Free Embrace the Power: A Paranormal Romance (The Blood Rose Series Book 9) by Caris Roane Page B

you’re right. I think the power is very much the same.” He was getting way too close to the truth for comfort. She buttoned up her vest, but avoided meeting his gaze. At some point, she’d have to tell him about her true identity and that the power she made use of was essentially what was called elf-lord power. But she couldn’t, not right now.
    “So you don’t know Kaden very well?”
    She shook her head. “As I said, not really. But Joseph seems to like him and trust him.”
    Stone chuckled. “From what I remember of Kaden’s exchange with Joseph, the latter is a real piece of work.”
    Rosamunde laughed. “He actually would have stayed and watched us if Kaden hadn’t called him away.”
    Stone called out. “Master Joseph, where are my clothes?”
    Rosamunde remembered the scissors. “Kaden had me cut them off because of the poison, though the Guard coat and pants were already ruined because of the direct hit.”
    Joseph’s high, somewhat whiney voice called back. “Your duds were bloody ruined, Mastyr, but I have some you can buy. Hey, Ow. Knock it off, Kaden.” More muttering, then Joseph continued with. “I’ve got your boots. They’re fine. And I’ll see if I have some other Guard pieces that might fit.”
    “Anything will do.”
    “Look sharp!” Joseph called out.
    Rosamunde watched as in the next split-second, a large, pink bath towel hit Stone in the face. She chuckled.
    He glanced at her, grinning. “Yup, a real piece of work.” He wrapped the towel around his waist.
    Rosamunde was relieved that finally at least part of his body was covered up. But those arms. Those shoulders.
    She had to look away. Had she really just had sex with the Mastyr of Tannisford, one of the biggest hunks in all the Nine Realms?
    She stood up a little straighter. Yes, she had. She’d bagged a big one, maybe the biggest one of all.
    And it felt good.
    If her conscience prickled, she set aside those concerns. She had no doubt there’d be a reckoning for her lies, but it wouldn’t be this moment.
    ~ ~ ~
    Stone moved to the marble slab and leaned his ass against the edge. He wasn’t even sure what Joseph generally used the marble for. Although that was true of most everything Stone had seen in the lair so far. He’d never been in a forest gremlin’s home before. Or maybe this was a place of business, Stone wasn’t sure.
    Though he was underground, and there were no windows to give him a sense of distance, his vampire abilities allowed him to assess that he was at least a hundred feet or more from the front rooms but only fifteen feet below ground.
    Aralynn now stood by the far doorway behind him. “I’m seeing more small rooms. Though I’ve been here before, I haven’t been this far in. Joseph’s place seems to go on forever.”
    “Maybe it does.”
    “I wouldn’t be surprised. For a thieving bunch, forest gremlins are incredibly industrious.”
    Absently, Stone touched his abdomen where he’d gotten hit. Nothing remained of the original injury, no scar of any kind. He was fully healed.
    In fact, it dawned on him that he had no pain, as in no pain, not even a single stomach cramp.
    He frowned and pressed his hand higher to encompass where he normally would have experienced intense cramping. Even after being fed by Aralynn, he should have been hurting. Apparently, he’d received some miraculous healing from Kaden.
    He knew the man wasn’t a typical realm-person. While being healed, Stone had felt the quality of the man’s power. Whoever Kaden was, he was extraordinary.
    Yet even Kaden hadn’t leached Margetta’s poison from his system. Only Aralynn’s blood had been able to perform that service.
    He turned slowly in Aralynn’s direction. She was attempting to reorder the mass of her frizzy red hair, her arms raised as she worked the errant curls into the woven Guardsman clip.
    His mind suddenly felt full of static.
    Her blood had cleansed his body of Margetta’s poison. What kind of blood could