Chapter 458: Wilding Springs
The edge of the park was wreathed in night when Charlotte and I stepped out of the veil on the other side of the family wards. One look around at the dark houses on my street and I groaned. It was three hours later here, well after midnight.
Time zones sucked.
That meant everyone was sleeping. I'd have to save hugs and hellos and gift giving for the morning. It also meant, to be fair, we had to be quiet going in. Hard to do when my family magic yearned for the center of my coven's power, Shaylee sinking herself into the ground to check on Gwynn and the Wild while my demon yammered to see Meira and Sassafras. At least my vampire, as quiet and calm as ever, didn't prod me.
I appreciated her for her stoic nature. At least one of us had her head screwed on straight.
Charlotte held the door for me, winding her way down the hall and up the stairs without a backward look. Leaving me to have a heart-to-heart with the fluffy silver Persian waiting for me at the back door. Sassafras stood up on his hind legs, front paws on my thigh. I immediately obliged his request for up and lifted him into my arms. I snuggled him against me, inhaling the scent of his soft fur while he purred in my ear so loudly I expected Gram's door to slam open any second. I hurried past her room and to the stairs, avoiding the creaky step. I really needed to fix it. All it would take was a touch of magic, but I was so used to the step now, avoiding it seemed easier than repair.
Charlotte stood in my room when I arrived, dumping my bags on the bed before turning her back on me with a grunt. Still pissed, huh? Oh, well. She'd get over it.
She always did.
"I take it you've managed to irritate Charlotte again." Sassafras didn't miss a thing. I sat down on the edge of the bed amid my vacation belongings to give his mane a good scratch. Sassy's amber eyes closed over in a slow blink as his purr grew louder, whole body bending into my hand.
"Just a little accident," I said, keeping it mild.
His head snapped up, purr cut off in an instant. "What did you do?"
I laughed and set him down. "Nothing," I said, tossing my things to the floor before hunting through my dresser for a pair of pajamas. "But I've decided to give up surfing."
He sighed, one of his patented Sassafras-will-kick-your-ass sighs. "Drowning, Syd, really?" So much sarcasm for such a fat cat body. "How utterly provincial."
I slipped into my walk-in to change. It had been a long time since I'd been innocent enough to forget he used to be a demon boy after all, and shouldn't be privy to certain of my body parts. "I didn't drown, obviously," I said. "Not all the way."
I emerged in my tank and flannels to find him shaking his head. "Oh, Syd," he said. "What are we going to do with you?"
The covers beckoned and though it was early for me, now adjusted to the West coast's time, I was tired. Who knew vacations could be so tiring?
"Anything happen while I was gone?" Time to head off this particular conversation.
"Nothing we couldn't handle." He glared at me, tail twitching as he stalked his way up to my pillow and curled himself into a ball. "Seems horrible things only happen when you're around."
Smartass cat.
"I'm thinking about asking Sashenka to be my second." Now why did I blurt that out? Probably because the guilt was now eating me alive as I lay there next to the one person who I could trust with anything.
Sassy was silent for a long time, the end of his tail rising and falling as he worked it over in his mind. "She would be a good choice," he said. "She's loyal, powerful, adores you. And now we're over the little nerves hiccup, I think she'd fit in well here." She'd been so afraid I wouldn't like her when we'd first been roommates last year, Sashenka acted as if she didn't want me around. So much pressure on her shoulders.
Did I have the right to add more? Or would joining my coven give her freedom?
"What about Tallah?" I reached out and stroked Sassy's fur, starting his engine again. Soothing waves of calm slid over me and while I knew it was just his power manipulating me, I welcomed it. "How can I break up a family?"
"It's her choice," Sassy said.
"I know," I whispered, fingers stroking his front paw as he held my hand. "But it's family, Sass."
He sighed deeply, his whole body rising and falling from it. "You've been very family oriented lately," he said, without judgment. He was the one who'd badgered me for so long to belong. "What's wrong, Syd?"
Damn him, no way was I going to cry. Not after such a great vacation and with so much to look forward to. "Nothing," I said. "I just respect Tallah. But the more I think about it, the more I think Shenka is the perfect choice."
He licked my fingers. "It will all work out the way it's meant to," he said. "If I've learned nothing since I've joined your coven, it's that you Hayle witches seem to attract only the best and, despite the difficulties, you always end up stronger than before."
He was right. Like we had a handful of horseshoes shoved in various places.
"Your grandmother missed you, by the way," he said, voice sleepy as his eyes drifted closed. "And Liam. Fool boy was here with that hound every day asking about you."
Um hum. I leaned close and kissed his soft forehead, rubbing my cheek against his silky fur.
"I missed you too," I said.
Grunt. One eye winked and closed again.
Smiling with tears standing behind my eyes, I fell asleep.
***
"Sydlynn," Sebastian drew me into his powerful arms, draping me backward, the open throat of my ball gown offering up the smooth skin of my neck to his glistening fangs. "I've loved you for so long. I can't bear to be apart."
"My lord," I breathed, gazing into his smoldering eyes, my body burning for his touch, breasts aching to burst forth from the bindings of my corset. "I'm yours forever."
His mouth descended, the heat of his breath bringing a gasp of pleasure from my lips as liquid fire poured through my body, setting aflame parts of me begging for release-
***
"Syd."
A sharp nail prodded my cheek.
"Syd, wakey."
Gasp. What?
My eyes flashed open, locked on a pair of faded blue ones hovering so close I could barely focus on Gram's grinning face.
"Breakfast." She bounced in excitement, leaning on her elbows, hands in front of her mouth as her eyes danced with delight. "Up!"
She giggled as she stood up, turning in a happy, dancing circle, fuzzy socks silent on my carpet as she jigged her way to the door where she paused and pointed at me with the same offending digit, bending it in summons.
"Up!"
Okay, okay. I waved at her as she shimmied away, humming a tune to which only she knew the words, falling back into my pillow while my body complained at the interruption of my dream.
Blushing. I pressed both palms to my hot cheeks and bit my lower lip, a nervous giggle escaping. Oh dear.
It was hard enough meeting Sebastian's eyes knowing what I did about his anatomy, but even worse when fantasy intruded without my permission.
One very cold shower later and I could face Gram, though I yawned my way down the stairs and to the kitchen, body still on West coast time.
Gram happily deposited a plate of Eggs Benedict at my place, where juice and milk already waited for me. I ignored the food, going to her, hugging her though she was busy dishing up her own meal, feeling her arms around me, spatula held high.
"Love you," I whispered. "I missed you."
She didn't say anything, but when I pulled away and met her eyes, they brimmed with tears. She grinned at me though, before filling her own plate and joining me at the table. Charlotte was already seated, waiting for us to start before beginning her own breakfast, silent and watchful as ever, while Sassafras noisily snuffled up the last of his tuna before tackling the cream in his china bowl.
Family. Awesome.
Why wasn't I surprised when Liam showed up, Galleytrot in tow? The big black hound licked my face when I hugged him. Liam didn't care I wiped the slobber off on the shoulder of his t-shirt.
Another plate of eggs appeared, a bowl of fresh meat.
More family. Sashenka was right. This was my home and I loved it here.
"I've been doing a ton of research on the maji," Liam started yammering between giant bites of breakfast. "Sebastian's been letting me practically camp out in the history room."
The vampire's visit in my dreams leaped to my mind with the reminder. Blush. Damn it. If Liam noticed, he didn't say.
We ended up outside on the bench after Gram shooed us away, her magic dealing with the dishes. Liam finally wound down about his research before flushing himself and taking my hand.
"Sorry, I haven't let you get in a word. How was your trip?"
Funny, I didn't feel like talking about it. "Fun," I said, softening the single word answer with a smile. "I missed home."
His answering smile told me I'd somehow managed to lead him on again.
"We missed you," he said. Stood up. "I should go."
Awkward. "Liam-"
He didn't give me notice, warning, nothing. Just bent over me, his warm lips pressing to mine, hands gentle and tentative on my shoulders. I found myself kissing him back as much as I knew it was a bad idea, leaning into his soft t-shirt, the fragrance of earth and fabric softener Liam's signature for me. I think I could have found him in the dark just by his distinct scent alone.
When he finally released me, my whole body tingled and I swayed a little. Earth magic was powerful stuff. Liam stroked his thumb over my lips before offering a lop-sided smile, green glinting in his hazel eyes.
"Love you," he whispered before turning and loping off.
I heard a grunt, turned to see Galleytrot push his way through the screen door and past me, eyes flickering with red fire as he met mine on the way by.
Like it was my fault. Liam wouldn't listen to reason. And yes, I should have been more firm about the whole no-boyfriend thing. But he was relentless in his sweet and kind-hearted way.
But how could I link myself to him when I was turning into something that scared the crap out of me?
***
