Chapter 658: Wereprincess
I gaped a minute, trying to breathe, to react, something. Anything.
Shenka finally beat me to it.
"Are you saying Charlotte is a princess?" I met her equally shocked eyes as Isabelle frowned and looked back and forth between us.
"You didn't know?" The young vampire shrugged. "I suppose it makes sense. Honor would keep her from doing anything to jeopardize your bond. And I'm certain, from what I've heard of you," she smiled again, just a little, "had you known of the plight of her people, you would have acted to help them."
Was that hope in her voice? If so, what tie did Isabelle have to the werewolves beyond her family's past? Because no way did she have a reaction like that to ancient history.
Had to be a guy involved.
Yup, yup.
"The Moreau family is led by Oleksander, Charlotte's grandfather." Isabelle's previously still hands wrung together suddenly. "From what I've been able to discover, Charlotte returned home, only to be imprisoned by the Black Souls and their leader, the Czar." She shook her hands out before resting them in her lap again. "He thinks himself the ruler of everything, has adopted the title now despised by the werewolves. But Yure Danko is not to be treated lightly. Because of his control of most of the organized crime in this part of the world, he commands forces of normals as well as the werewolves and his own small sect of sorcerers."
He couldn't be that scary. I was maji. Then again... the Brotherhood left him alone. "Why hasn't Belaisle gone after him?" Not like the Brotherhood leader to let someone get the better of him.
Isabelle's shoulders twitched. "I told you," she said. "He is not to be handled lightly."
Well, regardless who this dude thought he was, if he was holding my friend hostage, he was about to find out what kind of hurt I could put on him. Sorcerer or not, crime boss or not, if one hair on Charlotte's head was out of place, I'd find a very slow and painful way to make him see just how unhappy I was with his contribution to her hurt.
Right before I tore his little sect to pieces.
Wouldn't you know, the moment I surged to my feet to go to Charlotte's rescue, even if I had to drag Isabelle along with me to show me where to find this Czar and his nasty little hidey hole, the air in the throne room shuddered before erupting in puffs of blue flame.
Margaret Applegate flashed into view, a dozen black-robed Enforcers behind her. Seeing her made my heart sink to the tips of my boots even as I strode into the main throne room to face her.
"Coven Leader," she grated through clenched teeth. "You're in Europe again. Without permission."
"Council Leader," I snarled even as my chest tightened as I realized she now had me cornered. "I'm in my blood clan's territory. As you very well know."
"As I am forced to inform you," Sunny said, white power flaring around her as she rose into the air, coming to hover before the still floating Applegate, "every single time Sydlynn comes to visit." I felt bodies behind me, knew Shenka and Uncle Frank must have followed.
Applegate ignored the vampire queen, still focused on me. Her anger flared raw and full of blackness. How could her people not see what held her in thrall? The temptation to free her was so powerful I almost acted.
Almost.
If you are wrong, my vampire sent, casual but chilling, if she is merely insane and not under their control, you will be arrested and burned at the stake. And if she is under their control and you fail, you will suffer the same result. And Sunny will not be able to save you. Nor will your mother. You will start a war between territories. Are you prepared for that?
Damn it. I hated when she was right.
"Do you have intent to leave this castle?" Applegate's eyes flickered sideways, falling on Piotr. How subtle. I was going to kill him.
But I had no choice, did I? If he knew who I was looking for-and I had no doubt he did-he also likely knew what Isabelle told me. Or, at least, enough of the history to piece it together. I could just barge my way around Europe. Swoop in, if I could pinpoint Charlotte's location, and scoop her out of danger. But my vampire essence was right. The state Applegate was in, I was on the brink of starting a war I knew the Brotherhood would love to finish.
Because whether I had absolute proof or not, I knew she was under their control.
"One of my people is missing." Yeah, sure, Syd. Appealing to Applegate's softer, gentler bitch would really get me what I wanted. "She's being held against her will." Maybe. If Isabelle was right. "I need to rescue her." After Charlotte left, purposely not telling me where she went or why, clearly not wanting my help. My back teeth groaned as I clenched my jaw against my next words. "I was about to come see you. To submit a request to search for her."
Liar, liar.
Applegate's lips scrunched into a cruel smile. "Request denied."
Grumble, mumble. "Her life is in danger."
The smile widened. "Request denied."
B.I.T.C.H.
"I'll be dealing with sorcerers," I said, shaking a little from the effort it took to resist screaming at her. But I would not back down. Would. Not. "Since you have no jurisdiction over sorcery, you can't stop me."
"If you're in my territory," she snarled, "request denied."
Oh. My. Freaking-
"Council Leader." Sunny's power rippled as her own temper rose. "You are being unreasonable."
How much of Margaret Applegate remained and how much was Brotherhood? I wished at that moment I could help her, really, truly did. For, as Sunny spoke, I saw the first sign of what I recognized in Mom not so long ago: the way her power fought her, how she struggled for control, her round body dipping slightly as her magic writhed, so much the toes of her practical shoes almost touched the ground. Proof enough for me, if not for others.
Confirmation, absolute confirmation, she was under the Brotherhood's control. And was fighting them just like Mom did.
Only she didn't have me to free her, to give her back her own magic, a talisman like the pentagram necklace Mom gifted me when I was a teenager. The very one which broke her from the hold of the dark sorcerers. I watched with a sinking heart as Margaret Applegate battled for control.
And lost.
Inevitable, really. If my mother, the most powerful witch I knew, outside myself, couldn't defeat the Brotherhood's hold, there was no way Margaret Applegate could manage it. At least, not alone.
I really need to try. Not just for Charlotte's sake, but for all of ours. Mom was planning a giant conclave of all the world territories this coming summer, but it might be too late by then. I understood her reasoning. She wanted everyone in one place, to check all of the Council Leaders for Brotherhood influence, but waiting another six months could mean the difference between winning and losing this war with the sorcerers.
Beg. My vampire's tone came out sharp-edged.
Sorry? I felt my eyes widen at the very thought, still staring at Applegate as she settled back into her scowl of hate.
Crawl, plead, give her the satisfaction of knowing she's beaten you. My vampire sighed. As painful an exercise as it might be, Charlotte is worth it.
Gulp. Oh hell no. And yet, I had a terrible feeling she was right.
Remember, she sent as my demon thrashed and cursed, Shaylee huffing in fury while the family magic pooled sadly, this is Liander Belaisle you're dealing with. His arrogance might lead her to slip.
Or, it could just lead to me making a total fool of myself.
I'd rather eat my shoes, I snarled. But I'll try it.
My vampire actually felt surprised. Thank you for trusting me, she sent.
Yeah, well, if you're wrong, I'll never forgive you.
Fair enough, she sent. I won't forgive myself.
I reached for Sunny to give her the heads up, adding Shenka to the conversation.
Just back me up, I sent to them before falling to one knee in front of Applegate and allowing my worry for Charlotte to appear. At first, I had to force myself to show vulnerability, but the shock on Applegate's face was enough encouragement as I clasped my hands together under my chin.
"Please," I said, choking now on my rising tears. "Please, I beg you. I'll follow whatever rules you ask, do whatever you want. But allow me to find Charlotte." Hot, fat tears dripped from my chin as I let out the pain I'd been feeling since the weregirl left me.
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the effect on Applegate was a little bit of a miracle. She sighed, her evil smile fading, a smirk of satisfaction taking its place. But when she spoke, I saw the woman I'd first met shining in her eyes, as though the Brotherhood's power had been somehow appeased by my willingness to show weakness.
A truth I filed away for later. Surely, there was a way to use it to my advantage.
"Well now," she said, coming to hover over me, staring down her round button nose through the glasses perched on its end. "I see you've finally learned to respect your betters. Humility becomes you."
Oh, she's pushing it. I held onto my vampire for support.
She is, she whispered, but you're winning.
Passive resistance. Got it.
Applegate tapped her chin with one pudgy finger, rolling her eyes skyward, humming softly as though considering my request. I actually held my breath as she did.
This better work.
My vampire, tense and coiled inside me, didn't answer.
When Applegate finally met my eyes, I thought I lost.
"Very well," she said, crooked teeth gleaming as my heart leaped and did a dance in my chest. "Under certain... conditions."
Ruh-ro.
She lowered herself further, bending in half, her face in mine, the scent of garlic and something fishy wafting over me. Mixed with excessive amounts of baby powder.
Gross.
"You are not, under any circumstances, permitted to use witch magic while in my territory." Her cheeks pinked as she tapped my nose with the same finger she'd used on her own face. "Which means no maji power, either, as your full strength is tied to all of your magicks, correct?" Another tap.
If she touched me again, I was going to break that finger off and feed it to her.
"At the merest sniff of trouble," she snuffled the air, made a face as though my scent offended her rather than the other way around, "I am kicking your ass out of Europe." She looked up at Sunny. "Permanently." Malice laced the sweet smile she fixed on me. "Do you think you can manage to stay out of trouble, Miss Hayle?"
Nice of her to drop my title.
Temper, Sydlynn, my vampire sent. We're almost free.
"I think so," I said out loud while tossing a few choice swears internally.
Applegate retreated with a snort. "I highly doubt it," she said. "Thank you for providing me with the means necessary to finally rid myself of your presence."
Ah, my vampire sent. Well, better this than nothing.
Nice someone thought so.
Besides, my demon growled, we're just going to veil in, grab Charlotte and veil out. End of story, nothing to see here, move along.
I stood as Applegate backed off.
With my track record? Yeah. Sure. Charlotte's rescue would go that smoothly.
I was so screwed.
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