The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Shocker,” I murmured.
While Casteel went to the wardrobe to pull out fresh
clothing, I quickly wrangled my hair into a braid. The
pleasant haze of his wicked reward sadly faded by the time I
sat on the couch in the living area and Kieran returned, a
large book in his hands and his father with him.
Jasper’s piercing gaze found mine, and he started to
lower. I stiffened, but he seemed to stop himself before
bowing. The curse he muttered garnered a small grin from
me. “You are well?” he asked.
I nodded. “I am. You?”
“Peachy,” he muttered, dropping into one of the chairs.
“Where is—?”
“Right here.” Casteel sauntered into the room as he
dragged a hand over his head, brushing the still-damp
strands off his face. He went to a credenza against the wall.
“Drink?” he offered. Only Jasper nodded. Casteel poured two
glasses as Kieran sat beside me. “So, the Unseen…?”
“Yeah,” Jasper growled. “That was the first I’d heard
there might be a chance they were involved, which irritates
the piss out of me. No offense to your father,” he tacked on
halfheartedly. “But that is something he should have clued
me in on, even if it had nothing to do with her.”
“Agreed,” Casteel muttered as he glanced over at
Kieran. “Does this book you brought with you hold the
answers to why my father kept that so quiet?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Kieran cracked the thick book open.
“Those things that were outside? I figured you had a lot of
questions about them.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Casteel responded, handing Jasper a
glass. “If that was the first time they saw one of them?”
“Exactly.” I watched Kieran flip through the pages.
“Well, I figured it was best that I grab this,” Kieran said.
“It’s an old textbook, centering around the history of
Atlantia—the gods and their children.”