“Poppy?” Casteel said, tearing off a piece of his cloak.
“Yeah?”
“Stop staring at his arm.”
“Yeah.” Blinking, I looked away.
“Can someone fill me in?” Malik asked, his voice tight.
“They’re corpses,” Kieran said.
“No shit,” Malik retorted. I peeked and saw that Casteel had wrapped his arm.
“Reanimatedcorpses,” he continued, his lip curling. “They’re like Craven and a type of Gyrm. Not the kind conjured by magic—”
“But made by a god,” I finished, remembering the smooth, featureless faces of the other Gyrms.
Kieran nodded. “Gyrms created by gods are usually created for a purpose—to fight, hunt, or serve. Butgruls…”
I inhaled sharply, for once wishing thevadentiahad stayed silent. “They’re used in the Abyss to feast on the flesh.”
“Spiritual flesh,” Kieran corrected. “But, yeah.”
I looked at him. “Thanks for the unnecessary clarification—”
Shouts erupted from outside, drawing my attention to the door.
Casteel turned. “How many did you notice this happening to?”
“This was the first house I saw it in,” Perry said, reaching for the short sword attached to his back. “So, they’re killed like Gyrms?”
“Sever the spinal cord or destroy the brain,” Kieran answered.
The father jerked up, reaching for the person closest to him.
“Kieran,” I shouted, snapping forward. I reached inside the folds of the cloak for my dagger—
The tip of a bloodstone sword erupted from the man’s face, spraying oily black blood that smelled of stale lilacs.
Dropping the father, I watched as Casteel withdrew his sword. “I had it covered,” I grumbled.
Casteel winked. “I know.” He turned to the mother, driving his sword through the center of her head.
A pain-filled shout echoed from outside, spinning me around.
“Shit.” Naill unhooked a short sword as he stalked forward. “I’m willing to bet everyone is letting themselves get chomped on like Malik—”
“Fuck you,” Malik ground out.
“—because they don’t realize what they’re dealing with.”
“Fuck you again,” Malik muttered as Naill raced into the hall.
Casteel frowned at his brother.
“Is it possible not all will turn?” Perry asked.
“It’s too much of a risk,” Casteel said. I hated to admit it, but I agreed. “Kieran, get my brother back to Wayfair.”
