by Patti Larsen
We might not see eye to eye on much and had a bit of a love/hate relationship, but I would always thank the Empress for her inadvertent protection of my family. I just wished I knew how to keep them safe.
An issue for another time. My brain simply couldn’t keep all the balls of stress in the air at once and not shut down.
“You’ve done everything you can,” I said. “More than most would have managed. But, it’s time to act.” I paused, guilt rising. “I really am sorry, Femke. This is my fault.” Not Danilo, no. But the position she was in.
Femke turned and smiled at me, a girlish smile with a gleam of joy in her eyes. “I was so angry with you at first,” she said. “Until I finally admitted you were right. I love this job, Syd.” She stood, stretched, and I joined her as she went on. “It took me a while to embrace it. But I can’t imagine not being here.” She gestured around her. “With all of this in my head.” Her long fingers tapped her temples. “As stressful and maddening and sometimes horrible as it is, it’s also exciting, full of passion and people I adore.” She reached out and touched my cheek with her fingertips. “And I see so much progress. I’m part of something I never imagined I would ever be witness to. So, please, stop saying you’re sorry.” She closed the distance, looking down into my eyes, hands on my shoulders as she’d done with Charlotte. “Because I want you to know I’m not.”
I hugged her, so hard I heard her ribs creak. Femke didn’t protest, just clung on as firmly. It took me a long moment to swallow back the tears threatening but I finally won. As I pulled away at last, I realized she was as emotional, eyes glistening, voice thick as she spoke.
“Quaid,” she said.
I shook my head. “He’s going to kick ass,” I said.
She laughed, coughed through her mix of emotion and joy. “He already is.” Her gaze lifted over my shoulder and I half turned before she strode past me while I stared into chocolate brown eyes. “Excuse me a moment.” The glass doors swished shut behind her, leaving me alone with my silent, watchful husband.
He observed me from the open space just inside the doors, body tall and stiff under his black robe. What was wrong with me? I wanted to run to him, to hug him as hard as I’d just hugged Femke. To heal this breach between us. But something held me rooted in place, struggling with fear and love and the magic binding us together.
Quaid finally moved first, taking long strides until he was at my side. I did hug him then, though I felt his continuing tension.
“Guess I’ll make the first move,” he said. And kissed me.
Normally his warm lips and hot breath and the feeling of his body against me made me melt. But all I could think of, standing there in his arms with his mouth on mine, was the words he’d just said.
When we parted, he was frowning. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, a small core of hurt awake and aching in my chest. “Is that how you think of me? Unbending? That you always have to be the one to break the ice?”
Quaid didn’t answer, jaw flexing. What was going on in that handsome head of his? The longer he stayed silent, the more the hurt grew.
“Syd,” he said at last, a groan more than a word. “We don’t have time for this right now.”
While I knew he was right, that we had more important things to think about, my heart asked me how could anything be more important than me and Quaid?
I let him go as he turned and headed for the doors, just as they swept open and Femke returned. Her open, almost hopeful expression faded and I could only imagine the look on my face—and her need to make sure everything was all right between my husband and me—wasn’t what she’d been aiming for. Regardless, as Quaid nodded to her, all business, she took the hint.
“It’s going to take some time to assemble the full Council.” I could tell from the frustration in her voice there were those who were dragging their feet. And I hardly blamed them. Who wanted to be in on a decision to take away the power of one of their fellow leaders? Especially witches, who were notorious for waffling. I’d run into their reticence enough times over the years it was hard not to sigh and roll my eyes at Femke.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to wait?” I didn’t want to challenge her on this, but time was of the essence, in my opinion. “You know he’s got to be fortifying against us right now.”
“She knows that, Syd.” Did Quaid really just chastise me in front of Femke?
Oh, hell no.
The Council Leader waved him off. “We have to do this by the book,” she said. “As much as I’d love to send you in there to mop up this mess for me—and I would, if I thought I could get away with it—if the WPC is going to stand as an organization for paranormals, by paranormals, we have to make sure we do it together.”
I was all for mutual culpability, but damn.
Just damn.
I didn’t envy Femke one bit, yet I put her here. Time to trust my choice completely.
***
Chapter Fourteen
My kitchen groaned with an overabundance of testosterone when I crossed the threshold from the back hall and onto the tile. Stomach clenching ever so slightly in response to the three grinning faces of the Zornov brothers and the sly sarcasm of Simon, I crossed immediately to an empty seat and sank into it. Sassafras watched from his perch in the middle of the table, amber eyes swirling with magic, though he didn’t seem agitated.
I had to take that as a good sign.
Apollo, on the other hand, almost bounced in his seat while I rubbed with tired vigor at my burning eyes. When had I slept last? The sky was just beginning to brighten, though I knew it would be full morning soon. I’d only just left the midday sunlight of the other side of the world, disoriented by the lack of the same here in Wilding Springs. Just as well. Full daylight would have made me cranky with its happy cheer.
Stupid sunny morning.
Not to mention the fact any time Apollo was excited about something, I got nervous.
“We found him.” The words blurted from his lips, handsome face childlike in his glee. Owen grinned in turn, Simon’s foot tapping on the edge of the table from where it crossed over his knee.
“How awesome for you,” I said in my driest tone. “And I’m sure whoever he is, he’s thrilled by this state of affairs.”
Apollo rolled his eyes, but his smile didn’t falter. “No biggie,” he said. “Sorry to bother you. We’ll go.” He started to stand, gaze sparkling with good humor.
Owen sighed at his brother, waved him back down into his seat. “Long day?”
What part of me showing up at dawn had they missed? I shrugged and tried to focus. They wouldn’t be here on a whim. “Just tell me the deets,” I said.
“She wants deets.” Simon’s tone cut, thin and brittle, but without true animosity.
“How about this for details.” Apollo sat forward, teeth flashing as his smile turned feral. “We know where to find Liander Belaisle.”
I gaped in shock. They what? A surge of adrenaline washed through me, driving me to my feet. We had to go. This was awesome. We’d catch the bastard leader of the Brotherhood flat footed for once, pin him to the ground, tear him into tiny little demon-bite-sized pieces—
Owen burst my rapidly expanding bubble of excitement with a cautionary glance at his overenthusiastic brother. “Well,” he said, drawing out the word. I sank back to my chair, hope dashed, irrational anger for getting me wound up aimed at Apollo. “That’s not entirely accurate.”
The elder Zornov sat back, arms crossing over his chest with a snort. “Close enough,” he said.
I took a long moment to gather myself, to shove down the swirling mix of emotions threatening to take over. I felt Sass’s magic slip around me, supporting me. My demon snarled and spun in fury, Shaylee deep breathing past her need to smack Apollo silly while my vampire just hummed in displeasure.
I have no idea if he caught on to my struggle or not, but Owen certainly did. He leaned forward and squeezed my wrist, anxiety in his eyes.
/>
“We have a plan to find him,” he said.
“Not.” I snarled. “Close. Enough.”
Got Apollo’s attention that time. His arms dropped, hands landing on the table top, smile failing. Only Simon’s smirk remained.
Hear them out, Sassafras sent.
My nostrils flared, I just couldn’t help it. Sass.
Trust me, even if you don’t trust them. His eyes flared with magic.
Fine. Whatfreakingever.
Blackness surged behind me. It was a testament to my irritation I didn’t even turn around to find out who emerged from the dark tunnel. Okay, so I had a good idea it was one of three people, all of whom I cared about very much. When Piers collapsed the pathway and folded his tall, thin body into the chair next to me, I barely grunted in greeting.
“Idiot,” he said, shaking his head. “You knew I’d run off and try to find Mother and fail miserably.” The faint glint of annoyance in his gray eyes barely survived his good humor. “Thanks for letting me make a fool of myself yet again.”
“If only you needed help,” I said.
Piers laughed, looked around. His face went from amused to curious in a flash. “Walked in on a bit of a mess, have I?”
I shook my head, sitting back in my chair, Owen’s hand falling free of my wrist. “Trying to decide if these three are jerking my chain or have a point to their story.”
Syd. Seriously. When had I lost all sense of adventure? I really needed sleep. Crankass.
“Thing is,” Apollo said, more subdued this time, though he leaned forward again as though unable to contain all of his enthusiasm for their plan, “we’re almost one hundred percent sure we know where.”
“Well, ninety-nine percent,” Owen said.
“Seventy-five, minimum,” Simon added with a grin.
Great.
“But there’s a better way to track Belaisle and make sure we don’t lose him this time than just plowing our way into the place and trying to catch him by surprise.” Apollo blanched before shaking his head. “Not that… I didn’t mean…”
Piers laughed, prodded me with one finger. “Bull in a china shop syndrome I believe it’s called,” he said.
“You’d know,” I shot back before returning my attention to Apollo. “Agreed,” I said. “Just spit it out, would you?”
“Easiest way to get under Belaisle’s skin,” the older Zornov said, “is to become Brotherhood.”
Become…
I blinked as my mind spun sideways, my alter egos all holding their breath.
“That.” I stopped. “That’s brilliant.”
Apollo beamed at me as I broke the stunned moment holding me in place.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
But the weight of Piers’s disapproval was so strong it turned me around to face him. His face, now dark and shadowed by worry, old anger, told me it wasn’t such a great plan after all, at least in his estimation.
“You’ll be killed,” he said, the bluntest I’d ever heard him. “Within moments of contact. And I won’t condone throwing your life away.”
The snappish, cranky feeling holding me in thrall broke as empathy won yet again. “You’ve tried this before?” Of course, the Steam Union must have. Now who was the idiot?
Piers looked away. “We used to attempt infiltration on a regular basis,” he said, big, thin hands clamped on his thighs, shoulders tight under his gray longcoat. He turned and met my gaze, his full of hurt. “You’re well aware of one of the many failures, Syd. Demetrius Strong was lost to us for years because he thought he could succeed where so many were laid low.”
Apollo drew a breath, lips parting, but I didn’t give him a chance to interrupt. Instead, I held up one hand, cutting him off, magic reaching out to the other familiar souls who carried the darkness with them.
Gram. I felt her first. Of course. Though the loss of her witch magic had meant the severance of the connection between us, I think my grandmother and I would always be able to find each other somehow, some way, no matter what happened. Her magic felt cold to me now, the devouring darkness of sorcery a far cry from her old power, but her heart was the same heart, her soul the same soul.
Girl. She sounded a little sleepy. Trouble?
Question for Demetrius. I sent an apologetic burst of magic with my words.
Here. I caught an embarrassing glimpse of the two of them in bed. Thank goodness for sheets. I clamped down on the vision, blocking it out as Gram laughed in my head.
Need a favor, I sent. Can you come over?
Be right there. Demetrius’s magic left me. The man I’d first known as the leader of the Chosen of the Light had been insane, driven by, it turned out, the control of Liander Belaisle and the Brotherhood. I knew he’d been tortured and thralled by them, but I had no idea he’d been captured trying to become one of them.
“You’ve seen the best case scenario result of an attempt,” Piers said as I returned my attention to the kitchen. “Most young Steam Union sorcerers who try it are captured immediately and either killed or turned into damaged souls driven to work for the Brotherhood.”
If he called what happened to Demetrius best case, I disagreed. Had things gone badly for me and Belaisle won on the Stronghold plane, if Demetrius had remained lost, broken, he would have preferred death.
Good thing we won, I guess.
The kitchen door opened only a moment later, Gram and Demetrius stepping through. I waved them over to the last empty seat. His white curls mussed, Demetrius took it, Gram perching in his lap with casual ease, not a speck of self-consciousness showing on her face.
“You got us before breakfast,” she grumbled. “Better be coffee.”
Mmm. Coffee.
Piers stood, heading for the counter, face still dark. “Allow me,” he said. Probably wanted the distraction. I wasn’t arguing with him. Coffee was a good thing.
“The guys think it’s a good idea for Apollo to pretend to be Brotherhood and join Belaisle’s crew as a way to track him down.” As serious as the topic was, it was fun to drop bombs like this every now and then. It was so hard to shock my grandmother, ye old pretender of knowing everything. The look in her wide, blue eyes was almost worth it.
“You young fool.” She leaned over the table and gently slapped Apollo’s cheek. “Where did the damned death wish come from?”
His lips flapped, fish like, as he tried to speak, but Demetrius wasn’t allowing it. For the first time in a very long time, I saw anger on his cherub face. And deep hurt, still unhealed.
“I beg you,” Demetrius said, voice shaking. “Abandon this plan before you suffer for it.”
“You don’t get it,” Apollo began.
A coffee mug slammed down on the counter behind me, spinning me around and cutting off the Zornov brother. “No,” Piers spit out through clenched teeth. “You don’t get it.” He jabbed the air in Apollo’s direction with a spoon. “Do you have any idea how many people we’ve lost to the Brotherhood? My own uncle…” Piers looked away, shoulders bowed. “He was the last of our order to try it. He and Mum had this grand plan, guaranteed to work.” Piers’s laugh was hollow, angry. “When he turned up dead, Mum blamed herself and made it illegal for anyone to try again.” His gray eyes laced through with black a moment as his sorcery struggled against his old hurt. “It broke her, Syd.” He wasn’t seeing anyone else anymore, despite addressing me directly. Piers was talking directly to his own pain. “It was the beginning of the end of my mother.”
At last I understood Eva Southway’s spiral into darkness. Guilt and regret were old friends of mine. I could see if I caused the death of my sister, Meira, I might be in a similar place as Eva. But if that was true, why was she working with the very organization that killed her brother?
“If you would just listen.” I turned back at the anger in Apollo’s voice. Simon’s grin was a smirk, eyes narrowed behind his glasses, Owen looking almost apologetic.
“Indeed,” Sassafras said, tail swishing. “If you
’re quite through you may want to hear what the boy has to say.”
“Thanks, Sass-man.” Apollo’s anger disappeared as fast as it showed up, his mercurial nature always baffling to me. But when he met my eyes again, his were serious, calm. Almost mature. So, I kept my lip zipped and nodded. Apollo’s flashing smile nearly changed my mind. Would he ever grow up?
Would I ever want him to?
“You’re all worried about me, I get it.” He bobbed nods around the room. “I really do. But, I have an in none of those Steam Union dudes had.” Apollo winced slightly as Owen jabbed him with a worried look on his face and a glance at Demetrius. “No offense, D.”
“None taken.” Demetrius’s mild voice soothed even me. “Though, I’m curious to know why you think you have a better chance than countless others?”
“Simple.” Apollo sat back in his chair, all triumphant. “I’ve done it before.”
This time, the mug shattered on the tile behind me. I heard it break, ignored it, locked on Apollo and his grinning face.
“You what?” Demetrius’s words breathed out of him in shock and awe.
Apollo smirked at all of us before going on, taking his time to put on his little show. “What you don’t know,” he said, “is that when Trill and Owen found me, I wasn’t on my own.” He shrugged, casual, cocky. “I was a Brotherhood initiate. And if I decide to go back to them, I’d just be reenlisting.”
***
Chapter Fifteen
Demetrius’s power was already on the move before I could react to Apollo’s revelation. I followed, tied closely to Gram who did the same, pursued by Piers whose incredulity colored all our magic.
But, the moment I dug into the Zornov’s power I saw it, felt it, really for the first time ever. I guess I never really looked that closely or it would have been obvious to me. Guilty of underestimating Apollo, I understood as the faint taint of the Brotherhood waved in gallant response to our probing, sinking into my seat with a grin growing on my face.
