The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

that I was the same.” Her eyes were closed. “Malec told me
his plans. That he would pretend to side with Eloana and the
Council and help eradicate the Ascended. Said that it was
the only way. Because you see, he couldn’t let the Ascended
continue. He understood their threat better than most did.”
She laughed then, the sound without humor. “Even exiled,
he would stay behind and fight because he had honor. But I
bet no one speaks of that, do they?”
Eloana had, in a way. She had said that Malec was a
good man and King for the most part. Just not a good
husband.
“So, he snuck me out of Atlantia when the war had just
begun, but I had to leave alone. It would’ve been too risky
to bring anyone with me, even our son.”
My heart turned over as Casteel asked hoarsely, “A
son?”
She nodded. “I had him before I was poisoned, and he
was…he was like you, Penellaphe. A blessing. He was the
most beautiful baby boy there ever was. And even as a
small child, he had the touch. The gift.” A fine tremor ran
through her. “Malec would find me. He promised that once
he was able to leave, he would. He would keep our son safe
and bring him to me, and we would simply spend an eternity
together—just the three of us, no Crown and no kingdom.
He promised to take us to Iliseeum.”
Her eyes opened, and they…they glistened with tears.
“Years went by, and the war spread across the lands. I had
to…I had to hide what I was. With my dark eyes, the other
Ascended never questioned what I was, so I hid from the
daylight and stayed among the Ascended, still believing that
Malec would come for me. I never lost faith. I met many who
sheltered me, and it was Jalara of Vodina Isles who I
discovered would be gathering his forces outside of Pompay,
where a sizable Atlantian force had gathered. I knew that
was my chance to learn what’d happened to Malec and my
son.” Her nostrils flared. “He would’ve been on the cusp of