The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

spitting sparks high into the air and then fizzling out until
only faint wisps of pale smoke remained.
Everyone was staring at me.
“I…I didn’t know if that would work or not,” I admitted.
“Well…” Vonetta drew the word out, her pale eyes wide.
“I’m sure I’m not the only one who is grateful that it did.”
I looked down at my hands and then up, finding Casteel.
“I guess I am the Queen of Flesh and Fire.”
Casteel nodded as he stalked toward me, his eyes a
heated amber. “I know you’re the Queen of my heart.”
Blinking, I lowered my hands as he stopped in front of
me. “Did you seriously just say that?”
One dimple appeared as he clasped the back of my
head and lowered his head to mine. “I sure as fuck did.”
“That was so…cheesy,” I said.
“I know.” Casteel kissed me, and there was nothing
ridiculous about that. His tongue parted my lips, and I
welcomed his taste.
“This is a little awkward,” Vonetta observed.
“They do this all the time,” Kieran sighed. “You’ll get
used to it.”
“Better than them fighting,” Delano remarked.
Casteel grinned against my lips. “You’re extraordinary,”
he murmured. “Don’t ever forget that.”
I kissed him in response, and then unfortunately, pulled
free. “We should probably get moving. More could come.”
“Let’s hope not,” Emil said, sheathing his swords.
“Everyone okay?” Casteel asked as we started walking.
“No snake bites?”
Luckily, everyone was fine, but as we neared the
shadows of the stone women, I said, “Maybe I should go
first.”
Delano bowed, extending an arm as Vonetta shook dust
from her braids. “Be my guest.”
My grin froze as I tentatively stepped into the shadow of
a wing. The ground did tremor, but it was the holes, filling