The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

paid dearly for their sins.” My gaze returned to Ambrose. “I
will not entertain doing so again.”
The Atlantian swallowed. “We have heard of the
resurgence of the Unseen and the attack on you. We
condemn it and do not stand for such actions.” His hand
flattened on the table. “But—”
“There is no but,” Casteel interrupted, his tone soft but
full of smoke.
Ambrose’s mouth tightened, but he nodded stiffly.
“Understood.”
I started to relax, but Casteel’s head tilted. “You were
not in the reception hall when we arrived.”
“I was not, Your Majesty.”
“You did not bow upon entering the room,” he
continued, and I glanced at him.
“Cas,” I started softly.
“It’s a common courtesy,” Casteel said, his gaze trained
on the Atlantian. “The most basic of them. Nor have you
once referred to your Queen as ‘Your Majesty’ or even ‘Your
Highness’ as you spoke to her. Again, the most basic of
common courtesies and respect.” Silence fell throughout the
room. “Am I not right, Father? Mother?”
“You are right,” Eloana answered. “Those who did not
greet either of you as such in the hall should have done so
once within sight.”
“Lord Ambrose, you did bow to my son,” Valyn added.
Anger simmered in Lord Ambrose, as did
embarrassment. He said nothing.
“You will bow before your Queen.” Casteel eyed the
Atlantian coolly. “Or you will bleed before her. It is your
choice.”
A low growl of agreement echoed from where Vonetta
was crouched beside me.
I tensed. I wanted to intervene, to put a stop to this
before something unnecessarily bloody happened during
our very first Council meeting as rulers, but instinct warned