The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“And what do you think she is? Ileana, the goddess?”
“What do you think?” he challenged.
“I know a god cannot be made,” I said. “She is nothing
more than a twisted mess of bitterness and greed made
manifest.”
“And what does that make you?”
“An actual god,” I replied as flatly as Casteel would’ve.
“And yet you couldn’t defeat her?” He laughed coldly.
“You may be born of Nyktos’s blood, but you and I both
know what you are and what you will always be. The Maiden
who is part beauty and part disaster.”
I said nothing. I felt nothing.
His chin dipped as he drew closer. “You should do as she
requests. She is your mother.”
“And yet, I couldn’t care less.” I held his stare. “Believe
it or not, I didn’t come here to spend time insulting the
Blood Queen.”
King Jalara inhaled sharply. “You came to surrender? To
submit?”
“I came to send a message to the Blood Queen.”
His brows flew up so fast and so far, I was surprised they
didn’t topple his precious crown. “A message? I came all the
way out to this godsforsaken place on the edge of the
Wastelands to deliver a message for you?”
I nodded as my right hand moved under the cloak,
crossing my stomach.
“You have to be out of your mind. You are, aren’t you?”
King Jalara’s smile was grotesque, revealing his fangs. “The
only message I will deliver for you is one of submission.”
“I’m sorry. I misspoke,” I said, forcing a silly little laugh.
“It’s you that’s the message.”
“What—?” His twisted smile froze. His gaze shot over
my shoulder—
Kieran exploded from the shadows, slamming into him.
He stumbled, lips peeling back in a snarl as Kieran latched