Flesh and Blood

by Patti Larsen

  So much had changed in my life. My eighteenth birthday barreled toward me like a freight train. The deadline I'd set for my parents so long ago loomed. How odd to think back to the girl I was, the selfish, whiny and pathetic brat who rejected everything out of pure stubbornness. And yes, I admitted to myself, despite the fact I had help in the whole needing to be normal department, I forced myself to face the fact even though Gram's power influenced me, it was my choice to act the way I did, my decision to cut my family off and be so wretched to my mother.

  When did I grow up? I took the final turn, willing my hands to relax, feeling the tingle of returning blood to them. I was a totally different person, as if the girl I had been was only a shadow of what I was becoming.

  I parked the car in the dark and empty lot, eyes locked on the vacant hotel now abandoned since the Dumonts left, and drew a deep and steadying breath.

  That's right, Syd. Time to finish the job. You're not a little girl anymore. And you don't have the right to ruin things for everyone by being an impulsive idiot.

  So get a freaking grip and rescue your boyfriend already.

  I loved these little pep talks.

  Light shone out over the gravel-covered ground as I opened the driver's door. I released the shields around my power, raising a small ball of witchlight, letting my magic reach out, feeling the connection between Quaid and I stronger than ever.

  He was here. He was really here. I watched in shock as he emerged from the tree line near the front door of the hotel, head down. My heart took a huge leap in my chest as I rushed forward, just grateful he was all right.

  Maybe it had been him who contacted me! The relief of seeing him again was almost enough to break my fear. Until he lifted his face and met my eyes. Even from a distance, I knew the truth.

  I'd been right after all.

  He shook his head at me, dark hair even longer than I remembered, curls shaggy over his cheeks. I kept moving toward him anyway, well aware by then we weren't alone, but willing to accept it as long as he was with me.

  Soft growling drifted like fog toward me, werewolves emerging from the darkness to stalk in a slow circle, keeping me confined. Their eyes reflected the steady blue light hovering over my right shoulder, casting long shadows as they paced, agitated and salivating.

  I couldn't care less and ignored them. They were no match for me or my power. I was still waiting for the show to start when Jean Marc oozed out of the night to join Quaid, holding up one hand.

  “That's close enough.” He smiled at Quaid before turning back to me. “Unless you want to see the end of loverboy.”

  I stopped my advance, crossing my arms over my chest and doing my best to look bored. “Threats again, Jean Marc? My, how original.”

  Someone snickered behind him even as the older Dumont brother scowled. Kristophe crept from the black like a mangy cur to wink at me. He blew me a kiss before leaning in to Quaid and sniffing him like a dog.

  “You could do better,” Kristophe said to me, lips curling as he looked me up and down, power sliding over me in places he had no right to touch.

  It took a massive effort to allow Shaylee to respond. My demon snarled and thrashed against me as the Sidhe princess simply cut Kristophe's power off.

  “In your dreams.” I smiled at Quaid, a real smile, dropping my arms. “Hey, babe.”

  A flicker of a grin touched his mouth. I dreamed of that mouth...

  “Missed you.” And his voice. The deep warmth of it filled me up with those two simple words.

  “How sweet.” I wondered who was running the Dumont brothers, unsurprised by the answer. Ameline Benoit, the one-time heir to the Dumont coven, made her own appearance, brushing past the boys to stand in front of them, clearly in control. One last flicker of movement behind her drew my eyes. Mia waited on the edge of the darkness, eyes locked on me. I felt a pang of loss, wished things could be different, that she could go back to being Pain in her heavy black makeup and piercings. It made me wonder if she missed it too.

  No going back now. I nodded slowly to her before turning my attention to Ameline.

  My hate for her cold and empty face hadn't diminished. If anything, the desire to relocate her features somewhere closer to the back of her skull was even more dominant. Again I struggled with my demon while Shaylee stood guard.

  “I figured you'd be here,” I said to her. “There's no way those two have the combined brain power to work up any kind of plan.” I smiled at Jean Marc with as much brilliance as I could muster while he scowled at me. Kristophe licked his lips and kissed the air.

  Gross.

  Ameline shrugged delicately, flawless features as polished as a doll's. “You are of course correct.” Both brothers grunted in anger, Kristophe finally scowling like a sullen child. “It seems you know them better than they expected.”

  “Not much depth there,” I said. How delightful, this casual conversation in the dark. As if we were discussing the weather or who won the latest reality show.

  “They serve their purpose.” She glanced slightly behind her, at Quaid. “I'm actually jealous,” she said. “Yours seems to have at least some semblance of intelligence.”

  “Surprising,” I said. “Considering he's a Dumont.”

  Both brother's flinched like I'd hit them, and I obviously had, if only an ego target. Quaid rolled his eyes at me.

  Yeah, yeah. I'm getting to it. Hold your horses.

  I met Mia's gaze for the second time. “It's good to see you.”

  She didn't look away, but she also didn't speak. My former friend was still dressed like Ameline, had done her chameleon act and absorbed her idol's persona. I wished I had been able to shield her from all of this, but she was a Dumont and the choice, as much as she had no real choice in the end, was hers.

  “Mia has shown herself to be a true Dumont, faithful to her coven.” Ameline actually smiled a little, though I knew there was no humor behind it. Only cunning and deceit. “Unlike her brother.”

  Kristophe took that as some kind of signal and shoved Quaid hard. It was only then I realized my boyfriend's hands were tied behind his back. He staggered forward, almost fell, but found his balance. The absolute rage on his face made me equally fearful and gleeful about his plans for the Dumonts when this was all over. I might even let him have one of them. Because that’s what you do for those you love.

  Yes, yes. Bloodthirsty again. I was allowed to dream.

  “Where is Sassafras?” Bad sign he was nowhere in sight. I wanted him present and accounted for before I made my move.

  Ameline's eyes narrowed a fraction before she flicked at an imaginary piece of lint on her sleeve. “Who?”

  I ground my teeth together while Shaylee sent me calm and my demon threw images of Ameline with her throat torn out and our hands covered in the girl's blood. Talk about unnerving.

  “Your boys kidnapped my friend. And I want him back. Along with Quaid.” No more screwing around. Now that I'd stated my demands, I actually felt better, the serenity Shaylee offered me taking hold.

  Fight time was coming. And I was ready.

  “Ah, yes.” Ameline sighed as if in regret. “I'm afraid he won't be joining us.” She snapped her fingers. The werewolves began to close the circle in response to her prompt. “In fact, very shortly, your family will be minus another member, I'm afraid.” Not a hint of empathy or anything resembling real emotion passed over her face as she spoke. “A pity, really. But we need your coven destabilized and your death coupled with the loss of your father will be all we need to drive your mother over the edge at last.”

  Did she... did she just confess? Seriously? And how much more could I get out of her?

  Surely she wasn't that stupid. But maybe she was that arrogant.

  Worth a try.

  “We as in who?” I didn't acknowledge the approaching weres, choosing to continue to ignore them. I knew my demon would take care of the whole pack with little effort. The real threat stood right in front of me.


  Ameline actually laughed. “You still think you'll escape this alive, don't you?” She shook her head, still chuckling, as though I were the insane one. “Have a little plan to turn what I say against me?” When her eyes lifted to mine again, they finally showed emotion, a burning hunger that actually scared me a little. “The Hayle power will be mine.” Her words emerged, throaty and thick, as though she finally allowed herself to express her deepest desire and was almost overwhelmed by it. “Mine and mine alone. Thanks to you, Syd.”

  Mia shifted, a soft frown crossing her face, but Ameline didn't see it.

  “What about your leader?” I threw the question at Mia more than at the heartless witch standing before me. “Don’t you mean the power will be hers?”

  Ameline snorted softly, an odd sound from her perfect face. “Odette had her chance,” she said. “She and that foolish sister of hers. Multiple chances, in fact. But they were too emotionally involved, allowed their anger and envy to be their undoing. I'm under no such restrictions.” Her calm returned, icy and sharp. “It's my turn to shine, don't you see? So much fun in store, so soon.” She pouted gently, tilting her head to the side, shining black hair falling in a cascade over her shoulder. “But you won't be here for any of that. A pity.”

  “You're going to take control of the coven.” Again the frown from Mia, deeper this time. She actually swayed toward us before falling still again. I cut her out of the equation after that. If she was so indoctrinated by Ameline she wouldn't defend her family from a usurper, as crappy a family as it was, I had no use for her.

  And she clearly had no use for me.

  Ameline's smile was empty. “The next time the old woman falters, I'll be waiting.” She stroked back a lock of her hair with a graceful hand. “I actually owe you and your family a huge debt of gratitude. Without this feud, Odette could have lasted for years longer. But because of her focus, her hate, she's deteriorating at a much more accelerated rate. Encouraged by me, naturally.”

  Mia did move this time. But only to come and stand beside Jean Marc, her face smooth and passive.

  Damn her.

  I had one last dig left. Maybe I could prod my ex-friend into action.

  “Correct me if I'm wrong,” I said, “but isn't Mia the next in line for succession?”

  Ameline laughed again, silver bell peals of it drifting on the still night air. “My dear Mia knows her place,” she said even as Mia nodded slowly, eyes no longer focused on me, but locked on the ground.

  “Coward,” I whispered. She flinched. “Your family deserves better.”

  Her cheeks reddened in the glow of the witchlight. I'd hit a nerve. Good enough.

  Ameline rolled her eyes, arms crossing over her chest, finally looking bored with the whole conversation. “Enough talking,” she said. “It's time we finished this and moved on to the next stage of the plan.”

  She backed away, gesturing for the werewolves to move in again. “Kill her,” she said, “and make sure it looks like vampires did it.”

  ***

  Chapter Thirty One

  My demon leaped into action even as Shaylee gasped in understanding the same moment I did. The vampires. Of course. What better way to completely tear Mom down than to attack her from all sides?

  While I wrapped my head around the true evil living inside Ameline, ripples of demon fire surged outward, scorching the ground beneath the werewolves. Howls of agony mixed with grunts of anger as they retreated.

  Ameline rolled her eyes, one foot tapping on the gravel. “Is that the best you can do?” She glared around at them as they slunk low to the ground. “Fine,” she said. “I'll deal with her myself.”

  Perfect. Exactly the way I wanted it.

  Before either of us had a chance to strike, our rising magic surrounding us in a mixed glow of rainbow colors, the earth beneath my feet began to shake as a howl pierced the night. The werewolves fell back even further, crouching low to the ground as Galleytrot, Liam at his side, strode into the parking lot. Both glowed with the green fire of the Sidhe, the giant dog shuddering as he grew as he'd done before, to tower over all of us while his eyes blazed red.

  He howled again, the sound so loud I covered my ears, glad to see Ameline and the cousins do the same. She was scowling, but didn't seem all that concerned by this turn of events so I kept my guard up.

  The sound echoed out across the hillside, ricocheting back toward us, overlapping on itself until not only the ground shook, but the very air itself vibrated. The Dumont witches may not have been adversely affected, but their shape shifting pets weren't so lucky. One by one they collapsed to the ground, unconscious, returning as they did to human form. I recognized the last as he fell, one of his hands reaching out to Ameline, Raoul's face distorted in desperate need. The werewolf leader was ignored by his mistress and finally collapsed with the rest of his people.

  Galleytrot released the endless howl, letting the sound die out. It still seemed to take forever and I was sure I'd be hearing echoes of it inside my head for weeks afterward. Shaylee shivered with excitement, her power stirred to action by the primal call of the black hound. So much so it was my demon's turn to hold her back.

  Ameline's hands dropped from her ears. “I assumed your mutt would show up,” she said. “Surprise, surprise.” She raised one hand, power flowing from her. Only then did I sense the energy circle erected around us. Galleytrot snarled and lunged, bouncing back from the lavender fire. He paced back and forth while Liam scowled at Ameline.

  “Cheater,” I smirked. “This is how you win, is it, Ameline? You brought your own allies to the fight, but I’m not allowed mine? Never mind that. It’s not like you needed your werewolves to beat me or anything.”

  Her mask slipped, a flicker of rage showing. I grinned wider.

  It shouldn't have been, I knew I needed to get a grip, but this was so. Freaking. Fun.

  “Pathetic and weak,” Ameline spit at me. “You don't have the courage to do what needs to be done.”

  I let the smile drop from my face as I approached her slowly, setting both my demon and Shaylee free. Even Quaid gasped, so I'm sure I looked suitably impressive, though I didn't really care all that much.

  “Try me.”

  “Syd.” Quaid's voice penetrated my hyper focus. “Be careful.”

  “Because she's a liar and a cheat?” I didn't let my gaze drop from the icy blue of Ameline's. “And a traitor to her coven.” I pushed a blast of demon-heated air into her face, mussing her perfect hair and making her blink and scowl. “I think I can handle her.”

  I had only a heartbeat of warning before I was attacked. But the magic wave striking at me didn't come from Ameline. I had just enough time to reinforce my shields as the Dumont brothers threw their lavender magic at me in tandem.

  The moment their power touched me, I was in battle mode. My demon roared her joy, even Shaylee shrieking a warrior's cry as I spun on the brothers. I'd given myself over to the full range of my abilities only a few times before, but usually out of fear or necessity. This time I did it with great deliberation, reaching out with one hand. Ropes of blue magic laced with amber and green wove their way through the air, twining slowly around the brothers. I watched them trying to shield against me, felt their growing fear and knew as my power swelled larger and stronger and brighter I could kill them so easily. They were no match for me.

  No one was.

  “Don't!” Ameline practically screamed in my ear. “If you kill them, your whole family will be destroyed.”

  I settled my gaze on her, feeling the central calm of my witch magic anchoring both demon and Sidhe. “So you say.”

  “They'll believe me.” Her eyes snapped with anger. I was eliciting feelings from her. Bonus. “The Council. I'll tell them you kidnapped us, lured us here with the intent to kill us.”

  “You won't,” I said, “if you're dead too.”

  She shook her head, backing away slowly. “You'll never catch me in time.”

  Quaid's head came up, ch
ocolate eyes black in the darkness around us. “Managed to corner yourself, have you, Ameline?” He laughed, a rich and delicious sound. “All along you've assumed Miriam was the most powerful witch in the coven.” He continued to laugh, bending over from it. “But you have no idea. None.”

  Ameline looked back and forth from him to me even as her magic snaked out across the ground, tasting mine. I let her. Blue eyes flew wide as she opened up and really felt what I had to offer.

  “Boo,” I said.

  Ameline stumbled back another step. “It's not possible.” Was that fear? I barely held back my own laughter even as my power continued to swell and grow and pulse so bright the entire lot was lit like daytime. I reached for my edges, for the final reach of my magic.

  And understood at last what Dad meant.

  I didn't have any.

  I could keep going, drawing more in, taking on all of the power in the world. Torsh, the god wannabe, had nothing on me, nothing. My whole body hummed as I welcomed in the vast expanse of magic at my disposal, knowing then no one and nothing could stand against me.

  Girl, Gram’s voice snapped in my head, breaking the trance. Pay attention.

  The balloon of power was punctured, fading as if all the air were being let out at once. I resisted at first, struggling against my grandmother who finally pinched me mentally.

  Enough grandstanding. Back to work.

  I sagged a little as I returned to myself, the light dimming to a soft glow, my power pulsing inside me like a heart, in perfect harmony. I laughed again, but this time from pure joy.

  “Still feel like playing, Ameline?”

  “This is war.” She wiped at her mouth with the back of her hand, fear reflected in her eyes. “Even more now, once the Council knows what you're capable of. You fool, they are jealous of you, of your family. This will be all I need to convince them to bring you down.”

  “They can try,” I said. “You can try. Good luck with that.”