by Patti Larsen
Charlotte returned her attention to me as two of her werewolves came to hover behind her. “I've sent them searching for Father,” she said. “But I am honor bound to protect you. As was my father.” She flinched delicately again, as though his leaving hurt her physically. “I intend to fulfill the debt we owe. For both of us.”
“You already saved my life once,” I said.
Charlotte leaned forward and gripped my upper arms in her hands before kissing first my left cheek, then my right. When she pulled back, her eyes had returned to human, her face very close to mine.
“But you have saved my soul.” She slowly folded to the ground, hands falling to one knee as she knelt before me. “And I can never repay you.”
Oh boy. I reached down, pulled her up, ignored the other two weres, a man and a woman dressed in the same tight leather as Charlotte, who mimicked her action.
“Please don't.” I hugged her on impulse. “I'd rather be friends.”
She started, eyes wide. “Friends?”
A grin pulled at my lips. “Yeah, silly. Friends help each other. We don't need honor or pacts or deals.”
Charlotte stood frozen as though I'd suggested something she'd never heard of before.
“Friends.” She breathed the word before smiling, almost shy. “We'll try it.”
I had the weirdest life.
***
Chapter Twenty
I planned to ride the veil to get home since Minnie was no longer an option. But the approach of two Enforcers put a damper on my idea.
“This way, coven leader.” They glared at Charlotte and her pack mates, but I put myself between her and the black-robed witches and glared right back.
“Thank you for the escort,” I grated. “We're ready to leave now.” I pushed past them, not sure where I was supposed to be going, only wanting—needing—to show them who was boss.
No way were they pushing me around. I was so not in the mood.
Luckily, I didn't have to go far to figure out my ride. A large family van pulled up in front of me, the back door opening with a push of Enforcer magic.
Arrogant asses. Whatever.
I waited for Charlotte to precede me, or tried to make it look that way. She latched onto my arm and pulled me to a halt, swinging past me with her friends flanking the vehicle. They circled it, snuffling and talking in their Eastern European language. The two Enforcers with me looked angry, but I just smiled as sweetly as I could and refused to budge until the werewolves were done.
Charlotte finally leaned inside and gave the car one last sniff. When she turned back to me, she bowed her head.
“Secure, coven leader,” she said.
As much as the idea of having her follow me around and play bodyguard was a little irritating, the looks on the Enforcer's faces were so worth it.
“Thank you.” I raised my chin, swept toward the middle row seat at my most arrogant. Charlotte slid in first, and I quickly followed. The bench felt cool underneath me, the big vehicle carrying that particular new car smell normals seemed to covet. Before one of the Enforcers could enter, Charlotte's weres rushed inside, sandwiching me in between two weres with the third hovering behind me in the rear most seat.
The Enforcers exchanged a look. One took the front while the second, his face a mask of disgust, slid in behind me.
It was a quiet drive home. Just as well. I had a lot of thinking to do.
By the time the van pulled into my driveway, I had my plan sorted. I was pretty sure no one was going to like it, but felt Gram's subtle support in the back of my head, so I knew she'd been listening in to my private mental discussions.
Bad enough having my demon and Shaylee the Sidhe princess putting in their two cents. Gram was a whole different story.
The moment the vehicle pulled to a halt, I elbowed the werewolf beside me in the ribs. He was already moving without my encouragement and shot me a toothy smile when I barely brushed him. The door flung open under his touch. He slid out into the cool evening air and offered me his hand, effectively blocking the Enforcer struggling to exit from the back seat as well as the one who climbed out of the front and tried to move him aside.
I accepted the werewolf's hand, really looking at him for the first time. His amber eyes reminded me of Sassafras, though his didn't glow. His skin was olive toned, short dark hair almost buzzed, but for a longer strip at the very top which he'd artfully gelled. The precise goatee on his chin gave him a devilish look, but he seemed friendly enough.
He bowed deeply to me as I exited, bending over my hand. I heard Charlotte murmur something in her language, laughter in her voice.
Though I fully expected and planned for what came next, part of me was saddened I had to say anything at all. Before I even reached the front door, one of the Enforcers was opening it and moving to step inside.
I sent a surge of power forward, calling on the family magic. A wall of crackling fire, colored with demon, Sidhe and vampire magic, snapped up over the entry, sending the man back a pace with a hoarse cry.
“You may remain out here,” I said, keeping my tone soft but cold so they would know exactly where they stood, “but you will never, ever have permission to enter my house or the place of my family's power. Ever. Do you understand?”
The Enforcer glared. I didn't know him, but I knew his look. His features were familiar, enough of the Dumont blood in him I had no problem figuring out whose side he was on.
“We were ordered to guard you.” He towered over me, going for bully tactics.
I almost laughed in his face. “You can do that from the driveway. Have a nice night.”
He wouldn't get out of my way. And as much as I wanted to slam him physically into the asphalt and see the color of his blood, I knew an incident was the last thing I needed. Instead, I reached out with all the infinite power I had at my disposal and shoved him aside.
He staggered, stared at me like he was genuinely surprised by my ability to do so.
“Never underestimate the Hayle coven,” I said.
Charlotte snorted, one eyebrow raised, lips quirked. She almost ruined it for me. My need to laugh came back.
The Enforcer, clearly unused to being challenged, looked at the two weres standing behind me.
Which gave me the time I needed to stride into the kitchen, the weres on my heels, and seal the door shut behind me.
Uncle Frank, Sunny and Sassafras sat at the table, staring.
“I take it you had some trouble?” Uncle Frank rose from his seat and went to the window, pulling back the curtain a little to peer outside.
“Three Enforcers,” Sunny said, eyes far away as she used her power to feel them out. “I take it you're not under arrest?”
I sank into an empty chair, my body feeling suddenly heavy, kicking off Mom's horribly painful shoes with a sigh of relief, just grateful the two vampires I loved the most didn't make any outward motion toward the three werewolves who stood at the far side of the kitchen, watching, wary.
I filled Uncle Frank and Sunny in on what happened while Sassafras hissed his anger.
“You're okay?” His paws landed on my shoulders, amber eyes locked on mine.
“I'm fine.” His power reached for me, checking to make sure I was unharmed. He was so much stronger since he returned from Demonicon, a cat once again, but whole at least. I let out my demon, the two chuffing softly at each other a moment while I showed him what happened.
Sassy dropped back to the table, gaze going to the werewolves. “Well done,” he said.
Charlotte nodded to him.
Sunny sighed and gestured at the three. “We won't bite you,” she said, and I’m certain not intending a pun, sounding tired. “And I have no time for our people's feud. If you want to help, come and sit. If not, leave. But don't hover.”
Charlotte moved first, taking a place next to me. “I will do whatever I can.”
The two weres with her slunk over, filled the last two seats at the table. I realized I'd never seen it
so full.
Soft footfalls from the hallway alerted me we weren't alone. I looked up and met Quaid's eyes.
“Meira's asleep,” he said, coming to me. I quickly stood and let him take my seat before sinking into his lap, welcoming the warmth of his body, his arms around me. No one said anything about our seating arrangement.
Smart.
Quaid's anger when he was told what happened came through to me from his entire body. “I'll kill them both.” He certainly sounded deadly.
Why did that make me giggle?
I don't think laughing was the right choice, but I couldn't help it. I'd been holding in my need to let the tension out since Charlotte's little show with the van.
I smacked Quaid's arm when his face went sullen. “I'm fine,” I said. “And as much as you want to kill Jean Marc and Kristophe, you're just going to have to stand in line.”
Uncle Frank's face was so grim Quaid backed down.
“I'm not doubting you,” Sunny said, “but we're sure it was the Dumonts who set the explosive?”
Charlotte was already nodding before the blonde vampire finished speaking. “Absolutely,” she said. “They have been trained in mundane methods of attack where there would be no magical trace. I'm assuming for just this purpose.”
Again I thought of our house burning down, how had their attempt not been uncovered I'd most likely not be here to worry about it.
“I don't give a crap about them right now.” I stood up, leaving Quaid's arms for the familiar feeling of pacing the kitchen, Mom's velvet skirt swaying around my bare feet. “Now we know what they're up to, I'm sure it won't happen again.” Or they could try. Then I'd let Quaid kill them. After I hurt them so much they'd beg me to give them to him.
“You said you had a plan.” Uncle Frank's tone was as close to normal as I'd heard it in a long time. I turned to him and offered a lop-sided smile.
“Welcome home, by the way.” I took a moment to kiss his forehead, hand brushing his blonde hair back. His one good eye met mine and he actually smiled a little.
“I'm a little tired of chasing Mom around,” he said.
Oops. Right. “Yeah,” I said. “I’m glad she finally contacted you. I'm pretty sure she's close by and has no desire to be found until she's ready.”
Instead of being cranky about it like he was last time he found out she'd reached out to me, Uncle Frank just shrugged. “I figured,” he said. “I guess it was just easier to focus on following her.”
Sunny smiled at him, fingers brushing over his undamaged cheek.
I just bet.
“Okay,” I said around a deep breath, “we need to stop reacting and start acting. All of this has come as a complete surprise. We knew the Dumonts were up to something, but I don't think any of us expected this.”
Agreement all around. Sassy's tail swished angrily a few times before he settled.
“I have some ideas,” I said. “But the Enforcers outside are going to make it harder to check out one of them.”
“What do you have in mind?” Sunny's blue eyes locked on me. In fact, they were all watching me, expectant. Like they thought I knew what I was doing. A moment of panic grabbed me, shook me hard.
Since when did I know what I was doing?
Oh boy.
But this was for Mom. And I would not let her down.
“First up, we need to hit the library.” I saw the flicker of momentary jealousy in Quaid's face and knew the little "bestie" game he and Liam were playing for my benefit was just a facade.
Boys.
“I assume you mean the Sidhe archive?” Uncle Frank sat back, frowning. “Why?”
“Liam has turned up things that have helped us before,” I said, looking at Sassy who nodded.
“True,” he said. “It's quite an extensive library. In fact, I would venture to guess the Sidhe power has ensured every book every written could be accessed through its stacks.”
Now there was an interesting concept. One I'd have to wait to explore another time.
“You think there might be some old coven law we can call on or uncover to help Miriam?” Charlotte nodded slowly while she spoke. “It makes much sense.”
They were again all in agreement.
Whew. Wonders and never ceasing and all that.
“So what about the other thing?” Quaid's deep voice helped steady me.
I held still a moment, preparing for the inevitable before I spoke. “It's clear Batsheva will do whatever she can to ruin us, through direct and indirect means. One of those ways is through the vampires and the clan.”
Sunny nodded, looking angry and sad all at once. “I'm sorry, Syd. The house is mine, but without the true leader...” her eyes widened as she stared at me like I was insane.
Which I probably was.
Uncle Frank gasped while Sassy growled low in the back of his throat.
They had it now, apparently. I was actually surprised they hadn’t thought of it sooner.
“We have to find Sebastian,” I said. “And bring him back.”
***
Chapter Twenty One
They argued. They shouted, listed the reasons why this was a very bad idea. But in the end, I won. Because they knew I was right.
With Sebastian on our side, Mom would be home free.
She was worth the risk.
I sat in Quaid's lap again, feet swinging, feeling his breath on my neck as he bent to press his lips to my cheek. The connection of our power was instant and full of fire, but I didn't have time for it at the moment and, to his credit, he pulled away with a sigh, clearly understanding it too.
“We need him,” I said, though I inwardly shuddered at the thought of the blood clan leader. The last time I'd seen him, he was a shining star, an angel of death, the most horrible and beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on. Already devastatingly attractive, the vampire virus he'd ingested, taken from those of his clan who had fed on Cesard before he died, turned Sebastian into some kind of super vampire, an incarnation of what his kind was meant to be. The former Firblog magician, host to the vampire virus and a banished demon named Torsh, threatened Wilding Springs and everyone in it—human, witch and vampire. Once I’d banished Cesard's demon possessor back to Demonicon, it was Sebastian and his vampires who removed enough of the living infection from Cesard to allow him to die in peace.
If the virus escaped the ancient magician long ago and infected the vampire race further, who knows if normals would have been the ones to dominate the population?
Sunny crossed her arms over her chest, biting her lower lip, flashing a little fang in the process. “We do,” she said. “Without him, Batsheva might be able to take action against the vampires. Even with him, we have no idea of her ultimate plan.” She tapped her fingertips against the table top. “Syd, you don’t really think she’ll just abandon this attack against Miriam if Sebastian tells her to?”
I shrugged. “She said she would. In front of everyone.” I had to believe.
“I agree with Syd.” Sassafras paused in his face washing to fix his amber eyes on her. “We must do everything in our power to stop Batsheva, even if it means risking finding Sebastian. She wants it all. Every scrap of power, every kind imaginable. And she wants, more than anything, to see Miriam suffer as much as possible right up until the moment Batsheva kills her.” He set down his left paw and began with his right, stroking it over his ear after a couple of licks, inner lid sliding over the glow of his gaze. “Her jealousy of your mother runs deep, since they were girls in this very coven together. Batsheva has always had a nasty streak, but her years of envy have turned her heart purely evil.”
No one said anything for a moment. We simply watched him, his movements hypnotic, adorable even. I finally reached forward and took his chin in my hand, turning his face toward me.
“Won't she be surprised, then,” I said, “when Mom kills her ass first.”
Sassafras winked. “If one of us doesn't get to her before Miriam does.”
A ro
und of laughs. Good to hear. Even Charlotte and her friends were grinning.
“The other side of this,” I said, “is Sebastian's very talented brain. He's brilliant, after all. Maybe there's something he can think of that will help even if Batsheva manages to get around her promise. But I really think, no matter what the consequences, we need to bring him back.”
“If we can even find him.” Sunny sighed, rubbing her eyes with her hands. “I've been looking, Syd. He made me swear not to, but I couldn't just leave him out there, alone.”
“What do we do if we can track him down?” Uncle Frank slid his arm around Sunny's shoulders. “He still has the virus inside him. There's a good reason he's not here anymore, Syd. Remember?”
Again my mind went back to the handsome vampire and again I shuddered inwardly. “I owe it to him,” I said. “He doesn't deserve to live like that.” I looked up and met Sunny's eyes. “He needs his clan.”
She smiled, gently, with great tenderness, crystal tears rising in her eyes. “You have an idea?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. We'll see. But we have to find him first in any case.”
“I still think this is a bad idea.” Quaid shifted under me. “But if we have to do it, we do it. But you're staying here.”
He said what? Good thing I wasn't alone in my head. I was so floored by his absolute nerve I couldn't speak.
Hush, boy. Gram's mental voice snapped like a whip, making Quaid jump. Everyone at the table looked suddenly startled, Sassafras leaping up and yowling, fur standing on end. The three werewolves moaned softly, shaking their heads. I happen to agree with my granddaughter. She's going. You're not. Suck it up.
Quaid twitched under me. I cupped his face in my hands, letting my magic envelop him.
Trust me.
He stilled before his tension drained away. I do.
Nice to hear from you so soon, Mom. Uncle Frank's mental voice was chilly to say the very least. I felt like I had icicles growing in my head.
