I almost ran into Shenka on my way back inside as she emerged from Gram's room, Demetrius behind her.The sad looks on their faces told me my grandmother wasn't taking Quaid's departure any better than his arrival."She'll be fine," Shenka said."No," Demetrius's lucid moment had gone, his small body doing a spinning jig, reminding me of Gram at her worst. "She's not. Not, snot, lotta good you'll do in there." He danced away, humming to himself, listing off rhyming words as he went.I paused, eyes locked on my second, only then remembering our late-night visitor. "Can we talk after?"She sighed, nodded. "I don't have any secrets from you," she said.I hugged her before gently moving Shenka aside. "I know," I said. "Thank you for not giving me a hard time this morning."Her lopsided grin tore down the last of my worry about last night. "And thanks for not chasing me down and accusing me of betraying the family to my own sister."Eep. Did she guess I'd had those concerns?I laid
I wanted to go to my room and climb under the covers. To hide from the pain I felt, the slow and unrelenting crushing of my heart. To push aside the promise I'd made to sit down and talk to Shenka when I was done with Gram. But as I paused at the bottom of the stairs, I felt someone cross the wards before hearing the sound of knocking on the kitchen door.Retreat still sounded like the best plan. Shenka was there to pick up the slack and even if it was Tallah all over again, I knew my second had it handled despite my fears the night before. But I needed the distraction, longed for something to break the heavy weight of grief I carried. And so, despite myself and my desire to escape into solitude, I found my feet carrying me down the hall and into the sunlit kitchen.Shenka turned to meet my eyes, hers hooded in dislike just as I shifted my gaze from her to the open door. And the young woman standing on the other side.Mia Dumont's wavering smile almost did me in. That, paired with h
I had just sat down, my legs no longer willing to hold me up, when Sassafras leaped onto the table and fixed me with his amber eyes."I agree with Shenka," he said."Of course you do." I sat back, refusing to look at him. "Just beat it, cat. I'm busy.""Feeling sorry for yourself." He snorted. "Typical. When will you tire of your little pity parties, Syd, and grow up?"I wanted to snap at him, almost did. But as I turned to deliver a scathing line, I saw the twitch of his whiskers, the way his big eyes looked so sad, his drooping ears telling me loud and clear how much he was suffering.Aw, hell.Sassafras purred against me as I scooped him into my arms and propped my feet up on the next chair, leaning back for a cuddle."Funny," I said. "I never seem to see you anymore and yet here I am, for the second time in less than twenty four hours, leaning on you."Sassafras's body settled. "I'm sorry," he said. "I've been spending as much time with Ethpeal as I can."Ah. Choke. "Thank
I hadn't noticed how frazzled Mom looked when she sat with the rest of the Council while they lectured me on my unweddedness. But now I focused on her and not my own troubles, I saw the slight darkness under her eyes. How she looked more tired than usual.Mom returned my hug before latching onto Meira. I caught a flicker of motion to my right, glanced over and spotted Maurice watching with a pinched and bitter expression. Looked like our little family lunch was on his list of unnecessary events."Council Leader," he said in his whiny voice, round belly rising and falling as he spoke with his nose in the air. "You realize we have much to do between now and this evening?"I have no idea where Mom found her patience. Instead of dropkicking his rotund little body out the nearest window like I would have, she smiled and nodded to him, waving him aside. She led Meira and me through the doorway he attempted to block as he spluttered at her for forcing him to move."I need to eat," she sai
Meira caught up with me, her face falling at the sight of my expression. She linked arms, not asking questions, just offering her energy for support. My demon took it, used it to soothe me while my alter egos soaked me in love and understanding.Walking was good. Moving on was better.Mom appeared a few moments later to join us."Excellent," she said with a smile. "We now have confirmation from everyone but Europe." None of us were surprised we heard no word from Applegate. Though I fully expected the thralled Leader to show up at some point and cause trouble.Prepared for disaster? I was born for it. And speaking of disaster..."Mom," I said. "I have some things you need to know."She drew me along with her as we strolled again, as though unconcerned by the conversation we were about to have while my sister's false smile echoed our attempt at subtlety.I shared what I knew of the wild magicks, what they'd shown me, shared with Shenka and I in the basement. Mom's frown flashed o
"So," Meira said as we stepped out into the dim light of the underground. "Since Shenka obviously wasn't talking about her sister's arrival, mind telling me who came to visit you last night?"No way. Not now I'd seen Quaid with...Her.He met Payten during his first summer Enforcer camp. He claimed they weren't a couple, had shared only a fling. And yet, she seemed to think otherwise and, surprise surprise, any time I saw them together she was all over him.Okay, so holding his hand wasn't technically "all over him". But when her impressive chest was in his space, it qualified."It doesn't matter," I said. Hating how much it really did matter.Meira didn't push me. Just hugged me as her body shifted back to demon form. I really had to get her to teach me how she altered her clothes in the process because by the time she released me, she towered over me in those damned boots she loved.My sister winked before turning and tearing open the veil. Ahbi answered instantly, embracing b
Summer did wonders for the Ukrainian countryside. I liked it much better without all the snow and ice, thanks. Even though cold didn't affect me anymore, I still preferred the green and multi-hued beauty of this time of year.I'd meant to drop us inside the palace foyer, but, instead, found myself stepping out of the veil on the giant front lawn, my sneakers crunching over gravel and old asphalt at the edge of the curving drive. The quiet of dusk washed everything in deep blues and shadow as the sun set here in Eastern Europe.Puzzled and a little irritated I'd somehow missed the mark, it wasn't until I looked up and saw the tall, handsome blonde striding toward us, a smile on his angular face, I realized I'd been manipulated.Ahbi chuckled in my mind as the veil sealed behind me, just before Piers Southway came to a grinning halt before me. He didn't pause, speak, or ask as his hands dove into my hair, mouth descending over mine in a hungry kiss.This wasn't the first time he kiss
After a quick hello to Oleksander and Raoul, I was off for home again. While I'd thought the king of the werewolves had an important message for me, considering Charlotte's mention he wanted to see me, it turned out to be nothing of the sort."Sydlynn." The huge were with the iron gray hair and beard engulfed me in his massive arms, crushing me to his broad chest a moment before setting me free. "It is wonderful to see you."Oleksander had blossomed as much as his granddaughter. The pensive, serious werewolf I'd first met was gone, a benevolent monarch left behind. It was clear his people worshipped him by the way the gathered pack members watched him, bowed as he bent to kiss the back of my hand. Good to know the werewolves were in such dependable paws."You too," I said. "You're coming tomorrow?" Wow, was it really tomorrow? Conclave already. I thought I still had lots of time.Not so much."I am." He reached out for Charlotte, one arm draping around her shoulders as she smiled