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

“Why ever would I do that when your realm is in full peace and you are clearly ruling in splendor?” he returns.

“Despite the fact I don’t provide power to my people?” she asks, her eyes flashing with ire.

“Merely stating a truth,” he intones. “I offered no opinion on it.”

“True,” she replies and takes another step back, this time clasping her hands in front of her. “Now, what is it you needed to see me about?”

“Mother,” a female voice exclaims with excitement. I turn toward the doorway to see a woman rushing in that looks almost identical to Queen Nimeyah, except perhaps ten years younger in appearance. I immediately know this must be the daughter, Deandra. “Someone said Carrick was here.”

She is dressed nothing like her mother, and I’m shocked at how revealing her outfit is. It’s a bright orange dress with red swirls. It seems to be made up of nothing but scarves of the thinnest, most see-through silk. They are wrapped horizontally around her chest but only high enough to barely cover her areolas, but that doesn’t really matter as the material is transparent enough to see them anyway, along with budded nipples. A piece comes diagonally across her stomach with more wrapping so low on her hips there’s no doubt she waxes. For the skirt piece, it’s nothing but long swaths of the orange-red material that hangs down over her crotch, the sides of her thighs, and presumably in the back to cover some of her ass. Thankfully, the scarves on the skirt seem to be a little thicker and I can’t see her lady bits.

I am absolutely stunned at the overt sexuality of her outfit, but horrified as she lands eyes on Carrick and they turn predatory. She starts a long stride in high heels toward him, the momentum causing the scarves around her waist to billow back. As she passes me, I can indeed see her ass is bare on the other side when the scarves flutter out.

My face turns red as she steps right into his body, arms curving over his shoulder to loop around his neck, and lays a long kiss on his mouth.

To Carrick’s credit, he doesn’t touch her, nor does he return the kiss, but she doesn’t seem to care. She pulls away from him, flashes a grin, and twirls slowly with her arms out before coyly asking, “Do you like my new dress?”

“It’s incredibly becoming,” he says neutrally.

It’s incredibly slutty, I think.

“Really, Carrick,” Deandra pouts as she circles him, her hand starting at his shoulder and grazing across his upper back. “You’re hurting my ego.”

Which is probably the size of Australia.

Just as Deandra is coming around the other side of Carrick, she freezes when she sees me standing there. Her eyes roam over me quickly, pausing a moment on my backpack, which is currently slung on just one shoulder, before narrowing like a cat about to hiss.

“What is that?” she says in disgust, pointing at me.

Queen Nimeyah’s head turns my way, but there’s no surprise in seeing me there. She either knew I was in here because she’s all-knowing, all-seeing in this land, or Rebsha told her I was with Carrick.

Regardless, she can’t conceal the slight curl of disgust on her mouth.

Carrick casts me a lazy glance. “That’s Finley. We’re here to see The Scryer.”

“You’d bring a lowly human to our land?” Deandra sneers as she starts to stalk my way. Her hips sway deliberately, but her expression is anything but sensual. She looks like she wants to kill me.

Without hesitation, I bring my right hand across my body, flip the snap that holds my whip handle secure, and wrap my hands around the hilt.

Carrick’s words stop her dead in her tracks. “She’s not to be touched or harmed, Deandra. Anyone who does will answer to me.”

Deandra whips his way as she sputters. “But… but… but… she’s human.”

“I’m well aware of that,” he replies dryly. “But my business with The Scryer is urgent, prompted directly by the gods, and they have placed Finley squarely by my side to help. So she stays here in Faere with me. While I don’t expect your welcome to be warm, I expect it to be non-lethal.”

“Mother,” Deandra gasps, whirling that way. “Are you going to let this stand?”

Queen Nimeyah studies me thoughtfully before turning her attention to Carrick. “I’m not sure. I need more information before I give permission to travel our land and employ our scryer.”

Carrick inclines his head. “I’m humbly beseeching you grant passage to The Scryer as well as safe return to the Earth realm. We will be gone quickly.”

The queen ponders a moment before declaring. “I’ll entertain your request. I want to hear more of your mission. But you must stay here the night as my guest, and we shall have a grand ball in your honor tonight.”