by Patti Larsen
Ancient Ways
Book Fifteen of the Hayle Coven Novels
Patti Larsen
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2013 by Patti Larsen
Find out more about Patti Larsen at
http://www.pattilarsen.com/
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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Cover art (copyright) by Valerie Bellamy. All rights reserved.
http://www.dog-earbookdesign.com
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Edited by Annetta Ribken, freelance Goddess. You can find her at http://www.wordwebbing.com/
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Chapter One
Sweat stung my eyes, the thud of my hands against the heavy bag vibrating up my arms and into my chest. I leaned back and lashed out with one foot in a roundhouse, connecting solidly with the cracked vinyl, the chain creaking as I sent the bag swinging.
“Nice hit.” I turned, wiping my face on the shoulder of my t-shirt to the grinning face of my kick-boxing instructor. Sage steadied the bag, deep green eyes smiling as much as his mouth.
A rather yummy mouth, as it turned out. Nice little chin-cleft, too, a bit of beard shadow roughing up his wide jaw, dark brows framing that sea-colored gaze. Thick lashes framed his eyes, lashes I was jealous of the moment I walked into the gym and he looked up to greet me.
With that same smile he gave me now.
“I'm feeling more balanced.” I drew a deep breath, bobbed up and down on my toes as I faced off with the bag again. “That tip you gave me about staying lower really helped.”
He shrugged, his tanned skin rippling under his black tank with “Arno's Gym” straining across the front over his very nicely developed pecs. “Anything I can do to help,” he said in his tenor voice. Mellow, soft for such a big guy. Sage stood almost as tall as Liam, though he had more of Quaid's bulk.
Yup, comparing boys. Fun stuff.
The only difference, this boy was normal. Completely. Not a trace of latent power to be felt. As Sage steadied the bag for me, one big shoulder holding it firm, his large hands gripping the sides for leverage, I found myself grinning.
Nothing wrong with normal now and then.
I felt my mood shift as my mind went to Liam and my decision to choose him, to see what we could do about the relationship he claimed he desperately wanted. Two thuds with my gloved fists released some of my returning tension.
Guess he didn't want to be with me as much as he said. If he did, we wouldn't have spent the last eight months with the elephant in the room that was his mother firmly placed between us, her false smile and need to be part of every single thing her son did driving me to contemplate murder.
Thud. Thud.
It felt good to let my anger out in a way that made me stronger instead of driving me to dismember and dispose of someone. Someone with salon perfect hair and the most grasping sense of ownership on the boy she'd given birth to and then served up to her Unseelie lordling master I'd ever had the misfortune to encounter.
Bitter, me? Naw.
Thud. Thud. Whack.
I caught a glimpse of Charlotte watching, standing in the corner with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at Sage. All pissed off and wolf fur ruffled I'd decided to learn to fight.
When I told her my plans to find a gym when we came home to Wilding Springs a few weeks ago, she frowned.
“Why?” That was Charlotte. My bodywere was nothing if not blunt and to the point.
“I want to learn to defend myself,” I said. She should be all for it, shouldn't she? Less worry for her. And for me.
Instead, she grunted. “That's what you have me for,” she said, sounding hurt.
Seriously?
Ever since my little jaunt to the Sidhe realm, when I'd been forced to allow Shaylee and my demon to fight for me against the thralled Quaid, I'd realized just how vulnerable I was when I didn't have access to magic. Yes, I could run. So what? Anyone could do that. But, there were times when running wouldn't be an option.
Had happened now more times than I could count. Learning to fight instead, to have as much confidence in my body's ability to defend me as my magic, was at the top of my to-do list.
Right up there with finding some way to get rid of Sonja O'Dane permanently. Hopefully without turning Liam against me.
I tried to explain it to Charlotte who continued to scowl and play the deeply wounded bodywere.
Followed me to the gym I found in the phone book, still scowling.
Walked in with me, glaring.
She came with me, every time. Refused to help. To participate, despite the fact I knew what an amazing fighter she was. Could have learned a lot from her if she wasn't so damned stubborn about it. I felt terrible for the other people at the various gyms I tried who gave her a berth so wide she practically emptied every place when she walked in. It wasn't fair to the normals, not even a little. But I also knew better than to ask her to leave.
Three gyms later, the management at each spot took care of my wince-worthy worries for me by just asking us to leave. I was beginning to wonder if Charlotte would prevent me from finding the right place and if I'd have to be more firm about her staying home.
But when Sage smiled at me despite Charlotte's deadly emanations the first morning we met, standing to his full height with the biggest kettle bells I'd ever seen casually held in his very capable hands, I knew I'd found the place I was looking for. A little rough around the edges, full of bulky guys too busy looking at themselves to care what I did. Quiet. Dark.
Perfect.
“Good job, Syd,” Sage said, bringing me back to the present. “Now double jab, uppercut, snap kick.”
He'd taken one look at me that first day and seemed to know exactly what I needed.
“This isn't a normal gym,” he said. “But you know that, right?”
I nodded, feeling a little intimidated as he towered over me, though more so by the instant zing of attraction I felt. Just what I needed, another boy to wrangle. But Sage's casual manner put me at ease as he set down the bells and offered his hand.
“Sage America,” he said. Rolled his eyes in good humor. “Sad, right? My parents were late blooming hippies who thought it would be cool to curse their son for life.”
I laughed and shook his hand. “Sydlynn Hayle,” I said. “Same problem.”
Instant friend.
Had to love it.
From that moment on, Sage was my go-to guy, though never in a forceful or bossy way. He let me try to figure stuff out on my own, fumbling with my hand wraps, my gloves, how to handle the heavy bag at the back of the room. Each time he gave me just enough space to feel frustrated before offering a hand, a simple explanation. Made me feel like I was valuable, important to him. His hands felt warm when he pulled the wraps tight. Confident when he laced up my small boxing gloves. Totally professional when he showed me how to keep the bag from taking me out instead of the other way around. Helped me find my rhythm, made sure I was comfortable.
Left me alone as if knowing that was what I really wanted.
Then showed me how it was supposed to be done when I hesitated.
I put the attention off to the fact it was his job and he was very good at it, but still, I looked forward to seeing him every morning.
Charlotte's sudden soft growl behind me caught my attention and I turned around.
&nb
sp; “She'll be here soon,” she said, her flat, unfriendly gaze locked on Sage.
He just grinned as she backed off, returning to her place.
“Only two kind of people need a bodyguard,” Sage said, casual and quiet. “I'm guessing you're not famous.”
“Infamous,” I said. “But nope.”
He nodded. “Rich, then. Good for you.” Like it was no big deal. I could really go for this guy—
Syd. Down girl.
“So I'll see you in the morning.” He released the bag, gave me a salute. “Unless you're not busy tonight.”
Whoa. That came out of left field. So much for professional. Still, he said it in such an offhand way, like it didn't matter, was just an offer.
And not unwelcome.
Because yeah, I did need another boy to worry about.
Was that real regret stirring, knowing I had to turn him down? The “she” Charlotte mentioned had to take priority.
“Can't tonight,” I said. “But some other night, you bet.”
Tell me I didn't just agree to go out with a normal.
Sage's little grin dimpled one stubbled cheek as he turned away. “That'll be great. I'm fairly new to town, just trying to settle in. It would be nice to have someone to hang around with.”
Would it ever.
“See you, Syd.” Sage tipped his chin at Charlotte with another smile before leaving me to clean up and go home.
Eyes front, girl. No staring at the wide shoulders walking in the other direction tapering down to a narrow waist over hips just visible at the hem of his loose shorts, the way the black fabric cupped his rock-hard ass—
I was going to girlfriend hell.
And I was okay with it.
***
Chapter Two
Sashenka Hensley tossed her heavy suitcase, the last of her belongings, onto the bed and spun in a circle, hugging herself and grinning. I grinned right back, as weird as it felt to have her living in Meira's room.
“This is perfect.” My second ran her fingers over the pink walls, her magic sparkling out, tinting the paint as it traveled. A glittering wash converted the shade to a more demure taupe. “Well,” she said with a wink, “now it's perfect.”
I laughed as her magic completed its course with a final flare, job complete. “I never knew I could do that,” I said, possibilities running through my mind. The house could use a spruce up.
Shenka unzipped her bag, tossing the top back. Charlotte's “she” ran one hand over the carefully arranged interior. I shook my head at how neat and orderly Shenka's stuff was, all folded and sorted by color and item. I sprawled on the bed and tried not to think of my little sister's absence as Shenka began removing her clothes from the case.
“Tallah was never happy with how the house looked,” she said with an eye roll. Her sister, the leader of the Hensley coven, still wasn't very happy with me. Shenka had been her second, after all. And though I hadn't poached Shenka or anything, my best friend was looking for an out from her family and I was in desperate need of a second of my own.
She'd spent the last several weeks appeasing her sister with one final bout of family time. Though Shenka didn't have the Hensley power anymore, already tied to my coven, Tallah's need to spend time with her sister was one thing I understood completely.
Hurt my heart, knowing my own sister wanted nothing to do with me.
It was nice to have Shenka with us at last. A perfect fit. It still amazed me how easily Shenka integrated into the Hayle family. Everyone loved her. And she really was an excellent second. The way she handled every single person in the coven, with kindness and a personability I lacked, made Tallah's continuing coldness worth it.
“We'll have some fun,” Shenka went on, a neat stack of folded t-shirts sliding into her drawer. With another gentle nudge of energy, she transformed the pale pink dresser into a lovely shade of apple green. “You won't recognize the place.”
I never really thought about my surroundings all that much. We'd lived here for a long time, years, way longer than we'd ever stayed in one place before. Usually some kind of magical accident would arise to force the family to uproot in the middle of the night and move. But thanks to the dulled interest of the local townsfolk due to the presence of a Sidhe Gate, and the fact the Wild Hunt of the Sidhe slept under the back yard, we were settled in rather permanently.
A change of décor might be just the thing to shake the gloom I’d been feeling about Meira’s absence in my life.
“It was lovely of Meira to let me use her room.” Shenka kept her tone light, but we both knew “let” had nothing to do with it. After the disaster on Demonicon left Meira aged and addicted to a custom-designed brand of nectar, my sister's whole personality changed. I still worried she blamed me, even though she assured me it wasn't my fault, but hers. Our relationship remained strained and I'd only seen her once since our demon grandmother, Ahbi Sanghamitra, was interred in the Seat volcano after her state funeral.
Christmas. Awkward. She spent the entire time avoiding me. I knew she was under a lot of pressure, now that Dad named her heir to the Ruler throne, but it was a lot more than her new position keeping Meira from connecting with me again. She looked so different, her trips to Demonicon aging her as much as the nectar. Meira might have been eleven, eight years younger than me, but she looked twenty.
Spooky.
I gave her the space she wanted over the holidays and hadn't seen her since. Mom's suggestion Meira attend a European school seemed like a bad idea now. The girl I'd known and loved was gone, disappeared inside an intense young woman who kept her head down and refused to even talk to our demon cat, Sassafras.
Speak of the devil, he hopped his fat cat body onto the bed and sat, curling his fluffy tail around his paws as he observed Shenka's unpacking.
“How tidy,” he said. “Syd, take notes.”
Smartass cat.
Shenka smiled. “My mother was a neat freak,” she said, using magic to float three sweaters on hangers to the walk-in closet, the metal hooks tinkling softly on the bar as they settled. “I guess I take after her.”
“Perhaps you could assist Sydlynn with her room.” Sassy's tail thrashed. “She's made a mess.”
Things had shifted around quite a bit since Shenka signed on. Charlotte, my blonde-again bodywere, once camped in Meira's room as a temporary measure, now had my old room. So odd to walk up the stairs and not turn left, but right. Into Mom's room. Mine, now. Still. As much as I loved the ensuite bathroom, knowing I no longer had to share with anyone, it creeped me out using Mom's old space for my own. But Shenka argued it was the most logical choice of living arrangements and I knew she was right.
“I haven't finished unpacking yet,” I said, swiping at Sass who swiped back with one silver paw.
“Ah,” he said, amber eyes locked on me. “So that tornado that blew through earlier wasn't your fault?”
Okay, I was a slob. Big freaking deal.
Honestly? I struggled to spend much time in there. The large walk-in still smelled like lilacs, Mom's signature perfume. And so did the bathroom, a constant reminder of the ups and downs Mom and I endured over the years. Made me feel like she watched over my shoulder.
But the worst? She left me a little present, a small bottle of lilac essence with a note:
The Hayle family is in excellent hands.
Love, Mom.
And while I appreciated the sentiment, the bottle went right into the back of a drawer.
Gram burst through the open door, breaking my train of thought, giggling like a mad woman. Well, considering she hadn't completely recovered from her seventeen years in looney land, she really was still kind of crazy.
“Welcome home!” Gram lunged, not for me, but for Shenka, hugging her tight, dancing the laughing second around in a circle before stepping back with a twinkle in her eye. Gram fished in the pocket of her sweater and pulled out—surprise, surprise—two pairs of fuzzy socks. One green, the other deep purple.
I
had no idea what Gram's obsession was with fuzzy socks, but I had about a dozen pairs myself courtesy of her. Her own fluffy foot coverings today were bright blue with yellow stripes. Maybe it had to do with the fact they kept her in stealth mode, allowing her to sneak up on people. Her favorite.
Whatever the reason, Shenka smiled with real delight—how did she do that?—and accepted the offered socks.
“Thank you so much, Ethpeal.” She sat instantly and slid her own crisp white socks from her feet, choosing the green ones, standing and wiggling her toes when she was done. “They're perfect.”
Gram hugged her again while I grinned at the two of them. Shenka and I spent every weekend since she joined the family eight months ago traveling back and forth to Wilding Springs from Harvard, and the effort had really paid off. The coven adored her and, even better, were happy and content with me for once.
Imagine.
The subtle touch of someone entering the back yard triggered an old yearning I thought I'd erased. And though I knew it wasn't Quaid who waited for me there, a sad, pining part of me wished it was.
Always would.
I left Shenka and Gram to visit and unpack, Sassafras staring at me with those penetrating amber eyes of his, as though he knew exactly what I was thinking as I walked downstairs to talk to my visitor.
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Chapter Three
Liam's arms were warm, the familiar scent of the earth mixed with fabric softener welcoming me as I exited the back door and stepped out, barefoot, into the cool grass to hug him.
I felt his lips press to the top of my head, his cheek settling against my hair as he pulled me close. Liam gave amazing hugs, whole body squeezes, which grounded and centered me. All thoughts of Quaid faded, all memories of Sage’s delicious physique, as Liam’s Sidhe power embraced me along with the strength of his arms.