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

Turning, he found Finley watching him with a wariness that was probably well deserved. He held the drink out to her, waiting the moment she needed to lay the drawing back in her sketchpad and slide it into her backpack.

Upon straightening, she took the drink proffered and then followed him into the living area where he took a seat in one of the gray velvet chairs to the side of the massive center fireplace.

Finley took the chair adjacent to him and sipped at her drink, clearly accepting the fact he wasn’t going to engage her any further about that stupid drawing or what she may or may not have seen that night.

Carrick stared at her for a while, wondering just how he could control someone so spirited. Just as he knew that throughout this journey, she was going to be the type of woman who would always buck against his authority and control. Finley was going to get herself into bad situations, and he was going to be a glorified babysitter to a woman that drove him crazy on so many levels.

“We’re leaving tomorrow for Faere,” Carrick announced, and Finley’s eyes lit with genuine delight, her previous ire draining from her expression. “Stan will be here early to take us through the veil.”

“Do I need to pack anything?” she asked.

Carrick gave a slight nod, gaze going to his bourbon. “Just what you can take in your backpack. A change of clothes is all you need. We won’t be there long, but you do need to know a few things.”

“Of course,” Finley said, sitting forward on the edge of the seat, clearly excited to be going and ready to learn. She held her bourbon in between her hands, but otherwise ignored it.

Setting his glass down on a small table beside his chair, Carrick leaned forward in his chair and angled his body toward Finley’s. He needed her to pay attention.

“I know I’ve told you this before, but never, ever forget that most fae—especially Light Fae—hate humans. Their sheer numbers forced them from this earthly realm. As such, you should tread very cautiously when dealing with them, especially in Faere. As long as you’re with me, you have my protection and won’t be harmed.”

“And what exactly is the game plan when we get there?” Finley asked.

“Protocol,” Carrick muttered with a grimace. “We’re going to have to seek welcome by the royal family first, who will give us permission to travel the realm.”

“And what exactly constitutes the royal family?”

Carrick leaned back in his chair, picked up his bourbon, and took a sip. Holding the glass in his hand, he decided to give Finley a lesson on Faere and its inhabitants.

“As you well know, Faere is a realm the Light Fae created after their numbers became far outnumbered by humans. Desiring to have their own home where they didn’t need to be glamoured and could be free to use their powers without discovery, Faere was created by a Light Fae named Nimeyah, who owned a stone from the meteor. She took Callidan as her king. Over the millennia, they were able to have two children, Pykalias and Deandra. Those four—the queen, king, prince, and princess—make up the royal family.”

“Pykalias? Would that be the Pyke you’re looking for?”

“Indeed,” Carrick affirmed. “He spends time between realms, but he must be in Faere, which is why we can’t find him.”

Finley’s head tipped in curiosity. “And they’re royal merely because Nimeyah created the realm?”

Carrick shrugged. “I’d guess it had more to do with her having a stone, which meant she had more power. She bestowed the same powers she held to her husband and their children. She filtered down more power—but not as strong—to her closest allies, those who were original fallen angels. They became part of the royal family by inclusion and are referred to as the nobility. Just below them are the gentry or the higher-class citizens. They are distinguished from the nobility as they are not original fallen angels, but rather offspring of Light Fae. However, they have the same powers as the nobility. Below the gentry is the lower class—those who have fallen from society or were outcast for one reason or another. They make up the working class. The society as a whole basically lives in harmony now, but after Faere was created, like with any civilization, there were wars and attempts to wrestle power. Over time, the nobility and gentry settled in and accepted Nimeyah as supreme ruler, and the lower class was subjugated as they had lesser powers.”

“Doesn’t sound that much different than most of the world’s history when it comes to war, class status, and power?” Finley muttered.

“No, it doesn’t,” Carrick agreed. “You need to know the royals’ powers are immense. As happens in all evolutions, it has adapted and grown stronger.”