by Patti Larsen
I paused as I entered the small cluster of oaks, but not because I’d calmed down. On the contrary. My demon roared her intent even as I felt the now familiar touch of the werewolves.
They were all around me.
***
Chapter Twenty Two
Funny how when I was under threat all of my magic synched together like, well, you know. I swelled with power, feeling my body vibrate with it, almost welcoming the chance to blow the crap out of something. The werewolves shuddered out of the shadows, approaching me on all fours, their massive, hairy bodies more wolf than human. Their eyes glowed like Galleytrot’s, red and menacing, but their resemblance to him ended there. Massive hands tipped with claws punctured the firm ground with sickening sounds, a low hum of growling counterpoint to the song of my magic.
Only six of them. I could totally handle it.
I was about to attack first and ask questions of their bloody corpses later when one of them slunk forward, body shimmering and shaking. It was hard not to watch in sick fascination as the werewolf transformed, shrinking, softening, the fur retreating, to be replaced by smooth white skin and long red hair.
She’d retained her underwear during the change, somehow, so at least I didn’t have to be embarrassed she was totally naked. I knew her at once, of course—the bodyguard who watched the brothers. She observed me for a moment, like a predator weighing her options, before she smiled.
“Good evening, Miss Hayle.” Her voice had the same heavy accent as her boss Raoul. Her ice blue eyes watched me carefully as she spoke. “I’ve come to invite you to dinner.”
That was a surprise. And probably a lie. I held my power ready just in case.
“Not hungry, thanks.”
The weres behind her snarled and growled, pacing back and forth but she shrugged.
“I was sent to escort you,” she said. “Mistress insisted.”
“And if I decide I’m not joining you?” The weres were far too restless for my liking.
“I’m afraid I must obey my orders.” She bowed her head to me. “I am Charlotte Girard,” she said, “and you have it on my honor no harm will come to you.”
I wanted to laugh. But she was serious. And from the yips and barks of anger from her companions, she’d just offered me something she shouldn’t have.
Well then. How interesting.
“I have my own orders,” I said. “I’ve been told not to attend.”
Charlotte sighed softly. “Then we are at an impasse,” she said. “Battle is inevitable.”
“I guess so.” The weres stopped pacing. Tensed. Not good. I could feel their desire to hurt me, their need to tear me apart. And frankly I was in on that need. My demon had her back up and was all set to do some damage.
“Perhaps not.” Charlotte cocked her head to one side, gaze softening, lost in the distance, one finger raised. She held still for a long moment before letting her eyes meet mine again. “I believe your orders have changed.”
I was about to argue when Mom’s mind touched mine, even through my substantial shields.
Come to dinner, she sent.
I relaxed a little, seeing the weres do the same, some of them partially morphing back into human form as Charlotte stepped aside and gestured. “After you, Miss Hayle.”
No way was I going with them.
“I’ll meet you there.” I turned my back on her, though every single fiber of me screamed that I needed face her as I left, but I was beginning to understand these shifters. What they respected. And I was certain boldness was on the list.
Lucky guess or not, I made it home alone, not a were in sight. When I settled behind the wheel of my car, I finally let my tension out. I sat there and shook for a solid minute, panting through my collective panic, struggling for control. My Sidhe side soothed me while my demon complained she’d as yet had the chance to hurt anyone.
By the time I was able to drive, I figured I could face pretty much anything.
Or at least I told myself that.
The road to the hotel was winding, a narrow switchback up the side of a cliff. I found myself nervous on the drive, the thin guardrail at the edge seeming a pathetic barrier to the potential of plunging over the side. I focused on the road, jumping at the least little thing to pass through my headlights, screeching out loud when fox darted from the forest and zipped across the street.
Stupid fox.
My pre-drive calm was thoroughly rattled when I pulled into the parking lot, looking up at the dark and foreboding building. Who would ever think to construct such a hideous place, let alone turn it into a hotel? It loomed, four stories of classic Hollywood creepiness, the outside barely lit by two flickering bulbs over the entrance.
I stepped out, the scent of pine and rain heavy in the air, as six shapes bounded out of the trees and approached the place. No way was I going in with them as my escort. I waited until they all disappeared inside before climbing out of Minnie, locking her with a soft bee-boop from her alarm.
Just as I reached the door, it opened ahead of me. Charlotte stood, fully clothed now in dark red leather, holding it wide for me.
“My guarantee stands,” she whispered to me as I walked past her. Her ice blue eyes remained blank as she closed the door.
Obviously she thought I’d have reason to need protection. Not exactly comforting.
Paneled wood ran the length of the hallway, stained nearly black, a giant carved staircase winding up into the darkness above. My feet made hardly a sound on the thick, elaborate carpet running the length of the entry. I glanced to the left as I passed a mirror, catching my pale, pinched reflection and immediately squared my shoulders.
Not a hint of weakness. Not a hint.
Charlotte walked behind me, the scent of her stronger now I was close to her. Rather than unpleasant, as I’d expected, she smelled like fresh earth and vanilla. I’d figured wet dog hair, but I was used to Galleytrot.
Only one door was open, the sound of activity coming from inside. I drew a breath and forced myself to relax before I entered.
A massive old table dominated the long, narrow dining room with similar carvings to the staircase. Chair backs towered over the diners, but I saw enough to know the gang was all here. Mom met my eyes and smiled, nodding to me as if she hadn’t told me earlier today I was to stay away from this place.
“Welcome, welcome.” A small man bustled toward me, a slightly dazed look on his face, but his smile well-plastered. “Please, take a seat. Dinner is served.”
He had none of his own magic about him so he had to be the proprietor. Thralled, wrapped in power. It made me want to scream. Instead, I circled the table, head up, eyes fixed on Mom and took my seat next to her. Erica sat to my right, gently squeezing my knee under the table in welcome. I looked up and into Celeste’s eyes before her gaze flickered from me. But there was no mistaking the disgust she felt and, honestly, the feeling was more than mutual.
“Sydlynn,” Odette said from the head of the table, only two seats away, “how lovely you could join us.”
The brothers snickered from farther down, across from Erica and Dad. I wondered at the odd seating arrangement, why Dad was so far from Mom, but it was Odette’s little party and I figured there was an insult in it somewhere.
My biggest surprise was Gram. She sat between Mom and our hostess, faded blue eyes scrunched up as she attempted to force a napkin through the tines of a fork. Her tongue stuck out to the side, gripped firmly in her teeth while she grunted and finally pounded her hand on the table in frustration.
My heart clenched. Had she taken some kind of backslide? Reverted to her old crazy self?
“I apologize for the escort,” Odette went on. “I wanted to make sure you were here on time, ma chere.”
I could have shot her down. Wanted to. Left it alone. Mom was right. There was way more happening here than I could see. Connections, misdirections, it now made sense. Gram was playing a game, a role as much as I needed to.
Fine. I could
do what was required. I could hold my temper and my ground. I could be as cold and calculating as the porcelain doll Ameline who watched me, one hand firmly gripping Quaid’s.
I could. I would. And when it was over, I’d be right there with Mom when she destroyed them all.
***
Chapter Twenty Three
Dinner was served by the small man and his equally small wife, both of whom bowed and scraped to the Dumonts and their werewolf security, but who were treated in turn like trash. I had to clench my teeth and my hands to keep from reacting, knowing Mom would be disappointed if I acted too soon.
The woman set a bowl of soup in front of me. “Thank you,” I said.
The brothers snickered while one of them tripped her casually on the way by. She actually stammered an apology.
We must tolerate it, Mom sent. But not for long, I promise. Patience, Sydlynn.
She was a heck of a lot more composed than I was, but I did as I was told.
I barely tasted my soup, forcing myself to eat a few spoonfuls in an attempt to unclench my tight stomach. I’m not sure if it did me much good or not. The sight of Gram flinging hers across the table one scoop at a time did way more for my state of mind.
Andre snarled as a chunk of carrot lodged in his hair. Gram squealed with laughter, clapping her hands together.
She’s okay, right? I set my spoon down, sipping my water to prevent the huge grin threatening to take over my face. This is an act?
Mother thought it best. Mom ignored Gram, calmly eating her soup while my grandmother continued her quest to annoy the hell out of the Dumonts.
“Take that from her, would you!” Andre gestured at the hotelkeeper who rushed forward and took Gram’s bowl. She grunted in anger, fighting him for it, sending the remaining contents slinging down the table. Gram cackled her best crazy laugh and let the man have the dish.
“How very sad,” Odette murmured, watching Gram with slitted eyes. “I was under the impression Ethpeal recovered from the madness that took her so many years ago.”
Mom shrugged delicately. “She had a momentary return,” she said, “but the damage was just too extensive, her time lost in the darkness prolonged. The battle with the Wild Hunt was simply too much. She slipped away from us again almost immediately after.”
Odette’s eyes settled on Quaid for a moment. Was that disapproval? I hoped so. I hoped his ass was in a crap load of trouble.
Jerk.
I didn’t get to enjoy his discomfort for long. The sound of the front door slamming was followed by angry voices. Sunny and Uncle Frank stormed into the dining room, both looking furious. Mom let out a soft sigh, a gust of frustration.
“Sunny,” she said, setting aside her napkin. “Frank. I didn’t know you were joining us.”
“Neither did we,” Sunny said, voice cold and harsh. White fire flashed in her eyes. “We were simply following stray dogs to their kennel.”
Oops. I knew this wasn’t in Mom’s game plan. The werewolves standing at attention around the room snarled and huffed at the two vampires who snarled and showed fang back.
“Shiny!” Gram lurched to her feet, leaning all the way over the table, belly pressed into the soup stain, to grab at Sunny. The blonde vampire snapped out of her anger and met my grandmother’s eyes, her face softening. “Chocolate!”
Sunny smiled then. “Hi, Ethpeal,” she said. “I don’t have any, but I can find you some.” She snapped her fingers at the nearest were, who happened to be Charlotte. “Fetch Ms. Hayle some chocolate, dog.”
The red head’s eyes tightened, but to my amazement she turned and left the room. Tension began to build again while Gram hopped up and down on one foot, humming off tune while conducting her own inner band.
I was starting to wonder if it really was an act. She had crazy down to a science.
“Please,” Odette said with an edge to her voice. “Join us.”
Sunny took an empty seat, Uncle Frank beside her. He continued to glare at the werewolves while Sunny sat straight backed and full of anger. It wasn’t until Charlotte returned a moment later with a bar of candy that the mood snapped, but not for the better.
Gram raced around the end of the table, using Odette’s chair as a spring board to launch herself at the were. The Dumont leader cried out as her seat rocked from the pressure, spilling her wine. Gram ignored her, snatching the bar from Charlotte’s hands and ripping off the label, stuffing the entire mess into her mouth. Gram stood there, rocking back and forth, a huge grin on her face, drool and chocolate running down her chin to stain the front of her flowered blouse.
Charlotte gently guided Gram back to her seat and stood behind her. I nodded just a bit to the red head who returned the gesture.
She was nice to Gram at her most nutso. Not that I trusted her or anything, but at least Charlotte was a human being.
Mostly.
Even the brothers seemed uncomfortable with the sudden oppression in the room. The only person who appeared unaffected sat with great poise, her expressionless face turned toward me, eyes empty. I was sure at that moment Ameline was an alien. Or a robot. Or something totally make-believe. No one was that cold.
The guest list wasn’t complete yet, but I didn’t know it until the front door opened one more time. The voice murmured in the distance was familiar, the blacked out clear blue eyes and Goth styling equally so. I gaped as Pain entered, nervously glancing about from person to person. Mom tensed beside me even as I kicked myself for not telling her about the brother’s invitation. I glanced at her, ready to apologize, only to see the sadness on Mom’s face, a flicker only, enough to tell me what I refused to believe.
Mom already knew. Of course she did. And she hadn’t told me a thing. Just like Quaid. If we hadn’t been sitting there, with our enemies around us, I would have started a fight I’m not sure I was prepared to finish.
Mom’s expression told me everything I needed to know, confirmed my worst fear.
Pain was a Dumont. And she had no idea.
Odette surged to her feet and rushed forward, hands outstretched to Pain. She gripped my friend’s face in her hands and kissed her softly on both cheeks.
“Mon petite chere,” she said in a voice throbbing with emotion, “you’ve come home to us at last.”
***
Chapter Twenty Four
Pain’s reaction was instant and expected, at least from me. I’d seen her crumble like this before, watched as her face collapsed in a mix of grief and relief, witnessed meltdown after meltdown.
But this time was complete. She sagged into Odette’s arms while the family rose and surrounded her, the werewolves humming softly under their breath in a gentle song of welcome. It was one of the most amazing and touching moments I’d ever witnessed and it made me ripping mad.
Not because I didn’t think Pain deserved to be happy or loved. But because I knew it was all just one big lie.
Pain looked up through her mess of makeup and into Odette’s eyes. “Grandmother?”
The old woman’s smile made me want to slap it from her face. “Yes, mon petite chere,” she said. “Your mother was my daughter and heir to our coven.”
Pain hiccupped through her tears. “She was?”
My gaze left Pain, caught a flicker of movement. I was fairly certain no one else witnessed the flash of pure venom that crossed Ameline’s face. So the ice queen did feel. She was just very good at hiding it.
Good to know.
Someone clearly thought she was in a place of power only to find out it had been jerked out from under her. My mind put two and two together and came up with no more future coven leader for Ameline.
What a freaking pity.
When she turned back from staring at Pain, her face composed once again, she found me watching her.
And smiling.
Her nostrils flared once.
Tag, I thought. You’re it.
Odette meanwhile gestured and another chair was brought forward. The innkeeper tucked it
to the corner, between the old woman and Andre. Odette seated Pain herself, holding her hand as my friend shook and smiled and wiped her eyes with her pristine white napkin, now coated in black makeup.
“This is a night of great revelations,” Odette lifted her glass. “We are finally one again.” She saluted Pain while the rest of the family did the same. Mom held still so I did too. “Welcome home, Mia, my darling.”
She smiled at her grandmother with the openness of a hurt child. “I was right,” she breathed. “That’s my name. They tried to call me something else, but I knew all along. I’m Mia.” My friend beamed around the table, whole face altering, shifting it seemed, shoulders taking on a new set.
That sealed it. No more Pain. I could see it in everything about her now. My Goth friend was gone, forgotten. Mia emerged, instantly adopting her grandmother’s poise, the tears gone.
A chameleon. I knew it of Pain—Mia—that she easily converted her mannerisms to those she admired and cared about, but this was the first time I saw her literally change right in front of me. And now I knew it wasn’t just her, but it was tied to her magic somehow, this need to belong.
“How could I forget,” Odette smiled at Mia. “You can’t know who sits just down the table from you.” The old woman met Quaid’s eyes. “You two found each other,” she said, “despite years and separation. And though you may not know it consciously, your hearts understand the truth. Don’t they?”
Quaid looked very troubled, brow furrowed, but Mia smiled at once. She rose from her chair, went to stand in front of Quaid while my pulse sped up and tears threatened.
“Quaid,” Mia said with soft innocence and great poise, “you’re my brother.”
He surged to his feet, hugged her so hard I worried about her while I struggled with my emotions. I was happy for them both, despite the circumstances, knowing at least she would have someone she could trust in this family of liars.
