The ​Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash, #3)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My eyes started to narrow as I stared at the book he held. It looked awfully familiar. “What are you reading?” “Your favorite book.” His eyes slid to mine knowingly, and I jerked upright. “You know, I have this theory about Miss Willa Colyns.” “I can’t believe you still have that damn journal.” “She mentions something here, in chapter twenty-three, that got me thinking.” He cleared his throat. “‘Andre was the most uninhibited of all my lovers—’” “You do not need to read it to tell me your theory.” “I disagree,” he replied. “‘He was quite shameless in his search of pleasure as he was with his willingness to give, but his most impressive seduction was not his manhood.’” He looked over at me. “You do remember what manhood means?” “Yes, Casteel. I remember.” He smirked as he returned to that damnable journal. “Where was I? Oh, yes. Something about his manhood.” “Why do you like saying that word so much?” “Because you like hearing it.” “I do not.” I shoved my hair back from my face. “Stop interrupting me. This is a very important observation,” he replied. “‘But his most impressive seduction was not his manhood. It was the dark, wicked kiss of our kind, one he was all too eager to bestow in the most scandalous locations.’” I realized what Casteel was getting at. The dark, wicked kiss of our kind. But my mind got stuck on the bestowing the kiss in the most scandalous locations part. Casteel hadn’t bitten me in that very scandalous location in the shower, but he’d drawn blood.