The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

His gaze swept over me, lingering on the curves of the
bodice along my chest. “I like what you’re wearing,” he said.
“A lot.”
Feeling my cheeks warm, I picked up a dagger and
secured it to the chest harness, and then sheathed the
wolven dagger at my thigh.
“Now I really like what you’re wearing.” He strode
toward me.
“You’re demented.”
“Only slightly.” He tossed my braid over my shoulder.
Dipping his head, he kissed me and then straightened the
bow on the stays of the bodice. “I cannot wait to untie these
later.”
I smiled as a curling motion swept low in my stomach.
The smile faded too quickly as my heart tripped over itself.
Later isn’t guaranteed, whispered an annoying voice, and if
that voice had a body that wasn’t mine, I’d punch it.
There would be a later.
We would make sure of that.
A knock sounded on the door just as Casteel finished
strapping his swords to his sides.
Perry stepped inside, a cap in his hand. “We’re about to
dock.”
“Perfect,” Casteel replied while tension crept into my
muscles. “As soon as you offload the crates, I want you out
of here and back to Atlantia.”
“I can stay nearby.” Perry offered. “You can send a
signal, and I can come and take you all back to Atlantia.”
“That will be too much of a risk,” I told him. “And we’re
already risking too many lives as it is.”
Casteel slid me a knowing half-grin. “That, and Poppy
probably doesn’t want to spend four more days on a ship.”
I said nothing as I shot him a glare. He was also right.
Perry grinned at me. “It can take longer for some people
to get used to travelling by sea.”