The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

clothing,” I warned as I sprang forward, shoving the dagger
into the man’s chest, “I’m going to be very upset.”
“I’ll get you new clothing,” Casteel said, gripping an
Unseen’s shoulder as he thrust his sword into his gut.
I jumped back. “But I like this tunic.”
“Holy shit,” Emil grunted from several feet away, facing
the woods.
Turning around, my stomach dropped. At least two
dozen attackers drifted from the thick shadows of the trees,
half Unseen and half Gyrms. The wolven and the others
were making quick work of the ones on the road, but there
were many, and one of ours was likely to get hurt or worse.
And I didn’t want that.
There would be time later to wonder how the Unseen
had learned that we’d be on the road to Evaemon. And at
some point, I might think back on how easily and quickly I’d
decided to tap into the hum of power building in my chest.
About how I didn’t stop to fear whether or not I’d be able to
control myself. I just reacted, allowing instinct to take over.
Maybe later, I would even think back to the conversation
I’d had with Casteel—the one where I had said I’d give those
who stood against me a second chance, and how this was
the exact opposite of what I’d said.
Then again, these men and creatures were actively
trying to kill me, so maybe not.
I opened my senses wide and let the other side of my
gift out, the half that took life instead of giving it. It was a lot
like when I healed someone, but in reverse, I realized. My
skin began to vibrate as the taste of metal filled the back of
my throat. The hot, acidic burn of anger from the Unseen
and the stark, frightening nothingness from the Gyrms
reached out to me, and I took it—the hatred and even the
void, letting it enter my veins and pour into my chest where
it joined the eather. Under me, I felt the ground begin to
faintly tremble as my gaze swept over those in masks. The
primal power of the gods invaded my every sense.