Chapter 78: Hello, Syd

Syd has never been one to hide how she feels, but from the fury on her face, I can tell she's angrier than I've ever seen her. Erica backs off two hurried steps as the door behind me slams shut in the Enforcer's faces. I hear them pounding on the door, their magic buffering against Syd's while she stalks forward, totally silent for once, teeth bared, hands fisted at her sides.

Erica retreats behind her desk, shaking, eyes huge, hands up in front of her as the power of the Council holds off Syd. "How dare you barge in here," Erica splutters.

Syd laughs. It's not a pretty sound and I back her up by spinning past Shenka and flanking the Council Leader, keeping her pinned behind her desk, cutting off her chance of retreat. Syd ignores me, one hand rising, index finger on fire as she jabs it into Erica's chest so hard the woman jerks back.

"You," she says in a deathly quiet voice, "will call off your Enforcers right now," Syd pokes her again, smoke rising from the front of Erica's shirt, "and get them the hell out of my house," her voice rises, louder, full of power as she grows a few inches, towering over Erica, rainbow magic in flames around her, "or I will make sure you never see the light of day again."

Shenka holds her place, but she interrupts the silence that falls after a few heartbeats.

"Coven Leader," she says. "Nice of you to join us."

"I was busy," Syd says, eyes still locked on Erica. "Sorry to take so long."

"Not at all." Shenka shifts her weight to one foot, an amused expression warming her face. "Though your timing is, as always, impeccable."

Syd shrinks to her normal size and for the first time I really see why Shenka is her perfect choice for second. I love Syd, she is a sister of my heart, but her temper and the power she holds make her borderline uncontrollable, pushing her past her empathy to the edge of uncaring. Shenka's easy manner and ability to diffuse any situation makes her invaluable. While Syd's fury is legendary-and, in this case, justified-killing the Council Leader would likely put her on the fugitive list, too.

Erica seems to sense the shift in mood and her terror fades in favor of indignation. "How dare you threaten me."

"I mean it, Erica," Syd says, turning her back on the Council Leader. "Don't screw with me. You'll lose and you know it. Get your Enforcers out of my territory now, or I'll report you to the World Councils. And we'll see how well that goes over, a Council Leader blatantly breaking coven law."

Erica's face falls, twists into desperation. "I had no choice."

"You always have a choice." Syd sounds tired, meets my eyes. "Hey, Charlotte." She gestures at the two of us. "Let's go home and make sure the kids are still asleep." She spins to glare at Erica. "You better hope those jackasses didn't wake my children, or I'll be back."

"You can't take her." Erica's show of bravery is a surprise, even to Syd.

"Considering," Syd snaps as she takes my hand, Shenka's in her free one, "this isn't a North American problem, that you are, for some reason only known to you, turning another race's issues into your own, I can do whatever the hell I want." Syd's magic flares around us. "Word of advice from here on in, Erica. Mind your own damned business."

I feel the veil, now familiar to my own magic, as Syd tears it open and pulls us through. Before the seam seals shut, I hear Erica screaming after us.

"Sydlynn Hayle! You won't get away with challenging the law forever!"

Her words echo in the dark, dying at last as we step out the other side. I stumble as we do, expecting the cold basement in Wilding Springs, shock sending shivers through me as I stare across a second desk into Femke Svennson's surprised face. She's clearly in the dark about this visit as I am, though Syd doesn't allow for hesitation.

"Femke," she says, leaning forward with her fists on the Council Leader's desk. "We have to talk."

Femke stands quickly, gesturing at the door behind us as the feeling of even more Enforcers crests against it. But this Council Leader isn't desperate or afraid. Instead, she circles the desk to hug me tight, her crisp scent making me sad.

"Charlotte," she whispers in my ear. "I'm so happy you're all right."

She releases me, goes to the door as Syd grabs me this time, hugs me close.

"In case you were wondering," she grins, voice dry as she pulls away, "we were all worried about you."

I blink away some tears, knowing my proximity to her is making me even more emotional. "I know," I say.

"Sage is okay?" Syd takes a seat, kindly ignoring my rising tears, Shenka patting my shoulder before joining her in another. I slide to the cushion of the last as Femke finishes her whispered conversation through a crack in the door before joining us. She sits on the front of her desk, arms crossed over her chest, as she looks around at the three of us, taking in Shenka's pajamas, Syd's rumpled t-shirt and dirty jeans. I glance at the clock on the desk, remembering it's five hours ahead here, and accept the glow of dawn lighting in the east with weary recognition.

"I take it there's a story I need to hear." Femke rises again, goes to the side of the room, pouring hot coffee from a carafe. I join her, helping pass out steaming mugs while Syd sighs happily and accepts hers.

"Just another day at the office," she says, blue eyes sparkling.

I sit next to her, worry clenching my hands around the hot mug. "The house?" I can't meet her eyes, guilt stinging. I've put the family in so much danger.

"Mom's there," Syd says, all casual as she sips her coffee. "And Max and a couple of his closest friends." The drach. They will not allow anything bad to happen to the coven. I breathe a sigh of relief and finally turn my head to look at her. She leans in and touches my cheek, fingers heated from her coffee mug. "It's covered. And Sage is safe. I promise. Erica won't dare go near him now."

I nod, too choked up to answer, or to tell her it wasn't Sage I was worried about, but the kids. I should have known Syd would never leave them unprotected.

Femke's eyes are curious behind the rim of her mug. "Trouble with my counterpart?"

I sink into the chair, resting the mug in my lap, the scent of coffee perking me almost as much as drinking it. "I have a lot to tell you."

It takes about an hour. By the time I'm done, the sun is up, the sky bright outside Femke's window. I stare out into the new day, watch students begin to trickle about the campus, the view of the main concourse almost hypnotic as life goes on, normal life, beyond this room.

When I'm finally done, Syd sets her mug down on Femke's desk. "We have to see Sage," she says.

Femke nods. "I need to examine him, Charlotte. To prove to myself he's what you say he is."

Even now, I hesitate, though these are my friends and I know Syd would never put us in danger.

I'll be there, she sends, voice strong and familiar in my head. If Femke starts talking turning him over to the werewolves, I'll take you to Meems. You'll be safe on Demonicon.

I reach out and squeeze her hand. Thank you, I send. But you put the family first.

Syd's mind hugs mine. You are family, she sends before she stands and nods to Femke. I join her, meeting the Council Leader's eyes, opening my magic to her on impulse. I reach for her with my power and Femke kindly reaches back. I feel her concern, her strength and her absolute faith in me.

"I promise you," Femke says. "I won't make any decisions without talking it over first. All right?"

I hug her. I seem to have become rather demonstrative lately. Femke doesn't seem to mind. And honestly, neither do I.



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