Chapter 180: Loyalties
Quaid's grip was so strong and insistent I didn't manage to pull myself free until we reached the kitchen. I finally used magic to wrench myself from his grip, turning on him with a vicious snarl.
"Don't ever touch me again." I could finally let my fury out. He needed to know just how little I thought of him and his precious family. "Ever."
"You're embarrassing yourself," he snapped. "Get it together."
Oh no he didn't. I was embarrassing myself? Really. "Maybe you should think about what you just said," I hissed. "Maybe you'd like to observe your precious cousins and see who exactly is doing the embarrassing."
He blushed. Quaid blushed. He knew what they were like and he still defended them. "Just forget it," he mumbled, turning away.
It was my turn to catch his arm and jerk him back. "I'm doing my duty," I said with as much ice in my voice as I could muster. "I'm heir to this coven and I'm fulfilling that role. Maybe you should mind your own business, Quaid. Go back to your little girlfriend and stay out of coven issues. Because they don't concern you."
He flinched, blush deepening. What had they done to him? The Quaid I knew would have grinned at me, dark eyes flashing and put me in my place. This new and definitely not improved Quaid was a wimp.
Not only that. I looked at him, really looked at him for the first time. "What the hell are you wearing?" A suit coat? Dress shirt, pants, polished shoes? Where was his casual look, his ever-present leather jacket? And who gelled his hair back? He looked like he'd been dipped in the same vat as the Dumont family and left hanging to dry like a Ken doll in French fashion.
Quaid pulled away. "You don't understand. You'll never understand."
"You're right," I said. "I won't and I don't want to."
Quaid backed up a step. "Syd-"
He didn't get to finish. Erica bustled into the kitchen, putting an end to our conversation.
"I thought you two were fetching the coffee." She looked back and forth between us.
I turned my back on Quaid and went to work. When I turned again, Quaid was already gone.
Erica didn't say anything, though she offered me a soft kiss on the cheek and a sad expression before the two of us carried mugs and decanters into the living room.
Odette accepted her mug from Erica while here eyes returned to me. She was addressing Mom, I knew it, but watched for my reaction when she spoke.
"How delighted we were when our dear Quaid found us," she said. "So many years have passed with no word from his parents." She took a sip, mug clinking on her saucer as she paused. "They disappeared so many years ago, and we were unable to find them. Quaid is finally back where he belongs. With his family." She smiled at him and he, a traitor yet, smiled back with real affection.
Was he totally and completely blind and stupid? Maybe because of the gorgeous girl beside him.
No. I couldn't go there. Not yet.
"We're so grateful you took such fine care of my grandson." Odette finally focused on Mom when she didn't get what she was looking for from me. Score. "The Dumont family is in your debt, mon ami."
My limited French was enough. Just like I was sure Mom was most definitely not this creepy old lady's friend.
"Our pleasure," Mom said. "He's been a great asset to the Hayle coven. I don't know what we'd do without him."
Present tense. What was she up to? The lines around Odette's eyes tightened again, but she continued with her smile. "Indeed." She stood then, setting her cup and saucer aside, shoving Kristophe's feet. They thudded to the rug under the table. He scowled to himself, but sat up straighter. "We really must be going."
Mom rose with so much grace it was like she was part vampire. Um... right. At least she was taking advantage of her new powers. I could tell Odette wasn't impressed. The woman reeked with envy. They exchanged the requisite cheek kiss between coven leaders before Odette spun and strode out. I stood my ground, making her go around me, the scent of old roses and sweet powder hovering around her. It reminded me of a funeral for some reason.
The twins didn't try their bumping trick this time, though Jean Marc licked his lips at me on the way by, eyes on my chest. He was so lucky the bodyguard was right behind him or he'd have been slammed into the wall so hard his bones would be mush. I was too focused on staring down the creepy security man. A flicker of amusement passed over his face and he actually nodded to me as he left.
Syd's winning points. Gotta love it.
Mom drifted past me, her power pulling me along with her. I went to the formal front door, stood next to her with Dad and Erica at my back while Odette turned with another of her false smiles.
"You all must come for dinner tomorrow evening," she said. "We've rented the delightful hotel, what was the name of that place again, cher?"
"Hillcrest Hotel," Raoul said. His voice was rough and harsh, sounding more Russian than French.
"Ah, oui," Odette said. "Hillcrest Hotel. Please, you must come."
Mom bowed her head once. "Thank you for the invitation."
Odette's eyes drifted past Mom as though she was looking for someone.
"And you must bring Ethpeal. She is, after all, the official reason for our visit. To celebrate the recovery of such a powerful and respected witch." Her gaze flickered back to Mom. "A pity she didn't join us for coffee." There was a distinct edge to her magic. "I missed seeing my dear friend."
"She's not been feeling well," Mom said. "She's resting, I'm afraid."
"Oh well," she said. "What a terrible shame. Perhaps she'll be feeling better for dinner then." Odette glanced at Quaid and I understood. He'd told them everything. Everything. I gathered my magic into a lance and jabbed him so hard with it he actually jumped. His eyes met mine, full of hurt.
In the tightest most focused thread I could muster, I sent, If you've betrayed my family, I'll kill you myself.
His gaze dropped away. Standing there with them, surrounded by the Dumonts, he seemed reduced, less than he had been, as though they, like the Moromonds before them, were sucking him dry. But his family weren't taking his power, oh no.
They were taking his identity.
"I'm hoping to spend some time getting to know you." My gaze whipped to the side, leaving him and landing on Ameline. She showed nothing, felt like a still pool of water, unreadable. Her lightly accented, melodic voice was as lovely as she was. "Quaid has spoken so very highly of you." She glanced at him, took his hand, laced her fingers through his before meeting my eyes again. Ameline might have been hiding her true intent magically, but that one gesture told me everything I needed to know.
They departed then, as a group, leaving the tension they'd created behind. Celeste went out behind them, silent and sullen, Erica on her heels with a worried expression.We all stood there for a while after the glass door swung shut, not saying anything or even moving.
I couldn't take it anymore. With a hug for Dad and a kiss for Mom I went upstairs to my room. I found Sassafras and Galleytrot at the bottom of the stairs, both looking as angry as I felt.
I left them there, climbing lightly, closing my bedroom door with great care. I held my cool long enough to create a soundproof bubble of power around me before drawing in a huge breath and screaming on and on until I couldn't scream anymore.
***
