Heart of Stone

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Authors: Debra Mullins
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house, well-lit from the tall lamps around the circular driveway. “Wow.”
    The place was enormous, with what looked like a multi-car garage and a fountain that ran even this late in the day, clever lighting changing the water’s color from blue to pink to green like something out of a Disney movie. The luxury of a running fountain existing here in the desert spoke of the family’s wealth and status, but the house’s many windows blazed with warm welcome.
    The SUV pulled up in front of the door, which immediately opened. A middle-aged Hispanic woman wearing jeans and a simple, short-sleeved pink blouse stepped out, pushing a wheelchair. She wheeled it down what appeared to be a ramp cleverly concealed by shrubbery, and stopped at the edge of the driveway. As soon as the vehicle stopped moving, Adrian was out and moving to open Darius’s door.
    â€œDarius, come on. You’re home, pal.” He shook Darius’s shoulder.
    â€œWhat…?” Darius stretched his legs and hissed in obvious pain. “Aw, hell.”
    â€œI’ve got you. Can you get out of the seat belt?”
    â€œYeah.” Darius pushed the button and shrugged out of the harness. “I feel like I went ten rounds with the world champs of wrestling. All of them.”
    â€œYou’re home now. Let’s get you inside.”
    Faith climbed out of the backseat and stood by as Adrian helped Darius down from the high vehicle. Darius landed with a jolt, and his knee buckled. Adrian swept in, quick as lightning, and slung Darius’s arm around his shoulder before the Seer hit the ground. Faith darted forward.
    â€œNo.” Darius stopped her with the sheer force of his gaze. His features hardened, like the stone of the mountains around them. “I’ve got this.”
    Left with no choice, she trailed after them as Adrian helped Darius hobble the few feet needed and eased him into the chair. The sight of such a strapping man in a wheelchair, all wide shoulders and broad chest, struck her as wrong . When she’d met him just a couple of hours ago, he’d seemed so vital, so capable. He’d fought beside her and won. He’d rescued her, at least for the moment, from Azotay. Brought her to a temporary sanctuary.
    Now he could barely move under his own power, dependent on an appliance that seemed an insult to everything he was. An old injury, he’d said. From where she stood, that injury appeared to be way worse than a simple bad knee. The grimace creasing his face every time he moved any part of his body made it clear the damage was extensive. And the fact that his home had a wheelchair standing by spoke volumes.
    Their shared connection with the amazonite on the plane told her he was a proud man. It must be torment for him every time he had to use that chair. Her heart ached for him.
    He jerked his head up and glared at her as if she had spoken aloud. His ferocity stole her breath, and she nearly stepped backward before she stopped herself. She wasn’t going to be intimidated by him. Let him growl and scowl all he wanted; she could only imagine what it did to a man like him to be confined to a chair like that.
    The woman behind him grabbed the handles of the chair. He broke the searing eye contact and glanced over his shoulder, his expression softening. “That’s okay, Lupe. I’ve got it.”
    â€œAre you sure, Mr. Darius? I can push you.”
    â€œNo, that’s fine.” Darius tossed Faith one more hard look before, with an expert spin, he turned the chair and wheeled himself up the ramp and into the house.
    Lupe sighed before turning to them. “So stubborn, that one. Please, come inside. Mr. and Mrs. Montana are waiting.”
    â€œFaith, this is Lupe,” Adrian said. “She keeps this place running with rather terrifying precision.”
    Lupe shook her head, a smile flirting across her lips. “And this one with his silver tongue. I’m the

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