I couldn’t even nod my agreement because he had my hair gripped so tightly my scalp tingled. Whatever he read in my expression seemed to satisfy Carrick because he gave me a hard kiss that left my lips feeling bruised before he disappeared.
At that moment, I was sure I was completely, helplessly, and foolishly in love with the demi-god.
And it made me even more nervous about what our talk tonight would be about.
Which is why after doing my whip practice, I finish my workout with a treadmill run. I’ve never been much of a runner when working out, preferring to focus on strength training since I got my cardio from my mixed martial arts. But I don’t know what’s coming down the pike in the way of a battle. I only know I have to be strong, and I am.
But I also might need to run for my life, and I want my stamina to be at its peak. I’ve been able to build it up over the past two months, and my average run is between three and five miles. I find myself to be so much more mellow and calm after I run, so hopefully, that will settle my nerves down.
It’s when I’m barely starting mile two that Carrick walks into the gym. I see his reflection approaching me in the mirror the treadmill faces, and while the look on his face isn’t exactly grim, it’s not the usual ease that has become his norm around me these days.
Reaching out to the control panel, I slow the speed to a walk, tapping on my earbuds to mute them.
“What’s up?” I ask as he comes to stand beside the treadmill.
His hand moves across the panel and he hits the stop button, slowing me from a walk to a halt.
Frowning, I pull the buds from my ears and step off the machine.
“Boral’s here,” Carrick says flatly.
“Boral?” I repeat in question—Zaid’s evil Dark Fae father. “Why?”
“Says he has important information for us about Kymaris.”
I frown. “Why would he even think we were interested in Kymaris. He knows nothing of the prophecy or our part in it?”
“I’ll admit, that’s concerning me a little.”
“Well, let’s go hear it,” I exclaim, starting to move past Carrick.
He grabs my arm, bringing me to a halt. “I’m not sure I want you in there. I came in here to tell you about his arrival, but I want to ask you to just stay in here while we talk to him.”
My brow furrows deep as my head tilts. “But why?”
“Because he’s evil, Finley. The worst of the worst. I’d prefer he not know anything about you at all, because if he ever picked up a hint that Zaid or I cared for you—”
“Zaid cares for me?” I interrupt, my voice soft with tenderness. I already knew Carrick did by his actions and the way he looks at me, but, on any given day, I never know how Zaid feels about me.
“Of course, he does,” Carrick clips out. “But if Boral picks up on that, you’ll stay on his radar. He’ll figure some way to profit from that knowledge. It could be he sells you out to Kymaris for the right amount of money, or he’d hurt you to hurt me, or he’d threaten you to get Zaid to come back to him.”
“Oh,” I murmur, gaze drifting to the door of the gym. It’s a solid reason to ask me to stay away.
But he’s here in the gym to give me the choice, which means the world to me. He’s held himself out solidly as my partner on this journey, and he’ll let me be involved if I want, despite his concerns.
There was a time… barely three months ago… I was afraid to look under veils and see what was right before my eyes. Three months ago, it was easier to believe I had a psychiatric condition than I might be some sort of savior.
But I’ve changed.
A lot.
I’ve trained hard and committed myself.
Hell, I know I’m probably going to die.
And I’ve fallen in love with a demi-god who, despite whether I actually do die, is going to leave me anyway when he ascends so he can be free of this exceedingly long life he’s led.
It means I’m not afraid of Boral, and, while I appreciate Carrick’s concerns, I’m not going to hide from anything.
“I’d like to be involved,” I say with certainty, my chin lifting so our gazes lock.
The smile he gives me is sad but resolute as he nods. His hand goes to the back of my neck, and he bends to kiss me on the forehead. “Okay.”
As we walk into the living area together, Carrick makes it clear what his feelings are for the girl beside him. His arm is around my waist as he makes formal introductions since Carrick hadn’t bothered the last time Boral was here.