A Discovery of Secrets and Fate (Chronicles of the Stone Veil #2) - Sawyer Bennett Page 0,61

no reason at all.”

The outfit I have on now wasn’t all military commando like the men, but the workout pants, shirt, and jacket all in black were functional for when they said we were going out for a hunt.

“You want me to be bait?” I ask them incredulously. Not because I’m afraid to dangle myself out there, but because it’s humiliating. I’ve been training and can hold my own. I am the key to stopping the prophecy.

I am not a saucy seductress trying to lure an incubus.

None of the men reply, but just stare at me with determination.

Expecting I’ll understand and accept my part in tonight’s mission.

“Ugh,” I growl in frustration, pulling the dress back out. “Fine. I’ll wear it.”

Maddox’s smile gets bigger in appreciation, Carrick’s expression seems guarded, and Titus chuckles. None move.

“Get out of here so I can dress,” I order them. “Not about the give you guys a peep show.”

Titus is the first out, Carrick stares at me only a moment longer before he starts to exit, and Maddox twists a bit more so he can see me. “That dress is pretty short so if you bend over at any point, you will be giving everyone a peep show. Just thought you should know.”

“Out,” I yell.

I get a wink and then he disappears.

The windows on the Hummer are tinted but still, each man respectfully turns their backs on the vehicle as I manage to wiggle out of my workout clothes and shimmy into the dress. It’s barely there and the heels are death traps, but I imagine this will draw out the incubus if he’s in the bar, as well as every other creep. I pull my hair out of the elastic tying it at the back of my neck and scrub my fingers through it to make it wilder than normal. I don’t bother trying to check my makeup in the rearview mirror because I didn’t put any on, so hopefully the dress and hair are enough to do their job.

When I open the passenger door to step out, it’s Maddox on that side who gallantly offers me a hand. I wobble only slightly when my heels touch the pavement but immediately get my bearings. I feel stable for some reason despite the four-inch stilettos, but maybe that’s because this is work. This isn’t for socializing, which isn’t my forte, but I am definitely more equipped to handle a mission to question the incubus that was with Wade and who, for some very brief and humiliating moments, actually had me in his thrall.

I lean over slightly before releasing Maddox’s hand, noting the feather stretching out along the outside of my right calf. Admittedly, it’s beautiful and strangely a bit comforting since I know it’s responsible for my abilities to repel the sexual compulsion an incubus puts out.

“Ready?” Maddox asks as we move around the rear of the Hummer, meeting Carrick and Titus on the sidewalk where we face each other in a small circle. Titus left his sword in the vehicle as there’s no way they’d let him in the bar with it.

It’s chilly out and I rub at my arms, which unfortunately causes my cleavage to deepen within the low-cut dress. Titus would be ever the gentleman and would keep his eyes level with mine. I expect Maddox to give an appreciative look, but he too keeps his gaze face level with me.

I’m surprised when it’s Carrick who doesn’t necessarily look at the dark shadow between my breasts but instead runs his eyes up my body in a slow perusal. I can tell by the naked appreciation on his face, he’s the one who chose this dress for me.

For the first time, I feel a sizzle of attraction from him as he takes me in—not an ounce of loathing, frustration, or annoyance. His normally bland-to-determined expression of indifference—depending on his mood—is replaced by a warmth that seems to radiate. Surely, it’s a trick of the street lighting, but his eyes seem to go even lighter in their color until they’re almost the shade of champagne.

And the one thing I can usually expect from Carrick whenever he looks at me is a perusal of my hair, which is wild and springing out in all directions as it pours down my back, finally landing his focus on my eyes. The intensity by which he studies me causes flutters in my belly, and it makes me irrationally nervous suddenly. One arm goes to my belly, the other twirling