Ahbi released us at the base of the prison tower, the bottom of the steps a familiar sight I'd climbed twice and, hopefully, would never have to again.My thighs trembled at the memory of all those stairs.Quaid grinned at me for my choice."Perfect," he said, speaking in a whisper and, for the first time, I remembered using mental connections and any magic, really, would trigger the stronghold's protective magic. Not to hurt us or anything, at least not here, from what Gram told me. But would trigger warnings of the Brotherhood we were around. The veil was different, the power contained inside it, so riding it wasn't an issue. But any overt, outward magic could create some serious problems.Good thing one of us was thinking."I thought so," I whispered back. "Didn't think there'd be much activity here." At least, hoped. Who knew if the Brotherhood thought some back way into the prison tower was important just because the Enforcers hadn't?Piers's face screwed up in a desperate s
I may not have been running, but I still beat up the heavy bag on an almost daily basis, my fighting skills much improved thanks to my martial arts training with my normal instructor, Sage. I think he would have been proud of me as I leaped out of hiding and headed for my target, Brotherhood Goon #1, taking the tall, heavy-shouldered man full in the chest with both feet. He crashed backward into the door, head hitting stone with the hollow sound of a rotten gourd being smashed and collapsed where he stood, whites of his eyes showing.Boo-ya.Quaid made short work of his little playmate, Brotherhood Goon #2 hitting the ground about a second after my target lost his touch with reality. But I could hear shouting from behind me and knew time was short.When wasn't it?The cell door crashed open with an echoing bang, the metal and wood impacting rock so loudly the four Brotherhood sorcerers inside actually jumped from the sound. I was already moving, attacking one with an uppercut, maki
Ahbi's power engulfed me, her panic as powerful as mine, mixed with so much rage I felt my skin crackle under the fire of her fury even as she dumped me out the other side with a flare of warning.I flew out of the gap on the Demonicon side, body bursting into full demon form, my maji power crackling. I was already pissed off, scared and full of hate. If Ameline found a way to come at my sister anyway, I didn't care if all the planes fell.I'd kill her with my bare hands.And then go back and save Quaid and the Zornovs.I had one second to see my sister fighting off a pack of attackers, a roar of absolute rage shaking my entire body as my demon's fire blazed around me, shoving down my other egos in her need to reach Meira.The next second, I felt the dull numbness of impact against the back of my skull and fell, screaming my fury, into darkness.***Pain registered first, flaring like a volcano before ebbing backward as my spirit power healed me. Groggy, twinging with the remain
"Hang on," I said, hand still engulfed in his. "The Creator made the maji who formed the planes."A rumbling song rang from the gathered dragons."They would have you believe so," Max said. "It was Creator's desire they be responsible for the formation of life. But we, Creator made and set free."Random. My brain sizzled with further connections. "The wild magicks," I said, thinking of the tumbling, happy threads I'd freed from the Brotherhood, the same power that warned me about the sorcerers' takeover of the stronghold.Max nodded as the song softened, my skin no longer crawling from the push of their power. "Our souls," he said. "What remains of us when we are done in physical form."Oh. My. Swearword. "Those ribbons?" The flittering butterfly-like magic I'd carried with me as they grieved. "Drach souls?"Max's laugh was nothing like his spoken voice, reaching inside me, in harmony with my very spirit, making me smile, too."Their freedom was our trigger," he said. "We've bee
Meira activated the lift, the elevator rising toward the top of the Seat. I tried not to look down, though the one glimpse I had was of a ragged shoreline and a vast expanse of black water. We had to be on the other side of the mountain from the Parade and Ostrogotho.The platform came to a halt not quite at the top."This way," Meira said, stalking off on her giant boots, horns catching the light as she stomped her way down the polished stone corridor, torn robes flaring out behind her. I followed, Max beside me, the slowly rousing kidnapper in his hand. I glanced back over my shoulder at the other two unconscious demons still lying on the platform and almost asked Meira what she wanted to do about them.Held my tongue. The mood she was in, they'd be following their friend over the edge. Besides, I had no doubt she would prefer to track them down at her leisure and show them just how disappointed she was in their behavior.Hoped they knew how to run.I'd clearly not done enough e
Zero hesitation.Endless fury. No doubt.I dove through the veil after my sister's magic, my power already reaching out to squeeze the life from Ameline Benoit. Peripherally, I felt Max traveling with me, his magic humming through the veil with equal rage, the pair of us leaping out into my basement as I raised a hammer blow of maji power to crush the thieving bitch like a bug.Only to pull up short at the fact she wasn't alone.Not by a long shot.Iepa stood beside her, face a mask of misery. My maji guide/backstabbing pain the tuckus hovered there, barely able to meet my gaze, her eyes brimming with tears. And that wasn't all, of course it wasn't. Ameline's own little fairy godfather, the dark maji Trinol, waited on her other side, night-black skin shining in the glow of Demonicon on the other side of the veil tear.What. The. Freaking. Hell.They weren't looking at me, neither of the maji. In fact, the moment I touched down, Iepa's tearful face flashed with hope while Trino
Was it wrong I felt suddenly stunned, as though someone hit me on the head again?"Is it time, then?" I met Iepa's eyes, stunned to think this could be over very soon. Which meant rescuing Quaid and the Zornovs would have to wait.But every minute ticking by with them in Belaisle's hands could mean their death. Maybe not Trill and her brothers, not if he thought he needed them. But Quaid was a liability.Yes, I worried about him. A lot. Sue me for still caring.The quick shake of Iepa's head, her glance sideways at Trinol, unclenched the knot in my gut a fraction. "Not yet," she said. "There is still another to find before the prophecy can be complete."Cool. Enough time to make the daring rescue so I could focus.Ameline spun on the two maji, her anger flaring once again. Made me wonder how much influence Ahbi had over her and if it was my grandmother's temper showing."Prophecy." She spit the word at them both, magic swirling around her. "I am the Dark One and I will fulfill m
I thudded, breathless, into a hard, dark shape as Max, in drach form, swooped beneath me, banking to catch me across his broad back.My swearing was lost in the rush of wind, but I have no doubt from the rumbling chuckle rising from his warm, scaled body he found it amusing when I explained to him just how furious I was to be dumped out and left to fall to my death.And then there was no time for talking, or no breath for it at least, as he caught a thermal current and my stomach rose to my throat as I floated, weightless a moment, over the wide, emptiness of the barren landscape below.Shudder. Just. Shudder.And yet, lying there on his back, clinging on to the hard edges of his scales for dear life, as I looked out over the plane, I had to admit to myself this was the coolest freaking thing I'd ever done. Witches didn't fly, not in airplanes. Just in case our magic interfered with something important and made the aircraft plunge to fiery doom. And with my fear of heights, I never
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