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Chapter 280: Teamwork
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Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 281: Rendezvous
I went alone to the rendezvous. Stupid? Yeah, probably. I knew I was walking into a trap. I could have recruited help. But in this Mom was right. I needed to distance myself from the family as much as I could if I was going to follow through on my plans to kill the Dumont brothers.As I steered my bright blue Mini up the hillside on that long and lonely drive, choosing mundane means over magic so I'd have time to gather my thoughts, my hands clutched the wheel so tight I was losing feeling in them. I wondered when I'd become so bloodthirsty, this craving for death as ordinary as pressing the gas pedal. There was a time when I wouldn't have even considered harming someone else, at least not physically. I could only guess accepting my demon completely now fed that side of me.Luckily, I had Shaylee in balance. She soothed me with earth magic while my demon paced and raged inside my head, demanding retribution. My very own devil/angel combo, only mine had minds of their own.So much ha
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 282: Ameline
My demon leaped into action even as Shaylee gasped in understanding the same moment I did. The vampires. Of course. What better way to completely tear Mom down than to attack her from all sides?While I wrapped my head around the true evil living inside Ameline, ripples of demon fire surged outward, scorching the ground beneath the werewolves. Howls of agony mixed with grunts of anger as they retreated.Ameline rolled her eyes, one foot tapping on the gravel. "Is that the best you can do?" She glared around at them as they slunk low to the ground. "Fine," she said. "I'll deal with her myself."Perfect. Exactly the way I wanted it.Before either of us had a chance to strike, our rising magic surrounding us in a mixed glow of rainbow colors, the earth beneath my feet began to shake as a howl pierced the night. The werewolves fell back even further, crouching low to the ground as Galleytrot, Liam at his side, strode into the parking lot. Both glowed with the green fire of the Sidhe, t
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 283: Unexpected Aid
I struggled to my feet, Quaid supporting me as Liam and Galleytrot rushed toward us, Ameline's shields gone with her consciousness. I leaned on the big dog, my arm around Quaid's waist as Mia hovered near us, looking suddenly guilty."Thank you." I shuddered as pain slid over my insides. Green magic flowed from Galleytrot into me, healing the damage enough I was able to straighten and face my friend. "You saved my life."Mia's hands trembled as she clasped them together in front of her, eyes locked on the fallen Ameline. "She will never lead my family."Good to know. Though I doubted very much Mia was a match for Ameline when it came to cunning.Mia hesitated a moment as I tried to think of something to say, a way to persuade her to come with us. She finally gestured beside her, a shimmering barrier falling to reveal the still unconscious form of Sassafras hovering next to her."Take him." She eased him to the ground while Liam moved forward, lifting Sassy into his arms. "You need
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 284: Limits
The boys retreated first and I went with them. I knew I should be there, that Dad could pass at any time, but I chose to walk them out instead.We paused in the kitchen, Galleytrot with us, all awkward in the quiet of the house."Syd," Liam reached for me even as Quaid scowled at him, "I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do."I hugged him, Quaid be damned. "Thank you," I whispered in his ear. "Your just being here is enough.""Demon magic is beyond my abilities." Galleytrot sighed. "I hate having limits."I laughed and hugged the big dog, his soft fur against my cheek. "Me too."His dark eyes met mine. "Some of us don't have limits.""Apparently I do, after all." I sighed and scratched his ears as I thought about my dad. "I'm going to need your help holding Mom together when this is over."He nodded slowly. "Anything, Syd."I straightened, eyes locking on Quaid. I could feel him clearly again, now he was a Hayle witch, the pressure of his power held back from me. The
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 285: Willing Sacrifice
Blood poured outward, thick, red, gushing over his hands, over the blade, running out over the crystal as Sassy clutched at his heart where the knife entered. The family magic reacted instantly, surging upward, repelled by the demon shield. Liam acted before I could think, a thick green ward forming around the bubble of amber.The family magic fell back, stirred to anger, but unable to find its quary, circling slowly around the pentagram and the macabre scene unfolding before us. I didn't care now if our house was flattened, if the Dumonts came, the Enforcers. My friend was dying, falling to his knees, toppling over on his side, lying across the feet of the effigy of my father."A willing sacrifice," Liam whispered. "The greatest source of power."I whipped my head around, tears pouring from my eyes. Liam winced, but went on."If your father had succeeded in killing himself," Liam said, "he would simply have just died. But Sassy giving himself, his existence... Syd, he may have jus
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 286: Two Days
Two days.Two days had passed since Dad left and Sassy...Since Sassy died.It took me that long to even be able to say it in my head without breaking down into sobbing tears so hard I couldn't breathe.Almost as bad? Mom couldn't reach Dad. I tried too, but now the crystal was gone, I found it impossible to tear through the veil. And without Theridialis waiting on the other side to pull me over, I was out of luck.We tried not to worry. "Your father was fine when he left. He looked fine to you, didn't he, Syd?" Mom was as big a wreck as I was. If we weren't crying over Sassy, we were crying over Dad.Meira was oddly the most stable of the three of us. Was she upset? Naturally. But she seemed able to control her grief better and instead ended up taking care of the two of us as we tried to come to grips with Sassy's loss.I munched popcorn that tasted like ashes, drank water that did nothing to quench my thirst. Mom managed to keep the coven running, mostly because Erica stepped
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 287: Evolution
Graduation was rapidly approaching. Good thing I was a quick study. I was able to recover from my almost week of crash and burn enough I knew I'd at least pass. Not like I needed good marks to get into the college I'd be attending. Being a witch was all I needed. Still, I'd always been a good student and the thought of not making it, especially in my last year, rankled.Liam was a big help on the studying front. Fortunately, he and Quaid had formed some kind of truce during my absence into grief and now seemed like pretty good friends.When Liam broached the prom subject, telling Quaid he was happy to step aside and let my boyfriend take me, I kyboshed it immediately. And even though I knew it made Quaid jealous, he was great about it. I guess he knew better than to push me after what he'd put me through.Smart boy.Theridialis popped in far more regularly, and Sassy seemed happy about that. When I taught him to ride the veil, my demon cat acted like he'd known all along even thoug
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 288: First Date
Book Eight: Full CircleI squinched up my nose at the layer of makeup on my eyelids and tried to decide if it made me look pretty or like I worked a corner. It was a quick decision to whip out a cleanser cloth and attack the offending glitter with gusto.It wasn't helping I had an audience. Alternating giggles came from behind me, my little sister Meira peeking around to grin at my reflection, her softly red skin and amber eyes a startling contrast to the furry silver Persian sitting in her lap. His gaze matched hers, though I sensed much more sarcasm and disdain from him than from Meira."The rubbed raw look is very in I hear." Classic Sassafras. It wouldn't do me any good to snark back. He was the master and I bowed to his ability. Besides, I was way too nervous to really pay much attention to him.I was finally going on my first real date with Quaid. It seemed so long in coming. While we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend, a fact still freaking me out a little and makin
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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
