The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

But into what? I hoped he or someone could answer. “I
can put my own shoes on.”
“I know. But it makes me feel useful. Let me be useful,
please.”
“Only because you said, ‘please,’” I murmured, lifting
my leg.
He sent me a quick grin. “How are you feeling?
Honestly? And I’m not talking about just physically.”
I held still as he slid the shaft of the boot up. “I…I’m
okay,” I said, staring at the dark locks on his bowed head.
“It’s just a bit weird because I…I feel the same. I don’t feel
like anything has changed. I mean, maybe nothing really
changed?” I said. “Maybe you just healed me—”
“I didn’t just heal you, Poppy.” He looked up at me as he
tugged the boot into place. “Your heart stopped. If I had
been a second or two too slow, you would’ve passed on.”
His gaze held mine as my stomach dipped. “You don’t feel
the same.”
I gripped the edge of the chair. “I really don’t
understand what that means. I feel the same.”
“It’s hard to explain, but it’s like a combination of scent
and instinct.” He placed his hands on my knees. “When I
touch you, I recognize the feel of your skin in my soul and in
my heart. You are still Poppy, but I don’t sense mortal blood
in your veins, and you no longer feel the same on an
instinctual level.”
“Oh,” I whispered.
He stared at me for a moment. “Is that all you really
have to say to that?”
“It’s all I can come up with now.”
His gaze searched mine as he nodded. “I can’t even
begin to imagine all the things that must be racing through
your mind right now.”
I coughed out a dry laugh. “So much. Some of it I can
sort of table for later to freak out over. But…”
“What?” Casteel prodded quietly.