A Discovery of Secrets and Fate (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 2)

“Yes,” DFF says in exasperation.

“Well, I had on the bracelet you gave me for my eighteenth birthday, but it didn’t match the other jewelry you gave me, so I put it in your desk drawer.”

DFF stares at me blankly.

“You know the one,” I continue with a sheepish smile. “The dragonfly charm bracelet because, you know, dragonflies are my thing.”

“Yes, right,” Fallon says dismissively. “I’ll get it for you.”

“No need,” I reply quickly as I start heading toward her office. “I know exactly where it is.”

Before I turn away from her, her eyes narrow on me in displeasure. Part of me cringes thinking she might hit me with a blast of some dark mojo magic in the back or something. It seems to take forever, but the moment I step inside her office and out of her view, I blow out a deep breath of relief and count to ten.

Shoring back up, I step out of her office with a deeply confused expression as I walk toward her, Rainey, and Myles. “It’s not there. I could have sworn I put it there.”

“Maybe you were mistaken,” she replies crisply.

“Maybe,” I mutter, trying to look abashed. “Well, we’re actually doing some clothes shopping this afternoon, so we need to get going.”

“Fine,” DFF replies stonily. “Next time… maybe call in advance to make sure I’m available.”

“Of course,” I reply solicitously. “But seriously, Fallon… you know we hardly ever see each other. No telling when we might have time to hang.”

“Right,” she replies with uncertainty. “Well, good day to you all.”

“Good day,” I chirp back as Rainey, Myles, and I hustle out of the gallery.

We turn a sharp right and head down the block to Rainey’s car.

“That was just weird,” Myles says. “She didn’t address Rainey or me by name. I don’t think she knew who we were.”

“And dragonflies aren’t your thing,” Rainey points out. “That was a lie, right? To see if she’d correct you, because it was a butterfly bracelet she got you for your birthday.”

“Fallon’s not in there,” I say morosely as we traverse the sidewalk. I feel flat and numb, like I was really expecting for her to pop out and make an appearance, perhaps suggesting they were sharing that body, because that lie about the bracelet would have done it. “There wasn’t even a glimmer.”

“I’m sorry,” Rainey murmurs, putting her arm around my shoulder as we walk. “I was really hoping that—”

“What in the holy fuck were you doing?” Carrick says as he steps out from between Rainey’s car and the one parallel parked behind hers. I was so mired in my feelings about Fallon being gone I didn’t even see him.

Rainey, Myles, and I come to a dead stop as Carrick places himself before us, arms loose by his sides, but hands clenched into tight fists. Imperiously, he glares down at me.

“How did you even know I was here?” I mutter with a frown.

“Did you honestly think I’d trust you to stay put like I asked?” he bites out. “I’ve had someone watching the doors at One Bean as well as the gallery. Figured you’d make a break for it to try to see Fallon, and kudos to your little Scooby Gang for helping you sneak out the back of One Bean. Only problem with that plan is I was called the minute you dove into their backseat.”

I’m not in the mood for his patronization because what I just learned has me reeling, and I can’t deal with him at the same time. “What I do is none of your business. I wish you’d respect that.”

“I should blister your backside,” Carrick mutters as he takes my arm. “You’re coming to the condo right now.”

“Hey, wait a minute,” Myles growls and pushes himself in between Carrick and me, except Carrick doesn’t release his hold. “If she doesn’t want to go with you, she doesn’t have to.”

“I suggest you get the fuck out of my way, little boy,” Carrick snarls and I wonder if I’m the only one who sees the red haze in his pupils. “Or I will turn you to ash.”

That actually scares me because I don’t know the extent of Carrick’s powers, so I push Myles back and step into Carrick’s side. “It’s okay. I got the information I needed. You two head back to the Fantasia while I go to the condo.”

“Are you sure?” Myles asks, still not willing to be cowed by Carrick’s threat. “Because I doubt he’d turn me to ash on a city street in broad daylight.”

“You’d be correct in that,” Carrick says in a low, menacing voice. “I’d get you at night while you were in bed.”

“Oh, stop it,” I snap, slapping him backhanded style in the chest. “Quit picking on my friends, or I’m moving back in with them. If you want me to go to the condo with you, let’s go.”