Chapter 656: See The Light
Dinner was quiet, the girls keeping their distance, though I'd tried a couple of times to have them join us. But their giggling and winks were enough to tell me they had no intention of separating Liam and I just yet.
I knew once the weekend was officially over they'd pile on top of me for deets.
I felt Shenka return, her connection to the family magic alerting me as she arrived back at Harvard. For a moment, I sensed her tie to Enforcer magic, and I kicked myself a little. Of course she'd need help to get home. Without my ability to ride the veil between our plane and Demonicon as her means of travel, I'd left Shenka to fend for herself.
She must have felt my guilt, because she immediately reached for me.
If you're thinking what I know you're thinking, you're being silly. Her mental tone sounded firm, but loving. I managed just fine, thank you. Besides, I had a cute ride.
Gulp. Heart clench. Chocolate and leather and hot magic-
No, she sent, mind hugging mine gently and a little sadly. Not him. I'd never do that to you.
Of course she wouldn't. But my reaction to the possibility set me off in a way I wasn't expecting. Turned out, the box of Quaid I'd sequestered with magic wasn't working after all.
Because, yeah. That would be too easy.
I hugged her back, hiding my churning emotions from her. I'll see you soon.
She let me go as I turned to Liam, my buzz of happiness now long gone. "Shenka's back."
He seemed to collapse in on himself a little. Did he sense he'd lost me? And had he? His smile was as sweet as ever. "I guess our weekend is over."
I hugged him, his cold cheek pressed to mine even as I struggled with what to say, how to act all of a sudden. The ease of our being felt lost and I didn't know how to bring it back.
"I'll see you in the morning." His lips demanded I stay with him, but I parted from him after only a moment. I stood in the Yard, hands in my pockets as Liam turned and left me there, looking back over his shoulder and waving twice before disappearing into his dorm.
Sigh.
I had to figure this Quaid thing out or I'd never get married.
My boots made thudding sounds as I trudged through the snow, shoulders hiking up around my ears, shivering at the sudden cold enveloping me. My demon hated winter and I was inclined to agree with her.
I find it refreshing, my vampire sent.
Both Shaylee and my demon snarled at her.
The warm interior of Hollis Hall welcomed me as I entered, climbed the stairs. My feet slowed as I neared my door. Sudden reluctance pulled on me. Why was I so hesitant to see Shenka, to tell her the inevitable happened? It wasn't like she didn't know what Liam's weekend solitude was all about.
Still, as I reached for the doorknob, I felt discomfort and confusion ramp up. The feeling things weren't quite right, the spell Liam and I wove around each other the last two days wasn't real, couldn't-shouldn't-last.
I was going to girlfriend hell.
Shenka sat on her bed, smiling as I came inside, her magic hugging me even as she rose and came to do so physically. I hugged her back, our family magic linking us together.
"So," she said, deep brown eyes sparkling as she pulled away. "How was your weekend?"
Blush. Ing.
She pulled me down on the bed with her and, embarrassed, but oddly giggly, I shed my coat and gloves and told her everything. Well, not everything. But enough she squealed and hugged me before hesitating.
"I adore Liam," Shenka said. "He's lovely."
"But." I stood up, went to my side of the room, stared out the window over my bed into the cold January night. Hated how my heart clenched around Quaid and wouldn't let go.
I heard the rustle of fabric as she moved. "When he asked me what to do, I encouraged him to suggest this weekend."
My grin widened as I turned to face her. "Didn't see that coming."
She snorted. "Hush, you." Her hands settled in her lap as she shrugged, on foot bobbing over the edge of the bed in agitation. "I was hoping you would either see the light about him, or..."
"See the light." I sank onto my own bed. "Pick him or scratch him from the list."
She nodded. "And?"
And.
"Whatever choice you make," Shenka said, "you know I'm behind you. I always will be."
I chewed my thumbnail. Not everyone felt the same way. "How's Gram?"
Shenka's smile faded before returning. I knew her tells already, the signs when she was trying to hide something from me. "She's fine."
Um-hum.
"Honestly, she's still in her room most of the time." Shenka tossed her hands, both landing with soft thuds in her lap. "I'm worried about her, Syd."
That made two of us. Gram and I had shared a unique connection ever since I was a baby, thanks to the power she embedded in me to protect her magic from the Purity family when they attacked. Because I carried it for so long, it was as though we shared part of a soul. There were times when Gram's eavesdropping irritated me and others when I couldn't have imagined making it through my life without her.
But now that she'd lost most of her magic to Ameline, our connection was so weak I barely felt her. And thanks to her stubborn melancholy over the whole thing, she refused to let me in anymore.
More than anything, without Gram, I felt like I'd lost part of myself and didn't know how to get it back.
Not true. I had to kill Ameline. That would solve everything.
Stupid maji prophecy keeping the bitch alive. It could just bite me.
"I can't tell if she's getting stronger." Shenka tapped a beat out on her thigh with her fingertips. "But I don't think she is. Though Lula Kennecott was there for a visit and to give her a checkup."
I brightened a little at that. The sister half of the Kennecott twins was one-half of an amazing healer team. I adored both she and her brother, Phon, and knew Gram was in good hands.
"How did she take that?" I could just imagine my grandmother's reaction to being poked and prodded magically, regardless Lula's smooth and gentle temperament.
Shenka laughed. "You can guess. But Lula is amazing with her. After Ethpeal got through griping and fighting with Sassafras over what was and wasn't good for her, she finally relented and let Lula do her work."
I could so picture it. Made me sad knowing I missed so much. I wished I could split myself into pieces and not ever miss a thing...
Then again, I'd had my other parts stripped from me before, and I really preferred keeping us intact.
"Oh, and Talee's son, Todd, had a bit of an altercation with the Mitchell's boy. A fight over who was a real coven member." Shenka chuckled. "A few fists were thrown, and Hiller lost a tooth that was loose anyway."
Yikes. How did she handle this stuff? I would have shaken the two of them and knocked their heads together.
"I'm so lucky to have you," I said, love and more guilt welling inside me. "I should have been home with you this weekend."
Shenka's frown had nothing to do with anger as she rose and came to my side, sitting next to me, taking my hand.
"I've told you before," she said. "This is my job. And I love it, Syd." Her beaming smile was so genuine I smiled back, my soul uncurling from regret. "Thank you so much for asking me. Yes, I was second for my family, with Tallah. But they knew me as their coven leader's sister." Her perfect, white teeth flashed as she shook her head, lips in a wry twist. "I didn't really get the chance to be the one they came to. But with our family," she bloomed again, a dark rose framed by long, silky black hair, "I'm finally able to be the witch, the leader, I wanted to be." She jabbed me gently with one elbow. "While you take on the big, nasty stuff. It's a win-win."
I hugged her hard, throat tight. "You're awesome."
She laughed in my ear. "Syd," she whispered, "the feeling is so mutual."
We smiled at each other, both tearing up before Shenka laughed again and gave me a little shove.
"No crying," she said.
Snort. Yeah, I was really good at the no crying thing.
Syd. Sunny's mental voice broke through as I sobered, linking Shenka to the conversation immediately.
Hey. I raised my eyebrows at Shenka who cocked her head in curiosity.
Hello, Sunny, she sent to the vampire queen.
Shenka, darling. Sunny's spirit power embraced us both. I'm happy you're with Syd. I have news about Charlotte.
Instant perk. Shenka's soft gasp came in conjunction with the tightening of her hands in mine.
Is she okay?
Where is she?
Shenka and I stumbled over each other as Sunny went on.
The feeling from the vampire queen wasn't positive.
I don't know, she sent. Not in detail. But what I've found out worries me.
I was on my feet, my second beside me, already reaching for my coat.
I'll be right there.
Because, no matter my boy troubles, my crazy life, I would drop everything in a heartbeat.
This was Charlotte we were talking about.
***
