Gram flipped a panini on the grill, crisping toast and hot chicken filling the kitchen with aromas so delicious my stomach growled despite my crabby mood.As I took my plate, cheese bubbling out the edges of my sandwich, Gram caught my eye and snapped me once on the shoulder with her raised spatula."He's not strong enough for you," she said before pressing the lid down on the next sandwich with a loud hiss.My teeth ground together as I turned my back on her, forgetting, under her challenging stare, I'd only moments before considered kicking Liam to the curb over his mother. But I'd chosen, hadn't I? Whether Gram liked it or not. And she'd never said anything like that about Liam before. Not that I went looking for her opinion on my love life, thanks.Shenka slid into a chair beside me, sympathy written all over her face as Sassafras hopped up on the table, crouching over his kitty paw placemat, amber eyes locked on the milk carton. "He'll get tired of his mother eventually," Sh
I ran for the back door, reaching for the veil I knew I wouldn't be able to access until I left the property and the family wards, only to feel someone's hand on my arm. I spun around, panic fighting against Shenka who shook her head, face grim."I have to help her." I tried to pull free, but Shenka's fingers refused to open, her grip on my sleeve keeping me still. Gram and Sassafras stood behind her, the demon cat clutched to my grandmother's chest. No surprise, Charlotte stood on my left, my constant shadow ready to join me without question."You have to play by the rules." My second's words chilled the fire burning inside me, the need to rush off and save Mia. My old friend, the leader of the Dumont coven, hadn't been in close touch in a long time, not since the debacle at Harvard when she'd lost her boyfriend, Rupe, to Ameline's manipulations. Not to mention how some of the members of her coven had been associated with Ameline's plan.I'd done my best to support Mia, to help her
I stood back, trying to stay out of the way, the horror of the circumstance still weighing on me as I watched Enforcers carry the injured-and the dead-to various parts of the house. More and more fallen Dumonts appeared, from rooms scattered all over the giant mansion. I knew the family was large, hundreds of members, but I had no idea they all lived together in a fortress like this.No way I could handle having my coven around me 24/7. No. Way.Quaid stood next to me, head down, face drawn into a tight scowl. I knew he had to be lost in the demand Mia made of him. It took me a little while to break out of my own shock, but once I did, my hand crept into his and he accepted what fraction of comfort I had to offer without question.Our magic linked, flowed together, his tie to the Hayle coven still as strong as ever, though now buried under his growing Enforcer power. I dreaded the day he accepted his place as a full Enforcer, knowing, despite the fact I'd set him free from me, I'd c
It brought me at least a little satisfaction to ignore Mom's direct order. Rather than leave immediately, I pushed my boundaries and went looking for Mia.She had my demon cat, after all. And I was more than a little attached to his fuzzy butt.Charlotte padded softly behind me, footfalls louder than usual. As though she wanted me to know she was there.I stopped to face her, meeting her blue eyes, flickering with the wolf inside her. She hovered closer than usual, body loose and liquid.While I went tense when I prepped for battle, Charlotte was the opposite. As though knowing she headed for trouble triggered extra fluidity. Charlotte was ready for a fight. As long as it wasn't with me, we were fine. When her wolf surged to the surface and took over for a moment, I knew it wasn't me she wanted to thrash. But she threw in a little nod anyway.Just so I'd know it. It couldn't have been easy for her, being in this house. The Dumonts held her and her pack captive here for who kne
It was a slower ride home, though it still only took seconds for the veil to dump the three of us at the edge of our property. I crossed over into the yard, welcoming the feeling of the family wards as they embraced me, the coven's power surging forward to suck me in and wrap me up in a blanket of magic protection.There was a time I would have resisted such an embrace. Not today. I needed all the hugs I could get.The Wild Hunt slept peacefully beneath my feet as I crossed the bright green grass to the back door. I shuddered to think what would happen if the Hayle family magic was stolen. Gwynn ap Nudd and his riders would rise, devouring the plane in storm and disaster.But I'd be long gone, so it wouldn't matter to me, I guessed. Because anyone trying to take my family's power would do it over my dead and mangled body.Gram waited for me at the back door, holding it wide for Sass and Charlotte, her arm slinging around my waist as I let them go ahead of me, the screen door thuddi
Hurry up and wait was never so agonizing. After Mia's almost eager acceptance of Hayle coven support, the small group of family I transferred settled in to help with healing and protection. Mia wasn't on her feet yet, not making an appearance when I finally left my small group behind. But not much time had passed, only a few hours, so I wasn't really all that surprised.The real agony came over the next two days, waiting, wondering. I paced the house, certain I'd wear holes in the floors, wanting to be there myself, but knowing Mom would immediately pull the plug if I pushed her too hard. Esther and Estelle did a great job contacting me at regular intervals, but neither of them had much to report.It seems not just the family power was taken, Estelle sent early that first evening. Either that, or the witches in this coven are naturally weak, only powerful because of their family magic.Possible, Esther sent. Whatever the case, with the loss of the family's power, not one of the witc
Panic drove me through the door, power gathered, expecting a battle with sorcery, the Brotherhood, someone dying.Enforcers flooded the doorway behind me, shoving me forward, gaping at Mia. Who stood, mouth wide open, on her bed. Screaming. Screaming, as if she were being murdered, at the top of her lungs. Even the Enforcers screeched to a halt and stared while Mia had a very ugly, very emotional breakdown."I WANT IT BACK!" Her wailing words drove spikes through my ears, the pain behind them almost as bad as the volume she used. No one had to ask her what "it" was. The blank absence of the family magic gaped like an open wound. I glanced toward Shenka who crouched on the floor, shielding Marie who sobbed, blood running from her nose. Whatever triggered Mia's eruption injured the young Dumont.She's out of control. I sent that tight beam to the Enforcer beside me, the same woman I'd encountered at the front door. Do something.I'm not allowed to interfere. The woman's equally tight
We found her in her office, bent over a stack of paperwork. Didn't bother knocking. Or using regular channels. I was in a bad enough mood over the whole mess I simply slid us through the edge of the wards. The pentagram necklace I wore around my neck carried enough of Mom's essence to fool the shielding around her office into letting us through while the touch of Gram's Enforcer power, what she still carried with her, sealed the deal.To Mom's credit, she didn't freak out. Just looked up with a resigned expression, blue eyes snapping fire as she waved at her door, sealing it with a rush of magic."I've been waiting for you," she said. "Hungry?"Her attitude knocked me totally off guard. I'd lunged into the veil expecting a fight, ready for one. Couldn't wait. But, instead of our usual nuclear party-time, Mom rose from her desk and gestured at the small table beside the window. The scent of roasted chicken and veggies preceded the magical arrival of dinner, making my stomach growl an
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