The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

signified that there were still Unseen hell-bent on preventing
me from taking the Crown.
That as Alastir had promised and had proven the night
in Saion’s Cove, it hadn’t ended with his death.
“Hold on.” Casteel twisted sharply, swinging his leg off
Setti’s back. I held on as he jumped from the horse. He
landed without stumbling and then lowered me to the
ground. Grasping the back of my head, he tipped his head
down. “Kill as many as you can.” Then his mouth was on
mine, the kiss quick and raw, a clash of teeth and tongues.
The moment he let go, I reached for the wolven dagger
and spun just as Kieran led Setti and Storm off the road—
and hopefully out of harm’s way.
Unstrapping his short swords, Casteel stalked forward.
“You assholes interrupted a very charming conversation.”
He leaned to the side so fast that an arrow aimed for him
flew harmlessly beyond him. “And that was incredibly rude.”
Dagger in hand, I shot toward the closest Gyrm. I dipped
low as it swung its sword. Popping up behind the creature, I
thrust the blade deep into its back and then jumped back to
avoid the inevitable gross poof. I whirled around as Delano
relieved a Gyrm of its head with his sword. An Unseen
rushed from the trees, weapon held high. I waited and then
snapped forward, twisting as I kicked out, catching him in
the knee. Bone cracked and gave. A muffled scream came
from the man as I spun, slamming my dagger into the side
of his neck. I jerked, dragging the wickedly sharp blade as I
did. The man toppled forward. I turned, scanning those still
standing and seeing none in a silver mask or any that
carried the bone chain with them.
It was clear that they had no intention of taking me
alive.
Another rushed from the trees. It wasn’t a Gyrm. He was
smarter—darting to the left and then the right. He swung
the sword around as I danced to my right, slamming the
blade into a nearby tree. “If I get blood on my new