The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Chapter 38
After Willa’s unsettling warning, the Elders gave their
reluctant support of our plans to travel to Iliseeum and then
meet with the Blood Crown. The cautious backing mostly
came from those concerned about our safety, but I could
sense a few simply didn’t agree with any of that.
Those who thought war was inevitable.
Lord Ambrose and Lord Gregori were two of them.
But I didn’t think they truly wanted war. It was just that
they couldn’t see a way around it, and I hoped we proved
them wrong.
The meeting was adjourned, and there was one thing
left to do. We were to greet the public, along with the Elders
and Casteel’s parents. Their presence would be a show of
support and approval.
And then Casteel and I would be alone. Of course, we
still needed to speak with Kieran, but we would have to
process everything, and maybe even live a little before we
embarked on our journey to Iliseeum.
I lingered as everyone filed out of the room, making
their way back toward the Temple of Nyktos. I wanted to
speak to Willa, who had taken her time rising from the table.
Or she simply knew I wanted to speak with her.
Either way, I had many questions and only a handful of
minutes to speak to her with only Vonetta waiting by the
door.
“May I ask you a question?” I said.
Willa looked over at me, her golden-brown eyes alight
with the same strange, knowing glint that had been present