The Brotherhood

by Patti Larsen

  The leader of the maji hated me, that much was obvious, and thought Gabriel a mistake. I’d do everything I could to protect Gabriel from him and his vitriol. Anything.

  Max was already there, waiting for us and, despite the fact I usually had to alter my size to fit the space, Gabriel and I had no problems, nor did we need to grow to come face-to-face with the two blind Fates. The brother and sister team didn’t seem concerned we’d ignored the usual method of arrival, instead smiling at me as though knowing I was there.

  But no, not me. Their greeting was aimed beside me.

  “Gabriel.” Sister Fate hurried forward as best she could, still blind. Her senses seemed to have improved, because she found him without stumbling. Either that or they had a connection to him that made it easier for her.

  That thought would keep me up nights.

  After she was done hugging him, her brother took his turn.

  “We’re so happy to meet you at last,” she said while her brother nodded.

  “You, too,” Gabriel said. He was normally a little shy, reserved, but the smile he beamed at the two of them was friendly and open, as if he knew them but was only just seeing them in person.

  Which gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. “You’ve been talking to my son.” Accusation at the ready? You betcha.

  “We have.” Sister Fate seemed unfazed by my anger. Her white eyes turned to meet mine, gentle smile on her face. “He is as tied to us as you are, Sydlynn. And deserves to understand who and what he is.”

  “It’s okay, Mom.” Gabriel waved me off, followed the two Fates to the edge of her fountain. “I’m not scared.”

  Well, that made one of us. I glared at Max who shrugged.

  I had no idea, he sent.

  Whatever.

  “We wanted you to be here,” Sister Fate said to my son, “because we have news.” Her arm draped over his shoulders as he sat next to her, though she tilted her face up toward me. “We had another vision, more powerful even than when we had full access to our foresight.” Interesting. “We can only assume Gabriel opened a new Gateway?”

  Max quickly told them what we knew, though neither my son nor I shared what Gabriel did after Max was gone. They didn’t need to know. And I doubt it would have mattered. Because even though the drach informed the pair the latest piece of Creator was in the hands of Belaisle, neither seemed concerned.

  “All we can say,” she told me with excitement, “is your plan for a trap will work. But, be wary of what you believe when you question your captives.”

  So cryptic. My favorite. “Would you like to elaborate?”

  Brother Fate shook his head, finally showing frustration. “That was the last piece of information we were able to glean,” he said. “Which is why Gabriel’s presence was so necessary.”

  Tell me they weren’t about to suggest what I thought they were going to suggest.

  Yeah, no hope there.

  “We want Gabriel to open a Gateway here, in our presence,” Sister Fate said. “So we can try to reactivate our foresight permanently.”

  Oh, hell to the no freaking way.

  I wasn’t the only one who wanted to protest, it turned out, but for totally different reasons.

  “ENOUGH!” I spun to find Zeon and a few of his closest psycho maji friends crowding the entrance to the Fate’s fountain room. “You will hand over that creature and allow it to be destroyed before it ruins everything.”

  My power crackled in response as I threw up a barrier between him and my son. Max joined me, his drach magic slipping behind mine, the song of his race vibrating at such a high frequency my teeth ached. Still, I appreciated the backup.

  Zeon didn’t back off, but he stopped making demands. Instead, he spun sideways and cut open the veil. I scowled at him, wondering what his plan was. If he tried to toss my son through to another plane he wasn’t thinking straight. It took me a moment to understand what was happening and, by the time I did, it was far too late to stop.

  I knew that world on the other side of the tear. The blue sky, the crystal water of the lake, the green grass with mountains in the distance. And the small, huddled group of people with filthy clothing and an extra pair of ears. At first, I thought they were sleeping, all piled together. Until I saw their faces.

  Their open, staring eyes.

  And I gasped a breath.

  Oh, no.

  My son pushed to my side and my hands scrabbled to catch him, to keep him safe, but he escaped me. He crossed my shields unharmed, my power allowing him through, until he stood next to the towering, glaring Zeon. But Gabriel only had eyes for what lay beyond the veil.

  “What happened to them?” His tiny voice ached with hurt. “Are they dead?” My son looked up at Zeon whose judging face didn’t seem to register with Gabriel. “Why are they dead?”

  “Because,” Zeon boomed, “you tried to play god. You sent these people from the plane that was their home and you offered them paradise. But this place was not meant for them. And it killed them, poisoned them with every breath.” He looked up at me and, for a moment, there was real fear and compassion in the maji leader’s eyes. “Listen to me,” he said. “The veil barrier exists for a reason. To keep races away from planes that aren’t intended for them. There are those of us who can cross and not suffer harm. But the rules are the rules, and Creator herself set them down.” His empathy faded as he looked down at my son, lip twisting. “This spawn you’ve brought into the Universe has changed that. No more does the veil barrier mean anything. When he creates a Gateway, anyone and anything can pass through it. No matter the race. Do you understand how dangerous that is?”

  “But the creatures from the other Universe.” I stumbled over an excuse, an answer, anything but to accuse my son of murdering these people he tried to save. “They’ve had no barriers, have been able to pass to any plane.”

  “They are different,” Zeon said. “They are not of our Universe, they know no boundaries. And,” he jabbed one thick finger at Gabriel, “he is the reason they are here, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  I choked on a reply that would have sizzled the air.

  “Meddling in creation isn’t for the likes of you and your dark child,” Zeon said. “This abomination you’ve brought into our Universe in your cursed womb will be the destruction of us all.” He reached out, his power heading for Gabriel, but met with three pronged resistance. Mine, instant. Max’s, just as fast.

  And the veil’s. The hole in the fabric between worlds snapped with power, slamming into Zeon’s chest and shoving him backward. It sealed shut when it was done, leaving the solemn and terrible scene etched in my head, if no longer physically visible.

  Zeon staggered, his hand on his chest where the magic had struck him. Real fear showed on his face, shaking finger once more pointing at my son.

  “You’ve turned the very veil against its true purpose,” he said, voice trembling, his maji followers muttering their own fear behind him. “Our fate is sealed.” He turned away, but not before meeting my eyes. “Those deaths are on his head. As are all those who came before and will come after. Mark me, Sydlynn Hayle. Your son will be the end of us all.”

  He spun then and marched off, maji following behind him. I couldn’t have cared less about his retreat routine, not when I was faced with the massive tragedy before me.

  With a voiceless cry, Gabriel crumpled to the ground and burst into silent sobs.

  ***

  Chapter Thirty

  War broke out inside me, the need to go after Zeon and tear him to pieces fighting with my mother’s instinct to protect my son, to comfort and cradle him against what the maji leader just did to hurt my precious baby.

  Mommy won, partly because of Max.

  “It is irrelevant what Zeon thinks,” he said, voice low and subdued. “Only Gabriel matters now.”

  I really was a horrible parent. My son spun, his back to me, arms over his head, little spine hunched as he tried to hide between his own knees. His entire
body shook with silent grief and the moment I bent to touch him he jerked away from me, pulling himself into an even tighter knot.

  It didn’t help when I looked up both Fates were turned toward me, sadness on their matching faces.

  “Forgive us our selfishness,” Sister Fate said. “Gabriel should never have been exposed to any of this. Perhaps we were wrong and he is simply too young.”

  “No,” Max said, hands clenched at his sides. Did he feel the same guilt I did? No way. No one else could understand the searing, tearing agony of regret I felt in that moment, the stabbing attack I wielded against myself over and over while the egos inside me groaned their sympathy. I’d betrayed my own son’s heart. I’d left him open to be hurt, possibly irrevocably. I was a monster, not him.

  How could I have done this to Gabriel?

  “We need him.” Brother Fate’s sorrow turned to grim sternness. “It’s too late now to reverse what we’ve done with Gabriel, you must see that. Perhaps we should have waited. But he has led our enemies to two of the pieces of Creator. Plans have been set in motion. There’s no turning back now.”

  Like hell there wasn’t. Both Fates took a step closer, their empty gazes turned down toward Gabriel still huddled on the ground. I moved between them, my own agony spinning into a tornado of fury so powerful I could barely breathe, speak. But I had my magic to communicate for me.

  They staggered away as I pushed them back from him, breath panting from my lips. I may have been a horrible mother, but I had no problem tapping into my protective instinct. My demon howled her fury, Shaylee pushing her power down into the ground, shaking us just enough the water in the fountain splashed over the edge. Only my vampire remained quiet, thoughtful.

  To hell with her. And them. I was done using my son. And so were they.

  I spun and lifted him into my arms, holding him against me. Gabriel sagged in my embrace, boneless, still weeping in silence. I couldn’t look down into his face and remain upright, in control. Something I only needed to do a few minutes longer.

  Max let me go, coming between me and the Fates, his sad face the last thing I saw before I jerked open the veil and took Gabriel home.

  But no, not home. I have no idea why, instead of Wilding Springs, my aching heart carried us to Harvard, to Mom’s sitting room. To where she stood with my husband at her side.

  Both looked shocked at our arrival, Mom’s concern only a fraction of the fear that flashed over Quaid’s face. I stumbled forward, heartbroken for my child, only to have Gabriel throw himself from my arms and at his father.

  Quaid embraced my boy, hugging him tight as, with a choking, gasping sound, Gabriel finally began to cry out loud, releasing the terrible hurt in great, coughing sobs. I crumpled a little, my soul dying with each sound, Shaylee retreating from me to weep herself, my demon’s power burning low and full of sorrow. Only my vampire remained with me, cool and calm, holding me up when I was certain my son’s hurt would be the thing that finally killed me.

  “Syd.” Mom came to my side as Galleytrot burst from the hall leading to the bedrooms, rushing to Quaid. His big nose pressed into Gabriel’s leg just as my son released his hold on his father and fell onto the back of the big hound. He clung there like a wounded animal a moment before sliding to the floor. Galleytrot engulfed him with his massive body, hiding my son from me in a cave of black fur between his front legs. I wanted to go to Gabriel, to comfort him, but guilt held me back, kept me in place, Mom’s hand on my arm. “What happened?”

  Quaid’s furious chocolate eyes flared with magic. “What did you do?”

  I choked on my answer, wanting to protest, but there was nothing I could say in defense. Not one blessed thing. I shook my head instead, mouth moving but nothing coming out. Galleytrot rumbled a growl as Gabriel’s sobs finally softened and ended. For all I knew he’d fallen asleep, worn out by the grief, or he was simply retreating further from us.

  Too gentle. I should have known better.

  “Where did you go?” Mom’s soft, practical question, her steadiness, helped me push out an answer, my eyes locked on hers.

  “Center,” I whispered.

  “Why did you take Gabriel to the maji?” Quaid’s anger hit me like blows, every word a weapon, his power behind them. I’d never seen him so angry. But, instead of fueling my self-recrimination, his attack triggered my own temper. I jerked free of Mom and yelled back.

  “Because I had to!” Didn’t I? Gabriel’s fate was decided a long time ago, in the maji chamber, when Ameline forced him to open his first Gateway. I had no choice. And yet—

  “Don’t hand me that crap,” Quaid snarled, body quivering, hands clenched at his sides. “You always have a choice, Syd. And you know it.” He swallowed hard. “What happened?”

  I shook my head, trying to deny it, knowing I had to come clean. Stuttered through the admission of what happened on the dying plane, of Gabriel’s attempt to save the people his compassion drove him to assist, how they died. And how he found out.

  Mom’s white face seemed all the paler as her blue eyes darkened, one hand rising to cover her mouth. “Oh, Syd,” she whispered.

  Quaid’s reaction was much more explosive. “What the hell were you thinking?” He took two steps toward me, tanned cheeks deep red from the pressure of his fury, blue flames crackling around him as both fists came up, almost in my face.

  I stood there, mute and tired and hurting, my anger the only thing I had left.

  “You’ve lost your mind.” He lowered his voice and his hands, shaking with the effort it took to hold himself together. I felt through the connection of our magic just how close he was to flying apart. “You’ve gone so far into this fantasy you have of being the only one who can fix the Universe you’ve put everyone you love in danger, and you don’t give a crap about it, do you?”

  He might as well have slapped me. What anger I had left trickled away as my guilt returned, devouring me from the inside out. So much spite and rage I couldn’t take. Not from him. Especially because I was so afraid he was right.

  “I don’t know you anymore,” he said, his shaking easing, anger retreating. “I don’t think I ever did.” The core of his bitterness didn’t go away. It lived between us, a fire ready to reawaken at any moment. When did he start to hate me? Where did this come from, this darkness keeping us apart?

  How did I miss that my husband didn’t love me anymore?

  With a groan, the first sound he emitted since falling silent, Gabriel pushed free of Galleytrot and ran for his room. I instinctively lunged for him, only to have Quaid step in my path.

  Anger came back. Hell yeah.

  “Get out of my way.” My power surged, demon reacting against him like she’d never done before. She was ready to tear out his throat and I was right there with her.

  “You think I’m going to let you anywhere near him ever again?” Quaid pushed against me, his power hitting me in the center of my chest. Just a soft blow, but a challenge none the less.

  Oh, no he did not.

  “Children.” Mom’s voice snapped between us, a blade cutting the fury that held us together. “Enough. This is about Gabriel, not the two of you.”

  Quaid’s power retreated but he remained where he was, standing over me, arms crossing over his broad chest. As if, for a second, I’d ever feel intimidated by him.

  “I’m going to Hong Kong,” Quaid said, voice full of command and judgment. “And I’m taking the kids with me.”

  Even Mom gasped at that.

  “Over my dead body,” I said. “Just try it.”

  “They’re not safe here,” he said, before glancing to Mom. “No offense, Miriam. But I think we know now they’re not.”

  “Safe from what?” Ice shards jabbed into my heart. “Safe from me?”

  Quaid didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

  I hit him as hard as I could, my fist smacking the tight muscle of his shoulder. He rocked a little but barely registered the blow. I knew violence wasn’t the answer
. But I had to do something, and bruising my knuckles on his tough hide was better than slamming him into the wall with the full force of my magic. Frustration and fury and guilt all wound together and tightened a noose around my neck.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” I was shaking now, my turn. When had things gone so wrong with us? We loved each other. Had a great life, amazing kids, a happy existence. Why did strife drive us apart when it should pull us together? He’d turned his back on me long before this moment. He was just proving to me now he didn’t care.

  He never did.

  “What’s wrong with me?” Quaid’s eyebrows shot up, arms dropping to his sides, genuine shock on his face. All anger was gone, raw emotion showing through our magic connection. He was hurt, deeply, lost and afraid. “Syd, you put our son in direct danger twice, for your own gain. And then exposed him to a race that wants to have him killed.” He waited for that to sink in while I writhed inside and hated myself enough for the both of us. “What’s wrong with you?”

  A ball of fire erupted in my gut. Spite, bitterness, rage, uncontrollable and full of bile. And I used it against him instead of myself.

  “Gabriel isn’t your son,” I said.

  The moment those words left my lips, I died inside. The ball of fire crumbled to ash and I raised one hand, gasping a breath, to take it back, to apologize. Did I really just use that against Quaid, the very thing I swore I never would?

  His face tightened and he backed away a step, stumbling over the edge of the carpet. Quaid’s whole body shook once, the power between us going silent as he cut me off from feeling him. But I could still sense enough and knew I’d done the unthinkable, the unforgivable.

  “I’ve known, you know.” He didn’t meet my eyes, deep voice cracking as his power rose around him. “Our whole married life, I’ve known.” When he finally looked up, his eyes were flat, empty. “You loved Liam more than you ever loved me.”