A Discovery of Secrets and Fate (Chronicles of the Stone Veil #2) - Sawyer Bennett Page 0,49

so hard to read, but I could tell he was pondering something troubling as his frown lines were deeper than ever.

After breakfast, Myles and Titus stayed at the table talking about annihilators, flying over blue lagoons, and the fact Titus is 129 years old. Weirdly, Rainey has kept up a running chatter with Zaid, who doesn’t seem nearly as cranky around her as he is with me. I’d be offended if I didn’t find it so charming. Plus, I’m also completely grateful Zaid isn’t mean to her. The last several hours haven’t been easy on her or Myles. They’re both currently in the kitchen cleaning up. As for Carrick… well, I have no clue where he is.

I’m not even sure when he slipped away.

When I push up from the dining table, Myles is so completely engrossed in his conversation with Titus that he doesn’t even notice. Titus—who observes everything—shoots me a quick wink before telling Myles about the mermaids that populate the tropical waters around Semper Terra.

Wandering through the living area, I let my hand glide along the grand piano sitting before the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Puget Sound. It’s overcast outside, and the water is a shimmering gray as the Seattle-Bremerton Ferry heads out southwest across the water.

I move down the outer hall that heads to the south side of this penthouse suite, seeing that Carrick’s office pocket doors are open. Hesitantly, I peek my head around the opening to see Carrick sitting at his desk.

Before him, a large book is opened, and he’s bent over reading from it. One arm is on the desk, curved around the book, and the other elbow is planted with his head resting in his palm. He flips a page, yellow with age, and continues to read. The book is huge, maybe fifteen inches in length, and it looks to be incredibly thick if it were closed. The cover appears to be made of aged leather.

I tap my knuckles lightly on the edge of the recessed door, and Carrick’s head jerks up. He regards me with disinterest, neither irritated I’ve interrupted him nor happy to see me here.

“What are you doing?” I ask, nodding toward the book.

“Looking for answers,” he says with a sigh, hefting the book closed. “Do you feel better now that your friends know what you’ve been going through?”

I step into the office, his question all the invitation I need to enter. I don’t bother sitting, though, merely standing just a few feet in the doorway with my hands tucked in my back pockets. “Yeah… I didn’t realize how much it bothered me that I was lying to them. I also know I had no choice but to lie, so there’s some relief in that. I’m just grateful Veda gave me the eye drops.”

“Now you need to get them to leave,” he advises, a potent reminder they are in danger the more they are around me.

“I know.” The regret in my voice is heavy. I laid this bombshell on them, and now I’m going to do everything I can to get them to pack up and leave their life here with me far behind. “What’s going to be our next move?”

Carrick’s eyebrows shoot upward, surprise evident on his face. He rises from his chair, rounds his desk, and comes to stand a few feet from me. The stubble on his face is dark and thick, and I realize I’ve never seen him clean-shaven before. This more than five o’clock shadow on him makes him look even more ominous and intimidating.

And admittedly, sexier, if that were possible.

He crosses his arms over his chest. “What do you mean our next move?”

I frown, because I’m getting the distinct impression I’m getting put on the bench after I’d just joined the game.

Motioning with my hand between the two of us, I reiterate, “I want to know what we—together as a team—are going to do next to figure out this prophecy.”

One side of Carrick’s mouth curls in a semi-sneer. “We aren’t doing anything. Clearly, you’re a target and must be kept safe so—”

“Stop,” I cut him off sharply. “Don’t even think to sideline me. You wanted me to commit to this prophecy, so I have. Now I want to be actively involved, and I’m not going to argue about it.”

Carrick levels me with a patronizing smile. “Look… I’m glad you came to your senses—”

“Came to my senses?” I nearly shriek, fury rising hot and fast because he’s treating me like this. “I didn’t come to my