Chapter Twenty One

 

Batsheva immediately demanded a recess of her own and, through another heaving sigh, Margaret granted it.

I wasn't alone in my chambers long before company rushed in to ask me if I'd been knocked from my rocker.

“You can't do this.” Sebastian swept into the room, sweeping toward me, hands out. He gripped my shoulders, shook me ever so slightly, though the pressure of his hold told me just how agitated he was. He was nearing vampire strength, not be-nice-to-the-frail-witch-girl strength. And though I understood his concern, I had no desire to test the limits of my immortality under friendly fire.

I didn't get a chance to free myself. With a growl and a swipe of her arm, Charlotte knocked him back, away from me. Sebastian's eyes flared white a moment, fangs showing, his quick reaction to her protection also letting me know he wasn't happy.

Not even a little.

Charlotte just bared her teeth, sliding between us, the wolf coming out in her hands, the shift of her shoulders, and though I couldn't see her eyes, I knew it rose there, too.

This was no time for friends fighting friends. If there was ever a time for that.

“It's okay.” I touched Charlotte's arm, felt her calm a little. “Back off, Sebastian. You of all people should know better than to come at me like that after the time she's had.”

He did retreat, face settling to his normal handsomeness. “Forgive me,” he said, voice deep and harsh. “I didn't mean to put more pressure on you, Charlotte. Considering what you've been through.”

She nodded quickly, backed up until she stood behind my right shoulder.

Buddies again. Yippee.

Sunny seemed the only one who wasn't about to freak on me, so I focused on her, refusing to meet Uncle Frank's disapproval just yet as he hovered near. Not for the first time I understood no matter their relationship, how much they loved each other, she was his superior and, for vampires, that meant a lot, I was learning.

Wait a second. Did that mean when they got married they'd be equals?

How interesting.

“You have a plan.” Sunny came to me, hugged me gently, even leaned forward to squeeze Charlotte's hand. I loved that about Sunny. So generous.

“Of course.” I just wished it wasn't dependent on a very damaged Demetrius Strong. But I wasn't telling them that. Or how much my plan seemed to change moment to moment. Fly by the seat of my very airy pants, that was me. “I already talked to Mom. You're just going to have to trust me.”

“We do,” Sunny said. “But we worry.”

“You're going to challenge her.” Sebastian's hands tightened into fists. “You understand our laws well already.”

“I had a crash course,” I said. “And there's no way I'm staying put, not like this.” I waved my arms around, indicating the castle, the vampires, everything. “I have to find a way to end this, and killing Batsheva is the only out I can see.”

Even Uncle Frank nodded at that, though his blue eyes seemed sad.

“Can we do anything?” His turn to hug me. I wasn't about to turn him down.

“I'll let you know.” I released him to find Sebastian staring at me. “I promise.”

“What will you do with the power once you've won?” He shook his head, a little smile on his lips. “I've known you only a short time in my very long life, Sydlynn Hayle, and yet I cannot imagine any scenario in which you and your particular brand of luck and magic can fail.” Nice of him to say so. Boosted my confidence a fraction. “So I ask again—what will you do with the magic of your new clan when you're through?”

“I haven't decided.” I didn't mean to sigh, to sink to the chair next to me, to show them any kind of weakness, which might make them worry more. My only job at this point. No need for all of us to be in a lather. But I just couldn't help it, not with the giant task I still had ahead of me looming behind a beautiful face and insanity.

“You can't lead,” Uncle Frank said. “You have a coven to take care of.”

“I know,” I said. “I'm working on it. Look,” I climbed to my feet, squared my shoulders, put on a brave face I almost believed myself, “this will go one of two ways. Well, or down the crapper so fast you won't even know I was here. In either case, I want the three of you to stay out of it.”

They all paused, thought about it. Nice to be loved, but seriously.

“I'll kill that bitch the first chance I get,” I said, “while she's forced to keep her hands and arms inside the ride at all times. Easy peasy.”

Sunny's frown told me, okay well, not so easy, but it was Sebastian who spoke. “You may not need to worry about Batsheva herself,” he said. “You are correct she won't be able to harm you once you've been adopted into the clan. But that isn't true of other vampires in your family.”

Well, that would have been nice to know. “Open season, huh?”

Uncle Frank crossed his arms over his chest. “No way, this is ridiculous. You're going home and the hell with the Queens.”

Sebastian reached for my hand and held it a moment, ignoring Uncle Frank. “Missteps can happen easily,” he said, “and the smallest slights can be seen as a reason for battle. But they must have a reason to fight you. Do you understand?”

“So they can come up with some stupid excuse, but if they just attack it's a no-no?” More rules. My head felt like it was going to explode.

Sunny laughed softly, without humor. “We are the masters of nuance,” she said. “These rules we abide by keep little networks running, but can trip you up without understanding why. And we could easily tell you ours, if we had several years, but those of this clan are different. And change all the time.” She shuddered and looked away. “This is why I hate court.”

“Your personal clan isn't like this.” I felt a little relief when Sebastian shook his head.

“There are moments,” he said. “But I've never allowed it in my own family. But even I must bear it here, under the hand of my Queen.”

“Well, it's not like I haven't been down this road,” I said. “Demonicon isn't a happy place either. Only they don't need a reason to challenge you.”

“Except on Demonicon they only take a portion of your power,” Sunny said, voice soft and grim. “Here, if you lose, they strip you of your magic and blood and leave you out in the sun to die.”

So, a little more extreme, then.

“I need access to my power.” I squeezed Sebastian's hand, getting to the point I'd almost forgotten I had to make. “Which means clearing away the control this powdered crystal has over me.”

His forehead furrowed. “I remember,” he said. “The night we found Cesard. It is the same substance?”

So quick. “You got it,” I said. “Can you help again?”

Sebastian nodded without a spark of hesitation, his power entering my mind. I felt him this time, his doubt and concern, his anxiety he was betraying his Queen, but he didn't stop, the spirit magic animating his form reaching far inside me to link with my own.

The internal bite was harder this time, giving me an instant headache making me cry out, but the wave of spirit power flowing outward from it healed me almost immediately. Where once there was silence, I now heard a roaring in the distance, felt thrashing and clawing, the sound of uncontrollable weeping stilled and turned to shrill screaming of my name.

The hum of the family magic was strongest, reaching for me with so much longing I found tears on my cheeks when I pulled free of my internal review and smiled up at Sebastian.

I was still partially blocked. Whatever Demetrius did to me this time around, whether a stronger dose or a different one, the vampire's bite was only able to open me up about a quarter of the way. But I could feel them again, hear them, my demon finally settling though she continued to pick at the wall holding her back while Shaylee calmed and poured earth magic into the gap between us.

“Not complete,” I said. “But thank you. This will do for now.”

Until I had the crystal. I hoped. I could only keep my fingers crossed the crystal would have the same clearing effect on the powder as it had with the sorcerer’s shields back at the Brotherhood house. As for cleaning my system out permanently, I’d have to figure something out after this particular minefield went kablooey.

I'd hold my awakened power in reserve until I needed it, but when I did, and when I had full access again?

Those Queens could just look the hell out.

Sunny and Uncle Frank left shortly after. Okay, Sunny left, dragging Uncle Frank who still looked like he was going to grab me and run off with me. Nice sentiment, and I might have let him if Sebastian's bite hadn't given me hope.

I smiled up at Sebastian as he released my hand, expecting him to go after them, only to feel him loom over me, fingers once more gripping my shoulders, though this time without fear.

Nope, totally different emotional trigger behind this particular contact. I didn't get a chance to gasp a breath as he bent over me, pulling me against his hard, broad chest, the lace at his throat tickling mine as he pressed his cool lips to my mouth while his magic wove through the vampire inside me.

He'd kissed me before. Once. On the lips. After I'd saved his life. That was something. Or I thought it was at the time.

Um, yeah. That was nothing. As his hands slid around my back, one pressing against the lowest ties of my corset, the other flat in the center between my shoulder blades, sparks of power danced between us at every point of contact. But not shocks, nothing so disruptive. These flickers of energy sped up my heart, made my breath come faster, air I breathed into lungs that didn't require any.

His tongue ran slowly over my lower lip before he pulled away, eyes burning with two points of white light before he let me go.

“Be careful, I beg you,” he said, hoarse and rough, before spinning and leaving me there.

Panting. Hands pressed to my heaving bosom, I kid you not, just like some idiot girl in one of my trashy historical romances.

Yum.

 

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