by Patti Larsen
Time to go home and sort through what happened here. Make a plan.
Or curl up in a ball in my jammies with a carton of ice cream and a funny movie.
Perfect.
Except perfect wasn't about to let me have my retreat moment. At least, not yet. Not when I was cut off as I strode for my pavilion, wondering if Shenka had finished packing up yet.
Trill grabbed me, pulled me into a fierce embrace. “Thought we lost there for a minute,” she whispered.
I grinned at her brothers, as Owen came to hug me. He’d grown a lot, as tall as I was, now, at height with Apollo. I released the younger Zornov and accepted a kiss from the older as he winked at me.
Made me snort.
“Couldn’t have kicked ass without you,” I said. “Thanks for being here.”
Trill shrugged. “I wish it could have been different,” she said. “Would have been nice if it was Belaisle who took that hit to the chest and not his lieutenant.”
We all knew Liander was headed for a different fate.
“You’re staying a while?” I didn’t mean to sound so plaintive, but I missed their young faces, their energy.
Trill shrugged, Owen looking suddenly excited.
“As long as Ethpeal’s making waffles,” he said, voice cracking from soft soprano to more manly baritone.
I laughed. “We’ll see.” Hopefully this little bout of excitement had roused Gram from her funk.
Time would tell.
“We’ll meet you at the house,” Trill said. “I have some things to tell you.”
I waved, let them go. Stood there and absorbed the fact things were done. Over. At least for now.
Someone nudged me from behind. I turned, found Gram, supporting Varity, the pair grinning at me like they’d had the time of their lives.
I said it once and had to say it again.
Crazy. Old. Ladies.
A quick hug for both, a shot of magic to help Varity recover, and I pulled away, trying to scowl, smile fighting its way to the surface.
“You pair,” I said, “are more trouble than I’ll ever be.”
Gram grunted. Sure she was offended. Right.
Varity leaned in, squeezed my shoulder with one long-fingered hand. “Well done,” she said.
“Back at you.” I let my sorcery brush hers, felt her section it off even as I tried. “You could have told me you were a sorcerer, too.”
Varity and Gram exchanged a look that said there was a whole world of things they knew I didn’t. “Wouldn’t have mattered,” she finally said. “I never intended to use it.”
“Well, I, for one, am glad you did,” I said. “Don’t be so quick to wall off your power, Enforcer. Some of us won’t judge you for it, at least.”
I was guessing her reasons for hiding. Must have hit the nail square from the way she scrunched up her face.
“Old habits,” she said. “And I had to choose, a long time ago.”
Foolish, in my opinion. “If they were smart,” I said, “they’d start training their own who have sorcery.”
Syd.
Ding. Freaking. Ding.
Made a note to mention it to Pender even as Varity’s eyes widened and she chuckled.
Turned to Gram, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Brilliant,” she said. “You done good, Hayle.”
Gram blew a raspberry with her thin lips. “She’s a work in progress.”
The pair snickered as they left me.
I was just thrilled to see Gram smile.
Started to head out again. Quaid's hand squeezed my elbow as he came to my side, shattering my good mood all over again. “Are you going to marry him or not?”
Holy hell. Talk about sudden conversation shifts to give me a headache.
I stared up at him, drawing a breath to setting into this thing between us a little before blowing his head off. Realized Sassafras was right. Magical connection or not, I had to deal with this once and for all.
“For the last time,” I said, freeing myself from his grasp, “that's none of your damned business.” Hesitated. Finally drew a breath before my chest collapsed from lack of breathing. “Or are you making it your business?”
Syd. Syd. What are you doing, Syd?
Did I really just—
I did. I had to.
Time to know the truth even if it broke my heart forever.
Quaid's face crumpled, body shaking as he lifted his hands, imploring or warding me off, I wasn't sure. But for one aching moment of possibility I stood there with him and wondered.
And hoped maybe I didn't have to choose after all.
With a strangled cry, he turned from me. Hung his head. Shook it.
Walked away.
And that, as they say, was that.
Or so I thought. Even as I trembled from the backlash of my own shattered hope, a hand settled on my shoulder and turned me around.
And Payten met my eyes. Tears stood in hers as she looked up, watched Quaid go, before turning back to me.
“Are you sleeping with my boyfriend?” Such a soft sound, her voice. Such a horrible, painful question.
On so many levels.
He'd lied. And I had done as she thought.
“I love him,” she said, voice thick and heavy. “I have since we met at camp that first summer.” She let out a breathless laugh around her tears. “I knew you and he were a couple. But we clicked, he said you were over.” She shook her head. “Did he lie to me?”
To both of us.
“There are times I know he loves me, too,” she said. “But other times I wonder where his heart really lies.”
No. Way. I would not believe she was like me. Would. Not.
I just couldn't give her that.
Cold swept over me as my demon mourned, Shaylee sighing her sadness, my vampire softly sinking into silence even as the family magic wept for my loss.
I was done. Now and forever. To hell with fate or destiny or the damned magic keeping us together.
He'd broken my heart for the last time.
“Trust me,” I said to her, putting every last scrap of conviction I had in me into my voice, my power, my words. “Quaid is all yours.”
She backed off a step as I pushed past her.
Crossed over the border of the site and tore at the veil. Ahbi tried to hug me, but I wasn't in the mood for comfort.
Not from her, anyway.
It was inevitable, wasn't it? Wasn't he always the one I went to, the shoulder I could cry one? The only one who loved me without wanting something in return?
Weak or strong, right for me or wrong, I emerged from the veil just outside the wards to the Sidhe cavern with one thought in my mind.
I had a choice to make. And the answer was obvious.
The moment I stepped through, Liam came running, his arms wrapping around me, lips next to my ear as he whispered his love for me. Kissed my forehead, my lips before letting me go.
My oak tree. Stronger than I ever gave him credit for.
“You are amazing,” he said, a little breathless, the scent of his fabric softener and the earth all around me. “Syd Hayle wins again.”
I stared up at him, frozen, unable to smile in return, to breathe or speak.
“Syd.” Liam's relief faded into worry. “Are you okay? Talk to me.” He shook me a little even as the heavy weight of Galleytrot's power joined us, the big hound sitting down behind Liam to watch me with eyes burning with red fire.
You love him. My demon's pain hurt me, too.
She does, Shaylee sent.
And he will do just fine. My vampire hugged me as the girls came to join her, even my demon finally relenting. The family magic stirred as I drew a ragged breath and kissed Liam with desperate need.
He kissed me back, answering what I demanded with his own want, lifting me into his arms and carrying me in a few short strides to his bedroom door. I pulled away from the intensity of his kiss, holding his face between my hands as he paused on the threshold.
&n
bsp; Do it, Syd.
Do it now.
“Liam O'Dane,” I said. “Will you marry me?”
I'd never seen such sweet tenderness before, tempered with a flare of doubt.
“You're sure,” he said. “That I'm good enough?”
Oh.
My.
Swearword.
I kissed him, lingering, letting him feel all of my egos embracing him and wanting him to say yes.
When I pulled away again, his eyes shone with tears, lips curling into a smile.
“Sydlynn Hayle,” he said. “You only had to ask.”
I hugged him as he carried me into his room, only the soft growling from Galleytrot's wide chest making me pause.
Until Liam closed the door firmly in the hound's face.
And then it was just the two of us.
I could live with that.
***
Chapter Thirty Six
Endings can be bitter or sweet. I chose sweet.
Though the stronghold remained in the hands of the Brotherhood, that was all they managed to hold. I had no idea what kind of friends Piers hung out with, but the term “hacker” seemed to fit.
How did I know? Coterie Industries took a nose dive only weeks after conclave ended and, from what I could tell, was about to collapse altogether under allegations of fraud and deception.
The other Councils kept Mom—and through her, me—in gleeful information, mostly about the uncovering of Brotherhood members scattered through all territories. I had no doubt, with the loss of Mom not so long ago, Belaisle planned to infiltrate another Council to balance his hold on Applegate.
Now he wouldn't get the chance.
Most of the fleeing Brotherhood members did manage to escape, though, from the sick look on Mom's face the time or two I was present when she received mental updates, I didn't want to know what the witches did to the sorcerers they managed to capture.
Eva Southway blossomed into quite the leader, coming to visit on a regular basis with her own updates. I worried she might turn arrogant now she had the power and backing to act, but, to my relief, she just settled into her newly elevated position with dedication and focus.
At least I didn't have to worry about the Steam Union getting delusions of world domination with her at the helm. Though, from what we knew, there really were other branches of the Union out there as well, branches Eva had not as yet any success contacting.
I just hoped they weren't being mobbed.
She liked me better now I was engaged, not so cold. And I was relieved she would never be my mother-in-law.
Sonja O’Dane had been bad enough.
Since there had already been a few instances of mistaken identity, though all had been resolved without the accused party actually dying, I knew we still had a lot to worry about and had concerns our new allies might turn on us if such incidents escalated.
Not my problem.
Nor was the new housing that had to be arranged for our Enforcers. Mom and the Council created a nice little barracks for them at Harvard, an offshoot of Coven Hall, but I knew Pender had to be torturing himself over the fact he was the Leader who lost possession of the stronghold.
In fact, I was there when he tried to step down, begging Mom to let him go. And I wished she would. But she refused to hear a word of it and ordered him to hunt the Brotherhood.
He did. I just hoped she hadn't created a monster needing revenge.
I attended the interment of the ashes of the fallen Enforcers. Belaisle's attempt at an insult appeared on Mom's desk one afternoon, a plain, cardboard box full of ashes and shattered skeletal fragments. We all knew who they belonged to. And though their bones were broken, we would never forget the fallen Enforcers—the ones left behind—who tried to hold the line and keep the Brotherhood from seizing their home.
Heroes came in all shapes and sizes. Like the wild magicks. They vanished again once conclave was over, whisking off to where ever it was they chose, with my thanks.
And my hope I'd see them again.
I wished Gram's interest had lasted past conclave. But her sense of duty faded as quickly as it came. Especially when I, Liam holding my hand, announced our news to the family.
Her scowl of disappointment hung between us like a curse long after she spun and walked off, slamming the door behind her.
Poor Liam. I felt terrible for him, though the rest of the family embraced him, just happy I made a choice, I think.
If only Galleytrot wasn't being such a jerk about it. Wasn't this what he wanted?
Stupid dog.
Surprise, surprise, Ameline vanished again, though now I knew she was able to hide in plain sight. I'd be watching for her, feeling for Gram. I warned Meira about Ameline's request, but my sister only laughed. Made a “let her try” face.
Didn't stop me from having a private conversation first with Dad, then with Ahbi.
No way was I letting Ameline do to Meems what she'd done to Gram.
Even while I simmered over what to do about the dark maji, I knew something had to be done if we wanted this to be over anytime soon.
I hated conundrums. They made my head hurty.
At least Femke Svensson was awesome. Every time I met her, I liked her more, from her easy laugh to her wide-open welcome, to her progressive thinking. Margaret Applegate may have done a lot of harm to her covens when under the influence of the Brotherhood, but her last act as leader was a solid.
Femke was more than happy to listen as I appealed to her about Sebastian. While she didn't immediately tell me to run off and kick Pannera Sthol's undead ass, she promised to look into it. And, if no resolution was forthcoming in the next few weeks, promised she would give me permission to act.
I'd take it.
Helped a lot Femke invited Sunny in on the conversation.
Funny, but the fear I had our little alliances would fall apart shortly after our united front came together seemed to be founded in empty air. Everyone was getting along like best buds at a strawberry social in their honor.
Amazing no one turned on each other yet.
There was still time.
Trill and the brothers Zornov were safely parked in my back yard for the time being. Nice to be able to sit with them, talk without trouble hanging imminently over our heads. Apollo's cheek didn't bother me as much as I thought it would, Owen's sweetness reminding me of Liam.
Trill and I had a long talk about her contact with the Brotherhood. Turned out one of Apollo’s old friends was one of them. And not so happy with the way things were going. Enough he was willing to talk a little.
I really had to meet him. Thank him, after pinning him to the ground and going through his mind with a jackhammer to make sure he wasn’t a bad guy in sheep’s clothing.
She trusted him. So.
Okay then.
And wouldn't you know, Apollo had his own sources in the underground community, promising to beat Piers to the punch with a death-blow for the Brotherhood.
I let them play, knowing everything they did made Liander's Belaisle's life here on this plane more uncomfortable.
Yup, a damned shame, that.
It was nice to have a full house, especially with the wedding coming. Just so nice to have all my family and friends around me.
I had momentary panic attacks when I thought about Mia. They popped up at the oddest times, like when I was brushing my teeth or lacing up my sneakers. Anything could set me off, chest heaving, heart pounding.
Because I knew, when Mom caught her, the former Goth leader of the Dumont family would be dead. Andre was still demanding it on a regular basis, enough Mom was ready to string him up if he didn't shut the hell up.
And that made me sick to my stomach with worry, no matter what Mia had done.
Damned sense of loyalty. When I had a kid, Sassafras was keeping his fuzzy, meddling paws the hell off.
Thinking about Mia inevitably led me to ponder Alison's involvement. Why she'd sided with Belaisle in the first place, es
pecially when he was just draining the power she'd managed to steal... she had to know what he was doing.
Then again, maybe not. Alison was unstable in life and death hadn't been kind.
I tried not to fret over the fact Belaisle had control of the battle site, knowing Ameline was right about that at least. When the time came—if the time came—we'd find a way to reach him and have it out at last.
Who was I kidding, if?
Delusions didn't become me these days.
And as for Iepa, I was still ripping mad at the maji for her little announcement about all sorcerers having a claim on the empty plane. She might have been trying to back me in her own twisted way, but I was seriously going to plant my boot in her butt the next time she had the nerve to show up and crap on my parade.
If I had any doubt, any thought about going through with my wedding to Liam, it crumbled to dust the day after conclave ended, the morning I emerged from the Sidhe cavern and felt a rubber-band snap of agony as the family magic severed on Quaid's end and slammed into me, returning home.
I knew then he'd made his choice, the faint touch of Enforcer magic telling me he'd taken his vows to the order.
At least I could hope Payten hit him hard for cheating on her. Would serve him right to end up alone, the jerkasaurus.
Sigh.
No. No way. I would not ruin the rest of my life over him.
I had a wedding to plan. And a future to focus on.
He and Payten could have each other.
Time to shake off the old and embrace the love I felt. To wed and commit to Liam for as long as he lived.
Yes, I had to go there, didn't I?
###
Like what you read?
Find more at www.pattilarsen.com
Don’t miss a single new release!
Sign up at http://bit.ly/pattilarsenemail
***
And now for the first chapter of
Book Nineteen of the Hayle Coven Novels
Coven Leader