Chapter 429: Liander Belaisle
While I had intended to sort through my feelings about Trill and Liam and this whole mess, I instead spent the drive, silent Charlotte beside me, running through the entire family roster in my head and discarding each and every one of them in turn.
The twins? No freaking way. Not only were Estelle and Esther creepy, though I now adored the two old ladies, they were the same age as Gram. Yes, there were older witches I could choose, but none of them really seemed to fit the bill. And the younger ones, well... they were all parents with small children. I had absolutely nothing in common with them and, aside from being family, I'd never made a real connection, not enough to call on one of them to be my second.
It was a huge responsibility, taking on the job. I thought about Mom and Erica, how my mother chose her best friend so many years ago, when she herself was a new mother and sudden coven leader, Gram crippled by the Purities. Mom picked her not only because she adored her, but because she knew Erica served best as second, as a support system, someone who would never challenge her for leadership, too weak to lead herself, but as faithful as her own heart.
I briefly touched on Meira, but mentally shook my head. My sister was too young. And besides, after the conversations we'd had about her wanting more than to live in my shadow, as sad as that made me, there was no way I'd saddle her with the position.
She'd never forgive me.
Which meant I was out of luck. And while I knew Gram was right and I needed a second, my heart protested. She and I were a great team and, since she was never allowed to leave me, why should things change? Except, she'd given up her life, her own dreams and plans, to rule a coven she never wanted to lead, only to lose herself for seventeen years in madness so that same family would be safe.
She deserved a happy retirement.
I was in the mansion driveway, pulling up to the front of the house just as I realized the truth. There wasn't one witch in the Hayle coven I wanted as my second.
Which meant I had to look outside the coven.
It certainly opened up a great number of possibilities. I mused over the witches I'd met as I climbed the stairs to the front door, Charlotte at my side, my mind going right to my roommate and new bestie, Sashenka Hensley. Who I immediately struck from the list. Not because I didn't want her or trust her. In fact, the more I allowed my mind to linger on the options, the more I realized she'd be a perfect fit.
But she was already a second, to her sister, Tallah. They at least didn't have the same issues as Meira and me, happy to support each other.
Jeeze, Syd. So not fair.
Meira had the right to her own life, just like Gram did.
Stewart let me in with a smile and a murmured, "Coven leader," before leaving me to my task. Which, it turned out, evolved into several hours of swearing, kicking the stone pedestal deep underground while I used my magic to try to raise Iepa and generally growing more frustrated the longer I stayed.
Charlotte had the good sense not to comment as I stomped my way back up to the main chamber, grumbling and complaining to myself about the contrary nature of a maji who only showed up when it was convenient for her, and wasn't she all kinds of special that she could make planes and create crap while I had to wait around for her goddesship to freaking pay attention.
Why, yes, I was the Queen of Irritableville.
I should have taken Liam with me. At least he would have been able to read to me. Though even he might have grown annoyed with my behavior by the end of it, so it was best he'd just stayed where he was.
That made me think about Trill and the way she softened around him. My temper jacked up about fifty notches. Which meant by the time I reached the main floor, I was in the kind of mood that could only be alleviated by blowing up something.
I didn't shake free of my angry funk until I was almost to the front door. Charlotte's hiss and her hand on my arm snapped me out of it, just in time to pull me to a stop out of the main entry's line of sight.
I saw Stewart talking to someone, the last light of the day shining into the house over the cold marble floors. His voice was low, apologetic, but very proper. I eased closer, opening my demon ears so I could hear what was up.
"Again, I'm afraid the master of the house is unavailable, sir." Stewart's words were clipped, now as chill as the blood of the vampires before dinnertime. "You may call back in an hour or so. I'm certain Lord DeWinter will be delighted to speak to you then." Though his words were polite, I had the impression there was nothing delightful about this visitor.
"Syd," Charlotte hissed. "Sorcerer."
Oh hell no.
Something pushed against the door, as though someone was trying to pry it open despite Stewart's firm grasp on the handle. A voice muttered something, higher pitched than the butler's, though just as icy. My demon caught, "insist" and "stand aside" before she jabbed me with a snarl.
Not like I needed the encouragement. I practically ran to Stewart's side, though I gathered my poise in time to wrench the door out of his hand and glare at the man on the other side.
Pinstriped suit on a not-so-tall body, about my height. Expensive tie. Ostentatious vest. Kerchief in the brightest red. Dark hair slicked back from a broad, deep forehead, receding from a pointed widow's peak. The barest goatee. All of these facts reached me in my first good look, though I already knew it was the same man I'd seen stalking my house earlier.
The Brotherhood.
But it was his pale amber eyes, a washed-out version, nowhere near the intensity of a demon's tone, I noticed the most. Not because I found them appealing, but because the heartless, soulless, emptiness of them told me to be careful.
And since when did I ever do what I was told?
"Miss Hayle." Stewart knew well enough to drop the coven leader address, though I didn't have time to tell him this was no ordinary mortal. He also knew not to show surprise at my sudden appearance, taking it in stride. I felt the presence of others, knew the rest of the human servants had gathered in the darkening hall behind me, sworn to protect the vampires they served.
Hopefully I wouldn't need their help. The sun was almost down. And while Gram's warning not to go after the Brotherhood directly still rang in my head, there was no way I'd allow one of them inside the mansion.
The really pissed-off part of me wanted him to push it.
"Sydlynn Hayle." The man smirked at me, just the barest of a smile, eyes dead, flat. "We meet sooner than expected."
I hated when bad guys had the one up on me. "I take it you have a name somewhere inside that ugly suit?" Oh, Syd, Syd, Syd. Bad girl.
Oddly, my remark didn't raise a negative reaction. Instead, he offered his hand. Charlotte chuffed behind me, baring her teeth at him.
Probably not a good idea to let him touch me.
"Liander Belaisle," he said in his smooth and polished politician's voice, as though I should know exactly who he was.
"Nice to meet you." So not. "I think Stewart just asked you to leave?"
The butler quivered beside me, not out of fear, though I think he was finally understanding there was much more to this man than he'd first assumed.
"And yet, I find myself still wanting to enter." Belaisle's smile widened, showing brilliant white teeth, a tiny diamond glinting from one of his canines. How tacky. He didn't move, body still and calm, but there was a coiled tension to him that told me if I made the first move, he'd be ready for me.
Bring it.
"Sir." My powers of observation were clearly single-minded. I'd been so focused on Belaisle, I hadn't noticed the two tall, broad-shouldered suits flanking him. Both towered over him, one broad, the other whip-thin, as protective of him as Charlotte was of me. So either bodyguards or sorcerers. Or both.
Bad guys and their backup. Sheesh, so original.
Belaisle ignored his companion's subtle prod, though I noted the one on the left's eyes as they lifted to the horizon and the disappearing sun. So, they didn't want to be here when Sebastian and his clan woke up?
Yeah, hardly blamed them.
Belaisle didn't seem to share his two guard's apprehension. Instead, he took a step forward, casually, as though he'd been invited in.
He most definitely was not.
Belaisle rebounded slightly from the wall of family magic I put up between him and the threshold. I felt the power in the mansion respond, reach for me. It knew me, from the trial, from my family ties to the clan. But now I knew it ran deeper than that. The very earth below the house, the chamber, knew me, welcomed me, my maji blood.
Belaisle's pale eyes finally showed emotion. The barest touch of irritation. "You don't want to start something you can't finish, witch."
"Witch, Sidhe, demon, vampire, maji," I said, so sweetly I almost turned my own stomach as I ever so gently poked him with my power, tied together into a knot the size of an index finger. "You were saying?"
Was it wrong how much I was enjoying myself?
Belaisle's stoic expression didn't falter. "I know you have them," he said. "You really wish to begin a war between us over a pair of vagabond children who mean nothing to you? To your coven?" He looked up before meeting my eyes. "To this clan?"
"Sorry," I said. "What are you talking about?"
More frustration from him as the broad-shouldered guard leaned close.
"Sir, we really must-"
Belaisle's hand came up, silencing the man, his irritation snapping like a whip. "Foolish child," he growled. "I will have them no matter your involvement. Protecting them will only lead to your destruction and that of your family."
"Just push me, jerktard," I tapped his chest again with my magic, though it slid around him, not doing any real damage, his sorcery deflecting my power. Still, it felt good to get that little jab in, even if all it did was jerk his chain.
Especially if it jerked his chain.
Something impacted my shield, tore a gash in the center. I clenched, pouring energy into it, alternating green, blue, white, amber as he pushed against me. The stones below his feet groaned, cracked, crumbled as he continued to probe and shove against me like the big bully he was.
We'd see about that.
I let my demon have her head even as I called on Shaylee. She dove into the ground beneath him, his power devouring the heart of the stone he stood on, her Sidhe magic crumbling it faster even as my demon lashed out and hit him with everything she had, the vampire core of me creating a barrier inside for my demon to use as leverage.
I didn't get the spectacular results I'd been aiming for. Instead of flying backwards, body crushed against the side of his shiny black car, blood oozing from his mouth and nose, he staggered back a step.
One step. Damn it.
And yet, it surprised him, shocked him even as his eyes widened, mouth parting, hands clenching into fists at his sides.
It would have been a fight. I know it. And I honestly have no idea if I would have won or lost. Okay, I would have lost, I wasn't too arrogant to admit it. But I didn't get a chance to spin that particular dance. The moment Belaisle recovered, the sun vanished over the tree line leaving a burning red horizon behind.
He appeared beside me in a flicker of shadow, Sebastian's cold hands on my shoulders, flashes of darkness popping up all over the drive and yard, the entire blood clan frozen, menacing, as their master faced down the sorcerer.
"You are not welcome here," Sebastian said, simple, straightforward, backed by nearly a hundred vampires who would happily do his bidding. "Do not darken my threshold again, sorcerer."
Belaisle didn't comment, didn't move, though his companions both shifted, clearly nervous, prepped for anything. But the sorcerer obviously wasn't ready for a confrontation with an entire blood clan, because he smirked again, reaching inside his jacket to pull free a card which he tossed at my feet.
"I'll be seeing you again, Miss Hayle," he said as he turned, walking with casual grace toward his car as though his life wasn't in imminent danger. "I want those children." Belaisle paused by the back door, waited for the thinner guard to open it for him. The man's arrogance was unbelievable. "This is none of your business." He met Sebastian's eyes. "Nor yours, vampire." Belaisle flipped a casual wave my way. "And the next time, you might want to reconsider starting a fight you won't be able to finish."
"Fight?" I crossed my arms over my chest and smiled sweetly. "I thought we were just trading insults. You want a real fight, you let me know."
"We've been willing to overlook your kind for the time being," he said. "But I have the power to change that."
"More threats." I faked a yawn while Sebastian laughed, though he remained tense beside me. "I'm getting a little tired of all this talk, Belaisle. You really are a pompous ass."
Did his cheek just twitch?
Awesomesauce.
He slid into his car, tall and suited slamming the door on his boss before heading forward to the front passenger's seat. Within a moment, the engine roared to life and the black car cruised down the drive, flanked by staring vampires with nothing good in their intentions.
"You play a dangerous game, Sydlynn Hayle." Sebastian sighed beside me.
"Maybe," I answered, "but he just confirmed something for me."
"That being?" The handsome vampire's eye brow raised, corner of his mouth twitching the sexiest way.
"My idea worked," I said. "Putting the kids he's looking for with Liam. Now I just have to figure out how to kick his sorry sorcerer's ass and we're all set."
"If anyone can, it would be you." Sebastian's laugh made me feel better.
Well, made me feel something.
Down, girl.
***
