-someone was screaming, a name I thought, but it took me a moment to break free of the hold Iepa's vision had over me. As I spun, Trill beside me, half-falling from the stone slab, her arms outstretched toward the exit and the stairs, my body compressed and shifted, power crushing me.Instinct took over, shields snapping into place, reinforced even as I finally realized, in the split second I needed to adjust, it was Trill's high-pitched cry I heard."OWEN!"The chamber was crowded, or felt that way. Hadn't we been alone only a moment before? No longer, not with Liam and Galleytrot staring in horror, Meira holding Sassafras, grim, tears on her cheeks though she stood her ground. Even Sebastian hovered near, his vampire body glowing white.None of it mattered. None of them. Not while the young sorcerer stood at the entry with his eyes pitch black, mouth gaping, a hole of nothing while his power pulled me toward him.Even through my shields, past layers of demon and Sidhe magic, blo
Belaisle smiled at me, hands folded neatly before him, impeccable suit perfectly tailored to his short, slim frame. He looked more like a smarmy executive out to rip people off than the dangerous leader of the Brotherhood. But it was the empty feeling of him, the way his cold amber eyes showed only a shark's interest in prey that gave me the willies."I thought I told you," Sebastian said, deep voice pushing power ahead of it, "you aren't welcome in my house."Belaisle shrugged a little, stroked the shining black goatee on his chin as though he hadn't just been told to remove his nasty ass from the vampire's turf."I'll leave," he said, "when my property is handed over."My eyes flickered to the horizon and the dying night. We were running out of time. Soon the vampires would be helpless, unable to fight, leaving Belaisle and his Brotherhood to do what they wanted.Over my dead body.Gram, I sent. I need the coven here, now, at the mansion. Tell them to be ready to fight.A ment
The library loomed above us in the early morning as I dumped my following onto the grass just past the parking lot. My power wrapped around Trill and Owen as we emerged, blocking off the natural pulse of their magic as we dashed as a group toward the door and down into the Sidhe cavern.The moment Trill and Owen were safely behind the glowing green wards, I ran out into the hall, Liam hot on my heels. He grabbed my arm, turned me back to face him while Meira joined him, taking my other hand."You can't go back." My sister's tone told me she was far more levelheaded about the whole mess than I was. Clearly. Her steady gaze had nothing on the manic need coursing through my veins to go back to the mansion and kick Belaisle's skinny little ass. "Gram will handle it. Syd." She jerked her grip on me, just painful enough to catch my attention. "We need you here."I shook my head, trying to pull free of her. "You're as strong as I am," I said."No, Syd," she said softly, letting me go. "I'
I had to see Gram, even if it was only for a moment or two before running off on yet another mad mission. Yes, I could tell from our mental connection she was fine, but after putting her and the rest of the coven in harm's way, I needed to see for myself.A quick stop at the house found it dark, but only because she was in the basement. And she wasn't alone. I felt them all reach for me as I walked into the kitchen, their relief, the hug of the family magic pulling me close and helping to calm me down way more than anything I could have accomplished on my own.I left Demetrius at the table with Charlotte to watch over him and descended the stairs into the crowd of witches circling the pentagram. My grandmother stood in the center of it, mismatched sweater and very loud pink pants worn as casually as the highest fashion. I knew part of her peculiar behavior was a mask, a way for her to hide from the world just how much of her still lurked inside, but even I had no idea if the brief
I was still trying to decide if marching down to the house was the best course of action when I felt someone reach for me. It was only the barest flicker of a touch, hardly there at all. And if I hadn't been out in the open, mind focused and power gathered, I probably would have missed it.Reaching back for whoever it was gave me nothing."There, see?" Demetrius did a little dance before me. "Told you. Get a crystal now. Then fix me!""Hang on." I waited for a repeat connection. Whoever it was, there hadn't even been enough contact for me to identify the power source. Was I imagining things?Nope, there it was again. I dove after the thin, fragile thread of demon magic, finding Sassafras, Meira boosting him. His power latched onto mine, but so weak, as though he were too far for me to reach.Or behind the Sidhe wards.My heart stopped, pounded once as the thread strengthened and suddenly surged to life, my demon cat yelling my name.Sass. I cut him off. What's wrong? Please, ple
Angry? What was angry? Raging? Had nothing on me. More like a pyroclastic meltdown with a side order of hell no.I was not pacing the thick, cream carpet of a second floor bedroom with my hands so tightly fisted I couldn't feel them anymore. Nor was my wereguard prone on the matching comforter with some kind of liquid metal shoved in her mouth and wrapped around her head, the same oozing stuff pinning her arms and legs so tightly all she could do was tremble and stare at me with desperate eyes.No, we were not trapped, prisoners, turned in by the very two kids I'd done everything I possibly could in my power to keep safe.Hell. No.Maybe if I'd had access to my magic, things would have turned out differently, though part of me doubted it. Not after Trill's blatant betrayal pinpointed our location. Charlotte tried to save me, diving in my way, yelling for me to run even as Demetrius's keening echoed in my head as he rushed the two sorcerers coming my way.I couldn't leave them, but
Not even I could stay mad after that. The thought of Belaisle having Gram in his clutches made me weak with fear. I could only imagine how the Zornovs felt. I'd grown up supported and loved and sheltered whether I liked it or not.All they had was each other. And their Nona."You weren't supposed to be here." Trill shrugged, without anger, without much of anything resembling emotion considering the bombshell she'd just dropped. Though I could only assume some kind of firestorm waited to be born. "Belaisle said if anyone interfered, he'd kill Nona. That we had to cooperate or she was dead." Trill wrung her hands together, voice still calm while her body struggled to express something, anything. "I had to turn you in when your power touched mine." She met my eyes, glasses a little fogged around the edges from the remains of her tears. "You would have ruined everything."Deep breath. Let it out. And my bubbling fury with it. All of it, down to the ground, until I felt clean, purified b
I credited the fact my powers were cut off, since I didn't feel a surge of nausea at her words. And yes, I'd heard the geas thing before and was fairly certain it was true. That sorcerers forced a witch to use her power to convince every witch thereafter the use of blood-creation-magic was evil and the very worst crime someone could commit.Still. The idea I'd have to use it... she couldn't be serious.Trill must have seen my reluctance. She scrunched her nose at me, glasses twitching, before she sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "This is how things are," she said, her no-nonsense attitude reminding me of Sassafras. "Crash course, pay attention." Owen shook his head with a little smile. He might have been used to her, but she was pushing her limits with me. If I hadn't needed the information, we'd be having a serious talk about her abrasive nature."The maji created everything," she said. "From witches to the Sidhe." I still struggled with the mythos, but let her go on. "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