The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

I looked down, running my finger over my ring. “The
person you spoke about loving and losing? What happened
to them?”
Kieran was quiet for so long, I didn’t think he’d answer.
But then he did. “She died.”
My chest twisted. “I’m sorry.”
He nodded, and another long moment passed. “It was
quite some time ago.”
“How…how did it happen?” I cringed at the question.
“Wolven are relatively healthy, just like Atlantians and
other bloodlines, but there are a few diseases we’re
susceptible to. All inherent,” he said. “Elashya was born with
one—a wasting disease traced all the way back to the kiyou.
It attacks the body and then shuts everything down.” He
scratched his chin, squinting. “She knew her family carried
the disease, but it doesn’t affect everyone, so she was
hopeful. But her grandmother had it, and it commonly
shows up every generation or two. The problem is that
someone will be healthy for a hundred or so years, and then
it just hits them. Starts with involuntary twitches and
spasms of the muscles, almost so small you wouldn’t notice
them. But then within days…that’s it. Over.”
My finger stilled over the ring. “You…you fell in love with
her knowing you could lose her?”
“The heart doesn’t care how long you may have with
someone.” Kieran looked over at me, his eyes sheltered. “It
just cares that you have the person for as long as you can.”
The following morning, I approached Casteel with a
request as we left the inn. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything,” he replied.