The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

countless others, but I’d seen enough to know that her
treatment of me wasn’t enough to erase the horrors she had
inflicted on others.
But now, if Alastir had his way, that plan could never
become a reality.
“What he did with Spessa’s End was impressive, but it’s
not enough,” Alastir stated, his voice flat. “Even if we were
able to reclaim more land, it wouldn’t be enough. King Valyn
and I want to see Solis pay, not only for our personal losses
but for what the Ascended have done to many of our kind.”
“That’s understandable.” Realizing what Ian could have
become was hard enough. But Tawny, too—my friend who
was so kind and full of life and love? If they’d turned her into
an Ascended as Duchess Teerman claimed, it would be hard
for me not to want to see Solis burn. “So, you’re not a
supporter of Casteel’s plan. You want blood, but more
importantly, you want the influence to get what you want.
And you see that power slipping through your fingers even
though I haven’t made a single claim to the Crown.”
“It doesn’t matter if you want the Crown or not. So long
as you live, it’s yours. It is your birthright, and the wolven
will ensure that it becomes yours,” he said, speaking of his
people as if he were no longer one of them. And maybe he
didn’t feel like he was. I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. “Just
like it was Casteel’s. It doesn’t matter if you detest the
responsibility as much as the Prince does.”
“Casteel doesn’t detest responsibility. I’m sure he has
done more for the people of Atlantia in his lifetime than
you’ve done since you broke your oath to Malec,” I shot
back, infuriated. “He just—”
“Refuses to believe his brother is a lost cause, and
therefore, refuses to assume the responsibility of the throne
—what would’ve been in the best interest of Atlantia.” A
muscle ticked in his jaw. “So, it is up to me to do what’s best
for the kingdom.”