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

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My first. My guard. My friend. My betrayer. My partner. My husband. My heartmate. My everything.

“I love you, Penellaphe. You. Your fierce heart, your intelligence and strength. I love your endless capacity for kindness. I love your acceptance of me. Your understanding. I’m in love with you, and I will be in love with you when I take my last breath and then beyond in the Vale.”

“You are the foundation that helps me stand. You are my walls and my roof. My shelter. You are my home.”

“If you think that what I did was a shock, then you need to understand that I will do anything and everything for my wife.”

Our actions, our beliefs? Any of us could tear the kingdom apart. You being a descendant of the gods doesn’t make you more of a threat to the kingdom than anyone else. Only you control your actions. Not your blood—not your bloodline.

“Ouch,” Casteel murmured, placing a hand over his heart. “My feelings. They hurt.”

“Do you have a changeling in your bloodline, Cas?” “Not sure, but I can tell you something’s changing in my pants right now,” he murmured.

Two wrongs never made things right or better, nor did they cancel one another out. They just were.

“The heart doesn’t care how long you may have with someone.” Kieran looked over at me, his eyes sheltered. “It just cares that you have the person for as long as you can.”

“You will bow before your Queen.” Casteel eyed the Atlantian coolly. “Or you will bleed before her. It is your choice.”

“Lift your ass, my Queen.” A giggle crept free. “That is a sentence that sounds wholly inappropriate.”