The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

Chapter 7
Stunned, I looked up, my eyes locking with Casteel’s.
There was barely any amber visible as the kind of horror I’d
never seen before settled into his features. His shock
blasted through my protective walls, overwhelming my
senses.
I opened my mouth and tasted an awful metallic taste in
the back of my throat. Viscous liquid bubbled up with each
breath I tried to take, spilling over my lips. “Casteel…?”
Pain surged through my entire body, all-consuming and
total. The agony came in wave after wave, shortening each
breath I took. I’d never felt anything like this. Not even the
night at the inn. All my senses shorted out, shutting down
my gift. I couldn’t feel anything beyond the searing misery
burning through my chest, my lungs, and every nerve
ending.
Oh, gods, this kind of pain brought a razor-edged terror
with it. A knowledge that I couldn’t escape. I felt slippery,
wet, and cold inside. I took a breath as I reached for the
bolt. Or tried to. Whatever air I sucked in, I choked on, and
what made it past my throat crackled and bubbled in my
chest. My fingers slipped on the smooth surface of the
bloodstone bolt, and my legs—they just disappeared. Or
seemed to. My knees buckled.
Arms caught me, stopping my fall, and for a heartbeat,
the scent of lush spice and pine overshadowed the iron-rich
smell of blood pumping from the wound. I lifted my head.
“I’ve got you. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” Wide, dilated,
amber eyes locked with mine—wild. His gaze was wild as he