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  Way better.

  Maybe you’d like to fill me in? I ran my hand over the end of my ponytail, thinking I must look a fright before making him an offer. Dinner’s happening now if you want to join us.

  We would be delighted, he sent. Alison’s familiar feeling passed through Sebastian’s magic, also in agreement. We shall see you presently.

  I let him go and sighed softly into the quiet air of the basement. I would not run upstairs and brush out my hair or put on more mascara or change my clothes. So silly. Besides, I was thrilled for Alison. She earned happiness, if that was what she found, and all my old feelings for Sebastian were moot at this point, anyway.

  Damned hormones.

  Instead of dwelling on the imminent arrival of the vampire and his companion, I instead batted at the twitching magic of my demon as she harrumphed in my head. Grinning now, I reached into the veil and tore it open, my focus on my sister.

  The gap opened easily, the soft breath of my demon grandmother washing over me as she said hello. Ahbi Sanghamitra had been part of the Demoniconian Node before, the teardrop shaped power cell holding all the planes of the demon realm together, but this time was different. When she’d died in my arms and her power inside me, she felt angry, overpowering and we waged an almost constant struggle. Her joining with the Node and leaving me only meant big problems for Meira when Dad abdicated and my sister took the First Seat. But with the fall of Demonicon and the building of the new Node—partially in thanks to Ahbi— my grandmother had mellowed quite a bit, as though all ego was lost to the making of the power cell. No matter the truth, I was just grateful she survived.

  Meira and I might have been Hayles, but we had the added strength of our demon grandmother in us for good measure.

  I smiled at my sister where she sat on a divan under a giant window. The view outside of Ostrogotho, the capital city, made me nostalgic. I really had to visit again soon. Meira’s own grin was fast and bright, white teeth flashing against her dark red lips, glowing amber eyes sparkling beneath thick black lashes. Her curving horns caught the light as she ducked her head, long, black curls falling loose over one shoulder, brushing the cheek of the beaming demon girl in her arms.

  “Auntie Syd!” Zuzameirhaylynn squealed my name. Though only two years old, she—like most demon children—was growing at a rapid rate, with the size and intelligence of a six year old.

  I waved and blew her a kiss. “Hey, Zuze. Cuteness, you got bigger since the last time I saw you.”

  Her tiny nose scrunched, red tinted skin pinking on the tops of her round cheeks. “Of course,” she said in a tone that reminded me so much of my daughter I laughed out loud.

  Meira rolled her eyes at me. “Don’t say it.”

  We shared a knowing smile.

  “Ahbi said I could come visit.” Zuza bounced on her mother’s lap, clapping her hands together. “Can I come now?”

  “Not tonight, cuteness,” I said. “But soon. I know Ethie and Gabriel would love that.”

  She pouted, leaning her little head back on her mother’s shoulder, but the temper tantrum I expected—thanks to my hotwired daughter’s behavior—didn’t come. “Okay,” she said. “Soon, though, right?”

  Someone stepped into the opening, sitting next to Meira a moment. Rameranselot waved at me, hands reaching for their daughter before I could respond.

  “Nice to see you, Ram.” Another old suitor, though one I knew would never work out. He made my sister happy, at least. I had a feeling all along he never felt for me nearly what he did for her.

  “Syd.” He pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek, then his daughter’s. “I’ll make sure Miss Busy Pants doesn’t interrupt you further.” I was almost sad when he swept upward, Zuza laughing in his arms, and left the gap, out of sight.

  Meira’s distant smile told me she watched them leave the room before focusing on me again. “Social call or end of the world, oh my swearword, we’re about to die?”

  I laughed, shook my head. “Ha freaking ha.”

  She grinned, winked, shrugged. Meira had become an amazing demon woman, the little girl I remembered from childhood long grown up, though she retained her sense of humor, at least. “So, which?”

  “Not sure,” I said. And asked her what it felt like I’d been asking a gazillion people all day. “Have you been feeling dull, out of it, bored lately?” And went on to explain Sassafras’s worries.

  Meira frowned slightly, but shook her head in return. “Nothing like that here,” she said. “Want me to pop over and see if I can help?”

  “It’s fine.” I stood up, stuck my hands in my jeans pockets. “Thanks anyway. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  Meira hesitated. “Just let me know, and I’m there.”

  “Why?” I raised one eyebrow, smirking. “Bored or something?”

  She tsked at me before laughing. “Damn it,” she said. “I wish something would happen.” And gasped in a breath, both hands over her mouth, eyes sparkling.

  It was a joke, we both knew it. But even while I grinned I tensed. Waited. Worried.

  But the world didn’t implode or fall apart and time kept ticking.

  Meira’s hands dropped and she winced. “Yeah, sorry,” she said. “I’m happy with boring.”

  I let my sister go, turning slowly on the ball of one foot, staring at the floor as I worked it over in my mind. I hesitated on the last call I had to make, only because Erica Plower and I weren’t really on good terms anymore. Not that she was my enemy or anything. Mom’s former second in this very coven had taken her place as leader of the North American Witches Council. Since then, she and I had butted heads countless times over issues of law. In fact, I hadn’t talked to her much in the last two years outside of official events, not since I defended Charlotte against Erica’s orders to deport her and Sage back to Europe.

  But, if anyone would have a bigger picture view of what was happening, it would be Erica. I might not have agreed with her way of doing business, always thought she was the worst choice possible for leader, but she was efficient, I’d give her that. And while I knew the Council only chose her because with Mom’s retirement they insisted on another Hayle at the helm, it had to eat at Erica she was second best. Again.

  Not my problem. I gathered my thoughts to reach out to her the same moment I felt two people cross the family wards and sighed in relief. I’d contact Erica later. I had paranormal guests to welcome.

  Saved by the vampire.

  ***

  Chapter Nine

  I sat back and bumped shoulders with Sebastian as the long evening wound down into late night. Alison leaned in, chatting with Mom about something that made them both giggle while my husband and father played a magic game of chess, pieces floating in the air between them. Shenka, busy as usual, cleared the table though I waved her down into her seat.

  “Well?” I prodded the handsome vampire with one elbow. “What were you two up to?”

  He shrugged in his casual, sexy way, big shoulders pulling at the fabric of his expensive dress shirt, suit coat draped over the back of his chair. The sleeves were rolled up, the thick muscles of his forearms jumping as he leaned forward and retrieved his wineglass. The white lights strung around the table reflected in his eyes, deep, dark wells unfathomable, black hair falling over his forehead in a sultry wave.

  Dear elements, he was scrumptious.

  Down, girl.

  “As you know,” he said in his velvet voice, one big hand settling over mine in casual camaraderie that made parts of me twitch in old longing, “I’ve been doing everything I can to understand this change which has come over me since you brought me back from the brink.”

  Twice. But the first time didn’t count, I guess. It was the most current that had the biggest impact. I tried to forget the wasted, dusty shell I’d found, sealed by the Brotherhood, leaving Sebastian to be drained and left for dead. My maji power was a little too enthusiastic that night, and whatever it was I did to him when I pulled him back from deat
h gave him powers unlike any other vampire, as well as life he’d lost centuries ago when he was brought over into the undead. Since then, he’d been experimenting, not only with his own clan, but with Sunny’s as well, with her blessing.

  “You’ve been hitting a wall,” I said. Sunny kindly kept me updated on each failure, though she never seemed angry or upset. Still, I was sure Sebastian blamed himself for his lack of progress.

  But, from the tightness of his grin and the happiness exuding from him, I knew he had to have made a breakthrough.

  “So far,” he said. “But we may have stumbled on something that could make all the difference.” He turned his head to look at Alison and, for the first time, I realized just how much he cared for her. No, Syd. Loved her. Admit it. The adoration flashing over his face made me sigh and swoon.

  Just a little. I was allowed.

  “With Alison’s help,” he said, oblivious to my reaction, “I may have uncovered a different means of helping all vampires evolve to their full potential.”

  A blessing, my vampire sent. My people have been too long in the darkness.

  She’d spent about a thousand years trapped in a crazy magician herself, so she knew exactly what she was talking about.

  “Keep me posted,” I said. And winced. “By the way…”

  I was really tired of talking about this. But the way Sassafras watched me from his perch on the end of the table made me speak up yet again. He had to be worried, and I wouldn’t let him down or leave any stone uncracked if it meant keeping the family safe.

  Sebastian paused a long moment before setting down his wine glass and gently touching Alison’s shoulder. She turned toward him with a glowing smile, that same look on her face he had when he looked at her, though hers faded as she blushed a bit.

  And I realized then and there neither of them had told each other how they felt. A sudden surge of irritation made me want to knock their heads together.

  Leave it alone. Mom’s voice cut through my frustration.

  But! I glared at her. You knew?

  It’s theirs to work out, she sent, blue eyes glittering with intensity. Do not interfere, Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle. Ever.

  I wrinkled my nose at her and crossed my arms over my chest. But I did as she asked.

  Meanwhile, Sebastian and Alison shared a whispered conversation. The both turned to me the exact moment my mother’s mind released mine.

  “We have noticed something odd,” Alison said, leaning partially around Sebastian, blonde hair brushing over his bare arm. I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything about how he looked at her, or how he seemed to inhale her scent as though in secret. “Like my curiosity was taken away or something.”

  Sassafras grunted. “Precisely,” he said.

  Mom and Dad nodded, Quaid, too. Shenka, just taking her seat again, stroked the silver Persian’s fur gently, eyes worried.

  “I take it this is a widespread phenomenon?” Sebastian’s frown tightened soft lines around his eyes.

  “But only here,” I said. “I talked to Fergus and Meira and neither of them noticed anything.”

  “It’s odd, definitely,” Mom said. “But none of us have been able to find a reason for it.”

  Sebastian nodded slowly. “Perhaps a concerted effort,” he said. “As a group?”

  Excellent idea, my vampire sent. I expected nothing less.

  He’s so smart, Shaylee sent with a girlie exhale of adoration.

  Finally, someone’s making sense, my demon sent.

  Sigh.

  Just how much of my old attachment to Sebastian was their fault?

  I reached for his power before they could say anything further, the smooth, almost buttery feel of him delightful. And I knew why. He shared my magic now, it was part of him and integrating was simple because of it. Alison was the same, though colder, more distant. She might have physical form now and be something entirely new, but she was still, at heart, an echo.

  Mom and Dad felt familiar, heat and bright blue warmth, followed by Shenka and the power of the family. Sassafras’s magic bubbled beneath us all, touched by the power of a century and a half of Hayle witches and ancient demon magic.

  Together, we reached, examined, explored everything we could. Spreading like a blanket over Wilding Springs and outward, to the border of our territory. I felt brief resistance when we came in contact with the Council magic marking the edges of our home, but it faded away quickly.

  At last, we retreated as one, separating ourselves when our power returned to pool around us. I rubbed at my temples, a faint headache burning behind my eyes while the others shook off the connection.

  “Sassafras,” Sebastian addressed the demon cat directly, “I’m afraid there’s nothing to find. But, if there is more to this than we have been able to uncover, I’m certain you’ll be the first to know about it. I would appreciate contact if something were to come of this.”

  Sass bowed his head to the vampire king, though I could tell from his frustration he felt embarrassed by the lack of discovery.

  The vampire and his companion left shortly after, with hugs and kisses all around. I embraced Alison tightly, missing her more than I ever had and, when she pulled away, there were tears in her blue eyes.

  “Let’s do a girl day,” she whispered. “Just you and me. Soon.”

  I nodded, grinned. “That would be awesome.”

  I said goodbye, stayed in the back yard while Mom and Dad waved goodnight and drifted through the hedge and to their own home. Quaid kissed me, went inside, probably to check the kids, while I sat and stared at the twinkling white lights.

  “Syd, I’m sorry.” Sassafras’s tail thrashed as he fretted. He hadn’t moved from his spot, ears flat to the sides, whiskers curved under, head down. “I worried everyone for nothing.”

  It wasn’t much of a reach to gather him into my arms and pull him close. Sass shivered in my embrace, his anxiety palpable.

  “You never have to say you’re sorry,” I said. “You know the safety of this family comes first. And you of all people I trust. Even if it turned out to be nothing.”

  He nodded. “Still. I feel like an idiot.”

  His fur was soft under my lips as I pressed them to his forehead. “A million times better safe than running and screaming and panicking,” I said.

  He hopped down, waddling into the house with his tail down. Considering he raised me, added his power to mine when I was still inside my mom, it was no wonder I was so much like him. I wouldn’t have let someone else’s assurances make me feel better, either.

  Poor cat.

  I sighed, pushed back from the table, unplugging the lights. Looked up at the stars and the rising moon. Drew a deep, cleansing breath and let go of my stress.

  And went to bed.

  ***

  I woke in darkness, feeling something tweaking under my skin. Nothing like an attack or anything, but a sensation of unease. After a few minutes tossing a bit, trying to shake off the restlessness driving me from sleep, I gave in and slipped out of bed. Quaid had no trouble staying in dreamland and I wasn’t about to ruin his night.

  As I thumped softly down the stairs, I kicked myself as I realized what the problem was. All that sleep earlier today must have thrown off my clock.

  I didn’t bother with lights, my demon’s vision guiding me—along with long experience in this house—down to the main floor and around the corner to the hallway leading to the kitchen. I stood in the glow of the refrigerator, staring at the milk for about thirty seconds, feeling kind of dazed. Shaking it off only worked with a big gulp right from the carton. I grinned at it as I put it back, knowing Shenka would be pissed if she caught me.

  The itchy, tingling feeling making me restless didn't fade. But when I reached out to the family, everything felt perfectly fine. The whole coven slept, for the most part, the odd couple up for personal reasons that made me blush as I skimmed over them, a couple of new moms dealing with hungry babies.

  Nothing out of the
ordinary. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling something was off.

  Paranoid. All the talk with Sassafras, asking the same questions over and over, obviously affected me. I finally forced myself to cross out of the quiet kitchen and back down the hall to the stairs.

  I’d barely set one foot on the bottom step when something hit me in the gut, hard. I gasped for breath, clutching at the hand rail, before I realized it wasn’t a physical blow.

  Foreign power I’d never encountered before had just broken through the family wards.

  A burst of fire blazed in the corner of my eye, jerking me around toward the back door. I barely remembered moving, feet flying over the hardwood, hands slamming against the glass and throwing it open, hurtling out into the dew-wet grass.

  Fire climbed from a curled up ball of humanity, near the edge of the hedgerow leading to the park on the other side of our property. I staggered to a halt, power reflexively tightening around me, ready to attack, when the figure unbent, half sitting, half lying on the ground, her face turned up toward me.

  “RUN!” Her scream pierced me to my soul, froze my magic in place before it could harm her. Flames burned her, devoured her, dark hair and eyes on fire, but she managed to stagger to her feet, eyes pure gold as she gestured toward me. “Sydlynn Hayle, if you love your family, run and don’t look back!”

  I stared at her, mouth gaping open, even as she rose in a gout of thermal pressure and light, into the dark night. Vast wings of flame spread out from her, sending gusts of superheated air toward me, heat even I could feel. With the anguished cry of an injured eagle, echoing so loudly my heart broke, the strange girl disappeared in a flash of brilliance and was gone.

  There was no time to wonder, to go after her. Because the moment she was gone, I finally felt it. Past the tingling in my skin that woke me earlier, past the numb dullness Sassafras worried about. Between one heartbeat and the next, I understood everything in a rush of darkness that swarmed over Wilding Springs and tried to smother me.