The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

when hunger stirred. We stopped only to meet that need
and handle personal ones in earthen rooms I convinced
myself weren’t full of six-legged insects. We could’ve been
in the twisting, cramped tunnels for hours—or longer—and I
didn’t think we’d know.
“Careful,” Casteel warned at some point in the neverending
tunnel, holding the torch ahead of him. “The floor
feels weak through this section. Stay close to the wall.”
I wasn’t sure how he could tell that, but I did as he
requested, pressing my body against the cool stone. The
canteen dug into my back as I crept along, Kieran close
behind me. My chest tightened as I realized that the tunnel
had narrowed once more. I’d never had a problem with
enclosed spaces, but I had a feeling I would now. I reached
out, gripping the back of Casteel’s shirt without really
thinking about it. I’d gotten into the habit of doing so
whenever the walls or ceiling pressed in.
“Poppy,” Casteel whispered.
“What?” I focused on the reddish glow beyond him.
“You know what I should’ve brought with us?” he asked.
More food? Maybe a little pouch of cheese? I was hungry
again. “No,” I answered.
“Miss Willa’s journal.”
I stopped momentarily, and Kieran bumped into me.
Thank the gods, he’d given the torch to Delano, or my hair
would currently be on fire. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Casteel continued forward. “We could’ve passed
the time taking turns reading from your favorite chapters.”
“Are we talking about the same Willa?” Vonetta asked
from somewhere behind me.
“Yes. You see, there’s this extremely popular book in
Solis. It’s actually Poppy’s favorite—”
“It is not my favorite, you jerk,” I snapped.
“Please don’t stab him in this tunnel,” Delano called out.
My eyes rolled. “I cannot promise that.”
Casteel chuckled.