The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Solis, who live in fear of the gods who aren’t even asleep?
Who can barely fend for their families while being forced to
give their children away? What about the Craven, Isbeth?” I
demanded. “What about me? I’m your daughter, and you
sent me off to live with a man whose favorite pastime was
whipping me and humiliating me.”
Her chin lifted on a sharp inhale. “I didn’t know about
that. I would’ve flayed the skin from his body and left him
alive to be eaten by buzzards if I had known.”
“That doesn’t matter!” I shouted, tears clouding my
eyes because this—all of this was so messed up. So wrong.
“You can’t blame Eloana or Valyn or Atlantia for anything
else. This was you. All you. You became this.”
Casteel side-stepped me then, forcing me back until I
felt Kieran’s hands on my shoulders. “I think it’s safe to say
that we do not agree to your terms.”
“You don’t really have that authority, do you?” Queen
Isbeth said, her lips thinning. “I know what she is. She is the
true ruler of Atlantia. You’re just a pretty accessory.”
“Oh, I’m pretty, all right.” Casteel’s chin dipped. “And
I’m also a very deadly accessory. Don’t forget that.”
The Blood Queen smirked. “I haven’t. Trust me.”
Sickened by the knowledge—by the implications and the
reality of what…what my mother had done to Casteel—to so
many people—I nearly doubled over. “No,” I forced out. “No,
we do not now, nor will we ever agree to your demands.”
“You won’t like what happens if you refuse me,” she said
softly. “Don’t do this, Penellaphe. Give me what I want and
end this.”
“How will giving you Atlantia end this?” I asked,
genuinely curious. “Would it mean you will stop the
Ascended from feeding on innocents? Will you stop the Rite?
How will giving you Atlantia change what you did to them?”
Dark eyes met mine. “It won’t, but you’re not in a
position to negotiate.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe
you’re making me do this.”