The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash 3)

From them.

Not Atlantia.

Not even them, really. From her, was what she meant. From Eloana.

The breath I took lodged in my throat. The lies… So many damn lies soaked in blood. Both kingdoms were at fault for this mess.

Both Queens.

“All of this for revenge?” I whispered. “You’ve created this kingdom of blood and lies for revenge?”

“In the beginning, yes, but it’s so much bigger than that now. Now, it’s more than me.” Isbeth’s eyes met mine. My mother’s eyes met mine. “You were going to take it all back for me. You’d marry Malik, and through you, I would seize Atlantia.”

I shuddered. “That’s why you made me the Maiden? Was there even another Maiden?”

“That doesn’t matter,” she said, pressing her hands together. “You had to be protected. That was how I kept you safe until it was time.”

“Time to marry a man you’ve kept prisoner for how many years?” I exclaimed.

“Does he look like a prisoner to you?” Queen Isbeth looked to where Malik stood beside the Revenant.

“I know what you did to Casteel. I am not foolish or naïve enough to be convinced that you didn’t do the same thing to Malik,” I said, voice low as I stepped in front of Casteel as if I could shield him from the words I’d just spoken. “No matter what either of you claim, and I am sorry, gods, I cannot believe I’m even saying this, but I am sorry for what was done to you and your son.”

“Who would’ve been your brother,” she said, eyes widening.

“He is my brother.” I pointed at Ian. “He is my brother,” I repeated. “What was done to you was wrong. What was done to your son was horrible.”

“It was,” she murmured. “It truly was.”

“But you are no better,” I said. “What you’ve done to children? To those given to the Temples that don’t have this Revenant trait. What about the ones who died of the wasting sicknesses—those fed on by vamprys that you helped create? What of the second sons and daughters that you conned into believing that the Ascension was an act bestowed on them by the gods? What about the people of 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.”

“I’m not making you do anything.”

“But you are.” Queen Isbeth’s shoulders went back as her gaze remained fixed on mine. “Kill him.”

My entire body jerked as I reached out to grab Casteel because she had to be talking about him, but no guard or knight moved toward us. Neither did the Revenant. I scanned the room—

Casteel shouted. “No!”

I locked eyes with Ian. A knight had stalked up behind him, sword already unsheathed. The knight was fast, sweeping the blade through the air and then slicing it through tissue, muscle, and bone. Ending life.

Chapter 47

Time slowed, and I couldn’t make sense of what I was seeing. That Ian was no longer whole. That there was so much red everywhere—on the ground, on me. That it was his body falling, and it was his head rolling across the floor. It didn’t make sense.