The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Blessed. The Maiden. And that part reminded me of when I
was a child and used to hide behind Queen Ileana’s throne
instead of going to my room at night because the darkness
had scared me. It was the same part that had enabled me to
spend afternoons with my brother, pretending that my
parents were out walking together in the garden instead of
being gone forever. It felt incredibly young and naïve.
But I wasn’t that little girl anymore. I wasn’t the young
Maiden. The blood in me explained the gifts I’d been born
with and why I’d become the Maiden—how my gift had
grown, and why my skin glowed. It also explained the
disbelief and agony I’d felt from Queen Eloana. She’d known
exactly who I descended from, and it must have made her
sick to think that her son had married the descendant of a
man who’d repeatedly betrayed her and nearly destroyed
their kingdom in the process.
How could she ever welcome me, knowing the truth?
Could Casteel ever look upon me the same?
My chest twisted painfully as I stared at the food. Would
I even get the chance to see Casteel again? Seconds turned
into minutes as I tried to keep my thoughts from straying
toward what Alastir planned. I couldn’t let myself dwell too
long on it—to think about the worst-case scenario playing
out in my mind. If I did, the panic I’d been fighting off would
seize control of me.
I wouldn’t let Alastir’s plan succeed. I couldn’t. I needed
to either escape or fight back the second I could. Which
meant, I needed my strength. I had to eat.
Reaching out carefully, I broke off a piece of the cheese
and gingerly tasted it. There was little flavor to it. The
section of bread I tried next was most definitely stale, but I
quickly ate both and then drank the water, trying not to
think about the gritty taste or how dirty it likely was.
Once I finished, I turned my attention to the spear. I
wouldn’t be able to hide it, even if I were able to free it from
the poor soul beside me. But if I could break off the blade, I