The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Now, I was ordered to not shed blood unnecessarily,
something I admit I have a tiny bad habit of doing,” she told
us, looking up at the hardened lines of Delano’s face as he
strained against her, unable to break free of her grip—the
hold of a painted woman who had to be several inches
shorter than me. She held Delano in place while standing on
the tips of her toes. “So, please do not even think about
shifting and forcing me to make bloodshed an unfortunately
necessary thing.”
“What in the hell are you?” Delano growled.
“A Handmaiden?” I suggested, thinking of the woman I
knew as my mother—who could very well have been my
mother by blood.
“Yes. That, and many other things.” Unpainted lips
curved up in a tight smile as her gaze flicked to us. “But
right now, I’m simply your friendly escort.” Her stare was
unflinching as the sound of many footfalls echoed from both
sides of the hall. “One of many escorts, that is.”
Within seconds, Royal Guards filled both sides of the
windowless hallway, swords drawn. Among them were
armored knights. There were dozens, and the knights
appeared as they had in Spessa’s End. The comb atop their
helmets was dyed crimson, and they wore the red-painted
masks that covered the upper parts of their faces.
I exhaled raggedly.
“Let him go,” Casteel demanded, his chin dipping low.
“And we’ll behave if you behave.”
Those eerie eyes focused on him, and I sensed a quick
burst of tartness—a great unease—from the woman. But it
was brief, and she smiled broadly then, revealing two rows
of…fangless teeth. “Of course,” she replied quite cheerfully.
“I excel at behaving.”
I had a feeling that was a lie.
We waited, hearts pounding, and the eather in my chest
straining against my skin. I could take them all out, just like I
had with the Unseen on the road to Evaemon.