All Chapters of Hayle Coven Novels: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

I retreated to the basement for the remainder of the evening. It had been hard to find time to use the family pentagram with Dad hogging it all the time. I'd been forced to chalk one out on the floor of my bedroom or make one with string in the living room. Now that Mom had my dad confined to quarters after his little fireworks display, I had the whole space to myself.Everything seemed to come naturally lately. Without the constant threat of puking holding me back and the actually pleasant experience it was to open up to my magic, I still had moments of pure terror when my demon's power roared to life or when I felt Shaylee's magic touch me. It was all I could do to keep myself under control, to not shriek like a little girl in a haunted house at a carnival every time it happened.The trouble was I remembered how it felt when my demon took over. And while I knew we didn't have that kind of relationship anymore, it still wound me up."Magic is about the unconscious mind doing the bi

I found myself congratulating Simon along with the others despite the look on his face. He did his best to be brave, but I knew that expression, had worn it a few times myself. The look of the newbie about to be thrown to the wolves of a new town.Worse for him was the fact I knew he was only fourteen and going to college. College. I was headed there myself the following year and I still didn't feel ready. I could only imagine how afraid he was.Before we had much of a chance to go beyond our uncertain kudos, we were interrupted. Angela chose exactly then to prove to her daughter embarrassment was the only love language she knew.She clattered her way through the door, a drink in one hand, droplets splattering from the rim to paint the floor. Angela was as perfectly made up as usual, but there was a harsh plastic edge to her that always made me cringe. She smiled at us, the tight expression of a woman who was trying too hard."Hello, children!" Her high heels slid over the wetness

This time when I flew down the stairs in my pajamas and out the back door I knew who I was running to kiss. No doubts, no confusion, just pure joy and the need to throw my arms around his neck and never let go.Quaid caught me as I leaped, my legs wrapping around his waist as I dug my hands into his hair and locked my mouth on his. For one blissful, amazing, beautiful moment, I was full of his scent, the sound of his leather jacket creaking, the feel of his black hair, the way his stubble scratched my cheek. He tasted delicious, his heat transferring to me as his power stretched out like hot taffy and engulfed me completely.I wanted it to last forever. And in that endless moment, I felt he did too. We were perfect for each other. It had never been so clear to me, this truth. He was my other half, the part filling me up and making me complete. I was never going to let him leave me again.Until I felt him tense, start to pull away. My throat tightened even as I let my lips part from

Sassafras and Galleytrot were waiting up for me when I closed my door."Was that Quaid?" Sassy's silver tail showed his aggravation. "What did I tell you about running out into the yard in the middle of the night?""You might want to ask one question at a time," I said, feeling decidedly snarky."It was Quaid." Sassy sighed. "What did he say?"My face crumpled. I couldn't stand it. Sassafras said his name twice. The first time I could fake it and pretend, but the second... the waterworks threatened."Just leave me alone." I threw myself face first onto my bed, smothering myself in the pillow, squeezing my eyes as if that would make me forget. A hot, wet nose shoved against my hand on my left while a rough tongue licked my ear on my right."I'm sorry, Syd," Sassy whispered."Me too." Galleytrot's mournful tone sounded like the rumble of a river."I guess we all are then." My words were muffled, but I knew they heard me. I sighed and rolled over, scratching Galleytrot's head whil

I knew I was in for more than I'd planned the moment I passed through the house wards and into the kitchen. There were strangers here, the feel of them clear to me now they weren't masked by the protections wrapping our house in magic.It took me a moment to decide what to do. I heard voices talking, coming from the living room and was pretty sure Mom felt me the moment I arrived home. I tried to keep the rustling of my shopping bags to a minimum as I stuffed them into the corner behind the table, not sure why the sounds I made caused me to flinch and wince. It was as if I was intruding in my own home or didn't want to be noticed all of a sudden.The little girl in me wished she was anywhere but there just then.Mom needed me, I was sure of it. She didn't reach for me or influence me with magic, but I could sense her now that my power was united, and always seemed to know what she was feeling in a peripheral sort of way. I shook off my nerves. This was my house, our coven's house. N