The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

throughout Evaemon that their new King and Queen will
greet them,” she said, turning and extending a hand to the
tall doors beyond the statue of Nyktos. “From the balconies
of the Temple of Nyktos.”
A shiver skated over my skin as I stared at the smooth,
reflective black stone of the floor, a little unnerved to realize
that I stood in his Temple. Swallowing, I looked up. “All of
this can be done today? The exchange of power? Speaking
with the Council and then greeting the people?”
“Yes,” Eloana confirmed.
Casteel squeezed my hand. “Then let’s do this.”
A fondness settled in his mother’s features as she
motioned for us to join them. “Come. You should not stand
below us but before us.”
Drawing in a deep breath, Casteel and I climbed the
short set of steps. What happened next was surreal. My
heart slowed and calmed. The faint tremor faded as the
hum in my chest spread throughout my body, seeming to
wash away and replace the nervousness with a keen sense
of rightness. I looked down at the hand that held Casteel’s,
half-expecting to find that it was glowing, but my skin
appeared normal.
“Bow,” the Queen ordered softly.
Following Casteel’s lead, I lowered to one knee before
his mother. Our hands remained joined as his father stood
directly before him. I looked over my shoulder. The wolven
had sunk to the floor throughout the Temple, heads bowed
but eyes open and fixed on the dais. Kieran, Naill, and Emil
had done the same, and I saw that Delano had joined us in
his mortal form, bowing alongside them.
“As we stand in the Temple of the King of Gods and
before the Council of Elders who bear witness, we relinquish
the crowns and the thrones of Atlantia,” Valyn announced,
“and all the power and sovereignty of the Crown. We do this
of our own free will, to pave the way for the peaceful and