Steam Union

by Patti Larsen

  Steam Union

  Book Two of the Hayle Coven Destinies

  Patti Larsen

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2014 by Patti Larsen

  Find out more about Patti Larsen at

  http://www.pattilarsen.com/

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  http://smarturl.it/PattiLarsenEmail

  Purely Paranormal Press

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  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.

  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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  Copy edits by Jessica Bufkin.

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  Chapter One

  I shifted uncomfortably in the wobbly folding chair, doing my best to keep the polite smile on my face though my lips and cheeks ached from it. Shenka hustled around the basement making last-minute adjustments, and I wished she’d just come sit down next to me already.

  Bad enough I had over fifty witches staring at me, waiting for me to say something. I could use the support.

  The space was better lit than usual, my chair on the edge of the pentagram, witches from covens all around North America crowded into the area in a rough circle, packed in layers of bodies. My toe scuffed over the painted white line, eyes roving over the old lamps Shenka dug out of the mess and set up to cast pale yellow light around the basement. We usually made due with the single bulb over the center of the room, and I found I kind of missed the shadows. This much brilliance seemed to dim the wonder I always held for this place, making it feel chintzy, somehow, almost like a carnival sideshow instead of the base of my family’s magic.

  So many memories down here. They crowded around me almost as much as the anxious, waiting witches. Of discomfort, unhappiness at first, sneaking my nutjob grandmother sweets to keep her quiet during coven rituals, welcoming Dad from his home plane, Demonicon, to ours. The anguish of forcing myself to use magic as a teenager though it often made me ill. Uncovering the truth of who I was, taking over my coven after freeing Gram’s power from where she’d hidden it inside me.

  The years pressed down on my shoulders, made me feel old suddenly. A funny concept for a woman who would supposedly live forever. I had no idea what old really was. And yet, sitting here with my hands fidgeting in my lap, tension mounting with the scrutiny of my witch peers, I felt every single second of my existence like a weight on my heart.

  I knew why they were here, in Wilding Springs, in my basement. Why all the coven leaders—or, the majority of them, anyway—and their seconds perched with eager worry, arriving in pairs and quartets without notice until my basement was flooded with them and their nervous magic.

  Thank goodness for Shenka. As she finally settled beside me, her own smile easy, more practiced than mine, I reached out and squeezed her hand in thanks before drawing a breath to speak. No idea what I was going to say. But I had to say something.

  “I can guess why you’ve come.” They bobbed their heads at me, pressure of their intense focus increasing. I shifted under the stress and went on. “Our people have suffered terrible losses and we’re still afraid.”

  “We have the right to be.” Karyn Barrett, new leader of the Barrett coven, nodded sharply, her dark hair in a tight ponytail, her thick, blonde bangs wavering over her hazel eyes. The first time we’d met had been under terrible circumstances, at the Stronghold, just after Lula and Phon Kennecott helped rescue what remained of her coven. “And no offense to the new Council, but we’re not seeing a whole lot of progress to guarantee our safety.”

  Murmurs and more nods.

  You need to cut this off at the pass. A silver ball of fluff wound his way through the chairs, accepting affectionate pats and full body strokes before coming to my side. The big Persian leaped into my lap, curling his thick tail around his paws, amber eyes scanning the crowd. The last thing we need is someone suggesting mutiny against the Council.

  I know that, I sent, testy with Sassafras. The demon in the body of the cat purred softly, easing my tension a hair.

  And I know you do, he sent, much more gently. This is a tricky bit of business, Syd.

  Tell me about it. “I know the Council is working hard to find ways to protect us,” I said out loud to the waiting witches. “But Liander Belaisle and his Brotherhood have gone underground again. We all know how hard it is to uncover sorcerers when they don’t want to be found.”

  After the havoc he’d wreaked against our territory, killing off over a third of the witch population and stealing not only their family power, but that of the Council, Belaisle had more than enough to answer for. And that was just this time around. I had older hurts to lay at his feet.

  “So they say,” Tallah Hensley spoke up. Shenka’s sister was thinner than the last time I saw her, leaned out face hardened, posture stiff. My second twitched next to me. Shenka had only just returned to my side after spending four weeks assisting her sister in rebuilding the Hensley coven in California. The last fourteen days Shenka had been home felt like walking on eggshells with her, but I hardly blamed her. We were all pushed to our limits these days.

  “I have our Council Leader’s personal assurance,” I said. “She’s working without rest to find ways to ensure our safety and that of our families.”

  “If only Miriam had been Council Leader when this all fell apart.” Dagney Rhodes choked a soft sob into the handful of tissues she clutched to her lips.

  “It never would have happened in the first place,” Paula Santos snapped at her, olive skin tight in anger. These were all new faces, their names coming to me slowly. I knew their mothers and grandmothers far better. But those women I’d once called my peers were dead and gone, lost to the takeover of our territory by the Brotherhood six weeks ago.

  Six weeks. I still couldn’t believe it had only been so long.

  More mutterings, some of agreement, though Tallah spoke up again.

  “Miriam Hayle is an excellent leader,” she said, sounding like she didn’t mean a word. “But, she herself has been thralled, under the influence of the Brotherhood. At this point, frankly, she just can’t be trusted.”

  I wanted to slap her. How dare she attack my mother like that? But I held back, drew on the strength of my vampire essence for calm while my demon paced and snarled. The hitchhikers I carried in my head, their power mingling with mine, were a source of great comfort to me, now more than ever. The younger me would have lost her temper, flown off the handle, started a fight I’d win if it killed someone. But, thanks to Shenka, motherhood and my alter egos, I’d managed to mellow just a little bit. Enough I simply glared at Tallah instead of showing her just what I thought of her opinion.

  Because, the truth was—and it hurt, oh, did it hurt—the Hensley leader was right.

  Damn it.

  “Our covens are depleted,” Karyn said, young face pinched and aged beyond her twenty-four years. I’d gotten to know her a little, liked her a lot. She had a good head on her shoulders. I was more likely to listen to her than Tallah at this moment and gave her my full attention. “It will take generations to rebuild our numbers. But even if we were to replace every single witch we’ve lost, we’re still at a terrible disadvantage.” She
swallowed hard, hands twisting in her lap. The scent of fear filled the room, a sharp tang of physical anxiety. “We’re vulnerable and we know it, now.”

  I agreed with that much. Without sorcery to counter sorcery, the other paranormal races didn’t stand a chance. The first magic could only be fought with more of the same. Which was why Belaisle and his Brotherhood managed to not only sway the old Council Leader, Erica Plower, into signing a treaty that gave them power over the territory, but to do as much damage as they did in such a short time.

  “I’m sorry we just showed up.” Karyn looked guilty, then, glancing sideways at the unrepentant Tallah. Was I going to have to keep an eye on Shenka’s sister? The rage in her seemed to grow by the minute. And while I liked Tallah, had called her an ally in the past, she and I had fought over Shenka’s choice to be my second and had butted heads over other issues that kept us from being true friends. The loss of the bulk of her coven to the Brotherhood hit her hard, clearly. Still, that was no excuse to abandon good judgment.

  I nodded to Karyn, let it go. I was glad Quaid was out, frankly, that Dad had the kids at Harvard with Mom. This little impromptu meeting wasn’t sanctioned by the Council and was making me more nervous by the minute. But what was I supposed to do when they just popped up out of nowhere in the arms of ex-Enforcers, returned to their families in disgrace, and dropped themselves in my lap?

  “I understand your concerns,” I said, reaching for all the diplomacy I’d absorbed from the responsible people in my life over the years.

  “Do you?” Tallah was shaking a bit, jaw tight. “You didn’t lose one witch, did you?”

  They watched me with hurt and fearful eyes. But what was I supposed to say?

  “We were fortunate,” I said. “And grateful.”

  “We’re not blaming you for anything, Syd.” Karyn shot Tallah a glance and the Hensley leader looked away. “Please, understand that. In fact, we’re happy at least one family survived intact. And that you were there to save us.”

  I’d spent most of my life railing against the closed-minded arrogance and head-in-the-sand attitude of witches. Her unexpected announcement made me pause and blush. But Karyn wasn’t done.

  “We came here outside the knowledge of the North American Witches Council for a reason.” A small smile warmed her face, took away the taut bleakness. “We need your help.”

  I couldn’t protect them all, if that was what they wanted.

  Pay attention, Sassafras snapped in my head. This is important.

  Dagney Rhodes pushed her blonde hair behind one ear, round cheeks pink with a flush of emotion. “We know discord is the last thing we need right now.” At least someone understood it. We had to work together, to trust each other. Our separate ways, the privacy witches clung to, the secrecy, had to stop. At least to the point we could go to each other with problems and ask for help without losing face. “But our numbers are so reduced.” The Rhodes coven had once been over two hundred witches, now down to just over twenty. I knew personally. I saved them from the Brotherhood the same day their beloved leader, Violet, was killed. “And we are helpless if the Brotherhood returns to finish us off.”

  “We’re proposing a second layer of connection,” Karyn said. “A shadow council to watchdog the NAWC. And we want you to lead it.”

  ***

  Chapter Two

  I gaped at her, unable to breathe or think for a long moment. Sassafras’s power prodded me gently back into motion.

  There is an opportunity here, he sent.

  You’re kidding me, I snapped back. Sass, this is a terrible idea. Mom would have a fit.

  I take it you do intend to inform Miriam of everything that’s occurred here, and will occur in the future? His sarcasm cut through the last of my shock.

  You want me to say yes and then spy on them for Mom. How despicable. I shuddered at the thought. Better to shut this down now and walk away.

  If you don’t accept they will simply act without you, Sass sent. And you know it.

  I looked around at the determined faces staring at me. They’d already talked this through before bringing it to me, that much was obvious. I was the last stage in their plan.

  “Mom needs to know about this,” I said. “I won’t keep it from her.”

  Tallah drew a sharp breath to retort, but Karyn beat her to it.

  “We are well aware of your relationship to our Council Leader,” she said, softening her words with another smile. She seemed to relax a little, a good sign in my estimation. “But we ask you, if you agree to lead us, to keep this secret just for a little while.” She shrugged, lips twisting wryly. “We understand the irony of wanting no more secrets, and yet asking for this to remain hidden. But, Syd, you have to realize how afraid we are. And how important it is for us to find ways to stay safe outside a Council that has proven several times in the last decade they are susceptible to influence by the Brotherhood.”

  Okay, fair enough. From the takeover by Batsheva Moromond to Mom’s thralling and now Erica’s betrayal… they had a point.

  Just lie, Sass said with bland abruptness. And we’ll tell Miriam later.

  “We don’t plan to keep this a secret forever,” Dagney said, leaning forward. “In fact, we intend to contact Femke Svennson and inform her of our plans. And suggest each territory Council enact a shadow program to watchdog their members. Like a failsafe system.” She sat back again, shaking her head. “Too much power in the hands of too few. And the covens left out of the major decisions, all because we’ve been stubborn and proud.” Her dark eyes shone with tears. “It’s ironic, isn’t it, the Brotherhood set us up for failure so long ago, and the repercussions are still hitting us now?”

  It was the sorcerer sect that drove witches and other paranormal races underground, hiding from normals, their control of the Catholic church in the Dark Ages fueling the fear of magic in the hearts of those who didn’t control any of their own. Dagney was right. Doing so made witches afraid to trust each other, to trust anyone. And drove wedges between covens, kept them apart and afraid of detection, instead of working together for a better future for all paranormals.

  It had to stop. And if they were going to talk to Femke… the new World Paranormal Leader would at least listen, I knew that much. Though if I agreed to lead this shadow council, that meant I’d be the one passing on the request. And Femke and I, once solid friends, had fallen out over the last six weeks. I knew she blamed me for forcing her to accept her new role, for then being pressured to give up her leadership of the European Council and fully embrace her current job. I remained angry with her for conspiring to put my mother back on the North American Leader’s seat, especially when Mom’s first order had been to have her former best friend and second, Erica, burned at the stake.

  Galleytrot, the black hound of the Wild Hunt, saved Mom that command. But while Erica was gone with Gwynn ap Nudd in her new form as a hound herself, I still rankled that the baby Council with Femke as their advisor put my mother in that terrible position in the first place.

  “The bottom line,” Karyn said with great intensity, her blue family magic coiling around her feet, stirring the power of my own coven in sympathy, “is that we only trust you, Syd. You’ve consistently had our backs, though we never really knew or understood it.” Many of the leaders shifted, embarrassment wafting from them. “You gave of yourself without support, often in the face of opposition of those you sought to help. We want you to know we get it now.” Nods, mutters of thanks. “And we want you to help us help ourselves.”

  “We’re not asking you to save us,” Dagney said, glancing around at the open, worried faces around her. “We’re asking you to teach us.”

  So young. And eager, despite their collective fear. For a moment my heart lifted. Maybe this was a good idea. A new generation of youthful leaders, ready, willing and able to do whatever it took to ensure their safety, open to new things, to progress and change. It was a hell of a way to reorder the way of witchdom, but sometimes I just h
ad to take the silver linings the Universe offered me and say thank you.

  As if reading my mind, Karyn spoke again. “The old ways put us in jeopardy,” she said. “And while we loved our leaders, we see the future, where we are heading if we don’t act.” A ripple of fear rose from them all, waves of emotion raising gooseflesh on my arms. “None of us want to be caught like this again.”

  “And while we’re encouraged by the WPC’s formation,” Tallah said, voice harsher than her counterparts, “no one is fooling themselves here.” She gestured around her, to the grim faces watching me. “We know if something like this happens again, we’re on our own.”

  I wanted to protest, but she was correct. Sadly.

  Accept, Sass sent. And give them what they need. His mental tone was subdued, soft. And they do need this, Syd. To function. Can’t you feel it? Some of them are barely holding it together.

  I did feel it, the desperation running under their fear, the terrible depression like a black mist hovering at their feet.

  They need you. My vampire’s mental voice was almost curious.

  I turned my head, met Shenka’s eyes.

  Please, her mind whispered. Help them.

  I drew a sharp breath. “I’m not the kind of leader you should be coveting.” I’d already convinced myself of that. No way would I be the right choice. I’d turned down the WPC leadership and was ready to do the same for the NAWC. Why should this be any different?

  “We’re not looking for a bureaucrat,” Karyn said. “Or a diplomat. We want someone who we know will act in our best interest when required. And you’ve proven over and over you’re that person, Syd, even when you’ve been forced to act alone because no one would stand with you.” She lurched to her feet, the rest of them joining her a heartbeat later. I choked on the heavy air in my lungs as she went on, voice vibrating with emotion. “I’m here to tell you now, the Barrett coven will never abandon you again.”