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

I also remember what an incubus looks like under their veil with the gray pitted skin and rotting teeth, and I shudder even thinking about that thing touching me. For some odd reason, it strikes me that Echo also has gray skin and rotting teeth, but her facial features are far different than the incubi I’d seen. Still, I can’t help but wonder if one of her parents was an incubus or succubus. After all, they manipulate emotion to get their victims to do their bidding. Echo reads emotion, so perhaps there’s a connection there.

I’d ponder it further as I look around, except I’m hit with a rolling bout of nausea deep in my belly, followed immediately by a warm flush of desire. Involuntarily, I squeeze my legs together as I swivel my head to the left.

And right there is the incubus that almost had me two nights ago. Standing right beside me.

He nods down at my drink. “Can I buy you another one?”

Before I answer him, before I even touch my right ear to let the men know he’s standing right beside me, I do something far more important.

While Carrick is probably watching and can easily see this is an incubus, until I touch my right ear, he doesn’t know it’s the incubus we’re looking for, so he won’t make a move just yet. Still, I don’t have a lot of time for what I have planned.

I haven’t been able to practice it and its theory only, but I know the feather on my leg gives me some sort of ability to protect myself. Two nights ago, it came to me in a surge of energy, starting with a tingle in my feather tattoo and curling in my gut before exploding outward. It broke the compulsion, not only the one that had ensnared me, but it lessened Wade’s sexual hold on Adira somewhat. Enough to let us escape.

In that instance, my energy went outward and broke the powers of the fae that were put upon us.

It happened again that night when I was facing down Wade in the backyard, as he tried to compel me toward him. I was able to coil that energy and slam it back toward him, breaking the spell.

So, I’ve been thinking. If those powers reside in me, and the feather is the catalyst, could I access those powers and pull them over me like a shield instead? Could I use it as a proactive protection?

I’m going to experiment while I have the opportunity—before Carrick can figure out what’s going on, which won’t be very long. I smile at the incubus and say, “Sure.”

Ensuring my participation in at least a drink, I don’t feel him increase the compulsion any. While he flags the bartender, I take the opportunity to see if I can access my powers at will rather than from a surge in fear.

I close my eyes, conjure the image of the feather in my mind, and try to pull forth its power. I imagine a pearly colored shield, the same color as the feather, extend over me, and settle up against my body. Pulling on that ability hard, I wait for that low thrum of sexual desire to leave my body.

Instead, it hits me even harder, and I experience a jolt of lust spear through me. My eyes pop open, and the incubus is there in front of me. His human face looks charming and flirty while his fae face is cruel and hungry.

He runs a hand up my bare arm, leans in as it reaches the side of my neck. His power thrums again with intensity and I feel my mind starting to acquiesce, believing dying while feeling like this might not be so bad.

Placing his lips near my ear, he whispers, “I remember you from the other night, and I wasn’t happy you left so suddenly.”

My mind is sluggish, and I’m not sure really what he means. Is he mad Adira and I left, or does he know I broke his powers somehow?

And really… why does that even matter because it’s probably a good idea if I go with him right now so I can see just how good he can make me feel?

“Ah,” he murmurs appreciatively as he hits me with another blast of pleasure-laced power that I feel all over my body. It causes me to moan as my nipples harden, and I don’t even feel embarrassed about it. “Now, you’re mine. Let’s get out of here, shall we?”

“Yes, let’s,” I reply, my words sounding thick on my tongue. He helps me slide from the stool, and I feel like there’s something I’m forgetting to do.

Pay for my drink?

Call someone?

Carrick, maybe?

It’s not important because I’m completely in a sexual thrall. I move easily, wanting to hurry and not quite sure why or how I even came to be in this bar.