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Chapter 645: Optimism
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 646: Hitchhikers And Half-Truths
Just as I was about to freak out from the solitude and my own spiraling thoughts, the seal around my door sighed and it opened. I braced myself, not sure who or what to expect. And winced at the sight of Varity Rhodes. She stared at me with a blank expression, draped in her heavy Enforcer robe, jaw tight, but eyes hooded and revealing nothing.I felt terrible for what I'd been forced to do to her, thought of Charlotte and wondered if my poor bodywere was catatonic yet.Before I could offer the apology I owed her, Varity spoke."Was it you who came to me?" Her voice seemed to echo in the stillness between us and I felt the brush of Enforcer power running beneath her words. "Was it you who asked me to bring you here?"Um, weird question. I opened my mouth to confess.Felt a jab from a place I wasn't expecting.Lie, Quaid sent. Lie your face off. Just do it.Huh? Okay, confused.Tell her you have no idea what she's talking about. Quaid's deep voice was edged with desperation. Don'
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 647: Council Leader
I thought that was it. Free to go, out of there. But Mom wasn't done.Not by a long shot."Coven Leader Hayle," she said, voice ringing with authority. "With the recent attack on the Dumont coven and the escape of Ameline, we now clearly see the threat you've so patiently tried to warn us about." Snort. Good one, Mom. Because I was the queen of patience. "Your growing power and approaching status as maji gave us pause." Freaked them the hell out. She was good at this diplomatic speak. "But without your assistance, our covens would be under the control of sorcerers whose only interest is domination of all magicks."Shocker. No one argued, turned red in the face. Nada.Maybe I was wrong about the others being under the influence."Because of your special status," Mom said, "we, the North American High Council, grant you full immunity and impunity to act on any threat you see arise without compunction."Did she just hand me the keys to the Universe?"Terrible days lie behind us," M
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 648: Gram
They wanted to talk, but I was done. I left them to hash out their own guilt and frustration while I finally let myself think of home.And Gram.Mom descended to my side, took my hand as I sliced open the veil and headed for Wilding Springs. Pressed my crystal into my palm as she did, returning it to me. The tiny soul inside rejoiced at our reunion, but I couldn't muster enthusiasm. Not when I didn't know what waited for me on the other end of the trip.The kitchen felt surreal, like somewhere I remembered from a long time ago, but hadn't thought of in ages. Shenka dropped the carton of milk she held, the refrigerator door gaping open as she cried out and rushed to me, hugging me tight while a white pool of liquid spread beneath us."Syd," she whispered. "We were so worried."I hugged her back, felt the touch of Mom's magic as she cleaned up the mess, looked up to see her put the milk back in the fridge. Shivered. She was herself, the woman I remembered when I was little. Young an
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 649: Love Renewed
Liam's arms welcomed me as I appeared in the Sidhe cavern. I don't know if he expected me or if he was just that happy to see me. But the moment I showed up he rushed to me and hugged me tight.Kissed me. And I kissed him back, the thrum of earth magic vibrating the ground beneath us.When I finally pulled away, I giggled a little. "Forgot what that was like."Wow, Syd. Way to prod a guy for being a pathetic Momma's boy.Liam blushed, ducked his head. "We can see where it takes us," he said, hope in his face as his hands slid into my back pockets, tucking my hips against his. "If you want?"Hmmm. "Where's your mother?" Come to think of it, I hadn't seen her once since this whole thing started.Liam's jaw tightened. "I sent her away."Wow. He what?"She was driving me nuts." He pulled free of me, turned to stare at the Gate. "I understood she felt guilty, that she was trying to protect me. But I couldn't take it anymore, Syd. So I made her leave.""How?" Not that he wasn't pers
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 650: Too Many Options
I didn't make it two steps inside, still flushed from my encounter with Quaid, when I felt demon power surge in the basement and went running.Found Meira waiting on the other side of the veil and crossed into her open arms.She hugged me so tight I could barely breathe, forgetting until she pulled away to allow my demon form to take over.Red skinned and black horned, I settled on her divan while she held my hand."Thanks for letting me know they didn't kill you or anything." She grinned, taking the sting out of her words."I was getting to it," I said. "Besides, you really thought they could?"Meira's smile trembled and fell. "I didn't know," she said.We talked, about Gram, the Brotherhood. My new freedom. Meira's fierce, "Awesome!" mirrored my own."I'm worried about Demonicon now," I said. "The Brotherhood has failed with the Sidhe and at least one major vampire clan. They will probably be coming for you next." I paused, heart tightening all over again. "If they aren't her
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 651: Unhappy Endings
Fairy tale endings are highly overrated.At least, that's what I kept telling myself so I wouldn't feel so crappy about my life.Demetrius returned, no sign of Alison. And the Brotherhood seemed to have gone to ground. I really hoped I did some major damage to Belaisle, both with the freeing of the Sidhe and by taking back the power of the Council. And Mom. He had to have been pouring a ton of energy into my mother.Sucked to be him.Not to mention all the magic Ameline stole. I had no doubt Belaisle would simply drain some of his own people to replace it, but it had to rankle.Rankling was good.Mind you, I wished the Brotherhood were out in the open instead of scurrying around like cockroaches looking for scraps at 3AM.Gross.At least with the Council's approval to act, I could start hunting them down and squashing them. That would be awesome.I just had to find them first.I had the sheet of paper Charlotte left me translated by a sweet older Russian woman who ran the loc
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 652: Last Semester
Book Seventeen: Shifting Loyalties"That's what she said!"I choked on a French fry as Tippy's punch line made me blush and laugh at the same time. As outrageous as ever, the red-haired Hensley witch winked at me, substantial rack pushing the rude hand gesture screen printed on her chest into everyone's face. She'd forgiven me for choosing Shenka as my second almost as fast as she'd gotten over the fact Liam and I were an item. Sort of an item. I glanced sideways at him, found him blushing just as brightly as I knew I was and realized he'd never survive Tippy even if he were into her.Hell, I still worried if he'd survive me.Not going there, not right now. I'd had a nice, quiet fall and a lovely Christmas holiday at home. Meira even made an appearance despite her permanent relocation to Demonicon. Mom acted like herself again, young, beautiful, enthusiastic. And though she still endured stress from her job, the control of the Brotherhood had been broken and her natural ability t
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 653: Good Boy
I tapped into some of my demon's power, warming myself internally as Liam and I stepped out into the crisp January night. I didn't really need his arm around my shoulders, but I wasn't complaining. In fact, as we crossed the street back to Harvard Yard, I felt myself warming in other ways that had nothing to do with magic.Unless hormones are magical.This might work out after all. Once I managed to get out of my own way and stop being such a freakazoid about the future."Did I tell you?" Liam smiled down at me, snow crunching under our boots, a puff of white mist floating from his lips in the still night air. "Mom remarried."There was a shocker. I hadn't heard from Sonja O'Dane since Liam used magic on her to make her leave us the hell alone. She'd been the reason Liam and I hadn't taken our relationship any further when I first decided he was the one for me. Her constant helicopter presence drove me crazy, to the point I just couldn't stand being with him anymore, knowing she wa
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 803: Happy Endings
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
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 802: Wedding Day
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
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 801: Familiar Magic
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
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 800: Gateway
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.
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 799: Homecoming
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
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 798: Ruler
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
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 797: Royal Wedding
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
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 796: Payten's Confession
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,
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 795: Celeste's Trial
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
