by Patti Larsen
Charlotte stirred. “If you do,” she said, “I will consider letting you go.”
Andre sighed again, this time with hope. “There,” he said, finger pointing, barely able to move. I followed the gesture, standing and going to the end of the bed. “Lift the mattress.” I really didn’t want to touch it, using magic to hoist the end of the heavy king size. Gagged even through my scent protection at the stench, the sight of the giant stain soaking through the bottom of the mattress, dripping with Andre. I quickly grasped at the small black box tucked in the space between and dropped the offensive weight, backing away to sink into the chair with the box in my hand.
The most disgusting thing ever. And yet, the box itself was clean, at least. I don’t think I could have handled having to wipe Andre off it. Still, it helped to focus on it and not on what I’d just seen. The tiny silver latch in the shape of a dragon’s wing released as I pressed against it, lifting the lid while Andre spoke.
“I don’t know why it is so precious to Belaisle,” he said. “But it is, and I stole it from him just to make him angry. I know my son seeks it, but I’ve kept it hidden. And now I give it to you.” He cackled again, stopped when a cough took him.
The inside was crimson, velvet and soft. At the bottom lay a black ribbon, coiled and silent. But when I reached in to touch it, a tiny seed of power reached back and I gasped as I understood what I held.
“A drach soul,” I said.
Andre’s one eye widened. “Ah,” he said. “But for what purpose?”
“You don’t know?” Damn it. What was so important about it Belaisle wanted it back? I’d have to take it to Max and find out. The ribbon caressed my finger before climbing out of the box to wind around my wrist where it locked like a bracelet.
“I do not,” Andre said. “Nor, I hate to admit, do I have any information that will help you. I am far outside Belaisle’s present plans. And the past will not assist.” His blue eye fixed on Charlotte. “I’ve told you what I know,” he said. “Is it enough, wolf child?”
Syd, she sent. You’re right. It’s time.
I hugged her with power and let her go to do what she needed to heal her own heart.
Charlotte stood, hovering over Andre, her power pushing outward toward him. “Andre,” she whispered into the thick air. “I’ve hated you for most of my life. And that hate has left a gaping wound I’ve never been able to heal. It’s the worst thing you’ve done to me—and that I’ve done to myself. I won’t have it any longer.” She drew a breath, magic settling around him. “I release you,” she said. “And I forgive you.”
He wept, choking on his own grief or regret or whatever it was Andre’s black soul felt in that final moment.
I shouldn’t have been surprised Jean Marc chose that exact instant to push through the door, to break my shields when I was distracted by his father’s passing. Not that it mattered. There was nothing either Dumont brother could do as Charlotte’s hands gestured over Andre and released his soul at last.
The body collapsed into a wet ooze as his ego rose, black and furious, a wolf clinging to him with fury in her eyes. The two battled over the bed while the Dumont family magic wailed a banshee cry around the room, swooping and screeching so loudly I had to cover my ears. My own family power surged in response, protecting me and Charlotte, but she didn’t need it, ignored the Dumont coven magic when it swooped at her, though Kristophe ducked with a girly shriek of fear when it came at him.
Andre’s echo didn’t stand a chance against the wolf. It shredded as Charlotte’s power shook it, the black bits disappearing into puffs of smoke. When it was over, the blonde wolf stood watch as the shining remains of Andre’s soul rose, smiled at me from a young man’s face, and vanished in a flash of pure, white light.
Jean Marc didn’t hesitate, his power reaching out to the still screaming family power. I felt him grasp at it, try to hold it, pull it to him. Only to feel it dissipate with a sigh of sorrow, the crumbling, fading remains of the Dumont family magic popping like a decayed balloon.
I watched his face turn from shock to anger to despair as he understood his father’s final revenge. And though pity tried to raise its head and prod me to care, I couldn’t bring myself to do so.
Worse, my mouth moved before I could stop it.
“Sucks for you,” I said.
***
Chapter Thirty Three
Mom wasn’t long arriving, Varity and Enforcers with her. By then, Charlotte and I were on the front lawn, Kristophe with us. We’d left the screaming and defeated Jean Marc behind while the former Dumont family slowly gathered at the foot of the stairs, looking dazed and lost.
I’d never liked Kristophe, but the man who turned to me with a faint smile on his face was nothing like the jerk I thought I knew.
“Thank you,” he said, softly, with real feeling. “For letting Father go.”
“Thank Charlotte,” I said while the air above us filled with blue fire at Mom’s arrival. The former Dumont family watched in hopeless silence as my mother and her Enforcers immediately approached, soothing with magic, to pick up the pieces.
Kristophe offered his hand to my werefriend and, to my shock, she accepted it.
“You’re welcome,” she said.
Mom came to my side, setting a gentle hand on Kristophe’s shoulder. I waved to her as I led Charlotte away, not wanting to be involved in this mess any longer. Mom let us go, leading Kristophe toward the knot of his former family while I opened the veil and guided the now silent Charlotte through.
We emerged in my back yard, though I don’t know why I let us out there. Nostalgia, perhaps. The night was warm, hugging us with humidity left over from the day, reminding me though I was now, even more so, in desperate need of a shower and some sleep. My fingers traced over the clinging heat of the black drach soul as Charlotte turned to me with tears in her blue eyes.
“You carry so much,” she said, voice trembling. “And it’s not fair to ask. But I need you to carry this for me.”
For her? Anything.
We sat on the bench at the back of the house, our feet bare and toes in the grass where we shed our shoes, while Charlotte told me everything. From the first moment she realized as a young girl Andre and his family weren’t the adventure she hoped, to the torture and rape she endured at his hand. I wept silently for her, listening to the seemingly endless litany of hurts, all of her experience running together into one mass of pain I couldn’t believe she’d endured alone for this long.
When she was done, I wiped my face with both hands before gripping her fingers in mine. I turned to meet her eyes, found her smiling at me, face radiant.
“Thank you,” she said. “I love you, Syd. And my heart is finally whole.”
We embraced and she left me there, waving as she went, to be with her brother, to offer him what comfort she could. I wanted her to go, knew she would have stayed for me if I asked. But she’d done enough, been through enough.
Still, perhaps she was right. It wasn’t fair of her to ask me to carry her burden, too, though I was grateful for her trust.
It brought a lot of things into perspective. I sat there in the dark, alone and thoughtful, ache of agony leaving me as the evening breeze washed away my pain and hers. By the time I drew a deep breath and sighed out the last of the tension in my body, I was ready to face Quaid and my son and make this right again.
The moment I passed the threshold to the house I felt the press of power in the basement and knew I had more to do before my day was over. It took only a few steps to reach the door, to walk down into the darkness. To find Sassafras, his thick tail beating in irritation, standing guard over the slim, dark haired young woman waiting for me there.
“She insisted,” Sass said.
“It’s all right,” I said, nodding to Jiao. “I’ll take it from here.”
Sassafras hissed at her, spiteful, with his fur standing on end. “I’m not leaving,” he said.
I’d have been surprised if he did.<
br />
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Jiao said, her soft voice tinted with a faint Asian accent mingling with crisp British. Her dark eyes didn’t blink, black clad body silent, still.
“I’m here,” I said. Where did this calm come from? I suppose I’d been through so much her appearance wasn’t enough to shake me. Did that mean I was in shock? Could have been. Or just beyond giving a crap.
“We await another,” she said, just as the air shimmered and parted and Max appeared.
He didn’t seem surprised to find Jiao there. In fact, he nodded to her before meeting my eyes with his diamond gaze.
“All is well?” I was almost irritated by his question. No, all was not freaking well, damn it. But I just shrugged, too tired to talk about it.
Jiao turned to him, bowed at the waist. I had no idea what they’d said to each other in the yard in front of the werepalace, but whatever it was, Max had won. In more ways than just to shut her down, it turned out.
“Master,” she said. “I have thought long about your proposal.” Not that long. Grumble, mumble. “And I would be honored to serve as your apprentice.”
His what? Brain explosion.
“Are you out of your idiot drach mind?” I didn’t mean to lash at him, but holy freaking what the hell?
Max smiled at me but didn’t answer my challenge. Instead, he bowed his head to Jiao.
“Done,” he said. Before she could respond, before I could argue, his magic leaped forward and engulfed her.
Jiao cried out, stiffening under the compress of power. I watched it sink into her, fill her up, her dark eyes glowing a moment before turning to diamonds. Black, faceted gemstones replaced her normal irises as his power claimed her.
From the despair flickering over her face she’d not expected this outcome. Which just told me once and for all this was a ruse, a game of the Empress. That Jiao was a spy after all. Not that it mattered now. I laughed out loud as I realized the truth.
“Tell Moa,” I said, “she’s lost her pet. You’re his now, sweet cheeks.”
Jiao just stared at me with horror on her face.
Max seemed unperturbed by her reaction. “You have much to learn, youngling,” he said. “And when you are through, you will lead your people to a grand future. I assure you of that.”
Her expression altered finally, to resignation and at last into the schooled, blank look that reminded me of Charlotte.
“Yes, Master,” she said.
You realize she’s still loyal to Moa. I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at Max.
Her heart will change, he sent. She will never again be able to act against me, and that is all I need to ensure she keeps her race’s best interest at heart instead of that of the Empress.
Whatever. I snorted my disbelief, but let it go. I need to talk to you about something. The black ribbon tightened around my wrist, prodding recollection.
“You may speak freely,” he said. “Jiao is now part of my power and can be trusted.”
He had to be freaking kidding me. Sassafras whined a warning, but I shrugged. If Max wanted to be a giant idiot I wasn’t going to stop him. I was so far past the last point of caring I practically threw my arm up and into his face.
“Recognize this?” His eyes widened at the sight of the drach soul wrapped around my wrist.
“Where did you find that?” His fingertips barely brushed the ribbon. It sighed against me but didn’t go to him, still firmly bonded to my skin.
“Long story,” I said.
Max’s deepening frown told me something was wrong.
“Sydlynn,” he said. “That shouldn’t exist here.”
“Sorry?” I looked down at the ribbon, watched it flex and settle. “It’s a drach soul, Max.”
He shook his head, clearly troubled. “Not of this Universe,” he said.
Not of this…
Oh. My. Swearword.
“Are you saying this soul came from the other side?” I flinched this time as the ribbon wriggled against me. All of a sudden it felt dangerous, like a threat. But I quickly calmed as it rubbed against my skin, like a little kitten looking for love. I felt nothing dangerous from it.
“I believe so.” Max’s diamond eyes swirled with power.
“Well, Belaisle is after it,” I said, covering the soul with my free hand, hiding it from sight. “Which means I’ll protect it with my life.”
Max nodded, frown deepening by the moment. “I must consult with my people,” he said, tearing open the veil. Jiao whimpered softly as his power pulled her with him. “Keep it safe, Sydlynn Hayle. I will return.” And then, he and his new apprentice were gone.
***
Chapter Thirty Four
Sass followed me in silence as I ascended the stairs back to the kitchen, not sure what to think about the black ribbon clinging so happily to my wrist. The silver Persian leaped up on the table with a soft grunt while I headed for the coffee pot, not so ready to go to bed as I thought.
“Tell me that thing isn’t going to attack you at the least opportune moment.” His voice sounded as tired as I felt.
I managed a shrug as I dolloped two giant teaspoons of sugar into a mug, the metal rattling on ceramic. “Maybe,” I said. “My luck would say yes, of course, any second now.” I listened to the drip of the coffee maker, one hip against the counter, mesmerized by the steady flow of dark nectar in the equally dark kitchen.
Syd. Owen’s voice sounded excited. I inhaled and bowed my head. What now?
Evening. Coffee sloshed over the rim of my mug as I haphazardly dumped as much into it as I possibly could. Why did I get the feeling this endless day was far from over and that I would be needing the caffeine?
Great news. His mind opened to me, showed me, from his point of view, Simon next to him, Demetrius on the other side, and then the screen of Simon’s computer. Apollo’s feed was up and running again, it appeared, though the double point of view shift was almost too much for me. I wobbled before shutting Owen out.
That is great news. It took a lot to muster even that much enthusiasm. I’m glad he’s okay.
You’re not okay. Owen’s empathy wasn’t surprising. He’d always been a softy, since I met him.
I’m fine. I shut that down, taking a big gulp of steaming java to steady myself. Any news?
You’re going to love this. He tentatively pushed images at me again and, rather than take the effort to stop him or even go to the house for a firsthand account, I crossed to the table, linked Sass into the magic feed and closed my eyes as Owen went on. Not only is Apollo okay, he’s made some pretty serious friends. I watched the older Zornov’s movements, saw a clear image of not only Liander Belaisle, but Eva Southway, too. And Kayden, Belaisle’s second. The audio isn’t working, but the vid feed is awesome. Owen’s excitement made me smile, despite everything. We know where he is. We can track him and follow him everywhere. Set that trap you wanted. On our terms.
That’s great. It really was. And I should have been more wound up, but the longer I sat, coffee or no coffee, the more tired I became. Keep an eye on him. I might not have needed the kind of sleep most people did, but even I had my limits. No way could I act right now. And Belaisle could wait.
I’ll let you rest. Owen’s sorcery embraced me. We’ll let you know if anything else happens.
I’m really glad Apollo’s okay. It was the best I could do and, bless him, Owen took it for such.
Thanks, Syd. We won’t let you down.
He let me go with another quick embrace while I sighed over his words. Was I that demanding?
Um. Yeah. Duh.
Sassafras grunted softly as I opened my eyes and met his amber gaze.
“You need to tell Femke,” he said.
Groan. “You’re kidding me, right?” But, as usual, the fuzzy butt nailed it. After everything we’d been through, she deserved to be in on this victory. And it really was a victory. We’d finally turned the tables on Liander Belaisle and the Brotherhood. It could mean a gian
t boost for morale, especially if we could somehow link the win to the WPC.
For some reason, telling her with magic didn’t seem good enough, either.
Sigh.
“While you’re in Hong Kong,” Sass said without venom or judgment, “you might want to use the excuse to talk to your husband.”
Mom must have told him about the fight. Damn it.
“I hate it when you’re right all the time,” I said. Maybe I was tired enough and worn down enough I wouldn’t argue with Quaid. That we’d find a peaceful place to work this out. That thought gave me a tiny jolt of energy, enough to push me to my feet, to open the veil.
“Naturally.” Sass hesitated before speaking again as I left him there. “I love you, Syd.”
I love you, too. A lot of people were saying that to me lately. Why did I feel like they knew something I didn’t?
There was one other person I wanted to talk to before I spoke to Femke. I had to know just how much influence Belaisle had over Danilo. I wasn’t sure why it felt so important, except maybe the closeness I felt with Charlotte drove me to understand her brother and his motives.
Besides, if I could figure out what Liander did, I might have another positive to hand to Femke.
Instead of landing in the foyer outside her office, I touched down at the feeling of a werewolf and found myself inside his cell. Danilo looked up, his face unsurprised as he nodded to me.
“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.
I sat down next to him at the plain table, feeling the binding of Enforcer power keeping his magic suppressed. Not that I was worried he might overpower me or anything. But if Belaisle had a hold on him once I wanted to be ready to fight back.
