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Chapter 73: Undead Allies
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 74: Blood Clan DeWinter
It was turning into a battle. One where blood would be spilled and people died. I saw the panic in Uncle Frank and Sunny as they fought to pick sides. The vampires crouched, hissing and snarling. The family's collective fury rose into a column of blue fire, focused magic designed to bring down the undead.Mom did the only thing she could do.She stepped through the shield and saved us all.Sebastian appeared visibly shaken. And impressed. "You take a great risk.""Do I?" Mom's tone was so mild she might as well have been discussing the weather. "I thought we were fighting a common cause?""And your stolen power?" Anastasia came forward, her blonde hair shining in the light. As beautiful as she was, I hated her guts. She looked like a bitch.Not that it mattered. Mom spun on her, her magic suddenly wrapped around her like a weapon. The rainbow of power lit her up, washing over the vampire and making her flinch."Come and get it."Anastasia instantly backed down, though her grumb
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 75: Late Night Confessions
What was it about my sleep patterns these days? I woke with a start from a nightmare. This one at least was more natural in origin. It had something to do with Brad and a large cow and three zippers... I shook off the remaining fear, forgetting the details as quickly as the sweat dried on my face.Man, did I need a therapist.Which made me think of Pain. And brought everything back up again.Knowing I wouldn't get back to sleep after that, I swung myself out of bed and headed downstairs for a snack. Maybe a nighttime nom session would lull me into dreamland. At least it would give me something to do.I was bent over with my head stuck in the fridge when I felt someone watching me. I let out a little shriek when I spun around and caught Quaid looking in the kitchen door.Hand clutched to my oversized t-shirt, I went to let him in."What is your problem?" I hissed at him, my heart rate struggling to settle after the second stressor in less than five minutes."Sorry," he said. "I k
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 76: Missing Persons
Saturday morning. Really? I had three messages from Alison, two from Beth and a call from someone who wanted to give me a credit card with zero interest for the first year.They knew I was seventeen, right?I chickened out and emailed Alison an excuse about shopping that day, same for Beth. I just couldn't leave the family right now. Maybe having normal friends wasn't such a good idea. They had expectations, made plans, liked to be in my life.Problem was, my life wasn't such a good place to be in right now.I heard a knock at the door when I was almost down the stairs and found Mom standing in the kitchen talking to a tall, blond man in a policeman's uniform.He looked alarmingly familiar. Until it registered. Sheriff Peters.Brad's dad.And no, I'd never officially met him. Brad and I hadn't been going out for long after all. Of course I knew who he was, had seen him at a distance or had him pointed out to me, but I never came face to face with the father of the guy I was dati
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 77: Teamwork
I gulped fresh air in the back yard. I'd been so engrossed in my training I didn't even realize it was full dark until Erica was taken. I tried to get my head on straight while I struggled with my emotions.Erica was gone. Celeste possibly dead. As much as I disliked the latter, I never wished anything of the sort on her. And as for Erica... she was my mom's best friend, my second mother my whole life. Yes, she bugged me sometimes and treated me like a kid. But she tried and I knew she loved me.And she was gone.I felt him before I saw him, leftover residual power from the link, but I was very happy he was there. Uncle Frank hugged me and held me while I cried on his chest. He was still cold so he hadn't even taken time to eat before coming to see me."It'll be okay, kiddo," he said. "We'll find her, I promise."It wasn't just Erica, of course, but a mix of sleep deprivation and one emotional blow after another turning me into a weeping mess of Syd.When I finally pulled back, I
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 78: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Brad looked as bad as he sounded. His normally tanned and handsome face shone pale in the bright light of the overhead, eyes sunken with dark circles making it worse. He looked like he'd just come down off a drug binge and was detoxing.I immediately grabbed him and hugged him. When I did, I felt something at my throat warm and tingle as power passed between us. I heard him sigh and when I pulled away he looked instantly better."It's great to see you," he said.I reached up and touched the necklace, his birthday present to me, and finally understood what was going on.The jolt I felt, the one that ran through me when he put the heart on me, was the same as when I hugged him just now. Something about the necklace linked us together. And was keeping Quaid and I apart.Before I could explore the understanding any further, Brad put the truck in gear and drove off, leaving me scrambling for my seatbelt. I was so enraptured by my realization I didn't pay attention to the direction we w
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 79: Demetrius Strong
This was not happening. Was not. I did not just lose my ex-boyfriend to the very creature my family hunted in a place I wasn't supposed to be on threat of violent and probably amphibious punishment by my mother.Oh. My. Swearword.I couldn't think or breathe or move. I stood there on the path in the dark, my focus so shot my limited night vision magic was gone, my shields a puddled mess dissipating at my feet. Everything wavered and wobbled around me and my chest rose and fell faster and faster as I gulped air into me, my lungs squeezing together like a steel band tightened around them, squeezing my life away.My demon howled and I jerked out of my hysteria. I gulped a giant gasp of air and bent over in half, keeping my head down so I wouldn't pass out from my anxiety-fueled hyperventilation. I had to get it together. Had to. There was no one else to save him but me.I turned and ran back toward the car, reaching out for my mother and found nothing. No one. They were all shielding
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 80: Chosen Of The Light
Where was I? I vaguely recalled running. Brad. The necklace. But it was so dark and I was so very tired...I wasn't alone. Was it the family out there? I tried to go to them, but something held me back. I struggled with what little strength I had. My hands wouldn't move. Or my feet. Even my chest felt weighted down. And I was elevated, standing higher than everyone else. I looked down, my chin hitting my chest, the weight of my head too much. I blinked slowly once. What was with the firewood? Why was I standing on a pile of it? And why did I smell kerosene? Wow, it stank.I managed to lift my head again and noticed the people. Not the family. Wrong color. The coven wore black and these people were all dressed in-I was suddenly and terrifyingly awake. My hands ached from the ropes knotted around them and I whimpered as I pulled and yanked. I had to get away. There was only one reason I could be tied to a post on a pile of a cord of wood.Ohmygod. They were going to burn me alive.
Hayle Coven Novels Chapter 81: Powerless
It wasn't until the truck came into view that I realized we were leaving. I grabbed Quaid's arm and pulled him around, the effort making me dizzy."We can't go," I said. "The creature is so close!"Quaid nodded once and pressed a set of keys into my hand. "I know," he said. "Go home."He turned and stalked off without me, going right back the way we came from.No freaking way was he leaving me behind.Quaid knew I was following him and stopped in place, blocking the path."I said go home, Syd.""Forget it." My demon snarled in support. "I'm coming with you.""You're not even supposed to be out here." He scowled down on me like that would scare me off. Maybe at one time it might have. But not now. I almost died. He could scowl all he wanted."It's close," I said, "and you're alone. Do you really think you can tackle it yourself?"He didn't say anything, just loomed over me like he always did."We can link up," I went on in a rush. "Like we did before. I figured out what the p
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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
