Heart of Stone (38 page)

“Sure.” She helped him get to his feet.

“We'll have to share the respirator.”

“Ha. Fine with me.”

“In fact, here.” He shrugged off the tanks and offered the gear to her. “You take the oxygen, and we'll share it as we swim.”

She shook her head. “No, they're yours.”

“Don't let your pride cost you your life. I'm an experienced swimmer. I can hold my breath longer than you can.” He gave her a half grin. “Just don't forget to share.”

“As if.”

He helped her fasten the gear. Once she was ready, they both waded into the pool and headed for the tunnel exit.

*   *   *

Azotay climbed onto the Seers' boat, alert for any cries of alarm. But nothing reached his ears except for the cry of seagulls and the quiet lap of the sea. He tiptoed along the deck, searching for the stone.

It was almost too easy.

Mere minutes after he boarded, he found a dark-haired human laying on the deck, a steady trickle of crimson streaming down his side. A small pouch hung from his belt. Azotay grabbed it, felt the points of a pyramid inside the waterproof material. He yanked the pouch free and poured its contents into his palm.

A ruby red crystal glittered in the sunlight.

He grinned and popped it back in the bag, then rose. He pondered killing the human, then decided against it. The fool was probably at death's door, anyway. With a shrug, he turned his back on the poor sod and jumped back into the ocean.

First he'd bested Atlas and now this. The stone was a victory for President Criten, and finally beating his older brother, after all these years, was a personal one for him.

Two stones down—the one in Santutegi and now this one—and one to go.

The Seers would soon know the wrath of the Mendukati.

*   *   *

Darius climbed on board the boat to find Rigo passed out on the deck, blood pooling along his side. Faith dropped to her knees beside the security man and laid two fingers on his neck. “He's alive. Do you have a first aid kit?” She unzipped his wet suit.

“On it.” Darius retrieved the kit within minutes and handed it to Faith. “Is it bad?”

“I'm no doctor, but I'm thinking the first order of business is to stop this bleeding.” She pulled out a wad of gauze and pressed it against the oozing wound. “Any sign of Adrian?”

“No.” Darius frowned. “Where's the stone?”

“In a bag on his belt.” She glanced down. “Damn it. The bag is gone.”

“Maybe he lost it? Or hid it?”

“If it's in this area, I'd be able to sense it.”

“Try it.” Darius stared out at the ocean. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Maintaining pressure on the wound, Faith closed her eyes and concentrated. Long minutes passed. She opened her eyes and looked at Darius. “It's not around here. Not sensing it at all.”

“I'm betting Azotay took it.” Gray's head appeared over the side as he climbed up the ladder and stumbled onto the boat. His eyes were red and puffy, and he moved slowly.

“You're hurt. What happened?” Darius asked, making his way over. Gray simmered with anger and chagrin and a whole kind of what-the-fuck-just-happened vibe.

“Azotay wanted to have a little chat.” Gray stretched his neck, winced.

Darius knew he wasn't getting the whole story. “About what?”

“The usual,” Gray said. “The Mendukati want all three Stones of Ekhia. It's how they think they're going to gain power over the human world.” He rubbed his shoulder. “Azotay took me out long enough for him to sneak back here and steal the stone, or so logic would suggest.”

“How did they even know where we are?” Darius asked.

“I don't know,” Gray replied. “But you can be damned sure I'm going to find out.” He glanced at the fallen Rigo. “I suggest we get Mendez to a hospital.”

“I agree,” Faith said, setting aside bloodstained gauze and grabbing fresh bandages.

Knowing he wasn't going to get anything more out of Gray right now, Darius nodded and headed over to start the boat. “Home, here we come.”

*   *   *

After a stop at a medical facility in Belize, where Rigo was stabilized and pronounced fit to travel, the trip back to Sedona seemed fast and anticlimactic.

Faith had taken comfort in the presence of the others around them. Alone in the cave together, everything had seemed clear about her and Darius. Then they'd waded back into the real world with its bad guys and heartbreak and war, and her certainty wavered.

He'd saved her life, but she'd never doubted that about him, not even when she'd discovered he hadn't told her the whole truth. Darius would always help those in need. No, she didn't fear for her life around him—just her heart.

She sat in the clearing where Darius had once come to find her. The constant humming of the vortexes soothed her fretting mind. Here, among the giant formations of ancient stones, she felt at peace.

She heard his footsteps on the dirt path before she saw him. Felt a pulse along the mating bond.

“If you were trying to stay clear of me,” Darius said as he picked his way down the dirt path with his cane, “then you're going in the right direction with this spot.”

“I wasn't trying to stay clear of you.” Much. “So, was your father very upset about Azotay getting away with the new stone?”

“He was not happy, that's for sure. Gray is putting together a plan to get all the stones back from Criten.”

“Ha! Good luck with that one.”

“That was my first thought, but if anyone can achieve something like that, it's Adrian Gray.” He paused. “So why have you been avoiding me?”

She didn't even pretend not to understand. “Because I can't think when you're around. Everything gets confusing.” She shifted over so he could sit beside her on the rock.

“Confusing, huh?” He settled next to her, hip to hip. “Most people tell me I'm peaceful to be around.”

She gave a quick laugh. “The last thing you are, Darius, is peaceful. At least not to me.”

He placed both hands on the top of his cane, his lips quirking. “I'm not sure if that's good or bad.”

“Oh, don't smile at me like that, all innocent. I've seen you naked.”

“Yeah, you have.” He waggled his brows.

His clowning startled a giggle from her. “Cut it out. I'm being serious.”

“So am I.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I take you seeing me naked
very
seriously.”

As usual his touch ignited the slow burn that lurked beneath her skin whenever he was around. Her instincts urged her closer to him, but she stood firm. They had to come to some sort of understanding.

“In the cave, I thought I was dead,” she said, ignoring with difficulty the tickle of his mustache and goatee against her fingers. “I called down that earthquake to take out those Warriors and so Rigo could get away. And because I realized that I was okay sacrificing myself for the cause.”

His fingers tightened around hers. “
I'm
not okay with you sacrificing yourself for anything.”

“But when I thought about you, about never seeing you again, I wanted to live.” She laid her free hand against his cheek. “What happened, keeping things from me … if this is going to work, that can't happen anymore.”

“It won't.” He turned his head and kissed her palm. “I had made that promise before I ever met you, and I owed it to my family to let them know I was going to tell you. Unfortunately, Rafe's focus-stone troubles brought everything out ahead of schedule.”

“I understand.” She glanced down at their joined hands. “I know I'm prickly. I don't trust easily.”

He shrugged. “People have manipulated you your entire life. That's understandable. And I get how it looked like I might be doing the same thing.”

“But it was worse with you. Because I thought you were different, that you were safe. And because I was already falling in love with you.” His startled look said she'd surprised him, and the knowledge made her lips curve. “Didn't you know? I thought you were an empath.”

“I'm not usually good at sorting out emotions directed at me.” He took both her hands in his. “I loved once, and she left me when I got injured. I was sure no woman would ever love me again. Even when I finally got out of that wheelchair, I believed that.”

She tilted her head. “Do you still believe it?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Not since I met you. The wheelchair, the cane, none of it bothered you.”

“Oh, Darius, that has nothing to do with who you are. If anything, it increases my admiration for you, that you're still able to live a full life with such physical challenges.” She slanted him a flirtatious look from beneath her lashes. “Besides, I think we overcame any physical limitations just fine in the bedroom.”

“Keep looking at me like that, and I'll show you how many limitations I can overcome.”

“Big talk.”

“True talk.” He stood and pulled her into his arms. “You really love me.”

“Yes. And you really love me.”

“Yes. And you'll stay with us here? This could be your safe haven, Faith. The one you've been longing for.”

“No, I don't think so.” She leaned into him and placed her hand over his heart. “A house doesn't matter.
This
is my safe haven.”

His lips curved in a smile. “That's the truth.”

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The character of Ben Wakete was inspired by the Zuni fetish carvers of New Mexico. I had the opportunity to visit the Zuni Pueblo and meet two of their carvers, who took time out of their busy days to talk to me about their craft. I even got a demonstration in one carver's workshop!

There are specific families who carve fetishes, and entire books are written about them, including family trees. Fetish carving is an ancient tradition, tied to the religious beliefs of the Zuni tribe. While they do continue to carve special fetishes for religious purposes, they also carve some for sale at art shows and Native American festivals across the globe. As with any art form, there are those who try to counterfeit Zuni fetishes. If you are interested in purchasing one, your best bet is to get it from the artist himself.

You will not find Ben Wakete or the Wakete family in any fetish carving book, as their characters are completely fictional. Any errors regarding carvers or the art of fetish carving are mine.

Much thanks to Todd Westika and Jimmy Yawakia of the Zuni tribe for answering my questions and providing wonderful demonstrations of their craft. You can view their work and make contact with them on their Facebook pages:

Todd Westika

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Todd-Westika-Carvings/155214678017202

Jimmy Yawakia

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-Yawakia/122313837916284

For more information on the Zuni tribe and how to visit the Zuni Pueblo:

http://www.ashiwi.org/

 

 

TOR BOOKS BY DEBRA MULLINS

Prodigal Son

Heart of Stone

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEBRA MULLINS is an award-winning author of historical and paranormal romances, including
Prodigal Son
and
Heart of Stone
. She has been nominated for the HOLT Medallion, the RITA Award from Romance Writers of America, and the National Readers' Choice Award. When not writing, Mullins is reading or traveling or working on her family tree—sometimes all at the same time. Born and raised in the New York/New Jersey area, she now lives in California with her family, where she doesn't miss snowstorms in the least and continues her search for real pizza.

 

Visit her Web site at
www.debramullins.com
.

 

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.