s
judgement, but if they trusted the Teermans, that shows a
lack of awareness that is startling,” Casteel replied,
smoothing his fingers down the center of my palm.
“But they never fed from me,” I said. “As much as I can
remember.”
“No, they abused you instead.” His tone hardened. “I’m
not sure I see much of a difference between the two.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Queen Eloana said, lowering
her now-empty glass to a table by the settee.