The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

grasped his sister’s hand, pulling her up as I pulled the
eather toward me. Emil let go, scuttling back on his belly as
Kieran and Vonetta collapsed to the side.
Letting out a ragged breath, I pulled the eather back
toward me as I sank against Casteel. The radiance retreated
and then disappeared.
“Are you okay, Netta?” Casteel demanded.
“Peachy.” Vonetta rolled onto her back, breathing
heavily. She tilted her head back toward Casteel and me.
“That…that felt weird.”
“You could feel it?” I asked.
“Yeah, it felt…warm and tingly.” She dragged her arm
over her forehead. “Thank you. All of you.”
“How did you do that?” Casteel asked as Emil stood.
“I pictured it. Like you said.” My heart still hadn’t
slowed. “And I just hoped it didn’t…you know, break her
bones.”
Vonetta halted in the process of rising, her gaze finding
mine in the dim firelight. “You didn’t know if it wouldn’t do
that?”
“No,” I admitted sheepishly.
She put her hands on her hips. “Gods, I think I need to
lay down again.”