The ​Crown of Gilded Bones

Poppy uses the journey to strengthen the telepathic cords that connect her to each wolven, silently communicating with them. They reach a resting point, and Cas and Poppy retreat to their bedroom. Although Cas understands and empathizes with Poppy’s desire to see her brother and hear the message from the Blood Crown, he warns Poppy that she is likely walking into a trap. He emphasizes the importance of protecting their secrets, mainly the fact that Poppy is a deity. There is a significant chance that Poppy will have to kill Ian to protect herself, Cas, and the wolven. Cas knows that Poppy is powerful enough to defend the group, but he knows that killing Ian would be something that Poppy would regret for the rest of her life.

Poppy feels awkward around Kieran’s sister Vonetta, the power dynamic reminding her of the divide between her closest friend, Tawny, when Poppy served as The Maiden in Solis. Vonetta reaffirms her friendship with Poppy, who feels a static charge between them when Vonetta touches her arm. Cas and Poppy will approach Ian with only four visible wolven guards: two male and two female. Cas explains their strategy; the Ascended will underestimate the strength of the female guards, and the other wolven hiding in the nearby woods will give Cas and Poppy the element of surprise should they need it.