***
Chapter Ten
Syd has never been one to hide how she feels, but from the fury on her face, I can tell she’s angrier than I’ve ever seen her. Erica backs off two hurried steps as the door behind me slams shut in the Enforcer’s faces. I hear them pounding on the door, their magic buffering against Syd’s while she stalks forward, totally silent for once, teeth bared, hands fisted at her sides.
Erica retreats behind her desk, shaking, eyes huge, hands up in front of her as the power of the Council holds off Syd. “How dare you barge in here,” Erica splutters.
Syd laughs. It’s not a pretty sound and I back her up by spinning past Shenka and flanking the Council Leader, keeping her pinned behind her desk, cutting off her chance of retreat. Syd ignores me, one hand rising, index finger on fire as she jabs it into Erica’s chest so hard the woman jerks back.
“You,” she says in a deathly quiet voice, “will call off your Enforcers right now,” Syd pokes her again, smoke rising from the front of Erica’s shirt, “and get them the hell out of my house,” her voice rises, louder, full of power as she grows a few inches, towering over Erica, rainbow magic in flames around her, “or I will make sure you never see the light of day again.”
Shenka holds her place, but she interrupts the silence that falls after a few heartbeats.
“Coven Leader,” she says. “Nice of you to join us.”
“I was busy,” Syd says, eyes still locked on Erica. “Sorry to take so long.”
“Not at all.” Shenka shifts her weight to one foot, an amused expression warming her face. “Though your timing is, as always, impeccable.”
Syd shrinks to her normal size and for the first time I really see why Shenka is her perfect choice for second. I love Syd, she is a sister of my heart, but her temper and the power she holds make her borderline uncontrollable, pushing her past her empathy to the edge of uncaring. Shenka’s easy manner and ability to diffuse any situation makes her invaluable. While Syd’s fury is legendary—and, in this case, justified—killing the Council Leader would likely put her on the fugitive list, too.
Erica seems to sense the shift in mood and her terror fades in favor of indignation. “How dare you threaten me.”
“I mean it, Erica,” Syd says, turning her back on the Council Leader. “Don’t screw with me. You’ll lose and you know it. Get your Enforcers out of my territory now, or I’ll report you to the World Councils. And we’ll see how well that goes over, a Council Leader blatantly breaking coven law.”
Erica’s face falls, twists into desperation. “I had no choice.”
“You always have a choice.” Syd sounds tired, meets my eyes. “Hey, Charlotte.” She gestures at the two of us. “Let’s go home and make sure the kids are still asleep.” She spins to glare at Erica. “You better hope those jackasses didn’t wake my children, or I’ll be back.”
“You can’t take her.” Erica’s show of bravery is a surprise, even to Syd.
“Considering,” Syd snaps as she takes my hand, Shenka’s in her free one, “this isn’t a North American problem, that you are, for some reason only known to you, turning another race’s issues into your own, I can do whatever the hell I want.” Syd’s magic flares around us. “Word of advice from here on in, Erica. Mind your own damned business.”
I feel the veil, now familiar to my own magic, as Syd tears it open and pulls us through. Before the seam seals shut, I hear Erica screaming after us.
“Sydlynn Hayle! You won’t get away with challenging the law forever!”
Her words echo in the dark, dying at last as we step out the other side. I stumble as we do, expecting the cold basement in Wilding Springs, shock sending shivers through me as I stare across a second desk into Femke Svennson’s surprised face. She’s clearly in the dark about this visit as I am, though Syd doesn’t allow for hesitation.
“Femke,” she says, leaning forward with her fists on the Council Leader’s desk. “We have to talk.”
Femke stands quickly, gesturing at the door behind us as the feeling of even more Enforcers crests against it. But this Council Leader isn’t desperate or afraid. Instead, she circles the desk to hug me tight, her crisp scent making me sad.
“Charlotte,” she whispers in my ear. “I’m so happy you’re all right.”
She releases me, goes to the door as Syd grabs me this time, hugs me close.
“In case you were wondering,” she grins, voice dry as she pulls away, “we were all worried about you.”
I blink away some tears, knowing my proximity to her is making me even more emotional. “I know,” I say.
“Sage is okay?” Syd takes a seat, kindly ignoring my rising tears, Shenka patting my shoulder before joining her in another. I slide to the cushion of the last as Femke finishes her whispered conversation through a crack in the door before joining us. She sits on the front of her desk, arms crossed over her chest, as she looks around at the three of us, taking in Shenka’s pajamas, Syd’s rumpled t-shirt and dirty jeans. I glance at the clock on the desk, remembering it’s five hours ahead here, and accept the glow of dawn lighting in the east with weary recognition.
“I take it there’s a story I need to hear.” Femke rises again, goes to the side of the room, pouring hot coffee from a carafe. I join her, helping pass out steaming mugs while Syd sighs happily and accepts hers.
“Just another day at the office,” she says, blue eyes sparkling.
I sit next to her, worry clenching my hands around the hot mug. “The house?” I can’t meet her eyes, guilt stinging. I’ve put the family in so much danger.
“Mom’s there,” Syd says, all casual as she sips her coffee. “And Max and a couple of his closest friends.” The drach. They will not allow anything bad to happen to the coven. I breathe a sigh of relief and finally turn my head to look at her. She leans in and touches my cheek, fingers heated from her coffee mug. “It’s covered. And Sage is safe. I promise. Erica won’t dare go near him now.”
I nod, too choked up to answer, or to tell her it wasn’t Sage I was worried about, but the kids. I should have known Syd would never leave them unprotected.
Femke’s eyes are curious behind the rim of her mug. “Trouble with my counterpart?”
I sink into the chair, resting the mug in my lap, the scent of coffee perking me almost as much as drinking it. “I have a lot to tell you.”
It takes about an hour. By the time I’m done, the sun is up, the sky bright outside Femke’s window. I stare out into the new day, watch students begin to trickle about the campus, the view of the main concourse almost hypnotic as life goes on, normal life, beyond this room.
When I’m finally done, Syd sets her mug down on Femke’s desk. “We have to see Sage,” she says.
Femke nods. “I need to examine him, Charlotte. To prove to myself he’s what you say he is.”
Even now, I hesitate, though these are my friends and I know Syd would never put us in danger.
I’ll be there, she sends, voice strong and familiar in my head. If Femke starts talking turning him over to the werewolves, I’ll take you to Meems. You’ll be safe on Demonicon.
I reach out and squeeze her hand. Thank you, I send. But you put the family first.
Syd’s mind hugs mine. You are family, she sends before she stands and nods to Femke. I join her, meeting the Council Leader’s eyes, opening my magic to her on impulse. I reach for her with my power and Femke kindly reaches back. I feel her concern, her strength and her absolute faith in me.
“I promise you,” Femke says. “I won’t make any decisions without talking it over first. All right?”
I hug her. I seem to have become rather demonstrative lately. Femke doesn’t seem to mind. And honestly, neither do I.
***
Chapter Eleven
I step out beside Syd into the basement at Wilding Springs to a larger crowd of magic beings than I was expecting. Sage rushes forward to hug me while a dozen drach hover in the background, Max standing with Quaid
and Miriam, Shenka staying out of the way. I hug my love, welcome his kiss, grateful my friends give me a moment to share a quiet reunion with him.
It’s going to be okay, he sends. I already talked to Max. His mind shivers while his body responds in kind. He’s one of the dragon things, isn’t he? Same smell.
I nod against his shoulder. He’s the leader of the drach, I say. And Syd’s good friend.
The Enforcers came back, Sage sends. But Max and Syd’s mom sent them packing.
I would have paid good money to see that confrontation. Femke needs to examine you, I send, gesturing to the tall blonde. Sage turns, his arm around my shoulders, to extend his hand to the Council Leader. She shakes it without hesitation as Sage speaks.
“Whatever you need to prove I’m not a threat,” he says. “I’m all yours.”
“Did they get in?” Syd’s pissed all over again, Quaid embracing her before shrugging.
“Briefly,” he says. “Very briefly.”
Max inclines his big head to Syd as she turns to him, still in Quaid’s arms.
“I ensured they would wait outside for you,” the drach leader says. “Their leader seemed most congenial when I assured him I would not allow him or his people to remain inside your home.” He speaks softly, with a smile in his voice, but I’ve seen Max in full drach form and know very well how frightening he and his people can be.
“I think Pender was impressed.” Miriam’s smile is dark, arms crossed elegantly over her chest, beautiful face in shadow, reminding me of a wicked witch from a fairy tale. Sometimes I forget how truly powerful and frightening these people can be when they are crossed.
Syd’s anger isn’t diminished despite Max’s assistance. She scowls at her mother before shrugging. “Excuse me,” she grumbles to everyone in general. “I have some Enforcer asses to kick out of Wilding Springs.”
She leaves, stomping up the stairs with her mother at her side, Max and his drach filing after her. The stairs groan under the weight of their feet, a column of gray-clad, diamond-eyed creatures I wouldn’t want to cross. I feel the coven gathering around the house above ground and can only guess they’ve managed to hold off the Enforcers, not drive them away. Max is too much a diplomatic soul to do anyone any real harm. I’m sure he was happy to help, but the end game has to be Syd’s.
There will be a great deal of magic thrown around tonight, I would imagine, and a lot of covering up to do, but it’s nothing this town isn’t used to. Thankfully, the residual magic left behind by the Sidhe Gate still suppresses the interest of the townsfolk in anything to do with magic. Still, something this huge can’t go unnoticed.
I should go help Syd, but I can’t bring myself to leave Sage while Femke pulls him into a quiet corner and her power engulfs him, without warning. Sassafras paws my leg, so I bend and pick him up, cuddling him to me, the scent of his white fur in my nose as he speaks in my head.
You must have pissed off Erica pretty bad, he sends. She threw everything she had at us.
I’m sorry. I stroke his tail, cradling him in the crook of one arm, but he bats at my nose, amber eyes sparkling.
Silly, he sends. Pissing off Erica to the point she breaks is an art. Good job.
I laugh. I can’t help it, though it’s a quiet, subdued sound. Thanks, Sass.
Syd arrived just as you two left, he sends. We managed to fill her in before she lost her crap. He chuckles softly. There was a time I worried about her. Still do. That temper of hers is going to get her into more trouble than she can handle one of these days.
But not today. I hug him, kiss his forehead.
The whole world seems to shudder, a giant boom echoing from the world above. I feel the house shift slightly to the left, held in place by the family magic and Shenka’s hurried reaction. Total silence falls overhead as Quaid scowls and shakes his head.
“She better not wake the kids,” he says, echoing her warning to Erica.
More laughter, this time from Shenka, Sass and I. Even Femke emerges from the blue flames to grin at him while Quaid grins back. The kitchen door slams as the pressure of power around the house eases and leaves. When Syd returns, she has only her mother and Max with her.
“Babe,” Quaid says, all casual. “All set?”
“They won’t be back,” she snaps. “Ever.”
Shenka gasps, but Miriam laughs, her lovely amusement lightening the mood further.
“What my darling daughter means,” Miriam says, “is Pender has seen the error of his ways and has taken his Enforcers—and the werewolves seeking you—elsewhere.”
I cock my head to the side, curiosity burning. “Why?”
Syd shrugs, grumpy and rumpled as Quaid spins her around and hugs her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head.
“He values coven law more than his orders,” Syd says.
“Especially when that coven law is reinforced by the holographic support of three World Council Leaders.” Miriam shakes out her dark hair, smiling in satisfaction. “Nice call. I raised you well, sweetheart.”
Syd wrinkles her nose at her mother before grinning suddenly like she’s found the funny in the whole thing. “Thanks, Mom.” Her eyes shift to Femke who steps back from Sage. My love shakes his head, hands on his temples, Femke’s fingers brushing apologetically over his cheek. She turns to us, a frown on her face.
“He feels clean,” she says. And sighs. “But I have nothing to compare him to, Charlotte. The stumbling block for me is he doesn’t feel like a real werewolf, like you. And while he feels nothing like a revenant, we both know he has to be above reproach if you are going to convince the werenation he’s safe.” She drops her hands to her sides with an apologetic sigh. “We both know there is nothing empty or soulless about Sage. But any hint of difference could be used against his case as reason to have him killed, simply from the old, ingrained fears of your race.”
I understand what she’s saying. “He’s not a revenant, but unless we can prove he’s a real werewolf, the law can be manipulated.”
She nods. “I fear that’s the case.”
Sage comes to my side. I set Sassafras on the ground and take Sage’s offered hand, his face sad, sea-green eyes full of love for me. “We can’t run forever, Charlie. Maybe we need to face this down and take our chances.”
I bite my lower lip while Syd’s mind touches mine.
Demonicon waits, she sends.
But I can’t live like that, as a creature on another plane. Sage is right. We have to try, at least. With Syd as a last resort. I touch his face, feel his wolf—feel him—all one entity. And hear mine chuff softly in regret.
The moment the memory of his suggestion crosses my mind, I shudder from it, only to pull myself back. As I stare into Sage’s eyes, the repulsion of the plan fades, strengthening in conviction, until my heart is pounding with the need to see if it will work.
I turn to Femke as concern crosses my love’s face, his hands reaching for me. “You said you have nothing to compare him to,” I say. “What if you did?”
Sage doesn’t speak, or argue, as Femke frowns at me. “I don’t understand.”
I spread my hands in front of me, looking down at them, picturing paws. Real paws, not the wereclaws I’m used to, but the slim shape of a wolf’s. “We are taught allowing ourselves to shift to full wolf form is dangerous,” I say. “That we will lose our humanity to the form, become true wolves, lost to the creature we carry within. I’ve never done so before, for that reason.”
Femke nods. “It’s in the file,” she says, flushing a little. Her and her precious files. It makes me wonder what else she knows about us, but there will be time to investigate later.
“If I’ve learned anything from this experience,” I say, “it’s that everything has changed.” I meet Syd’s worried eyes. “Since you freed us, we’ve been following the same laws, the same rules that governed us from the beginning. But we are more than the Black Souls made us. We have moved past the controls they placed on werewolves. W
e are no longer restricted to the ways of our teachings. And Sage is proof of that.”
No one speaks as I step back, pulling at my t-shirt, reaching for my wolf. “I’ve felt all along, since I gained control of my magic, something is missing.” My wolf chuffs at me, sounding eager, and I welcome her agreement. “That a final block holds me back from fully attaining my potential, the last of the controls not, perhaps, created by power, but by superstition and corrupted belief.” My t-shirt hits the floor, body already morphing toward wereshape. My claws make short work of the zipper on my jeans, the fabric falling to the concrete as my legs shift, back hinged, paws slipping out of my shoes. I step out onto the basement floor, inside the pentagram, in my underwear and blonde fur, though I know the last of my clothing, too, will fall free of me if I succeed. “And I believe that block comes from my failure to embrace my true shape. It’s time to find out if the Black Souls lied about this, as they did everything else.”
“Charlotte.” Syd’s voice is full of concern, but she doesn’t try to stop me. “Are you sure?”
I nod, my ears perking forward as the wolf in me waits calmly for me to act, fear vanishing as I meet Sage’s eyes and finally let go of the teachings holding me back. “I’ve never been so sure of anything.”
***
Chapter Twelve
I turn within, feeling Sage’s steady presence beside me. He’s already shifting, his own clothes discarded, body melting from human to wolf so fluidly jealous pangs trouble me. Now, more than ever, I believe he is what I’m meant to be. I’ve spent the last week and a half fearful he would become something to revile and despise, only to be shocked by his final transformation and the perfection of his power.
His magic hovers beside me, not intruding, but firm and ready to support me if I need it. The others back away, watching, Sassafras’s tail beating a steady time as he glares with a cat’s intensity. Syd is doing her best to hide her worry. The only person who seems calm is Max. He watches with his diamond eyes as I allow my wolf to take me to wereform.
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