Ancient Ways

by Patti Larsen

  Resistance. Punishment. Anger.

  Loathing because she’d been unable to save it.

  Andre's smooth voice, his soft French accent lilting and alluring, broke over Mia's. “Come to me.”

  The lavender tornado sped up. Didn't hesitate.

  Dove directly for Andre and slammed full-force into his chest.

  And the first male leader of a coven was created while the old one screamed her denial.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Two

  There was nothing left for me to do. Not while Andre swelled with power and Mia sagged, sobbing into her hands. While I hadn't done it personally, I had a hand in my friend's ruin.

  Sorrow washed through me as I turned, met Quaid's eyes. Saw his grief for his sister. Glanced over his shoulder.

  And sobbed myself, once. She lay crumpled on her side, bare skin pale, blonde hair spread around her, stained dark with her blood. Charlotte's stillness told me what I needed to know, but I went to her anyway. To confront her loss.

  Sassafras jumped down, approaching her face. Touched her nose with his small, pink one. Jerked back and hissed as he looked up at me. “Syd,” he said. “She's still warm.”

  Impossible. I fell to my knees, my power reaching for Charlotte. But she was gone, no heartbeat, no breath. And yet, he was right.

  She hadn't died from the bullet wound after all.

  Charlotte survived all this time only to die just before I reached her.

  Heaving sobs ripped me open as I fell over her, pulling her to me, cradling her in my lap. I dove inside her with my power, refusing to accept her loss, reaching for her, pulling, pushing even as my vampire dove deeper still.

  Like this, Gram sent, flooding my mind with her power, the tang of her necromancy searing through my body. Illegal, but I didn’t care about the rules.

  Not when it came to saving Charlotte’s life.

  Gram’s power flared. Softened. Fell away as the emptiness stretched on and on forever.

  I’m sorry, she whispered at last.

  The thread of who Charlotte was had broken. Her soul was gone.

  No.

  It couldn’t have gone far, though, could it?

  Not far enough.

  The maji in me whispered, sang a song of rejuvenation, pulled me along, further than Gram had taken me, deeper still. All the way to the black wall, to the glow of light that was the only flaw in its perfect darkness.

  I found her there, almost through. Pulled her back, drew her from the dark place, from the calling light where she hovered, staring, her soul and her echo, the ghost of what would remain locked together in an embrace. When I called for her, when my maji power reached her, Charlotte's soul turned, so innocent, her face bright and happy while her echo's expression turned to grief as the wolf rose and took over her ghost.

  Will you let me go? Happy Charlotte looked at the light.

  I will, I said, though everything in me fought her choice. If you choose to leave us.

  Her echo held tighter, snarling, the wolf refusing to release her. I'm not ready. She turned to me, grasped for me, ghostly paw curved into claws that bit into my mind. You need me.

  I did. I really did.

  But it had to be her choice.

  Charlotte. I pulled back, her claws raking through my consciousness. Whatever you choose, I love you.

  And I left her there. Raced back along the dark path to the light, out onto the roof of the building, still holding her against me, her blood on my hands. My vampire had healed her, the bullet hole in her chest sealed over, pink with new skin. She looked so small and vulnerable in only her bra and underwear, both stained with filth and her blood, all trace of the wolf she was gone from her in death.

  I waited, held my breath while Gram softly kissed my mind and retreated, her own sorrow powerful, overwhelming. I wiped my tears, fought off the blackness of grief. Charlotte knew I was here, could decide for herself. And whatever her choice, I knew now she made it with my own conscience clear.

  I could have forced her to stay. Could have begged, dragged her back with me.

  This way, if Charlotte came back to me, it was because she wanted to.

  When she drew her first breath, I laughed and cried and hugged her, rocking her again while Quaid sank down beside me, spreading a black robe over her suddenly shivering body. Charlotte's blue eyes opened and met mine, teeth chattering as she reached up with one hand and touched my cheek.

  “I love you too,” she whispered. “I choose to stay.”

  Sassafras's purr washed over both of us as he rubbed his furry cheek against hers.

  “Coven Leader.” Pender's tone was reverential, respectful. I looked up, met his gaze.

  He couldn't even give me a second?

  “Go.” Charlotte coughed softly, sitting up as Quaid leaned in to support her. “I'm fine.”

  I knew she was. My vampire made sure of that. Still.

  Sigh.

  I joined Pender as he gestured for me to follow, retracing my steps back to the machine. Sassafras scampered past me, amber flashes of magic shielding him from the sharp shards on the asphalt.

  I explained everything while the tall Enforcer leader listened and nodded and shook his head.

  “Terrible,” he said. “You've saved us all again, haven't you?” Pender's lean face pinched in concern. “You realize you've only put yourself back into the line of fire.” So he was just as aware of my impending burning at the stake as Mom, was he? “But I assure you, I will do everything in my power to assure the Council you acted only in our best interest.” He straightened, drew a breath, face sad. “I fear there will be many more incidents like this one before we have peace.”

  If we ever had peace. It was nice to have his support and all, but knowing what I was heading home to face, the fact we hadn't been able to do this quietly left me with a sour taste in my mouth.

  Well, if it came down to it, I could always just hide on Demonicon.

  Something whispered at my feet. I looked down, surprised to find the orphaned coven magicks, those of the tiny families who'd lost their lives to the Brotherhood clinging to my legs like fearful children.

  Pender flinched, tears welling in his eyes, spilling over his cheeks before he brushed them away with a brusque motion.

  I almost opened to the magicks. They needed a home, were so lonely, called to me, begged to be allowed in.

  Don't be an idiot. Gram's mind slashed across mine. You want to die, is that it?

  Damn her. What am I supposed to do, then?

  Someone stepped up beside me. Demetrius Strong's lucidity was long gone, the man I'd met inside the crystal buried under his insanity. But in one trembling hand he held out my crystal, the one I thought I'd lost and as I took it I understood.

  With a whispered promise delivered by my family magic, I beckoned the lonely power forward and lured it into the stone, trapping it there.

  Now you have proof. Gram's mind eased up, her own sadness making it through. Well done.

  For an idiot.

  Pender left me to talk to three Enforcers who swooped toward us, returning from their pursuit of the Brotherhood. I held out little hope they managed to capture Belaisle, but knowing he was on the run was enough for me. I turned from the crystal machine, the housings and six piles of shards all that remained of the thing, the sound of stone grinding under my feet.

  Trill stood behind me, a small smile on her face. Without her glasses, her dark eyes no longer hid behind the glare of the lenses. She looked tired, bone weary, but when she reached out for my hand, her maji power linking with me, I felt her satisfaction.

  I agree with Ethpeal, she sent. Well done. And you're not an idiot.

  Nice to have someone on my side for a change.

  Owen slid between us, hugging me before his impossibly blue eyes lit up. “We thought we'd be too late,” he said. “Trill tried to reach you when she figured out what you planned.”

  “How did you do that, by the way?” I draped m
y arm over Owen's shoulder, raising an eyebrow at Trill.

  She blushed and shrugged. “We're still linked together,” she said. “Ever since the vampire thing.” Oh yeah, that little vampire thing. When I was drained nearly to death and left to float in the veil and she’d saved me, pulled me out of it.

  Right.

  “You've been spying?” I couldn't bring myself to be irritated or even annoyed. Seemed like the more people who knew what I had going on inside my head, the better these days.

  Trill shook her head. “Not me,” she said. “Iepa.”

  For the love of all that was blessed and elemental. That I could get angry about.

  Didn't have a chance. Not with tall, blonde, and handsome winking at me again. I thought Quaid had the whole leer thing down to an art. Even my friend Ram back on Demonicon couldn't hold a magic candle to the smarmy smile and eye drooping wink this character threw my way.

  Comical, really. Just comical.

  Trill rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh and punched him firmly in the stomach. He gasped out a breath of air, doubling over before glaring at her.

  “Sydlynn Hayle,” she said between clenched teeth, “our brother, Apollo.”

  Ah. Now it made total sense. “You found him.” Was that why he fit between them, between their power?

  “Some days I wish we hadn't.” She gave him another grumpy look before tossing her hands in the air. “If we didn't need him to channel our two magicks, I'd have kicked his butt to the curb about five seconds after I met him.”

  Apollo managed to look hurt though Owen laughed.

  “Ignore them,” he said. “They're always like this.”

  And I thought my family was quirky.

  Trill's eyes went to Pender as he spoke to his Enforcers. “You realize this is far from over.”

  “Tell me about it.” I let my arm drop, sliding the crystal into my pocket, shuddering from the dried blood on my shirt as my shoulder twinged. Not fully healed from being shot yet, it seemed.

  “Belaisle only ran because he chose to.” Trill crossed her arms over her chest, face serious, pinched and aged well past her years. “He wasn’t ready to face us yet. But he will be.”

  “So you say.” Apollo's smarmy smile was back. “We kicked his butt and you know it.” He turned sideways, ran his hand through the air. “Like mowing wheat, baby.”

  I was beginning to understand the tight, hard line between Trill's brows.

  Hilarious. And if I had to spend much more time with him, Trill would be down to one brother again.

  She didn't bother to even acknowledge Apollo spoke while Owen giggled behind his hand. “I also have no doubt he wasn't lying when he said they have more things in the works.”

  I thought about Demetrius and Coterie Industries, knowing she was absolutely right.

  “They're messing with normals,” I said. “And have been for a long time.”

  Trill looked suddenly nervous. “Syd,” she whispered. “Can we really do this?”

  I couldn't afford to have doubts. But I knew exactly what she meant. We weren't talking some small time action, here. This mess had grown outside magical purview and into the normal's world.

  How would we ever stop them?

  “I don't know,” I said, leaning forward to hug her. “But we're damned well going to try.”

  Trill pulled away, nodded. Froze, eyes huge.

  Something hit my back, drove me into her. If she hadn't been ready for it, the two of us would have tumbled to the roof. As it was, Trill grunted, body braced against mine, as my magic surged in answer to the assault.

  I turned, power raging, to find Mia standing there, her fists in the air, Quaid holding her back as she screamed silently into the night. She didn't make a sound until she drew a breath.

  “You did this!” She fought her brother, hissing and snarling and scratching at him while I stood there with my heart wrapped in power, trying not to agree with her.

  Failing.

  Mia finally stopped fighting, sagging in Quaid's arms before her mouth worked and she spit at my feet.

  “You interfered with my coven,” she snarled. “And I'll make sure you pay for that interference.”

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Three

  I was royally screwed. But I couldn't bring myself to argue, to say anything, standing there with Mia's hate battering at my shields, her weak power not even a threat, though her plan was.

  Just my freaking luck.

  “I saw it clinging to you!” Mia battered at Quaid with both hands, fury almost enough, despite her weakened state, to break free of her brother's hold. “I know you influenced it, told it what to do. You're working with him, aren't you?” She wailed, a piercing sound before she jerked her body so taut Quaid almost lost control. “He's your pawn. I knew it. I knew it!”

  If only she knew how much I wished she was still in control of her family's magic.

  “As the Dumont leader,” Andre interrupted my grim plan to find a hole to hide in, “I resent such an implication.” He turned his nose up at me. “As if anyone from our family would be in thrall to a mere Hayle witch.” He sniffed, seriously offended. “Unthinkable.”

  I'd give him unthinkable. Two minutes alone with him and he'd never think coherently again.

  But Andre wasn't done. From the nasty look on his face, it was his turn to pile some kindling on my funeral pyre. “Now that I, the true heir, am in control of our coven, it is my responsibility to bring those who have wronged my coven to justice.” Yup, here it came. Arrogant ass. After I saved his family's magic, he was going to stab me in the back while crushing what remained of Mia's spirit.

  Classic Dumont tactics. And naturally Pender stood close enough to hear him say it. Charlotte's low, threatening growl told me she'd recovered enough to think she was ready for a fight while Gram’s fury vibrated in my head. I faced off with Andre, jaw set, ready for the worst.

  Caught the glimmer of regret in his eyes, the clench of his own teeth as he bowed his head to me.

  “As Dumont leader,” he said as though it pained him, “I find no grievance.”

  Um, what?

  Holy.

  Did Andre actually have a conscience?

  Amazing.

  “The Dumont coven is grateful to the Hayle leader,” he said, still with that pained look on his angular face, “for her assistance in returning our family's power to its rightful place at last.”

  Gram spluttered incoherently in my head as I fought to process what just happened. My stunned silence was broken by Mia's inhuman shriek. She launching herself bodily at him, finding a new target this time, sliding from Quaid's grip at last. I stepped back, keeping my distance, despite my first instinct to make a grab for her.

  No way was I getting involved in this, not after my close call, with the Enforcer leader watching all of it. But the spectacle was horrible, heartbreaking to watch as she pummeled Andre’s wide chest with her fists, her feeble magic pulling at the core of the Dumont family now firmly in place with her uncle.

  He laughed at her. Shoved her so hard she fell to the pebbled asphalt. Quaid's glare of rage did nothing to soften Andre's contempt.

  The new leader of the Dumont family bent over weeping Mia. “And now,” he said with an edge in the sweet tone of his voice, “it's time to declare you allegiance to your leader.” So much terrible joy, too much.

  Just too much.

  She stared up at him, mute, shattered as he held out his hand, palm up, a ball of lavender magic floating over his skin. Mia flinched from it, shaking her head as he bent low, lips almost next to her ear.

  “You’ll take it,” he said, “and you’ll like it.”

  Filthy, disgusting, core-rotten—

  Mia was stronger than I thought, even now. I figured she'd cave. She needed a coven to protect her. That was our way. Without family magic to sustain and shield her, as weak as her own magic was, she wouldn't survive. The terrible loneliness after being part of something so huge would fi
nish her off.

  Still. I saw her face firm, her eyes flash fire just before she slapped his hand away.

  “Never!” She spit at him much like she'd spit at me, fighting off Quaid as he tried to pull her to her feet. She staggered upright, almost drunk with her rage and loss. “Thief, give back what you stole from me and I'll let you live.”

  Andre shrugged, turned his back on her. “If you refuse to swear your oath, you are no longer welcome in my family.” Better bet he stressed that “my” to the hilt. Just to rub it in a little more.

  I really hated his guts, no matter what he did to save mine.

  His icy eyes flickered over me, the old Dumont swagger back with a vengeance. “I'll be seeing you, Sydlynn Hayle,” he said before looking down his nose at Pender. “I require an escort home so I might reconnect my family power with the rest of my coven.” Like Pender and his Enforcers were a taxi service.

  Well, they brought him here. So I had to admit it wasn't all that arrogant to need a ride back.

  Still.

  My stomach did a slow flip over as Pender himself gripped Andre's arm. The Dumont leader's smile never left him as he saluted me before they vanished in an outflux of air and a flash of blue magic.

  Mia gaped at the spot where Andre had been, hands rising as though to grasp at his after image. I knew it was none of my business, knew she hated me now, needed someone to blame and I was a convenient target, but I still felt terrible for her.

  And was horribly worried we'd made a massive mistake giving Andre control of the Dumont coven.

  Not my problem, my new mantra.

  Considering the Dumont family track record when it came to my coven, I just hoped “not my problem” was true.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty Four

  “How long exactly were you in possession of the Dumont family magic?” Huan Wong glared at me over her round glasses, lips turned down into a grim half circle, wrinkles pulling at her pale yellow skin.

  Oh. My. Swearword.