About the Book
Chronicles of the Stone Veil #5
by Sawyer Bennett
Format: 285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published: May 4, 2021 by Big Dog Books, LLC
It’s time to meet my destiny.
Kymaris has everything she needs to bring down the veil between Earth and the Underworld. If she’s successful in completing the ritual, Earth will be darkened by evil. Demons will swarm our lands and the human race will be decimated.
It’s up to me to stop her.
My fate is to thwart the prophecy, but I’m not sure what to do. While I may have some gifts, I am still merely a human facing the queen of the Dark Fae who holds unimaginable power.
But I have something she doesn’t. Something she could never comprehend.
I have love.
Deep, abiding love which gives me the strength and courage to face down evil. Family, friends, and unexpected allies, who will stand shoulder to shoulder with me against this enemy. Should I fail, they are prepared to go down with me, but only after we have given our all.
My sacrifice may destroy everything I am. Fate may require my demise. But if that happens, I will leave this realm without regret, knowing that I have loved and been loved in return.
Excerpt
“Game isn’t over until the final buzzer sounds,” Maddox points out.
“That’s right,” Zaid says confidently. “We have nineteen days until the new moon. Anything can happen.”
“One thing must happen,” I say, setting my sandwich down as I slowly scan around the island so I can meet every eye. “We have to go rescue Zora. Now.”
No one says a word.
They all have varying opinions, and they stay silent because we’ve hashed them all out already.
Carrick, the one who has been the most skeptical of my sister, breaks the silence. “Agreed. That has to be our priority.”
Rainey looks appalled, but everyone else is immediately accepting as evidenced by their nods and determined expressions. She sees it, too, so she says nothing.
“Everyone should be relatively safe here,” Carrick continues. “Without the Blood Stone in residence, there’s no reason for Kymaris to assault us here. She’s made enough references to settling the score with Finley on the ritual battlefield, so to speak, that I think it’s safe here.”
“Plus, she’s in hiding,” Myles points out. “Along with all her minions.”
“I’ll reach out to Kaesar,” Boral says from the end of the counter where he’d parked his stool beside Maddox. “The worst that will happen is he won’t answer my calls.”
Being able to get inside information now is a long shot. Boral was invaluable through his connection to Kaesar, but I suspect everyone in Kymaris’ camp is keeping their heads down and circling the wagons tight.
But that doesn’t mean Boral’s useless.
I lean in his direction, having to look past Rainey and Myles to do so. “You’re our expert on the Underworld. You’ll have to be the one who guides us.”
Boral nods. “As I told you when we were in Micah’s realm, I’ll be glad to help.”
For the first time since I can remember, Zaid doesn’t scoff at something his father says. He’s normally extremely dubious of Boral’s intentions, and he never minds being vocal about it. Instead, he just studies his father with an almost detached curiosity, as if he might believe that some good can come from the Dark Fae.
“Should we go in through Micah’s realm?” Carrick’s lower hand comes to my back, perhaps as a quiet means of support that he doesn’t mind me taking the lead on the planning, or, more likely, because he just wants to touch me. Regardless, I like it.
Boral considers my question. “What you have to know about the Underworld is it is so vast that you could travel through it for a hundred years and not see it all. The Underworld is even more vast than the Earth realm.”
I blink in surprise, thinking of the time I projected into Zora through a dream. It seemed like a massively big city inside an even larger underground cave, but I hadn’t considered there was more.
“The Crimson River leads to The Pit, which is close to Kymaris’ castle. It would be easy to get there, but then how would you even find your sister?”
My heart sinks as I realize our first obstacle is a doozy. “When I projected into her during the dream, the city she was in was near The Pit. I could see the glow of it from there.”
Boral’s smile is grim. “That’s the city of Otaxis. One of the largest. Making it there isn’t the problem. Searching through the thousands of Dark Fae to find your sister will be, though.”
Growling in frustration, I lean away from the counter and cross my arms over my chest. I stare blankly at the rest of my sandwich before turning to Carrick. “I can contact her again. Tell her we’re coming.”
“And put her on notice, so she has monsters waiting for you when you arrive?” Rainey says mildly. She’s clearly still against this plan.
“I’m going to be a human walking in the Underworld,” I say as I glance her way. “It’s going to be dangerous no matter what.”
“You’ll have two demi-gods at your side,” Maddox points out. “Our combined magic alone should give us somewhat of a safe passage.”
It’s something I haven’t been all that worried about.
My safety in the Underworld, that is.
I’ve been so focused on getting Zora out that I had not stopped to consider how I’d do it without getting killed. I am quite literally stepping into Hell, and I will be walking among the most evil of creatures.
“That’s right,” Zaid says confidently. “We have nineteen days until the new moon. Anything can happen.”
“One thing must happen,” I say, setting my sandwich down as I slowly scan around the island so I can meet every eye. “We have to go rescue Zora. Now.”
No one says a word.
They all have varying opinions, and they stay silent because we’ve hashed them all out already.
Carrick, the one who has been the most skeptical of my sister, breaks the silence. “Agreed. That has to be our priority.”
Rainey looks appalled, but everyone else is immediately accepting as evidenced by their nods and determined expressions. She sees it, too, so she says nothing.
“Everyone should be relatively safe here,” Carrick continues. “Without the Blood Stone in residence, there’s no reason for Kymaris to assault us here. She’s made enough references to settling the score with Finley on the ritual battlefield, so to speak, that I think it’s safe here.”
“Plus, she’s in hiding,” Myles points out. “Along with all her minions.”
“I’ll reach out to Kaesar,” Boral says from the end of the counter where he’d parked his stool beside Maddox. “The worst that will happen is he won’t answer my calls.”
Being able to get inside information now is a long shot. Boral was invaluable through his connection to Kaesar, but I suspect everyone in Kymaris’ camp is keeping their heads down and circling the wagons tight.
But that doesn’t mean Boral’s useless.
I lean in his direction, having to look past Rainey and Myles to do so. “You’re our expert on the Underworld. You’ll have to be the one who guides us.”
Boral nods. “As I told you when we were in Micah’s realm, I’ll be glad to help.”
For the first time since I can remember, Zaid doesn’t scoff at something his father says. He’s normally extremely dubious of Boral’s intentions, and he never minds being vocal about it. Instead, he just studies his father with an almost detached curiosity, as if he might believe that some good can come from the Dark Fae.
“Should we go in through Micah’s realm?” Carrick’s lower hand comes to my back, perhaps as a quiet means of support that he doesn’t mind me taking the lead on the planning, or, more likely, because he just wants to touch me. Regardless, I like it.
Boral considers my question. “What you have to know about the Underworld is it is so vast that you could travel through it for a hundred years and not see it all. The Underworld is even more vast than the Earth realm.”
I blink in surprise, thinking of the time I projected into Zora through a dream. It seemed like a massively big city inside an even larger underground cave, but I hadn’t considered there was more.
“The Crimson River leads to The Pit, which is close to Kymaris’ castle. It would be easy to get there, but then how would you even find your sister?”
My heart sinks as I realize our first obstacle is a doozy. “When I projected into her during the dream, the city she was in was near The Pit. I could see the glow of it from there.”
Boral’s smile is grim. “That’s the city of Otaxis. One of the largest. Making it there isn’t the problem. Searching through the thousands of Dark Fae to find your sister will be, though.”
Growling in frustration, I lean away from the counter and cross my arms over my chest. I stare blankly at the rest of my sandwich before turning to Carrick. “I can contact her again. Tell her we’re coming.”
“And put her on notice, so she has monsters waiting for you when you arrive?” Rainey says mildly. She’s clearly still against this plan.
“I’m going to be a human walking in the Underworld,” I say as I glance her way. “It’s going to be dangerous no matter what.”
“You’ll have two demi-gods at your side,” Maddox points out. “Our combined magic alone should give us somewhat of a safe passage.”
It’s something I haven’t been all that worried about.
My safety in the Underworld, that is.
I’ve been so focused on getting Zora out that I had not stopped to consider how I’d do it without getting killed. I am quite literally stepping into Hell, and I will be walking among the most evil of creatures.
Chronicles of the Stone Veil
About the Author
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter. https://sawyerbennett.com/
Tour Wide Giveaway
Enter the release giveaway for a Kindle Paperwhite or Nook, $100 Gift Card, and signed hardcover set: https://sawyerbennett.com/giveaways/rff-prize-pack/
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