The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Confusion rose as I glanced at her brother. He appeared
just as surprised as I was by her presence. She had
remained in Spessa’s End to help protect and build the city,
only planning to return when her mother gave birth.
My gaze shot back to Casteel. Muscles tensing with
awareness, I drew in a deep breath. Visions of the Duchess’s
gifts filled my mind, along with the fires they’d set at
Pompay. “What happened?”
“A convoy of Ascended has arrived at Spessa’s End,” he
answered.
“Does it still stand?” I asked, fighting back the horror his
response triggered.
He nodded, his eyes locked with mine. “They have not
attacked. They wait,” he said as a different kind of dread
filled me. “For us. They have requested an audience.”
“Is that so?” His mother’s hands lowered to her sides as
she let out a short, harsh laugh. “A random Ascended thinks
they have the right to ask for such a thing?”
“It wasn’t a random Ascended,” Vonetta spoke as she
stepped forward. Casteel’s jaw flexed. Unease coated her
skin, and I knew that whatever she was about to say, she
didn’t want to. “He claims to be your brother. Ian Balfour.”