by Patti Larsen
The Undying
Book Sixteen of the Hayle Coven Novels
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.valeriebellamy.com/
Edited by Annetta Ribken, freelance Goddess. You can find her at http://www.wordwebbing.com/
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Chapter One
The sound of giggling witches filled my back yard. Giggling. And not young witches, either. The Lawrence twins twittered beside Talee Happern while Mary Gripper gossiped over her baby son, Alex, and how he was keeping her awake most nights.
I did my best to plaster on a smile, hoping it didn't look like a grimace, wishing I was back at the gym. I'd doubled my efforts since the run-in with the Brotherhood, the twinge in my shoulder where Liander Belaisle shot me a reminder of just how serious things had become.
Deadly serious. Like almost losing Charlotte serious. The weregirl kept her distance, watching from outside the party, eyes locked on me at all times. And though she was as protective as ever—worse, sometimes, it seemed—I sensed something was wrong with her. The way she flinched when I asked her a question or the way her blue eyes would fill with almost desperate anxiety.
She'd been shot herself, at the doorway to death, only the wolf inside her clinging to life, the ego of her wereside trying to hold her back. And I'd let her go, to choose life or death despite knowing I could have brought her back, maybe made things easier for her.
I tried not to feel guilty about abandoning her to make her own decision as I smiled wider, a glass of punch clutched in my hand as I made my way through the group of laughing women. She'd come back, by choice, my Charlotte. But she hadn't been the same since.
Near death would do that to a body, I guess.
Everyone I passed smiled at me, though no one tried to stop me, thank the elements. It freaked me out, to be honest, the way they looked at me. I tried to convince myself it wasn't awe, wonder on their faces.
A little full of ourselves these days. Gram's mental voice cackled in my head. I was about to protest when she slapped my mind with her magic. You should be. You deserve it. As long as you don't let it screw you up when it counts.
I glared at her over a gaggle of gray-haired witches. Gram just wiggled her fingers at me in a wave and flashed her teeth.
So unhelpful.
I could have been at the gym. Working out. With Sage. Okay, so being with Sage was higher on my to-do list than working out, though learning to fight was a close second.
I think I impressed him, too, when I came back from my brush with the Council sporting a new attitude.
“Kick my ass,” I told him. “I need to learn how to kick yours.”
Sage just nodded, smiled. And gave me the worst beating of my life. Not hard enough to leave bruises. Well, not many. But embarrassing enough I was ready to crawl in a hole and never come out.
By the time he crouched over my prone, groaning body lying on the mat, I was ready to quit.
“How was that?” Sage's smile was the same as ever, pulling against his lips, the bit of scruff on his wide jaw darkening at the cleft in his chin while his sea-green eyes laughed at me.
Laughed. At. Me.
Oh hell no.
I punched him right in that beautiful nose of his, sending him back onto his own butt with a shocked look on his face.
Didn't last long. The smile came back ten times as bright.
“You'll do,” he said.
“I'm done.” I collapsed, all out of everything.
Sage stretched out next to me, waist dipping as he rolled on his side, big shoulders looming over me, cheek in his hand. “You didn't give up,” he said softly. “You were down, I came in to gloat and you took your shot.”
Story of my life. “Are you okay?”
He touched his nose with his glove and shrugged. “You hit like a girl.” Winked.
Laughing hurt. But he was right.
A Hayle family trait. No matter how far we fell, we saved up enough strength to take the last hit.
Things progressed much better from there, though I still lost every bout. I felt myself growing stronger, though, as I side-stepped two laughing girls, a jab of pain in my obliques from a blow Sage landed earlier reminded me I still had a lot to learn. One of these days I'd win.
Couldn't wait.
At least getting my butt thrashed by a deliciously handsome and very sweet guy almost every day helped me to forget my boy troubles somewhat. Sage was a casual relationship, could never go beyond that, and I knew it. Without magic, not even latent, all Sage and I could ever really be were friends. And I was okay with that.
Friends I could handle. Boyfriends? Yeah, not so much.
Sashenka Hensley waved from the refreshment table, dark skin glowing in the light of the setting sun. This garden party was her idea. Naturally. As my second, she took her new role very seriously, doing everything she could to bring the family closer together. They adored her completely, down to the last member. While they looked at me like I might suddenly explode all over them, they turned to Shenka as though they could tell her anything.
The stress of the Brotherhood attack on the Dumonts this past spring took a toll on all witches, but our coven was stronger and more confident than ever, mostly thanks to Shenka. I knew word got around to everyone about my part in the mess, and I overheard family members talking about it from time to time.
It made me uncomfortable, the way they talked about me, as bad as their awed staring. Like I was special. Unreachable. Undefeatable. I just hoped their faith in me wasn't unfounded. Even though I'd been able to muddle through so far, I had no doubt the worst was yet to come.
So weird, really, considering just a few short years ago they all accused me of being the downfall of the Hayle family. Of putting our coven at risk for no reason. And while I totally understood their previous opinions, since I'd been a bit of a brat and fought my destiny, this new hero worship they threw at me every time I came near felt worse.
I struggled with feeling alone for a long time, ever since I was young. I wasn't, not really. Would never be, not with three hitchhiking souls in my head. But the more the coven put me on their little magic pedestal, the more nervous I became.
I never wanted to let them down.
Smile. Shenka's lips widened at me, dark eyes reflecting the sunset. You look like you're going to your own funeral.
Oops. Guess my smile slipped. I tried again only to have Shenka laugh in my head.
Okay, she sent, no smiling. Unless someone is torturing you with magic to put that expression on your face.
No, I sent back, a real smile rising, but I'm being tortured, all right.
She laughed out loud to something one of the ladies said to her. We're almost done, she sent. Thanks for being a good sport.
Silly, I sent. This was a great idea. Sigh. I just wish I was as good at it as you are.
You have more important things to worry about. Shenka met my eyes. Let me take care of the family.
Now you know why it's so important to have a second. Gram's mind touched us both. One you can trust. And why I pushed your ass to find one.
>
Bossy. Yeah, yeah, I sent. I paused to steady Tara, Talee's demon daughter, who hugged me quickly after almost falling as she fled from some of the other girls in a game of tag before tearing off with peals of laughter. You were right. You always are. Happy?
Very. I looked up and into Gram's face. She'd approached without me noticing, standing in my space, nose almost touching mine. Very happy, girl. Because I know now, no matter what, you have everything you need.
I hugged her while she grunted before hugging me back. “Smartass grandmother,” I whispered.
She kissed my cheek with a wet smack before twisting out of my grip and flouncing off with her fuzzy socked feet dancing over the grass.
Despite her happy air, why did those words feel ominous?
***
Chapter Two
I took a vacant seat and sipped at my water, just for something to occupy me. I felt the fine chain slide over my collarbone and I reached up to grasp the pentagram pendant Mom gave me as a gift years ago. I'd only taken to wearing it in the past few years, knowing now it held a part of her power in it. Power meant to protect me and bind me to the family. Even though she wasn't officially a Hayle witch anymore, the magic remained true to the coven.
Thinking about Mom made me sad. We hadn't talked, not really, since my release from custody. I'd tried to see her a few times, but she refused. Any attempt to reach for her with power was firmly blocked. She'd made it very clear to me she couldn't be on my side anymore. The Council magic changed her, pushed her to the brink, forcing her to do its will instead of the other way around. Mom's deterioration was a clear indication, her premature aging and total change of personality frightening in its totality. I wished I could convince her to step down, but the thought of another witch being in her position, one not strong enough to wrangle so much magic, so much pressure, made me shake my head.
It was Mom's choice. And though I disagreed with her attitude, I understood. She couldn't save me anymore. Which meant the next time I stepped over the line, I was going to the stake.
Wow, great party ponderings, Syd.
The whole group of witches fell quiet, hushed suddenly, and I had to push up walls around me before they started to smile and chatter again. I knew my state of mind affected them through my control of the family magic, but it was hard sometimes to keep it to myself.
Right. Happy thoughts.
Which, oddly, made me think of Liam. Because there was nothing really happy between Liam and me these days. Not while his helicopter mom kept the two of us apart. I'd broken off our relationship—what little there had been thanks to Sonja O’Dane’s constant need to be with Liam—before my Beltane birthday. He'd been moping and quiet ever since.
From what the black hound, Galleytrot, told me, Liam now spent most of his time in the Sidhe cavern archive, lost in books, while his mother sat with him.
Just a sad state of affairs. And while I adored Liam, loved him, I hated his mother and wished she would d—
Syd.
Bad, bad, Syd.
Another sip of water did nothing against the sudden bitterness in my mouth. Sucked. All of it. Because the guy I really wanted, the one I knew I could spend my life with, I couldn't have.
Speaking of tall, dark and scrumptious, Quaid hadn't been in touch lately either. He was my pipeline for Council and other coven information, but I hadn't heard from him in the last week or so. I took it as good news.
Had no choice.
“It's so exciting, isn't it?” I looked up, actually speechless as Penelope Anders turned and reached out to gently touch the back of my hand. Her silver hair was tinted faintly blue, brown eyes watery behind her round glasses as her lace glove scratched over my skin.
“It is?” The seat I'd taken put me beside her, but now a few of the other ladies pulled theirs around to make a little half circle with me on the end. I met their eyes, smiling, hoping it was a good smile and not the one Shenka laughed about. Rodrigua Pernicus sipped noisily from her sherry glass, wrinkled cheeks pink, small body squeezed into an antique-looking suit, a small box hat perched on her rock-hard hair.
“It certainly is.” The ladies giggled. So much giggling. I didn't know if I could stand it. “I never thought I'd live to see another coven leader come of age.”
They all nodded sagely while I sat forward in my chair, ready to bolt. They were sweet, but I sucked at small talk.
“Now tell us, dear,” Penelope said, voice a gasping whisper the whole yard could hear, “have you made any choices yet? Narrowed down the field, as it were?”
Okay, I clearly missed most of the conversation and now looked like an idiot. “Not sure,” I said, dragging out both words as I struggled to figure out what they were talking about.
“I like that handsome Gatekeeper you've been out and about with.” Rodrigua tittered over her sherry while Talee Happern leaned in and saved me.
“He's adorable.” She winked at me, a flash of amber fire showing in her eyes before they reverted fully back to normal. “I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crackers.”
The ladies laughed and slapped each other's knees while I rolled my eyes at Talee. At least my family was well adjusted enough they’d accepted the demon woman and her brood with little complaint. More than that, adopted the Happerns as though they’d always been in the coven despite the fact Talee and her two kids were demon kind and her husband a normal. Penelope snorted as she gasped for air before catching her breath. “Well, there are also lots of handsome young witches out there. Take that dashing, young Quaid.”
I'd like to. Hey, wait a second. The gleam in the old lady's eye was ew worthy.
Just ew.
“Syd still has some time to decide.” Rodrigua clearly wasn't one of those witches who could handle her liquor. Every witch reacted differently to alcohol. She glowed decidedly red in the nose and cheeks and swayed in her seat, though she clutched at the half-empty glass as though it kept her upright.
Decide?
I looked up as Gram joined us, meeting her faded blue eyes, her gaze sharp and careful.
Excuse me. My love life was none of their business, thanks.
“It's a big choice.” Rodrigua hiccupped into one fist. “But you only have less than a year. I hope you'll let us know well before you choose so we can get to know him first.”
More sage nods. Knowing stares. Expectation.
Of what?
A terrible, tight knot formed in my stomach as I realized they weren't kidding.
No, actually, they were absolutely serious.
“Of course you'll have the wedding here.” Penelope clapped her white-lace gloved hands together, holding them clasped under the jowls of her chin, eyes rolled skyward. “What a gorgeous ceremony you had for Frank and that dear vampire wife of his.”
Gulp.
Wedding?
What the h—
All the blood rushed from my upper body, pooling in my legs as the world went briefly dim.
“What are you talking about?” The whisper barely made it past my lips. But I knew it did, because they all looked surprised. All but Gram, who sighed and sagged, shaking her head, muttering under her breath.
“Why, everyone knows,” Penelope said, happy expression fading, worry rising. I felt someone sink down beside me, a hand on my arm as the old witch went on. “You're a coven leader. Which means, by law, you must wed by your twenty-first birthday.”
***
Chapter Three
I gaped. For a long, awkward, uncomfortable moment that became more awkward and uncomfortable by the heartbeat. But I simply couldn't.
Couldn't.
Comprehend—
Wedding?
Damn it, girl, Gram's mind snapped in mine. You knew this.
I looked up at her. What?
Gram hesitated, face falling. Didn't you?
Oh. My. Freaking. Swearword.
Shenka's voice broke the stillness, though I didn't hear a word she said. Before I knew it, she pulled m
e to my feet, the happy, kind tone of her voice telling me she'd smoothed things over, though the shocked looks on the watching witch's faces had to reflect my own.
Wedding?
“Syd.” Shenka pulled me behind one of the large trees on the border of our property and the park, one hand tight on my arm, a smile plastered on her face, a positive mask for the outside world while her magic wrapped me in a hug. “You didn't know?”
Splutter. “What the hell?” Still trying to pull myself together over here. “What the freaking hell?”
“It's a really old law,” Shenka said, voice low and soothing as my demon snarled her unhappiness and Shaylee huffed. How dare anyone tell us to do anything of the sort? Like I was supposed to know who I wanted to spend my life with at twenty-freaking-one?
“That's nice,” I snarled even as my vampire tried to calm me down. Calm. Right. While my anger finally woke up and reacted to the news.
Um. Overreacted.
“Every girl knows.” Shenka's power kept hugging me. “It's common knowledge.”
I lashed out at Gram. I didn't want to be a witch when I was a little girl, I shot at her. Did I?
Gram's magic slammed me back. Suck it up, buttercup, she snarled.
Not this time. “There has to be something I can do.” Anger traded off with desperation as my head swam so fast I had to clutch the tree trunk to keep from falling.
Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle. Sassafras's cold mental voice jabbed me as my silver Persian added his two cents. I looked up at the poke, caught sight of him curled up in Tara's lap, accepting her petting even as his amber eyes flared at me. Clearly, the discussions we had when you were a girl went right over your head. Or through the empty space between your ears. But you're a coven leader now and you have to belly up.
Or else what? I pushed away from the tree, hands shaking, anger back with a vengeance.
Or step down, he sent. Pick one.