The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

could sit this one out. But she refused. Spessa’s End has
become a part of her heart, and she doesn’t want to be
away while the Ascended are camped outside their walls.
She is showering now, just so, you know, she can become
filthy all over again.”
I cracked a grin at that. I didn’t know how she could
make that trip again. I honestly didn’t know how Kieran had
done it twice when Spessa’s End had been under siege, but
I was still surprised that Jasper would make the trip. I was
unsure of how to tactfully point out that his wife was super
pregnant.
“Do not worry about me. I will be fine,” Kirha said,
winking when my eyes widened. “I’m not going to have this
baby in the next week or so. Jasper will be here for the
birth.”
The silver-haired wolven nodded. “Besides, I don’t think
we will be gone all that long. I’m guessing we will travel
straight through the mountains.”
I looked at Casteel. He nodded. “Doing so would mean
we’d arrive a few hours before nightfall tomorrow. It will give
us some time to check out what they potentially have
planned and for us to rest.”
“It’s going to be a hard and fast journey but more than
doable,” Jasper stated. “Meet you at the stables in a few?”
Casteel agreed, and I watched Jasper help his wife
stand. When the door closed behind them, I said, “I wish
Jasper didn’t feel like he has to go with us—not when Kirha
is so close to giving birth.”
“If he believed for one second that she would have that
baby in the next couple of days, he wouldn’t leave,” Casteel
explained. “I wouldn’t worry about that or Vonetta. She
wouldn’t make the trip again if she didn’t think she could
handle it.” The sound of a saddlebag snapping closed
sounded. “What did my mother want to discuss with you?”
“The future of the kingdom,” I said, turning to him.
Knowing that we only had a handful of minutes to discuss