Chapter 681: Home Again
Home. Wilding Springs had never looked so amazing. Early daylight embraced me as I stepped out of the veil and into the dawn-lit kitchen. It only took a second for Shenka to come running, Sassafras bounding at her side, his furry body leaping into my arms as she hugged him between us.
A cup of coffee at the table later and the pair were sitting back with headshakes and snarky comments about troublemakers.
It was actually kind of funny.
"Who knew Sydlynn Hayle aspired to be Creator." Sass swiped his tongue over one paw before rubbing his nose, amber eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh dear," Shenka said, clasping her hands in front of her chest. "I forgot we have greatness among us." She slid to one knee at my side, looking up at me with fake adoration while trying to keep a straight face.
I was surrounded by smarty-pants.
I swatted at her, giggling while Sassafras laughed.
"Pick on me all you want," I said. "But it was pretty cool."
Shenka relented, taking her seat to squeeze my hands. "Charlotte must be over the moon."
The second I thought of my werefriend, my heart constricted. I missed her already.
A quick shower did me wonders, though, as I stood under the super hot water, heat I barely felt anymore, I felt sadness creep up. This immortality thing took all the fun out of things. And I really had to get my head out of the cloud of helping Charlotte and back into classes. I had school in a few hours, unbelievable. How was I going to suddenly switch focus from big, massive, life changing back to hum-drum, listen to a lecture?
Oh, right. Been there, done that, burned the cookies.
I'd be fine.
I was just pulling on a fresh pair of jeans when I felt the shadowy darkness of sorcery enter my kitchen. My typical reaction to such an event had worn down from freaking out the Brotherhood attacking to, oh it must be Demetrius. I knew he'd want to hear all about my time with the Steam Union, considering the damaged sorcerer had supposedly begun his magic life with them. But when I entered the kitchen, still toweling my hair, it wasn't wide blue eyes that greeted me, but a pair of pale gray.
Piers sat, one leg crossed casually over the other, a big hand stroking Sassafras's fur while the silly cat purred his head off. I tossed the towel into a chair, touching my wet hair, feeling suddenly self-conscious in my worn denims and raggedy t-shirt, wishing I'd left a few nice things at home and hadn't taken them all to school.
Then sizzled in anger at the fact he'd played me, using our mutual attraction when he had no intention of following through.
Like I had. Yeah, nice argument. Lie to yourself much?
Piers's eyes sparkled as he rose to take my hand, guiding me into the seat next to him, which he first pulled out and then pushed in for me. Weird. And yet, chivalrous enough I had a quiver in some low places that really should be reserved for Liam.
My. Boyfriend. Boy. Friend. Syd.
Sigh.
"Young Master Southway seems quite impressed with you, Sydlynn." Way for Sass to go all formal and stuff. And since when did he have a British accent, even the hint of one? "I told him to wait a little while and get to know you better."
Smartass cat. "I take it you're here for a reason?" It came out snarky for a couple of reasons. We'd just parted ways, after all. Piers left with his mother after convincing the werewolves to allow the Steam Union to take custody of the sect of Black Souls.
I didn't think they'd accept the arrangement. It had taken a few hours of convincing, bartering and badgering, but Eva Southway was eloquent and persuasive. And I think Charlotte finally just wanted the sorcerers of both ilk out of her life so her people could move on.
Knowing they were going to trial and execution probably helped a bit.
The second reason had to do with his girlfriend. And my renewed irritation I'd let him kiss me.
Wanted him to.
Girlfriend hell? Save me a room.
"Mother has sent out some of our people to gather the scattered members of the sect who had werewolves in their possession." He grinned at me, nastiness in that smile. "And a few others the sorcerers forced the werewolves to bond with." I thought of the Dumonts and felt myself smiling, too. "Once all are tracked down, Mother promised to return the weres to Charlotte."
Well, Oleksander, he meant. Charlotte was to be heir, at least from what I overheard of the conversation she had with her grandfather before Mom and Meira left. Sunny and Uncle Frank were forced to flee as dawn approached, long before I left the palace grounds, and I promised to return to Austria that night to catch them up on the whole story.
"Good to know." I could just imagine, after feeling their joy at freedom, what some of the gifted werewolves did to their former masters.
Yeah, yuck. Blood and guts and rending of limbs came to mind.
"It's going to be a big adjustment for them," Piers said, scratching Sass behind one ear while the Persian settled his head into the sorcerer's hand. "They'll need support."
"And they'll have it." I was so glad I trusted my instincts, no matter what Charlotte thought at the time. Family was everything. Which made me then think of his home situation. "Is your mom still mad at you?"
He winced before shrugging. "She's furious," he said. Laughed. "But she's agreed to act, at last. So thank you for that."
"I think you managed that one all on your own." Might as well give him the credit he was due. In the spirit of working together and everything.
Syd. Stop stroking his ego and get on with it. Sheesh.
"I wanted to tell you we now believe you were right about Vasyl Krajnik." Big surprise there. He'd given himself away when I prodded him about Belaisle. "We have been unable to locate him and believe he's run to the Brotherhood for protection."
"Let him," I said. "If this all turns out the way I hope it does, he'll get his eventually."
"And if it doesn't?" Piers was only being playful, I could tell. But his words sent a shiver up my spine.
"We'll all be dead," I said, expressionless and cold inside. "So it won't matter, will it?"
Sassafras glared at me with a little hiss before tossing his tail and turning his back. He thudded his way across the table and left in a huff.
Like I'd insulted him directly. So sensitive.
"I'm allowed to be realistic," I called after him.
Piers laughed. "I like your cat," he said.
"I do, too," I said. "Some days."
He leaned toward me, sunlight making his skin glow. "Speaking of being realistic," he said. And kissed me.
Um hum. Heat, the heat I'd been missing from the shower, and tingling, from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair rolled through me. My right hand cupped the back of his head, pulled him closer while I braced myself with my free hand on his knee. He leaned in, the scents of coffee and mint so delicious I instantly wanted to devour him.
When I pulled away, Piers sighed over my mouth.
Holy. Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle.
Boy. Freaking. Friend.
I took a breath, inhaling his air even as I quivered. "I have a. Um. You know."
"A boyfriend?" Piers laughed deep and soft, still sharing my oxygen. "Yes, I know."
"And you do, too." I paused. "Have one." Another awkward moment. "A girlfriend." Way to have a nerdgirl attack, Syd.
His frown of confusion turned to a low laugh that sent ripples of delight through my body.
"I don't think Clover qualifies," he said, eyes heavy lidded as he leaned in to brush his nose against mine. "You're referring, I believe, to the young woman on my arm last night?"
Blush. "She's not?"
"She's not," he said. "In fact, that would be highly inappropriate considering she's my sister."
Ah. Okay then.
"Why," he said, lips hovering, hot breath setting me on fire. "Jealous?"
Oops.
Damn it.
Piers laughed, stole a quick kiss and backed off. "Which brings us to the realistic part."
"How's that?" Focus. So hard to focus when I just wanted to kiss him again.
"I understand there's a bit of a competition going on," he said. "And witch leadership rules are in effect in a few months."
I was going to kill that damned cat. Skin him and wear his fur for a hat.
If Piers thought his little talk was going to get him anywhere, he had another damned thing coming-
This time when he kissed me, he didn't hold back. I found myself in his lap, hands wound through his long hair, inhaling him, tasting him while even my demon begged me for just a little more.
I gasped and pulled away, sliding into my seat with some reluctance. "Are you kidding me?"
"I'm very serious," he said. Took my hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm offering myself as a suitor, Coven Leader Hayle. And I hope you'll accept my advances."
Well, since I'd just did the tongue-wrestling match of the century with him, accepting his advances didn't seem to be the issue.
Piers rose before I could come out of my gaping spaz attack and bowed to me.
"I'll see you soon," he said before he formed a black hole with his sorcery and stepped through it.
I waffled between giggling into my hands in near hysteria and kicking myself for being such an idiot.
Like I needed another boy to worry about.
***
