The light of day helped me gain some perspective, wiping away my fear and making me doubt what I'd dreamed."You've dreamed before," Charlotte said over a steaming cup of the thickest coffee I'd ever choked on. She insisted on making her own, our American brew just too weak for her Old World tastes. "And those dreams have been warnings, foreshadowings."It was kind of nice to have someone in my life who actually believed me when I said something was happening. And yet, I found myself shaking my head as I slid into the seat at the head of the table, my back to the basement door, and toyed with my glass of orange juice. "I dreamed about falling on Demonicon," I said. "If this was some kind of warning, why did I have the same nightmare at the end of it?"Yes, nightmare. I'd been having the falling dream pretty regularly since we came home from the other plane. My near-death experience left a stamp of terror on my psyche, the absolute fear I'd felt as I slid over the side of the disable
Why was it my default location when I felt sad had Liam in it? Not that I was deep in the doldrums or anything, but thinking about Meira leaving me was enough to set me off in search of comfort.Didn't help Gram was still nowhere to be found. The rest of the house felt so quiet. Maybe that was why I couldn't stand to stay around while the sound of Meira's laughter and chatter echoed from upstairs like she was in another world.I sealed the wards on the house as I left, sending her a soft touch of magic to let her know where I was going. She hugged me quickly back, a flash of a very cute guy passing between us before she blocked me out, giggling. I was a little surprised to find Sassafras at my feet, tail twitching, as I locked the kitchen door.Who was I to question why he needed out of the house? Maybe Meira's growing up bothered him, too.Not feeling super talkative, but in the need for exercise, I led our small procession, Charlotte at my side, toward town hall and my Sidhe frie
We were a quiet bunch heading back to the house. Liam was lost in thought and his own inner geeky excitement, grinning at me from time to time, a kid on his way to a toy store. Galleytrot padded beside him, tongue lolling out, Sassafras perched on his wide back. I almost told him to get down, but just rolled my eyes.This town was weird on its own. A silver Persian riding a giant black dog wasn't going to be news.And Charlotte? Well, she was Charlotte. Chatty Cathy, that one.Naturally, when we piled into the van waiting in my driveway, I was stuck driving. Not that I minded. I liked to drive. But there were too many of us to fit in a normal-sized car, so I was forced to take the family minivan.Yup, really cool, Syd.I still missed Minnie, my turquoise and white Mini Cooper, cursing the Dumont brothers, Jean Marc and Kristophe, under my breath yet again at the memory of my exploding car. Jerktards. While their attempt to kill me had failed, thanks to Charlotte's timely arrival,
Liam was gone like a shot down the stairs, yet again leaving us to follow. But this time he was slowed by the writing on the walls of the narrow flight, twisting back and forth from one side to another, cries of joy and exclamation bursting from him, kind of like this:"Mesopotamia! Holy, can't be, how cool is-Egypt! The pyramids are what? Now I have to go to-Greece. Yes, of course. Of course! Why didn't I guess that might be the-Rome? No, really? All of Rome? How did they control the flow of-"He stopped below me, hand hovering over the wall, and when he turned to face me there was so much sadness in his eyes I descended to share his step and hug him while he shook."So sad," he whispered. "The Dark Ages."Ouch. Not a great time for those with magic. "The Inquisition?" All witches knew about the Spanish Inquisition, their unholy need to eradicate all of us from the face of the earth, only to ultimately fail because we were simply too smart for them."It wasn't what we thought," Liam s
-I'm in the dream again, watching the two armies face off, the ghostly specter of the maji woman hovering next to me. Only now the battle has engaged, power slashing between combatants, death and life coming together in a mix of screams and the discharge of opposing magicks.I want to help, reaching for them, but the maji holds me back.Iepa. I turn to her, see her face more clearly with contact, and know I'm right, it is she, the author of Liam's book, who has brought us together, to this place, with purpose. I have to stop it.You will have your chance. Her voice is liquid in my mind, gentle and soft. I hope. But not in this moment, Sydlynn. This is but an image of what could be, a possible future. If we were to go elsewhere in this place, you would see far different outcomes than this one. And yet, the possibility of its coming to pass is enough to bring us worry.Us. I turn back to the battle, heart pounding. The maji.She doesn't answer, just watches with me for a moment. Thi
I turned without a word and retreated, climbing the stairs, letting my fingers run over the carvings as I did, feeling my bodywere close on my heels, the press and warmth of Sassy's furred shape against my leg as we emerged in the chamber above.Time for me to be going. Now that the vampires were awake, it was probably a good idea for me to make myself scarce, though I was sure Liam and Galleytrot would be here for a while yet.My mind returned to the two kids and Iepa's warning as I emerged into the main house level and walked the hall toward the front door, head down, eyes locked on the carpet, mind far away. I needed to figure out a way to find the pair, but I had no idea how.Arms slid around me and since Charlotte didn't protest I assumed I knew the owner of those arms. I hugged Sunny back immediately, feeling the warmth of her, thankful she at least had eaten before I ran into her and wondered if hunger for blood made Sebastian's problem with me worse. It was much more likely
It was a short trip across the park and to the back yard, but I worried the entire time. Despite being careful, I didn't want to be caught by a normal while levitating the two kids now in my charge. I could have used the veil, but I hesitated in taking them into it so soon after the attack. Besides, the wards on the house and surrounding property wouldn't let me ride the veil all the way to the back door anyway, so I figured a little quasi-illegal magic use was worth the risk.As luck would have it, not too many people were out an about in the middle of the night in Wilding Springs. None, actually. Only me. Surprise, surprise. Oh, and my very anxious bodywere and demon cat who both came bounding across the grass toward me as I crossed the wards and entered the family property.Charlotte looked very unhappy. And when the weregirl showed her emotions, it was all kinds of bad. Sassafras stopped in his tracks at the sight of the boy and girl, wrapped in glowing blue magic, floating besid
Even though I felt bad for the boy, a twinge of nerves put my back up. After all, according to Iepa, weren't we going to war with sorcerers? How smart was it to have one in my house?And yet, there was no way the sweet-faced kid standing in front of me, his crushed expression telling me how much he worried about his own abilities, could possibly be a threat. At least, not on purpose.I'd take it.His sister, on the other hand, had this way with my last nerve that was about to get her a serious smackdown. She grabbed her brother and shoved past me, heading for the door, a harsh, determined look on her face. I naturally reached for her to pull her back. No way was she storming out, not after I'd saved their butts from whoever was trying to hurt them.My fingers slipped over the denim of her jacket, caught her hand. The moment our skin touched, power rippled between us. Trill came to an immediate halt, turning to face me, her eyes at my height, slim body quivering."Why haven't you f
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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,
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