Heart of Stone by Debra Mullins Read Free Book Online Page A

around claiming they have a stone. I heard someone even had one for sale online a couple of months ago. I’m sorry, but yours has to be a fake.”
    Darius shook his head. “I don’t think so, and neither did Jain Criten. He went to great lengths to try and steal it from us just a few weeks ago.”
    â€œCriten?” Her heart pounded. “You said ‘tried.’ I assume he wasn’t successful.”
    â€œNo. We have the stone well protected.”
    â€œWhere? That safe location you were talking about?”
    â€œDo you want the job?” he countered.
    â€œDepends. What do you want me to do?”
    â€œWe want you to talk to it or charge it or sing to it … whatever Stone Singers do. We need to know as much about it as you can tell us. Maybe even how to use it.” He turned his head to look at her. “You in? Like I said, we’ll pay you well. And we’ll protect you.”
    Those sharp blue eyes seared through her like a laser, raising doubts. Something about him encouraged her to trust him and, strangely enough, she wanted to, even though going off with a Seer seemed the height of madness. But she’d trusted others, her own husband among them, and it had ended badly every time. “Protect me, huh? How do I know you can? The Mendukati are ruthless and powerful. They always get what they want.”
    â€œNot always,” Darius said. “Last time we saw Criten, he was riding in the back of an ambulance after tangling with us.”
    The words should have terrified her, but instead she took comfort from his certainty. And if the stone they had was real …
    She tried to play it cool. “You said you’d pay me. How much? I can’t just vanish to parts unknown at the drop of a hat.”
    â€œNot parts unknown,” Darius said. “Sedona.” And then he named a dollar amount that made her blink.
    Money like that meant she could disappear where the Mendukati could never find her. Buy land far away, build a house, get a new identity, hire security, or maybe even just disappear to an island in the Pacific somewhere. She tamped down the hope springing to life inside her, tried to appear composed. “I need to stop at my place and get some clothes. And Lucita—”
    â€œNo, they’ll be looking for you there. We’ll buy you whatever you need. Think about it,” Darius said. He faced forward again and leaned his head back against the headrest. “We’ll be at the airport soon.”
    â€œBut—” She cut off what she was about to say when Ben squeezed her fingers.
    â€œI can call Lucita, tell her what’s happened,” he said. “It’s all right. These men are Zaindari, but not like the Mendukati. They need your help.”
    â€œI must be crazy,” she said. “You know I never wanted any part of this war.”
    â€œThey’re trying to end the war. Maybe you can help them. Besides, I worry about you. The Mendukati won’t stop until they get what they want, and they will kill to get it.”
    She shook her head. “They won’t kill me. Apparently I’m the only Stone Singer alive now.”
    â€œThat’s even worse. To get you to cooperate, they might harm the people close to you—Lucita, me. Better you go with these men. You’ll be safer there.”
    â€œAnd what about you? You’re coming with us, right? I can’t leave you alone to face them.”
    â€œDon’t worry about me.” Ben gave her one of his cryptic smiles. “You can’t deny what you are, daughter of my heart. You sing the song of stones, and they have a stone whose song you need to hear. Go with these men to Arizona. See the stone; hear its song. Then you will know your true path.”
    She cast a glance at the silent men in the front seat. Darius’s head lolled against the headrest as if he were sleeping, and the other kept his eyes on the road.