The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“Or bring it with them?” Delano added softly, his eyes
narrowed on the creature. “The damn thing looks underfed.”
It really did.
I started toward it. The cat stopped, watching me.
“Poppy,” Casteel whispered. “We need to hurry.”
“I know. I just…” I didn’t know how to explain what I felt.
Why the eather in my chest hummed so violently now.
“Okay. So you were right. They have a cave cat.”
Tension crowded Kieran’s voice. “But we don’t have time to
free the castle pets.”
I knew we didn’t have time, and I also doubted that a
cave cat or any wild animal could be kept alive this long in a
cage. But I…I couldn’t stop myself. I knelt before the cage,
the cat’s unblinking stare capturing mine. I reached through
the bars—
“Poppy! Don’t you dare stick your hand—” Casteel shot
forward.
Too late.
The tips of my fingers brushed soft fur as Casteel’s hand
wrapped around my arm. He jerked my hand back as the cat
shuddered and—and kept shuddering.
“What’s happening?” Panic exploded as Casteel dragged
me to my feet. “Did I hurt it? I didn’t mean to—”
I stopped.
We all stopped and stared.
Even Kieran.
The feline’s fur stood up as it sank to its haunches,
shaking fiercely. Silvery white light seeped across its eyes,
spitting and crackling. Under the glossy fur, the cat’s skin
began to glow—
“Oh, gods,” Delano groaned. “You really need to stop
touching things, Poppy.”
The fur retracted into skin that smoothed and became a
golden, wheatish tone. Long, russet-colored hair fell forward,
brushing the floor of the cage, shielding much of the nude
man kneeling behind the bars, his upper body tucked close