This time when I flew down the stairs in my pajamas and out the back door I knew who I was running to kiss. No doubts, no confusion, just pure joy and the need to throw my arms around his neck and never let go.Quaid caught me as I leaped, my legs wrapping around his waist as I dug my hands into his hair and locked my mouth on his. For one blissful, amazing, beautiful moment, I was full of his scent, the sound of his leather jacket creaking, the feel of his black hair, the way his stubble scratched my cheek. He tasted delicious, his heat transferring to me as his power stretched out like hot taffy and engulfed me completely.I wanted it to last forever. And in that endless moment, I felt he did too. We were perfect for each other. It had never been so clear to me, this truth. He was my other half, the part filling me up and making me complete. I was never going to let him leave me again.Until I felt him tense, start to pull away. My throat tightened even as I let my lips part from
I found myself sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of hot chocolate heating my hands while the two women in my life stared at me like they weren't sure I was ready to hear what they had to say.Gram poked at the mini marshmallows in her cup with one sharp nail, scowling like they offended her somehow. Mom ignored hers, shifting in her seat a time or two before she finally spoke."Honey," she said, "there are things you don't know about Quaid."I flinched from her, from her words, anger rising in place of sadness. "You were the one who wanted me to marry him."She made a face, guilt and grief at war on her flawless face. "I know, Syd," she said. "That was before I understood where Quaid came from.""The Dumont coven." I hated the name already. Hated everyone in that stupid family.Turned out I wasn't far off Gram's feelings for them, either."The Dumonts." Gram spit the name like it hurt her tongue to speak it. "Filth of the witching world."Mom reached out and patted Gram's
Sassafras and Galleytrot were waiting up for me when I closed my door."Was that Quaid?" Sassy's silver tail showed his aggravation. "What did I tell you about running out into the yard in the middle of the night?""You might want to ask one question at a time," I said, feeling decidedly snarky."It was Quaid." Sassy sighed. "What did he say?"My face crumpled. I couldn't stand it. Sassafras said his name twice. The first time I could fake it and pretend, but the second... the waterworks threatened."Just leave me alone." I threw myself face first onto my bed, smothering myself in the pillow, squeezing my eyes as if that would make me forget. A hot, wet nose shoved against my hand on my left while a rough tongue licked my ear on my right."I'm sorry, Syd," Sassy whispered."Me too." Galleytrot's mournful tone sounded like the rumble of a river."I guess we all are then." My words were muffled, but I knew they heard me. I sighed and rolled over, scratching Galleytrot's head whil
Alison was practically drooling all over me. That is until her hand slipped free and she took a step aside. The two young men, both about the same height and clearly related, grinned at us as they stopped.The first looked a bit younger, dirty blond hair thick and hanging to his shoulders. But even though he was classically handsome with European chiseled features, his gray eyes were empty of warmth."Bonjour," he said in a soft French accent. "Good afternoon, ladies."Alison tittered like she'd never heard a guy speak before.The second of the pair, dark hair cut short, cool green eyes with the same lack of anything kind in them, reached out and took Alison's hand. He bent over her fingers, brushing his full lips across them while his eyes never left hers. "Mon cher," he said.Alison's cheeks were bright. "Hi," she breathed. Yup, breathed. Seriously.My attention flickered to the redhead behind them. Standing guard. She met my gaze, arctic blue eyes settling on me for a moment
I knew I was in for more than I'd planned the moment I passed through the house wards and into the kitchen. There were strangers here, the feel of them clear to me now they weren't masked by the protections wrapping our house in magic.It took me a moment to decide what to do. I heard voices talking, coming from the living room and was pretty sure Mom felt me the moment I arrived home. I tried to keep the rustling of my shopping bags to a minimum as I stuffed them into the corner behind the table, not sure why the sounds I made caused me to flinch and wince. It was as if I was intruding in my own home or didn't want to be noticed all of a sudden.The little girl in me wished she was anywhere but there just then.Mom needed me, I was sure of it. She didn't reach for me or influence me with magic, but I could sense her now that my power was united, and always seemed to know what she was feeling in a peripheral sort of way. I shook off my nerves. This was my house, our coven's house. N
Quaid's grip was so strong and insistent I didn't manage to pull myself free until we reached the kitchen. I finally used magic to wrench myself from his grip, turning on him with a vicious snarl."Don't ever touch me again." I could finally let my fury out. He needed to know just how little I thought of him and his precious family. "Ever.""You're embarrassing yourself," he snapped. "Get it together."Oh no he didn't. I was embarrassing myself? Really. "Maybe you should think about what you just said," I hissed. "Maybe you'd like to observe your precious cousins and see who exactly is doing the embarrassing."He blushed. Quaid blushed. He knew what they were like and he still defended them. "Just forget it," he mumbled, turning away.It was my turn to catch his arm and jerk him back. "I'm doing my duty," I said with as much ice in my voice as I could muster. "I'm heir to this coven and I'm fulfilling that role. Maybe you should mind your own business, Quaid. Go back to your littl
I felt them come to my door while I threw my private hissy fit, but ignored them. First Erica, then Dad. Mom last. Not one of them tried to enter without my permission, so that was one good thing. They finally accepted the fact they couldn't just barge in on me and treat me like a total child. Now if I could only convince them to stop keeping their damned secrets, everything would be hunky.I wasn't feeling particularly grown up at that moment. The little girl inside me sobbed and raged and threw things. My demon howled her outrage, her fury at Quaid while Shaylee wept for another love lost.Me? I just kept screaming.I let the bubble collapse at last, falling to the bed myself, all of the energy I'd held inside since meeting the brothers outside Johnny's finally gone. As I lay there, staring at the sparkly pink chandelier Mom insisted on putting in my room, I came to grips with the truth of the matter.Quaid wasn't mine anymore. I'd known it already, but now I had proof. He was go
Sleep was a problem. If my life continued the way it was going, I'd end up with some kind of weird night disorder scientists would want to study. I tossed and turned, mind bouncing from Quaid to Ameline to wondering if he'd kissed her and if he liked it. He better not like it. Better not.Sassafras sighed next to me for the millionth time, his way of letting me know I was disturbing him. Yeah, suck it up, fuzzball. My love life just fell apart around me and he was worried about his beauty rest.I jerked upright suddenly, head cocked toward the window. Something howled in the distance. What was that? Galleytrot was on his hind legs, front paws on the sill, looking out over the yard. His eyes glowed red, a deep and menacing growl rumbling just loud enough for me to hear."Galleytrot." I knelt on my bed, looking outside, listening as Sassafras joined us, flat nose pressed to the glass. "What was it?"He didn't say anything, ears perked, tail still, entire body tense. I'd never felt hi