Chapter 568: Recovery
I resealed the entrance to the cave again before turning to watch the six Enforcers, led by leader Pender Tremere himself, bundle up the still weak and hurting Ameline in their grasp and whisk her off to prison.
It wasn't until they finally disappeared, the witch girl firmly wrapped in Enforcer magic, her eyes never leaving mine with that old, cold smile on her face, that I actually let out the breath I'd been holding.
So sure something would go wrong. Any second now.
But I had other things to think about. Charlotte shuddered a few times, her wolf emerging in her eyes as she struggled to settle the Sidhe soul inside her. While Bronagh's spirit had gone to the weregirl willingly, it was clear the two weren't really happy with the situation.
Quaid simply stared at me, in a bit of a daze, though when I reached for his hand, his magic slid over my skin, love tied to Liam's.
Freaky weird.
I tore open the veil and pulled them along with me, slipping through the welcoming edge of the barrier, feeling my demon grandmother's soul, trapped in the Node, whisper welcome. She and I hadn't been the best of buddies or anything and as much as I wished she was still alive so Dad didn't have to be Ruler of Demonicon, I kind of liked her better now.
Death became her. Tragic, yeah?
The Gate wards parted easily for me as I crossed from the library basement and into the cavern. Usually, I worried a little Liam or I might catch trouble from the maintenance guy who kept town hall and the old archive going, and that was just two of us. Adding Charlotte, Galleytrot and a whole heap of Enforcers, not to mention the healer twins, Mom, and Gram meant a big chunk of magic went toward keeping the normals who worked here out of the know.
Not that it was hard, to be honest. All these years living with the Gate and its subtle pressure to ignore anything unusual did part of the job for us. Still, Mom had her hands full.
Not my problem. I steered Quaid into Liam's room and to his side while Mom and Gram rushed forward from the Gate where they talked with a group of Enforcers. The twins looked up, hope on their faces as Quaid sat down next to the young Gatekeeper and took his hand. Awkwardly. With a grimace.
"Now what?" He looked up, chocolate eyes meeting mine.
Shaylee had the answer. She embraced Quaid with her energy, reached for Liam, already eager to go, and created a bridge between the two. Liam's lost soul, the Seelie Cian, gushed from Quaid in a torrential river of green magic, slamming into Liam's wasted body so hard my Sidhe friend gasped. Sighed. Opened his eyes.
Smiled up at me as his face filled out, skin flushing with color, the spark of green back in his hazel eyes. His power, that of the soul he carried, reached out for me and hugged me close.
Thank you, my love, he whispered.
Teary, me? Naw.
Quaid left me there and, though I wanted to follow him, talk to him, make things right between us after the choice I'd made, Liam took priority. I'd chosen him, hadn't I? And I needed to be sure he was going to be okay.
In a few short minutes he looked so much better I thought he might try to get up.
"Not just yet," Phon laughed. Lula stroked Liam's forehead, making his eyes droop.
His mind, still solidly connected with mine, fought sleep. I felt his love for you, Liam sent. While he carried Cian. Syd, are you sure?
I bent and kissed his lips, sparks of Sidhe fire passing between us. Liam breathed me in, hands strong again gripping my face as he opened his heart completely and welcomed me inside.
Silly question.
He fell asleep with a smile on his lips.
I'd celebrate later. One last task to complete first. And it weighed on me yet.
Mom hugged me, Gram too, both silent as I passed through the door and headed for the Gate. A touch and a call to it sent flashes of green fire along the edges. It swung open, almost happily, as though welcoming so much activity, probably the most it had seen since it was created. I stood there, a firm hold on my heart as the door gaped wide.
Thalion stood waiting in the same spot I'd left him, as if rooted in that place. And beside him, her face a composed mask, was Aoilainn. Shaylee hissed softly at the sight of her mother while Charlotte twitched once.
This is your chance. I spoke directly to the Sidhe princess inside me. You could have your life back, if limited. Though I'm sure there's a way to make your new body stronger.
Sydlynn, she sent, hugging me, drawing all of my magicks to her. This is where I belong.
"Mother," Shaylee spoke up. "Thalion. I understand Sydlynn promised to give me a chance at my freedom. To return to you. If I so chose."
Neither spoke. Shaylee's magic cracked like a whip, sending a flare over the barrier between planes.
"I will never leave her," Shaylee said, voice vibrating with power. "We have a job to do together, a greater destiny. And I will not fail her or the fate in store because of some selfish queen and her need to control her daughter." She met Thalion's eyes. "Or a spoiled prince who pouts over being denied."
Careful, I sent to her, wincing a little. We might need them eventually.
No, Shaylee sent. They will need us.
Okay then.
Aoilainn turned and left without a word, passing from view in a moment. But Thalion lingered, his magic touching the barrier, reaching for us. Charlotte stepped forward, one hand touching the surface of the bubble. With a soft growl from her and a musical sigh from the Sidhe soul she carried, Bronagh oozed out of the weregirl and slid through the veil. She formed for a moment on the other side, a thin column of green before flashing into intense light and vanishing.
"We will care for her," Thalion said. "And, if she chooses, find a host on your plane to whom she can be reborn."
I hadn't known the real Bronagh, but Shaylee's contentment with his words was enough for me.
"She might not see it," Thalion said as he stepped back from the veil, "but I understand. I will watch, and continue to confer with Odhran and Niamh of the Unseelie. And I will be waiting when you call for me."
With that, Thalion bowed his head, flowing silver hair falling forward to mask his face as the Gate sighed and groaned and finally closed.
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