The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

brother. Throughout the discussion, Casteel had extended
his arm, placing his hand on the back of my neck where his
fingers moved in slow, soothing circles. There were echoes
of empathy from around the table, mingled with blunt pity.
“Before we left, Ian told me that the only way we could
defeat the Blood Crown—force them into taking our
ultimatum—was by waking Nyktos and gaining the
assistance of his guards.”
“We plan to travel to Iliseeum in the morning,” Casteel
explained.
“Travel to Iliseeum? To wake Nyktos?” a mortal Elder
exclaimed. “I mean no offense by saying this, but are you
two out of your minds? Wake the King of Gods? And I truly
mean no offense,” he quickly repeated when Casteel’s gaze
fixed on him. “But we will be having another coronation
before you even leave to meet with the Blood Crown.”
“Well, that was highly encouraging,” Casteel murmured,
and I cracked a grin.
“The resting place of the gods is well protected, either
by Primal magic or guards,” Lord Ambrose stated, his brows
raised. “I imagine the King of Gods is surrounded by both.”
“Yes, but Pennelaphe is of his bloodline,” Willa noted.
“What is guarding him should be able to sense that.” She
paused. “Hopefully.”
The hopefully part was really reassuring.
“Or he could become extraordinarily angered by such an
intrusion and kill any who dare to wake him,” another Elder
pointed out.
“There is that.” Willa lifted her drink.
“Do you need to travel to Iliseeum?” Casteel’s father
asked. “We do not know if you will need Nyktos’s guards. It
may be an unnecessary risk.”
“Or it could be what forces the Blood Crown’s hand,”
Eloana countered.
Casteel’s fingers continued moving along the nape of
my neck as his gaze shifted to mine. “What do you think,