by Patti Larsen
Someone brushed past me on the way through, but I ignored Jean Marc. Kristophe hit me a little harder with a muttered, “Excuse.”
Like he was really sorry. Jerk.
I watched them go to their father, the dark brother draping himself over the arm of the sofa, lounging there with a grin on his face while the blonde slid in between Andre and Odette, putting his feet up on the coffee table.
I was about to lose my cool as I hadn’t done with the older Dumonts. An intense hatred flooded me, something I’d never felt before, so powerful my demon started offering me a variety of ways to kill them both without leaving a scrap of them behind.
Before it could go too far, Quaid stepped forward, hand gripping my arm.
“We’ll fetch some refreshments,” he said before pulling me along behind him.
Jean Marc smirked and winked while Kristophe offered a little wave to me on my way out.
They were so dead.
Dead.
***
Chapter Sixteen
Quaid’s grip was so strong and insistent I didn’t manage to pull myself free until we reached the kitchen. I finally used magic to wrench myself from his grip, turning on him with a vicious snarl.
“Don’t ever touch me again.” I could finally let my fury out. He needed to know just how little I thought of him and his precious family. “Ever.”
“You’re embarrassing yourself,” he snapped. “Get it together.”
Oh no he didn’t. I was embarrassing myself? Really. “Maybe you should think about what you just said,” I hissed. “Maybe you’d like to observe your precious cousins and see who exactly is doing the embarrassing.”
He blushed. Quaid blushed. He knew what they were like and he still defended them. “Just forget it,” he mumbled, turning away.
It was my turn to catch his arm and jerk him back. “I’m doing my duty,” I said with as much ice in my voice as I could muster. “I’m heir to this coven and I’m fulfilling that role. Maybe you should mind your own business, Quaid. Go back to your little girlfriend and stay out of coven issues. Because they don’t concern you.”
He flinched, blush deepening. What had they done to him? The Quaid I knew would have grinned at me, dark eyes flashing and put me in my place. This new and definitely not improved Quaid was a wimp.
Not only that. I looked at him, really looked at him for the first time. “What the hell are you wearing?” A suit coat? Dress shirt, pants, polished shoes? Where was his casual look, his ever-present leather jacket? And who gelled his hair back? He looked like he’d been dipped in the same vat as the Dumont family and left hanging to dry like a Ken doll in French fashion.
Quaid pulled away. “You don’t understand. You’ll never understand.”
“You’re right,” I said. “I won’t and I don’t want to.”
Quaid backed up a step. “Syd—“
He didn’t get to finish. Erica bustled into the kitchen, putting an end to our conversation.
“I thought you two were fetching the coffee.” She looked back and forth between us.
I turned my back on Quaid and went to work. When I turned again, Quaid was already gone.
Erica didn’t say anything, though she offered me a soft kiss on the cheek and a sad expression before the two of us carried mugs and decanters into the living room.
Odette accepted her mug from Erica while here eyes returned to me. She was addressing Mom, I knew it, but watched for my reaction when she spoke.
“How delighted we were when our dear Quaid found us,” she said. “So many years have passed with no word from his parents.” She took a sip, mug clinking on her saucer as she paused. “They disappeared so many years ago, and we were unable to find them. Quaid is finally back where he belongs. With his family.” She smiled at him and he, a traitor yet, smiled back with real affection.
Was he totally and completely blind and stupid? Maybe because of the gorgeous girl beside him.
No. I couldn’t go there. Not yet.
“We’re so grateful you took such fine care of my grandson.” Odette finally focused on Mom when she didn’t get what she was looking for from me. Score. “The Dumont family is in your debt, mon ami.”
My limited French was enough. Just like I was sure Mom was most definitely not this creepy old lady’s friend.
“Our pleasure,” Mom said. “He’s been a great asset to the Hayle coven. I don’t know what we’d do without him.”
Present tense. What was she up to? The lines around Odette’s eyes tightened again, but she continued with her smile. “Indeed.” She stood then, setting her cup and saucer aside, shoving Kristophe’s feet. They thudded to the rug under the table. He scowled to himself, but sat up straighter. “We really must be going.”
Mom rose with so much grace it was like she was part vampire. Um… right. At least she was taking advantage of her new powers. I could tell Odette wasn’t impressed. The woman reeked with envy. They exchanged the requisite cheek kiss between coven leaders before Odette spun and strode out. I stood my ground, making her go around me, the scent of old roses and sweet powder hovering around her. It reminded me of a funeral for some reason.
The twins didn’t try their bumping trick this time, though Jean Marc licked his lips at me on the way by, eyes on my chest. He was so lucky the bodyguard was right behind him or he’d have been slammed into the wall so hard his bones would be mush. I was too focused on staring down the creepy security man. A flicker of amusement passed over his face and he actually nodded to me as he left.
Syd’s winning points. Gotta love it.
Mom drifted past me, her power pulling me along with her. I went to the formal front door, stood next to her with Dad and Erica at my back while Odette turned with another of her false smiles.
“You all must come for dinner tomorrow evening,” she said. “We’ve rented the delightful hotel, what was the name of that place again, cher?”
“Hillcrest Hotel,” Raoul said. His voice was rough and harsh, sounding more Russian than French.
“Ah, oui,” Odette said. “Hillcrest Hotel. Please, you must come.”
Mom bowed her head once. “Thank you for the invitation.”
Odette’s eyes drifted past Mom as though she was looking for someone.
“And you must bring Ethpeal. She is, after all, the official reason for our visit. To celebrate the recovery of such a powerful and respected witch.” Her gaze flickered back to Mom. “A pity she didn’t join us for coffee.” There was a distinct edge to her magic. “I missed seeing my dear friend.”
“She’s not been feeling well,” Mom said. “She’s resting, I’m afraid.”
“Oh well,” she said. “What a terrible shame. Perhaps she’ll be feeling better for dinner then.” Odette glanced at Quaid and I understood. He’d told them everything. Everything. I gathered my magic into a lance and jabbed him so hard with it he actually jumped. His eyes met mine, full of hurt.
In the tightest most focused thread I could muster, I sent, If you’ve betrayed my family, I’ll kill you myself.
His gaze dropped away. Standing there with them, surrounded by the Dumonts, he seemed reduced, less than he had been, as though they, like the Moromonds before them, were sucking him dry. But his family weren’t taking his power, oh no.
They were taking his identity.
“I’m hoping to spend some time getting to know you.” My gaze whipped to the side, leaving him and landing on Ameline. She showed nothing, felt like a still pool of water, unreadable. Her lightly accented, melodic voice was as lovely as she was. “Quaid has spoken so very highly of you.” She glanced at him, took his hand, laced her fingers through his before meeting my eyes again. Ameline might have been hiding her true intent magically, but that one gesture told me everything I needed to know.
They departed then, as a group, leaving the tension they’d created behind. We all stood there for a while after the glass door swung shut, not saying anything or even moving.
I could
n’t take it anymore. With a hug for Dad and a kiss for Mom I went upstairs to my room. I found Sassafras and Galleytrot at the bottom of the stairs, both looking as angry as I felt.
I left them there, climbing lightly, closing my bedroom door with great care. I held my cool long enough to create a soundproof bubble of power around me before drawing in a huge breath and screaming on and on until I couldn’t scream anymore.
***
Chapter Seventeen
I felt them come to my door while I threw my private hissy fit, but ignored them. First Erica, then Dad. Mom last. Not one of them tried to enter without my permission, so that was one good thing. They finally accepted the fact they couldn’t just barge in on me and treat me like a total child. Now if I could only convince them to stop keeping their damned secrets, everything would be hunky.
I wasn’t feeling particularly grown up at that moment. The little girl inside me sobbed and raged and threw things. My demon howled her outrage, her fury at Quaid while Shaylee wept for another love lost.
Me? I just kept screaming.
I let the bubble collapse at last, falling to the bed myself, all of the energy I’d held inside since meeting the brothers outside Johnny’s finally gone. As I lay there, staring at the sparkly pink chandelier Mom insisted on putting in my room, I came to grips with the truth of the matter.
Quaid wasn’t mine anymore. I’d known it already, but now I had proof. He was gone, lost, and I had to move on. Yes, I loved him. My throat closed a bit at the thought, but I pushed down my grief. I wouldn’t cry over him anymore. I was done feeling sorry for myself, finished being a victim of that jerk. Ameline could have him.
I sat up, stomach growling slightly. A snack. Perfect. Gram had it right, I was sure. I’d shove all of my crap down as far as I could and smother it with chocolate.
The house was quiet when I went downstairs. I felt Mom and Dad in the basement, but both my cat and the big black Fey dog were missing. Maybe they’d gone to spy on the Dumonts. I knew the hotel they were talking about. It was some kind of restored old house, elegant looking, usually full of tourists in the summer. I had no doubt they’d used magic to clear the way for themselves, after hearing Andre’s opinion of normals and seeing first hand what the brothers were up to. I’d never had reason to go up to the place, a darkly creepy manor house overlooking the valley, but it seemed I did now.
I wasn’t surprised to find Gram sitting alone at the kitchen table when I entered. She kept her magic as carefully wrapped up as I did. Maybe I did so myself out of habit or subliminal training from all those years of holding the piece of her spirit. Whatever the case, when she looked up and met my eyes, I knew she’d been waiting for me.
And to be honest, she was the only one I was willing to have this conversation with.
I grabbed a bag of chips and a bowl out of the cupboard, filling it and setting it on the table before tearing open a bag of chocolate pieces, dumping them in after. Gram helped herself to a handful, eyes never leaving me as she munched her way through it.
“Tell me about the Puritys.” I asked on impulse, not wanting to talk about Quaid just yet. I hunted for and found a folded over chip and dropped some chocolate into it, savoring the salt and sweet mix.
Gram settled her chin on one fist. “There’s not much to tell,” she said, old sorrow in her voice. “We were friends once, the Dumont girls and I. Grew up together, went to school together in France. But there was always something wrong with Odette. A heartlessness. And Naudia was always willing to do whatever her sister wanted, even if it meant breaking coven laws to make Odette happy.”
“What provoked the attack?” The fact it had come to a coven battle at all was amazing. It just didn’t happen anymore, not even in Gram’s day. There were ways around destroying each other.
“I never knew,” Gram said, talking around some chips. “Though she instigated it, Naudia did, and with no Enforcers in sight, I had to defend the family.”
“You fought her alone.” I tried to picture it, Gram standing against an entire coven to save ours.
“I did,” she said, “forcing her to stand alone as well.”
“She obeyed that law?” I found it hard to believe the other woman didn’t cheat.
“Naudia tried to include others,” she said, “but her own coven refused. I think they finally understood what she was in the end.” Gram sighed. “I won, but she didn’t go quietly. And it turned out she was just strong enough to do what she did.” Gram looked away a moment. “I’ll never forgive either of them for that.”
Seventeen years of insanity while her consciousness fought for escape. I welled up, but did as I’d planned and stogged it down with another mouthful of junk food.
“You must be careful of Quaid.” Gram reached out and caught my hand, squeezing my fingers insistently. “There is more happening here than you’re aware of, power being weighed, plans being prepared on both sides. Until he declares himself one way or the other, he is not to be trusted. And even then…” Gram pulled away.
“You do realize that it’s the most frustrating thing in the world to be told most of the information I need, but to be missing key parts?” I tried to keep my tone light, the irritation from my voice, but it was difficult. “My life is a freaking jigsaw puzzle with important pieces missing and I’m getting very tired of not being able to see the whole picture.”
Gram actually grinned at me and pinched my cheek. “Welcome to family politics.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. She was about as forthcoming as Mom and that was not at all. Fine, if she wasn’t going to fill me in, I could push her buttons a little. Fair is fair.
“Why didn’t you show yourself?” I was actually happy to drop the Quaid thing, despite my annoyance at the usual family secret thing. He was done in my books anyway. Out of my life. I didn’t think she’d believe me if I told her so I pushed on. “I thought you were looking forward to seeing her reaction.”
Gram grinned suddenly, one finger touching the end of her nose like I’d asked exactly the right question. “I’m waiting for the perfect time,” she cackled. I hated it when she did that.
“I’m pretty sure she knows anyway,” I said, suddenly glum and hating to ruin her surprise.
“Quaid,” Gram said, but her grin didn’t slip. “I thought as much.” She dipped in the bowl for more treats. “He won’t be the same, even if he does come back to you. She owns him now.”
I had a surge of powerful denial. I didn’t want to believe it. Which meant he clearly wasn’t out of my heart yet. Damn it.
“Trust me,” she said, “I know. I’ve been through it.”
“What do you mean?” This was new.
Gram stood, went to the fridge, came back with a couple of soft drinks for us both. She cracked hers open, taking a long swallow. She belched quite remarkably before answering.
“I too loved a witch of the Dumont family,” Gram said. “Miriam and Frank’s father, your grandfather, Ivan Dumont.”
I jumped a little, appalled. I’d never known my grandfather. No one ever talked about him. Why had I never thought to ask? I felt a whisper of magic slide from my mind and knew.
Because I’d been told not to.
More family secrets. Lovely.
“He was their cousin, you see,” Gram said, “the only son of the extended ruling family. Naudia idolized him, Odette adored him. Ivan was stunningly handsome and when he smiled, the whole world was brighter for it.” Gram snorted, though there was sadness in her voice. “At least, I thought so. He denounced the Dumont clan, accepted the rule of the Hayle family when he married me. But he didn’t, it turned out. He remained their toy and spy and, ultimately, it was he who betrayed me to his sisters. He told them everything, all of our weaknesses, when best to attack.” She finished her drink with another long gulp, rattling the can down on the tabletop. “My love for him, the trust I felt, almost destroyed us. I believed him right down to the last moment. But I finally understood, do you see?” Her fade
d blue eyes were full of intent. “In the end, I had to stand alone to protect you all from my mistake.”
“What happened to him?” I hugged myself, all thoughts of eating forgotten.
“He died,” she said. “When Naudia did. He was feeding her power, they all were. But him most of all. They were both weaker than I was, but together they were very strong. Still, I sensed he was there, was able to cut him off from returning his spirit to his body. You can’t survive that, Syd. Did you know?” Tears formed, spilled down her cheeks, ignored. “The coven fell apart then, and so did I. Poor Miriam was left to put everything back together.”
“Gram,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
She nodded slowly while I slid my chair around beside her and hugged her. Gram hugged me back, making small, sad sounds into my hair as she wept. Everything clicked for me then. I may have only been hearing about it now, almost two decades later, but for Gram it was yesterday. The pain was still gaping and raw for her, still eating away at her soul.
Gram pulled away at last, patting my hand with hers, a small smile replacing her sorrow as she swiped at her tears with the sleeve of her sweater.
“I love you, dear,” she said.
“I love you too, Gram.” Always, but never so much as this moment.
“Now,” she said, clapping her hands together, “open up those bags you stashed in the corner and show me what you bought me.”
How could I not laugh at that?
***
Chapter Eighteen
Sleep was a problem. If my life continued the way it was going, I’d end up with some kind of weird night disorder scientists would want to study. I tossed and turned, mind bouncing from Quaid to Ameline to wondering if he’d kissed her and if he liked it. He better not like it. Better not.