Heart of Stone

by Debra Mullins

  “We can get past this, if you’re willing to stay and fight for it. Not run away and pretend it isn’t happening.”

  “That’s it.” She stood, her chair skidding back with a loud scrape. “Stone Bear—Ben—the only family I have, is up there fighting for his life.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “And you want to duke it out about our affair. Some empath you are.”

  He stood and took her shoulders in his hands. “It was more than an affair. You know that, Faith. I started falling in love with you the first time I heard your song in my head.”

  “Stop it. Stop it.” She jerked away from him, her throat tight. “Don’t lie to me, not now.”

  “I’m not lying.” He pulled her, still stiff, into his arms.

  She should push him away. Chew on him some more about lying to her and then wanting to get her right back into bed. Words whipped through her mind, sharp and accusing. But his arms enclosed her, his heart a steady thud against her ear. His calm composure, that feeling that he could make everything all right, had her clinging to his shirt instead of pushing him away, burying her face in his chest instead of railing at him.

  He said he could use a scrap of her emotions and enhance them, but if he were doing that now she’d be a ranting basket case. She didn’t feel the least bit at peace. So these soothing feelings she was getting had to be just him. Just Darius.

  For an instant, their connection felt like it used to, warm and irresistible, like a cozy blanket and hot chocolate before a winter fire. Safe.

  Adrian’s voice sounded in her mind. You two had better get up here.

  They jerked apart, and one glance at his face told her Adrian had spoken to both of them.

  “Ben,” she whispered.

  His face grim, he grabbed his cane with one hand and her with the other. They hurried from the cafeteria.

  * * *

  They got back to the waiting room to find Adrian looking grim and Tessa sitting in a chair with her face buried in her hands. Both of them looked up as Faith and Darius entered. Tessa jumped up and came to Faith, wrapping her in a hug.

  “I’m so sorry I was such a bitch to you,” she whispered.

  Uncertain how to react, Faith just said, “Okay.”

  Tessa pulled back to look at her. “I really am sorry, Faith. Darius was right. I can’t read you, and it made me suspicious. Plus your past and…” She shrugged. “My family’s been through a lot recently from people I can’t read. I was scared.”

  This Tessa seemed a completely different person from the woman Faith had seen up to now, but she couldn’t worry about Tessa’s angle at present. Her mind was on Ben. “I get it. Thanks.” Faith looked at Adrian. “What happened?”

  “The doctor wants to talk to you.”

  As he said it, an older man in scrubs walked over. “Ms. Karaluros? I’m Dr. Flyte. I understand you’re Mr. Wakete’s daughter-in-law?”

  “Yes.” Without taking her eyes from the doctor, Faith felt for Darius’s hand where he stood beside her. His strong fingers closed over hers. “How is he?”

  “I’m very sorry. We lost him. The bullet nicked an artery, and he lost too much blood. He was diabetic, too, correct?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, her world crashing down around her.

  “That didn’t help.” The doctor paused, seemed to be searching for words. “I’m very sorry,” he said again.

  Through the roaring in her ears, she heard Darius asking questions about claiming the body, paperwork. But she couldn’t think about it yet. Couldn’t comprehend.

  Ben was gone. The Mendukati had killed him. All because of her.

  The rage started as a slow burn in her gut, consuming everything. Ben was dead, a good man who had nothing to do with this stupid war the Mendukati had launched against the Seers. He’d sent her to the Montanas to protect her and so she could help. Well, she hadn’t done much helping at all, had she? She’d fallen into bed with Darius and wallowed in her part in Michael’s death while she stuck her head in the sand and pretended she had no stake in this battle.

  She’d been fooling herself.

  The Mendukati had taken her only family from her. They wanted war? She’d bring them one.

  * * *

  The plan had failed. Azotay paced in his cabin at the camp, going over the strategy in his head. Luka, the Whisperer, had put the compulsion on the pilot to see the instruments as heading toward Sedona, even though the coordinates had been set to land in Roswell, closer to the camp. A brilliant plan that should have worked. By the time Adrian Gray realized what was going on, they would have been caught.

  Not only had the plane not been redirected, but the team he’d sent to try to take Wakete and Gray had failed as well. He had to admit he’d expected that and used it more as a diversion for Luka’s part than the focus of the operation.

  What he hadn’t expected—and should have—was that Adrian Gray was a member of the Leyala.

  Just the thought seared through his gut like acid. The Leyala. Those high-and-mighty pricks who thought they were above everyone else. They didn’t recognize real talent. They’d rejected him, hadn’t they? And look at him now. He was Azotay, right hand to President Criten himself, and the most feared man in the Atlantean world.

  Soon to be the most feared man in all the world, when Criten collected all three Stones of Ekhia and used their power to return the Atlanteans back to their proper place—as rulers of mankind.

  Azotay smiled, imagining it. He had power now, but it was nothing compared to what he would have.

  Adrian Gray had sent back one of his best Warriors as a drooling idiot. Azotay had killed the man immediately. No reason for that one to be draining the resources of the Mendukati when he was of no use to them anymore. He’d instructed the other two who’d failed in the mission to dispose of the body.

  In the meantime, he planned his next move. He still needed that stone, and the Stone Singer. He’d get them and kill the Seers, too, baseless scum who’d destroyed the perfect utopia, Atlantis. Who thought they were better than everyone else.

  And he had special plans for Adrian Gray.

  * * *

  Darius and Faith arrived back in Sedona late that night. His parents came to meet them as the four of them walked in the door. His mother came to Faith and took her hand.

  “I’m so sorry about Ben,” she said. “He sounded like a nice man.”

  “Thank you,” Faith whispered, her voice hoarse from the sobbing she had done in the car.

  “I can’t believe it about Bob,” his father said. “That sounds out of character for him.”

  “It is,” Adrian said. He looked up as Rafe and Cara came down the stairs. “Hey, you two. Rafe, we can use you. Rigo’s got Bob secured, and we’re going to have a little chat. Thought you might want to come with.”

  “Anything you need,” Rafe said as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Cara hurried to Faith and embraced her, her energy a soothing balm.

  “I’m going, too,” his dad said.

  Adrian nodded. “Good deal.” He looked at Darius, who hadn’t taken his eyes from Faith. “Darius?”

  “I’ll stay here,” Darius responded. Where I’m needed, he added telepathically. Faith’s pain throbbed like a gangrenous wound. He knew he couldn’t make it go away, but he could help, at least for tonight.

  “Okay. Rafe, John, let’s head over and see what’s going on with Bob.”

  “I’m coming, too.” Tessa fell into pace with them. “You can never have too many Truth Seers at an interrogation. And maybe I’ll get a vision or something.”

  “Tessa—” her father began.

  “She’s right,” Adrian said.

  “Fine,” her father said.

  The three men filed out the front door, and Tessa paused in the doorway. “Faith,” she called. Faith glanced over. “Be careful,” Tessa continued. “This isn’t over yet.”

  “I know.” Faith started for the kitchen.

  Watch over her, Dar, Tessa sent telepathicall
y. She’s not thinking straight. She might do something dangerous to get revenge.

  I know, Darius sent back.

  Ben’s death is just the beginning, Tessa said. I saw it. Watch your back. And hers. She hurried outside after the others.

  “Is there anything we can get you, Faith?” Maria asked. “Maybe some tea?”

  “No, I’m okay.” Faith reached a hand for Darius as she addressed his mother. He took it. “It’s been a long day, and I think I’m going to turn in.”

  “Of course.” His mother smiled sadly. “We can talk in the morning. Please let us know if you need anything at all.”

  “Me, too,” Cara said. “I know how it feels to lose a parent. You let me know if you want to talk. Any time.”

  “Thank you,” Faith said. She squeezed Darius’s hand so tightly he thought she might hurt her fingers. Get me out of here, she sent telepathically.

  “Let me walk you to your room,” Darius said.

  “Actually,” Faith said, “I left something in the cabana. I need to get it.”

  “I’ll go with you and unlock the door.”

  “Thanks,” Faith said, and turned away, Darius at her side.

  Once they were clear of the house, Darius asked, “What are you really doing?”

  “Reading me again, Darius?”

  “Worried for you,” he corrected. “I know you’re not as okay as you’re pretending to be.”

  “Stop spying on my emotions.”

  “I can’t help it,” he countered as they approached the cabana. “You’re basically shoving them in my face.”

  “Sorry if my grief annoys you.” She sped up her pace.

  “I didn’t say that. Damn it, will you stop for a minute?” He grabbed her arm, forcing her to a halt.

  She shook him off, tears glimmering in her eyes in the light of the lamps illuminating the pathway. “I can’t stop. Don’t you see? I’ve spent my life stopping. Waiting. Hiding from this very situation. I tried to take myself out of this battle between the Mendukati and the Seers, but the Mendukati brought it right to my doorstep. Well, they don’t get to get away with this. Do you understand me?” Her voice broke. “I’m finally choosing sides. The Seers are going to win this war.”

  “Faith.” He cupped her cheek. “I know you’re hurting, but we can’t go into this half-cocked. We have to have a plan.”

  “I’ve got a plan. But I need you to help me.”

  “What can I do?”

  “What you’ve been doing. Be my anchor to this world. I’m going into the Stone of Igarle, farther than I’ve ever been. I think our answer might be there, on how to defeat the Mendukati. And the way I’m feeling—” She sucked in a shuddering breath. “The way I’m feeling, it would be tempting to stay in there, lost in the stone. Forever.”

  “We can do this in the morning. You need rest.”

  “No.” She shook her head, and he dropped his hand. “I need to do it now while I’m mad enough to have the courage. I need to honor Ben. He believed in me, believed I could help you win this war. I have to do that now. It’s the least I can do.”

  “I don’t know about this, Faith.”

  “Listen to me, Darius.” Her tone was steely, her gaze grim. “I am doing this, with or without you. At least with you I have a chance of coming back.”

  He wanted to argue, to threaten to lock the stone in the vault where she couldn’t get to it. He worried about her emotional stability. He could feel the grief and anger and fear churning around in her. And he knew that she would find a way without him if he refused to help. Her powers were considerable, and she’d already proven she could connect with the stone without even having to touch it.

  “All right,” he said. “But when I tell you to come out, you come. If we need to pick this up in the morning, we will.”

  A flare of resentment, then acceptance. “Okay.”

  “Let’s get the stone and see what you can find out.”

  * * *

  Down at the guardhouse on the Montana grounds, Bob Millhouse was locked up in the detention cell John Montana had ordered installed after Criten’s visit back in September. The pilot jumped up from his seat on the edge of the bunk as they came in.

  “Mr. Montana! Thank God, sir. I don’t know what’s going on. Why am I being held?”

  “Don’t worry, Bob. We’re going to get all this straightened out.” Rafe’s father glanced at Rigo, who had escorted them back to the cell area. “Open the door.”

  Rigo nodded and stepped forward to punch the code into the keypad on the lock, then placed his hand in the scanner to its right. Red lights turned green, and the lock clicked. Bob stepped forward, then stopped as Adrian, Tessa, and Rafe stepped into the cell, closing the door behind them. Bob looked at his employer. “Sir?”

  “We all just want to go over what happened with you, Bob,” Rafe’s father said.

  “Do you remember anything about the flight?” Adrian began.

  Bob’s brow furrowed. “No, nothing. Last thing I remember is chatting with a new baggage handler before I boarded.”

  “What did he look like?” Tessa asked.

  Bob frowned. “I don’t really remember. It’s all kind of blurry.”

  “Look at me, Bob,” Rafe said. The pilot complied, and Rafe slid his hand into his jeans pocket, touching the new focus stone Faith had made for him. He reached for the Hunter. The power flowed through the new stone more easily than ever in his life, like water from a faucet instead of mud through a straw. He looked into Bob’s eyes, but all he saw there was confusion. “Tell me what happened, Bob.”

  “I told you, I don’t remember.” Bob wrinkled his brow in thought. “I know we were in Santa Fe, but now I’m in Sedona. Anything in between is a big blank. Did I pass out or something?”

  Truth, Tessa whispered in his mind.

  Rafe nodded. He’d seen the same.

  Telepathically, he sent to Adrian, I don’t see any evidence of a Whisperer in his mind. Did you shock him physically?

  I decked him, Adrian answered. He was getting out of control, and we were off course.

  That would do it. The Whisperer’s influence is gone, but his memories are wiped from when he was under the compulsion. The authorities are going to want to investigate the shooting. Amnesia could raise questions.

  I can fix that, Adrian answered.

  “Bob,” Adrian said. When the other man met his gaze, Adrian stared at Bob hard. After a moment, Bob’s face slackened as Adrian took control of his mind and began to Whisper. “There was an accident on the plane,” Adrian said.

  “There was an accident on the plane,” Bob repeated. His vacant stare and monotone words indicated he was in some kind of trance.

  “You heard Ben at the cockpit door and grabbed the gun. You didn’t know who it was.”

  “Someone was at the cockpit door. I didn’t know who, so I had the gun ready,” Bob repeated.

  “There was turbulence, and the gun accidentally fired. Ben was hit.”

  “The gun accidentally went off because of turbulence,” Bob echoed. “The passenger was hit.”

  “There’s going to be an investigation,” Adrian said. “But your boss is on your side.”

  “There’s going to be an investigation,” Bob repeated. “Mr. Montana is on my side.”

  That ought to do it, Adrian sent to Rafe as he broke the mind connection with Bob. The pilot shook his head as he came back to himself.

  I’ve never seen you do this before, Tessa said. Is it permanent?

  No, never is. In the end he won’t remember anything about the incident, but this should get him through the investigation.

  Rafe gave his dad a nod.

  “I’ll have my men take you home, Bob,” his father said. “I’m sure your wife is worried.”

  “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry about all this.” Bob stood, seemingly normal again. Rigo unlocked the door, and Bob exited the cell, followed by Rigo, the Montanas, and Adrian.

  Rafe’s dad clapped a h
and on Bob’s shoulder. “Everything’s going to be fine. Just make yourself available over the next couple of days for the investigators.”

  “I will,” Bob said.

  “Rigo, have someone see Bob home.” Rigo stepped forward and escorted Bob from the building. “Good idea giving Bob a memory he can take to the investigators,” John said to Adrian. “That was smart thinking. They got to Bob, and if you hadn’t been on the ball, you and Ben would have ended up who-knows-where.”

  “But Ben might still be alive,” Adrian said bitterly.

  “We don’t know that,” John said. “In my experience, you can never predict what these kinds of people will do.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s late, and I know Maria had Lupe make up a room for you, Adrian. Since you’re staying, we’ll pick this up in the morning. Plan our next move.”

  “All right.” The three men and Tessa exited the guardhouse. A black SUV with one of Rigo’s team waited for them.

  You know, Rafe said into Adrian’s mind, it still freaks me out that you can do that.

  Adrian’s lips curved in that cryptic smile of his. But it does come in handy, doesn’t it?

  It’s still freaky.

  Oh, and you morphing into a primeval warrior isn’t?

  Rafe took a long moment to reply. Touché.

  They climbed into the car and headed back to the house.

  * * *

  When Darius took the stone from its box, he hesitated before giving it to Faith.

  “Are you sure about this?”

  “We need a way to defeat the Mendukati so they don’t hurt anyone else.” Her lips pressed in a thin line, Faith held out her hand for the stone. “I’m the best chance we’ve got.”

  “I’ll be monitoring you.” He stroked her cheek with one finger but she pulled away. “Don’t stay in there too long.”

  He sensed her conflict. She enjoyed his touch, but something inside her resisted, holding on to the hurt of his secrecy. He longed to be close to her, to make love with her, to share everything with her. She was his mate, whether she acknowledged it or not. The mating bond had only grown stronger over these past few days, especially when they’d come together physically. She didn’t seem to care about his disability; she was genuinely physically attracted to him. The combination was irresistible to him.