Either the transport Ahbi used to give us our tour was much faster or Ram's magic just wasn't up to the same task, because it took us a couple of hours to reach Bilhaeder, just as the first of the suns was starting to come up. Nights were short on Demonicon, all those spinning stars making it almost impossible to predict, though I was sure there was a calendar of sunrises and sets somewhere.Just as well. The view was even more spectacular than I remembered, the rainbow quality of the city's domes catching the early light, throwing back flashes of reds and blues and greens as we swooped low, still disguised by my power, into the edge of the city. I sighed sadly as Ram set us down on a quiet street, looking up at the tall domes further off, wanting to hold onto the wonder and contentment I'd felt through the ride, a welcome respite from the urgency of the last day or so.Ram dropped his magic and I did the same, but he shook his head as he leaped out and turned to catch my eyes."I'm
I could have let my grandmother's power out and attacked them to get to Ameline. Easily. Effortlessly. But doing so would have hurt and possibly killed a number of innocent demons and I just couldn't bring myself to do it.Damn my conscience anyway.Instead, Ahbi's power punishing me with jabbing pains to my gut, I turned and willingly went with the group now leading me out of the populated library and to the back of the room where I was funneled through a small door and into a private study chamber.Empty, naturally. Perfect. Since I didn't for a second consider any of these demons innocent, I could act with impunity."We've been looking for you." Fenukamadi glared at me, gesturing to his people to guard the room."How lovely you found me then," I said. "But if you don't mind, I have a sociopathic murderer to hunt down, and now that you've let her go, I'll have to chase her again." I closed the distance between us in two quick strides before anyone could stop me, my anger snappin
Ram, now dressed as I was in a black robe, led me, a pair of rebel guards flanking us, back the way we came to the library and the table where Ameline had stood. The busybody colleagues already cleared the book she'd read from away, but after letting my demon sniff the spot, I followed her guidance to a nearby shelf and retrieved the tome in question.It stank of Ameline, so much Ahbi's power jerked inside me.Look, I sent, not knowing if what was left of her could understand me or not. I'm doing my damned best. But if you keep doing crap like this, we won't get anywhere. Got me?The power fluttered, shot me one last jab and subsided.Okay then.Ram had already flipped the book open by the time I finished my little internal argument and from the pale look on his face, it wasn't good news. Since I couldn't read what was written there, I had to impatiently poke him in the ribs to catch his attention. He was so concerned he didn't even frown at me."What?" I looked down at the sketc
Ram filled Culectorion in while I was led to a private room and allowed to collapse into a sunken tub carved from stone and soak the filth of the desert I'd walked through and the sweat of anxiety from my body. I knew I didn't have much time, but it was hard to drag myself from the water, now scrubbed clean and smelling of some kind of Demoniconian flower, toweling off with a soft sheet, dressing in boots-thank the elements. Boots!-flowing black pants and a tightly belted red tunic, tossing my poor t-shirt and what remained of my pajama bottoms in the corner. It felt weird to go without a bra, but I didn't have much choice, hoping my demon's larger chest, though perky, wouldn't bounce too much.Making me blush. Because I thought of Ram and if he'd notice.Aw, hell.A metal ring with an elastic substance on the inside held my hair back and a warm black jacket hemmed at my knees finished the ensemble. Much more wearable than most of the clothes I'd been forced to choose from in Ostrog
I kicked my own sorry ass for the next several minutes while resolutely not meeting Ram's eyes. What was I thinking? This was serious business. Stupid romance and girly passion had no place in my mind. Or shouldn't have. I had a world to save, didn't I?So why did I catch myself thinking about what Ram would look like with considerably less clothing on?Syd. Girlfriend. Priorities.At least our escort was over it, or at least had the good sense to stop with the smirking and sideways glances. They had to be all males, didn't they? I was surrounded by juveniles.Time to get with the program. I steadfastly tuned out anything romantic and looked around to get my bearings. What I saw wasn't all that thrilling and almost disappointed me enough my demon's desire to think about Ram again nearly won.While Milanseme was beautiful for its spiky spires and Bilhaeder stunning with its shining domes, Ilogabon bordered on ugly. All angles and odd shapes that made no sense, carved from the same
I spent the remainder of the day with Ram in tow, following the pull of Ameline. There were several times we were forced to hide from approaching Guards and dodge fights still breaking out all over Ilogabon, simply blending in with the rest of the fleeing populace in most cases.I had no idea what Ameline was up to, but she led me on a labyrinth chase all over the hideous city, and I began to wonder as the largest suns set if she'd somehow managed to trick Ahbi's power into following a false trail while our quarry eluded us and escaped.Ram finally pulled me to a halt when yet another tug ended up in a dead end alley."Your method is getting us nowhere," he said, holding up his hands in defense as I spun on him with a snarl."You try following the geas of a dead demon Ruler," I snapped.Ram bowed his head with a little smile. "I'm not faulting you, Princess," he said. "But something is clearly making our job harder. Might I suggest something?""Go ahead." I stomped one foot befor
Ram turned me around and shoved me toward Mensa's little vehicle before the fleet of Guard transports appeared from the darkness above. I vaguely heard Phineasoralo shouting orders at her people, thrown to the ground when a ball of blazing demon fire exploded on the other side of the slim ship's hull, cracking it in two and sending the pieces spinning like tops.There went that idea. By the time I leaped to my feet, a shield firmly around me and, by physical association as he gripped my hand, Ram, two of the massive transports had already landed, Guards pouring out, magic flying.This way! Ram's jerk on our mutual grip almost tore my arm from its socket as he dragged me like a sack of dead weight for the first few steps until I broke through my shock and followed under my own power. Mensa huffed behind us, too far for me to cover him with my shielding, though I did my best. Explosion after explosion rocked the docking area, small transports and large carriers owned by the rebels dest
Nunaresh approached at a rapid pace, the large transport's increased power traveling much faster than our smaller ride had been able to accomplish. I sat back and watched the tiny lights grow to towering buildings reminding me more of a human city than any of the others I'd visited here on Demonicon."Why isn't Nunaresh on the official tour?" I caught Ram's scowl before he answered."It's the only independent city on Demonicon," he said, voice level, but hands tightening on the sides of the control panel. That, paired with his frown, told me this was a major bone of contention for him. "The aristocracy can't be bothered with the lower plane cities, let alone one run by its own council. Your grandmother tried many times to coerce the rulers of Nunaresh to accept royal control, but she never convinced them and wasn't willing to start a war over it.""I'm amazed she let it grow at all." The city fell away to my right as Ram banked around the outskirts. "Ahbi was such a control freak."
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