The Brotherhood Page 4

  I stopped in the driveway, report still clutched in my hand. I had to tell Femke but, damn it, Danilo deserved the chance to explain things to me first. I reached for the wereking through the veil though I stayed put, feeling his resistance to my touch as I connected. He was getting good at blocking me. I couldn’t see a glimmer of his location, though he felt stationary.

  Just checking in, I sent. Hear your people have been running into trouble.

  Not sure what you mean, he sent back, short and crisp.

  My jaw jumped, temper snapping. Don’t play this game, Danilo. I know about the arrests. The edge of the report crumpled in my hand as I squeezed. If the normal authorities find out your people are paranormal—

  When this becomes your business, a new voice interrupted, we’ll let you know. Charlotte’s mother, Olena, cut me off herself, slamming the connection shut.

  The bitch. I hadn’t trusted her, not from day one. But she was Charlotte’s mom. Danilo’s. I stood there in the sunlight, fuming a long moment before I was calm enough to reach for Femke.

  No contact. She was clearly in a meeting or busy. Fine, then. I’d drop this report on her desk at some point in the next little while. She might already be aware, but I didn’t want to leave this to maybes.

  I knew the moment I walked through the door the girls were gone and, when I climbed the stairs to my room with a tentative touch, I realized Quaid was, too. I entered my bedroom with slowly sagging shoulders to an unhappy silver Persian. Sass stood at the end of the bed, tail thrashing on the quilt, eyes narrowed, ears back. Though for a moment I worried his animosity was aimed at me, he cleared up that concern with the first word out of his mouth.

  “Quaid,” he snarled, “is a hard-headed idiot.”

  I laughed, though with little humor, tossing the report on the table by the door before crossing to scoop Sass into my arms. “You’re finally figuring that out, are you?”

  He batted one paw at my lips, sparks dancing in his eyes. “I thought you were bad,” he said. “Seriously.”

  I sank to the edge of the bed and sighed. “Please tell me you didn’t fight with him?” The last thing I needed was for Sass to add to the tension between Quaid and me.

  “I tried to discuss his present position and how it was affecting the family.” Sass quivered with anger. “He actually told me to mind my own business.” Those indignant words would have made me snort if it wasn’t so sad. Broke my heart, actually, to see Sass’s distress. “Syd,” he said, anger sizzling out, ears going sideways as his whiskers drooped. “This family is my business.”

  I hugged him close. “Quaid’s just trying to figure out his new boundaries,” I said, feeling like I was quoting some self-help guru. And while I’d admit to perusing a few relationship books online just in case they might help, I certainly didn’t want to turn into a pushover either. “But you’re right, Sass. As much as he might not like it, you were here first. And the safety of this family has been in your capable paws for so long I’m sure we wouldn’t have made it this far without you.”

  Sass laid his head on my shoulder, tail quieting. “I know your marriage is your responsibility,” he said, voice low and soft. “But this discord is bad for the coven, Syd.”

  I let him go, stroking his fur as he settled on the covers in soft misery.

  “We’ve been through rough patches before,” I said. “And it all worked out. I have faith.” I really did. The magic binding Quaid and me together was as strong as ever, no matter the pressures we were both under right now. “It’s only been eight weeks since the Brotherhood attack, less than two since Quaid took over as the WPC Enforcer Leader. There’s bound to be upset for a bit.”

  “With Shenka leaving, the coven is nervous.” I’d felt it, seen it in the faces of those I cared about when I met them on the street. But the family magic was as powerful as my ties to Quaid and always would be.

  “Everyone is nervous.” I stood and headed for the closet. “If the family has learned anything from past events, Sass, it’s that we will always endure.” I had to believe that. And would give my life to make sure it remained the truth. I pulled out a dark suit from the closet and turned to show it to him. “Want to get out of the house for a few hours?”

  He nodded, sitting up. “Where are we going?”

  As I dressed behind the mostly closed door of my walk in, I filled him in on Mom’s plan.

  “About time,” he grumbled. “I’m surprised Miriam waited this long.”

  “Don’t be such a grouch.” I fastened the last button on my sleeveless cream blouse and opened the door, jacket in one hand, heels in the other. “We’re all doing the best we can, remember?”

  Sass sighed, nodded. “I’m just in a bad mood,” he said. “Thanks for asking me to come with you.”

  I bent over him, kissed the top of his head. “I figure I have to keep you happy,” I said. “You and I are the only two in this family who are going to live forever.”

  His amber eyes blinked slowly. “Do you think that’s part of Quaid’s problem?”

  He had to bring that up, didn’t he? I turned away with a sharp frown, draping my jacket over the back of my dressing table chair. I loved the old wood of the heavy piece Quaid gave me as a wedding present. The Brotherhood shattered it when they invaded, but my husband managed to put it back together again. I ran one hand over the surface. Just like our troubles now, we’d patch things up. We always did.

  But Sass’s reminder my love would grow old and I would have to watch that happen wasn’t helping me improve my mood or increase my optimism. And gave voice to the worry I carried with me about Quaid’s true reasons for stepping back from us, from diving into work. Was he afraid of the very thing I knew was inevitable for us?

  I really needed to talk to him. As soon as this tour was over, I’d make time.

  Mom’s magic tied to the power of the Council gently prodded the wards around the house. I wondered at her politeness as I invited her to pass, only to feel the touch of others with her as she entered the kitchen below. With a heavy sigh held tight in my chest and a need to roll my eyes continually barely grasped in check, I followed Sassafras as he sauntered out my door and down the stairs, a prince in his domain. At least his casual arrogance triggered my humor and took the edge off as I walked from the warm hardwood in the hall to the cool tile of the kitchen.

  Not that I was unhappy to see my mother. It was just all the formalities that made my left eye twitch in irritation. The sight of two other Council members standing behind Mom, flanked by Enforcer Leader Varity Rhodes and a younger woman also in a black and blue trimmed robe made my teeth clench.

  Sorry, sweetheart, Mom sent. Official business.

  You could have warned me, I sent back, temper already coiling around my fight with Quaid.

  I thought I did. Her calm never cracked as she smiled her best Council Leader smile at me. “Coven Leader Hayle,” she said, warmth in her voice, magic formally greeting mine. “Thank you for welcoming us into your territory.”

  I nodded, not feeling all that gracious but willing to play the game for Mom’s sake. “Council Leader Hayle,” I said, sweet and sticky, “how lovely to see you.”

  Mom laughed in my head. A little thick, don’t you think?

  You asked for it. I crossed my arms over my chest, the firm hug of my suit feeling odd after the familiar comfort of my t-shirt and jeans. If only I could have gotten away with my usual casual attire.

  “The Council wishes to call on your services today,” Mom went on, gesturing kindly to the two women beside her. Both bobbed nods at me and I nodded back. I still wasn’t used to the youth of the new Council, so accustomed to years of dealing with ancient witches stuck in their frustrating ways. Mary Parker of the Santos family and Sylvia Rhodes from the Rhodes coven were both in their late twenties, like me and, from what I knew of them, were at least moderately progressive. The looks of awe on their faces made me frown a bit, though. The Council needed strong voices, not witches who could
n’t hold their own against the hard times to come.

  “The Council is welcome to do so.” Oh, Syd. I smiled to soften the quip as Mom’s nostrils flared ever so slightly in response.

  “We’ve begun a tour of covens,” she said in her same glowing tone, though from the tightness around her eyes she’d begun to lose her own sense of humor about the whole situation. “And would ask your participation in visiting with coven leaders to ensure the continuing safety of our territory.”

  “I’m delighted to assist,” I said, reaching for genuine. The smiles that answered my words from the two Council members told me I’d hit the mark, though Mom’s pert poke of power was enough assurance she knew me better than that. “May I ask why I’ve been recruited?”

  Mom shrugged. “We are rotating all large coven leaders into the visits,” she said, like asking me was no big deal. Way to hit my ego, Mom. But her reasoning was solid and I nodded, actually feeling better about the whole thing, to be honest. At least, once my whiny side stopped complaining about not being the only special one.

  Seriously. So childish sometimes.

  “I’m ready and available,” I said. “Whenever you are.”

  Thank you, sweetheart. Mom’s mental voice was soft. As foolish as this seems, appearances must be maintained, now more than ever.

  I don’t know, Mom, I sent back as she gestured toward the front door, Mary and Sylvia preceding her. We’ve lived with formality and stilted laws for long enough. Look where that got us.

  Mom’s troubled mental touch wavered. Perhaps, she sent. I hadn’t thought of it that way. She sighed in my head as we crossed the threshold and into the driveway, past the family wards. I felt Nicci’s power softly touch mine, confirmation she was on the job, before Varity bowed to Mom and blue fire lit beneath me. Maybe I’m the wrong leader, after all. New blood might be a good thing right now.

  I don’t believe that for a minute, I sent, bending to scoop Sassafras into my arms as the flames engulfed us and carried us away. How different it felt to travel on the fire of the Enforcers and not through the veil. And to be out of control of said travel. I focused on Mom to keep my mind off the fact. Your experience and willingness to be flexible are exactly what the Council needs, Mom. The day you tell me you think you’re the perfect witch for the job is the day I’ll worry.

  We touched down on well-manicured grass into a sunny afternoon. Tall, ancient maples cast shade over us, the scent of fresh air mixed with the tang of the ocean lifting my spirits immensely.

  Mom’s power hugged me. I love you, sweetheart, she sent.

  Why did that suddenly choke me up? I love you, too. Now, let’s get this over with so I can go back to being a grumpy hermit.

  Mom laughed in my head and led the way toward the large, plantation-style house at the end of the long, gravel drive.

  ***

  Chapter Six

  The library smelled faintly of fire, the whole back of the plantation house still in renovations. I sipped my tea past the crushing horror in the eyes of the witches sitting in a semicircle before me. The empty, hollow feeling of the place, the worn and weary touch of the Santos family magic reminded me in sharp pangs just how far most covens still had to go to recover from what happened only eight weeks ago.

  It felt like a lifetime and looked like one on the face of their leader, Paula Santos. But the lines around her eyes deepened by pain and loss had lessened somewhat, and the optimism in her voice helped my guilt over abandoning her family for the sake of my own.

  There was nothing you could have done, Sass sent in a tight touch of power as I choked on a tiny bite of sugar cookie, just to keep from having to talk to anyone. We’ve been over this. Even you, with all the power you have at your disposal, could barely protect our coven, let alone all of North America. You saved them in the end, Syd. You did everything you could. The rest is up to them.

  Intellectually I knew he was right. But sitting here, listening to Paula talk about rebuilding her devastated coven, made my stomach churn acid around the sweet tea and cookies.

  Paula’s olive skin glowed with fresh pink, dark eyes clear and unguarded. When I finally met her gaze, she smiled at me. “We’re grateful for the assistance of the Steam Union in teaching us to utilize our sorcery.” She had a soft, Southern drawl to her voice, subtle but audible enough I caught myself mimicking her accent in my head. “Knowing we can defend ourselves is the most valuable tool we’ve gained.” That, she sent directly to me, and the return of our family fortune. Her power hugged me gently. For its safe recovery I will be eternally grateful, Sydlynn Hayle. The Santos coven is in your debt forever.

  Don’t thank me, I sent back, biting down on the need to leave before I started to cry over just how badly I felt. She was grateful? Indebted? I let this happen, I screwed up, ran off to help Max when I should have been focused on Belaisle. You owe me nothing. I’m just happy it worked out.

  I shrank from her further attempts to speak privately to me, soul quivering and shivering in my gut as Mom wrapped up the visit. I stood abruptly and spun to leave when she said her goodbyes, almost running square into Varity. The old Enforcer leader’s careful gaze cut through me, though not unkindly. One thin fingered hand settled firmly around my upper arm as she guided me out the door and onto the lawn. I stammered my own formal farewell to Paula and her people just before Varity carried us away on blue fire.

  Enough, she sent as we traveled. I know where your head is, girl. She sounded so much like her best friend, my grandmother, Ethpeal, I actually startled. Don’t be an idiot.

  The fire released us, but Varity held her grip. I met her eyes again for a moment.

  “Sydlynn Hayle,” she whispered in her hoarse voice. “The past is the past. What the future brings, none can say. But here, in the present, you can make a difference.” She nodded curtly, steel gray hair shining in the sunlight as she let me go. “Stop punishing yourself for things no one can change.”

  I had no idea how deeply I carried my guilt, not until that moment. Her power held me kindly but with immense force as I shuddered and struggled with tears. Sassafras’s magic wound around me, held me as tightly as Varity’s. Blame and shame rippled through mine, bouncing back from their combined energy, forcing me to look at it, really see what I’d buried since the day I discovered Liander Belaisle defeated me again.

  So hard to pull apart and examine. But, after a moment, with the comforting support of the old Enforcer leader and my demon cat tied to the love and grief of my alter egos, I sighed out a deep breath and chose to let it go.

  Varity’s magic released me a moment later, Sass’s lingering, linked to me no matter what. I looked up to find Mom distracting the others, though when she glanced our way I saw the troubled sadness in her eyes.

  I’m okay, I sent to my mother, letting Varity and Sass in at the same time. I guess I didn’t realize how much this affected me.

  We’ve been wanting you to deal with it, Sass sent with soft sparks of amber power.

  So this was a setup, I sent, not sure if I should be amused or angry.

  In a way, Mom sent. Two birds with one stone, as they say.

  I nodded slightly and stepped away from Varity, still holding Sass in my arms.

  Thank you, I sent, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. Let’s keep going.

  We spent the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening visiting covens. It was still hard, don’t get me wrong. New pangs of guilt emerged as I greeted each coven leader and met their wide eyed and, at times, grief stricken family members. Some covens had recovered faster than others, at least emotionally. It was nice to see Leader Dagney Rhodes in her natural environment, to greet her, not in the Shadow Council, but under the full supervision of my mother and Varity. The Rhodes family had shriveled to tiny numbers, but thanks to Dagney’s persistence and patience they had grown already by at least a dozen new members, all refugees from fallen families.

  The saddest visit was the least expected. Though I wasn’t exactly
besties with the Bradford coven, finding out the entire family had been wiped from the earth by Belaisle and the Brotherhood hit me like a battering ram. A new family resided in their old home, the Picallo coven. And though Amanda Picallo seemed like a lovely person and a strong witch, knowing the Bradfords were lost completely weighed on me like no other loss.

  To distract myself, I prodded Mom about the replacement as she and the Council members chatted with Amanda and her people.

  It’s happening everywhere, Mom sent. Belaisle and his people targeted the largest covens to weaken us all. Those who were once the leaders of our territory are now the least powerful and new, up and coming covens are taking their place. She sounded sad but optimistic. I would imagine there will be Council seat challenges soon to reflect the changes in dynamic.

  Why doesn’t every coven have a rep on the Council? That would make the most sense, wouldn’t it? Lack of input was what got us in trouble in the first place.

  Too many voices, Mom sent, though her response sounded like rote, not conviction.

  Mom, I sent. That’s crap and you know it. We’re here, right now, because too few decided for the whole. Why do you think the Shadow Council was formed? Mom’s power twitched in response. They feel helpless. You know that already. Maybe it’s time to give them a voice so they don’t need to work behind your back.

  Mom hesitated before standing and offering her power to Amanda. I liked the young woman, barely twenty-five, who led the Picallo family, and warmly shook her hand when we exchanged magic. Her pale green eyes smiled at me as she guided us out.

  It wasn’t until we were on our way again, the blue fire carrying us to our next destination, Mom reached out to me.

  Perhaps you’re right, she sent in a rush of words. Syd, this is massive, you understand that?

  If anyone can handle it, you can. I grinned at her with power so she’d see and feel my amusement. Have fun with that, won’t you?

  She grumbled at me but with good nature. I was still smiling when we materialized at our next location, a smile that dropped from my face the moment I recognized the grand front steps and castle like exterior of the massive, stone mansion before me.