by Patti Larsen
Chapter Fourteen
I sat there for what felt like forever after Willa left, staring at Mom as though doing so might change what we’d learned. “Tell me again what the hell happened?”
My mother’s mournful expression didn’t alter, though her set jaw told me she was about as happy at this turn of events as I was.
“I don’t know what Erica was thinking,” Mom said. “But we’re in serious trouble, Syd. All witches.”
My knees popped as I surged to my feet, anger fired and ready to fly. “We’re going back in there,” I snarled at Mom, “and we’re wringing necks until there’s some sense in that damned room.”
She stood as quickly, hand on my arm, holding me back with her grip and her steady gaze. “We can’t,” she said, ever so softly. “It’s the law.”
I snorted. Like that ever stopped me before. “We’re not part of the Council anymore.”
“Even more reason to steer clear,” Mom said. “Any infraction against them means we’re encroaching on territory. We could be burned just for talking about it.”
“What about the werewolves, vampires?” Were they the next targets?
Mom’s mute unhappiness answered me all too well.
“Syd,” she said at last, her worry and fear and hurt in her eyes, “Willa might have been right about one thing.” She swallowed, almost looked away, blinking a few times as moisture rose to glitter from the blue of her gaze. “There are times when we simply must put ourselves first.”
Mom did not just say that.
And yet…
Damn it.
“The family.” They were my responsibility. I had to do everything I could to protect them, even more now. “You’re right, Mom. I know. It’s just… how can we walk away?”
Mom’s face creased in a frown, deep line between her eyes reminding me she was getting older. “It’s a hard choice,” she said, voice stronger, full of decisiveness and other such powerful emotions I couldn’t muster just yet. “But, in the end, it’s no choice at all. Syd.” Her grip on my arm tightened. “You’re so used to saving everyone, to being the salvation of the Universe, you forget sometimes about the little things.” I could tell it wasn’t an accusation. Just the truth. “But there are fights even you can’t win.”
“Maybe,” I growled. “Not right away. But I won’t let the Brotherhood ruin everything, Mom. Or kill witches on a whim.”
She nodded, let me go, touched my cheek with the same hand, her fingers steady. “Nor will I,” she said, and I pitied Erica the next time Mom met her face-to-face. She’d been Council Leader herself, once, after all. Surely this must feel like the greatest betrayal of all. Or a reminder of Mom’s time in the thrall of the sorcerer’s sect. Not sure which was worse. “But we must ensure the family is safe first.”
I drew a deep breath. “What about the other covens?” I couldn’t just let them fend for themselves, could I? The steady, knowing look on Mom’s face forced me to be realistic.
And sigh, chest aching. I couldn’t save them all, maji or not. At least, not without help. And running off half-cocked wasn’t my style anymore. I used to be highly temperamental, once upon a time. Okay, stop giggling. Seriously, I’d mellowed somewhat with experience and time. But nothing could cool the need I felt to act, to seize control of the situation and make it right.
“You can expend all of your energy running around the continent trying to save everyone,” Charlotte said. “Or you can focus on the source of the illness and excise it.”
Big picture. Got it.
“Family first,” I said as I followed Mom toward the exit, grim faced Charlotte on my heels. “Then we come back and kick some ass.”
The veil embraced me as always, whatever barrier Belaisle had tried to use to contain me now broken. I hoped that meant Charlotte and Sage would be able to ride again. Having three of us who could travel this way could be an advantage. Just as soon as I figured out if we actually had a plan or not.
Details, details.
The cavern’s cool semi-darkness greeted us, murmurs of anxious witches watching our return. The smothering effect of the wards quieted my elemental power, but when I pushed against it, I realized just how frail the wards really were. One firm shove and my maji magic could break the shielding at any time. Interesting, but a discovery to be investigated later.
Mom was already talking with Dad and Quaid, Shenka tucked in close to them with Sassafras at her feet. Sage hung back, eyes locked on Charlotte and I wasn’t surprised she went right to his side and hugged him.
Quaid pulled me against him as Mom repeated what she’d told me, filling in our little group on what was happening. Shenka’s trembling hands covered her mouth, eyes brimming with tears.
“I have to help Tallah.” The words gasped out of her as though she didn’t intend to speak out loud. But I nodded to her, reaching out to take her hand as she dropped both of them to her sides.
“Family,” I said, all that I needed to say.
“We’ll go with you.” Sage nodded as Charlotte made the offer, and I wondered if they’d made this plan before now. Shenka shook her head, eyes locking with mine.
“I can’t leave the coven.” Her hands wrung before her, so torn up by her need I left Quaid to embrace her.
“Go get Tallah,” I said, the family magic hugging her, too. “Bring her and her coven here. We’ll all fight this together.” It put the family at risk, my offer. There was a chance any excessive coming and going would alert Belaisle to our location. But I couldn’t abandon Tallah and her family. I loved Shenka too much. Besides, if the Brotherhood leader did show his ugly face anywhere near me, it would give me the opportunity to make sure he never, ever did so again.
Shenka sobbed softly, nodded. “Syd, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been so sure.” I pushed her gently toward Charlotte who caught her and pulled her close. Keep her safe.
As if she were you. Charlotte’s free hand locked with Sage’s as she turned and opened a cut in the veil. I felt inside it, relief rising.
You should be okay, I sent.
I assumed as much. Charlotte’s blue eyes sparkled, though her face remained as stoic as ever. We will see you soon. Be prepared for refugees.
It hurt to watch them go, my pajama clad second, the two werewolves I loved. But I knew they had to. And this was the only means I had to help other covens.
I turned away before the slice sealed shut, focusing on Mom and Dad and Quaid, Sassafras now perched on my husband’s big hands, watching me with intense amber eyes.
“What are we going to tell the coven?” Quaid kept his voice down, dark eyes hooded and serious.
“Nothing, for now,” I said. No one protested. “No panic, at least, no further panic. Agreed?” They all nodded. “At least until we have a plan to share. A way to make this right.”
“If we can.” Sassafras’s ears drooped. “How could Erica have done such a thing?”
Mom’s anger returned in a flare of blue fire that cascaded from her hand as she fisted it before her, falling in sparks to her feet. “It doesn’t matter anymore,” Mom said. “Our only job, at this moment, is finding a safe refuge for the family.” She looked around, one eyebrow raised. “While a good temporary shelter, this won’t do us for much longer.”
Where was safe? Impossible to tell. “What about one of the other territories?” I knew Femke would likely help out.
“If they aren’t compromised,” Dad said, regret in his voice at the speaking of such a mind blowing idea. “How do we know the other leaders haven’t signed similar agreements?”
I stared at him as I’d stared at Mom, certain I didn’t understand the words that just left his mouth. Not Femke.
I couldn’t believe that.
And yet.
“We need allies,” I said. “Someone outside this mess.” I already knew who I was going to call. “Then money. Then a safe haven to hide the family. Agreed?”
More nods.
“Give me
a second.” I stepped away from them, mind reaching through the veil, searching for one individual in particular. If I had the backing of the drach, I could at least worry less the Brotherhood would find and harm the family. I knew Max would offer his support.
Hoped he would. I’d been down this road with him before, hadn’t I? When I needed him most? Fate forced him to hold me back, to keep me from my dying husband, Liam, when Ameline Benoit killed him before my eyes. There was a time I thought I’d never forgive Max for what he’d done, though I came to understand he had no choice, as I’d had no choice.
And even though the two of us had been allies and friends for many years now, I still harbored a tiny seed of fear he might, one day, be forced to turn his back on me again.
I wasn’t sure if I had it in me to forgive him the second time.
But when I reached for Max, I found nothing. The veil felt empty, the spaces between planes quiet and solemn. There were times inside I thought I knew what it was like to go to church, to feel as humans with religious convictions felt, the sacred silence of a place where everything and anything was possible. I searched for several minutes, pushing my limits and the blanket of shielding trying to block my power, until I finally gave up and retreated.
No Max. Where could he be? One way to find out. My demon chuffed softly as I tugged at the veil, focused once more on my sister.
Her reaction this time, as I waved at her wearily through the slice in the membrane between planes, was a shriek and tears as she threw herself toward me, tall, strong demon body and huge, platform boots giving her a good foot over me. She crushed me against her chest, holding me so tight I gasped for air.
She released me, lunged for Mom, then Dad. It was odd to see her stand next to him, taller than he was now he had mortal form and had given up his demon power. Meira snatched Sassafras from Quaid, bending to kiss my husband’s cheek before turning toward me again.
“What the bloody freaking hell happened?” She shook, long, curly hair trembling around her, the hem of her silver gauze skirt rattling. Her thick, black nails dug into Sass’s fur as she clung to him, cheeks wet and shining with her tears. “I’ve been trying to reach you for two days!”
I shook my head, impatient suddenly, tired of talking and wanting to act. “Long story,” I snapped without meaning to. “Where is Mabel?” The drach woman had given up traveling with Max, mostly, spending the majority of her time with Meira in Ostrogotho. Our great-great-never-mind-counting grandmother rarely left my sister’s side.
Meira’s eyes flew wide. “She’s gone,” she said. “Almost two days ago. Vanished without a word.” Her shaking stopped, face stony. “What happened to the drach?”
“I have no idea,” I said. “But I need them. We need them.” I gestured around me, caught Meira’s frown, gasp of surprise, growing anger.
“Long story or not,” she snarled back, “you’d better start talking.”
Mom took over, thank goodness. Neither Meira nor I were angry with each other. But she had the temper of a demon and we were both afraid. That always brought out the worst—and the best—in me. Thing was, if I wanted the best, I needed a target and a clear field of sight.
And I had neither right now.
Meira growled some curses when Mom finished. “Give me half a day,” she said, “and I’ll have every demon with an effigy on your plane ready and waiting to come and do some damage to the Brotherhood.”
“You know that won’t work.” I bit my tongue, sighed out my anger. “Sorry, Meems, but it’s true.”
She sagged, Sassafras’s soft purring the only sound in the quiet. I recognized then the whole coven was watching, listening. With hope? Maybe. I had to tell them something, after all.
“We’ve been working on sorcery control,” she said. “I’m sure we can make a difference if you’ll let us.”
“What we really need,” Mom said, interrupting with her typical Miriam Hayle calm and poise, “is a safe place for the family, out of the control of the Brotherhood.”
We all stared at each other, our minds clearly turning over as we desperately tried to come up with something. But the only places I could think of were either potentially under threat, or off plane and inaccessible to the family. Without demon blood, for example, the coven couldn’t cross to Demonicon. Without Sidhe souls, they couldn’t go to the realm. And most of the other planes were the same. If I could have shared my maji power with them, my drach blood, I would have. Just to get them out of here.
“Keep me posted.” Meira turned toward the gap in the veil, the suns setting over her capital city. “I’ll start assembling my people, just in case you need us.”
Mom hugged her, Dad, too, Quaid taking Sassafras back from her. I squeezed her hard, not wanting to let go.
Sorry to be a crabapple, she sent.
Same here. Thanks for the offer. We just might take it.
Meira blinked back more tears. I can’t just leave you here. Her desperate anguish broke my heart.
Go home, I sent. We’ll work this out.
She left at last, the gap sealing behind her. And I turned, to find the whole coven had risen as a body, come to stand in a semi-circle around us, from the oldest to the tiniest babe, eyes locked on me with hope shattered.
“There was no escape that way,” I said. It was hard not to touch their magic as I always did, forced to rely on words and not the pressure of the coven’s power. “But I promise you, all of you, we will be okay.” Their pinched faces eased slightly. They trusted me still. But for how long? There was a time they didn’t believe in me at all. Hopefully I’d given them enough proof of my commitment to them they wouldn’t fall apart before I figured this out. “If it takes every ounce of power I have, I will keep you safe.”
Their tentative smiles, hesitant nods, eased my mind. But not my heart.
I had to do something. And fast.
***
Chapter Fifteen
I took a step toward Quaid, ready to go back to the house and fetch the cache of money, when the ground under my feet began to shake. Galleytrot’s howl jerked me to a halt at the same instant. I stared as he began to glow with faint green magic, eyes flaring with red fire. Ethie and Gabriel lurched awake where he’d lain beside them, eyes wide and staring. I rushed toward them, Quaid and my parents on my heels, as the great hound began to grow.
“Syd!” His huge voice like a spring thunderstorm boomed through the cavern. “The Wild Hunt is waking.”
Damn it, now? Perfect freaking timing.
I gathered Ethie into my arms, Quaid releasing my silver Persian to hoist Gabriel as Mom and Dad hovered next to us. Sassafras scampered to me to sit on my feet, tail thrashing.
“Do something.” He looked up at me, amber eyes sparking with magic.
I gritted my teeth, reaching deep beneath me to touch the Wild Hunt. “I can’t,” I said, hating it was true as Shaylee struggled to soothe and calm the trapped spirit of her love and his enchanted hunters. “The move was too much, the smothering of power broke the tether. They’re rising.”
Galleytrot howled again, the black hound reaching massive height, shoulders arching up toward the perma light.
I promised them, Gwynn and his people. I said they could sleep, safe and protected, in my back yard. And I failed them. There was no way I was going to let them tear this place apart, my family unprotected. Or, once risen, leave the Wild Hunt vulnerable to possible use and control under the Brotherhood. Belaisle would be invincible with all that magic at his control.
There had to be another way.
One, Shaylee sent, hesitant. If they will agree.
And it was she who reached for the veil this time, who opened the way. To the Sidhe realm.
The scene before me gave me hope and a further dash of anxiety. The worry was born from the dead, flat look on the queen of the Seelie’s face. Aoilainn still blamed me for the loss of her daughter, though it was she who had her put to death on false pretenses. But my surge of maybe this might wo
rk rose from the way Odhran, king of the Unseelie and Aoilainn’s counterpart, met my eyes with his.
“Sydlynn Hayle,” he said in his deep voice, the waves of the ocean crashing against a rocky shoreline, dark brow heavy over his eyes. “You have need?”
How did he know? “Here’s the deal,” I said, abandoning any and all attempt to be formal. That would take time, the flowery, double talk of the Sidhe just too much for me to handle right now. “The Brotherhood control the North American territory—and maybe the whole plane. I had to move our family to save them. And the Wild Hunt is rising.” Both monarchs blinked at me. “Too fast for you?”
Odhran’s scowl wasn’t aimed at me. “How can we assist?”
Aoilainn glanced sideways at him, but didn’t make the same offer. Screw her. Shaylee’s mom was a bitch and always would be.
Agreed, Shaylee sighed in my head. But we need her if this is to work. Allow me. I felt her gently nudge me aside and let her do so, though I cast a quick glance at Galleytrot, who had stopped growing and stood, panting, over the cowering coven.
“Mother,” Shaylee said, “dear Odhran. The time of the Wild Hunt must end.”
She said what? That was possible?
Aoilainn’s brow quirked, a tiny frown in her perfection. The ground beneath me heaved at the same moment, making me stumble. We had minutes, if that. She must have seen it. And yet, the Seelie queen simply shrugged.
“They were created to cleanse that plane,” she said, cool and precise. “When the time of the humans was done and we could again reclaim our original home.”
Odhran nodded slowly, though he seemed far more concerned. “Aoilainn is correct,” he said.
They couldn’t be serious. “Listen up,” I snapped, shoving Shaylee aside. “Your little plan to take back this plane is how freaking old now?” Neither commented. “Does it really look like we’re going away any time soon?” I snapped my fingers at them. “Either disband the Wild Hunt or I send them through after you.”
I’d never threatened Odhran before, and didn’t really want to. We’d been allies pretty much since the first time he tried to intimidate me. But, damn it, my family was locked in this cavern with the Wild Hunt about to rise and I would not expose them by making them leave.