Another cell, this one big enough for all of us and not all that cell-like, really. I got the impression not to many people just showed up on the doorstep of the Node like we did. As in, none.I turned to Theridialis, needing to focus on the task at hand and not my unconscious sister lying a few feet away. "I take it they aren't prepared for something like this?"Theridialis shook his head where he sat on the floor with his back to the wall, sorrow and guilt still weighing him down. "The Node monitor's oath is sacred," he said. Swallowed hard, wiping at his sweating forehead with a shaking hand. "No one has ever broken it."Shocking for a bunch of power-hungry demons. "Never. Ever.""I know you find it hard to believe our people have honor," Theridialis said with so much dignity I felt badly for pushing him. "But when it comes to the safety of our planes, Node monitors are absolutely loyal. Only we understand how very fragile our existence is."I nodded, relented. "So how secure i
When I pressed my hand to the last wall, instead of a doorway, I found myself sliding through the metal directly, as though it absorbed me and spit me out the other side. It was like walking directly into a giant sun, blazing white and pulsing with power. And yet, it only took me a moment for my demon eyes to adjust, the fragment of Theridialis's monitor power attuning my vision to the sight of the Node. I was sure the uninitiated would have been blinded by the spectacle.And it was a spectacle, so amazing, so beautiful. I stopped in my tracks, mouth gaping open, heart beating in time with the flux of the Node, the pull of its power far stronger than Ahbi's geas could ever be.Sydlynn, Theridialis sent, gently but with urgency. I know. I do. But we don't have time.Right. Head shake, Hayle. I wrenched my gaze from the towering, spinning teardrop of light and pulled my demon energy close to me, careful not to let any escape as I scanned the room.Not what I expected, after all the m
Floating in perfection, body infused with balanced power, I felt the Node embrace me, its curiosity about me as it studied me carefully and accepted who I was, who Theridialis and Tara were, welcoming me home as though I were a monitor. Until it jerked in pain, its agony my agony, slicing through the magical connection formed from Theridialis's magic and Tara's.Ameline. I focused on her name and felt myself slide through the light, thrown headfirst at a blackened blob tainting the center of the Node. Threads of sickly gray and red branched out from her, as though she wore a cloak of fiber-thin roots digging their way through the heart of the Node, infecting it. I dove for her, hands outstretched, power gathering, only to feel the Node shudder from me as well, watch more of the taint slide from my fingertips.Right. No magic against her power.This was very bad.Ameline saw me coming, her huge amber eyes fixed on mine, filled with madness as she slung herself forward, the Dead Ston
When I woke back in the same cell I'd occupied in Ostrogotho, I'm sure they heard me swearing all the way up on the Seat.We could simply go home now, my vampire sent, her anger a cold fire in my heart while my demon snarled and paced inside me, Shaylee vibrating with rage. They were all in agreement, even my witch magic, longing to be let loose at last.They were right. I stopped my own travels back and forth the short distance from one side of the cell to the other. I had enough power, unblocked this time around, I knew I could break through the veil and leave on my own. I waffled back and forth between just leaving the whole ungrateful demon race behind and holding on to the need to make sure Dad would be okay. Though, why I cared at this point, after being stuffed into a prison for the second time for a crime I didn't commit, I had no idea.If nothing else, my worries for Meira held me in my cell, fuming. Pacing. Fuming some more.My door groaned open, a small, silver ball of f
No repentance in her, not even a little, as Sassy's mother was dumped on her knees before the thrones. I kept my magic in reserve, just in case, though I knew Dad would never let the attractive scientist act against him.Still. Better safe than fighting a power-crazed and desperate demon looking to save her own skin."Sekaniphestat, Lady of the Fourth Plane," Dad said, "you are accused of aiding a foreign power in entering our plane and using your influence to assist said power to attack the Node which protects our home." Ameline's little helper. How quaint.So many dark promises to unravel.One of Dad's hands twitched as though he barely held back the need to choke her to death himself. "You are also accused of attacking the heir to Second Seat and drugging her with illegal substances for your own gain." No mention of Meira's addiction. She stood solid beside Dad, face a calm mask, so I could only guess what was going on behind the burning in her amber eyes.If I was Sekaniphesta
I followed Dad and my grandfather, Meira between them, Belkni gliding on the far side, to the back of the throne room and a private elevator I'd not seen before.Ram stepped from the shadows, bowing to Dad. "Ruler," he said with great respect."Rameranselot," Dad said. "Mother told me about you." My father glanced at me before returning his attention to Ram. "I take it your loyalty is not in question?""Never, Ruler," Ram said, vibrating with tension."I wish that were true of me," Henemordonin said, a little sullen.Ram didn't flinch, facing down the new Second Seat. "Ahbi saved my life," he said. "Raised and trained me as though I were her own. I owed her everything." His eyes met mine. "As I do her granddaughter."Don't tell me he'd fallen into some kind of hero worship. Not after I abandoned him back at the Node.My grandfather grunted softly and sighed. "She was a wretched old creature," he said, "but I loved her still." He set one hand on Ram's shoulder. "And I understand
I sipped the hot, rich cup of coffee, thick with cream and honey, smiling until my cheeks ached at the happy sight of the family on the sofa across from me. I didn't miss the feeling of Todd squirming around inside me, his spirit and power now back safely where they belonged. I'm not sure what Sassafras told Talee, but the moment she saw me standing on her front step, Tara rushing forward to hug her mother, the stranded demon woman burst into tears, leaving her human husband to lead me to the quiet back bedroom and the still form of their empty son.It only took moments to restore him, his hazel gaze filling with life before he sat up with a yawn and asked for a snack.The tall, black-haired Talee, with the wide green eyes and shoulders broader than her husband's, turned to beam at me from the couch as she cuddled her giggling son against her side."We can't thank you enough," Taleesharete said, the demon woman reaching out to pull her daughter closer, too, if that was possible whil
One thing was certain, my life was never dull.Not with a demon family to integrate into my coven while some of the older witches grumbled and fussed and threw around words like, "shocking" and "scandalous". That was, until the Lawrence sisters adopted Taleesharete and the rest of the Happern brood. The dissenters knew better than to cross Estelle and Esther.Way for the twins to step up.Mom didn't say a word past welcoming them to the coven, though I knew she'd probably catch some grief once she returned to Harvard and the Council. Still, our unusual family was none of the Council's business and I was happy Mom accepted that.I knew my grandmother approved by the way she grinned every time someone brought up the demon and her family, after that first breakfast/lunch. Obviously, she approved of the Happerns. And it was always nice of her to have my back.I took a more active stance in searching for Ameline, but she was doing a great job hiding and I knew I'd only find her when sh