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

“Nope,” I reply and then add for good measure. “And no indication they’ve been arrested making their black-market arms deal.”

“That’s good.” Carrick chuckles, and then frowns as the ring tone comes through on his phone from the lobby concierge desk.

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and answers, “Byrne.”

Tipping my head back, I look at Carrick, while, in the background, I hear Zora asking details about Teletubbies. Carrick’s eyebrows rise briefly before a grim expression hardens his face.

“Send him up,” he clips out before disconnecting the call.

“Who’s here?” I ask, pushing out of my chair to face him.

“Amell,” he replies, and I’m not prepared for the rage that flows through me. While I know he did much for Zora’s well-being and safety while she lived in the Underworld, he’s also the one who took her to the palace each month to shackle her up and let magic be pumped into her against her will even when she was a child. It was sadistic and injurious to my sister as the magic was forced into her, and a million times more painful as the fae priests twisted it dark.

Amell was responsible for all of that, and I’d never forgive him.

My gaze shoots over to Zora, who slowly rises from the chair. “He’s here?”

“On his way up,” Carrick replies.

Zora frowns. I can tell she’s as surprised by this as I am, but her expression isn’t bearing the rage I can feel upon my face.

I quickly glance at Maddox, but he appears impassive as he rises from his seat. I’m not sure how much he knows of Zora’s relationship with Amell. I’m guessing probably not much other than what he could glean when we brought her out from the Underworld. It was apparent then that Amell clearly watched over her and cared for her. I seriously doubt he’s a subject of their conversations, though, and I can’t imagine Zora told him they’d been intimate.

In fact, I’m quite sure they don’t really even have conversations when they’re in her bedroom.

Just orgasms.

The elevator emits a slight whirring whisper as it reaches the penthouse and the door swishes open.

Rainey and Myles straighten on the couch, moving to sitting positions. While I’d told them in general terms that Amell watched over Zora, I didn’t give them the deep details. That was for Zora to share if she wished.

I note Amell’s wings are not visible as he steps out of the elevator, but I’m not surprised. Here in the Earth realm, he’d use a glamour to hide them from humans. He’s dressed in jeans and a lightweight sweater, an attempt to blend into the human population, but his superior beauty over all mortal men most likely makes him stick out like a sore thumb.

His eyes sweep the vicinity and land on the one thing he really came for.

Zora.

He takes a step in our group’s general direction, but Carrick moves into his path, effectively stopping him. He nods his head politely to the Dark Fae. “Amell… what are you doing here?”

Amell doesn’t even look at Carrick but rather past his shoulder to Zora. “I am here to make sure Zora is faring well.”

“She is,” Carrick replies, and his lack of any other information gives a chilly vibe to the scene. But to punctuate that him visiting Zora isn’t exactly welcomed, I step partially in front of my sister in a silent statement that I will protect her from him at all costs. He’ll never hurt her again.

Amell finally tears his gaze from Zora before bringing it back to Carrick. “I’ve also got information I’m going to share with you.”

That gets everyone’s attention and my anger at him gets pushed to the side by a surge of excitement. Is Amell going to come to our side? He’d be a powerful ally, of course, but could we really trust him?

How could we trust him after everything he did to Zora to help Kymaris destroy Earth?

That’s something I don’t have time to consider as he says, “Kymaris summoned me from the Underworld. I’m to stay here until the ritual is complete.”

“Are you one of the twelve?” I ask him, my tone glacially cold.

Amell studies me carefully, not missing the disdain in my voice for him. But he’s not stupid. I see the understanding within his eyes. He knows exactly why I hate him.

He shakes his head, a grave expression on his face. “My job is to perform the ritual.”

That surprises me, and certainly sounds like he won’t be joining our side. Which means I won’t have any compunction in killing him. I’d do it now if I thought I could get away with it, but it will probably have to wait until the ritual.

Amell looks once again to Zora, and I can tell by his expression that the information he is going to share with us—whatever it may be—is only for Zora’s benefit. Anything he offers us is going to be to keep Zora safe.