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

But gradually, she came out of it.

They took long walks. Talked a lot. Sat on the patio and put rationality to the jumble of emotion that was swirling within her.

Logically, Finley did what she knew she had to do.

There was a sense of peace for her to know Zora wanted her to do what she did.

There was also relief in knowing that the world was safe from the likes of Kymaris.

Over and over again, Carrick reminded her of those things until she gradually stopped crying and sometimes graced him with her smiles.

On a good day, there was laughter, and she was getting back to her normal life too. They held the re-opening of One Bean yesterday, but, truth be told, that had become Rainey’s show. It had also become her passion. Finley wasn’t so keen on the day-to-day running anymore. At the opening, she did what she did best—showed her love of people—by circulating among the patrons and having genuine conversations. That right there helped bring more smiles to her face that had been desperately needed.

No doubt, owning and running One Bean was a fine career for a young barista moving up in the world. Back when Finley was naïve to the horrors that awaited her. But after everything she’d been through, Carrick wasn’t surprised she’d lost her zeal for running a coffee shop. He suspected it would become Rainey’s completely soon, but, for now, they were partners.

Finley wasn’t the only one suffering from loss. Hell, Carrick hated to admit it, but even he felt a bit sad over Boral’s death. More than that, his heart ached for Zaid, who was having a hard time reconciling the fact that he’d never actually given his dad a chance in the end. He was suffering guilt, the same as Finley.

Titus had lost Priya, which was a terrible blow to his friend. She had been taken down by two Dark Fae, who were now no more since Titus had gotten his vengeance on them in the thick of battle. He was grieving, though, while holed up in his house on Semper Terra. Caiden had recently told Carrick that Titus wasn’t seeing anyone. Carrick wouldn’t be able to let that go on for much longer—he’d have to intervene for his friend—but he had to make sure Finley was okay first.

Deandra was not suffering the way Titus was. She’d watched her mother die, and she’d killed her brother. But the Light Fae didn’t love the way humans do, nor the way a demi-god does. Deandra bore that weight as no more than her duty to her people as a whole. After Kymaris died, Deandra helped dispatch the rest of the dead queen’s minions. When the dust had cleared, she was ready to move on.

She’d returned to Faere to report on what happened. Not long after, Carrick received word that she had assumed the throne as the sole ruler of Faere. Her father had “retired” to the countryside to live out his days in leisure.

Not that it’s not how he had lived his days before Nimeyah’s death, but Deandra apparently had no use for a man such as Callidan—one who couldn’t be moved to help save their people.

So much loss when they’d stopped Kymaris’ rise to power on that day two weeks ago, but, in the end, they had indeed stopped her. Finley bore her sacrifice. She met her destiny and won.

As he stared out the window of his office, gaze focusing on Bainbridge Island across the Sound, Carrick thought back to the battle and the moment Finley’s sacrifice had played out.

He knew they were losing.

He knew Earth was going to perish.

And he couldn’t believe his eyes when he spotted Zora handing Finley a dagger across the battlefield before watching his love plunge it into her twin’s heart.

But when Kymaris bore a wound in her chest, he knew as clear as day that Zora had been the connection all along. She was the sacrifice meant to save the day, and Finley was the one who had to take her life.

The gods were indeed cruel.

The gods were also silent. Carrick had no clue where they had gone or what had happened to Rune. But, in all actuality, he didn’t care. He figured they’d reveal something to him eventually, but they were non-entities in his life for now.

Carrick might have been grateful for a bit of guidance from Veda right after the battle since they had one big dilemma on their hands after it was over…

What to do with the Blood Stone.

It had too much power to be let loose in the world.

In the wrong hands, it could destroy entire realms. They had brought it back to the condo, locked it in Carrick’s vault, and sealed it with powerful magic. Then Carrick, Maddox, Zaid, and Finley discussed what should be done.