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

When his gaze finally meets mine, he says, “If something bad happens to me while we’re in Micah’s realm…”

“Bad?” I exclaim almost hysterically as I sit all the way up. He matches my movement, coming up to one hip so we’re face to face again. “What do you mean bad? You’re indestructible.”

“I’m not,” he replies softly. “You know I’m not. Yes, I’m as immortal as they come and nothing can generally kill demi-gods but the gods themselves, but I can be obliterated into nothing.”

“No,” I say with a shake of my head.

“Yes,” he says firmly. “There are any number of modern weapons that would tear me to shreds so badly I couldn’t heal myself. But I’m more worried about how powerful Micah may have become with centuries of soaking up magic from the chalice. He could be strong enough to obliterate a demi-god.”

I had truly not considered this. In my mind, Carrick was invincible. I was the weak link in our relationship, which was why the thought of immortality had some appeal.

“If something bad happens,” Carrick continues, “Maddox, Lucien, and Titus will get you out of there and back to safety.”

I start to feel panicky again. “No, that can’t happen. It’s not—”

Carrick’s fingertips press to my lips, effectively silencing me. He leans in closer, lasering his eyes onto mine. “I will come back to you, Finley. The gods will put me back together, but I don’t know how long it will take. I don’t know how long I could be gone. I just need you to know that you might need to continue on without me and if I don’t find you in this lifetime, I’ll damn sure do it in the next.”

“No,” I say in denial because I can’t do this without him.

I can’t do life without him.

“You have to push forward.” His hand comes to the back of my head, and he touches his mouth to mine. “If you don’t get the Blood Stone, you attack Kymaris with all you have. Maddox, Lucien, and Titus will help. She’s going to have a lot of forces around her and it will be dangerous, but you don’t give up because I will be back. Okay?”

Christ… part pep talk, part fated goodbye.

But I’m strong, and I don’t want him to know how scared he makes me. I smile confidently as I nod effusively. “I got this. I promise.”

“I will come back,” he reassures me once again.

“I believe you.” I glance away for a moment, trying to steel my emotions so my lower lip doesn’t erupt into a tremble. Garnering strength, I ask, “What if Kymaris wins?”

Carrick quirks his lips, trying to lighten the moment. “Then you and I will reunite in a shitty Earth realm. I’ll find you as I’m fated to do, and I’ll take you to another reality where we can live out our time together. And I’ll never stop trying to break Rune’s curse.”

“And I’ll keep coming back to you, too,” I assure him. Because in that respect, the curse at least provides us with continued chances.

“Make sure you do that,” he says before kissing me.

It’s the type of kiss that says this conversation is over. And it’s not just the kiss that distracts me.

It’s his hands and then his body as I end up flat on my back with him covering me. His warm skin, the ridges of muscles I let my fingers play along. His scent. The dirty words he sometimes pauses to tell me.

All of this so familiar to me now because I have the knowledge that it has been mine for an awfully long time.

Carrick enters me and as always happens in that moment we join, the amount of love I have for him is almost painful in how overwhelming it is. It’s a prediction of how devastating it would be if I were to lose him.

It’s exactly how he would have felt every time I died.

Our story is tragic but as it’s fated, we will continue to find each other. I will have to trust in that and let my worries go.

CHAPTER 14

Finley

Tensions are high because tomorrow we march on Micah’s realm.

Well, not march.

More like stealthily slip in.

Everyone is waiting down in the library except the one we’re still waiting for, and I’ve been so excited all day, I refused to go down with the others. Instead, I wait for the elevator to arrive, nibbling on a fingernail and trying to contain myself.

The doors swish open and there he is, a giant man with cocoa skin, graying dreadlocks, and the most beautiful hazel eyes I’ve ever seen.

His smile breaks broadly and I hesitate only a heartbeat before I take a running, flying leap into his arms.

“Titus,” I exclaim joyfully as I lock my arms around his neck. His arms go tightly around my back, and he swings me around a full three times while I laugh in glee.