The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Atlantians can be superstitious, even if they don’t believe in
prophecies. Do you know why they don’t?”
My skin chilled. “No.”
“Because we believe that the days yet to be seen are
not foretold. That even what the gods may have in store for
us is not written in stone,” Willa said, the golden flecks in
her eyes burning brightly. “But what is written in bone is
different, and what is not believed should not be ignored.”
Heart thumping and aware that Eloana was waiting, I
stepped in closer to Willa. “Are you speaking of the
prophecy the Unseen believe in?”
Willa touched my arm once more, and that same charge
of energy swirled over my skin. “Your namesake was so
wise, she could see beyond the day before her, but what
she saw is not what they believe. You are not the great
conspirator, but one of two who will stand between what has
awakened and the retribution it seeks to reap against man
and god.”
Willa’s words haunted my steps through the palace and
the Temple of Nyktos. While the logical part of me wanted to
rebel at the idea of any part of the prophecy being true, I
felt some measure of relief hearing her say that I wasn’t the
great conspirator the Unseen believed me to be.
But if what she spoke was true—and how could it not be
when she knew so much else—she had to be speaking of
the Blood Crown and Casteel and me. I imagined the
Ascended sought retribution for a lot, but what could’ve
awakened? All I could think of was Malec. Obviously, for me
to be here, he had to have risen.
The low murmur of voices drew me from my thoughts as
we passed the statue of Nyktos and his silver-white flames.