The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Then I will deal with what comes next,” Casteel stated
bluntly.
“No,” Kieran argued. “We will deal with what comes
next. Together.”
“Casteel, stop!” his father yelled. “I’m sorry, but you
can’t do this!” I heard panic. So much panic filled his voice,
it flooded the air. “You know what will happen. I won’t allow
this. You can hate me for the rest of your life, but I will not
allow this. Guards, seize him!”
“Get them away from me,” Casteel snarled. “Get all of
them away from us, or I swear to the gods, I will rip their
hearts from their chests. I do not care if a heart belongs to
one who gave me life. You will not stop me.”
“Look around you!” his father shouted. “The gods are
speaking to us right now. You cannot do this—”
“The gods will not stop me, either,” Casteel swore.
The rolling rumble shook the ground, but it was faster
and greater. Howls and yips exploded between blasts of
thunder. There were…there were screams. High-pitched
wails of pain, and throaty, vibrating growls. Jasper prowled
into my line of sight, crouching so he was over my legs,
standing between Kieran and Casteel. I caught a glimpse of
white fur, circling and circling. The sounds the wolven made
—the keening, mournful howls—haunted every too-thin, tooshort
breath I managed.
“No one is getting close to us.” Kieran shifted forward.
“If they do, they won’t be standing for long.”
“Good,” Casteel said. “I’m not going to be much of a…”
A veil of darkness slipped over me, and I felt as if I were
starting to fall. He faded out and then came back. “…she
may be different… Promise me you will keep her safe.”
“I will make sure both of you are safe,” Kieran told him.
The next thing I heard was Casteel’s voice. “Look at
me,” he ordered, turning my head toward his. My eyelids
were too heavy. “Keep your eyes open and look at me.”