The Revelation of Light and Dark (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 1)

Before I can even try to inhale a breath of surprise, Titus is already standing with hands once again clasped behind him. He looks down at me. “Get up. Show me your fighting stance.”

I’m pissed he caught me so off guard, vowing I won’t let it happen again. I jump up, face him, and get in position. This time, I stay at the ready for his next attack.

When it comes, I’m able to get two solid blocks before he knocks me to the ground, but I’ll take it.

I am battling an annihilator, after all, and am at a distinct disadvantage.

CHAPTER 16

Finley

“He’s here,” Myles calls from the living room, prompting me to hurry up with the mascara.

I give a few more feathering brushes on my right eye, re-load, and hit the left eye. Quickly grabbing the lipstick Rainey had picked out for me, I give it a swipe, rub my lips together, and then turn my head critically from side to side so I can make sure I stayed within the borders.

“His driver is coming to the door,” Myles calls again, giving me the play by play.

I scurry to my room from the bathroom, grab the heels that had been chosen for me, and sit on the edge of my bed to put them on.

When that’s done, I move to the full-length mirror on the back of my door.

“He’s knocking on the door,” Myles yells.

“Well, open it up,” I yell back. “Tell him that I’ll be just one minute.”

In that time, I peruse the package I’ve put together. True to his word, Carrick had Zaid procure an evening dress for me and had it delivered to One Bean today while I was working. That, of course, set a bunch of tongues wagging, but I stopped it quickly with a new glare I’d developed as part of my new ownership repertoire.

I took it back to Rich’s office—crap, I mean my office—and peeked inside at a mass of material the color of golden champagne and as shimmery as a glass filled with bubbles. There was a pair of strappy sandals of the same color. I didn’t bother to try it on to see if it fit. Somehow, I just knew it would because Carrick seems to know everything, and, truth be told, I was glad he’d sent me something to wear.

Had he not, I could have easily gone to Fallon and asked for something appropriate, but that would have invited way too many questions about why I was going to a formal event with Carrick. I could have lied to her as to where I was going, but that’s not usually my style. I prefer just not to tell her anything at all, so yes… I’m glad Carrick provided me a dress.

I was able to leave the shop a bit early, so I had time to take a shower to wash the coffee smell off me before Carrick arrived to pick me up. That little plan was told to me by text via Zaid, and it merely said: Carrick will pick you up at seven.

My gaze roves over my reflection in the mirror. My makeup is excellent, thanks to lots of tutorials over the years from Rainey. She’d be here helping if she weren’t working, but I think I did a great job. My hair—well, I let it do what it does best—and just be itself. I’m keeping it loose and wild, with snippets of curls and looser waves framing my face while longer layers spill down my back. This was accomplished by basically whipping the towel off my head after my shower and wherever the wet hair fell and lay is where it would stay and dry. Just a bit of fingers scrubbing lightly through my scalp to separate some pieces and my hair became a wild, beautiful mess and I love it that way.

But the dress… it’s what makes the package complete. It, of course, fits perfectly, including the floor-sweeping hem that barely touches the ground. The top is a high halter style that wraps around the lower part of my neck, and demurely covers my entire chest. But there’s some sex appeal as it’s sleeveless and cut inward quite a bit over the shoulders, back, and chest. The bodice is form-fitting, the skirt full and princess-like.

It’s incredibly tasteful, only slightly sexy—nothing like the dress Fallon had me wear at her gallery—and the golden color looks amazing with my hair.

Well done, Zaid. Or Carrick. Whichever.

Turning from the mirror, I grab the little evening purse that was in the box with the shoes and gown—a simple clutch with a wrist strap covered in the same material as the dress. I shove my phone and lipstick inside, along with my ID and a credit card.

There’s no jewelry to put on as I don’t have anything fancy enough to complement this dress. All of my earrings are simple studs or hoops, and because they would all look incredibly cheap next to the dress, I decide to go without. I don’t have any rings, bracelets, or necklaces as that’s just never been my thing.