The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

several centuries ago, around the time the first Descenters
left their mark behind, using those words. They sought to
distance themselves from the title, but that is who they
are.” Her gaze met mine before she strode forward once
more. “The attack that killed your parents and gave you
those scars? You are very lucky to be alive.”
It took me a moment to follow the shift in subject. “I
am,” I agreed, and then I thought of something. “Do you
think it’s because of my bloodline? Why I survived?”
“I would think so,” she said. “At a young age, Atlantians
are nearly mortal, but you… You are different. The deity
bloodline is obviously the strongest in you, and it protected
you.”
“I…”
“What?” She sent me a quick glance when I didn’t
continue.
“It’s just that I spent a lot of my life wondering how I
survived that night, why I was…Chosen to be the Maiden.
And now that I know why, I have more questions because I
was told so many lies,” I told her. “It’s just a lot to process.”
“But you appear to be doing just that.”
“Because I have no other choice. It’s not like I can deny
this. It sickens me to think of what the Blood Crown may
have done to create me.” It also scared me to think of why
they had done all of this. But that was something I couldn’t
focus on now. “Not only to who might have been my
mother, but also to Malec. I know he wasn’t a good man, but
he was still a person,” I said. “And yet, I feel…detached from
it. I feel sorrow and sympathy for them, but they are
strangers, and it doesn’t change who I am. No matter what
Alastir or the Unseen believe. I am not the sum of the blood
that courses through my veins.”
“No,” she said after a few moments. “I do not think you
are.”
“Really?” I blurted out in surprise.