The Rise of Fortune and Fury (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 5)

I thought she might be reticent as she’s still so very closed off about many things, but to my surprise, she thought it was a good idea. I think she is understanding the meaning of freedom now that she’s not in the Underworld and she can truly do whatever she wants.

That she can be taught to celebrate her powers and tap their full potential.

Only Carrick will be accompanying us. Maddox is going to stay behind with Boral and Zaid, their main job to try to ferret out any information on Kymaris and where the Blood Stone is being kept, as well as more clues about where the ritual will take place. Right now, we’re flying blind and all the training and practice in Semper Terra won’t mean anything if we can’t intercept Kymaris and stop her from completing the ritual.

“Everyone ready?” Titus asks as he faces Carrick, Zora, and me. We’re in the living area where the wedding festivities had gone on until almost midnight last night. All the furniture had been restored to its proper places, the flowers magicked away, and the leftovers appropriately refrigerated where I was sure Maddox would finish them off by the end of tonight.

“Ready,” I reply for the group. We each have a small bag packed with a few days of essentials. We’ve been graciously invited to stay at Titus’ house, and I’m dying to see how annihilators live on this magical, tropical island.

Traveling through veils has become almost commonplace for me, so it’s not overly exciting as Titus opens a seam between this realm and Semper Terra.

But that first glimpse of Semper Terra through the opening starts my blood racing. Green mountains filled with lush tropical plants and trees sloping down to a large bay with white sand beaches. Below, I can see buildings of various shapes and colors, mostly pastels of blue, green, yellow, and peach, staggered downward.

The sky is a blue I’ve never quite imagined before, and there are fluffy white clouds that look way too perfect to even be real. Before we step through, I feel a waft of warm air brush over my skin—perfumed with tropical flowers—and I see why Titus told us to dress for summertime.

Zora and I both opted for sundresses for our travel into Semper Terra, but our backpacks are filled with workout gear. Carrick went with khaki cargo shorts, a short-sleeved V-necked tee of denim blue, and a shock to me… flip flops.

I’d never thought I’d see my demi-god in flip-flops.

It feels strange, the casual nature of our dress, and that we’re stepping into a tropical paradise where one could envision us lying on the beach below drinking fruity cocktails.

But we’re here for work and none of us forget that as, one by one, we follow Titus through the veil and leave Seattle behind.

We step out onto a lush green lawn that is mostly flat but slopes slightly downward just as the mountain we’re on does. It’s dotted with palm trees and the vegetation at the edge of the lawn is cut back and well maintained so nothing can block the view of the bay below.

I turn around and gasp as I take in the house behind me.

It’s not quite palatial, but it is freaking big.

All one level and massively sprawled out, it’s made of white painted wood and glass.

Mostly glass that retracts, as the entire front of the house is open and I can see inside to a living area that’s dotted with low-slung furniture with plush cushions, colorful braided rugs, and lazy ceiling fans with giant paddles to move the air.

Further back past the living area, I can make out the kitchen done in teak and stainless steel. To my surprise, a woman moves from behind the counter and starts walking our way.

She’s absolutely stunning and exotic. Dark hair that’s wavy, long, and worn over one shoulder with olive skin and chocolate eyes. She’s dressed in a floral print skirt that hangs low on her hips, hitting at her knees, and a bathing suit top that shows off how very well endowed she is. She’s barefoot, fresh-faced, and her eyes are pinned on Titus as if she is a starving woman.

“You’re late,” she chastises with a teasing smile as she hurries down the few steps that lead into the yard.

My jaw drops as Titus strides her way and plants a deep, sensuous kiss on her that makes it clear she was missed.

Cutting my eyes to Carrick, I note he’s not shocked the way I am to see Titus kissing a woman, but I can tell he doesn’t know who this woman is.

We’re not kept in the dark long as Titus lets her up for air. With an arm around her waist, he turns her to face our group.

“This is Priya,” Titus says, giving her a squeeze and pulling her in close. “Priya… this is Carrick, Finley, and Zora.”