The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

been. I was surprised to hear that you’d come home. Almost
didn’t believe it was true when word reached us.”
“I imagine many were surprised,” Casteel answered
smoothly. “How have you been?”
“Staying in the best kind of trouble.” Perry’s curious
gaze flicked over to me as Casteel chuckled, lingering for a
moment before moving to Kieran. “But not nearly as much
as when you two are around.”
My brows rose at that as Kieran asked, “What are you
doing out here?”
“Engaging Raul in my stimulating and entertaining
conversational skills.”
“More like annoying the shit out of me,” came a gravelly
voice. An older man with hair the color of clouds and a
beard of the same shade but streaked with black strode out
from the stables with a slight limp, wiping his hands on a
cloth he shoved into the front pocket of his brown tunic.
“Well, damn. Is it really the wayward Prince returned
home?” the older man said. “I must be seeing things.”
Perry’s grin kicked up a notch. “That’s just your failing
eyes, Raul.”
“Well, that would go along nicely with my failing body,”
he answered.
“Speaking of failing bodies, I’m surprised you’re still
alive,” Kieran commented as he swung off his horse, and I
blinked.
Casteel snorted. “What are you talking about? Raul will
outlive us all.”
“I fucking hope not—shit.” Raul stopped beside Perry,
squinting hazel eyes as he stared up. “Here I am, cursing up
a storm, and you have a lady with you.”
“A lady he hasn’t introduced us to yet,” Perry informed,
his look a bit coy. My senses reached out to the Atlantian,
and I felt nothing but amusement and curiosity. “A very
quiet lady I’ve never seen before but believe I have heard
about.”