A Discovery of Secrets and Fate (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 2)

Finally, I make my way into a stall, do my business, and come out for a thorough hand washing. I do a quick check of my makeup—which I personally went light on tonight since we’d be dancing and sweating—and I’d pulled my hair back into a low ponytail to keep it from flying around. Not trying to impress anyone here tonight, I dry my hands and leave.

As I’m winding through people to make my way back to the bar, I can’t see Adira for a split second and look around. When my gaze goes back that way, I realize she’d just been obscured by a large guy talking to her. I smile, because Adira can be a bit shy, so it’s nice to see someone approach her.

But as I walk closer, a low roll of nausea hits me. Two more steps their way, I’m hit with a strong vibe of sinister intention.

“Shit,” I mutter, deciding to open my senses all the way up. It’s not until I walk a large circle around Adira and the man so I can see his face—his true face—that I realize there could be real trouble.

The man talking to her looks like the succubus Carrick killed in the alley that night. Gray pitted skin and rotten teeth, I remember Zaid had taught me the male counterpart to a succubus was an incubus. One step closer, and I can feel a slight tinge of lust surrounding the edges of the dark vibes he’s putting off.

He’s standing in close to Adira, one large hand at the back of her neck, looking like he wants to pull her in for a kiss. Adira’s eyes are glazed, her mouth parted, and she’s relaxed into submission.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter, scrambling their way.

“Adira,” I say sharply as I reach her and the incubus. She doesn’t even flinch but stares dazedly at the man who has a very handsome glamour to appeal to the women.

My hand goes to the incubus’ chest, and I push him back while taking Adira by the arm and pulling her from her stool. That seems to snap her out of it slightly, but she acts punch drunk. “Oh, hey, Finley,” she drawls with a lopsided smile. “This is um… um…”

“Wade,” the man provides his name, leveling a charming grin at me and holding his hand out for a shake. Except his grin isn’t charming because I’m only watching his fae face, and I know he’s Dark Fae because he has no aura around him.

I ignore his hand, giving an apologetic smile. “Sorry for the interruption, be we really need to get going.”

Wade isn’t dissuaded. “Come on… both you girls stay. I’ve got a friend who would love to meet you.”

And that’s when I feel someone standing behind me, the same dark vibes tinged with a sexual pulse. I look over my shoulder to see a very handsome guy—until I peel his veil away and find another incubus.

Shit, shit, shit, shit.

Then it gets worse. The incubus behind me puts his hand on my elbow, attempting to turn me his way. Immediately, I’m hit with a feeling of inexplicable lust and desire. I’m horrified I’m feeling it for the man holding my arm. It’s hard to do, but I manage to twist to look back at Adira. Wade the incubus has his hand at her neck again, pulling her in for a kiss. She’s moving willingly toward him.

“Come on, pretty lady,” the creature that has my arm croons. “Let’s go find a dark corner.”

“No, I don’t want to,” I reply sluggishly, at the same time suffering complete embarrassment that my body very much wants to go with him to a dark corner and let him do dirty things to me.

I can feel myself slipping further under his pull as he continues to murmur things that make me feel flush and pliable. Looking helplessly at Adira, I find that Wade’s mouth is just millimeters away from hers.

Will just a kiss kill her? Surely not.

Maybe I should try a kiss. My body is telling me it will feel good and the incubus will give me everything he’s promising.

The sexual compulsion is strong. Now I’m starting to feel like it might not be so bad to die this way. I even take a few steps away with the incubus, who is still just lightly holding me by the arm but controlling me with a power I seem helpless to fight.

But then I remember Carrick.

He was somehow able to fight it. The succubus in the alley didn’t faze him at all.

But he’s got powers, and I don’t. So why bother trying?

There’s a tap on my shoulder and I turn lazily to find Adira standing there, hand in hand with Wade. Her voice is mellow, her words slightly slurred. “Hey, Finley… I’m going to let Wade take me home, okay?”