by Patti Larsen
Anger flashed over, but I grasped for my vampire to cool it off. “It is,” I said as gently as I could. “Liam, like it or not, neither of us can act with autonomy. We have responsibilities, not just to others, but to this plane. And I'm sorry, but you obviously knew you weren't thinking rationally if you hid this from Galleytrot.”
Liam flinched. Yup, right on the money. I hated to prod him, I really did. But damn it, one of us had to be a grown up about it.
“I know,” Liam said. “But she's my mom.”
“And Venner?” I sat next to Liam, one hand on his knee, letting him feel I wasn't angry any more. Nope, just empathetic. Poor guy.
Liam nodded, releasing his grip on himself, covering my hand with his. “He's a different story,” Liam said.
Good to know we were on the same page there, at least.
“But I won't act against him.” Liam's fingers squeezed mine. “Mom asked me not to.”
Of course she did. “That's okay,” I said. “It's taken care of.” Hopefully. As long as Mom was willing to follow through when the time came. Not that I didn't believe she would, but there was enough history of her leaving me to clean up messes she couldn’t or wouldn’t handle, I wasn't completely comfortable with the situation.
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you,” Liam said. “And Galleytrot. I just knew you'd be angry.”
I left him a short time later, reaching for the black hound the moment Liam's door closed behind me, Charlotte on my heels. It took a little effort with him behind the wards guarding the Gate cavern, but Shaylee, boosted by my earth magic, helped enough to knock on the shielding and summon the dog to the outside world.
Syd. Galleytrot's mind touched mine, the rumble of a spring thunderstorm in his mental voice. I shivered as I often did when his power touched me, the elemental forces of the Sidhe Wild Hunt running through his magic. Something's wrong?
Why do you say that? I paused in the darkening Yard under a spreading tree and leaned against the rough bark, hiding in the growing shadows for some privacy.
Because you only get in touch when there's a problem. He snorted softly in my head.
Oh. Ouch. I really needed to work on my communication skills. Well, you're right, I sent. And filled him in on the afternoon of revelations.
Galleytrot's swearing encompassed several languages and lasted at least a minute before his power calmed, rippling over me as he pulled himself together. What was he thinking?
I don't think he was, I sent. You know his mom is all he has left.
The hound sighed. Not a good enough reason, he grumbled. And Venemeth? Your mother is playing a dangerous game, Syd.
Tell me about it. I pushed off from the tree and headed for my dorm, just wanting to collapse on my bed and forget this day even happened.
I'll talk to Liam, Galleytrot sent. Firmly.
Don't be too hard on him, I sent. But keep a mental eye on him, would you?
I could feel his tension like a growing storm. I wish I could be there directly.
Someone has to watch the Gate while Liam is here, I sent. And you volunteered. Like we had anyone else to do the job. You're more valuable there.
I suppose. I had a mental picture of him shaking his huge head, the Gate behind him before he cut me off from the visual. Still.
Just be vigilant, I sent. Who knows what Venner is really up to?
I will. Galleytrot sent me a rush of power, the rumble of an earthquake. Watch him. Both hims. And if you see Sonja... Liam is too important to risk, Syd.
You don't have to convince me. I paused at the bottom of the stairs to my dorm. With a quick hug, I let him go, hoping I was just being paranoid.
Yeah, right. Because nothing bad ever happened to the people I loved.
***
Chapter Five
Charlotte hissed softly at me as I mounted the last step and headed down the hall to my room. I was lost in thought, head down. Good thing one of us paid attention. Her hand on my arm, pulling me back as she eased around me, brought my head up as Charlotte put herself between me and the woman standing outside my door.
Sonja O'Dane met my gaze over Charlotte's shoulder, her hands clutching reflexively at the strap of her shoulder bag as she pushed off from where she leaned against the wall. I approached slowly, gesturing for Charlotte to stand down. My wereguard grunted softly, sniffing the air, but allowed me to gain the lead again, though I knew how fast she could react if Sonja meant me harm.
I almost hoped she did. It would be awesome to see Charlotte take the woman down.
Syd. Be nice. Liam's mom.
Grrr.
Sonja seemed hesitant, almost apologetic, as I finally reached her. She fidgeted, manicured nails scraping over the leather strap of her purse, lips twitching nervously as she forced a smile.
Bit of a change. The Sonja I'd originally met was a bitch. And even when she confessed to being blackmailed, she had more spine than this. I caught myself frowning and forced my forehead smooth as her smile faded.
“Hello, Syd,” she said in a voice vibrating with anxiety, though she plastered on her fake happy again. “Can we talk?”
I had nothing to say to her, sneaking around behind my back, telling Liam who-knew-what. “Sure,” I said, reaching for my door handle. “Come on in.”
Contrary, yup. That was me all the way.
Charlotte rumbled unhappily as I entered my dorm room without looking back to see if Sonja was going to follow. Normally, my bodywere stayed out of my personal space, both at home and school. But I wasn't surprised to find the now brunette werewolf hovering at the door looking dangerous when I turned around to face Liam's mother.
Sonja threw a nervous glance at Charlotte who slowly, oh so slowly, closed the door with one hand, eyes shifting to wolf and back again.
“Okay,” I said, ignoring Sonja’s discomfort, knowing it was incredibly uncharitable of me, but unable to shake my irritation at the whole sneaky mess she and Liam created around Venner. “You wanted to talk? So talk.”
Sonja sank into my desk chair, her perfectly styled flippy cut showing off blonde highlights in her dark auburn hair. She was the epitome of a stylist with her flawless makeup and manicure, hair a piece of art. She'd used her job to shuffle Liam from town to town his whole life, keeping him away from Wilding Springs after his father died. And away from his grandfather and the knowledge Liam was the next Gatekeeper.
While I guessed I could understand her motivation, the fact she caved to Venner in the end and was part of the scheme reducing Fergus to debilitating dementia did little to ingratiate me to her. While I got it, her lack of backbone really pissed me off for some reason.
Probably because I'd put my own butt on the line for those I loved time and time again. Weakness in others seemed to be a touchstone for my temper.
“I wanted to come in person,” Sonja said while my mind spun around my annoyance and the realization I had serious judgment issues. “To apologize.”
“For?” Man, way to be a real bitch, Syd.
Sonja looked down, eyes locked on her hands, white knuckled around the strap of her purse. What was she so afraid of? As long as she didn't put Liam in danger again...
Right. Venner. I was an idiot.
“Liam was worried you'd be upset if you knew we were in touch again.” Sonja shifted, her high heels scraping over the wooden floor. “We didn't exactly part under the best of terms.”
“And if you're still working for Venner,” I said, tone so cold I swore I saw white mist escape my lips, “the terms haven't changed.”
Her shoulders twitched. “He's different, now,” she said as if she really believed it.
Funny. I didn't.
“I wanted to tell you about Lord Venemeth myself,” Sonja said. I liked her better when she treated me like crap. At least her spine showed.
Oh, Syd.
“Let me guess.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “He told you not to.”
“Not His Lordship,” Sonja said. “Liam. You we
re dealing with so much at the time... he worries about you constantly.”
Grunt. It was really hard to stay angry with her when so much sadness crossed her face. And while empathy wasn't always my strongest suit with those who stabbed me in the back, I felt myself coming down from my high horse and actually feeling sorry for her.
“It's okay,” I said. “Liam and I are just friends. And you're his mother. He didn't owe me an explanation.” Although, hiding Venner was another thing all together.
She smiled at me, lips twitching in anxiety, but the horrible, heavy sorrow had left her face, at least. “I knew you'd understand,” she said. “No matter what I've done, it was all for Liam.”
Uh-huh. I sank to my bed to put her at ease. “So mind telling me what happened after the whole Gate debacle? I was worried Venner would hurt you for betraying him.”
Sonja shook her head, but not to deny me my answers. “He was angry, yes,” she said. “But failure took so much out of him, Syd. He softened, accepted who he was and his fate, finally.” Tears welled in her eyes, her smile more genuine and less forced. “I'm Unseelie,” she said. “And with Lord Venemeth's help, I've learned to embrace my heritage.”
I wished I could believe her. Could set aside my usual suspicions and walk away from the whole worry thing. But I just couldn't bring myself to take what she told me at face value. My own hackles were still up. And it didn't help Shaylee spluttered and muttered and shrieked her disgust in my head while Sonja spoke.
Considering how many times I'd been right? Yeah, I'd take suspicious, thanks.
Shaylee didn't often talk to me, not because she couldn't. So when she did, I sat up and paid attention.
Glamour, she snarled. One word. But enough.
I was an idiot.
Before I could reach out and touch Sonja with my power, something I should have thought to do if I hadn't been so damned busy being a self-righteous Miss Judgy Pants, someone knocked heavily on the door. Charlotte let out a yip of unhappiness, spinning to jerk it open.
Hortense Spaft brushed past my bodywere as if Charlotte wasn't there, entering my room like she owned the place. A small smile devoid of anything humorous—or human, for that matter—pulled at the corners of her thin lips. Her endless black eyes glaring at me through her shining glasses, hair pulled back into her trademark bun, so tight her skin shone from the tension.
A shudder of absolute revulsion passed over me, but I forced myself to rise slowly as she came to a halt, trademark black wool suit and cream blouse making her look like the librarian at a haunted mansion.
“Miss Hayle.” How I despised her voice. Those two simple words grabbed me by the throat and threw me back two years, to high school. Detention. Being forced to apologize over and over in a letter to her, polishing it to her liking before being allowed to leave. Hate I'd only felt in her presence rose in my heart and blacked out everything.
“Ms. Spaft.” My shields vibrated around me, power bubbling in my core, just waiting for an excuse.
Any excuse.
Instead of prodding me, she approached Sonja, firmly pulling the woman to her feet with a tight grip of her thin, white hand. I imagined a bloated, albino spider locking itself around Sonja's flesh and couldn't control the lip curl of disgust.
If Ms. Spaft noticed or cared, she didn't say anything. “Sonja, dear,” she said in her grating voice that would make even the gentlest person look for the means to defend themselves. “We really must be going.”
Sonja bobbed her head, tears forgotten. “Of course,” she said.
Puppet, Shaylee hissed.
But whose? “It was nice to see you, Sonja,” I said. Loudly. Like a challenge.
She blinked and smiled at me. “You too, Syd,” she said.
Totally thralled. But as much as I wanted to, I knew what Mom would say if I tried to interfere. This wasn't any of my business. And yet it was.
Wasn't it?
Even if it wasn't, when had I ever let something like a little jurisdiction issue stop me before?
Ms. Spaft didn't wait, comment, nothing. Maybe she knew I was on to the fact Sonja wasn't all there or maybe she was just following orders. But even as I started to formulate a plan to somehow free Sonja from the evil woman, Ms. Spaft steered Liam's mother out the door and they were gone.
***
Chapter Six
I took my suspicions to Mom, sharing them with her over a freshly baked chocolate cake I brought with me from a cute little bakery on Harvard Square. I could tell from the guarded look in her eyes and the tightness of her smile she was onto me and the gooey offering I set on the table in her small kitchen, but that didn't stop her from fetching a pair of forks from the silverware drawer after Charlotte shook her head at the offer of a third. I set out a single glass, filled it with milk for us to share, the carton left out as I knelt on my chair and helped myself to a big bite, not even bothering to cut it first.
Mom sighed and dug in herself, a shadow passing over her face. My eyes drifted to her empty neck and I found myself frowning too. She'd lost her pentagram necklace last year and, despite the fact Meira and I replaced it, Mom never wore the new one. Made me a little angry, actually. Like our present didn't matter to her or wasn't good enough. I knew such thinking was just my reaction to her lack of enthusiasm for my visit, but bitterness was an old buddy I still hung out with from time to time, despite everything I'd learned about myself.
How could I kick it to the curb when we had so much history?
“I know what you're going to say.” Mom jabbed at me, chocolate icing clinging to the tines of her fork. “I thought we agreed to observe until we knew more.”
“There is more,” I said, tapping the polished silver of my own fork against the tabletop in irritation before hooking off another large bite from the chocolate layers. “It's about Liam's mother,” I said through a mouthful.
“Don't talk with food in your mouth,” Mom said, attacking the cake and stuffing in her own large bite. “What about her?” A few crumbs flew as she ignored her own order.
“Shaylee thinks she's been glamoured.” I swallowed, taking a long drink of milk.
Mom's eyebrows shot up as she chewed, but she remained silent until after she took her own drink, the glass thudding back to the table.
“You have proof?”
Proof shmoof. Mom knew me better than that. Proof and I had a very testy relationship. But I was always right, damn it. Wasn't I?
Shaylee grumbled in my head while I sat back, stomach churning too much to enjoy the sweet cake any longer. “Not yet,” I growled. “But I'll get it.”
“Syd.” Mom leaned forward, pushing the cake aside, dropping her fork to take my hand. “Even if she is.” She drew a deep breath before letting it out very slowly. “Even if she's under glamour, as long as it's Sidhe glamour, there's nothing we can do about it.”
She did not just tell me such a thing.
“Mom,” I used her exact same tone, setting sparks off in her eyes. Button successfully pushed. It had been a long time since we'd had a nuclear meltdown. And while I didn't really want to shove my mother into a corner, damn it, she needed to learn to listen to me. “This is Liam's mother.” I grit my teeth, sugary yumminess turning sour in my mouth. “Liam. The Gatekeeper.” Pause for effect. “Mom.”
She sat back, looking away, face creased in a scowl though I could tell from the way her lips twitched she struggled with what I said. Of course she understood.
“Lord Venemeth,” she ground his name out without meeting my eyes, “has made powerful friends, Syd.”
“Maybe he glamoured them, too.” I wouldn't put it past him, the slippery slime ball.
“I can assure you,” Mom's head swiveled around, angry blue eyes meeting mine, “I considered that possibility and, unlike you, it seems, I investigated before accusing.”
Oh. My. Swearword.
I had buttons too. Still active after all this time.
“Not one of his supporters shows any sign of
tampering,” Mom said. “None.” She looked like the fact hurt her, which made me feel a little better. “So there is nothing. I. Can. Do.”
“What's the good of being Council Leader if you can't act?” My frustration with her churned in my stomach along with the cake, body wanting to reject both. “How many times will you stand by and let something terrible happen, Mom? When you could have acted before I had to clean up the mess?”
Mom's chair made a horrible scraping sound as she lurched to her feet, towering over me with her power rippling around her.
“I can't!” I'd never heard her so furious, so desperate. So full of despair. “Don't you understand? I can't.” Mom's hands shook as her tone quieted, both pressed to her chest as she sank into her seat again. I caught Charlotte backing off out of the corner of my eye and wondered just how bad it looked and felt if my bodywere was about to come to my rescue against my own mother.
“Mom.” I forced myself to calm the hell down and pull up my big girl panties. “I'm sorry.” And I was, honest. I didn't think I could do her job, bound by rules and laws and stupid politics. I'd last about two seconds before they'd either burn me at the stake or the whole shebang would become a dictatorship under Queen Syd the Only.
Hell yeah.
Mom nodded while I pulled myself together. “I'm doing what I can inside the law,” she said. Her blue eyes met mine, now full of sorrow. “Don't you think I wish I could just act without concern? I know he's a threat, Syd. But trying to convince those he's wooed is like beating my head against a brick wall.”
Sympathy choked me a moment, joined by frustration and a healthy dose of guilt.
“I have Enforcers watching him,” Mom said. “And there is no Gate here at Harvard for him to access. And as long as we keep an eye on him,” she reached for my hand again, squeezed it, “there's nothing else either of us can do.”
I almost pulled away. “You mean, that you can do.”
Mom released my hand. “I've protected you in the past,” she said. “Even though I knew you were right, Syd, you've gone against the law. You've included other races in witch matters and become embroiled in them yourself. Do you have any idea how much work it’s taken me to smooth over the whole Europe incident?” Oh, like it was my fault the vampire Queens decided to kidnap me. Yeah, whatever. “Or the fact you were accused of murdering your demon grandmother?” How the hell did they find out about Ahbi, anyway? “Not to mention the countless small infractions I hear about every single day.” She rubbed her forehead with both hands. “Please don't misunderstand.” When she dropped her arms, she was smiling, a soft, sad little smile. “You've done more to protect this plane, and others, than anyone else. But I'm forced to follow the mandate of my office.”