Chapter 128: Reconciliation
He didn't take me home like I expected and though I figured I was in for a reaming or at least considerable I told you so's, I was still glad. I couldn't face Mom just yet. She figured I'd be out until at least midnight and I knew it was hours before that.
Quaid pulled into the small park down the street from my house and switched off the engine. He slid off his helmet, hanging it from the handlebars, but didn't try to get up.
I let go long enough to tug my helmet from my hair, shocked when it came free that the updo still felt reasonably secure.
Mom certainly knew what to do with bobby pins.
I slid off the back of the bike, dropping my shoes in the grass, letting the now too-long hem of my skirt hit the ground.
"Thanks for the ride."
Quaid watched me as I shuffled my bare feet and tried to come up with something else to say, some defense for my actions. I had none. I'd done the best I could with what was left to me. My silence dragged out so long, mind wrestling with words and emotions, I felt like a total and complete moron.
"You're welcome." He swung his leg over the bike, but didn't get up, using it as a seat. "Syd."
I shivered, afraid and worried and nervous all at once. If he was about to tell me off, fine. But that wasn't what worried me, oh no. I was terrified when he opened his mouth, he'd tell me he couldn't be with me because my demon was gone.
I'd have to go back to the pond and drown myself for sure.
I wanted to be mad at him. For avoiding me and ignoring me. Especially after he was the one who wanted things to change between us. And for dumping me like a hot rock when my demon sacrificed herself to save all of us.
Ungrateful ass.
But I just couldn't. As much as this wasn't fair to me, I could totally understand his position. I didn't want to be with me, either. Not like this.
"Syd, come here." He held out one hand. I shuffled over to him and waited. His fingers wrapped around my wrist and he gently pulled me down into his lap. "You don't get anything at all, do you?" His delicious face and the gentle expression on it warmed me even if I couldn't feel the heat of his power anymore.
I stared into his eyes and did get it. Unlike with Brad, the connection to Quaid was still there. Maybe not a witch based one, but a connection nonetheless. I slid my arms around his neck and kissed him.
Even without power, his lips were magical.
"I'm sorry," I whispered it over his mouth, tears standing in my eyes.
"So am I," he said. "I should never have let you go to that stupid prom with Football. I thought it was what you wanted." His deep voice made my body tingle. "I stayed out of the way because I needed to know if you were going to be happier this way."
"Powerless." I could only whisper it.
He nodded. "I'd never forgive myself if I didn't give you the chance to find out."
Quaid was right. He usually hit the mark, much to my irritation. But this time I wasn't mad at him at all.
His dark hair fell over his eyes and he brushed it away with impatience. "I knew this was a bad idea, though. I knew what he would do to you. How's your heart?" His fingers traced down my collarbone, down my skin, not quite far enough to be forward, but just far enough I shivered.
"Fine," I said. "It's my ego that's broken. Or sulking, anyway." Suddenly everything seemed so stupid. Why was I crying again? I actually laughed and hugged him.
Quaid hugged me back. "Good to hear," he said.
I'd never seen him so sweet. "So now what?" I sighed. "I don't know if this will work. Between us." I flushed suddenly. "If you want there to be an us."
His arms tightened. "I'm never losing you again." So fierce. I wondered how much of his need was connected to finding out he was an orphan. I knew how important family was to him.
And as much as I wondered if that was healthy, I wasn't even considering pulling away. Are you kidding? I had my Quaid back. When he became 'my Quaid' I had no idea but there it was. As it turned out, my need for him was just as intense.
"Okay," I said. "Also good to know." He grinned and winked, planting a soft kiss on my neck followed by a soft sigh of hot air that distracted me for a moment. "What was I saying?"
He nibbled the skin. "We need a plan," he said.
Right. A plan. Impossible to come up with when he explored my ear with his lips and teeth. Not that I minded, or the shudders of heat which came with such attention.
He pulled away and faced me, lips hovering over mine. "We'll find your demon," he said, voice husky and raw, "and save her. And make you whole again."
I believed him. And wished he would go back to kissing me. Instead, he leaned away and smiled a little. "I thought I lost you, you know."
He did? "I thought the same thing about you."
Quaid shook his head, dark hair shadowing his face. "You should know me better than that by now." His fingers brushed my cheek. There was a deep edge of sadness in him. I hadn't noticed it before, but it was so clear to me now.
I slid my fingers into his hair and put every ounce of conviction I had into my voice. "I want my demon back. I want my life back. And I want you in it."
"Good to hear," he said. "Because I may have news."
My whole body jerked in answer. My demon?
He laughed a little. "Easy," he said. "I'm not sure yet, but it might pan out. A friend in another coven. Heard a rumor, that's all. And I've been talking to Sunny. She might know more than she's telling your parents."
"Why would she hold back?" Ever since Sebastian disappeared, his dark angel persona fed by the blood of the vampire plague infecting him, Sunny filled in as the de facto leader of the DeWinter blood clan. Her takeover surprised me. I assumed the post would go to Anastasia, the vampire who led the vamps when Sebastian first left. But for whatever reason, now that she was back to normal, Sunny was in charge.
I'd forgiven her for her betrayal, how she turned me over to Nicholas and almost got my family killed. I knew it wasn't her fault. And now Nicholas was dead, she'd never have to worry about being coerced again.
I loved Sunny and always had, aside from that brief, horrible time I wanted to tear her apart with my bare hands. Still, powerful or not, undead or not, if she had been right there at that moment, I would have killed her with the spikes of my heels for the answers I needed.
"I think she feels responsible," Quaid said softly. "Wouldn't you?"
My anger drained away. "It wasn't Sunny's fault," I said. It really wasn't, not ultimately. "My demon and I would have separated anyway. I don't just need to save her. I need to find out what's keeping us apart." I straightened, looking down at myself. "And I'm wasting time on this instead." I was suddenly disgusted with myself.
"You do look beautiful," he said. "So not a waste in my book."
I smiled. I couldn't help it. "Thanks."
As much as I hated to do it, I climbed out of his lap. "I'm going home," I said. "And I'm going to talk to Mom about this thing in my head."
"And I'll talk to Sunny."
I hesitated, partly because it rankled my Uncle Frank's undead girlfriend and a member of our family wasn't telling me what I needed to know, and partly because there was one other vampire I was sure could help. "What about Sebastian?"
Quaid shrugged in that slow, sexy way of his. "What about him?"
Sebastian had powers beyond what we understood now. I was sure he would help if I could just track him down. I guess that was the deciding part. From what I'd overheard, finding Sebastian wasn't going so well for anyone.
Okay then. Sunny first.
Quaid offered me the second helmet, but I shook my head.
"I'll walk." I needed the air and the time to think without his body pressed against me. "But thank you."
A sudden gust of wind stirred my massive skirt. I looked up, frowning. The night had been flawless, but suddenly it felt like rain. I jumped as a massive strike of lightning lit the sky, a roll of heavy thunder close behind it.
I guess there was another storm coming.
I retrieved my hateful shoes and turned to watch as Quaid fired up his bike. I rushed forward at the last moment, pressing my lips to his again. He kissed me and winked before driving off.
I drifted my way home in a bit of a daze, alternating between thinking about Quaid and how I was going to figure out this protection thing so I could at least have access to my witch magic. My slow pace turned suddenly into a flat out run as the skies above opened up and soaked me through.
Still, my heart felt much lighter as I crashed through the front door, my hair and makeup finally done in by the heavy downpour.
It turned out to be a great night after all.
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