The back door swings shut behind me as I enter the familiar house, pacing down the hall toward the stairs. Quaid is just descending, catches me as he hits the bottom, pulling me into a giant hug that lifts me from my feet. I kiss him soundly on the lips, knowing Syd won’t mind, wiping tears of my own from my face with impatient hands. Quaid hugs me again, one big hand on my back, the other tangled in the cropped off mess I made of my hair.
“You’re okay.” He’s choked up, deep voice rough. “We were worried.”
I nod into his broad chest, the scent of chocolate and spices warming me. “Me, too.”
Something hits my leg and I pull back from Syd’s husband to discover a very angry silver Persian perched on my foot. His round body quivers, fur on end, ears flat back as fire flares in his amber eyes.
“Charlotte,” he snarls. “You are in so much trouble, young lady, I can’t even tell you.”
I bend and scoop him up, hugging him though he hisses and spits at me, batting my face with his silver paws—claws retracted, so I know he’s not really angry—and kiss his furry forehead.
“Sass,” I whisper into his fur.
The Hayle family magic tightens around me even as Sassafras’s demon power triggers my own fire element.
“Don’t ever do anything that stupid ever again,” he says. “I mean it.”
I turn him to face Sage. “No promises.”
Sass sighs and relaxes in my arms at
last. “I suppose this is the boy in question?”
That almost makes me laugh. The demon cat has such a way with
words.
“This is Sage,” I say as the big wolf dips his head. “Sage, you know Shenka, I think?” Surely he’s met her once or twice? Syd’s been training with him for years now, I can’t imagine she didn’t take her second to the dojo a time or two. “Quaid?”
The big witch shrugs. “We met,” he says, dark eyes fixed on Sage. “Welcome.”
“The kids.” I turn on Quaid who shakes his head, finger on his lips.
“Galleytrot is with them,” he says, voice low. Gabriel and Ethie must be asleep, the big hound of the Wild Hunt their constant guardian. “Let’s go downstairs.”
The basement. Of course, it will be safer there, hidden in the layers of protections around the family’s main pentagram. I follow Shenka, still carrying the Persian, hearing the soft pad of Sage’s paws behind me as I pass through the kitchen and down into the cellar.
The cold concrete floor is etched and painted with a giant white pentagram, the single bulb illuminating the large space casting wide shadows into the corners. I finally set Sass down in the middle of the room and turn to face Shenka and Quaid, one hand falling to Sage’s broad head.
Thank you for taking us in. Sage’s mental voice is strong and I know from the nod Quaid gives him, from the way Sass fluffs his fur, they’ve all heard his words. We know this is putting you in danger and that’s the last thing we want. He looks up at me. But things have developed we need to share, things that will hopefully change our situation for the better.
Sassafras swipes one paw over his whiskers before wrapping his fluffy tail around his paws, amber eyes flaring with magic. “I assume,” he says in his most droll demon boy voice, “you’re referring to the fact you have, as of yet, to devolve into a soulless monster bent on killing everyone in sight?”
Sage bows his head to the cat with a wolfish smile. Clever, he says.
“For a human boy,” Sass says, “you’re not so bad yourself.” He cocks his head to one side. “And rather accepting of a talking cat, at that.”
Sage coughs a laugh, his paw rising to his nose. I’d be a bit of a hypocrite if I didn’t accept such things are possible.
“Touché,” Sass says before winking one eye at me. “You can keep this one.”
If only it is that easy. But Sass’s approval means a lot to me, as does Shenka’s smile and Quaid’s grim grin.
“We used the veil to get here,” I say, “but the Enforcers might still know we’ve crossed.” I fill them in on our little plan to use the cavern and Quaid nods.
“Brilliant, actually,” he says. “They might come looking, but they’ll have no proof you arrived here. We’ll keep it that way.” He’s a former Enforcer trainee, thinks like them still. He hasn’t completely relaxed, but at least he’s not freaking out, so we probably have some time.
“The family magic understands how important it is to keep you two safe,” Shenka says, blue fire forming at her feet before fading away.
I nod to her, gratitude surfacing so powerfully I’m unable to speak. I do release a soft squeak as a black tunnel forms beside Quaid and though my heart soars at the thought it might be a familiar face, the two who emerge don’t fit my expectations. I realize then how much I miss Piers as Ethpeal and Demetrius step clear of the sorcery pathway and join us.
She comes to me, hugs me firmly, though without judgment or any emotion beyond grim joy. I kiss her cheek, Syd’s grandmother’s blue eyes meeting mine as she pulls away. There are delicate threads of silver in her black hair, but she is as stunning as she has been since her transformation by her own sorcery.
“Hello, girl,” she says.
“Hello, Ethpeal.” I gesture at the big lupine beside me. “This is Sage.”
She bows her head to him. “Well now,” she says. “I suppose he’ll do.”
More endorsements. I love this family.
Ethpeal turns, including the others in our conversation as Demetrius slips forward quickly and quietly to kiss my cheek, his cherub face smiling, pale blue eyes shining with happiness. I squeeze his strong hand as his wife speaks.
“We just missed you out there,” she says to me, gesturing vaguely beyond the basement walls. “We almost grabbed the pair of you ourselves, but you beat us to it.” She pokes the end of my nose with one finger. “Clever girl,” she says. “The cavern was an excellent choice. But the Enforcers know something is up.” She shakes her head. “I did my best to muddy your passing, but I have a feeling they’ll be by before too long.”
We have to go. I flinch, almost take a step to leave, but Demetrius is still holding my hand and he won’t release me. And Ethpeal steps in to block me as I try to move forward, intense gaze narrowed. I know better than to argue with her.
I won’t win.
“Where is Syd?” Maybe I shouldn’t cling to the need I feel to see her, to explain all of this to her. These very capable witches and sorcerers are here now, for me, willing to help. But my irrational side wants Syd to protect them since I can’t.
Quaid shows his first signs of anxiety, hands deep in his front pockets, shoulders hunching forward so his dark t-shirt bunches over his broad chest. “We don’t know,” he says in his deep and steady voice, it at least not betraying his nervousness. “She left with Max three days ago and hasn’t come home.” Chocolate brown eyes meet mine. “They are still fighting infestations of creatures from the Dark Universe, ones that crossed when Demonicon fell.” I slip my hand through Sage’s fur, the other tightening on Demetrius. Syd’s little sister is the Ruler of Demonicon and went through her own trial by fire, losing her world to a cult only to pull it back together again. She’s a true Hayle, like her sister, though the damage done did a number on the veil between worlds. Since Syd’s son, Gabriel, opened a gateway to the other Universe, the drach have been doing their best to repair the damage. The assault on Demonicon didn’t help matters. And though things are mostly back to normal, I know there is still much to be done to restore order and finish healing the hurts done to the veil.
I wanted to tell this story to Syd. But the family gathered is watching me, waiting for me to fill them in on everything that’s happened. I’m a little surprised Tallah hasn’t been in touch with her sister and I can see from the worry on her face, she is, too. If they are willing to risk their lives for Sage and me, the least I can do is tell them everything.
***