The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

I swallowed hard as I lifted my gaze to Kieran’s back.
“Just…for everything.”
Casteel stiffened behind me. “Are you serious?”
“Yes?”
“What exactly is this everything you’re apologizing for?”
I doubted repeating the word would suffice. “I was just
thinking about how you haven’t seen your parents in years,
and how your homecoming should’ve been a good one—a
happy one. Instead, all of this happened. And Alastir…” I
shook my head. “You knew him far longer than me. His
betrayal has to bother you. And I was also thinking about
the Chambers of Nyktos and wondering how damaged it
must be now. I bet the Temple has been there for thousands
of years. And here I came and—”
“Poppy, I’m going to stop you right there. Part of me
wants to laugh—”
“Same,” Kieran commented from up front.
My eyes narrowed on the wolven.
“The other part of me finds absolutely nothing funny
about you apologizing for things you have no control over.”
“I also second that,” Kieran tossed out.
“This conversation doesn’t involve you, Kieran,” I
snapped.
The wolven shrugged a shoulder. “Just chiming in with
my two cents. Carry on. My father and I will pretend we
can’t hear either of you.”
I scowled at him as I glanced to where Jasper rode past
us in his mortal form. I had no idea when he’d shifted.
“Look,” Casteel said, his voice low, “we’re going to need
to talk about a lot when we’re somewhere private, and I’ve
had a chance to make sure your injuries have healed.”
“What injuries?”
Casteel sighed behind me. “Since you apparently didn’t
notice, you were still covered in bruises after you rested in
the hunting cabin.”