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
Iepa's concern grew to fear as she reached for me, but I turned my back on her. Focused on my friends, waiting, watching. Max bowed to me."I will see you soon, Syd," he said. And stepped through the veil, vanishing from sight.I felt Iepa leave, didn't care.Let trouble come. Better than some unknown darkness I might or might not be able to survive. We'd faced difficulty before and if my constant state of alertness meant my friends and family-and the planes-would be safe from that creature from another Universe, I'd do it.Time to divvy up the power.I smiled down at my son. Opened my Sidhe magic to him. And felt Cian sigh and slip inside Gabriel, joining the soul my son already had. Two peas in a pod, Liam's and Gabriel's two magicks coming together as though meant for each other.Gabriel giggled and hugged me.So. Amazing.I then looked up and found Demetrius watching me. Smiled at him. He nodded and smiled back.Detached the Brotherhood's power from my sorcery and handed i
The maji chamber said goodbye as I left, not through the veil, but on foot.I just had to see what kind of disaster my friends had wreaked.And yes, I was expecting a mess, especially knowing it took the power of the drach to keep the house from falling in. Was leaving a particularly gory disaster behind myself, one I'd get around to cleaning up eventually.Eventually.Even though I had a picture in my mind of what the destruction would look like, I still winced at the giant chunks of rock littering the round room above, the blackened holes in the walls and groaning, fallen sorcerers and dark maji who struggled to rise as I exited into the corridor, my son in my arms."I take it I don't have to warn you lot not to get into any trouble," I said. "Or try to leave." Flaring blue magic erupted above ground, the touch of Enforcers arriving in droves, probably thanks to Mom after our little tête-à-tête during my near fail with Ameline.The cavalry were more than welcome to mop up the d
Exit stage left. Enter the triumphant heroes.I landed in the kitchen with a massive smile on my face, already heading for the back hall and Gram's room.Almost ran right into Shenka. Who sobbed once and raced for me, hugging me and Gabriel both. I hugged her back, one armed, before pulling away, expecting a smile through her tears.Seeing only terror."Syd," she whispered.And then, I felt it.Or didn't.And I knew then what Gram had really given up. Raced past my second, spun around the bottom of the stairs, burst through my grandmother's door. Saw Lula and Phon, both collapsed in the corner, eyes glazed, energy depleted.Sassafras perched on the pillow, silver fur mingling with wispy hair.Mom kneeling beside her bed, Gram's limp hand between hers, sobbing.Sobbing.Everything froze: time, breath, life, death. There was only this snapshot of a moment.My mother.My grandmother.Emptiness and darkness.A purr broke through, unraveling time, waking me from the moment. A
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