The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

her. “This stress is the last thing the people of Spessa’s End
need.”
“It’s not your fault, Your Highness,” she started.
“Poppy,” I corrected her. “We’re…friends, right?” A flush
crept up my neck. “I mean, I did wear your gown to my
wedding, and—” I trailed off as old insecurities reared their
bitchy heads. Vonetta had been nothing but kind and
welcoming to me, but she was friends with Casteel, and
she’d met me when I was positioned to become a Princess.
And now that I was their Liessa? It felt like Tawny all over
again, and I felt even more foolish. Because, seriously, this
was not the time for this. “Just ignore me. I don’t even know
why I’m thinking about this when there are Ascended
waiting for us beyond the gate.”
“I think some would call that avoidance,” Casteel
murmured.
I shot him a look of warning, and a dimple appeared.
“We’re friends,” Vonetta said, grinning. “At least, I
thought we were. So I’m glad to hear you think so, too,
because boy, it would’ve been awkward if not.”
Relief swept through me. “I think it’s already awkward.
At least, for me,” I said as amusement radiated from the
general direction of where Kieran waited. Jerk.
“Don’t worry about it.” She reached over, squeezing my
arm. If she felt the weird static charge, she didn’t show it.
“And don’t apologize for what is happening tonight.
Everyone here knows the risks. The Ascended could come at
any time. We’re prepared.”
Based on how quickly they’d come together before the
Ascended attempted to overtake Spessa’s End with the
Duchess, it was obvious that they truly were.
Having come down from the wall, Nova joined us. The
blonde Guardian placed a fist over her heart and bowed at
the waist, the moonlight glinting off the golden band around
her upper arm. “What is the plan?”