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

“Three against an army,” I mutter sarcastically. “That will work.”

“What exactly do you think it’s going to be like if we battle her at the ritual?” Maddox asks, and I can tell by the tone of his voice he thinks I’m being ridiculous. My head swings his way, my glare in full force. “Do you think it’s going to be easier? Let me answer that… no, it will not, because she’ll have daemons flocking to her side here on Earth and if the veil rips, Dark Fae and demons will pour out. This is our best chance to take her out with the least amount of damage and the absolute best way to help keep you safe.”

I growl low in my throat, wanting to argue.

But I also hear what he’s saying.

“Finley.” Carrick’s voice… gentle but also with the continued resolution that this isn’t up for debate. “We have to try this. We have to let me try to take her on as your champion. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but I’ll come back to you. I swear it.”

I exhale in resignation. I know he’s right, but the thought of losing him is too much to bear.

And I’m now aware that this must be how he feels every day because it’s a certainty he’ll lose me at some point.

I nod, my silent assent that this is the play we need to make.

“Is the Blood Stone with her?” Zaid asks his father, refocusing back on Kymaris.

“That I don’t know,” Boral replies flatly. “And trust me… I worked hard to get that information, but I’m confident the daemon just didn’t know.”

“What else did you get?” Carrick asks, his voice incredibly chilled and businesslike. It’s time to make plans.

For the next hour, plans are laid. They decide not to call in Titus since he’s recruiting annihilators, and they don’t want that impeded in case the much larger battle Maddox described plays out.

Plans are re-hashed.

Smoothed out.

Contingencies discussed.

In the end, Carrick and Maddox will be heading off to Hungary tomorrow, bending distance to get there. They won’t bring fancy weapons or explosives, just their demi-god strength and magic.

They’re going to march right into the villa where Kymaris is staying and they’re going to try to kill her.

They’re the demi-gods of old, riding into a vicious war with nothing but death on their minds.

Part of that is comforting.

Part of it is terrifying.

And I still can’t stop worrying that something bad will happen to Carrick.

CHAPTER 18

Finley

There’s a figurative cloud hanging over the condo ever since Carrick and Maddox left for Hungary.

As is typical of Carrick, he gave me continued reassurances before gracing my lips with a soft kiss. When he pulled back and still saw the fear, he gave me a deeper kiss that scrambled my brains and I forgot my worries for a moment.

But my lips no longer tingle with the memory of his on mine, and now we just sit around and worry.

Boral and Zaid are here, as is Zora. We’ve all been puttering around, moving between the kitchen and the living area. Zora tries to read a book, but keeps putting it down to stare out the windows. Zaid keeps offering food and drink, making himself busy being the hostess with the mostest, but keeping him mostly in the kitchen. Part of that is so he doesn’t have to actually talk to his father, although they’re making real progress. Zaid can actually be in the same room with Boral without leveling hateful glares his way or make scoffing noises every time Boral talks.

Hell, just a few minutes ago, Boral asked Zaid if he wanted to play cards, and Zaid, who was admittedly distracted, was actually polite in saying, “No, thank you.”

I took Boral up on the offer, and we’re engaged in a close game of rummy at the dining room table. Zora’s still in the living area with her book, and Zaid is organizing the refrigerator.

It’s his phone ringing that has me freezing. Is that Maddox with an update? Because Carrick would have called me directly. Maddox would call Zaid if it was bad news about Carrick.

I lay my cards down, my palms turning sweaty. Zaid answers from the kitchen, and there’s a moment of silence before I hear him say, “It’s fine. Send her up.”

Boral and I exchange a glance before Zaid comes into the dining room. “Echo is here asking to see Maddox.”

Clearly, Maddox isn’t here, but Zaid didn’t let her know that. She’s been a source of information for us before, and she’d probably bolt if she knew Maddox was gone.

Turning to his father, he says, “After she enters the condo, I want you by the elevator in case she decides to bolt once she learns Maddox isn’t here.”

Boral doesn’t question his son’s request, merely nods as he pushes up from his chair, throwing his cards down.