I went right to her and hugged her, careful of her freshly bandaged arm. Angela pulled away from me, letting out a sad sound as her fingertips touched the cut on my neck. I'd forgotten all about it."How is she?" I felt Erica hovering behind me, but was grateful she kept her distance."She's fine, thanks to you. I really think you arrived just in time." Angela still shook, but she managed a small, quivering smile. "The doctors said if she'd managed to cut any deeper she wouldn't be with us anymore." She sagged for a second then straightened again as if by sheer will. "They think the alcohol in her system along with the jolt of pain from cutting herself finally just shut her down and made her pass out."If Angela remembered what she witnessed, she wasn't saying and I knew then I had done the right thing."They have her in for observation," she choked on a breath, "and suicide watch." Whispered, those last two words. As if they were bad, evil. Her blue eyes leaked tears. "It's for th
Liam sank back into his chair, all the pink in his cheeks draining away until I could count his freckles. "This can't be happening.""Well, it is." Galleytrot returned to his place between us, sticking his huge head in Liam's space. "And you must listen now, Liam O'Dane. The fate of the world is in your hands."Liam shook, but too his credit he didn't pull away. And as Galleytrot breathed on him I understood why. His hand reached out, slowly, fingers sliding into the silky, thick fur on the top of the dog's head. The moment he touched him, a ribbon of green magic slid between them, winding around Liam's wrist. I heard him sigh, saw him relax, slump really, into the wooden chair, his eyes locked on the dog's."Mom is going to kill me," he said. "She warned me to stay away from you." Guilty, he looked up at me. "I told her you wanted to meet Daddo and she lost it. Dragged me out of town. I finally convinced her to turn around, take me back. But she's afraid of something, Syd. And it h
Fergus finally broke free of Liam, grasping a hold of me, green eyes locked on mine as his old face twisted into fear and deep regret. "I'm sorry," his voice climbed in volume as Liam desperately tried to hush him, glancing at the door. "I'm late, I know I'm late, but I have one more night, the Gate should still be closed. Why are you here? WHY ARE YOU HERE?" He shook me, harder and harder, forcing me to shove him away. My hand brushed his, skin on skin and Shaylee's power instantly swelled.Fergus fell to his knees at my feet, wrapping his thin arms around my legs, sobbing. "Forgive me, Princess. I need to go home, are you here to take me home at last?" I stared down into his eyes, feeling frozen and useless, unable to comfort him, an unbearable longing in his gaze that made me want to cry along with him. "Please, I promise I will never fail you again if you just take me home."He lurched to his feet as two nurses rushed in, Fergus lunging for clothing in the nearby dresser, jerking
As futile as we both knew it would be, Galleytrot and I spent the next several hours searching for the Gate. I let Shaylee have full control, prodding her out of her fearful hiding only with the help of my angry demon. But even she was honestly baffled, leading us in circles from one end of town to the other.I parked Minnie in the square and stared at town hall. "Let's think about this logically," I said, not feeling logical at all, just angry and frustrated. "The protection or supernatural feeling to Wilding Springs is roughly circular, right?"Galleytrot nodded. "Which means the source of that needs to be the center of town. We know that, Syd. We checked the library and the rest of town hall, remember?""It has to be in that building somewhere." I was about to open my car door when I spotted a familiar figure approaching. I waited, frowning, as Ms. Spaft took once glance around before going inside town hall."What if I was right and Liam's mom isn't the only mortal Unseelie agen
We went home. Nowhere else to go, really. I checked for messages, hoping maybe Quaid was over his hissy fit, but no luck. Well, that was just fine, Mr. Jealous. Be that way. I had more important things to fret over than his sensitive ego.Angry, I almost snapped at the voice on the other end of the phone when I answered the insistent ringing."Did I get you at a bad time?" Angela's voice quavered."No, not at all." I instantly dialed back my annoyance and focused on her. "Is everything okay?""Oh, yes, I'm sorry, of course." Her nervous laugh told me she felt guilty for letting amusement out in any form. "I was just hoping... Alison is awake, and I was thinking it would be nice...""I'm on my way now." Like I wasn't tired enough. But when I hung up to her very grateful goodbye, I knew I made the right choice.I turned to go and found Meira watching me."I want to come with you." Her amber eyes faded slowly to blue, skin tinting to human tone. "Can I?"Um. What would Mom do? Exp
The sun was just starting to set when Meira and I arrived home. The moment we passed through the wards, I felt Dad was home, but was startled to find him in the kitchen. Not that he wasn't allowed upstairs. It was just such a rarity to see him there."Hey, Dad," I said, feeling my annoyance with him take a sharp notch upward. I could have used his help, if only for moral support but, as usual, he was either out or locked in the basement. I didn't mean to make him a target, but this was the first chance I had to confront him. "Where've you been?"He heard it in my tone if not in the oh-so-casual words I chose. Hard to miss that much sarcasm."Watch the attitude, Syd," he snapped.Um, hello? "Do you have any idea what's going on around here?" No way was he taking a Mom stance with me. "I could use your help, you know. Or do you even give a crap?"Dad's scowl made him look demonic, a tough thing considering he was mortal now. "I asked you to mind your own business," he said. "Besides
Liam and I were casing the steps of the home when I spotted someone I recognized. Angela emerged from the building and registered my presence at the same moment, a huge smile taking over her face as she hurried to Minnie."Syd!" She leaning in my hastily opened window and hugged me. "How sweet of you to come to see Alison again so soon. They are just getting her settled, but you should be able to go in shortly."Oh, crap. Al was here?My smile must have looked pathetic, but she seemed to accept it at face value. "Did she make the trip okay?"Angela's smile was much better than mine. "She did, thank you, Syd. Are you a friend of my daughter's?" She held out her hand to Liam across me. He shook it with great grace."She's a wonderful person," he said. "I hear you both love my mom."A quick chat about Sonja's hairdressing skills and his acceptance was sealed."The nurses might give us a hard time," I said as I climbed out of the car, a half-formed plan in my head, leaning ever so g
"Daddo," Liam leaned forward over the back of the seat to talk to his grandfather. "Why didn't you tell me?""I tried." The old man sagged, hands grasping for Liam's, "but your mother wouldn't let me.""You know she's Unseelie?" I glanced sideways at him, risking a look away from the headlong race I ran with Minnie.His face snapped around. "She's what?"Liam softly, sadly filled his grandfather in while I wished I could risk driving faster.I've led him astray, but it's not working. Galleytrot sounded pissed, but a little smug. I've damaged him at least. I think most of his power was tied up in his little shield.Leave him, I sent. The Gate's more important. I need you.I'll be there. He was gone, but left me with more hope than I'd expected to feel."It's no wonder she took you from me," Fergus sighed as I returned to their conversation. "Though how Sonja hid it from your father I have no idea. No," he shook his head, "that's not true. In all honestly, Liam, I worried for our