Stone Cold Revenge (Set In Stone, Book Two)

by Jess Macallan

  I glanced at the small clock on the nightstand. Tomorrow was almost here, and I didn’t think I was any closer to saving the world. I had an unpleasant schedule ahead of me. First Falon, and then Maxim, and then…

  No. First Teryl.

  My mood sobered in an instant. How could I forget about Clio? I got up to shut off the light, and then snuggled close to Jax. “Tomorrow I have to warn Teryl. Jedren has taken Clio prisoner to ensure my cooperation. Teryl will kill Jedren. Or at least try to.”

  Jax pulled the covers over us. “He’d never succeed.”

  Sleep tugged at my eyelids. I gave in to the urge and shut them. “I know. Which is why I need to get to him first.”

  …

  The early morning sun peeking through the blinds was an un-welcome sight. I moved out from under Jax’s arm. Through blurry eyes I discovered I’d awakened twenty minutes before the alarm. Son of a…

  I kept my grumbling to myself. Somehow, I managed not to wake Jax as I stumbled from the bed. Cold water splashed on my face didn’t do much, so I pulled on my robe and trudged downstairs for coffee. I was just reaching for my first steaming cup when I heard, “Think fast, Buttercup.”

  I whirled around, heart in my throat, and barely managed to catch the large object hurtling toward my face. Hands shaking with adrenaline, I yelled, “What the hell? Will you please freaking knock next time? Or wear a cowbell?” Then I clapped a hand over my mouth. Jax was still asleep. Damn it.

  She sneered at me. “Ever heard of saying thanks?”

  “You’re giving me lessons on manners?”

  She sniffed and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s a gift. You didn’t even look at it.”

  No, but I looked at her. Today she wore a candy-pink collared shirt and flared black skirt that skimmed just below her knees. She looked like she was ready for a sock hop. My life was un-freaking-believable.

  Finally I looked at the fourteen-inch leather sheath in my right hand. I turned it over. “You’re giving me a dagger?”

  “Not just any dagger. It’s special.”

  I waited for her to elaborate, but she only smiled and kept her mouth shut.

  I sighed. “Look, I’m way too tired to read into anything right now. Can you spell it all out for me? Please?”

  “Take it out,” she said. “Read the inscription.”

  I grasped the simple carved stone handle and pulled. The twelve-inch serrated blade looked nasty. I pursed my lips in a silent whistle. “This baby could do some damage.”

  “Read.”

  I heard the touch of impatience in her voice but didn’t respond to it. I turned over the dagger. The simple handle looked strange compared to the finely made serrated blade, like they didn’t belong together. The pendant around my neck began to warm, and I touched it. The more I focused, the more I could feel the soft hum of energy from the dagger. Or was it from the pendant?

  I squinted at the faint inscription etched into one side. All I could make out were the words THREADS OF LIFE. I looked over at Luna. “You don’t actually expect me to use this, do you?”

  Her smile fell flat. “I’m not giving it to you for shits and giggles.” She snatched it from my hands and pointed it at my pendant. “Look.”

  I took ahold of the pendant and moved it into view. The cluster of stones had changed from their usual light pink color to a bright, happy blue. I raised an eyebrow at Luna. “And I’m supposed to know what this means?”

  She hit me on the arm with the dagger handle. “Yes! Did you forget everything Elion showed you?”

  I rubbed my arm and glared at her. “A simple reminder would suffice.” I took a deliberate sip of coffee and racked my brain. Then I remembered. Surprised, I let my mug hit the counter with a dull thud. “It’s a weaver’s dagger.”

  “Not just any weaver. It was your mother’s.” Luna pointed it once more at the pendant. “Her soul recognizes it.”

  I took a step back and kept a wary eye on the weapon. “That thing can shred souls.”

  Luna smiled down at the blade and stroked it with a single finger. “Pretty damn cool, isn’t it?”

  “Uh, no. Not really. Can I start with a small stick? You know, work my way up to it?” The idea of accidentally using it on someone made my stomach hurt. “Besides, where would I hide something that big?”

  She looked at my robe with derision. “You need the right clothes. Do you have a favorite color you like to wear?”

  I pointed at the clock. “The wardrobe is going to have to wait. I’ve got to meet Falon and…” I trailed off when she snapped her fingers. I expected my robe to disappear.

  She flicked a hand at the table. I looked down to find a flirty pink sweater and charcoal gray pencil skirt neatly laid out. It was a variation of her outfit. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered. “I can’t wear that for my training with Falon.”

  She heaved a big, dramatic sigh. “I know. I just wanted to see what you looked like as a girl.” I stared at the ceiling, imploring someone—anyone—for help.

  “Give it up. I’m talking about the jeans and T-shirts. Leave those for the men. You’ve got curves. I think you need to make the most of them more often, that’s all.”

  I exhaled slowly. “Okay, let’s compromise. You try not to insult me for five minutes, and I’ll try not to be a smart aleck in return. Deal?”

  She offered me the hilt of the dagger. “Deal. We’ll talk about your wardrobe after you meet with the hunter.” She flicked her hand at the table once more, placing exercise clothes where the skirt and top had been.

  Tuatha de Danaan had handy skills. “Thanks. I’m a little freaked out you can make clothes appear out of thin air like that, but thanks all the same.”

  She leaned against the kitchen counter and tapped her fingers on the granite. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

  I didn’t like the way she looked at everything but me. “Do I want to hear it?”

  “Emmaline was my friend.”

  I blinked. “My mom?”

  Luna offered a jerky nod. “Yes. We were inseparable as children.”

  I had a hard time imagining Luna and my mom as BFFs, but I shrugged. “Okay. That’s not so bad. Is that your big news?”

  She pushed away from the counter and started to pace. I took another sip of coffee and waited. She flipped her own dagger in agitation. I placed my dagger on the counter a safe distance away.

  “I was there when she met your father.” Luna’s mouth twisted as if the words had a foul taste.

  I stayed silent.

  Luna stopped a few feet from me. Her shrewd eyes held my gaze. “Emmaline asked me to be your godmother.”

  Normally, talking about my mom made me sad. This bit of news had my lips twitching. “Does that make you my real fairy godmother?”

  When her look turned nasty, I held up my hands in surrender. “I’m not being a smart aleck.” Much.

  Her lips curved into a reluctant smile. “Don’t get any ideas about a pumpkin carriage or handsome prince.”

  My grin widened when I remembered the impromptu flight last night. “I’ve got the prince taken care of. As far as transportation goes, well…my prince can take care of that, too.”

  “You lucked out with that one.”

  “No argument here. But back to the fairy godmother thing. Is there some other significance to it? I mean as far as my current situation goes.” I sipped my coffee and watched her face shift back to serious.

  “Yeah. I’m no bibbity-bobbity, yes-ma’am kind of bitch.”

  I choked on the hot brew. “Geez, Luna. I figured that out from the get-go.”

  She worried the hilt of her dagger and stared at the floor. “I’m not obligated to you.”

  I set down my mug and faced her fully. “I figured that out, too.”

  “I owe it to Emmaline,” she said with the most serious expression I’d seen yet from her. “I owe her. I attended your birth.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s not an experience I want to
repeat. I also saw her bring him back.”

  The hair on the base of my neck stood up. “You saw her thread Jedren’s soul back together?”

  Her lips tightened into a firm line, and she stared hard at her blade. A full minute passed before she looked up again. “I told her not to do it. They always come back wrong. Every damn time. But she was in lo-o-ove.” Luna stretched the word out in a mocking tone. “Nothing I said made a difference. Not then, and not at the end of her life.”

  I sat down at the kitchen table, needing a moment to digest that.

  She grabbed the weaver dagger and slammed it on the table in front of me. “This is yours. Use it and make it count.”

  I didn’t touch it, only folded my hands in my lap. “Why didn’t you just kill him?”

  Pain flitted across her face. “I wanted to. I still do, more than you’ll ever know. But I can’t. She made me promise I wouldn’t. For your sake.”

  I leaned back in shock. “What?”

  “She was seven months pregnant when she brought him back. No one anticipated the depth of the change to his soul. She wanted you to know your father. She also knew I would kill him without a second thought.” Luna sat beside me and held up her right hand. A small, jagged scar sat in the center of her palm. “She asked me to spare his life and support yours when the time came.”

  “The time for what?”

  “For your abilities to manifest. The flames you can create? Child’s play. Shadowing? Buttercup, that’s a parlor trick. You’re a weaver goddess and a ward thief. And shit is going to hit the fan when everyone figures it out.”

  “He already knows.” It explained my father’s change of heart about wanting me as his heir.

  Luna’s eyes hardened, but her lips smirked. “He only thinks he knows.” She leaned closer and grabbed one of my hands, squeezing tight. “He has no idea what you can do. Not really. Emmaline didn’t show him or tell him everything.”

  “I don’t know how to use the dagger.”

  “That’s where I come in, but right now, you have something more important to do.”

  I nodded. Her serious tone worried me.

  “You need to intercept your oracle friend. He’s about to tear into the house and get himself killed.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  I blinked and looked down, surprised to see the steps of my father’s house under me. I looked to my right. No Luna. I heard an animalistic sound and swung around to look toward the driveway.

  “He killed her! That piece of shit!” Teryl screamed as he ran toward me, wild-eyed and disheveled.

  I had a split second to grab his arm before he reached the front door. He swung away with a snarl. “Let me go, damn it.”

  I grabbed his shoulders. “Teryl, look at me.” I had to shake him twice to get his attention. “Clio’s not dead. She’s in some kind of cell or something, but she’s not dead.”

  He focused on my face but continued to strain against my grip. “You’re wrong. God, you’re wrong. They called me. I heard her screaming, begging. She was begging for her life.” His furious expression crumpled and his voice cracked. “Elle, he killed her. He killed Clio. Why the fuck would he do that?”

  I wrapped my arms around him. Teryl returned the bear hug while he sucked in deep, labored breaths. My mind swam with the ramifications. Clio was dead? Luna couldn’t see fit to update me on that one?

  My God, Clio was dead.

  I stared hard at the front door. Someone in there would have heard Teryl yelling. Jedren’s people watched our every move. I tipped my head toward him, trying to make it look like a comforting embrace. “Teryl, listen to me. If you go in there like this, you’ll get yourself killed, too.”

  He tried to pull back, but I held my grip. “Listen to me. I’m sorry—so, so sorry this happened. I never wanted any of you to be dragged into this. That son of a bitch took another innocent victim. But I’m begging you, please don’t get yourself killed.”

  When he drew in a breath to speak, I whispered, “They’re watching.” He nodded once, a short, jerky movement to let me know he heard. He whispered back, “I want him dead. I want to rip him to pieces.”

  I closed my eyes and squeezed Teryl harder. “I do, too. I love you, and I would do anything to take your pain if I could.”

  He pulled back. His red-rimmed brown eyes were dull with heartache. A slow, burning rage created dancing flames along my skin. I looked into the small window by the front doors but directed my words to Teryl. “I will kill him, because he gave the order. I will find the ones who carried it out and let you have them. Just please, don’t go after him today.”

  I hated saying it. I understood his need for vengeance. But Jedren would be counting on Teryl’s emotional train wreck. It made him easier to predict and manipulate. Despite his rage and grief, Teryl was obviously coming to the same conclusion. He flicked a glance at the security camera, then looked out at the driveway. “I can’t be here today. I’ll go grab Jax. You shouldn’t be alone with Falon. I can’t—” His voice cracked, but he quickly cleared his throat. “I can’t be in there today. If I see him or Maxim, I’ll kill them.”

  I nodded. “Okay. Hon, I’m sorry.”

  He held up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t apologize for that sick fuck. Just stop him. Okay?” His eyes pleaded with me. “Clio tried to tell me something about a cache of souls and people being drained. It’s worse than we could have imagined.”

  A shiver of disgust slid down my spine. “Drained? What does that mean?”

  “I—”

  “Elle,” Jax barked, cutting Teryl off. I turned and looked in surprise. Jax rarely raised his voice. He tilted his head in an imperceptible nod toward the house. “Luna just told me. I’ll escort Teryl to his car, and then meet you in the training room in ten minutes.”

  I gave Teryl one last hug. “I’ll find them and I’ll stop him. I promise you,” I whispered in his ear.

  He squeezed me back, and then walked toward his car like an old man, a slow, painful shuffle. Jax rubbed a hand down my arm before following Teryl.

  I flung open the front door, feeling a brief satisfaction when it crashed into the wall and made a slight dent. Luke and Maxim waited in the foyer. Maxim shifted nervously from foot to foot and wouldn’t meet my gaze while Luke licked his lips and smiled. I gathered the shadows around me and, invisible, ran toward them. Both men stared at where I’d been standing. Two seconds later, Luke grabbed his knife, that instrument of torture he’d named Princess in my “honor,” and shifted onto the balls of his feet, ready to lunge.

  I ran right behind them, debating my next move.

  “Where’d she go?” Maxim asked. He looked around in surprise.

  Luke ignored him. “Come out, come out wherever you are.”

  I stayed silent.

  “I’ll find you in a few seconds,” Luke said, in the same tone of voice that had always meant certain pain for me. “Mr. Warlow will be so disappointed you didn’t follow the rules. Again.”

  Maxim backed against the wall. His eyes darted around nervously as he tried to find me. I sidestepped Luke and walked over to Maxim.

  I hit him as hard as I could in the nose. He screamed like a girl and fell to his knees.

  I danced around, shaking my throbbing fist. Damn it, that had hurt!

  Then I felt real pain, as my hair was nearly yanked from my scalp. Eyes watering, I winced as Luke, with my hair still wrapped around his hand, moved into my line of vision.

  Jax flew through the door at a dead sprint a few seconds later, but somehow stopped mid-stride when he saw Maxim on the floor.

  I saw his lips quirk before I let go of the shadows and he saw that Luke was holding me, or rather, jerking my neck sideways by the hair.

  “Don’t,” I said in warning, as Jax took a step closer.

  I looked down at Maxim, who had started to whimper. “That was for Teryl, you spineless jerk.”

  “I didn’t know about it until after,” Maxim wailed, still holding his nose. Bl
ood dotted his pristine shirt and tie. “You broke my nose.” His words were oddly accented from his injury.

  “Clio was murdered. You think I care about your nose?”

  Two men ran into the foyer. No, not men—shadow elves and Jedren’s bodyguards. Jax lost it and went full gargoyle, shredding yet another shirt. I felt Luke tug my hair again. Jax pinned him with a look like a Rottweiler when someone threatens his pack. I knew, with certainty, that if Luke tried to inflict one more bit of pain on me, Jax would tear off his head. I watched Jedren’s bodyguards freeze in their tracks at the sight of my gargoyle.

  Luke kept his fist in my hair as he forced me to look at him. A small, secretive smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “Mr. Warlow will be very disappointed. This is a breach of the contract.”

  I valiantly raised an eyebrow while Luke kept my head at an awkward angle. “Really? What would you call Clio’s death?”

  “A lesson.”

  My spine went rigid at my father’s clipped tone. I strained against Luke’s hold to stare at Jedren as he walked into the room. “A lesson? You killed an innocent woman.”

  “Luke, release her.”

  “Mr. Warlow, she tried to attack us. I think she needs to be reminded of her place.” The triumphant note in Luke’s tone made me sick. Did he think I’d willingly let him hurt me again?

  Jedren sighed heavily, which was one way he expressed anger. “Luke, I said release her. Elleodora is my heir, and she’s aware of that fact. Besides, Jaxon looks ready to commit murder and I’d hate to have the mess in my house. We’re hosting the party tomorrow.”

  “He’s a dead man walking,” Jax told my father in a low, deadly voice. “He put his hands on your daughter and you’re worried about a party?”

  Luke let go of my hair. I expected him to give me a shove, but he must have decided he’d pushed his luck far enough. He walked over to flank my father.

  I went to Jax, to show him I was okay. This time, the bond wasn’t enough. His fury clouded everything else. I put a hand on his chest and waited until he looked at me. When I was sure he wasn’t going to launch himself at Luke, I turned and stared hard at my father. “You’re a murderer. Clio wasn’t part of this, and you took her life. I will pay you back in kind, and that’s a promise. I will never forget that I’m your daughter. It’s a nightmare I live with every day of my life.”