Chapter 610: Good Sport
Book Sixteen: The Undying
The sound of giggling witches filled my back yard. Giggling. And not young witches, either. The Lawrence twins twittered beside Talee Happern while Mary Gripper gossiped over her baby son, Alex, and how he was keeping her awake most nights.
I did my best to plaster on a smile, hoping it didn't look like a grimace, wishing I was back at the gym. I'd doubled my efforts since the run-in with the Brotherhood, the twinge in my shoulder where Liander Belaisle shot me a reminder of just how serious things had become.
Deadly serious. Like almost losing Charlotte serious. The weregirl kept her distance, watching from outside the party, eyes locked on me at all times. And though she was as protective as ever-worse, sometimes, it seemed-I sensed something was wrong with her. The way she flinched when I asked her a question or the way her blue eyes would fill with almost desperate anxiety.
She'd been shot herself, at the doorway to death, only the wolf inside her clinging to life, the ego of her wereside trying to hold her back. And I'd let her go, to choose life or death despite knowing I could have brought her back, maybe made things easier for her.
I tried not to feel guilty about abandoning her to make her own decision as I smiled wider, a glass of punch clutched in my hand as I made my way through the group of laughing women. She'd come back, by choice, my Charlotte. But she hadn't been the same since.
Near death would do that to a body, I guess.
Everyone I passed smiled at me, though no one tried to stop me, thank the elements. It freaked me out, to be honest, the way they looked at me. I tried to convince myself it wasn't awe, wonder on their faces.
A little full of ourselves these days. Gram's mental voice cackled in my head. I was about to protest when she slapped my mind with her magic. You should be. You deserve it. As long as you don't let it screw you up when it counts.
I glared at her over a gaggle of gray-haired witches. Gram just wiggled her fingers at me in a wave and flashed her teeth.
So unhelpful.
I could have been at the gym. Working out. With Sage. Okay, so being with Sage was higher on my to-do list than working out, though learning to fight was a close second.
I think I impressed him, too, when I came back from my brush with the Council sporting a new attitude.
"Kick my ass," I told him. "I need to learn how to kick yours."
Sage just nodded, smiled. And gave me the worst beating of my life. Not hard enough to leave bruises. Well, not many. But embarrassing enough I was ready to crawl in a hole and never come out.
By the time he crouched over my prone, groaning body lying on the mat, I was ready to quit.
"How was that?" Sage's smile was the same as ever, pulling against his lips, the bit of scruff on his wide jaw darkening at the cleft in his chin while his sea-green eyes laughed at me.
Laughed. At. Me.
Oh hell no.
I punched him right in that beautiful nose of his, sending him back onto his own butt with a shocked look on his face.
Didn't last long. The smile came back ten times as bright.
"You'll do," he said.
"I'm done." I collapsed, all out of everything.
Sage stretched out next to me, waist dipping as he rolled on his side, big shoulders looming over me, cheek in his hand. "You didn't give up," he said softly. "You were down, I came in to gloat and you took your shot."
Story of my life. "Are you okay?"
He touched his nose with his glove and shrugged. "You hit like a girl." Winked.
Laughing hurt. But he was right.
A Hayle family trait. No matter how far we fell, we saved up enough strength to take the last hit.
Things progressed much better from there, though I still lost every bout. I felt myself growing stronger, though, as I side-stepped two laughing girls, a jab of pain in my obliques from a blow Sage landed earlier reminded me I still had a lot to learn. One of these days I'd win.
Couldn't wait.
At least getting my butt thrashed by a deliciously handsome and very sweet guy almost every day helped me to forget my boy troubles somewhat. Sage was a casual relationship, could never go beyond that, and I knew it. Without magic, not even latent, all Sage and I could ever really be were friends. And I was okay with that.
Friends I could handle. Boyfriends? Yeah, not so much.
Sashenka Hensley waved from the refreshment table, dark skin glowing in the light of the setting sun. This garden party was her idea. Naturally. As my second, she took her new role very seriously, doing everything she could to bring the family closer together. They adored her completely, down to the last member. While they looked at me like I might suddenly explode all over them, they turned to Shenka as though they could tell her anything.
The stress of the Brotherhood attack on the Dumonts this past spring took a toll on all witches, but our coven was stronger and more confident than ever, mostly thanks to Shenka. I knew word got around to everyone about my part in the mess, and I overheard family members talking about it from time to time.
It made me uncomfortable, the way they talked about me, as bad as their awed staring. Like I was special. Unreachable. Undefeatable. I just hoped their faith in me wasn't unfounded. Even though I'd been able to muddle through so far, I had no doubt the worst was yet to come.
So weird, really, considering just a few short years ago they all accused me of being the downfall of the Hayle family. Of putting our coven at risk for no reason. And while I totally understood their previous opinions, since I'd been a bit of a brat and fought my destiny, this new hero worship they threw at me every time I came near felt worse.
I struggled with feeling alone for a long time, ever since I was young. I wasn't, not really. Would never be, not with three hitchhiking souls in my head. But the more the coven put me on their little magic pedestal, the more nervous I became.
I never wanted to let them down.
Smile. Shenka's lips widened at me, dark eyes reflecting the sunset. You look like you're going to your own funeral.
Oops. Guess my smile slipped. I tried again only to have Shenka laugh in my head.
Okay, she sent, no smiling. Unless someone is torturing you with magic to put that expression on your face.
No, I sent back, a real smile rising, but I'm being tortured, all right.
She laughed out loud to something one of the ladies said to her. We're almost done, she sent. Thanks for being a good sport.
Silly, I sent. This was a great idea. Sigh. I just wish I was as good at it as you are.
You have more important things to worry about. Shenka met my eyes. Let me take care of the family.
Now you know why it's so important to have a second. Gram's mind touched us both. One you can trust. And why I pushed your ass to find one.
Bossy. Yeah, yeah, I sent. I paused to steady Tara, Talee's demon daughter, who hugged me quickly after almost falling as she fled from some of the other girls in a game of tag before tearing off with peals of laughter. You were right. You always are. Happy?
Very. I looked up and into Gram's face. She'd approached without me noticing, standing in my space, nose almost touching mine. Very happy, girl. Because I know now, no matter what, you have everything you need.
I hugged her while she grunted before hugging me back. "Smartass grandmother," I whispered.
She kissed my cheek with a wet smack before twisting out of my grip and flouncing off with her fuzzy socked feet dancing over the grass.
Despite her happy air, why did those words feel ominous?
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