The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“All of this for revenge?” I whispered. “You’ve created
this kingdom of blood and lies for revenge?”
“In the beginning, yes, but it’s so much bigger than that
now. Now, it’s more than me.” Isbeth’s eyes met mine. My
mother’s eyes met mine. “You were going to take it all back
for me. You’d marry Malik, and through you, I would seize
Atlantia.”
I shuddered. “That’s why you made me the Maiden?
Was there even another Maiden?”
“That doesn’t matter,” she said, pressing her hands
together. “You had to be protected. That was how I kept you
safe until it was time.”
“Time to marry a man you’ve kept prisoner for how
many years?” I exclaimed.
“Does he look like a prisoner to you?” Queen Isbeth
looked to where Malik stood beside the Revenant.
“I know what you did to Casteel. I am not foolish or
naïve enough to be convinced that you didn’t do the same
thing to Malik,” I said, voice low as I stepped in front of
Casteel as if I could shield him from the words I’d just
spoken. “No matter what either of you claim, and I am sorry,
gods, I cannot believe I’m even saying this, but I am sorry
for what was done to you and your son.”
“Who would’ve been your brother,” she said, eyes
widening.
“He is my brother.” I pointed at Ian. “He is my brother,” I
repeated. “What was done to you was wrong. What was
done to your son was horrible.”
“It was,” she murmured. “It truly was.”
“But you are no better,” I said. “What you’ve done to
children? To those given to the Temples that don’t have this
Revenant trait. What about the ones who died of the
wasting sicknesses—those fed on by vamprys that you
helped create? What of the second sons and daughters that
you conned into believing that the Ascension was an act
bestowed on them by the gods? What about the people of