The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

breath he took punched from him. “Wish I could’ve been
there.” Bright, golden eyes met mine, and I felt Kieran
shudder from where he stood beside me. “Congratulations.”
“What has she done to you?” Casteel demanded, rattled
to his very core.
“Opened my eyes,” Malik replied.
“To what?” Casteel choked.
“To the truth.” His head straightened, and I reached out
with my senses, finding a thick wall shielding his emotions.
“Just as she will open all your eyes.”
Casteel took a step back, his disbelief as potent as his
sorrow. “This can’t be real.” His head swung toward the
Queen. He started toward her, but I tightened my grip on his
hand as several of the knights stepped forward. They
weren’t my concern. It was the Handmaiden, whose gaze
sharpened on Casteel. “What in the fuck have you done to
him?”
“Casteel.” Her voice reached us like a snake in the
grass.
His entire body went rigid beside mine, and her red lips
curved up as she extended a hand toward him.
I reacted without thought, grabbing her arm. The silk of
her sleeve wrinkled under my grip. “You will never lay a
finger on him again.”
The Handmaiden stepped forward, but Queen Ileana
held up a hand as her dark gaze slid to mine. “Penellaphe.”
Those dark eyes roamed my face, touching briefly on the
scars and then continuing on. And I thought…gods, I
thought her features softened and warmed. “I have no
interest in laying a hand on your husband. That would be
incredibly disrespectful.”
“As if you care for what is respectful,” I shot back.
Her brows rose, and then she laughed softly. “Ian,” she
called, and I saw my brother stiffen from the corner of my
eye. “You didn’t tell me that our dear Penellaphe not only
found her tongue but also sharpened it.”