“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 satisfaction 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.