Hurry up and wait was never so agonizing. After Mia's almost eager acceptance of Hayle coven support, the small group of family I transferred settled in to help with healing and protection. Mia wasn't on her feet yet, not making an appearance when I finally left my small group behind. But not much time had passed, only a few hours, so I wasn't really all that surprised.
The real agony came over the next two days, waiting, wondering. I paced the house, certain I'd wear holes in the floors, wanting to be there myself, but knowing Mom would immediately pull the plug if I pushed her too hard. Esther and Estelle did a great job contacting me at regular intervals, but neither of them had much to report.
It seems not just the family power was taken, Estelle sent early that first evening. Either that, or the witches in this coven are naturally weak, only powerful because of their family magic.
Possible, Esther sent. Whatever the case, with the loss of the family's power, not one of the witches here will be capable of much alone. And even were they to try to form a coven again, with what limited power they have available, there is no way that magic could support a family this size.
Even reduced as they are, Estelle sent. Agreed.
I let them go after each exchange, growing more frustrated by the moment. Shenka's attempts to reach her sister continued to fail and I began to wonder if Mom had something to do with it.
How much had she told the other covens, if anything at all? I wouldn’t put it past her to block our attempts to talk outside our family if she didn’t want what happened to become common knowledge just yet. Still, it was pretty damned selfish, considering the growing worry bowing Shenka’s shoulders.
And as far as I was concerned, everyone needed to know. Everyone.
When the sun set on the third day with no answers, silence from Mom and Tallah and my nerves frazzled to a crispy edge thanks to the constant vigilance we maintained, I finally had enough. Gram must have known how close I was to my breaking point, because as I slammed down my fork and opened my mouth to tell her I was going to the Dumonts, she casually sipped her water before saying, “Why don't you go check on our people?”
Shenka choked on her dinner before flashing me a tight grin, one fading as fast as it came. “It's weird,” she said, though from the pinched concern on her face, “weird” was a weak term for what she felt. “Why can’t I get through to Tallah?” I felt her panic and kicked myself for not sharing my worries about Mom’s probable course of action.
I quickly explained what I assumed was true while Gram nodded and Sassafras snorted his agreement. Shenka visibly relaxed, though her forehead creased in anger when I finished.
“Would it not be better to share this will all covens?” I’d never heard such an edge in her voice. Winced. Felt terrible she’d spent the last three days fearing the Hensley's were gone, too.
And since she just repeated what I’d been thinking, I shrugged. “There’s no way anyone else has been attacked.” I had to believe Mom would have told us if another incident occurred. Okay, maybe not. But Quaid would have. “But if she has kept it secret, it explains why the other covens haven’t reached out to us.” Not like they would anyway. Bunch of secretive biddies minding their own business so much the world could fall apart and they wouldn't realize it until it was too late. “I think we should both go check on our people.”
Gram nabbed my plate and helped herself to my dinner as I stood with Shenka.
“Keep an eye on the place,” I said, feeling far too much joy considering the circumstances. But I was about to do something. And acting felt like the closest thing to happiness I had access to right now.
Gram waved us off with her fork, not looking up as Shenka and I, Charlotte on our heels, left the kitchen and went out the back door.
“Be careful.” Sassafras followed us, pausing at the threshold. “I'll stay with Ethpeal and keep an eye on things. But you two, don't do anything stupid.” He hesitated. “On the other hand, maybe I should go with you.”
I let the door close in his face. “Stay put,” I said. “Gram might need you.”
He swatted at the screen, but didn't comment as we crossed the lawn, heading for the park.
“You realize this could possibly get us arrested?” I glanced sideways at Shenka as I spoke.
She turned to me as we crossed the wards, eyes wide, face innocent. “But we're just making sure our people are okay.”
Snort. “Perfect,” I said. “If Mom blows it, you handle her.” Because if I had to plaster that face on, I'd fail.
New wards sat in place at the Dumonts, but only around the front door. The veil deposited us on the wide, stone steps, and I didn't hesitate to enter without knocking. Not like anyone in the family would have answered. The place felt like a tomb. Three Enforcers swooped down, but stopped when I let them feel my power.
“Just here to check on our people.” Okay, so I could lie, too. Just not to Mom.
The one in the lead, a hefty woman with huge hands and a flat face hesitated. They must have had conflicting orders because, after a moment, she shrugged and backed off.
I led Shenka through the house, up the stairs toward Mia's room with a level of confidence I didn't feel, knowing I was going against Mom's orders, but unable to just sit on my hands any longer.
What was that woman doing?
Mia's door creaked as I let us in, the heavy wood swinging wide. Mia sat propped up on her countless pillows, purple and black velvet holding her up. She didn't seem to see us, staring off into space while a slender woman with Dumont features hovered at her side, head down, blonde hair hanging limp. She at least looked up as we came closer, blue eyes full of tears.
“Coven Leader.” The young woman, about my age I guessed, snuffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve. Her faint French accent confirmed her breeding. “I don't know what to do to help her.” She gestured vaguely at Mia who continued to stare into space.
Shenka acted before I could as my discomfort grew, my second sitting next to the Dumont girl.
“I'm Sashenka Hensley,” she said. “What's your name?”
“Marie,” the girl said. Sniffed again. “Marie Dumont. I'm Mia's second cousin.” My power brushed over her, felt how weak she was. Did whoever stole the Dumont power take personal magic as well or was the Dumont family really so fragile?
Nothing would surprise me, Gram snapped in my mind. Leave Shenka with the girls and go poke around already.
Bossy. Fine.
I slipped from the room to the sound of Shenka comforting Marie, Charlotte trailing behind, nose upturned. I heard her sniff a few times and raised an eyebrow at her, but she just shook her head.
“Rupe,” she said. “But the rest of the scents are too muddled to make out.”
Surely the Enforcers tested for power in the same way Charlotte's nose tested for scent. I let my energy slide outwards, thin little threads, staying low and almost undetectable—I hoped. If the Enforcers caught me snooping, I'd be in major trouble.
Like this. Gram seized my magic and spun it around, turning it inside out, so the power reflected back on itself. Super simple, absolutely easy.
Why didn't I think of it?
Enforcer trick, Gram grunted. Get to it.
Promising myself I'd turn over whatever I found to Mom and Pender immediately, I snuck down the corridor, letting my newly disguised magic wander the halls and rooms and multi-floors of the castle while Charlotte opened her nose and tried to unravel the mess of smells. I was so focused on trying to find the source of the attack, I totally missed the fact I wasn't alone anymore until I almost stumbled on the three witches, huddled close, whispering to each other.
It was only Charlotte’s rumbling growl of warning that kept me from barging right into them. I stumbled to a halt, looking around the vast library just before I met a pair of chill blue eyes now locked on me. Andre Dumont straightened, falling silent, his two sons equally still. Gone was the harsh arrogance I was used to, the sharp jab of superiority the Dumont men carried around with them. Instead, Andre's attempt to appear better-than fell sadly short, a play in petulance echoed by Jean Marc and Kristophe.
They were the last people I'd expected to run into. I guess I privately hoped maybe they were among the dead.
Bad, Syd. Bad, bad.
“Come to gloat?” Andre's deep, rich voice sounded hollow in the vast room full of books with its arching ceiling. Odette’s only son’s accent was stronger than I remembered, perhaps influenced by the turn of events.
I shrugged. “Just checking on my people.” Fell flat. Yup. Oh well, not like I was really going to fool anyone.
Jean Marc glared, his short, dark hair normally neat now a mess while Kristophe's attempt at a model pose, his favorite, just came across as sad. Desperately sad.
“I haven't seen you since Mom's trial.” Andre had been in the thick of things when it came to Mom’s arrest, I knew it. Absolutely in Odette's confidence. But his claim he'd been coerced by his own mother was accepted by the Council and he'd been set free. No longer the Dumont’s representative on Council, he’d retreated in defeat to the Dumont family. To hide, for all I knew. Now the only direct living descendant aside from Mia, this had to be hitting him almost as hard. If for different and more selfish reasons.
How the mighty—in his own mind—had fallen.
Andre's gaze flickered over my shoulder, a tight smile pulling at his mouth, bitterness rampant. “Bonjour, Charlotte,” he said. “We've missed you, cher.”
She chuffed softly, but didn't comment, though I felt the wolf in her stir in fury. She'd been Andre's possession for years, her whole pack had. The Sidhe hound Galleytrot freed her, freed all of them, but she still hadn't located her father, Raoul. At least, as far as I knew. The way Charlotte kept to herself, he could have been sleeping at the foot of her bed and I probably wouldn't have known.
“I'm sorry about what happened.” I surprised myself with how genuine my words came out. So much all three Dumonts flinched.
Andre bowed his head just a fraction. “Your immediate assistance when summoned was greatly appreciated.” Man, that had to hurt. Gram cackled in my head, still eavesdropping, but I wasn't about to give her the boot. She deserved the chance to see the Dumont family thanking me. Made her day, I bet.
My eyes drifted to Kristophe's right hand as it twitched, a white stone turning in his fingers as I answered. “I was asked to help,” I said, something stirring in my chest, crackling. “And I didn't hesitate.” What was it? Poking me, prodding at me to pay attention.
More than they would have done for us, Gram snarled.
As I examined the feeling, the walls around the idea split, burst into a dark bubble building inside my stomach as I stared at the stone in Kristophe's hand. He clenched his fist around it when he noticed me watching, but that just made my anxiety grow.
No. It couldn't be. But it made the most logical sense, didn't it?
Didn't it?
“Give that to me.” I held out my hand, the demand backed with power. Kristophe refused at first before Andre snarled at him in French. Long hair hanging over his shoulder, Kristophe shrugged delicately before dropping the white stone into my palm even as my entire body stilled.
Fear like I'd never know zinged through me as I reached for the stone.
And felt nothing.
Not crystal. Not a trap for power after all. Just a smooth, white stone.
I handed it back with my fear still alive, kicking myself I hadn't even considered what I now assumed had to be the truth. The blossom of understanding felt like an epiphany, one I should have had the moment I felt the attack on Mia. Even without proof, what other explanation could there be?
It had to be them.
The Brotherhood.
Oh. My. Swearword.
Gram swore in my head so loudly I almost jumped. We're all idiots, she snarled. Get back here right now.
I spun from the three Dumonts, knowing I'd likely made a very terrible mistake, letting three days pass. Three days for the Brotherhood to track and plot another coven's demise. To take another family's magic.
Desperation clenched a fist around my lungs, my heart as I thought of Shenka’s sister on the West coast. Of how I could have been wrong, after all. Didn’t trust Mom to keep me posted, feared Quaid was under orders to stay silent.
Tallah. The Hensleys. All of the covens.
Please, please. No.
I was almost back to Mia's room, reaching for Shenka when I heard the first scream.
***