Chapter 696: Piers Southway
Summer did wonders for the Ukrainian countryside. I liked it much better without all the snow and ice, thanks. Even though cold didn't affect me anymore, I still preferred the green and multi-hued beauty of this time of year.
I'd meant to drop us inside the palace foyer, but, instead, found myself stepping out of the veil on the giant front lawn, my sneakers crunching over gravel and old asphalt at the edge of the curving drive. The quiet of dusk washed everything in deep blues and shadow as the sun set here in Eastern Europe.
Puzzled and a little irritated I'd somehow missed the mark, it wasn't until I looked up and saw the tall, handsome blonde striding toward us, a smile on his angular face, I realized I'd been manipulated.
Ahbi chuckled in my mind as the veil sealed behind me, just before Piers Southway came to a grinning halt before me. He didn't pause, speak, or ask as his hands dove into my hair, mouth descending over mine in a hungry kiss.
This wasn't the first time he kissed me without permission. Probably wouldn't be the last, either. I could blow a gasket and be a bitch, or...
Well. He really was a great kisser.
Charlotte's soft laugh drifted off and she was gone before Piers finally lifted his mouth from mine, the last of his exhale in my mouth.
Peppermint and coffee. Now I craved caffeine.
"Hello there, beautiful." His sorcery butted up against mine, as close as his body pressed my full length. One thing about Piers, he had zero issues with contact.
I really wanted to be irritated with the blasé way he treated his attraction to me, but I found him so refreshing, his open honesty a delightful change from sullen darkness and angst ridden sorrow I just couldn't help myself.
"Piers." I gave him a gentle push to put some distance between us even as he backed off as if it was his idea. "What are you doing here?"
He spun on his heel, gray longcoat swirling around his legs, his familiar uniform in attendance despite the warmth of the evening. One arm extended, offering some chivalry, and I simply couldn't resist taking it.
"I was hoping to see you, of course." He winked one sparkling gray eye before laughing as I glared back, deadpan. "Mum wanted me to check in with the werewolves to coordinate our joint arrival at the conclave."
Made sense. "Are you coming?" And why exactly did I care?
Oh, Syd. Just keep lying to yourself, girlfriend.
He didn't comment on the loaded question, keeping his sarcastic come-ons to himself. "I am," he said. "While my mother might not be your biggest fan, she understands your power and position with the North American High Council and hopes my presence can sway your opinions."
I had to laugh, as we stepped through the massive front door and into the Faberge egg interior of the palace foyer. "I'm sure she told you to put it exactly that way," I said.
Piers shrugged, eyes full of laughter and more than a little wickedness. "Considering I'm a candidate for your husband," he said, "I figure full disclosure will serve me better than diplomacy."
He had to remind me, didn't he? I slid my hand free of his arm and forced a little smile.
Piers didn't let me escape so easily. He bent over me, eyes tightening even as his own mouth curved into a small frown.
"You do realize," he said in his crisp British accent, "you're going to have to make a choice eventually? Running away from it won't solve anything." He pulled back, long, blonde hair falling over one shoulder. "Regardless of whom you choose, avoiding the topic is only making things worse."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," I shot back, temper searing through me as my demon grumbled.
Piers laughed, kissed me swiftly. "I adore you," he said. "I can't tell you how much."
Grumble mumble.
"Any sign of the Brotherhood?" Topic changing was one of my most polished avoidance tactics.
Piers just sighed and shrugged, taking the massive hint at last. "Not from our end," he said, falling into serious, gray eyes brewing a storm behind them as he leaned into me. "Mum's been vigilant, but they're still in hiding."
Creepy crawlies traveled up my spine, paired with frustration. "What are they up to?"
Piers's gaze locked on mine, grim and dark. "You can be certain," he said, "whatever their plans, you will somehow end up in the thick of them." We'd talked enough over the last six months or so, him cheerfully appearing in my kitchen whenever the hell he felt like it. Our conversations about my dealings with the Brotherhood meant Piers was fully informed as to my trouble magnet nature.
Even knowing that didn't scare him off.
Brave boy.
"Lucky me," I said. Paused. "You said there were other Steam Union groups, one in my territory, correct?"
He nodded, squinting in curiosity. "Why do you ask? Looking to make some new allies?" Was that jealousy in his voice?
"I need to keep my husband options open," I said. Elbowed him with a smirk. "I'm kidding," I said as his little frown turned into a snort. "One of you in my life is more than enough."
He swept a bow before going on. "I take it there is a point to the question?"
Why did I hesitate to tell him? Right. Sharing Shenka's secrets with Mom was, well... she was my mother. I didn't have many secrets from her, especially any big ones. But telling Piers was crossing the friendship line.
Wasn't it?
Still. This was important. And any information I could give Mom would help when we finally talked to Tallah.
My Steam Union friend was scowling by the time I finished telling him what Shenka told me.
"I highly doubt anyone from our order would suggest exposing witches or any other magical race to normals," he said. Stopped. Whistled softly through his teeth. "But I can't be sure."
That was helpful. "Can you poke around for me?"
Piers didn't answer right away, and when he did, his voice was distant. "I have some people I can ask," he said, giving me the impression he was already doing so. The moment passed, his full attention returning. "We'll know soon enough."
Okay then.
That left me with my other curiosity. "Since you seem to be the go-to guy for answers, what do you know about wild magicks?"
I might as well have punched him in the stomach. Piers gasped, grasped my upper arms in his hands.
"Tell me they've returned," he said.
Um, wow. Chillax dudilicious. I pulled free of him, scowling.
"I told you I freed them," I said. "You didn't seem all that excited before."
He shook his head. "I've been doing some research," he said, backing off a little, though his excitement didn't retreat far. "What happened?"
I told him while he nodded and grinned at me before hugging me swiftly.
"This is brilliant," he said. "Can you summon them?"
"Maybe if you actually filled me in," I said, "I'd consider trying."
Snap.
Piers's deep chuckle made me all warm in places I wished it didn't.
"Here's what I've learned," he said. "According to Steam Union records, the wild magicks you freed were captured centuries ago by the Brotherhood and enslaved to their use."
What else was new? The Brotherhood was great at making slaves.
"Here's the best part," he said, eagerness rising. "If you truly did free the full fragments the Brotherhood stole, you now have access to all that power yourself. Power our enemies are now lacking." He bounced once on his toes, white teeth sparkling as he smiled. "You need to trap them, Syd. So the Brotherhood can't capture them again."
A horrible feeling settled in my stomach at the thought of trapping the wild magicks.
Piers must have seen the resistance in my expression because he calmed a bit, drew a breath. "Everything you've done," he said, "has reduced the power of the Brotherhood. From forcing them to abandon one of their bases of power," the mansion Belaisle burned, right, "to breaking their hold over the attack on the Sidhe," with Ameline's help. Still made me furious to remember. "But by setting free one of their major sources of power, you've crippled them beyond what they expected."
I wasn't so sure about that. My mind went to the woman in the rainbow shielding, the one we'd seen when Ameline and I worked together to save the Sidhe realm from Belaisle's attack, as I spoke. "If so," I said, "does that mean you think they've gone to ground for good?" I couldn't bring myself to hope I'd done that much damage.
Had I?
Piers shook his head. "There's more depth to their power than the wild magicks," he said. "But if you were to claim them, you would have a distinct advantage."
"I'm sure that's true," I said, skin crawling at the wrongness of the thought as my alter egos prodded me to reject the idea.
Piers seemed almost desperate for a moment before visibly calming and taking a step away.
"The Brotherhood can't be allowed to reclaim them," he said. "Just promise me you'll act if necessary."
What, did he think I was an idiot?
There were times I liked Piers a lot, times I wondered if he'd be a good choice to marry, my partner in crime.
This wasn't one of those times. In my heart, and in the souls of the powers living inside me, I knew the only place for the wild magicks was out there.
Free.
"Syd." Charlotte waved at me from the entry to the throne room. When I turned back to Piers from her distraction, his ready smile had returned.
This time when he kissed me, I cut it short, the buzz of anger still humming through my veins.
He didn't comment, as cocky as ever. "I'll see you tomorrow, gorgeous," he said. Gestured as a large, black hole formed. Saluted with a wink before disappearing through it.
I ground my teeth together in a mix of frustration and nerves as I joined Charlotte.
***
