The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

rightful ascension of Princess Penellaphe and her husband,
Prince Casteel.”
Shock splashed through me in response to my title
being stated before Casteel’s.
Eloana reached up, removing the gilded crown. Beside
her, Valyn did the same with his. They placed them on the
floor of the dais.
A whirl of air swept through the Temple, lifting the
strands of my hair. Before us, the bleached bones of the
crown Valyn had placed on the floor cracked and slipped
away, revealing the gilded bone beneath. Both crowns
shimmered, a light from within them pulsing intently and
then fading until they glimmered in the sunlight.
A rattled breath left Valyn as he and his wife picked up
the crowns once more. His voice was steady as he said, “Do
you, Casteel Hawkethrone Da’Neer, swear to watch over
Atlantia and her people with kindness and strength and lead
with compassion and justice, from this moment to your last
moment?”
Those words. From this moment to your last moment.
My throat tightened.
“I swear to watch over Atlantia and her people,” Casteel
answered, his voice thick. “With kindness and strength, and
to lead with compassion and justice, from this moment to
my last moment.”
“Then so be it.” His father placed the golden crown atop
Casteel’s head.
“Do you, Penellaphe Balfour Da’Neer,” Eloana spoke,
and a rush went through me at hearing his last name
attached to mine, “swear to watch over Atlantia and her
people with kindness and strength and lead with
compassion and justice, from this moment to your last
moment?”
My skin vibrated as I once again followed Casteel’s lead.
“I swear to watch over Atlantia and her people with