by Patti Larsen
She stared at me in impotent rage, her whole body trembling, hands fisted at her sides. She wanted to strike out at me—I could see it in her, feel the aggressive energy pouring out toward me.
“Better be sure,” I said, ever so softly, leaning in. “You just better.”
Liam’s gentle magic slid between us, cutting the cord of our mutual anger. Trill stepped back, turning away, though her hands didn’t relax. I glared up at Liam who shook his head with sadness in his eyes.
“Please, Trill,” he said, turning to her. “You’re maji. We need to protect you. If what Syd’s been told is coming is true, you’re very precious to us.”
Holy. Enough with the freaking jealousy already. I almost kicked him and made him look away from her with those begging hazel eyes, big hands held out to her. No way did he pick her side.
Syd. Breathe. Liam was right. If Iepa was correct, and I had no reason to doubt her, we did need Trill. And Owen.
On the other hand, here I was blindly trusting an entity who invaded my dreams and dragged me through a mental battle that hadn’t even happened yet only to force me to rescue two kids I’d been informed were important.
I hated being manipulated, especially when the manipulator just assumed I’d fall in line.
Which I had.
Damn it.
I needed more information, to talk to Iepa again and this time she’d better be more forthcoming with me than sharing some vague warning about a war and showing me things I couldn’t trust.
“I’m going to the mansion.” I turned from Liam and Trill, not caring if either protested or not, though I did pause to glare at the maji girl. “If you want to leave, fine. But don’t put your brother at risk because you’re a stubborn idiot.”
I left her to chew that over while the accusation rang in my own head.
***
Chapter Thirteen
I was already in the hall, heading for the stairs, when Liam burst through the barrier and caught my arm, turning me to face him. He didn’t speak, just wrapped his arms around me, holding me with his whole body.
One thing about Liam? He gave the most amazing hugs ever.
He let me go then, with a farewell wave and a smile just for me. And while part of me was embarrassed and ashamed I needed such confirmation of his feelings, the truth was his love did wonders for my mood.
And what right did I have, really, to be jealous? Considering my own personal predicament.
Sigh.
Though I intended to ride the veil to the mansion, when I stepped out into the open air I made a different choice. I had a lot to think about and the drive would give me time alone to work things out. Mind you, with Charlotte attached to my hip, it wasn’t like I’d be going alone. But I was used to her by now, no longer feeling like I had to entertain her or anything. Liam dropped the van off at the house the day before, so I headed home, a heartbeat in the veil before I again touched down in my driveway, reaching for the kitchen door.
I felt someone watching me.
I spun, hair on the back of my neck rippling as goosebumps leaped into action all over my body. Charlotte snarled, low and deep, her body between mine and the end of the driveway. I pushed her gently aside, entire body tensed as I watched a black town car, the windows tinted too dark to see inside, cruise past my house.
My demon chuffed, sniffing around, but there was no sense of power, of magic of any kind about the vehicle. Still, a weight of dread pressed against me, shoving me backward toward the house and the safety of its walls.
I refused to retreat, Charlotte vibrating beside me, watching with a blank expression as the back window hissed down, a man’s face visible for a moment on the other side as the car oozed past my driveway. He nodded once to me before the powered window closed again and the driver hit the gas. I walked down to the street, catching the ominous black car turning the corner at the end of the road and disappearing behind a neighbor’s house.
No power. But emptiness. Unnatural emptiness. Like the way Demetrius Strong felt, the leader of the Chosen of the Light, the one sorcerer I’d had dealings with. So. I’d just met the Brotherhood.
Despite their creepy act, I was unimpressed.
“Feels like trouble.” I jumped a little as Gram spoke, turning to find her standing next to me, a holey pink sweater wrapped tightly around her as she glared toward where the car vanished. She grinned at me suddenly, giggled. “I like trouble.”
“Yeah,” I said, “I’ve noticed.” I met Charlotte’s eyes. She looked anxious, confused.
“Nothing good will come of this,” she said.
Great. Doom and gloom from my bodywere. Just what I needed.
Gram grasped her hand, pulling her close. “You have the sight?”
Foresight. Right. Sunny possessed the talent, though the beautiful vampire had only shared it with me once, when I was in danger. Yeah, being in danger for me was a regular occurrence, so it wasn’t so much of a shocker. But Charlotte?
“Some,” the weregirl said. “Enough.” Her eyes flickered to me. “Barely enough.”
Weird. So the sight wasn’t just a vampire thing. How ironic, considering vampires and weres usually hated each other intensely, that they shared such a gift.
Or curse, depending on how it was used. Right now I had the sneaking feeling Charlotte had more control over hers than Sunny and was using it to keep track of me.
Not like I could stop her or anything.
“No matter.” Gram let Charlotte go. “It seems your plan is working, though of course they know the Zornov children are here.”
I felt myself relax a little, hoping she was right. If the Brotherhood could pinpoint the pair, they’d be at the library by now, not scoping out my house.
So, too close for comfort, but far enough away maybe things could work out after all.
One way to deal? I could make the Brotherhood leave.
Gram must have known where my thoughts were going because she jabbed me in the side with one if her sharp fingers. I clutched at the offended part of my person, scowling at her, but she just scowled right back.
“Don’t be a fool,” she said. “What will you do if you catch up with them?”
I felt my anger rise to her challenge. “Kick their sorcerer asses out of my territory.” How dared they invade a coven town?
Mad was good. Really good. Raised all kinds of interesting thoughts and possibilities.
“Just when I think you’re going to turn out all right,” Gram said, “you revert into an idiot.”
Ouch. “What do you propose we do?” If that car showed up again, I wasn’t taking any chances. Engines used gas and demons used fire.
Easy math.
Brotherhood go boom.
Stupid Gram link. She grinned at me, sudden ferocity making me nervous. “You leave them to me,” she said. “I’ll track them, make sure they get themselves lost a time or two. But I won’t act against them until I have all of my questions answered.”
“Such as?” She turned and walked up the drive, leaving me to trail after her, Charlotte still humming with tension behind me as we entered the kitchen, Gram’s power pulling the door shut behind me.
“Never you mind.” She spun on me, one socked foot tapping the floor. “We have something else to talk about, miss.”
Like I needed more problems. “One disaster at a time, yeah, Gram?”
She shrugged. “I’m getting tired of pulling your slacker weight,” she said. “It’s time you chose a second.”
What, now? “But—”
Gram came to me, pinched my cheeks, kissed the end of my nose. “It’s time, girl,” she said. “I want a little freedom, you see?” Her hands dropped, squeezed my shoulders. “And you need to know what it’s like to stand on your own.”
I hugged her, heart constricting, fear taking me hostage. “You’re not going anywhere, are you?” She couldn’t leave me. Not ever.
Gram chuckled and shook me just a little. “Where would I drag this old carc
ass even if I wanted to?” She danced a little jig in the sunlight pouring into the kitchen, turning in a circle before coming to a halt, her eyes rimmed with extra moisture. “Just give an old lady a break and pick a damned second.”
***
Chapter Fourteen
While I had intended to sort through my feelings about Trill and Liam and this whole mess, I instead spent the drive, silent Charlotte beside me, running through the entire family roster in my head and discarding each and every one of them in turn.
The twins? No freaking way. Not only were Estelle and Esther creepy, though I now adored the two old ladies, they were the same age as Gram. Yes, there were older witches I could choose, but none of them really seemed to fit the bill. And the younger ones, well… they were all parents with small children. I had absolutely nothing in common with them and, aside from being family, I’d never made a real connection, not enough to call on one of them to be my second.
It was a huge responsibility, taking on the job. I thought about Mom and Erica, how my mother chose her best friend so many years ago, when she herself was a new mother and sudden coven leader, Gram crippled by the Purities. Mom picked her not only because she adored her, but because she knew Erica served best as second, as a support system, someone who would never challenge her for leadership, too weak to lead herself, but as faithful as her own heart.
I briefly touched on Meira, but mentally shook my head. My sister was too young. And besides, after the conversations we’d had about her wanting more than to live in my shadow, as sad as that made me, there was no way I’d saddle her with the position.
She’d never forgive me.
Which meant I was out of luck. And while I knew Gram was right and I needed a second, my heart protested. She and I were a great team and, since she was never allowed to leave me, why should things change? Except, she’d given up her life, her own dreams and plans, to rule a coven she never wanted to lead, only to lose herself for seventeen years in madness so that same family would be safe.
She deserved a happy retirement.
I was in the mansion driveway, pulling up to the front of the house just as I realized the truth. There wasn’t one witch in the Hayle coven I wanted as my second.
Which meant I had to look outside the coven.
It certainly opened up a great number of possibilities. I mused over the witches I’d met as I climbed the stairs to the front door, Charlotte at my side, my mind going right to my roommate and new bestie, Sashenka Hensley. Who I immediately struck from the list. Not because I didn’t want her or trust her. In fact, the more I allowed my mind to linger on the options, the more I realized she’d be a perfect fit.
But she was already a second, to her sister, Tallah. They at least didn’t have the same issues as Meira and me, happy to support each other.
Jeeze, Syd. So not fair.
Meira had the right to her own life, just like Gram did.
Stewart let me in with a smile and a murmured, “Coven leader,” before leaving me to my task. Which, it turned out, evolved into several hours of swearing, kicking the stone pedestal deep underground while I used my magic to try to raise Iepa and generally growing more frustrated the longer I stayed.
Charlotte had the good sense not to comment as I stomped my way back up to the main chamber, grumbling and complaining to myself about the contrary nature of a maji who only showed up when it was convenient for her, and wasn’t she all kinds of special that she could make planes and create crap while I had to wait around for her goddesship to freaking pay attention.
Why, yes, I was the Queen of Irritableville.
I should have taken Liam with me. At least he would have been able to read to me. Though even he might have grown annoyed with my behavior by the end of it, so it was best he’d just stayed where he was.
That made me think about Trill and the way she softened around him. My temper jacked up about fifty notches. Which meant by the time I reached the main floor, I was in the kind of mood that could only be alleviated by blowing up something.
I didn’t shake free of my angry funk until I was almost to the front door. Charlotte’s hiss and her hand on my arm snapped me out of it, just in time to pull me to a stop out of the main entry’s line of sight.
I saw Stewart talking to someone, the last light of the day shining into the house over the cold marble floors. His voice was low, apologetic, but very proper. I eased closer, opening my demon ears so I could hear what was up.
“Again, I’m afraid the master of the house is unavailable, sir.” Stewart’s words were clipped, now as chill as the blood of the vampires before dinnertime. “You may call back in an hour or so. I’m certain Lord DeWinter will be delighted to speak to you then.” Though his words were polite, I had the impression there was nothing delightful about this visitor.
“Syd,” Charlotte hissed. “Sorcerer.”
Oh hell no.
Something pushed against the door, as though someone was trying to pry it open despite Stewart’s firm grasp on the handle. A voice muttered something, higher pitched than the butler’s, though just as icy. My demon caught, “insist” and “stand aside” before she jabbed me with a snarl.
Not like I needed the encouragement. I practically ran to Stewart’s side, though I gathered my poise in time to wrench the door out of his hand and glare at the man on the other side.
Pinstriped suit on a not-so-tall body, about my height. Expensive tie. Ostentatious vest. Kerchief in the brightest red. Dark hair slicked back from a broad, deep forehead, receding from a pointed widow’s peak. The barest goatee. All of these facts reached me in my first good look, though I already knew it was the same man I’d seen stalking my house earlier.
The Brotherhood.
But it was his pale amber eyes, a washed-out version, nowhere near the intensity of a demon’s tone, I noticed the most. Not because I found them appealing, but because the heartless, soulless, emptiness of them told me to be careful.
And since when did I ever do what I was told?
“Miss Hayle.” Stewart knew well enough to drop the coven leader address, though I didn’t have time to tell him this was no ordinary mortal. He also knew not to show surprise at my sudden appearance, taking it in stride. I felt the presence of others, knew the rest of the human servants had gathered in the darkening hall behind me, sworn to protect the vampires they served.
Hopefully I wouldn’t need their help. The sun was almost down. And while Gram’s warning not to go after the Brotherhood directly still rang in my head, there was no way I’d allow one of them inside the mansion.
The really pissed-off part of me wanted him to push it.
“Sydlynn Hayle.” The man smirked at me, just the barest of a smile, eyes dead, flat. “We meet sooner than expected.”
I hated when bad guys had the one up on me. “I take it you have a name somewhere inside that ugly suit?” Oh, Syd, Syd, Syd. Bad girl.
Oddly, my remark didn’t raise a negative reaction. Instead, he offered his hand. Charlotte chuffed behind me, baring her teeth at him.
Probably not a good idea to let him touch me.
“Liander Belaisle,” he said in his smooth and polished politician’s voice, as though I should know exactly who he was.
“Nice to meet you.” So not. “I think Stewart just asked you to leave?”
The butler quivered beside me, not out of fear, though I think he was finally understanding there was much more to this man than he’d first assumed.
“And yet, I find myself still wanting to enter.” Belaisle’s smile widened, showing brilliant white teeth, a tiny diamond glinting from one of his canines. How tacky. He didn’t move, body still and calm, but there was a coiled tension to him that told me if I made the first move, he’d be ready for me.
Bring it.
“Sir.” My powers of observation were clearly single-minded. I’d been so focused on Belaisle, I hadn’t noticed the two tall, broad-shouldered suits flanking him. Both towered over him, one broa
d, the other whip-thin, as protective of him as Charlotte was of me. So either bodyguards or sorcerers. Or both.
Bad guys and their backup. Sheesh, so original.
Belaisle ignored his companion’s subtle prod, though I noted the one on the left’s eyes as they lifted to the horizon and the disappearing sun. So, they didn’t want to be here when Sebastian and his clan woke up?
Yeah, hardly blamed them.
Belaisle didn’t seem to share his two guard’s apprehension. Instead, he took a step forward, casually, as though he’d been invited in.
He most definitely was not.
Belaisle rebounded slightly from the wall of family magic I put up between him and the threshold. I felt the power in the mansion respond, reach for me. It knew me, from the trial, from my family ties to the clan. But now I knew it ran deeper than that. The very earth below the house, the chamber, knew me, welcomed me, my maji blood.
Belaisle’s pale eyes finally showed emotion. The barest touch of irritation. “You don’t want to start something you can’t finish, witch.”
“Witch, Sidhe, demon, vampire, maji,” I said, so sweetly I almost turned my own stomach as I ever so gently poked him with my power, tied together into a knot the size of an index finger. “You were saying?”
Was it wrong how much I was enjoying myself?
Belaisle’s stoic expression didn’t falter. “I know you have them,” he said. “You really wish to begin a war between us over a pair of vagabond children who mean nothing to you? To your coven?” He looked up before meeting my eyes. “To this clan?”
“Sorry,” I said. “What are you talking about?”
More frustration from him as the broad-shouldered guard leaned close.
“Sir, we really must—”
Belaisle’s hand came up, silencing the man, his irritation snapping like a whip. “Foolish child,” he growled. “I will have them no matter your involvement. Protecting them will only lead to your destruction and that of your family.”
