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

“And what’s that?” Carrick asks in a bored tone. He doesn’t want Amell to think we’re grateful for anything.

“It’s going to be near impossible to kill Kymaris,” he says with a confident lift to his chin.

“The Blood Stone?” Carrick surmises.

Amell nods. “She’s harnessed it in such a way that she’s nearly as immortal as you are.”

“So we’re supposed to just walk away?” I ask.

I don’t get the courtesy of his regard as Amell keeps his eyes on Carrick. But he answers me in a roundabout way. “You are going to be better off focusing your efforts on trying to contain her or disrupting the ritual in another way.”

“And you’re not just suggesting that to save your queen?” Carrick inquires skeptically.

“My motives are my own,” Amell replies. “And I have something to help aid you in that quest should you choose to heed my advice.”

Carrick crosses his arms over his chest, not buying a word of what the Dark Fae is saying. “What’s that?”

Amell’s head swings Zora’s way. “I want time alone to talk to Zora, and I’ll give it to you.”

“No way,” I growl, now moving totally in front of my sister, who has been incredibly quiet this entire time. I have no clue what she’s feeling, but my rage is back in full force. I hiss, “You abused Zora her entire life. She’s not going anywhere near you.”

Amell jerks, not from the venom in my voice but from my words. “Abused her?”

“You’re not dense, Amell,” I snap in irritation. “Forcing magic into her, twisting it dark, shackling her with chains… you caused her so much pain. If I had my way, I’d kill you right here and right now.”

I hear a low growl, and I suspect it’s Maddox, who had to overhear what Amell did. I don’t take my eyes off Amell, though.

“Try your best, Savior,” Amell snarls at me, and the air in the room turns almost electric.

Carrick’s arms fall from his chest as he prepares to take Amell out for me. Maddox is postured the same way.

“I want to talk to him,” Zora murmurs from behind me, and my heart bottoms out in my stomach. Because in those words, I still hear a tenderness he doesn’t deserve.

But then again, many people fall for their abusers and their jailers. And as much as he hurt her, he provided her joy in return. I have to remember Zora is pulling on those feelings right now.

I turn to face my sister and lean in close, whispering so only she can hear. “He’s dangerous. He could kidnap you.”

“He won’t,” she replies in a soft voice. “And you’re going to have to trust me on that.”

I shoot a glance toward Carrick. He gives the barest hint of a nod that I should let her visit with Amell.

And because I trust Carrick more than anything in this world, I take a step back from my sister, even as my sensibilities hate that she’d be anywhere near that Dark Fae.

I watch silently as Zora leads him out onto the back patio. It’s chilly outside and I fight the urge to run for a coat for Zora, but I’m hoping the temperature will keep the conversation short.

The sliding door closes, and I also fight the urge to eavesdrop on them. I certainly have the power to do so, but I have the decency not to.

All of us in the living area are quiet as we watch Amell and Zora talk. I pace back and forth, Rainey and Myles sit quietly on the couch, Maddox watches with eyes like a hawk, and Carrick spreads his attention between them and me.

Amell stands close to Zora, while she has her arms crossed over her chest, shoulders hunched because she’s cold. He’s doing all the talking, and she’s listening raptly.

The more he talks, the more she seems to come out of her shell. Her shoulders roll back, her spine straightens, and then her hands start moving animatedly as she seems to be arguing with him.

I take a step that way, but Carrick stops me in a low voice with just one word. “Don’t.”

I halt and continue watching.

The conversation doesn’t last more than five minutes. In the end, Zora seems defeated again and Amell actually looks mournful. He asks her one more question, and she shakes her head adamantly.

I can see him heave a sigh of frustration and regret.

And then, from thin air, he conjures a coil of rope. It’s light brown, braided, and probably several feet in length based on the size of the coil. He hands it over to Zora, who takes it, issuing two words I can read on her lips.

Thank you.

Amell then leans in, brushes his lips across her cheek, and disappears from the patio.

Zora doesn’t hesitate, turning for the sliding glass door and entering. She walks up to me, then hands over the rope. “This is a magical lariat that can dampen Kymaris’ powers if you can get it around her.”