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

It’s as if Carrick himself is stoking my magic now that it’s been tapped.

And I find myself wanting to explore it even more.

I remember back to our first time together, when Carrick swept me up in that cyclone of wind and shadows, transporting me to the bed, and I wonder if I could do it. His bedroom is much too far away in my opinion.

Like the times before, I merely imagine it in my head, knowing I can do what I want with my powers and refusing to believe they have limitations at this point. My confidence level is at an all-time high after my success in the coliseum, and I envision a swirl of wind sweeping us up.

It’s not seamless like when Carrick has done it, and my stomach rolls as we’re both lifted from our feet. Carrick gives a bark of surprise and holds onto me tight. I direct the swirling funnel through the condo, vaguely hearing glass break and hoping it wasn’t expensive. Down the hall to his master suite, then I open the door a little too forcefully with a gust of wind and it bangs into the wall so hard I wince. That’s going to leave a mark.

Bed in sight, all that’s left is to remove our clothes. I squeeze my eyes shut, imagine Carrick naked—muscles rippling, erection hard and waiting. I think about my clothes coming off without effort, and even think about them landing in a neat pile on the floor.

Carrick and I are flung onto the mattress so hard that the wind is slightly knocked out of me. Carrick starts chuckling.

I open one eye hesitantly, then the other.

Carrick is indeed naked.

Well, almost.

His boxers ended up on his head and he’s still wearing one sock, but it’s on his hand. I managed to get all my clothes off, but I spy my bra hanging from the ceiling fan above the bed.

My face flushes as I look at Carrick in embarrassment, sheepishly admitting, “Not my best effort.”

Carrick laughs, plucking the boxers off his head and tossing them over his shoulder. I reach out and pull the sock off his hand, then whip it in the opposite direction.

I’m laughing, too, as his mouth descends on mine for a glorious, tummy-rolling kiss that excites me as much as it calms me down from my magical high. Carrick is always the exact medicine I need.

His mouth pulls away from mine and his eyes are glowing with amusement as he stares down at me. Brushing a piece of hair back from my forehead, he says, “You were really amazing tonight in the coliseum. I knew you had it in you.”

I flush with pleasure from the compliment. Before I knew who Carrick was to me—back when I thought he hated me and didn’t have much regard for me—I never thought I’d get an ounce of his respect.

I inherently know I have it, but hearing it out loud—in such a genuinely appreciative tone—bolsters my confidence even more. “Deandra was right about fear. I was afraid of failing. While it was totally sleazy to use Rainey to provoke me to push past it, it was exactly what I needed.”

Carrick nods thoughtfully. “That’s not exactly how I thought she’d reach you, but, in hindsight, it was the right move.”

I shift slightly, resting my head in the crook of his elbow. While moments ago, I was solely focused on sex, I’m focused on something else now.

“Do you think I have any limitations with these powers?” I ask.

Carrick frowns, and it’s obvious he knows what I’m thinking. “I think without knowing, it’s too risky to test them out on something big.”

I just stare at him, trying to look innocent.

“Like going up against Kymaris,” he clarifies, although he didn’t need to. That’s exactly what I had been thinking. Maybe I should just take her on now to save the heartache of retrieving the Blood Stone. Somehow, deep in my gut, I don’t think it’s going to work out well for Lucien. It’s going to end up being so dangerous that I could lose friends in this mission.

“Finley,” Carrick admonishes, his palm going to my jaw and thumb grazing my cheekbone. “We need to focus on the Blood Stone versus going after Kymaris. If we get that, it’s our best and easiest chance of defeating her and keeping you safe at the same time. And frankly, you’re no match for Kymaris right now.”

“You want to keep me safe. I get that. But why are you so focused on the Blood Stone?”

We’re leaving in two days as we had to get word to Titus that we needed him. He promised to be in Seattle tomorrow, and we’ll be doing some major planning as a group. There was never any question I would go. It was a given with me, and Carrick never voiced a concern.