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

I repeat the gist of what happened, starting with Echo’s visit and glossing over the fact I tied Zaid up and left him behind. I pick up on the details once we gained entrance to the gallery. As I focus on Boral’s strict adherence to keeping me safe above and beyond all other goals of this mission, I can’t help but notice Zaid has a funny look on his face as he studies his father.

I try to downplay the end when bullets were flying and Carrick barbecued daemons, but Zora won’t let me.

“That bullet wound to her arm was meant for me. Finley threw herself in the path and saved me.”

I lean forward to look past Zaid to my sister. I had actually forgotten that. It was an action I’d taken that I didn’t dwell on. My sister’s life was more important to me than my own. To me, the success of the day was getting Blain out and us all being alive, but, looking at Zora now, I can see how much it means to her.

I reach across Zaid to grab her hand. I squeeze it. “I love you, Zora. I’ll always protect you.”

My dear, isolated, and withdrawn sister looks incredibly uncomfortable as her face turns red, but then something warm and soft fills her eyes.

I recognize it as acceptance of my love and loyalty to her, and for the first time since she arrived, I can tell the concept no longer confuses and scares her.

That prompts me to try to hug her, but Zaid is in the way and it gets really awkward as I try to pull her past him and he shrinks back into the couch with a look of horror to avoid getting involved in this sisterly sandwich.

We all sort of freeze, though, when the doors to the elevator whoosh open and Deandra strolls out, looking like she just finished a shopping trip on Rodeo Drive she’s so fashionably decked out.

She takes the group in, looks around the immediate area for Carrick, and then her eyes come to me. “Any idea why I was summoned here?”

I hold my arm up, the bandage clearly showing. “I need healed.”

She glares at me as if I’ve offended every sensibility she possesses.

So I amend, “Carrick would like for you to heal me, then he has something very important to discuss with you.”

Deandra considers this. At one point, I feel like she’s just going to pivot on her Louboutins to head back into the elevator.

Instead, though, she sighs as if this is just too painful for her, but she comes my way and motions with a jerk of her head for Zaid and Zora to move out of the way.

CHAPTER 21

Finley

I know I shouldn’t be jealous of Deandra. Carrick loves me and has done so through eternity. He’s made that very clear to Deandra, and I know I have nothing to worry about at all.

But there she stands, all stunningly gorgeous in a form-fitting bicolor dress with cap sleeves. The top is cream and has a deep cut in front that’s sexy but not slutty. The skirt hugs her hips in black pinstripe, and her legs look freaking fantastic in those heels. She’s a Light Fae princess, which makes her like one of the most beautiful people in the universe, and here I am sweaty, dirty, bloody, and wearing workout gear.

I don’t know the name brand of her purse, but I can tell whatever it is, it’s pretty expensive. She lowers it onto a chair as she passes it, moving to the couch where Zaid and Zora have scrambled to get out of her way.

“You look a mess.” Her eyes rove over me critically. “What in the hell did you tangle with?”

“Six daemons,” I mutter as she sits down next to me.

She makes a tsking noise. “Where do you hurt?”

“All over but my left ankle is sprained and I have a bullet wound in my left upper arm.”

“Bullets,” she sneers in disdain, taking my arm and poking at the bandage there. I grit my teeth but hold my moan of pain. “Daemons are so low class.”

When Deandra presses her palm against the bandage, a lovely warmth flows through to the wound. It tingles a little, but the pain recedes completely.

“Foot,” she demands, and I lift it up to the coffee table where I settle it gently. Deandra wraps her hand around my ankle and, again, her magical touch takes away my injury.

“Where else?” she clips.

“I’m sore all over,” I admit. Nothing that can’t be cured with a few days rest and some ibuprofen. But who has time to rest these days?

Deandra presses her hand to my chest. My entire body goes warm, and I feel so cozy I could drift off to sleep. I probably would, too, but her hand pulls back and the cozy feeling disappears along with all my aches and pains.