Empire of Bones (45 page)

Dan was seated at a little metal table with his head in his hands, staring at the water.

When he saw Cyrus, he exploded out of his chair. His laugh sent ripples across the surface.

 G
RATITUDE
 

Paul S. for the push

Jim T. for the bittersweet

Mallory L. for the first launch

Lovely for the dreams

My attic-dwelling bunk-bed readers for the excitement

Every last one of y’all for joining the Smiths in Ashtown

 A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR
 

N. D. WILSON is the bestselling author of the 100 Cupboards series and
Leepike Ridge
. Once, in the fourth grade, he split his buddy’s arrow while shooting at a mattress from twenty yards. Now he writes at the top of a tall, skinny house, where he lives with a blue-eyed girl he stole from the ocean, their five young explorers, two tortoises, and one snake. For more information, please visit
AshtownBurials.com
.