The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Growing up among the Royals and other Ascended, I
learned from a very young age that every friendship and
acquaintance, every party or dinner a person was invited to
or hosted, and every marriage ordained by the King and
Queen were all power moves. Each choice and decision was
based on how one could either retain power or influence or
gain it. I don’t think that is a trait just to the Ascended. I saw
it among the wealthy mortals. I saw it among the Royal
Guards. I doubt the wolven or Atlantians are different.”
“Some are not,” Alastir confirmed.
“You believe I’m a threat because of the blood I carry,
and because of what I can do. But you haven’t even given
me a chance to prove that I am not just the sum of what my
ancestors did. You can choose to judge me based on what
I’ve done to defend myself and those I love, but I do not
regret my actions,” I told him. “You may not be able to feel
the Primal notam, but if you planned for Casteel to marry
your great-niece to bring the wolven and the Atlantians
together, then I can’t see why you wouldn’t support this
union. Give it a chance to strengthen the Crown and
Atlantia. But that’s not all you want, is it?”
His nostrils flared as he continued staring at me.
“Casteel’s father wants retribution, just as you do.
Right? For what they did to your daughter. But Casteel
doesn’t want war. You know that. He’s trying to save lives
even as he gains land. Just like he did with Spessa’s End.”
That was what Casteel had planned. We would negotiate
for land and the release of Prince Malik. I would find my
brother and deal with what he may or may not have turned
into. King Jalara and Queen Ileana wouldn’t remain on the
throne, not even if they agreed to everything Casteel set
before them. They couldn’t. He would kill them for what
they’d subjected his brother and him to. Strangely, the idea
of that no longer made me squirm with conflict. It was still
hard to reconcile the Queen who’d cared for me after my
parents died with the one who had tortured Casteel and