The Fury’s body was yanked through the veil. And in her place, my mates knelt on the cold stone ground.
I rushed toward them, my heart in my throat. Our bodies collided as our arms wrapped tight around each other. I didn’t know where my arm was or who had grasped my wait, and I didn’t care. They’re here, I thought as tears leaked from my eyes. And they were mine. I’d never let go of them again.
Chapter 32
“So, the Fury wanted me to choose Marcus to die right when he ran into the room, so that he would overhear me decide that my life was more important than his?” I shook my head. “Man, she is really, really twisted.”
“Tell me about it,” Eli said, eyes tired, shoulders slumped. But he was alive. “After that, she had some more convoluted plans, all focused on turning us on each other. She didn’t actually want anyone to die. She just wanted us all miserable.”
“Well, she didn’t account for Rowena’s mate-fulled insanity,” Sebastian said with a wink.
I glanced up. I could have sworn that was the first time he’d never called me princess. He’d come straight here after Marcus had raced to the house with Kipling. Luckily, the old steward would be just fine, after lots of rest and plenty of healing salve.
“What I really want to know is how the hell you got back here,” I said. “And where did the Fury go?”
Jasper grunted. “Turns out she was partially lying about the gods, though I can’t say I’m surprised. One goddess gave her powers, but it wasn’t Hecate. When your grandmother found out what was going on, she rushed straight to the veil to stop her. She pulled the Fury back through, and she released us.”
My breath caught in my throat. “Are you serious? So, she didn’t betray us? She actually...helped?”
“On the contrary, Ro,” Eli said softy. “She was terrified you were going to die.”
I loosed a breath and leaned against the slick wall, heart pounding against my ribs. She’d refused to help before. Why did she change her mind? Did she actually care far more than she wanted it to seem? “Where is she now? I want to talk to her.”
“She’s taking care of the Fury, I imagine,” Jasper said. “And the goddess who tried to get you killed.”
I frowned. As relieved as I was to have my mates back and to learn that my grandmother hadn’t betrayed us after all, something didn’t sit quite right with me. Another goddess, trying to kill me. But why?
“Who was it?” I asked. “What kind of god?”
“It was Eris,” Eli said. “She’s the goddess of strife and discord.”
Sebastian frowned. “Wait a minute. Eris is the leader of the magic hunters.”
My heart hammered hard in my chest as I stared at Sebastian. The goddess, Eris, had tried to get me killed, using the Fury against me. The leader of the magic hunters was named Eris. This couldn’t be a coincidence. It wasn’t as if it was a common name. In fact, I’d never known anyone else in the world with that name.
The gargoyles around me began to mutter, all coming to the same conclusion I did.
“The magic hunters are being used. This war isn’t about humans and magic. It’s about far more than that, and one of the gods is behind it.”
Thanks so much for reading the third volume in Rowena’s adventure with her stone guardians. SHADOWS OF STONE, book 4, will be released in late March/early April. You can click here to join my reader newsletter to be notified on release day. You’ll also receive an exclusive prequel story to The Bone Coven Chronicles.
About the Author
Jenna Wolfhart is a Buffy-wannabe who lives vicariously through the kick-ass heroines in urban fantasy. After completing a PhD in Librarianship, she became a full-time author and now spends her days typing the fantastical stories in her head. When she's not writing, she loves to stargaze, binge Netflix, and drink copious amounts of coffee.
Born and raised in America, Jenna now lives in England with her husband, her dog, and her four ratties.
Want to get in touch? Jenna loves hearing from readers!
Find her online at:
jennawolfhart.com
[email protected]
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