Chapter Nine

 

My vampire reacted before I could, an explosive gust of spirit magic shoving back the advancing undead with murder in their hearts.

“You touch her,” the essence said through my mouth, “and you will feel pain the like of which there has never been.”

It probably helped the concussion of her attack had knocked most of them back, even leaving Mom and Margaret wobbling a little. The rotund European Council Leader spun on me with anger in her eyes, but Mom was faster.

“Shall we proceed with said diplomatic talks now?” One of her eyebrows arched artfully as she spoke directly to Margaret in a casual tone, as though the vampire Queens weren't of consequence.

My mom was so many kinds of awesome.

Margaret huffed a moment before shrugging. “Very well. I will moderate.”

Pannera sat back with a deep frown that did nothing to mar her beauty. “I will attend,” she said.

Batsheva looked like she was going to fight me personally only to turn away and sulk. “Wasting time,” she muttered. “But fine. Fine. Let's have our little talk and get on with retrieving our property.”

Again with the property. My vampire simmered and I knew, no matter what happened, even if Batsheva succeeded, the essence inside me would never accept her. In fact, would likely make the faux Queen's life a living hell. Though as much as that would serve her right, the end result of such revenge would be me without my vampire side.

Unacceptable.

Margaret led the way out, stomping a path down the middle of the room, gesturing grumpily at the vampires around her though they backed off the moment she came close. Pannera swept after her, Batsheva following close behind, stopping for a moment to come face-to-face with Mom.

“Showing your age these days, Miriam, dear,” she said before laughing and striding off.

Mom turned to me, took my hand. “I'll do my best,” she whispered. “But Syd, be prepared for anything.”

Lovely.

I watched Mom leave for the diplomatic clash between witch and vampire as Piotr appeared at my side, though he knew better than to touch me, at least.

“This way.” He motioned for me to precede him, but I wasn't going anywhere with him. Not alone, anyway.

“Coven Leader.” Sebastian bowed on my other side, gaze locked on his rival. “Allow me to escort you to your chamber.”

I took his offered arm with a little curtsy, unable to help myself considering how he was dressed, though from the smile that broke for a moment, I felt certain I looked foolish doing it.

Sunny's face was stoic, Uncle Frank's equally so as they fell in behind us, cutting Piotr off while Charlotte, now mostly human, clung to my free hand, head whipping around as she whined under her breath.

“Thanks for the heads up,” I whispered to Sebastian as we exited the throne room.

“I swear I had no idea.” There was enough tension in his voice I knew he was telling the truth. “I only heard of this moments before you were kidnapped and have been working to free you since last night.”

“You could have told me it was Batsheva.” Yeah, I was grumpy.

“I would have, had I known the clan changed hands,” he said. “It appears I'm not as trusted as I once was.” Sadness. No, I would not feel sorry for him. “Though I must admit I'm surprised she was able to defeat Yvette in combat.”

I wasn't. The Hayle family didn't have the market on horseshoes cornered, it seemed.

Two long corridors later, more stone, more tall, thin windows, more black carpet, and Sebastian closed the door on a chamber flanked by two of Pannera's vampires, cutting them off and leaving us alone.

Charlotte's face morphed back to human, though her eyes still held the wolf as she began a systematic snuffling around every corner and piece of furniture in what looked like a sitting room, vaulted fireplace black from centuries of flame. I watched her with worry while Sunny stepped forward and hugged me.

“Oh, Syd,” she whispered. “What a mess. I'm so sorry.”

“You're sorry.” I hugged her back. “I ruined your shower.”

She laughed and pushed me away, only to kiss my cheek with her cool lips. “Plenty of time for that,” she whispered in my ear.

“Tell me you won't let this ruin the wedding.” Why did the idea of that make me fret so much?

“Silly,” Uncle Frank hugged me too. “Nothing could stop our wedding. Okay?”

Okay. I turned from him to face Sebastian who watched me with a mix of concern and amusement.

“Life is ever interesting with you as a companion,” he said.

“Not my fault,” I grumbled. “Speaking of which, I'm done now. Mom has them distracted and I'd like to go home. So if you all would just give me a hand, we'll cut out of this funhouse and let the politicians do their thing.”

Sebastian's hesitation didn't warm my heart any. “It's not so simple,” he said.

“Um, yeah, it is.” I didn't want to be angry with him. Or throw a fit. Or destroy this centuries-old castle because of my temper. But, well. Things happened.

But even Sunny sighed, sinking into a chair probably as old as she was. “They will simply pursue you,” she said. “And order us to bring you back.”

“Which you wouldn't do.” The look on Uncle Frank's face wasn't boosting my optimism, either.

“We wouldn't have a choice, demon girl.” Sebastian turned from me to pace. Maybe I'd picked up the bad habit from him. Or maybe it was just the only solution when the mind was churning and the body couldn't help but respond. “As our Queen, Pannera's orders are tied to our blood. We have no say in the matter.”

“Magic?” I joined Sunny who slid over to make room for me, despite the fact there were lots of low couches and divans and other things to sit on. I just didn't feel like being alone at the moment and when she put her arm around me I knew she was happy to oblige. “Compulsion?”

Sunny nodded, eyes sad. “It's the way of our people,” she said. “How the clans keep order.”

Though a convenient way to run things, the idea of no free will gave me the creepies.

“We need to trust the process.” Sebastian came to a halt as though a decision solidified in his mind. “Your mother will help my Queen see reason.”

“And if she doesn't?” I stood abruptly, needing space suddenly as much as I'd needed comfort. “You'll let your Queen strip me?” If she could.

Sebastian didn't say anything while the swish of fabric told me Sunny was also on her feet.

“Our Queen is as power hungry as she ever was,” she snapped, temper crackling in her voice.

Sebastian spun on her. “You don't know her as I do.”

“I know her better,” Sunny said. “From the other side of the fight. From Yvette's side. Remember?” He turned from her as Uncle Frank reached out, maybe to silence Sunny, maybe to back her up, but she pulled free of his grip and continued her assault on Sebastian. “You would never listen, didn't want to know your precious Pannera was, and is, every bit as much a monster as Yvette.”

“You were raised by the darkest of clans,” he said, shoulders down, hands on the back of a chair, voice quiet. “What do you know of her honor?”

Sunny laughed, humorless, her beautiful face twisted with scorn. “This has nothing to do with honor, Sebastian. Only power.” She pointed at me, but didn't look at me. “The power Syd holds inside her. Ambition, the need to rule everything. Where is the honor, I ask you?”

“Better her than Batsheva.” Sebastian’s hands tightened on the carved back of a chair.

“Better Syd, I say,” Uncle Frank said.

The sharp crack of breaking wood made us all jump. Sebastian straightened, two chunks of elaborately carved flowers falling to his feet as the chair sagged to the side, broken.

“You think Pannera has the best interest of you and your clan at heart,” Sunny said. “But you have no idea the hold she has over you, the lies she's made you believe. Nor have you seen the things I've witnessed, the atrocities she's ordered and participated in. Because you refuse to accept.”

“I thought we were your clan now, Teresa.” Sebastian turned to face her, fire brewing in his eyes. I'd heard her called that before. Nicholas used the name Teresa. But wait, Nicholas called her something else, a long time ago, the night I lost my demon. Sonja?

How many identities did my friend have?

Sunny couldn’t know what I was thinking, shrugging as she looked away from Sebastian. Sighed. “At times like this,” she said, “I feel clanless, my leader.”

Neither of them spoke and the longer the silence went on, the more my heart broke until I had to shatter their horrible silence and the implications of it.

“I'll stay put.” I stepped between them, taking their hands in mine, connecting them through me and the vampire inside me. “But I won't let them harm me or the one I carry.”

“Will she go?” Sebastian's tension hummed through him and into me.

“No,” I said. “She's made it very clear she won't tolerate either Queen. Nor anyone who considers her property.”

The essence I held grasped a hold of me and shunted me aside, sending sparks of white power to both of them. Sunny's eyes widened as she spoke through me again. They may not have realized she'd done so before, but with full contact it was pretty clear who was addressing them.

“Forgive me, Sebastian DeWinter,” she told him. “But I am grateful to you, for in your body I began to heal.” She shuddered. “When your clan devoured me from the form of Cesard, my insanity grew worse. Being broken like that almost destroyed me.”

“Which is why you controlled me.” Sebastian nodded slowly, sadly. “I understand.”

“No,” she said. “You do not. Not really. I will never allow myself to be divided again. Sydlynn spoke correctly—neither of your so-called Queens is worthy of me. I've chosen my home with the one heart who healed me simply by the kindness in her and the strength of her spirit.” Wow. Blushing. “Sydlynn has returned my wholeness, but she has also reawakened my purpose. And I will not be swayed. If anyone tries, I will ensure my assimilation destroys them utterly.”

Sunny squeezed my hand. “And what is your purpose?”

“To assist Sydlynn to evolve,” she said. “And become of the Undying. A maji.”

 

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