It’s when he pulls out a pocketknife with the clear intent to pry it off that Carrick stops in mid-tirade to me and turns around to Maddox with a snarl. “Don’t even think about it.”
I have a feeling in all other times the two brothers have lived their thousands of years, Maddox doesn’t obey Carrick often. But in this case, he snaps the knife closed and sets the chalice back down. Nodding at it, he says, “That thing has some major power. I’ve never felt anything like it before. It almost feels…”
“God-like,” Carrick finishes the sentence.
That startles me, and my gaze snaps his way. “God-like as in the God?”
Carrick shakes his head but it’s Maddox that answers. “No. As in the gods who sit on The Council. It has this sort of vibration that the gods give off.”
I frown, thinking back to when I first met Veda and just most recently today with Cato. “I’ve never felt that.”
Maddox shrugs. “Maybe something only the demi-gods can feel since they’re our creators. Or maybe we’re just more sensitive to magic and power, and there’s nothing more powerful than the five together.”
I drag my eyes over to the chalice. “And you’re saying that thing feels like it has that type of power?”
Neither brother answers, but it’s Carrick I shift my attention to. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Tucking his hands into the pockets of his track pants, he locks his eyes on mine. “I wasn’t sure if it was just me or not. I was waiting for Maddox or Lucien to take a look at it. But yeah… it’s powerful on a completely different level than regular stone magic. I understand now if Micah had been feeding off that thing why iron didn’t kill him right away.”
“It could make someone truly invincible,” I muse aloud.
“I would say the possibilities of what it could do are endless,” Carrick corrects.
My mind starts to race with the possibilities as I remove my feet from the table and sit up straight. We could destroy Kymaris and all her demons. We could fortify veils where needed.
Hell, we might even be able to shift reality or time. Could I go back and save Adira? My dad?
Could we even prevent this all from happening by stopping the daemon that placed the changeling?
“I know what you’re thinking, and you can just stop,” Carrick growls, pulling out the chair next to me and sitting in it. He takes my hands in his, then leans forward with the most serious expression I’ve ever seen on his face. “I know the Blood Stone can do big things. But its power gives even me a little pause, so we have to be careful. You can’t use it. It’s too much for you right now.”
I nod in understanding. Of course I know that, and I will respect it.
But still… when this is over…
“What do we need to do to protect it?” Maddox asks, settling back in his chair. I’m assuming by picking the cup up, he probably knows exactly what Carrick has already done to ward it.
Carrick doesn’t look away from me at first, still holding my gaze to make sure I understand the Blood Stone is far beyond my abilities to master or control. He needs my reassurance and since I’m actually in agreement that I have no business messing with something so powerful it gives a demi-god pause, I give him a smile of acceptance. “I understand, and I promise I’ll respect what you’re saying about it.”
I seal that with a quick kiss. Carrick seems satisfied, but he doesn’t answer Maddox’s question. Instead, he reminds me that we still have an outstanding issue with Zora. “Since you’re in such an accepting mood, do you agree we should hold off reaching out to your twin?”
My smile turns extra saccharine as I shake my head. “Sorry, babe… but this is one thing I’m not backing down on. I’m doing it with or without you.”
Heaving a sigh that is far too exaggerated in my opinion, Carrick’s shoulders sag just a bit before he nods in capitulation. “Fine.”
“Thank you,” I reply sweetly with a slight batting of my eyelashes for effect. “Let’s do it tomorrow night, and we’ll go shopping for wedding dresses on Saturday.”
This time, Carrick groans at the reminder he’s going to be chaperoning Rainey and me while we hunt for the perfect dress. Twisting in his seat, Carrick looks at Maddox. “To answer your question, either you, me, or Lucien, when he returns, needs to be at the condo at all times with the chalice. I’ve committed to escorting Rainey and Finley to shop for a wedding dress Saturday, but if you’d like to take that duty, I’ll stay with the cup.”
Maddox grimaces. “I’d rather battle every demon in the Underworld than do that.”
I cover my mouth and dip my head to hide my laughter, knowing Carrick hates it all the more. He ignores me and says, “But let’s put up some extra fortifications both here and on the Fantasia.”