The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

appeared I hadn’t developed the nifty hearing abilities of
the Atlantians—because, of course not.
I looked over my shoulder. Emil approached slowly,
aware that Kieran wasn’t the only wolven among the trees.
“It is time?” I asked.
Emil nodded as he stopped several feet from me. “When
Alastir saw that Cas was alone, he believed you to be dead.
We didn’t correct that assumption. Cas thought that the
belief would make Alastir more inclined to speak, to
incriminate any others who may be involved. But the
bastard isn’t saying much.”
“But he is saying something?”
Emil’s jaw hardened. “Nothing that needs repeating.”
“Let me guess? He said that he was only doing what he
needed to do to protect Atlantia and that I was a threat?” I
surmised, and the Atlantian’s gaze turned steely. “And I
imagine he was also incredibly polite and apologetic as he
said those things.”
“Sounds about right,” Emil sneered, and I wasn’t
surprised or disappointed. What else could Alastir truly say?
Admit that there hadn’t been anyone else there that night at
the inn? It wouldn’t matter if he did. There was nothing any
of us needed to hear from him. At least, nothing I wanted.
“Which is also why I think Casteel allowed him to believe
you’re dead. I think he’s already amused by the look that
will most likely settle upon Alastir’s face when he realizes
that he failed. Come.” Emil started to turn. “Cas will
summon us when he wants us to make our presence
known.”
But had he failed?
Yes.
I jerked as my heart jumped. I looked down at Kieran,
my skin erupting in tiny bumps. He continued watching Emil
with those blue-silver eyes. “Did I—?” I stopped myself.
There was no way I had heard Kieran’s voice in my mind.