Series: Chronicles of the Stone Veil #1
Publication date: February 9th, 2021
Synopsis:
I always knew was different.
From a young age, my mind has been plagued with things only I could see. Some hauntingly beautiful, others completely terrifying. Never knowing if these visions were real or just hallucinations, I learned how to lock them down and ignore them. I learned to take solace in the relative anonymity of city life and find peace in the rainy days my city of Seattle is known for.
But just when I think my life is getting on track and my dreams are achievable, a moment of weakness causes me to learn a hard and fast lesson.
My entire existence has been a lie.
Now I'm faced with a new reality that's as implausible as it is fantastical. Filled with realms and veils, light and dark, fae and daemons, gods and angels--things I don't understand but am forced to acknowledge. It doesn't help that the man teaching me about my unique gifts is the gorgeously handsome Carrick Byrne, one of Seattle's richest and most powerful men. He intimidates, annoys, and intrigues me all at the same time. I don't trust him and yet there's no one else to help me.
No longer certain who to put my faith in, what to believe, or how I fit into it all, one revelation is clear...
The world as I know it will never be the same again.
The Revelation of Light and Dark is book one of the Chronicles of the Stone Veil series and is best enjoyed if read in series order.
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Excerpt
The venue room is gorgeous, one entire side showcasing a curved floor-to-ceiling glass aquarium filled with colorful fish and amazing corals. There are a lot of people here already and after nabbing a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, I start to search for Carrick. Because of his height, it's not difficult to rule people out, but after making one trip around the room, I still haven't found him.
Rather than do it again, I decide to move off to a semi-quiet space so I can observe people as they mingle, drink, and move along the catered tables of posh food. While I wait for Carrick to make an appearance, I use the opportunity to check my abilities in such a large crowd, as there has to be easily four hundred people milling about.
As I had been practicing my abilities the last few weeks--learning to hone in on vibes first--I had also learned the reverse. In other words, I could lock my senses down if I wanted some peace and didn't want to be assaulted by vibes just out of the blue. I mostly use it at work, choosing to be ignorant of what hides under my patrons' faces so my workday isn't ruined.
Inhaling through my nose, I imagine my chest opening as I exhale and give a silent invitation for the slightest omen to come in. The minute I do, I get a tingly feeling in my belly and then immediately look to the source... a pretty brunette woman five feet to my right. Based on feeling alone, I'm confident she's a Light Fae or daemon because of the pleasant vibe. Still, as Carrick has said, we've not yet proven if my intuitions can truly distinguish Light from Dark. I mean, personally... I think my gut and sight match up, but I'm willing to continue experimenting so we can be sure.
Opening my senses fully, I peel her glamour away, realizing immediately she's fae because she has no aura. I try not to stare as she's quite beautiful and not all that inhuman looking. Her skin is much paler and appears as if it's been dusted with crushed diamonds. Her eyes remain the same shape, tilting upward at the outer corner just a tad too much, but they're filled with what looks like liquid silver where the whites of human eyes would be. She has definitive irises of verdant green. Her hair is as black as midnight, and it falls almost to the middle of her back. She's thin and delicate, and I almost laugh in delight when she tucks a lock of hair behind her ear to find that it's pointed at the top.
Is she an elf? Is that even a thing?
Mesmerized, I watch as she talks to a human male companion, wondering if fae and humans have lost affairs. I haven't thought about that until now, but I suppose it's a possibility. Her companion says something to make her laugh, and my romantic side is fully invested in this couple until she laughs, and razor-sharp teeth are revealed. Not just where her canines are, but every single tooth is conical and pointy, graying slightly at the gum line.
"Better close your mouth before something flies in it." It's a deep, sophisticated voice I've come to recognize and with dismay, I realize it sometimes causes my skin to tingle.
Twisting, I see Carrick standing there looking unbelievably dashing in a black tuxedo with a white tie. His eyes flick to the fae I'd been looking at and then back to me. "She's not the type to bite people, but she does eat raw meat and thus the reason for the sharp teeth."
I can't help whipping my head her way. It's such a sudden move that it catches her attention. She gives me a tentative smile, and I force myself not to stare at her teeth. Instead, I motion to her gown. "I was just telling my date how much I love your dress."
The woman tilts her head, her smile now warm. "Oh, thank you. It's Givenchy."
"Just stunning," I assure her with a nod before turning back to Carrick. Leaning slightly into him, I whisper, "Will I ever stop being stunned at what I see?"
To my surprise, he chuckles, and I soak in the sound of natural laughter from him. It's the first time I've heard him laugh in a way that wasn't forced or didn't have some condescension in it. It's one of the most human things he's done, and it's disconcerting to say the least.
He shakes his head. "Sorry... but you've not seen a lot of Dark Fae. There are some pretty hideous creatures out there. You need to work on your poker face."
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.
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