The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

A dimple appeared in his right cheek. “Poppy, you will
be Queen. You will be able to do whatever you want.”
“Oh,” I murmured as Delano chuckled. I could…I could
do whatever I wanted? I blinked as I focused on the road
ahead. Anything? That was a unique feeling. A shocking
one. I exhaled raggedly. “Then I would—”
An arrow whizzed past my head. I gasped, jerking to the
side as Casteel reached over.
“Grab her reins,” he bit out, encircling an arm around
my waist.
Cursing, Kieran leaned over, grabbing Storm’s reins as
Casteel dragged me onto Setti. Another arrow flew over our
heads.
“Motherfuckers.” Naill grunted. Over his shoulder, I saw
him glance down at his arm.
“Are you okay?” I shouted as Casteel wheeled Setti to
the side, angling himself so his body shielded mine.
“Barely a flesh wound,” the Atlantian growled, baring
fangs. “Won’t be able to say the same for those dead
fucks.”
I twisted in the saddle. All I saw were bronze masks.
The Unseen.
Dozens of them stood in the road, some armed with
bows, and others with swords. Gyrms. The skin of their bare
chests carried the grayish pallor of something that had
never lived.
Then I saw nothing but wolven, streaking over the
paved road and through the reedy grass, taking down those
who held bows. Their screams were cut short as teeth sank
deep into throats. Naill flew past us, shoving his sword deep
into the chest of a Gyrm as Vonetta leapt over a fallen
Unseen, crashing into the back of another. Several Gyrms
breached the wolven, racing toward us as Emil rode past us,
throwing a dagger. The blade pierced a mask, sending the
Unseen falling backward. There wasn’t even time to feel
disappointment over what was happening—that this