by Patti Larsen
Lord of the Drach
Book Four of the Hayle Coven Destinies
Patti Larsen
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2014 by Patti Larsen
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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
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Cover art (copyright) by Valerie Bellamy. All rights reserved.
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Edited by Annetta Ribken, freelance Goddess. You can find her at http://www.wordwebbing.com/
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Copy edits by Jessica Bufkin.
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Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Chapter One
I sat to one side, in shadow, out of the way. The last thing Mom needed was my interference, especially since we both knew how this particular fiasco was going to end.
The representative witches of the North American Council sat on the podium behind a blue draped velvet cloth, elevated above the crowd below. I always hated how pompous that made the Council look. Eight witches lording over the rest of us. Made my skin crawl.
Maybe, with a little luck and not too much bloodshed, we’d see an end to the old system today.
Mom, as the Leader of the Council, sat in the center of the line, her normal calm and composed expression about ninety percent professional and ten percent compassion, the perfect mix, in my opinion. Still a stunning woman with black curls and eyes so blue they captivated, Miriam Hayle really was the best person to lead this particular Council—and the one to come.
Last night’s warning was all the head start I received, but hopefully it was enough. The hurried meeting of the Shadow Council of which I was leader—a conglomerate of all coven heads working behind the scenes of the regular Council—told me they were done watching and wanted a bigger piece of the action.
“You have to agree we need a better system, Syd,” Karyn Barrett, the young leader of the Barrett coven, said, dark ponytail bobbing along with her words for emphasis. She’d dyed over her patch of blonde bangs, giving her a more grown up appearance. “After all the confusion and misinformation that led to the downfall of so many families.”
I did agree. The Brotherhood had taken our complacency and old way of doing things and used it against us, killing off one third of all witches in North America and nearly destroying our way of life. Something had to change. The secretive and arrogant means in which our people were governed were no longer satisfactory or, in my opinion, working the way they should.
I was completely for change and the massive upheaval it usually brought about. Disastrous messes were my specialty. But I wasn’t behind the kamikaze way they planned to dive bomb Mom at the quarterly Council meeting. Over two hundred covens, big and small, planned to be there in one capacity or another. It would be chaos and insanity but, as far as I was concerned, the best thing to happen to witchdom in centuries.
As long as Mom knew about it. Which I made sure she did over a late night glass of wine in her kitchen at Harvard. She was back from her update meeting in Hong Kong, her temporary position as leader of the World Paranormal Council weighing on her, in the faint lines around her eyes and the weariness to her smile.
I hated to dump more pressure on her. But when I filled her in on the intent of the coven leaders, she just shrugged.
“It’s not like I haven’t been anticipating something like this,” she said. Reached out and squeezed my hand with a faint smile/grimace. “But thank you for telling me, sweetheart.”
“What are you going to do?” I refilled her glass as she sat back with a sigh.
“What should have been done a long time ago.” Her blue eyes sparkled suddenly, mischievous grin on her face. “You really are very clever to suggest the coming mayhem, my beautiful daughter.”
“Does that mean we’re going to set a precedent that will have the rest of the world Councils screaming for your blood?” I grinned back at her, saluting with my wine glass.
“Oh, I do hope so.” Mom laughed.
And now, here we were, about to find out. I shifted in my seat, avoiding the gazes of the other coven leaders, keeping to myself for now. My usual place with the major families I left vacant, on purpose. As a show of solidarity to Mom and the choice she was about to present to the Council.
But not before she was asked to make it. I felt the gathering stir, surprised at the butterflies of excitement waking in my stomach, the tug of a grin wanting to explode over my face. Had I grown so used to conflict it actually made me happy to be in the middle of it?
You have to ask that question? My demon snorted while Shaylee sighed, the Sidhe princess’s prim tone at counterpoint.
We’re merely here to ensure the orderly follow through of Miriam’s commands. She sounded like she was having a good time, though.
As if, my demon shot back, flames rippling beneath her words like a giant, burning grin. This is freaking fun and you know it, fairy girl.
You two, my vampire sent in her quiet, calm voice, have no idea. This is the bomb.
I snorted a laugh into my hand. What did you just say?
You’re watching too much TV lately, the vampire essence sniffed. I pick things up.
“Thank you for your patience while we complete old business.” I glanced up as Mom’s voice ended the first half of the meeting.
Here we go, my demon sent, vibrating with anticipation. If she had a tail, it would have been twitching.
“Now, for new issues.” Mom settled back with a kind, if firm, smile for the gathering, and calm as you please. I admired her so much for her poise. Here I was practically giggling like a hysterical child. You rock, Mom.
Why, thank you, sweetheart. Only then did I feel the thrill of anticipation in her and realized, now more than ever, I was my mother’s daughter after all. All set?
Ready when you are. I hugged her with power. This is awesome, you know.
I hope so. But yes, I think you’re right. She sighed in my head as a tiny woman on the end of the front row surged to her feet and made her way to the middle of the room. Let’s find out, shall we?
“Council Leader.” The woman’s soft, brown curls bounced as she bowed her head to Mom. “Coven Leader Valerie Bell. North Eastern Canada.”
Interesting. The Canadian covens were usually more laid back, less inclined to speak up, at least in my experience. The fact one of theirs was the first on the line impressed me.
“Coven Leader Bell,” Mom said. “You have new business?”
“I do,” she said, huge, blue eyes sparking with power. A deep breath and she plowed on while a queue of witches
formed behind her. “The Brotherhood attack saw the destruction of prominent families, all of whom are missed and mourned by each and every one of us.” Mom nodded for her to go on. “But, since then, other covens have risen in power. A fact that has, as yet, to be reflected on the Council that represents us as a race on this continent.”
Murmurs of, “well said,” and “here, here,” rippled through the gathered coven leaders. The crowded room felt heated suddenly, as though they let out a fraction of their energy for Mom to taste. She reacted with her usual confidence even as the sitting Council members exchanged nervous and angry looks.
She didn’t prepare them? Oh, Mom.
“Your suggestion, Coven Leader Bell?” Mom’s question silenced the room. Were they expecting her to fight back? Likely. I met Karyn’s eyes and nodded slowly to her. Shocked hazels turned to understanding to respect and grudging gratitude, all in an instant. She knew what I’d done. And why.
“That a new Council be selected from the strongest of the covens,” she said. “A rebalancing of power to reflect the new structure of the North American witches.”
A cheer rose, soft and hesitant, but present. They hummed as a group, vibrated. Those in line behind Leader Bell stood waiting, ready with their own arguments, I could only imagine.
If only they knew they didn’t need to prepare a speech, my demon sent.
I’m sure they were lovely and all, Shaylee sent with absolute glee.
Enough, children, my vampire murmured. I’m trying to listen.
Snort.
“I see.” Mom nodded wisely, glancing left and right as she seemed to ponder. The present Council stared back at her, nervous but, I could only guess, certain she would defend them and the way we’d been governed for so long. “Might I ask the line of you waiting to speak—are you all bringing forward a similar request?”
Nods, shuffled feet, grim expressions on the lot of them. The entire room seemed to hold time at a standstill while Mom leaned forward, fingers steepled, elbows resting on the arms of her chair.
“Might I suggest an alternative?” They weren’t expecting that from her, though from the stubborn antagonism that rose, they misunderstood. All but Karen who spoke up before an unnecessary fight started.
“I’d like to hear your alternative, Council Leader.” She glanced my way, a tiny smile on her lips while her two closest cronies, Paula Santos and Dagney Rhodes, glared bloody murder at me.
I’m trusting you, Syd, Karyn sent.
Trust Mom, I sent back. She has only the best interests of all at heart. You must know that by now.
I do, she sent. But, if you don’t mind, I’ll add you to the mix anyway.
There was nothing I could do about that.
The other coven leaders seemed to deflate at Karyn’s agreement, though tension remained, thickening the air of the chamber in degrees as the seconds ticked by. Interesting how she’d emerged as the clear leader of this odd group. I’d expected it to be Tallah Hensley.
Speak of the devil. Where was she? It was the first time I realized the Hensley coven leader was missing. And hadn’t, from what I could tell, sent a representative in her place.
Now that was odd. Considering Tallah’s rigid need for control these days. Why did her absence make me so nervous?
Mom dropped her hands to her lap, smiling faintly. “We’ve been through so much as a race over the centuries,” she said. “Persecuted, pursued, burned at the stake. And, in response to that history, we’ve become closeted, closed minded, secretive. To the detriment of all. In our attempt to protect ourselves, to guide and shape our race, we’ve created a collective fed by old hurt and the unwillingness to act together for fear of doing the wrong thing. When we needed each other most, we have failed each other.” She swept the room with her blue gaze, voice rising in volume, power behind it. “I say, no more.” Mom’s magic, tied to the fresh, young Council energy, swept around the chamber as she went on. “It is time for a new way of being. For witches to come together in joy of who we are, not in fear of what might happen if we work as one.” Another soft cheer, this one spontaneous. Tears burned the corners of my eyes, my chest tightening as I choked up.
Wasn’t expecting that. Not even a little.
Leader Bell’s thickened voice responded, evidence I wasn’t the only one Mom’s words touched. “What would you have us do, Council Leader?” And, just like that, they were behind my mother 100%, waiting on her words, ready, willing and able to jump on the wagon.
You are magnificent. I hugged her again, not wanting to distract her.
Syd, she whispered back. Don’t make me cry in public. Please. I’m barely holding on as it is. “My people,” Mom said, rich voice vibrating with emotion, “as your chosen Council Leader, I propose a vast and sweeping change to the way we care for each other. That we embrace all covens, all voices. That we rule, not by the dictates of a few, but with the voices of many.”
They gaped at her before a few started to applaud. But, the clapping stopped as they waited for her to say it already.
Mom rose to her feet, arms wide as though to embrace everyone in the room. I felt the soft, kind touch of her power and fed it with my own, the light, sweet caress of each and every witch in the room joining mine until Mom glowed like a vibrant, blue star.
“From this day forward,” she said, “this Council is comprised of all coven leaders of all duly registered covens in this territory. And every coven, small or large, shall have an equal vote. So mote it be.”
I’m not ashamed to say I was on my feet with everyone else, crying and cheering while Mom bowed her head and wept in joy.
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Chapter Two
Mom hugged me, clung to me, and I to her the moment we were behind her closed office door. She shook all over, the power of the Council murmuring to her in comfort. But she wasn’t upset, her glowing eyes full of the most happiness I’d seen in her in a long time.
If ever.
“Syd,” she said, wiping at her face with both hands, laughter in her voice. “Can you believe it?”
She’d pulled it off. While the old Council gaped and sat frozen, her words were voted into law almost by default. I’m sure some of them were still shocked to find their power pulled in, their hands rising to agree. And, just like that, a whole new beginning woke for the North American Witches Council.
Mom sank into her chair behind her desk. “This is going to be utter chaos,” she said. Already was. I’d followed her as she left the Council room, trailed after her to her office while the sound of cheering and celebration reached all the way to the magical barrier that cut off the Council’s domain to that of Harvard’s University Hall. “I just needed a minute to catch my breath.”
No one will begrudge you that, my vampire sent.
Nicely done, Miriam, my demon added.
You were brilliant, Shaylee sent, gushing. You could have suggested anything by the end of it and they would have followed you.
Mom’s gleeful smile faded a little. “We need to be careful from here,” she said. “Part of the reason I left was to ensure I didn’t get further swept into the energy of their enthusiasm and start changing more things before thinking them through.”
She really was brilliant. “Anything I can do to help?” Why did I feel so restless and ready to go? I struggled to keep myself still, to just be here for her. Seemed like no disaster, no Syd. I really needed to adjust my priorities.
“No, sweetheart.” Mom rose, came to hug me again, much more composed than she had been. “Everything will work itself out. For now, I’ll let them have their fun, then I’ll return and rein them in before it gets too out of hand.” She sighed, shook her head. “I don’t think they realize how hard things are going to be for the next little while. Oh, they’ll all get along at first.”
Tell me about it. “That’ll last about ten minutes,” I said, cynicism showing.
Mom laughed. “About that, yes,” she said. “Then the conflicts will start. The choosing of
camps. The old against the new, the strong versus the weak.” Her troubled expression darkened her beautiful face. “I really need to be here full time from now on.”
Not running back and forth to Hong Kong putting out fires. It had only been two days since Femke Svennson, the Leader of the World Paranormal Council, vanished, kidnapped by some unknown force. I presumed those who took her used sorcery as none of us had been able to track her, nor locate her since. Mom had been asked to sit in Femke’s seat as a temp. Doing double duty at this point really wasn’t the best option.
“We can ask someone else to fill the WPC leadership, Mom.” Some things were more important.
But my mother shook her head as I knew she would. “We’ll manage,” she said. “Like we always do.” Hayle pride aside, she was right. And there really was no one else better for the job than my mother.
Biased? Who, me?
As long as they didn’t ask me to sit in the damned chair, everything was rosy.
“I take it you’ve had no further updates on Femke?” I tried not to fret, had fought the urge to take the plane apart looking for my friend so many times it had become second nature to picture giant chunks of landscape scoured to the bedrock, fires burning, people dying.
“Not yet.” Mom perched on the edge of her desk. “Quaid and the WPC Enforcers are doing their best, but without a trail to follow… it’s kind of Piers to help.” My friend and Steam Union leader, Piers Southway, had dedicated some of his people to assisting in case it was sorcery hiding Femke from us. “But even he’s at a loss.” Her blue eyes met mine, full of pain. “Have you seen Quaid?”
I didn’t want to talk about the tension between my husband and me. But, the happy euphoria was already broken, so why the hell not? Story of my life.
“I’m sure he’s too busy,” I said, trying to be casual, knowing she saw right through me. I’d hurt him so badly the last time we talked, the echo of that conversation clinging to me, burning in my gut in a ball of regret I’d never escape. Why had I used Gabriel against him?
