The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

himself. His hand came back to my waist, and we moved
faster in our little circle, swirling around the fire.
The hum in my chest found my blood as the hem of my
gown twirled around my ankles. A new hand closed around
mine as Delano let go. Whirling, I found myself held by
Kieran.
I grinned up at him. “Hi.”
His lips curved up. “Hello, Poppy.” He stepped back,
spinning me. I stumbled, laughing as he caught me. “You
surprise me.”
“Why?” I asked as we moved around the flames.
“I didn’t think you’d dance,” he said, pulling me to his
damp chest. “You honor us by doing so.”
Before I could even begin to question why that would be
an honor, Kieran spun me out, and another hand folded
around mine. I turned to find that it was Lyra who now
danced with me. We were nearly as close as she and Kieran
had been, her legging-clad thighs brushing mine with every
sway of her hips. Taking hold of my other hand, we moved
together around the fire. Strands of hair stuck to my neck
and temples as we weaved in and out of those flowing with
the beat around the fire, each spinning into different
partners. On and on, I danced, both with people I didn’t
recognize and those I knew, and all the while, that buzz in
my chest and my blood vibrated in my skin. My head tipped
back, my face exposed to the flames and moonlight as I was
whirled into Delano’s arms and then into Kieran’s, who lifted
my feet from the sand. Grasping his shoulders, I laughed as
he turned us around and around.
“Someone is jealous,” he said when my feet touched the
sand once more. We spun—
Kieran’s chuckle tickled my cheek as Casteel snagged
me by the waist. I all but fell into him as he said, “I am
definitely getting jealous.”
“No, you’re not.” All I felt from him was smoky spice.
“You’re…”