Chapter 537: Family Loyalty
The first place I headed after leaving Mom was Liam's dorm. Normally, the Yard housing was only for freshmen. But that was a human rule. For the duration of our stay, witches had our own private floors in each of the brick buildings surrounding the Yard, the same rooms in fact for the entire three years. So I had no trouble tracking back across the grass to Matthew Hall and Liam's room.
He answered my knock with a smile, as always, though his happy expression faded when he saw the look on my face just before I pushed past him and inside. Charlotte stopped outside the door, closing it behind me, giving us privacy. Not that we needed it, but I could only guess the weregirl had no desire to listen to me rant.
Neither did I, for that matter. I clenched a firm hold on myself, swearing I wouldn't go nuts on my sweet Sidhe friend, and spun to face him.
"I just wanted to warn you," I said. Level voice? Check. Temper in control? Check. Plans for murdering Venner? Checkarooni, yes indeedy doodle.
Liam's answering frown held concern for me. "Okay. What happened?" He reached for me, drew me against him, hugging me to his broad chest, one hand stroking my hair while the other tucked against the small of my back. Just being in his arms made me feel better as Shaylee sighed and welcomed the touch of her people's magic. "No matter what it is," Liam said, voice rumbling in my ear, the scent of fabric softener and fresh turned earth all around me, "we can handle it. Right?"
I nodded, hugging him back. "We can," I said. Sighed. Relaxed. He was so right.
Liam leaned away and smiled down at me. "Now hit me," he said. "What's going on?"
My fingers clenched around his t-shirt as I bit my lower lip. "There's a new teacher here this year," I said, struggling with just dumping it on him or easing him into the news.
Liam's brows came together, eyes flickering away from mine as his large body tensed. "Oh?"
A terrible and aching understanding flowered inside me. "Yeah," I said, pulling away from him as Liam ducked his head, sunlight from his window catching the red in his blonde hair. "We both know him."
Liam sighed deeply, shoving his hands in his back pockets, shuffling his feet. "Syd," he said. "I already know Venner is here."
Explosion imminent. "And you were planning on filling me in when?"
His hazel eyes sparked with glints of green as he finally met my gaze. "I didn't know how," he said. "I knew you'd be upset."
He hadn't seen upset. Nope nope. "Well," I snarled, "I just found out in front of the board of governors and my mother. So thanks for the heads up." I'd always considered Quaid a bit of a jerkasaurus. Okay, more than a bit, depending on the circumstances. But Liam? No, not my Liam.
"I'm sorry." He reached for me, but I batted his hands away. "I really am."
Grumble, mumble. "How did you find out?" I was willing to let it go. Fine, whatever. Until he winced and looked away for the second time.
Tell me I wasn't going to have to kick his butt.
"Mom told me." Liam's shoulders slumped as he spoke, hands once again returning to his back pockets.
Second major shockage of the day. "Your what?" The last time I'd seen Sonja O'Dane, she'd been whisked off against her will when Venner took her and that hideous, despicable woman, Hortense Spaft, with him when his attempt on the Gate failed.
Ms. Spaft. My old Vice Principal when she wasn't conniving to steal Sidhe power and take control of the Gate. The Mistress of Detention herself.
If she was with Venner, she was toast.
Liam turned from me, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Mom got in touch about two weeks ago," he said. "When you were on Demonicon for the funeral." This was what happened when I left the plane? Really? And why hadn't Galleytrot told me? The giant black hound of the Wild Hunt was supposed to keep an eye on Liam, not let him interact with possible risks. "Don't blame Galleytrot," he said, quashing that particular lecture I'd planned for later. "He doesn't know."
I didn't bother telling Liam it was the stupid dog's job to know. And he'd be about as happy as I was Liam was back in contact with his Unseelie mother.
"Are you crazy?" I wanted to shake him, but he looked so miserable all I could do was stand there and fight the need to shout. "What were you thinking?"
Liam lifted his head, tears in his eyes. "I know you think I'm weak," he whispered. "But no matter what happened, Syd, she's still my mother."
Ack. Okay. Family loyalty I understood, even misguided loyalty. Deep breath, girlfriend. "When were you going to tell me?"
He wiped at his eyes, frowning. I could see his back straighten, knew I'd pushed him as far as I could. Liam was sweet and gentle, but he had a breaking point and I guessed his mother was at the top of his "do not push" list.
And honestly? I was out of line and I knew it. Jeeze. I really had to do an inventory of my temper if my friend had to use anger in return. Get a grip, Syd.
Liam confirmed what I was thinking. "You've made it pretty clear you don't want to be with me," he said, long arms hugging himself as he half turned away. "So it's none of your business, is it?"
Anger flashed over, but I grasped for my vampire to cool it off. "It is," I said as gently as I could. "Liam, like it or not, neither of us can act with autonomy. We have responsibilities, not just to others, but to this plane. And I'm sorry, but you obviously knew you weren't thinking rationally if you hid this from Galleytrot."
Liam flinched. Yup, right on the money. I hated to prod him, I really did. But damn it, one of us had to be a grown up about it.
"I know," Liam said. "But she's my mom."
"And Venner?" I sat next to Liam, one hand on his knee, letting him feel I wasn't angry any more. Nope, just empathetic. Poor guy.
Liam nodded, releasing his grip on himself, covering my hand with his. "He's a different story," Liam said.
Good to know we were on the same page there, at least.
"But I won't act against him." Liam's fingers squeezed mine. "Mom asked me not to."
Of course she did. "That's okay," I said. "It's taken care of." Hopefully. As long as Mom was willing to follow through when the time came. Not that I didn't believe she would, but there was enough history of her leaving me to clean up messes she couldn't or wouldn't handle, I wasn't completely comfortable with the situation.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Liam said. "And Galleytrot. I just knew you'd be angry."
I left him a short time later, reaching for the black hound the moment Liam's door closed behind me, Charlotte on my heels. It took a little effort with him behind the wards guarding the Gate cavern, but Shaylee, boosted by my earth magic, helped enough to knock on the shielding and summon the dog to the outside world.
Syd. Galleytrot's mind touched mine, the rumble of a spring thunderstorm in his mental voice. I shivered as I often did when his power touched me, the elemental forces of the Sidhe Wild Hunt running through his magic. Something's wrong?
Why do you say that? I paused in the darkening Yard under a spreading tree and leaned against the rough bark, hiding in the growing shadows for some privacy.
Because you only get in touch when there's a problem. He snorted softly in my head.
Oh. Ouch. I really needed to work on my communication skills. Well, you're right, I sent. And filled him in on the afternoon of revelations.
Galleytrot's swearing encompassed several languages and lasted at least a minute before his power calmed, rippling over me as he pulled himself together. What was he thinking?
I don't think he was, I sent. You know his mom is all he has left.
The hound sighed. Not a good enough reason, he grumbled. And Venemeth? Your mother is playing a dangerous game, Syd.
Tell me about it. I pushed off from the tree and headed for my dorm, just wanting to collapse on my bed and forget this day even happened.
I'll talk to Liam, Galleytrot sent. Firmly.
Don't be too hard on him, I sent. But keep a mental eye on him, would you?
I could feel his tension like a growing storm. I wish I could be there directly.
Someone has to watch the Gate while Liam is here, I sent. And you volunteered. Like we had anyone else to do the job. You're more valuable there.
I suppose. I had a mental picture of him shaking his huge head, the Gate behind him before he cut me off from the visual. Still.
Just be vigilant, I sent. Who knows what Venner is really up to?
I will. Galleytrot sent me a rush of power, the rumble of an earthquake. Watch him. Both hims. And if you see Sonja... Liam is too important to risk, Syd.
You don't have to convince me. I paused at the bottom of the stairs to my dorm. With a quick hug, I let him go, hoping I was just being paranoid.
Yeah, right. Because nothing bad ever happened to the people I loved.
***
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