The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

podium. It was then when I realized that there were no more
servants in the room. “And Cora was my most favorite
Handmaiden—my most trusted. I had her care for you so
that none of those who sought to gain what I had could use
you, my child, against me—and many would be foolish
enough to try. I trusted her, and she betrayed me. She and
her worthless husband thought they could steal you away.
Apparently, she discovered my intention to marry you to
Prince Malik, finally bringing the two kingdoms together,
and she didn’t approve of it.”
My heart thudded as she spoke. “Coralena survived the
attack, by the way. She was a Revenant, after all.” She
smoothed her hands over the ruby chains at her waist.
“However, she did not survive my wrath.”
I shuddered, and Casteel curled his arm around my
waist.
“I didn’t want to do it. That hurt me more than you will
ever believe. She was like a daughter to me, and she
betrayed me.” The Queen drew in a deep breath and then
motioned the knight away from the curtained window. “I am
not a vampry. Nor is Ileana my name—my first name that
is.” She curled her fingers around the edges of the curtain,
and I reached down, gripping Casteel’s arm. “The first name
I was born with is one you’ve probably heard. It was Isbeth.”