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Chapter 206: Challenge Given
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Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 207: Challenge Accepted
"Odette Dumont!" Mom's power rose, flooding her with light, driving the werewolves and vampires back from the circle of energy her magic created. "Your challenge is accepted."Gram snarled her fury, holding back her magic by only a hair's breath.Syd, Mom's mind touched mine, no matter what happens, I love you and always will.She cut me off before I could answer, hold onto her, deny the message she'd sent."I demand the right of single combat." Mom's hair rippled as if a strong wind toyed with it. "No need to draw our covens into a war. Only we two need to decide this fight."Odette's smile was feral, her real face showing through, though I was sure she allowed it to this time. "Agreed.""Mother," Andre tried again, but Odette swung one hand, striking him across the face. He fell back, his resentment and anger clear."I accept!" Odette's magic rose as Mom's had, surrounding her in a pulsing column of lavender and blue.Hands fell on me, pulled me away. I looked up at Dad in re
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 208: Enforcer Interference
Black robed figures circled us in the sky, some hovering in place, others swooping in a pattern above. Three landed, their power gently parting the top of the dome. Odette panted her way to her feet, rage out of control even as one of the figures swept back his hood."You are ordered," he said, deep voice full of power as his light brown eyes swept over us, "to cease and desist all hostilities by order of the North American High Council of Witches."Enforcers. Had to be. Fed by the universal power of the entire Council, only they could be so strong to shut down the battle. I could feel the tingle of defensive magic coming from him, how it sparked in his honey brown hair.About time they showed up.Mom bowed her head to the Enforcer. "I was challenged," she said."Irrelevant." He glared at all of us. "Such challenges are illegal. You know better, Hayle coven leader."Gram growled something under her breath, but held her peace while Odette drew herself up, trembling, face wreathed
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 209: Coven Alone
Sunlight streamed in the kitchen windows, turning the Enforcer's honey hair a glowing gold. I sat and watched him, Sassafras in my lap, while Mom served him tea."We've been trying to reach the High Council for some time," Mom said while the man seemed to squirm in discomfort. "Can you shed some light on why we've been ignored, Enforcer Tremere?""Pender, please, Ms. Hayle." He sat stiff and uncomfortable. "I'm afraid that's a question you'll have to ask the Council. I'm merely a messenger. And an officer of coven law. I follow orders as they are given to me."I wanted to confront him, but Gram's mind wouldn't let me.We could have an ally here, she sent. There is still honor among my brothers and sisters it seems.After he'd left, with very little more information wrung from him, Mom sighed and hugged herself, staring into her teacup."This isn't over," she said."No," Gram said, dropping lump after lump into hers with little bursts of magic, "but at least now we know who we're
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 210: Reunion
What was it about the feel of him that brought me running even when I hated him just then? The back yard felt so far away as I scrambled out of bed, lurched from my room, down the stairs and through the screen door. I stopped myself finally, panting and angry.No way were we playing this damned game again. I glared at Quaid where he stood, hands in his pockets, a thin T-shirt the only thing between him and me. That and the ten-foot gap my anger insisted on. "What do you want?" I hated the mere touch of his mind had so much unconscious control over me. He'd left me, hadn't he? How dare he come back like this after abandoning our family magic, severing the link between us, shacking up with that ice-cold bitch Ameline?He didn't say anything for a moment, gaze on the ground."Well?" I stormed closer to him, the hem of my pajama bottoms instantly soaked with dew from the grass. "Look at me, you coward."Quaid did. And the moment our eyes met all of my anger and hurt went away. I couldn
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 211: So Much To Answer For
What a summer.Mom spent the next two weeks going from house to house, connecting and reconnecting with every single member of our coven. Including, it turned out, those who were willing to betray her. Imagine. I would have kicked their sorry asses out and let them join the Dumonts, but Mom had a longer fuse than I did and, clearly, some other agenda I didn't know about.Turned out I was right about Celeste being a Purity member. James too. They and a handful of others were the only ones who survived the battle, adopted into the Hayle family when the Dumonts refused to take them in.When Naudia committed herself, losing her family magic to Gram, it didn't just drive my grandmother crazy. It killed most of her followers. A massacre of the woman's own making. I couldn't imagine committing that much power to hate, enough to destroy those who looked to me for leadership.No wonder Gram went crazy. All those people's dying energy? I'd have gone around the bend and never come back.Gues
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 212: Loneliness and Dreams
Book Six: GatekeeperThere is nothing more frustrating than staring at a blinking cursor when you want it to move. I just wanted it to start flashing, the little pen to pop up so I would know the person on the other end was writing a message. Something. Anything.I'd been spending a lot of time staring at the stupid thing lately. Too much, really. But it was a compulsion I couldn't shake. Not when there was a chance Quaid might finally contact me.Pathetic, I know, I know. It's not like I was the kind of girl to hang on her boyfriend's every movement, word or contact. But the circumstances of our relationship were a little... odd to say the least. I was stuck here in Wilding Springs on pins and needles, safe and sound with my family and coven while he was out there, alone and vulnerable, playing a very dangerous game of cat and mouse with his birth family. And all because he had a score to settle.Settling scores I understood intimately. I'd had my own to deal with in the last ye
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 213: Family Angst
Bleary eyed and grumpy, I trudged to the bathroom door, reaching for the knob before thudding full on into the wooden barrier with my entire body. Locked. Locked? Oh yeah, my little sister was back from camp. I'd gotten used to not sharing a bathroom with her since she'd been gone all summer. And since she'd barely said two words to me since she arrived home yesterday, and with the whole Quaid worry thing on my mind, I'd forgotten I was back to waiting on a nine year old to do her stuff.Hang on, make it ten. Meira had a birthday just before she left, right? I sighed and leaned my forehead against the door. My whole life ran together in a mix of disaster and every day, so much I could barely keep anything straight."Hang on!" Wow, that sounded snippy. I backed off, leaning against the wall, arms crossed over my chest."Sorry." A yawn gaped. "I forgot you were home."Way to be mean to your sister, Syd. I winced and rushed on. "Want to go for ice cream after school? You can tell me a
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 214: Pressure Of Normal
I'd spent years wanting to be normal. Most of my life in fact. This was the first year at school where I didn't crave it anymore. Now that Gram had her power back, her magic no longer pushing against me and my demon, I could actually just be me. Funny thing, I found I was happy being a witch. Even better, I really kind of loved it.But old habits die slow and painful deaths wrapped up in cheerleader fakery and cafeteria food. The closer I came to the front steps of Wilding Springs High, the more the pressure of normal and fitting in returned until I was just Syd Hayle again, no one special, nothing to see here, move along.It sucked, really. I was finally in the same school two years in a row. This was a miracle. Because of coven related accidents and the need to hide who we were from the real world, I'd never had the opportunity to really make friends. Until last year. The past eleven months had been not just filled with magical mayhem, but I actually had friends for the first time
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Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 803: Happy Endings
How was this for a happy ending?Bittersweet, this walk down the halls of the newly restored mansion. I'd been through this before, but I knew this time, I didn't have anything hanging over my head.I loved Liam. But I was finally marrying the man I was meant to be with.The pressure was off this time too, our battles won. I could enjoy my wedding without worrying about Fate or the Brotherhood or Ameline looming in the near future.Awesome.I even found Wilding Springs was fine without the influence of the Gate, just as Fergus said. That it still felt like magic. Probably a combination of the century or so of the Gate's influence deeply mired in the whole town. Not to mention the presence of the Wild Hunt still snoozing in my back yard.And the coven.I didn't worry we'd have to move anytime soon. Good thing. I kind of liked being in one place for once.Made me think of Sonja, of Liam again. His mother disappeared after the night she met Gabriel. I tried to look for her, feelin
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 802: Wedding Day
Another mirror. Another dress. Totally different experience.I stood on what amounted to a pedestal as at least a dozen or so giggling vampires tugged, pushed and laced me into the biggest, heaviest mass of fabric and jewels I'd ever seen in my entire life. The thing weighed so much I had to have my alter egos help me carry it so it wouldn't drive me to my knees.This was the punishment I got for picking out my first wedding dress alone.This one was, at least, the pale ivory I'd requested. White would have felt disrespectful to Liam's memory. And Mom happily acquiesced before losing her freaking mind.And when I appealed to Sunny for assistance in my mother's sudden loss of sanity?Yeah.I was surrounded by vampires, wasn't I?Shenka hovered, her ball gown sparkling, covered in as many gems as could possibly be stuck to her. Again Mom went with the jewel tones. I guess she figured a good idea was a terrible thing to waste.And considering only a handful of people had seen the
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 801: Familiar Magic
I sat on the side of my bed, looking out the window into the quiet street, the buzzing streetlight below me oddly comforting. I'd tried to sleep after returning home, put Gabriel to bed with Charlotte who met me at the front door after Sass, Galleytrot and I strolled home in the sharpening night air. Her massive scowl told me I was in horrible trouble as she took my son from me.Okay, so I didn't exactly put him to bed.Snort.Galleytrot and Sassafras naturally abandoned me for her room, leaving me alone. Which was fine, it really was. I had a hot shower, pulled on my favorite robe. Had a little cry. Not much. Just a pathetic little spill of tears I held over from the Gate.From Liam.And felt my heart ease at last.Wrapped myself in the love in my house, the people sleeping there. Shenka and Charlotte, Galleytrot and Sass. Gram and Demetrius. All of us, happy just to be home.But sleep wouldn't come. My mind struggled with belief. That Ameline was really dead. That Gabriel was
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 800: Gateway
I looked down into my son's sleeping face before sinking into the rocking chair beside his crib and releasing of the last of my stress. He was really too big for the thing now, but I needed to do some thinking about a bed and a room for him and just didn't have the energy to deal.A soft, furry body landed in my lap, Sassafras purring as he kneaded my leg a few times before turning in a circle and settling himself."Nice to see them together again," he said.I knew exactly who he meant. Mom and Dad wasted no time taking off for Harvard for some private time. I blushed at the thought of my parents and what they were probably doing right now.Shudder.Galleytrot groaned from the end of the crib, eyes flaring with red fire as he looked up."What about you, Syd?" His rumbling voice shifted my shudder to a shiver. "Have you thought about a new mate?"Not going there. "I've been thinking," I said, totally changing the subject. Yes, on purpose. No judging. "About Gabriel and his power.
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 799: Homecoming
Meira grinned at me like it was funny. And it was, in a way. She sat behind Dad's old desk-Ahbi's, too-and bounced a little in the chair."Comfy," she said. Winked.Oh. My. Swearword.Dad laughed, hugged me abruptly. "Meems, pumpkin," loved his pet name for her, though I liked cupcake better despite years of protest, "I'm sorry to do this to you.""You've already apologized, Dad," she said, looking quite pleased with herself. Hard to remember she was only fourteen with that evil grin, hands rubbing together in expectation. "I'm going to do some housecleaning first. Then the real fun will start."I shook my head, giggling. "Just leave a few of the planes standing."She shrugged, inspected her nails. "We'll see.""I take it the Node is fine?" It felt fine, Demonicon still intact at least."It was in balance long before Ahbi took up residence," Meira said. "She was only just hitchhiking anyway."I looked up at Dad who sighed deeply, lines of anxiety leaving his face."You're cra
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 798: Ruler
The sparkling kneepads attached to my heavy leather pants caught the light of the triple suns overhead as I shifted for the millionth time, foot bobbing on the end of my crossed leg. Sassafras hissed at me. The bobbing stopped.For the moment. The longer we sat here, the more agitated I felt. Didn't help it took Pagomaris an age and a half to dress me while Meira was being man-handled in her bedroom."Your demon form would be so much easier to dress, Your Highness." Hopefulness lit the aide's eyes as she smiled and scrunched her shoulders like talking to me as if I were a child would endear her."Not." I scowled at her. "Work with this or nothing." I gestured down at my human form.And she sighed.Gestured for her minions to come forward.Left me to them as though I was no longer worth her effort, returning to my sister who grinned at me through the open door of her bedroom.Argh.I did concede to shifting my size, remembering how small I felt next to Meira when she was in demo
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 797: Royal Wedding
I glared at my reflection in the mirror. "I'm not going.""You are." Sassafras growled softly at me before sighing heavily. "And so am I, remember?""They're not going to make you wear a ridiculous outfit and parade around like you're their property." More glaring.I. Was. Not. Going.Sass hopped down from the bed and waddled to my side, tail quivering. "You can't let Meira down," he said, leaping into my lap. I stroked his fur absently. "It would be a terrible thing for her to have to sit through Harry's marriage alone.""So maybe he shouldn't get married." Whiny much? But there was the crux, wasn't it?Today was my father's wedding day.And the last place I wanted to be was Demonicon. In fact, a hole somewhere deep and far away would have been preferable. Anything other than having to endure my father marrying a demon.That would be the end for Mom and Dad. The real end. And I didn't think I could handle it."Harry has made his choice," Sassafras said, meeting my eyes in the
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 796: Payten's Confession
I was already turning and moving back inside by the time Mom began her little speech to wrap up the trial. I had no desire to listen, moving on from it though Celeste's foul stench remained on me. A quick push of magic cleared my nose, clothes and hair of the stink, even as I strode with ever-increasing speed toward the back of the now-emptying chamber and the hall beyond.A startled Enforcer was the lucky recipient of the bag of marshmallows, slapped against his chest on the way by.I seemed to have lost my appetite.Was so focused on my final target I almost ran right into Payten when she dodged out of the shadows of an archway and stepped in front of me.My first instinct was to hit her so hard with magic they wouldn't find her body.Ever.Second instinct was to flatten her into a Paytensquish and smear her all over the floor with my shoes.Yum.Third impulse won, partially because I was a sucker for a sobbing girl, Enforcer or not.Hated enemy or not.She radiated grief,
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 795: Celeste's Trial
I'd sat here before, on a bench in the Council chamber, watching a trial unfold before me, Shenka at my side. But this one was far different. I had no regrets, no old grief-at least not for the creature about to stand before my mother.Any sorrow I felt around Celeste Oberman centered on the Hayle family members she'd killed. Martin and Louisa Vega, the darling couple who loved and cared about me when there were times no one else in the coven seemed to. Sandra Crossman, leaving her husband, James, alone to raise their daughter.Old wounds long since healed over, but never, ever forgotten.Worse, Gabriel wasn't with me. Antsy pants wriggled my butt in my velvet skirt as I fidgeted and held him tight with my magic while he laughed at something and ignored me.My own son, a traitor.Sigh.Shenka squeezed my hand, smiled a little. "He's fine," she said."I know," I whispered back. Not needing to. We weren't the only ones chattering. The gathering for Mia's burning-it seemed so long
