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

A dark shadow swept over Carrick. “Or he’s in league with her.”

Zaid’s eyebrows shot high. “Surely not. Pyke isn’t evil. Just ego-driven.”

Carrick stood from his stool. “Isn’t he evil? He wants an immeasurably powerful relic and was willing to kidnap Finley—who he knows is special to me, his friend.”

“Point taken,” Zaid murmured, but then was distracted by his phone ringing.

He connected the call, listened, and then pulled it away from his ear to press to his chest. His face was noticeably pale. “It’s the concierge in the lobby. Kymaris is here to see you.”

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Carrick snarled, whipping his own phone out. With a few taps to pull up a security app, he dialed into the camera that covered the lobby all the way to the front door.

Sure enough, Kymaris stood at the reception desk wearing a pleasant smile. She was dressed in a business suit and her glamour was that of a beautiful, sophisticated woman. She wouldn’t have caused an eyebrow to raise.

“Send her up,” Carrick instructed Zaid, who passed the information to the concierge.

Moving from the kitchen to stand before the elevator, Carrick released the protection spells on the condo so Kymaris could enter. He then instructed his friend, “Go to my office and wait there. If you hear things go to hell, get down to the library and lock yourself in.”

Zaid knew exactly what Carrick was suggesting. There was a distinct possibility this meeting would end in bloodshed, and Carrick didn’t want his friend anywhere near two powerful immortals if they clashed. “Understood,” he said before hurrying away.

Carrick looked down at his outfit. He rarely wore business suits anymore. It was either workout clothes, jeans, or fatigues, and he couldn’t say he missed the formal attire.

However, to match the Dark Fae who was currently on the way up in his private elevator, he waved a hand down his body and was immediately outfitted in a tailored suit with a silk tie. He didn’t want to appear too casual, nor did he want to look battle-ready. Carrick wanted to exude power. In the Earth realm, his money was what gave him that.

In the immortal world, Kymaris already knew that he was one of the most powerful beings in the universe under his designer clothes. As such, he figured she wasn’t here to fight, but he was ready if she was. She still had to be smarting over the fact that he blew up her house the day before yesterday.

Whatever her reason for visiting, Carrick wanted her gone as soon as possible before Rainey and Myles showed up, as they would be the most vulnerable should she decide to attack.

The elevator doors whooshed slowly open, and Kymaris blinked in surprise to see Carrick standing before her. She quickly regained her composure and stepped into his foyer, looking around at the grandeur of his condo.

“I thought you were putting this place up for sale,” she said as she moved to the left to better take in the massive living area.

“I am,” Carrick replied as he turned to study her. He was a bit surprised she had healed so quickly from the explosion. Underneath her glamour, she only had pinkened skin left on her face from the burns. It spoke to the fact that her powers were far beyond a normal Dark Fae’s, even one who had managed to get a hold of a bit of stone magic. He might have underestimated whatever she received through the changeling ritual.

“Hmm,” she murmured in a way that said she didn’t believe him one bit. Pivoting, she squared off to face him, hands clasped before her. “I’m here for the Blood Stone.”

“What makes you think I’d give it to you?” Carrick replied blandly.

The smile on Kymaris’ face didn’t bode well with Carrick. Her eyes flashed with victory. “Because I have something you want,” she purred.

It was something Carrick had considered, but truly hadn’t thought it was possible. He could not control his jaw dropping. “Pyke is working with you,” he surmised.

“Working for me,” she corrected haughtily. “Finley is currently tucked away in my new stronghold—no thanks to you for blowing up my other one—but I’m willing to make a fair trade. Her for the Blood Stone.”

“How do I know she’s alive and well?” he asked, his heart hammering with fear that Kymaris was attempting to dupe him and Finley was already dead. He was also battling a volatile bubbling of fury that Pyke—his so-called friend—had betrayed him.

Forsaking magic and embracing modern technology, Kymaris pulled out an iPhone and called someone. When the line connected, she merely said, “Put her on the phone.”

When she handed the phone to Carrick, he took it and put it up to his ear. “Finley?”

“Carrick,” she replied in a rush of relieved breath, but she spoke hurriedly. “I’m fine so please don’t worry about me.”