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Chapter 407: Holding Court
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 408: One Way To Win
There's only one way to win this. Meira's mind latched onto mine. We have to work together.Brilliant. Sassy was right. The moment I could, I'd make up for not hugging my grandmother. One look at the pair before us and I knew what she figured out long before I had-our love for each other was the biggest advantage Meira and I had.What the entire demon population seemed to be missing.I let my sister link to me without hesitation, feeling the odd sensation of her body moving in tune with mine for a moment. It was almost distracting enough to get me in trouble as I fumbled my magic in the instant of our connection. But thanks to that same connection, Meira was right there with me and able to pull up the slack, her power feeding mine, a combined one-two of fireballs and whipping flames saving me from the lashing magic Cypherion let loose.Let's take them down. I had to grin at Meira's grim yet excited tone, the classic clichés coming from her. Too many action movies, I guess.She was
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 409: Challenge Vandelarius
Holy.It's not like I didn't expect some grand announcement from her, but no way was I expecting this. At least, not now. Me? Second Seat? But-We knew she was planning something, Sassy sent, mind like a whip, breaking me out of my gaping stare and stunned freeze. I warned you she might try something like this. You have to turn her down.Easier said than done.Still."I'm not next in line." As if I wished this on Dad. He stood there in silence, eyes locked on me, though he looked more sad now than angry."I call on you to challenge," Grandmother said. "If you are able to defeat Vandelarius, you claim Second Seat."So much for that argument. Not much of one anyway. It was Dad or me. And neither of us wanted the job."No." It was the best I could muster, but from the scowl on her face I knew my best wasn't good enough so I tried again. "I am a coven leader, daughter of another plane." That was better. Get a grip, Syd. "My duty lies elsewhere. I can't take the throne."Grandmot
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 410: Haralthazar
Just like the cold-hearted snake he was, Vandelarius was prepared, surging immediately into massive shape to confront Dad, lashing out with his power without warning. I spun toward Meira, our power forming a protective shield around us and the scrambling Sassafras, just avoiding the fallout of the attacking demon's power. We ran for cover, away from the main concourse, just as Dad's massive hands latched onto Vandelarius and tightened around his rival's throat.Not just a battle of power. The two grappled with each other physically, Dad's fist impacting the smaller demon's face. Vandelarius spun sideways, energy pushing him up even further, making him bigger, shoulders pressing into the shielding around the throne room. Dad lunged forward, fists impacting the other's guts, but Vandelarius's magic lashed out at the same moment, leaving burning welts across Dad's chest, his tunic shredded and hanging from his muscular chest.Dad roared, body swelling further, joining Vandelarius in a p
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 411: Ahbi's Plan
It didn't take Grandmother long to make things even more official. Within an a few hours of the battle, the mess was cleaned up, the two empty demons carted off and Dad's coronation was underway with all the pomp and majesty the court could muster under the circumstances.We had that short time with Dad, but it wasn't enough, not even close. Not when I again had the sense with every word he spoke he was telling us goodbye. No, he never came out and actually said it, but something about the sadness in him, the way he held my hand, the tone of his voice, made me think I didn't have a dad for much longer.Probably just my overactive imagination.It didn't take long for the demon aides to descend on him, for us to be chased off by Pagomaris, hurriedly dressed. I didn't fight her this time, let her drape me in some kind of massive feather thing with giant plumes sticking out of my head. I just didn't have the heart to fight anymore.I'd had enough fighting for the day, thanks.Two smal
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 412: Happy, Grandmother?
I'd seen Dad angry, beside himself, in an animal-like rage fed by power. But I've never seen him so full of fury he couldn't speak.Sassy did it for him."You trapped the girls here on purpose." He growled a soft whine, ears flat, tail thrashing against me. "Took their hope, forced them to fight. Ahbi, that's despicable, even for you."I sat back, not really all that surprised, to be honest, as I met Dad's eyes. "Can you please tell me," I said, amazed at how light my tone was, "why you ever wanted to come back to this place?"He shook his head, teeth grinding as he clearly fought the urge to do something unspeakable to his own mother. "You know," he said, "I really have no idea."Dad surged to his feet, holding his hands out to us. "In fact," he said, "I think I'm about to change my mind." Meira took one of his hands as she rose, mine sliding over the warm skin of his palm as I joined her. "Well done, Mother. But you've forgotten something." He pointed at the sight of the basemen
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 413: Farewells
Gram was just releasing Meira as I stepped through into her wiry arms, forcefully pressed to her thin body while she shook and hugged me as if she'd never let me go. I clung to her just as hard, feeling the warmth of Sassafras as he wound himself around our feet.I was jerked free of Gram's embrace and slammed bodily into Charlotte for half a second before she pushed me away from her and shook me so hard my teeth rattled together."Don't ever leave me again!" I had a moment to register she looked like hell before she hugged me again, hands clawed against my back. I let her feel my magic, slid it around her, held her with it until hands gripped her shoulders and gently pulled her free. Her long, blonde hair hung in limp strands around her face, cheeks and eyes sunken with dark circles, lips dry, flaking. She swiped at her face, tears pouring down her patchy skin, once flawless beauty now pasty and damaged.Mom held her back, one arm around her as I continued to feed the weregirl with
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 414: Liam's Arms
I couldn't take it. Couldn't. I fled from Mom, from Gram, from all of it. Couldn't bear the touch of the veil, instead threw on my jacket and boots and felt the bite of the cold as I ran out into a frosty white world almost unfamiliar, across town, through the glass door, down the stairs, across the green barrier and into Liam's waiting arms.The cavern's power embraced me, held me as close as my Sidhe friend as he guided me into his room and sat me on the edge of his bed. The draping branches of the carved tree above me drooped as though in tune with my sadness.Liam held me, rocked me as I cried and babbled, unable to get anything out clearly for a long time. When I finally could, I'd calmed enough to pull away and stand, to pace, feeling odd as I did, my human body an adjustment after the muscular power of my demon form.He listened as he always listened, face creased in concern, hands clasped in his lap, hazel eyes full of worry while I dumped the whole crappy, nasty, unfair sit
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 415: Love Sucks
So much for a Merry Christmas.Mom went from mournful to cold and brittle by the time I trudged my way home again, tears spent on the wide shoulders of the guy who loved me no matter what. I knew it was a defense mechanism of hers, but we needed her, damn it. I needed her. Still, I couldn't blame her for retreating into her Council Leader persona, abandoning her promise and diving into Council business to stay distracted.Let's just say Christmas morning was a real downer and leave it at that.It took me a few days to break Meira out of her angry shell. When I did, trapping her in her room with Sassafras for backup and letting her pummel me for a few minutes with her fists and her power-not telling anyone she broke the rules no matter what-she finally collapsed on her bed, sadness surfacing at last, and finally admitted to me the worst part of all of it was she felt like a traitor.Despite what she told Ahbi, Meira wanted to go back to Demonicon someday.Honestly, I was the last p
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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
