Chapter 535: Mom's Request
Bloodthirsty thoughts aside, I slid into a seat at our favorite table beside Liam, who beamed up at me, half-rising as I joined him. My handsome Sidhe friend leaned in to hug me with one arm while Tippy took the seat next to him. I felt him tense the moment she did, how his arm fell away, the sparkling green in his hazel eyes fading. His head dropped, strawberry blonde hair falling over his face as Tippy leaned up against him with a broad wink.
"Thanks for saving us seats, handsome."
Okay, she was never, ever, ever going to be my second. And if she didn't stop pressing her gigantic rack against his arm I was going to tear her a new one.
Temper, temper, Syd.
Shut up, conscience.
Fortunately, there was enough room I slid over a little, allowing Liam to pull away from the aggressive redhead while I clenched my teeth against my unwarranted jealousy. How many times had I told Liam we couldn't be together? And yet, I still went a little-okay a lot-crazy when Tippy hit on him.
Who had the real problem, then?
Good thing we weren't alone. Sashenka sank down beside me as my bodywere, Charlotte, hovered behind. There were times I almost forgot she was around these days. Not because she disappeared on me or anything. Quite the opposite. But since my second-and then third-trip to Demonicon, Charlotte had become colder, more detached, and I knew my absence hurt her feelings as well as her physiology. Thanks to the link she'd created between us, some kind of ridiculous ritualistic honor bond, she suffered if I wasn't with her 24/7. Like it was my fault. We'd had to tie her down when I went back to Demonicon for my demon grandmother's funeral.
She hadn't forgiven me since then. In fact, she'd dyed her long, blonde hair jet black and taken to wearing a lot of eyeliner and mascara. I seemed to recall she was a redhead like Tippy when we met, but when I asked Charlotte about it, she simply shrugged. "So I like to color my hair," she snapped, sullen and sulky.
I hadn't responded past a meeped, "It looks really nice," leaving it at that.
I wished she'd just sit with us. She made my life even more uncomfortable when she hovered like she did. Made me feel really visible. As in, oh look, there's the puffed up princess, Sydlynn Hayle, who thinks she's so special she has a bodyguard.
Sigh.
I dissected my sandwich with twitching fingers, feeling a little sorry for myself, when Tippy went and opened her big mouth.
"Have you all heard Syd's news?" She practically gushed she was so excited. I didn't get the chance to shush her up before she blurted it out. "She's looking for a second. And I'm in the running."
Hey, hang on a minute. I opened my mouth to shut her down, only to catch the hurt in Shenka's eyes. My bestie turned away while the other girls all oohed and aahed.
"I'd test for it," Nicci Mortimer said, dirty blonde hair bouncing in her high pigtails as she sipped a soda, "but I know I don't have the power you need, Syd."
My empathy kicked in immediately. "That's not true, Nicci."
"I'm planning to teach," Josie Ambrose said, pale skin almost glowing in the light from the stained glass windows, her hair as black as Charlotte's, "or I'd be all over that."
"You can't have her." Tippy reached across Liam and grasped my hand.
"I don't know," Donalda Pierce said in her slow drawl, tall, thin body leaning forward, wide gray eyes sparkling with humor as she teased our friend. "Maybe I'd like to give it a go, Syd."
Though they were all part of Shenka's family coven, I'd be much more inclined to choose this quiet, powerful Hensley witch than her red haired counterpart and actually paused to consider. Even as my heart churned over the look on Shenka's face.
"Excuse me," she whispered, rising from the table, taking her tray with her. She left us, head down, dumping her uneaten lunch in the trash while I struggled with what to do.
Sheesh. She was the one who didn't want to talk about it.
I was about to go after her when I felt Mom touch my mind. Syd, sweetheart, can you come to my office? She sounded a little tense, hidden behind her Momness. No one else would have noticed, probably. But I knew her very well and felt my stomach tighten in response.
Anything I should have forewarning about? I rose with a wave to the others, a squeeze to Liam's shoulder and a mouthed, "Mom," so they knew where I was going before turning and heading for the exit.
Just come, please. She sighed mentally.
I am, I sent as I descended the steps of Annenberg Hall and crossed the street to the Yard. But you sound stressed so I thought I'd ask.
Her hesitation told me everything I needed to know. I'll fill you in when you get here, she sent before cutting me off very firmly.
How lovely.
Charlotte paced silently behind me as I crossed the grassy Yard, backpack over one shoulder, my feet heavier with each step as I considered the numerous disasters Mom could be shielding me from. By the time I passed through the front door of Massachusetts Hall where she kept her office and climbed onto the elevator, I was so worked up I was sweating.
I often wonder why you allow yourself to become concerned with something of which you don't know the details. My vampire's gentle voice calmed me immediately before sparking a bit of temper.
You know my life, I sent back as the elevator doors dinged.
Our life, she corrected softly.
Whatever. You should be nervous too, I sent. Why aren't you?
She paused. Sighed. When you put it that way.
That broke my nerves and made me laugh.
I thought this wasn't funny? She sounded so confused I giggled harder.
I love you, I sent. But sarcasm isn't your forte.
She fell silent as I grinned out the last of my tension and walked through the large wooden door into Mom's sitting room.
The parlor was all dark wood, from floor to walls to ceiling and though the height soared above me, I always felt like I was in a cave. The glaring faces of the previous Council Leaders in portraits lining the walls didn't make things any better.
The place gave me the creeps.
Maurice waited for me, his little mustache quivering. My mother's secretary and I didn't get along very well. Partly because he was a pompous snob and a toad. His old-fashioned waistcoat always hugged his very round belly and reminded me of a fat frog.
"Coven Leader," he sniffed as though I didn't deserve the title, "please leave your dog at the door."
Oh hell no. Charlotte had been a bone of contention between us before, but this was the first time he openly insulted her. The only thing saving his nasty little life? Mom entered the room at the exact same moment he insulted my bodywere.
Then again, from the scowl on her face, he'd gone from my rock and into Mom's hard place.
"Maurice." She snapped his name. He jumped as he turned to face her, so comical I almost laughed. Would have if I wasn't pissed off. "You may go."
"Council Leader." He spluttered a moment. "The meeting."
"I told you to leave." Mom was usually really good at hiding her anger. But I could tell she'd taken personal offence to his insult. Either that or whoever waiting in her office had already stirred her anger and she was just taking it out on a convenient target.
Didn't bode well for him either way.
"While you're gone," Mom's words cut the air, "reconsider your tone and your attitude toward my daughter and her companion. Carefully."
Maurice's shock seemed so genuine I had to shake my head.
"Council Leader," he said. "I am your personal secretary."
"Are," she said. "At the moment. But these things can change. Now go."
He seemed to deflate, paling, hands fluttering before him. Mom stared him down, arms crossed over her chest, cold and imposing until he turned with a small cry and rushed past me, eyes full of tears. I almost applauded. Almost.
So close.
Mom sighed when he left, dropping her firm stance, sadness on her face as she came forward and took Charlotte's hands. "Forgive him," she said. "He's a fool. I would have fired him long ago if he weren't so good at his job."
Charlotte's eyes widened, cheeks very pink as she bowed to Mom. "It's no matter," she mumbled, clearly touched by Mom's defense of her.
What had she gone through in her life she didn't expect her friends to stand up for her?
Oh, right. She was raised with the Dumonts who treated her worse than Maurice ever could.
I squeezed Charlotte's hand, keeping a hold on her as I faced Mom. "Thanks."
She shook her head. "I've looked past many things," she said. "But there is only so much I will tolerate." Mom's blue eyes darkened before she grimaced, shoulders setting.
So I'd guessed right. Bad news behind door number one had been the basis for her temper. Whatever she was about to tell me, I wasn't going to like it very much.
"Just spit it out," I said. "You know I'll blow up and then we'll deal with it."
Mom laughed softly before kissing my cheek. "Syd," she said. "I love you."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, "I love you too. Now dump it."
She nodded once, face set. "We've taken on a special lecturer this semester," she said. "I just wanted to warn you before you met him again."
Okay. "Who is it?" I ran through the various jerktards I'd met over the last few years, stomach knotting.
Mom hesitated. "You must understand," she rushed out, "he might have issues with his own people, but he's never been accused of wrong doing against witches." She winced. "Not officially."
This had to be very bad or Mom wouldn't be soft shoeing her way around me.
"Mom," I said.
"I'm sorry, Syd," she said. "I'm under a great deal of pressure to accept him." Her eyes pleaded with me. "Don't freak out. Promise me."
"No promises," I said, whole body tense, Charlotte's too, from the grip I still had on her hand.
Mom turned and headed for her office, gesturing for me to join her. "It's a complicated and delicate situation," she said, lowering her voice as her hand settled on the doorknob. "Do you understand?"
I sighed, forcing myself to relax before nodding. "Okay fine," I whispered as I crowded behind her, not sure I wanted to uncover her mystery guest or not. "No freaking out. But I might swear."
Mom was already opening the door and striding inside, so I wasn't sure if she heard me. My eyes swept the large room, over the three leather chairs before her desk, the matching three gray heads turning to smile at me. But it was the tall, silver haired man with the green eyes and silky smile who brought me up short with a gasp.
Mom needn't have worried I'd freak. I was too shocked, numb and breathless while Shaylee screeched in fury.
"Your Highness," Hall Venner said, the Sidhe Unseelie Lord Venemeth bowing at the waist. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
***
