I paced in my tiny cell, buried at the bottom of the Seat, deep under the mountain while my mind whirled and argued and fought for focus.Pagomaris hadn't given me even a second to explain. "How could you?" She gasped as I reached for her with Grandmother's magic, wanting her to understand I had nothing to do with her beloved Ruler's death.But Pagomaris took the touch the wrong way."How despicable," she hissed, hovering over the body as though I tried to take Ahbi's physical form away from her adoring aide. "Murdering your own blood and stealing her power for your own. You disgust me. Guards!" I trembled as I tried to put two words together, heart screaming "No!" while my lips opened and closed in silence even as a pair of giant demons in uniforms grabbed me and clamped stone shackles around my hands.The moment the restraints closed over my skin my whole magical world went dark. Every bit of it. No power. Where was my power? I fought them at last, screaming wordlessly, body twis
Again, it seemed like forever went by while I discarded urge after urge to break out of my cell and go hunting. I only succeeded in keeping my demon in check thanks to the combined power of my vampire, Shaylee and my witch magic, even as the urgency of the imposed oath slowly built in pressure until I felt certain my chest would explode.More voices behind the door spun me around, eagerly reaching for Dad, lurching to the exit. Only to find myself clutching, not at my father, but the sadly smiling Theridialis."Sydlynn, dear girl," he said as he hugged me to his portly body while the door closed on us. "How are you holding up?"How was I holding-?!? He was lucky I had a firm grasp on my demon or he'd be prone on the floor and likely unconscious for a very long time."I take it that means you're not here to let me out." Clenched teeth served me well yet again. At this rate, I'd be wearing dentures by the age of twenty-five from all the grinding I'd done over the years."I'm afraid
I should have been expecting an attack. After what Theridialis told me about the hostile environment above, not to mention my previous experience on Demonicon, an attempt on my life was an obvious thing, wasn't it? But, like a doofus, I wasted a precious moment on "huh?" while the three Guards, the closed cell door now shutting out the rest of the world, gathered their power and pounced.Not for the first time and certainly not for the last, I was grateful for the presence and vigilance of the other powers living with me. Without them, I know my life, as invincible as I might have been, would have likely ended that night.As it was, my vampire threw out a shining silver shield only just in time to block the first blast of golden fire even as Shaylee's earth magic dove deep under the rock and burst forth, turning the ground beneath the hulking Guards to rubble, driving them to their knees. My demon reacted next, a massive lash of magic whipping through the trio as they howled in pain.
The transport, magical support gone, fell like a very bulky and badly shaped stone, the bubble overhead flickering as the last of the power running through the vehicle finally ran out. Freezing wind tackled me as the shield collapsed, sending me backward into what had been a bench seat, now just an empty space, to impact the low lip of the edge of the transport. I was very lucky the side wasn't flat, and that I'd been crouching at the time. Had I been standing, there was no way I would have managed to stay on board. The knee-high ridge barely caught me as it was. Stiff material I could only compare to plastic bruising my ribs, all the air rushing out of me as the non-existent nose of the craft turned down toward the ground.The two demons slid at me, the boy from the market diving headfirst, hands outstretched to save his head from impacting the edge of the vehicle while his companion grabbed for the only thing he could reach on the way by.Me.Hands off, jerktard. Get yourself kill
The soft, shifting ,sandy ground heated quickly, catching the warmth of the rising suns to the point I hopped an undignified, hissing gait punctuated with "ah!" and "ooh!" as the bottoms of my feet stung. Ram finally stopped with a heavy sigh, turning to glare at me while I dug my toes in and glared my fury.Instead of commenting, though I was sure he wanted to from the irritated but amused look on his handsome (stop it right there, Sydlynn Hayle) face, he knelt at my feet with a murmured, "Your Highness." With two quick jabs of a sharp rock, he cut off two strips of fabric from each leg of my pajama pants.My favorite pajama pants. He'd pay. Oh yes indeedy doodle. He'd pay.Ram looked up at me, eyes twinkling. "If you would allow me?"Like I had a choice. I lifted one red-tinted foot, wincing at the state of my black toenails, wondering if Ram thought they were ugly. Yeah, cut that thought off at the pass. Not that I was usually worried about a pedi, but demon toes weren't all tha
I'd never felt like a rock star before. But the adoration and sudden need of each and every soul in the village to come and touch me, fall at my feet in sobbing joy, was about as close as I could imagine. It wasn't until Qesay chased them off I was able to join Ram and Ahmose in their examination of the transport."You just wasted your power on them, you know." Ahmose's clear disdain made me feel I'd done the right thing even more."Mine to share," I shot back before turning on Ram, temper prickling. "Well?"He straightened from peering over the rounded lip, a small console fading into the surrounding hull. "Well." He shrugged. "Nicely done.""Whatever." I wasn't in the mood for platitudes. "Will it run?" I didn't like the idea of having to carry it with magic, or ourselves for that matter, any distance."I can fix it," he said, though dubiously. "There's enough residual power left in the console I should be able to get it running long enough to access sunlight.""Solar powered?"
I followed Ram around the corner, unsurprised to find Ahmose standing between us and it."This transport is only big enough for two," he said, power crackling around him. "Which takes us back to my original idea, Ram.""I suppose it does," Ram said, tone casual though his body was tense, shoulders pulling against his shirt as he stepped in front of me. "But somehow I don't think the princess will go willingly."I shoved him aside, glaring at Ahmose as my own magic swelled. I let it all out, filling the filthy alley with the full power I had in my possession. Green Sidhe magic pooled along the ground, white vampire energy misting around me even as the family magic of the Hayle coven formed a small tornado at my back while fire crackled and my vision turned amber.Ahmose paled, fell back a step. "Ram, do something.""I plan on it," Ram said. Turned to me. "Unless you'd like to take care of it?""My pleasure." I didn't give Ahmose a moment to realize what we were talking about befor
After a quick check with magic to make sure we were safe, Ram and I climbed back into the beat-up transport and flew back through the falls. Now we were properly supported and not on the run from Guards, I was able to enjoy the view more. Ram spun us sideways part way up the falls, mist sheeting over our shields, the thundering sound of falling water still so loud my teeth rattled together. But the sight was stunning. The elemental pressure of the red-tinted moisture shook the slim hull, vibration adding to the thrill of hovering in mid-air surrounded by primal power.Speaking of primal power, my demon, now safe and off alert mode, was having more than a little fun with the whole Ram-in-my-lap situation. After I caught her sliding my fingers under the hem of his shirt, I forced my hands to my sides and clenched them into fists. If Ram had objections to either reaction, he had the good grace to keep it to his damned self.Smart boy.No beautiful dragons with multi-hued hides and mass
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