A Battle of Blood and Stone (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 4)

“You’re afraid,” she replies confidently.

“Afraid of what?” I throw my arms out wide. “I’m most likely going to die in this prophecy, and I’m not even afraid of that. What could possibly spook me past that?”

“You’re afraid of failure, Finley. You’re afraid of violence. And you’re afraid that tapping into these powers is going to change you in a way you might not like.”

“No,” I say adamantly. “I have changed. I’m not the same person I was three months ago.”

“You’re enough of that same person that fear is what’s holding you back,” she asserts. She says it with such resolution that I almost believe her. “And I have an idea on how to confront that.”

I do not like the tone of her voice. It’s almost gleeful, and the low boil of something close to nausea in my stomach makes me wonder if she’s right. I’m afraid to use the powers.

The fear-of-failure part actually hit me pretty hard because I simply can’t fail. The world is counting on me.

“What did you have in mind?” I ask tentatively.

Deandra looks down her nose. “You’ll know when I’m good and ready for you to know. I’ll be back tonight around midnight. Be ready to go.”

“Go where?” I ask, almost panicked at the thought of going anywhere with her.

“Can’t stick around,” she replies lightly, ignoring my question. “I’ve actually got a realtor set up to go condo shopping.”

“You’re going to stay here in Seattle?” I ask, my nose wrinkling.

“I’m going to look at some space available in this building.” Her grin is obnoxious. If she moves in, I wonder if I can talk Carrick into moving somewhere else.

“Midnight,” Deandra reminds me. Before I can question her further, she steps away, bending distance to somewhere unknown.

I absolutely hate the time I just spent with her, mainly because I hate her, but I hate more that she’s actually given me some things to think about.

CHAPTER 11

Carrick

In the beginning, Carrick accepted the gods offer to help Finley Porter with the prophecy and, in exchange, he would be allowed to ascend.

Then came the time when he started to care for her again.

Then he loved her again, and Ascension wasn’t an option. The moment he promised to wait around for her next reincarnation, he knew this would be his life for eternity.

But somewhere in all of that, Carrick actually started caring about mankind. He spent his entire life—almost five thousand years—in the Earth realm. It was his home, and he had not realized how proprietary he had become of it.

So yes, he was helping Finley because there was something in it for him, then because his love demanded it, and now it was also because he had a personal stake in keeping this planet just the way it is.

It put even more pressure on him to make sure this meet with Lucien went well. His brother was prickly and cold, and there had never been an easygoing way between them the way there was with Maddox.

There was loyalty, yes. That came from coming into this world together and having each other’s backs to fulfill the gods’ wishes time and again.

But loyalty was not absolute, and Carrick honestly had no clue how Lucien was going to react.

At the last minute, Finley decided to sit out of this meeting, and she urged Zaid to do the same. They were all having a drink about half an hour before Lucien was due to arrive, discussing different ways to approach Lucien about the Blood Stone.

Carrick should have known Finley’s beautiful brain was ticking because she had been silent the entire time until she wasn’t. “I think this is a matter best handled among the brothers. Zaid and I should sit this out.”

Before Carrick could respond, Zaid put in his opinion. “Agreed.”

And so, Maddox and Carrick awaited Lucien down in the library. Checking his watch, he hoped that this wouldn’t take too long. Deandra had something she wanted to do with Finley at midnight, and he wanted to be in attendance for that.

The thud of heavy boots came down the spiral staircase, and Carrick watched Lucien come into view. Maddox, sitting across the table from Carrick, twisted in his seat to watch.

“What’s up, bro?” Maddox said genially as Lucien came off the last step and headed toward the table.

He kicked out the chair next to Maddox, then returned the same greeting as he plopped down. “What’s up?”

Then his gaze slid across the table, and he gave a chin lift to Carrick. “Where’s Finley?”

“Gearing up for an evening with Deandra,” Carrick replied, knowing how provocative that statement was.

“Deandra? Nimeyah’s daughter?” Lucien asked with mild interest. He had not been around since the trip to Faere, so he wasn’t up to speed on the animosity between the Light Fae princess and Carrick’s woman. It had been over three weeks since they’d last seen Lucien, which was ironically on the day Deandra and Finley almost went at it in Faere.