A Discovery of Secrets and Fate (Chronicles of the Stone Veil #2) - Sawyer Bennett Page 0,75
to get stronger over time, or whether they were gifted extra powers by the queen.
But there were limitations. For example, a noble or gentry couldn’t just conjure up a twenty-thousand-square-foot castle because he was sick of his fifteen-thousand-square-foot one.
The nobles and gentry also had immense healing power, but it rarely came into use since they were essentially immortal and would heal from almost any wound. The Light Fae normally employed those gifts on animals, young children, or perhaps the lucky human who might need it. Carrick had offered Finley a healer once when she’d hurt her shoulder learning to use the whip, but she’d declined.
“I’m almost afraid to ask what the royals’ powers are?” Finley muttered.
“Pretty much everything I already described to you but far more powerful,” Carrick replied with a smile. “An original royal—that would be the queen, king, prince, and princess—could indeed conjure up a new castle if they wanted one, but more importantly, the one thing they can do that no other Light Fae can is kill another Light or Dark Fae without the use of iron.”
Finley’s jaw dropped at this news, then understanding dawned in her expression. “No wonder they are in absolute power.”
“And the most dangerous of all,” Carrick added.
“So we have to go see the royals, huh?”
Carrick didn’t hide his displeasure at the idea. He didn’t like dealing with any creature that held themselves out as superior, and the Light Fae royals were among the biggest egos in the universe. “Unfortunately, yes. Custom and protocol dictate it.”
“We just knock on the castle door and say hello?” she asked, hope sparkling in her eyes. She clearly didn’t want to tangle with the Light Fae and for that, Carrick was grateful. He hoped she had taken his information and processed it for her betterment. Last thing he needed was her to go rogue while in Faere. He was positive if that occurred, he’d be scraping up bits and pieces of her to bring back to Rainey and Myles.
“We might have to do a little more than say hello,” Carrick explained to Finley. “Most likely stay for at least a meal.”
“And then?” she pressed.
“And then, we find The Scryer. Hopefully, he or she will have some helpful information for us that can help us with the prophecy.”
“Do we know where to look for this scryer?”
Carrick’s lips pressed flat as he had to admit, “Sadly, no. Which is why our visit to the royals is important, as I’m hoping they’ll give us some guidance.”
Lifting his drink to his mouth, Carrick tipped it back and swallowed the last of it. He set the empty glass on the table and once again leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees to bring himself closer to Finley.
His eyes lasered onto hers, and he asked the question that needed to be asked, although he thought he might know the answer. “What happened when you saw Fallon today?”
The vibrant colors in Finley’s eyes dulled instantly. The gold muddied, the blue went gray, and the green churned to the color of pond scum.
What she did not do, however, was avert them from Carrick’s gaze as she answered, “That’s not Fallon anymore.”
“You’re sure?” he pressed.
Finley bit into her lower lip, the pain of knowledge ravaging her face as she nodded. “She didn’t know who Rainey or Myles were. I made up a story about a dragonfly bracelet that was important to me because she gave it to me, and she didn’t dispute it.”
“Because butterflies are your thing,” Carrick murmured.
Finley tilted her head, gazing at him curiously before nodding again. “I think most of Fallon’s memories are gone. Like she’s obliterated my sister’s soul from her body.”
Carrick winced. That was a vivid picture and most likely true.
Suddenly, Carrick noticed Finley seemed a little off. Her skin, which was normally pale, seemed to lack its glow, her eyes were flat, and her mouth was drawn down.
She left her half-consumed glass of bourbon on the table as she slowly rose from her chair. Her bearing was stoic, but he could see the hopeless acceptance in her eyes and the small quiver to her lower lip. “I think I knew all along she was gone. From the moment I saw her face change, I think I knew. I just needed to see it for myself.”
“I’m sorry,” Carrick said gently, and he was surprised he had no problem treating her with tenderness in this instance. In fact, it felt natural.