The Evolution of Fae and Gods (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 3)

“Un-fucking-believable,” Carrick muttered, sitting back fully in his seat. This could be just the big break they needed, and it hit him like a slap in the face that Myles would be lauded as the hero of the evening.

Myles also sat back, a smug smile in place as he crossed his arms over his chest. Clearly, he thought that, too, and Carrick had to admit it was well deserved.

CHAPTER 23

Finley

Rainey yawns, stretching her arms up high. Clasping her hands, she arches her back.

“Why don’t you go take a nap in my room?” I suggest.

Shaking her head, she leans forward to pour a cup of coffee from the carafe Zaid had brought down to us a bit ago. “I’m good.”

We’ve been in the library all night, going through book after book, hoping to find something about either the ritual Kymaris will use to take the veil down or how she’ll get enough power to do so. It was the best use of our time while Carrick and Myles were off playing weird fae BDSM games of master and human submissive. We’d both vowed to wait up for them until they came back to the condo.

Admittedly, Myles having to play that role was funny. While he is mild-mannered and the first to try to mediate a fight, he is far from submissive. And while I didn’t see the outfit he had to wear, Carrick had told me it was ridiculous. In fact, he’d suggested that perhaps Rainey and I not be around when they were ready to leave so Myles didn’t feel even more awkward.

I’d thought that was sweet, and while I saw more and more of that side of Carrick, which was somehow becoming his norm to me, it was still shocking to others. Sometimes, he’ll say something to me in a certain way, and it will cause Zaid to snap his way with an astonished expression. Apparently, Zaid is seeing things that are either very new or so very deeply buried he never thought he’d see them again, but Carrick has definitely changed since we became intimate.

Now, he can still be domineering, curt, boorish, and egotistical, but I know if I love the man—I mean demi-god—I have to love every bit of him.

Rainey seems cut out for this type of work. She went to college and graduated with a degree in communications, but she was a good student. She was one of those who loved studying in the library, and she’s a sponge.

I’m not that great at this stuff. I’m a college dropout.

Not that I’m dumb or anything, but I really just hate reading. On top of that, I cannot seem to make myself care about this stupid ritual or a stone that will give Kymaris more powers.

I’m an awful, horrible human and would-be hero to the Earth realm, but damn if I can’t stop thinking about ways to get my sister out of the Underworld instead. In fact, while Rainey’s been pouring through books about the stone, veils, magic, and rituals, I’ve been surreptitiously taking books about the Underworld.

Tonight, I learned that it is not unheard of to travel within the Underworld. While it’s not the easiest thing in the world to accomplish, it is possible to create a small rip to go in, much the same way Dark Fae could be brought through to this side with the right form of magic and power.

So, the important question—is it possible for me, a human, to go to the Underworld? I know Sarvel didn’t know how I should use my angel light, but I bet it would protect me enough to go through the veil. Just as I’m convinced it would have protected me going into Faere, but Carrick wouldn’t let me try it.

Regardless, Sarvel said I should have the confidence to try, knowing I have power at my disposal.

The question, though, is how to find Zora when I get there and how to get her back out. I definitely need a solid exit strategy that will account for every possible way in which this could get screwed up.

Bottom line, though… it can be done.

Also bottom line… I can’t go alone. Carrick will have to go with me. In fact, it would be best if Maddox and Lucien came, too, and that’s an awful lot for a puny human to ask for when we’re supposed to be stopping a prophecy that will doom the world.

Regardless, we’d need way more information than what I’ve been able to find. We’d need to know more about the Underworld, probably from an insider. I’m quite confident Carrick or Zaid have many Dark Fae contacts, so that goes on the to-do list I’ve titled, “Saving My Sister,” in my head.

Under that list, I have a sub-list called, “Ways In,” and there aren’t many options. Ozigeor was the foremost expert in summoning rituals to rip the veil and bring Dark Fae through to our side, so I assume he could do the reverse. But he’s dead, melted from the inside out by Kymaris.