The ​Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash, #3)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

He was most certainly going to kill me now, shared blood or not. But he smiled. “You are so much like her.” He laughed. “She will be thrilled to learn this.”

“If you knew what they had become, the kind of wrath and evil they spread upon the lands and man, you would be haunted till the end of your days. We had to stop them. We did.”

We entered into a blood treaty with them, one that ensured that only gods born within the mortal realm could retain their powers there.”

“Does that mean my mother could’ve been mortal?” “Your mother could’ve been from any blood, and you would be who you are today, regardless. Unexpected, but…welcomed nonetheless,”

“But that’s not what you came to talk to me about, is it? And I bet you have a lot of questions.” One side of his lips tipped up as a somewhat…fond look crept into his otherwise cold features.

“You need to leave, Queen.” The doors behind me swung open. I stood. “But your guards—” “You were born of flesh with the fire of the gods in your blood. You are a Bringer of Life and a Bringer of Death,” Nyktos interrupted. “You are the Queen of Flesh and Fire, due more than one Crown, one kingdom. What you seek, you already have. You always had the power in you.”

The vibration settled. “Then we are in agreement about the latter.” Relief started to seep through her. “I have no feelings for your husband,” she said. “Not before, and definitely not now.” “Good.” I met her gaze, smiling. “Because if you did, I would probably tear you apart, limb by limb, and then feed what remained to a pack of hungry barrats,” I said. “Now, would you like to find Kieran? I think I remember which room he’s in.”

Casteel eyed me. “What did you talk about?” “She apologized for Alastir, and I told her she and her family had nothing to apologize for,” I told him. “And then I told her that I knew about Alastir’s and your father’s plans.” “That is not all you said.” I shot Kieran a look. “How do you know?” I demanded. When we ended up finding Kieran and his sister, nothing of my conversation with Gianna had been mentioned. I also hadn’t lingered long afterwards, and I seriously doubted that Gianna would’ve repeated what I said. “How do you think?” Kieran remarked. “Arden couldn’t wait to tell everyone and anyone who would listen, what you said.” I frowned. “What else did you say?” Casteel asked. I lifted my shoulders. “Nothing, really. Just that if she had any interest in you, I would…” Casteel dipped his head closer to mine. “What?” My lips pursed. “I might’ve said something like I’d tear her apart limb by limb and feed her to barrats.” He stared at me. I sighed. “It wasn’t one of my finer moments, I admit.” “Damn.” Casteel broke the silence, his gaze the shade of heated honey. “I wish we weren’t about to have this meeting because I really want to fuck you on this table right now.” My eyes widened. “Gods,” Kieran muttered, sitting back as he dragged a hand over his face. “Is everything fine?” Casteel’s mother asked as she strode into the room, his father beside her. My face heated as Casteel dragged his gaze from mine. “Everything is delightfully perfect,” he told them, sitting back in...

“But first, I’m hungry.” The breath I took caught. “Then you should retrieve something to eat.” “I have.”

“Lift your ass, my Queen.”

“Talk to me, Cas.” “Cas.” He shuddered, and then his lashes lifted. “Do you know why I love hearing you say that?” He swallowed again as he touched my cheek with the tips of his fingers. A long moment passed. “When I was held by the Ascended, there were times I feared I would forget my name—forget who I was. I did, actually—when I was starved. When I was used. I was a thing. Not a person. Not even an animal. A thing.”

“Keep an eye on Delano for me,” he said, and I looked up at him as I started on the row of buttons across the chest of the cloak. “Sometimes, he’s a little too brave.” “Delano will return to you,” Casteel said as he slipped on his cloak, and I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Come on now, you lazy bastards,” Perry shouted, and I raised an eyebrow as he stalked across the deck, smacking his hands together. “Get a move on.” “He’s really enjoying this far too much,” Delano muttered under his breath, and I stifled a giggle.

“Oh, gods,” Delano groaned. “You really need to stop touching things, Poppy.”

My head jerked to her. “Shut the fuck up.” Her laughter died in a hush as she turned to me. The

“Look at what you made me do.”

“She has no choice. She never has, and I can tell she still believes otherwise. Perhaps she is a perfect fit for you, and she’ll never learn. Your brother has been far more accommodating.”

And I will kill you.” “Do you really think that is a threat? That I fear dying? After doing it as many times as I have?” She laughed, and the sound was as crumbling as the grimace of a smile. “I welcome the final death.”

“Where is the King?” Gregori demanded, stepping forward. The wolven let out a low rumble of warning as my head snapped toward him. Words fell from my lips like poison-dipped daggers. “Where is the King, Your Majesty?” I corrected softly in a tone eerily similar to the one Casteel had used when he was but a second away from relieving someone of their heart.

It was a whole new awakening. I wasn’t the Maiden. I wasn’t a Princess or even a Queen. I was a god. And I was so over this.

“In the entirety of the two kingdoms, I couldn’t give a fuck if you or any other member of the Council likes me. It does not change that I am your Queen, and your tone and the manner in which you address me is highly inappropriate.” I watched pink seep into the man’s cheeks, and I smiled tightly. “Not just because I’m your Queen, but because I am the grandchild of Nyktos, and you speak to a god with such disrespect.”

“Try me,” I whispered, and those two words echoed throughout the room.

Eloana rose, collapsing onto the settee, her glistening amber eyes fixed on me as I strode forward, gripping the back of a chair. The legs scraped against the floor as I dragged it so it was before her. Slowly, I lowered myself to the chair, my eyes meeting hers as Kieran and Vonetta moved so they crouched on either side of me. Naill and Hisa remained at the door. “Ask me whose blood stains my clothing.”

“Now ask me where your son is.” Her eyes started to close— “No.” I tipped forward. “Don’t you dare close your eyes. I didn’t when I watched a sword slice through my brother’s throat. Don’t you dare close your eyes. You’re stronger than that.”

Golden eyes locked with mine. “And if you fail?” “I won’t.”

“Kieran?” I asked as we made our way down the narrow tunnel. “Poppy?” I swallowed, my throat dry. “Are you…are you doing okay?” He didn’t answer right away, and I thought the hand he held the torch with trembled. “No.” I briefly closed my eyes. “Are you?” “No,” I whispered.

“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.

And then I fought like a god.

“That won’t work on me.” “No. It won’t,” I said as a rush of wind whipped from above. The light of the moon was suddenly obscured. The Revenant glanced up. “What the—?” Reaver landed before me, rocking the ground and the trees. His tail whipped around, sliding between the wolven as he stretched out his head and opened his mouth. A deafening roar erupted from deep within his throat as a wisp of smoke floated above the frills. “But this will,” I finished, sheathing the sword. “Fire of the gods, right? That will kill you.”

“Good fucking gods, is that—?” The Revenant stumbled, tripping over his feet. He caught himself just as Reaver’s spiked tail slammed into his chest. Well, that was not a part of the plan, I thought as I watched the Revenant fly sideways, crashing into rock. He hit it with a fleshy smack. Sliding onto his knees, he pitched forward onto his hands with a groan. Slowly, I looked over at Reaver. “Really?” He made a chuffing sound as he swung his tail back, narrowly missing taking out Kieran in the process. The wolven’s ears flattened as he growled. “Calm,” I warned him as I stepped over Reaver’s tail. “That’s not a battle you’re going to win.”

“That was part of the message that I want you to deliver to your Queen,” I said, and it was the kind of message Casteel would send. The Revenant looked up, blood leaking from his mouth. His gaze only left me long enough to see what Delano had dropped at his feet. It was King Jalara’s head. “Fuck,” the Revenant groaned.

“I want you to deliver that to her. Let her know that I have his crown. It’s mine now. I want you to thank her for me, for teaching me to fight like a god. Tell her that was for Ian.”

“Now this is the really important part. I need you to make sure she understands that I’m coming for her. That I will burn every Revenant that stands between her and me. I will strike down every Ascended who defends her. I will topple every castle she seeks to hide in. Make sure she understands that her survival hinges on Casteel. She will release him, or she will see each and every one of her cities leveled. If she touches him again, I will destroy her precious Malec, and I can. I know where to find him.

And if she kills Casteel? If anyone kills him?” I tilted my head, catching his gaze as he tried to find where the draken had flown off to. “I will make sure her death is a slow one that will take hundreds of years to complete. If not thousands. You understand?” “Yes,” he wheezed. “Good.” I rose then, the ruby crown dangling from my fingers. “Make sure she knows that I am the Chosen, the One who is Blessed, and I carry the blood of the King of Gods in me. I am the Liessa to the wolven, the second daughter, the true heir, owed the crowns of Atlantia and Solis. I am the Queen of Flesh and Fire, and the gods’ guards ride with me. Tell the Blood Queen to prepare for war.”