Chapter 369: Heartbroken
Of course Maurice didn't want to let me in, but I was in no shape to listen, to pay attention. My demon, still raging and hurting, shoved him aside as I forced my way into Mom's quarters, calling for her in mind and voice.
I just really needed my mother to hug me and let me cry and tell me everything was going to be all right. Because if she did, if that happened, I knew everything would be.
Not how things turned out.
Mom stormed out of her office, her fury apparent, power slamming into me and bringing me to a rocking halt. "Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle!" She blocked off my attempt to reach her with my mind, the slap of her power so harsh it broke through my desperate grief and made everything clear again. "You cannot just barge in here and demand attention any time you want it!"
I gaped at her, her anger the final blow my heart could take.
"You're not a little girl anymore," Mom said. "If you have a problem, deal with it."
Everything I was feeling suddenly shattered outward, shards of my emotions making it past her shields, cutting through until she winced. Stopped. Flushed and paled. Reached out one hand to me.
"Syd," she whispered. "I'm sorry."
Too late. Far too late for that.
"I'm sorry to have disturbed you, Council Leader," I managed to mumble as I staggered backward, toward the door, not wanting her to touch me or look at me, blocking off her power and the sympathy she tried to share, fighting my way back out of the room to gasp for air while I waited for the elevator.
"Syd." Erica was there, arms trying to encircle me, but I fought her off, shoved her back.
"Stop." I didn't mean to be cruel. But she wasn't my mother. Neither was Mom. Not anymore.
The elevator doors closed on me just as Meira raced toward them, calling my name.
No.
This couldn't be happening. I needed to focus. I had a job to do, friends to save. I would not let Quaid destroy me, would not allow my friendship with Liam to tear a giant hole in my soul.
I collapsed against one of the big trees and sobbed silently into the darkness, hands pressed to my face to keep sound from escaping. Charlotte hovered somewhere nearby, but I was grateful she didn't come closer.
I'm here, girl. And Gram's power wrapped around me, pulled me close and she drew me to her so I could let out all of my pain into her. The part of her that lived in me for so long returned for a moment, filling me up with so much love I cried harder when she pulled away. But they were cleansing tears now, not the empty, tearing sobs trying to destroy me.
Gram. I smeared the tears away with the heels of my hands. How did everything get so messed up?
It's love, she sent, gruff but kind. Nothing ever goes as planned.
She'd know. Her husband betrayed her and the whole coven, a traitor planted by Odette and Naudia Dumont.
My heart went out to her, then, to my amazing grandmother. You're here for me, I sent. But was anyone ever there for you?
Doesn't matter now, she answered. Are you all right?
I drew a shaking breath, did a quick, silent exam of myself. Yes. I am. And I was. Mostly. The hurt was still there, but I could live with it.
Best you can hope for. Gram's power held me another moment. I'm always here. Remember that.
She let me go even as I hugged the feeling of her to me and wished I could go home and hold her for real.
I almost acted, reaching for the veil, when Sassafras's mental voice broke through what was left of my grief.
The Dumont brothers are on the move.
So? I didn't mean to be short with him, but I wasn't exactly a hundred percent.
So, he shot back, they have company.
The image of Rupe and Simon walking side-by-side with Jean Marc and Kristophe was enough to shove all of my crap down and send me running.
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