The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Ileana would do. “I know that Alastir and Casteel’s father
had hopes that you would marry Casteel.”
Gianna’s already large eyes widened as Arden softly
grumbled. I realized then that she reminded me of one of
those porcelain dolls Ileana had given me as a child. Pink
infused her cheeks. “I… Okay, to be honest, I was hoping
you didn’t know that.”
“Me, too,” I admitted wryly, and her lips formed a
perfect oval shape. “Only because you are very beautiful
and don’t resemble a barrat,” I continued, and her mouth
closed. “And because I like you after just speaking with you
for a few moments. I would prefer not to like the person my
father-in-law wished his son had married. But here we are.”
Gianna blinked.
The sugary amusement I felt now definitely came from
Hisa, and I thought that maybe I shouldn’t have been so
honest. But Arden and the guards were about to be
entertained by even more blunt honesty. “Casteel told me
that you two are friends, but that you had never shown any
inclination towards being interested in marrying him. Is that
true?”
It took Gianna a moment to respond. “I am sure few
wouldn’t be honored to be married to him,” she began, and I
started to feel my chest hum. “And, yes, we are friends—or
we were. I haven’t seen him in ages.” Her brows knitted.
“I’m not sure if he will even recognize me.”
That was highly unlikely.
“But it wasn’t like that between us,” she continued. “At
least, it didn’t feel that way, and he…he was engaged to
Shea, and that just kind of weirded me out.”
The vibration settled. “Then we are in agreement about
the latter.”
Relief started to seep through her. “I have no feelings
for your husband,” she said. “Not before, and definitely not
now.”