The Evolution of Fae and Gods (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 3)

“It’s why I asked to ascend.” His voice is so soft I almost don’t hear exactly what he said, then it penetrates. “I went to the gods after we met at the gallery, and I asked for the Ascension. I knew Rune would never lift the curse, and I just couldn’t take you dying one more time.”

My head dips, my tears flowing as I stare at my Chucks.

I don’t even know what to say. My heart aches for Carrick, and damn it… it aches for me, especially now that I know everything I’ve been feeling for Carrick hasn’t been mystical or brought by the fates. We are the epitome of true love, and what we had was so strong that it survived within me for a thousand years and through God knows how many reincarnations.

My soul recognized Carrick even if no other part of me did.

Once again, I move into him, this time my arms going over his shoulders as we mesh in a hug so tight that even air can’t come between us.

Carrick’s head tilts, and he presses his lips to just above my ear. “I’ve loved you for centuries, Finley. I love you now as much as I ever did. I needed you to know your fate because it wasn’t fair to keep it from you. I need you to reconcile it, and you need to know I will be by your side until there comes a time you don’t need me there anymore. I won’t let you die alone. I swear my face will be the last thing you see before you go.”

I nod against him, loving him for loving me enough to give me this knowledge, let me accept it, and let us make the most of our time left.

“And after I die, you’ll ascend and be free finally,” I murmur. The thought of it once horrified me, but now it actually makes me happy.

“No,” he whispers, and I pull back in confusion. “I’ll wait for you to come back to me. I’ll take whatever I can get for eternity, even the pain of losing you.”

I go to my tiptoes, burying my wet face into his neck.

“Well, isn’t that the most touching thing I’ve ever heard?” The voice is unrecognizable to me, but apparently not to Carrick. He whirls so I’m at his back, then puts his arms out to protect me.

I dare to peek around his shoulder to see a man casually standing not five feet from Carrick.

No, not a man.

A god with electric blue hair and hate in his eyes.

Rune.

There’s no one else it could be who would appear out of nowhere with such derision in his voice at having witnessed a very sentimental moment.

“Stay behind me, Finley,” Carrick growls low, then louder at Rune. “You can’t have her. She has the prophecy to fulfill.”

My heart nearly slams out of my chest as I realize I might die tonight and that can’t happen… not after all I’ve just learned.

“Relax,” Rune drawls, waving a hand at Carrick and even offering a genial smile. “I’m not here for Finley.”

“Then what do you want?” Carrick asks guardedly.

Rune’s smile goes from genial to pure evil, and his eyes gleam with a loss of sanity. “I’m here for you.”

It happens so fast I don’t even have time to yell in protest. Rune lunges at Carrick, wraps his arms around him so they are chest to chest, and then flings both of their bodies over the balcony wall, disappearing from sight.

I shriek, run to the wall, and peer over, expecting to see Carrick broken on the sidewalk four hundred feet below.

But nothing… just pedestrians walking and normal traffic.

They disappeared into thin air.

“Zaid,” I scream at the top of my lungs, knowing he most likely can’t hear me from inside. But before I can scream again, he’s flying out the patio door with an alarmed expression on his face.

“What?” he demands, looking around. “What’s wrong?”

“Carrick,” I whisper, barely able to get the word out of my mouth.

“Where is he?” Zaid growls, head whipping left and right to scan the patio.

I walk a few steps, coming toe to toe with Zaid as the tears well up in my eyes. I can’t get words out because of the knot in my throat, so I merely collapse forward in grief and hope Zaid catches me.

Reeling from the truths laid before her, Finley is left with questions unanswered as she waits for Carrick to resurface. In the meantime, she must work to unleash the angelic powers bestowed upon her at birth, as well as continue to seek information about Kymaris and her plan to unleash Hell on Earth.