In the end, despite my outward grumping, but private joy at just how much they loved me, it was Charlotte, Sebastian, Alison, Trill. Demetrius and Galleytrot. Quaid. Piers.Me and Max.Okay then.I had to bite my tongue when Piers came to my side, hugged me. On freaking purpose. Like I didn't know he was torturing Quaid who glared at the tall, handsome Steam Union sorcerer with fury in his eyes.Boys.I would never, ever be free of their ridiculousness.Sassafras pouted, back to me, tail drooping. I went to him as the others backed off, talking quietly as they made their preparations to leave. Saying goodbyes.I wished they wouldn't. Though I knew there was a chance none of us would survive.Touched Sass's fur only to have him hiss spitefully at me.I know you're mad at me, I sent. But I need you here.I get it, he snarled in my head. The cat is useless. Take the damned dog. See if I care.I swept him into my arms, endured his wriggling, the claws digging into my arm. Kissed
I was practically flying when I hit the ground at the bottom of the stairs, already shrunk to my normal size. The urge to keep going, pound my way through the veil and to the vampire mansion, smear opposition and cut the bitch's throat was so powerful I had to force myself to breathe. Knew it was my demon's impulsiveness driving me.Sure it was, Syd.I fixed my waiting friends with a grin of evil delight. "The mansion," I said.Sebastian groaned softly, tapped his forehead with his fingertips. "When I left them, Anastasia gathered the blood clan and took them home to Austria, leaving the house in the care of their human servants."I thought of Stewart and the helpless staff who were now, quite likely, dead. Just another tick on the tally against Ameline.She was racking up the points, yup yup.Time to cash in her ticket.I almost giggled at that. Even in the face of trouble-hell, usually in the face of trouble-there were times I cracked myself up."According to this Fate," I je
I reached for Ahbi the moment we were in the veil.I need to go right to the maji chamber, I sent, knowing it wouldn't work, but hoping we could figure something out.Ahbi grunted softly, showed me a wall of power.And the lawn of the mansion.At least I knew where we'd be ending up. Sent the image to the others, the exact image Dark Fate had shown me. He hadn't been generalizing, it turned out.I felt their acceptance and understanding.Drew a breath.Gabriel. I'd be holding him again very soon.Or I'd be dead.My egos hugged me.Nothing will keep us from him, my demon snarled.We will move the very earth to get him back, Shaylee sent.And that bitch will die. My vampire's spirit magic blazed inside me.The family power surged in agreement. Even my sorcery blossomed open in the hope of devouring her soul.So be it.Grandmother, I sent to Ahbi. If you would do the honors.She hugged me tight with her power before ripping open the veil and letting us out.I stepped onto
Charlotte stalked past me as Alison's form wavered from corporeal to ghostly and back again. I really should have learned the combination of stones to press to open the secret staircase to the underground, and this time actually watched as my werefriend followed the combination with unerring accuracy.The floor beside her groaned and collapsed, falling down into a set of stone steps leading into the dark. A giant ball of witchlight burst into existence at the top of the staircase as Quaid shouldered past me, face lit with blue light."There will probably be others downstairs," he said. "Let me handle them."Another one who couldn't follow orders. Though Demetrius had the Chosen well in hand the last time I saw him. And from the echoing booms and faint screams I heard coming from outside, the battle was still going strong.I nodded, let Quaid lead the way. As much as I would have loved to barrel my way into the underground, he was right. Focus on Gabriel, let the others do what they
I pushed past Alison, taking the stairs two at a time, not caring I might fall, mind locked on Ameline as my power built around me, before me, flaring outward as I thundered toward her with her death in every fiber of my being.And Gabriel.The bottom step almost took me by surprise and I found myself pouring the last of my forward momentum into leaping into the maji chamber. It hummed with power, but not Ameline's. With the magic of the maji who created it, welcoming me, embracing me.Troubled and angry and happy I was there.I didn't pay attention to it, too focused on the black-robed figure standing beside the long stone slab in the middle of the room, cloak spread out, back to me. I'd seen this, too, Dark Fate's premonition right on the money.I just wished everything else was decided.That was, I guess, my job, right?"Ameline." My voice vibrated with my hate, the world closing in around me as blackened tunnel vision hyper-focused me on her bowed shoulders, her hood-covered
She blocked me. Of course she did. But that didn't keep me from attacking her again.And again.And again.The power I released ricocheted around the room, hitting the walls, the slab, passing through Alison, reverbing back from Max as he protected himself.Can you help me? I threw my need at him, heard him grunt.I will feed you what I can, he sent. But right now I am the only one keeping this house from collapsing.Crap. Never mind, I sent. And thank you.Let Max go. Focused on Ameline. Panted a little as I pulled back, felt her for weakness. There had to be weakness. Just look at her. But no, nothing. Not a hint of a way through the shields surrounding her.No matter the power she expended, she had accessed the magic of the chamber. When I tried to tap into it myself, the same shielding blocked me, the reason, I understood now, for its sadness.Thanks to the magic she hoarded behind her wards, we were equal.Maybe so, my vampire sent as I fumed over the truth. But she carr
Gram's power burst over my enemy in a wash of blue fire. Ameline spun on me, snarled, Gabriel turning to look at me with his glowing eyes.Even as my grandmother's power slapped the magic Ameline stole from her and woke it up.Joined with it as it jerked awake.And hit Ameline so hard from the inside blood burst from her nose to spray over Gabriel's cheek.She bent in half, my son falling to the floor. He landed hard on his sturdy little feet, straightened and turned. Gestured at the shimmering portal.The roaring face of evil and madness.And slammed the Gate in its face.I pulled myself up as Ameline fell, my magic returning to me in a rush so powerful I staggered, light headed and body on fire. Watched and felt as Gram's magic woke the demon Ameline ripped from its rightful place, his amber flames scorching her. Ameline screamed, blisters forming on her skin, smoke rising from her even as Liam's portion of Cian woke and shook her from the inside, more blood flowing from her e
All of her stolen power rushed at me, slamming into me, Gram butting up against the family magic, her Sidhe soul, Lady Rionach, scrunching in next to Shaylee. The taint tried to shoulder aside my vampire essence while the male demon's power growled and snapped at mine even as Cian danced unhappily around the two female Sidhe. The remains of the Brotherhood magic was the only one to go quietly, absorbing into mine, though I could feel the separation remained.Shud. Der.I almost missed Ameline's echo rising as I fought to control the magicks suddenly taking up residence inside me like they planned to stay awhile. Unlike the broken and bloody mass at my feet, her echo was as perfect and beautiful as she'd ever been. And, from the snarling hate on her face, just as evil.I stood quickly, still fighting for control, only to have someone grab my shoulder. Turn me around.Press a warm and wriggling body into my arms as Alison dropped Gabriel on me.Her blue eyes met mine, now solid and