Shenka and I stepped out of the veil in the Wilhelm throne room. Sunny approached us immediately, Uncle Frank behind her. I hugged the stunning, blonde queen, feeling the warmth of her body, telling me she'd fed not too long ago. It used to bother me, thinking about how vampires survived, though only peripheral bother. But now I carried the vampire essence inside me, had almost died from being drained of my blood and left a withered mummy, I had a totally different perspective.Uncle Frank's arms pulled me in, his broad chest just how I remembered it. Every time he hugged me, I felt like I was a little girl all over again, with my tall, handsome uncle looking out for me.Just because he was a vampire didn't mean he couldn't be the best uncle ever.Had my vote."I don't know how much time we have," Sunny said, taking my hand and leading me toward the back of the throne room. I looked up at the stained glass window, a beautiful, round piece of art depicting Sunny and Uncle Frank, smi
I gaped a minute, trying to breathe, to react, something. Anything.Shenka finally beat me to it."Are you saying Charlotte is a princess?" I met her equally shocked eyes as Isabelle frowned and looked back and forth between us."You didn't know?" The young vampire shrugged. "I suppose it makes sense. Honor would keep her from doing anything to jeopardize your bond. And I'm certain, from what I've heard of you," she smiled again, just a little, "had you known of the plight of her people, you would have acted to help them."Was that hope in her voice? If so, what tie did Isabelle have to the werewolves beyond her family's past? Because no way did she have a reaction like that to ancient history.Had to be a guy involved.Yup, yup."The Moreau family is led by Oleksander, Charlotte's grandfather." Isabelle's previously still hands wrung together suddenly. "From what I've been able to discover, Charlotte returned home, only to be imprisoned by the Black Souls and their leader, the
"Before you tell me to go home," Shenka said as I turned away to the pressure of air displacement at Applegate's departure, "you can just take that and shove it."I knew this was going to be a fight. "I need you with the family," I said, aiming for reasonable and diplomatic. No use trying for bossy. Not with Shenka."You need me beside you," she snapped while Sunny joined us, Uncle Frank's smirk wiped clean as I glared at him."Listen to me." I gripped her upper arms, stared into Shenka's determined eyes. "Where do you think you'll do the most good: with the family, watching over them, or with me, unable to use magic?"Shenka's mouth opened. Closed. Her frown turned sad, still mixed with stubborn. "That's not fair.""Nope," I said. "It sure as hell isn't. But the sad fact is I have access to other magicks and you don't."She deflated. "And if I came with you, I'd be a liability." Shenka perked briefly. "But Applegate didn't order me not to use magic."Sophistry and we both knew
So much for sneaking in, grabbing Charlotte from the clutches of her captors, and sneaking out again. Instead, I was forced to allow Finlay to handle transportation, his Enforcer magic cradling both Isabelle and myself along with his partner."You don't have to come." I wanted to give the vampire girl an out since she looked almost sick at the prospect of joining me. But she shook her head immediately."I won't let you go alone," she said. "I know how they think and might be useful." Her hesitation told me there was a lot more she wasn't saying and I refused to go into this without all the information I needed.I pulled her aside, glaring at the pair of witches to back off a second, which they did. I heard Sunny engage them in conversation, though what she talked about was lost to me as I focused on Isabelle."So this is going to be bad, then?" There was no other explanation for her reaction."I'm afraid so," she said. "The Czar might allow you to enter. But he considers himself a
I would have preferred to walk, on principle, but, frankly, felt happy for the ride in the warm back of the big, black SUV arriving only a moment after the gates swung open. I ignored the show of power Vasyl brought with him, the line of wereguards turning with trained precision to follow my every move. At least the muzzles of their guns were lowered. Well, half lowered.Either this was their usual or I scared the bejeebuz out of them.I chose to think the latter.The heavy door thudded shut behind me, warmth enveloping me as the blast of heat from the leather seat radiated upward into my freezing behind. I almost snarled at the loss of precious heat as the door behind me opened, Gwendolyn slipping inside with Finlay next to her. Isabelle didn't give Vasyl a chance to sit next to me in the second row, firmly closing her door on his face. I caught enough of his scowl through the black tinted glass I worried he'd seen through her glamour though Shaylee calmly informed me all was well
More elaborate decorating greeted me, the giant throne room's ceiling arching overhead with painted murals of battle scenes and old kings and queens. The cream marble floor gleamed on either side of the continuing carpet. Talk about an arrow shot to the seat of power. Any dummy could find Yure Danko.Just follow the purple shag road.I didn't hurry. Needed time to assess the situation anyway. Not only that, I wanted the so-called Czar to sweat out my approach. He watched me, or I assumed it was he, from a massive gold throne at the other end of the room. A line of werewolves stood on either side of the carpet, their sullen wolf energy making my skin crawl. Worse was the emptiness as a handful of sorcerers from the Czar's sect joined them. I kept my eyes fixed on Yure while my alter egos explored the room for me, filtering information while I maintained my steady, casual pace.There are too many to fight, Shaylee sent. But a quake would even the odds.Agreed. My vampire sighed. I be
She looked fine, at least physically, as she approached with her head down, held firmly between two of her fellow weres, the males towering over her. Her long, blonde hair had been cut to her shoulders, her normal leather jacket and skinny jeans replaced by a rather frumpy dress. Just seeing Charlotte in a skirt made me wince. Even when she'd accompanied me to the court of the vampire queens, she'd refused to wear one. Whatever Yure had done to her had to be nasty if she willingly wore all that ugly pink satin and ruffled lace.Charlotte didn't look up, hands clasped before her, bound with heavy cuffs. A choker of the same metal hugged her neck. She looked so weak, frail, compared to the powerful, stoic girl I knew, I wanted to reach for her, but I held off, looking up to glare at Yure as she was pulled up the first step to stand with her back to him.He giggled in evil glee, reaching out to prod Charlotte between the shoulder blades with the toe of his boot. Well, tried to. I hit hi
I fumed as I paced the suite of rooms I'd been assigned, arguing with myself. I could have done more to escape this predicament. How had I gone from rescuing Charlotte-easy peasy in and outsie-to being pinned down by a pair of European stalkers in an ancient hotel in the outback of the Ukraine?So much grief in so little time. I really should have been used to being imprisoned in fancy quarters. Happened pretty frequently. But this time, I was here by choice.Okay, not really. I had put my foot down when Finlay tried to deliver me back home, taking a firm hold on his power and forcing him to put us down outside the gates to Yure's territory. For the first time, I saw the young Enforcer's temper flare, but I didn't really give a damn what he thought.Thanks to him, Charlotte was still back there. And now I knew her fate, no way was I leaving her in Yure's clutches. Not when the girl I knew was so broken she couldn't even fight to protect herself."I'm going back in there," I snarled
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