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

I hold my hand up. “Been there. Done that. Carrick and I talked to him about the changeling ritual.”

“But he tweaked the confractus muros ritual for Kymaris,” Boral offers solicitously, showing he’s already a team member.

I nod. “Yes, we know. Carrick tried to get the ritual from him, but Kymaris killed Ozigeor before he could say anything.”

Boral blinks in surprise. He clearly knew from his contact, Kaesar, about the ritual and Ozigeor’s part in helping Kymaris with it, but he clearly didn’t know the immortal sorcerer was dead.

“Does Kaesar know anything about how the ritual will occur? Anything that can help us figure out how to stop it?”

“Not that he’s said.” Boral looks to Zaid, then back to me. “But I’ll keep my ears opened.”

“Anything you can glean about the ritual will be super important,” I reiterate.

“Going back to your sister,” Boral says, his gaze shrewd upon me. “I understand why Carrick wanted to bind me with my heart. You having an identical twin in the Underworld who held magic, which she then shared with Kymaris, is important information. It could blindside Kymaris if used wisely. I would bet your sister is an important key in this prophecy.”

And that right there has made this all worth it. Boral is thinking the way I am. “I think so, too, which is why I want to rescue her.”

“In due time,” Zaid pipes up, his gentle but chastising tone leveled at me. “It’s not the priority now. We need the Blood Stone.”

I shift toward Zaid, giving him a nod of acknowledgment before turning back to Boral. “The Blood Stone,” I say dramatically. “We know where it is.”

It’s utterly silent as I let that news sink in, carefully studying Boral for even the tiniest reaction. He’s clearly surprised, but I don’t see any opportunistic gleam in his eyes.

“Are you going to tell me where?” he asks blandly.

“I trust in the binding Carrick put on you.” I’m the one who now leans back casually in my chair, letting my forearms settle on the armrests. “And I think you love your life too much to give it up for Kymaris. So yes, I’m going to tell you about the Blood Stone.”

From the corner of my eye, I can see Zaid’s head drop. I don’t know if he’s disappointed in me or is just exhausted from his father becoming involved, but I can’t spare him the sympathy just now. Later, I’ll have a glass of wine with him and we can talk.

I don’t spare any details as I recount the story of Charmeine and Micah in their utopian realm and how Charmeine betrayed Micah by falling in love with another. I explained how Micah’s rage and grief destroyed everything living and how the Blood Stone was created and attached to the chalice.

“If you don’t mind telling me, how did you find the Blood Stone?” Boral asks.

“Carrick’s brother, Lucien, was the one Charmeine fell in love with,” I reply simply, and Boral does a double-take. “Lucien doesn’t know we know that, though. He’s coming in tonight, and Carrick will talk to him. We want Lucien to take us there to steal the Blood Stone from Micah.”

“And once you get the stone?” Boral prompts, wanting to know our further plans.

It’s simple really. “We protect it. I’ll stack three demi-gods up against Kymaris any day. Then we’re going to keep it from her and hopefully destroy her. We want to prevent the prophecy from fulfilling, and this is the easiest way right now. Now, do you have any questions for me?”

“Yeah,” Boral replies without hesitation. “I want to know why you haven’t told me all your secrets.”

I jerk in astonishment because I have indeed held back a piece of information. Not because I’m worried about him telling Kymaris, but because I’m a bit embarrassed.

But he’s called me out on it, and I want to be transparent. I downplay it a bit, though. “There was an angel at my birth who instilled powers in me that I’m currently trying to figure out how to use.”

Stroking his chin, Boral nods. “You definitely have a lot of information Kymaris would reward greatly for. Your twin, your powers, and the location of the Blood Stone.”

His tone is taunting, as if he’s weighing his options. Zaid growls low beside me, and I reach out to lay a reassuring hand on his arm.

Just wait.

“Your secrets are obviously safe with me,” Boral finally says. “But you didn’t need the binding. Like I said, I have no desire to be under Kymaris’ rule. I enjoy this world’s freedoms and, frankly… her demons are just nasty little fuckers that I don’t want swarming all over like rodents. What do you want me to do for you?”

“Hang out with Kaesar as much as you can. Give us as much information about what’s happening in Kymaris’ camp as possible. If they find the twelfth fallen or get a lead on the Blood Stone, let us know. If it’s going to be a race to get it, we want a head start. And if you’re able to find out any more about how the ritual will work, just on the off chance she gets her hand on the stone, we need to be ready to fight in a different way.”