The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Chapter 45
“What a happy reunion,” Queen Ileana announced, her
smile tight as she took in the two brothers staring at each
other.
I hardly heard her—was barely aware of the
Handmaiden drifting in and out from between us like a
wraith, coming to stand on the other side of the Queen.
What I was staring at didn’t make sense.
And I wasn’t the only one who appeared frozen in shock
as we stared at Prince Malik Da’Neer. How was he even
free? Standing beside the Blood Queen, seemingly healthy
and whole? He looked nothing like the emaciated, frail man
we’d seen in the cage below. His golden bronze skin lacked
the haggardness of starvation. His hair gleamed, and the
polished shine of his boots, the cut of his breeches, and the
tailored shirt and deep grey vest he wore dripped with
wealth and privilege.
It didn’t make sense.
Or it couldn’t, because the only reason he’d be here was
unfathomable.
“Gods,” Kieran uttered, lifting a hand and then halting.
“Malik.” Casteel’s voice was hoarse, and the agony
slicing through him stole my breath. I reached out, grasping
his hand. His gaze swung between his brother and the Blood
Queen. His—and all the others’—shock pelted me like icy
rain. “No.”
His brother’s head tilted as his gaze flicked to where my
hand was wrapped around Casteel’s. “I see you’ve gotten
yourself married, Cas,” he said, and Casteel flinched as the