Read Online Written in Stone by Ellery Adams - Free Book Online Page A

last prosciutto roll on his plate and nodded. “Fire away.”
    Olivia looked down at her notes. Harris’s science-fiction novel featured a complex
     heroine named Zenobia. Following the tragic death of her parents, this young woman
     had unexpectedly become the ruler of the entire Zulton race and was tasked with relocating
     her people from their dying planet to a more viable one.
    In the first half of Harris’s book, Zenobia had successfully maneuvered through a
     political minefield and honed her skills as warrior. However, she refused to bend
     to the customs of the nobility and spent most of her free time alone in a simulation
     room.
    During Harris’s last critique session, the Bayside Book Writers had pointed out that
     they knew very little about Remus, Zenobia’s new planet, and he’d responded by having
     Zenobia lead a team into a vast cavern system in search of a valuable mineral. In
     one of the deeper caves, Zenobia’s party had been attacked by a creature unlike any
     Zenobia or the Bayside Book Writers had ever encountered before.
    Olivia thought he did a good job with this scene, though she still had difficulty
     picturing the beast in her mind. Apparently, so did Millay.
    “Is it part dragon or part alligator?” she asked. “I get it that’s it big and drools
     and has four eyes, but I can’t really see it.”
    “But it’s sci-fi,” Laurel argued. “He can’t compare it with things on Earth. If he
     says it had the head of a crocodile, it takes away from the sense that everything
     is alien.”
    Millay offered suggestions on how Harris could describe the beast more effectively,
     while Laurel insisted that too much detail would detract from Zenobia. “She’s the
     star.”
    Olivia told Harris that she liked both the pacing and descriptive detail, but didn’t
     understand why Zenobia was disappointed over being hailed as Hunter, a rare and special
     title given to only the bravest of leaders. “You show us her emotions, but don’t explain
     why she feels the way she does. And what about the mineral they went to mine in the
     first place? Are they going back for it or are there more creatures in those caverns?”
    Harris was about to reply when a ping came from Olivia’s cell phone, indicating she’d
     just received a text message. “I’d better see if that’s Rawlings,” she said, getting
     up from the club chair and moving into the small kitchen. Scooping her phone up from
     the counter, she glanced at the text box and read the enigmatic message from Rawlings.
    “Is it the chief?” Harris asked. “I hope he shows up. I need a guy’s take on this
     chapter. No offense to the ladies, of course.”
    Millay hit him in the face with a throw pillow. “Offense taken, loser. Your book features
     a female protagonist! If you want to resonate with female readers, then you should
     count yourself lucky to have three savvy chicks reviewing your drafts.”
    Harris protested until Laurel cut him off by saying, “I hear a car.”
    “That’s Rawlings.” Olivia held out her phone and pointed at the text window. “He asked
     me to meet him outside. Alone.”
    Millay’s brows rose. “Oooooh! A tryst? Right in the middle of our critique session?”
    Olivia glowered at her. She had done her best to act casual in Rawlings’ presence,
     to understate her relationship with the chief whenever anyone else was around, and
     she didn’t like Millay calling attention to it. “He didn’t text me a bunch of
x
s and
o
s,” she said tersely. “I don’t know what he wants, but it can’t be good if he won’t
     talk about it in front of everyone. Be right back.”
    Haviland jumped up from his position next to the sofa and joined Olivia as she made
     her way outside. Rawlings, who was dressed in uniform, was talking on his cell phone.
     When he saw Olivia, he quickly finished his conversation and tossed the phone onto
     the driver’s seat.
    “Am I under arrest?” Olivia teased, holding out her