A Battle of Blood and Stone

by Sawyer Bennett

Kymaris narrowed her eyes at the comparison, her lips pulling back from her teeth in anger. “No Light Fae has the power I do.”

  “Not even your sister?” Carrick queried with a raised eyebrow.

  Carrick could tell Kymaris wanted to erupt with fury at the suggestion Nimeyah would be stronger. But she reined it in, scoffing instead. “She’s not my sister, and she wouldn’t know what real power was if it slapped her in the face.”

  “It would be interesting to see you two battle,” Carrick mused, his tone clearly doubting Kymaris’ claim to be better.

  “If you want to see a demonstration of my powers,” she offered with a glare. “I can show you.”

  Carrick tipped his head and laughed at the suggestion, which infuriated her further. “Battle with you? A Dark Fae versus a demi-god? You’d lose, and you’d lose badly.”

  Kymaris’ hand was shaking from his taunt, but he had to give her credit… she took in a breath and calmed herself. “You may be a demi-god, but you have no idea the extent of what I can do.”

  Carrick was done baiting her. He had no desire to push her to the point she clammed up. While he refused to stroke her ego, he decided to handle her with a bit more tact.

  Nodding toward the furniture, he asked, “Do you mind?”

  “Not at all,” she replied, moving gracefully around a couch to sit on the middle cushion. She put her glass of liquor on the table, then leaned sideways to pat the cushion beside her invitingly. He ignored her attempt and took a chair adjacent to the couch.

  She didn’t look put out by the rebuff, merely leaned back, draping one arm over the back cushion and crossing her legs. Her robe fell open, exposing her entire negligee-clad body, but Carrick wasn’t interested and he knew it would irritate her that he wasn’t.

  “Tell me why you’re here, Kymaris,” Carrick asked smoothly. “I know there’s a prophecy, and I can only assume you intend to create some sort of chaos.”

  “Worried about your little human?” she purred in reply.

  “Not at all.” Carrick settled into the chair, propped an ankle on the opposite knee, and smiled. “You and I both know a human is irrelevant going up against you and your powers.”

  “And yet you’re helping her,” Kymaris pointed out.

  Carrick was not about to give away a hint as to why he had a dog in this fight, and he had no qualm against lying to her. “I’ve been offered a reward from the gods to guide the human. But you and I both know the end result will be her death.”

  “True,” Kymaris simpered with a tip of her head, but then her face hardened. “But if you think you can fool me into thinking you don’t have feelings for the human, try again.”

  Carrick’s gut tightened, but he didn’t respond.

  Kymaris laughed. “I saw the look on your face in that coffee shop when she was moments away from dying. It wasn’t your actions—putting yourself between her and my fire—but your expression that gave it away.”

  “You’re wrong,” he replied, but fuck if she wasn’t right. And she knew it. Redirecting, he attempted to appeal to her vanity again. “I know you have big plans here. I want to know what they are.”

  “Because?” she prompted.

  “Because I live in this realm. I want to know what my future looks like.”

  That seemed to make sense to her because her eyes gleamed with pride. Her ego was stroked because Carrick implied she’d win, and she had no hesitation in admitting something he already knew. “I’m going to open the veil between here and the Underworld.”

  Not a huge revelation, but the fact she so openly shared it with him confirmed her confidence was at an all-time high. It was either because her ego was over-inflated or—gods help them—she had some reason to be confident he couldn’t fathom.

  “And what do you have to gain by doing that?” he asked.

  “Everything,” she replied without hesitation.

  Carrick played his part well, pretending to just catch on to her nefarious goals. “You intend to rule the Earth realm?”

  Putting his elbow on the armrest and resting his chin in his palm, he said drolly, “It’s not an overly lofty goal, but just how would you accomplish it?”

  Carrick wasn’t expecting her to spill her guts, but she apparently didn’t feel she had anything to hide. She pushed away from her reclined position and scooted to the edge of the couch, clearly excited to share. “It’s brilliant and nefarious. Once the veil is down, my most loyal followers will start to replace the world leaders.”

  “Kill them and glamour,” Carrick murmured.

  Kymaris took it as his appreciation for the art of murder and deception. “Exactly. And once those seats of power are secured, it will be easy to change over to my single authoritarian rule.”

  “You and what army?” he asked, again… something he already had a good guess on.

  “The number of demons waiting to explore this realm is staggering,” she replied confidently. “More than all the armies in the world.”

  “That many, huh?” His voice was dry, slightly skeptical, but only to prompt her to continue talking.

  “Not just demons,” she purred, once again settling back against the couch now that she’d revealed her nefarious goals. “I’ve got an entire river of tormented souls just ready to be released back into the world.”

  Carrick’s stomach bottomed out. That was something he had not considered because it never occurred to him it could be done.

  “I’ve spent an eternity in the Underworld creating my demons, and they’ll carry out my plans beautifully. But unleashing the evil souls into the masses will make it just a little bit easier to control them.”

  Fuck. She was talking about the start of the end of the human race.

  She wasn’t finished, though. “Those who retain their humanity will make fine pets.”

  Carrick had seen more violence and evil in his lifetime than anyone should be forced to bear. He didn’t think much could sicken him, but the thought of innocent humans being turned into play toys for Kymaris and her legions was too much to even think about.

  He shrugged casually, despite the fact he felt like a coiled snake ready to strike and end her. “It’s an ambitious plan.”

  “You don’t think I can do it?” she snapped, a sure sign her ego might be huge, but it was fragile.

  Carrick smoothed his voice into neutrality. “On the contrary, if you have the power you say you do, I think you could do it quite easily.”

  Her chin pulled in a bit as she studied him, and Carrick could see she was considering something that might not have struck her before.

  “You could rule by my side.”

  This offer did not surprise Carrick, just as he knew she’d never elevate any being as her equal. Still, he managed to flare his eyes as if the idea had never occurred to him. “That’s unexpected.”

  “It’s the best deal you’ll ever get offered,” she said haughtily.

  “Let’s say I consider this deal.” Carrick shifted on his chair and leaned forward, pressing his elbows onto the tops of his knees in a faux gesture of interest. “I would like to know how you’re going to accomplish it. Would you need my help because I answer to the gods?”

  His ruse worked… the prospect he was actually considering her offer. Kymaris ran at the mouth, revealing more than he ever thought she would. “I have a ritual I’ll perform that will open the veil. But I’m missing something I need to pull it off.”

  “What’s that?” he inquired mildly, stunned she was going to open up to him.

  Kymaris stood from the couch slowly, actually pulling her robe closed and belting it. Her expression hardened as she looked down on him. “Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m missing. If you think I’m stupid enough to tell you my secrets, you’re more of an idiot than I had originally assumed.”

  Fuck it all.

  He was being played the entire time.

  Pushing up from the chair, he rose and towered above her. She tipped her head back, a smile of satisf
action on her face.

  “Yes,” she hissed. “I know you have the Blood Stone.”

  “How?” he growled, but his thought immediately went to Boral. He was the only one with motive to betray their team. Knowing he would die if he told their secrets, Carrick imagined Boral might have been tortured for the information.

  Carrick wondered how Zaid would take the news, but it wasn’t something he could dwell on because Kymaris wasn’t done.

  “Save yourself a lot of pain and misery,” she said as she bent, grabbed her glass of liquor, and moved away from Carrick. Looking over her shoulder, she advised in an ominous tone, “And bring me the Blood Stone.”

  Kymaris started walking toward the foyer, and he assumed he’d overstayed his welcome and was being shown out.

  At the door, she put her hand on the knob, but she didn’t open it. A thought seeming to have struck, she turned to him with a calculated expression. “Bring me the Blood Stone and I’ll spare the little human her life. I’ll even swear it in a binding.”

  A guarantee that Finley would survive the prophecy was tempting indeed. If Carrick agreed to it, it meant he’d sacrifice the world to save her. If circumstances were different, he’d have no qualms about every human on Earth burning if it meant she could live.

  But she was going to die anyway when Rune decided it was her time. He would gain nothing by this offer from Kymaris, especially since he had the upper hand by having the Blood Stone.

  Carrick stepped up to her, tipping his head as he murmured, “What’s to stop me from killing you right now?”

  She smiled sweetly, giving him a poke in his chest with her finger. “You would have done it long before now and we both know it, so I’m assuming the gods have ordered you to let this play out. Now, I’m not quite sure what Finley’s role is, but I suspect it might just be to have a human attempt a valiant save of the world because it makes good drama, don’t you think?”

  Of all the things Kymaris has said, this was the one he might agree with. The gods did love their drama.

  Kymaris opened the door, then nodded her head toward the porch. It was dark and misting rain beyond the glow of the exterior lights. “My offer to rule by my side is still open. Bring me the Blood Stone, leave your little human behind, and I’ll spare her life. I’ll even give her sanctuary and reprieve from the mayhem that’s coming.”

  Carrick used the opportunity to throw Kymaris off the scent of their bond. “The human means nothing. As I said, the gods have promised me a reward for my role in guiding her.”

  Kymaris inclined her head, as if to say, “Lines have been drawn.”

  Carrick stepped over the threshold, and he didn’t look back. After he heard the door close behind, he heaved a sigh.

  Envisioning Zaid where he’d left him just before knocking on Kymaris’ door, he bent distance to his side. The woods were thick and the rain didn’t reach where Zaid stood, looking down the sloped terrain at the back of Kymaris’ house. It was where Maddox, Finley, Rainey, and Myles had set up their spy nest the evening Kymaris performed her sex ritual to call forth Dark Fae.

  “How did it go?” Zaid asked, turning Carrick’s way. He had a pair of binoculars in his hand, and he would have easily been able to see Carrick and Kymaris talking.

  Carrick grimaced, rubbing his hand at the back of his neck. “She knows we have the Blood Stone.”

  “Boral.” Zaid’s voice was flat in his accusation.

  There was no need to reply, because Carrick was sure Zaid’s mind went to the same place his had. That Boral was most likely dead, and it probably wasn’t a pleasant journey getting there. He’d let the realization settle in, but figured Zaid might have some conflicting feelings despite his adamant refusal to let his father back into his life.

  Getting information from Kymaris wasn’t actually the reason they’d come tonight. Carrick had merely wanted in the house so he could check things out, because he had something far more important to do than pick her brain. The information he’d learned would turn out to be just as important as their primary objective.

  “No humans in the house,” Carrick said in a low voice. “Just Kymaris and one daemon.”

  “One of her rare non-party nights,” Zaid muttered.

  Carrick nodded as he stared down at the house. Such a shame because it was a beautiful piece of property.

  “Everything set?” he asked.

  “Easy as pie,” Zaid replied, handing the small black box with its stubby antennae to him. It had a small green bubble light and one button.

  Carrick’s expression was hard as he stared down at the house. In her robe and high heels, Kymaris walked without a care in the world from the living area to the kitchen. She moved to the refrigerator and opened it, staring inside as she pondered what she’d like to eat.

  Such a mundane task and she was utterly clueless.

  Carrick’s thumb moved to the button. Without an ounce of remorse, he depressed it. There was a second delay where nothing happened, then the charges that had been placed went off simultaneously with a ground-shaking boom.

  Well-positioned bricks of trinitrotoluene—better known as TNT—placed around the base of the huge mansion by a very surreptitious friend of Zaid’s who had the knowledge and skill to bring down a moderately sized structure with little effort, exploded.

  Carrick’s eyes were pinned on Kymaris when the explosion occurred. The queen of the Underworld stood in front of the fridge contemplating a sandwich one moment. The next, she was engulfed in a huge wave of fire that caused windows to blow outward from the intensity.

  Fire and black smoke billowed upward, lighting the night sky. Carrick could feel the heat of the blast on his face. Knowing Kymaris was out of commission for a while made him smile.

  The explosion would not have killed her, nor had he meant it to. Finley was the key, and they’d have to face off. He had to let it play out.

  But Kymaris would be slowed down, and this would put an immediate stop to her parties where humans were being sacrificed.

  He’d promised Finley he would handle it, and he had.

  For now.

  But the queen of the Underworld would be back in action at some point, and he suspected she’d come for the Blood Stone and probably some retribution.

  Carrick had already anticipated this before he and Zaid had come out here tonight. He’d told Finley his intentions, and he’d insisted it was time for Rainey and Myles to move into the condo until this was all over. While the Fantasia could be protected to some degree, Rainey and Myles would be too vulnerable as they went about their everyday lives. They were going to have to give that up for now and work remotely from his place until it was done.

  Luckily, they didn’t give Finley any flack when she insisted they had to do it. Earlier today, Maddox escorted them to the Fantasia to pack up their belongings, becoming temporary residents of Carrick’s condo. They were there now with Finley, being guarded by Maddox in his absence.

  But even his condo wasn’t going to be completely safe, so these living arrangements were only going to be for one night. If Kymaris had enough Dark Fae to help funnel their powers along with hers at the protections Maddox and Carrick put on the building, they could bust through. He figured she had enough daemons to storm the condo to take the Blood Stone and lay waste to everything else. Humans would be caught in the crossfire, and Kymaris would not mind sacrificing them and throwing the world into a panic all so she could get her hands on the Blood Stone.

  It was time for them all to go on the run, but Carrick still had one more thing to accomplish to slow Kymaris down.

  CHAPTER 23

  Finley

  When Carrick walks back into the condo with Zaid, he doesn’t seem surprised to find Rainey, Myles, and me sitting sullenly in one of the groupings of furniture. I study him quickly and note that, if anything, he seems resigned.

  I’m not exactly sure where he’s been—he was short on details when he left—but his bearing upon returning is grim and wor
ried, which makes me worried.

  Earlier this afternoon—just after we had finished our dress shopping—Carrick informed us that Rainey and Myles were going to have to move into the condo. While he wouldn’t say why, he said the danger was going to be quickly increasing to a level that they couldn’t be kept safe on the streets, so they had to go into hiding.

  Rainey wasn’t happy. When she called Myles to tell him, he wasn’t happy either. But I trusted Carrick and if he said it was the time to buckle down, even if it meant hiding within a fortress, they had to do it. Had it been my preference, they would have moved in here long ago, but, back then, Carrick was against it just like Myles and Rainey.

  Now Carrick and I are in a vastly different place, and I know there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to ease my fears or ensure my happiness. Forcing Myles and Rainey here accomplished both, even though I had to watch them glower all evening and bitch about circumstances. I understand this completely because they have no comprehension of the upcoming danger forcing Carrick to do this.

  Neither do I for that matter, but I assume I’ll learn soon enough.

  Once Carrick had laid down his edict that he was not going to give Rainey and Myles a chance to decline his invitation, and after I had begged and pleaded with them to just do it, they capitulated. As such, Maddox helped them pack up their belongings and they moved into a guest bedroom.

  When they returned, Carrick gave me a lingering kiss against my temple, saying he’d be back soon. I was surprised he took Zaid with him, but not that he left Maddox behind to guard us.

  I could have forced him to tell me where he was going, but I inherently knew it was something dangerous and bold. Perhaps too perilous and I might waste time trying to talk him out of it. Ultimately, I decided it was best not knowing and I’d trust Carrick was making the right move, whatever that might be.

  “Where’s Maddox?” Carrick asks as he and Zaid make their way over to the furniture grouping.

  Tipping my head to the left, I say, “Kitchen.”

  “Maddox,” Carrick calls. “We’re back.”