The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Why do you like saying that word so much?”
“Because you like hearing it.”
“I do not.” I shoved my hair back from my face.
“Stop interrupting me. This is a very important
observation,” he replied. “‘But his most impressive
seduction was not his manhood. It was the dark, wicked kiss
of our kind, one he was all too eager to bestow in the most
scandalous locations.’”
I realized what Casteel was getting at. The dark, wicked
kiss of our kind. But my mind got stuck on the bestowing
the kiss in the most scandalous locations part. Casteel
hadn’t bitten me in that very scandalous location in the
shower, but he’d drawn blood.
“I do believe that Miss Willa was either Atlantian or of
Atlantian descent. Perhaps even one of another bloodline,”
he noted. “I wonder if she still lives. If so, I also wonder if
she’s planning for a volume two.” He paused. “You look very
flushed, Poppy. Was it the wicked bite part? Or would you
like to hear more about Andre?” He glanced back at the
journal. “‘While partygoers celebrated the birthday of some
young lady, Andre coaxed me out into the gardens, where
he and his confidant, Torro, celebrated me.’”
I bit down on the inside of my lip, words fizzling out on
the tip of my tongue. They…celebrated her? They?
Casteel continued, “‘Torro took me from behind, his
thick hardness already taking me to bliss while Andre knelt
before me, his mouth closing over my—’”
“That’s enough.” I shot forward, snatching the book
from his hands. I got the book but didn’t make it very far.
Casteel folded an arm around my waist, pinning me and
the journal to his chest. “You shouldn’t have stopped me
there.” His eyes warmed. “Miss Willa was in for a very
exciting evening in that garden. They were about to be
joined by one not-very-innocent Lady.”
“I don’t care—wait.” Curiosity got the best of me.
“What? The…the four of them? Together?”