The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

neither Ian nor I really celebrated.” I lifted a shoulder. “And I
guess over the years, we sort of forgot the date, so we’d
pick a random day in April for me and December for him.”
His grin had disappeared. “Pick a day.”
“For what?”
“Your birthday. Pick a day in April, and that will be your
birthday.”
A pang of sadness lanced my heart. “Vikter asked me
once when my birthday was. He said the same thing. Pick a
day in April.” I let out a low breath. “I picked the twentieth
day, and that was when he gave me the wolven dagger.”
“Perfect.” The smile returned but it didn’t reach his
eyes. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay. Like I don’t feel…different. I mean, maybe I
do? I don’t know.” I laughed self-consciously as I approached
him. He pushed off the wall. “I feel calm, though. How about
you?”
“I feel the same.” He opened his arms, and I went to
him, looping mine around his waist. Pressing my cheek to
his chest, I closed my eyes and sank into his embrace,
taking in his spicy, piney scent. “Though I have to admit
when that crown turned gold, I was relieved. I wanted a
crown as spiffy as yours.”
I laughed. “I talked to Willa.”
“I noticed.” His lips brushed the top of my head. “I was
very curious about what you two were talking about—and
sort of jealous.”
Grinning, I stretched up and kissed the corner of his lips.
“Nothing your dirty mind will approve of.”
He pouted.
It looked ridiculous and yet adorable, endearingly so. I
told him that she was the woman who’d been at the Red
Pearl and had sent me to his room, much to his surprise.
He’d had no idea that any of the Elders traveled to Solis, but
considering her diary, it made sense. I didn’t tell him what
she’d said about him. I didn’t think he’d want someone