Chapter 715: Foolish Plans
Piers walked me back to the pavilion alone. Shenka was already gone, chasing after Tallah, and Sassafras stayed with Mom. I wondered where Gram and Varity had gotten to, worry spiraling into a normal tornado of "holy crap what now" and "sigh".
"I hope you think about what I said earlier," Piers said as I stopped at the entry.
Huh?
Oh, right. The love thing again.
He bent, kissed my forehead, warm and tingling as his sorcery nuzzled against mine. It was the first time my normally hungry power blossomed and woke without trying to devour everything around it, instead accepting the touch of his magic.
"We make a great team," he whispered against my skin. "When you wake up, I'll be waiting." With that, he strode off into the darkness.
Guys were always doing that to me, damn it. Kissing me and leaving with some stupid line for me to mull over.
Jerks.
The twins fluttered around Demetrius who shoveled food into his face like he hadn't eaten for a week. I gaped at him a moment before rushing forward and falling into the chair beside him.
In a swirling mass, the wild magicks descended, settling on me once again, though they seemed to have recovered from their excessive grieving.
"Demetrius." I touched his arm as he smiled at me, blue eyes wide and staring.
"Yummynom," he said through the mouthful. "Jolly belly, Syd."
Oh boy.
He'd held it together long enough to return to us. Well, good enough, then. Even though I had a million questions for him, he'd earned his peace. And dinner.
But he shuddered as I pulled away, the strand of wild fire magic prodding him gently. I watched the life return to his eyes, awareness even as he gasped and almost choked.
I patted him on the back as he gulped a drink of water before sagging in his chair, food forgotten.
"Syd," he whispered. "Oh, Syd."
Tears leaped into my eyes. "I know," I said. "Thank you for showing us. We needed to know."
His head bobbed, chin on his chest. "Hurts, owie," he said.
I just bet.
"Listen," I said. "There's more. Piers and the Steam Union are planning to go after Vasyl tomorrow and try to free Applegate." Why was I telling him? Because, even broken, even reduced to this tiny man who wore stained t-shirts and often had food in his teeth, Demetrius Strong suddenly reminded me so much of Gram I couldn't help myself.
I trusted him.
Imagine that?
He shivered, turned sideways in his chair, laying his head on my shoulder. "Won't be easy," he said.
I hugged him, cradling him like a toddler, rocking a little as the wild magicks slipped over him, cooing softly. "Will it work?"
Demetrius sat up abruptly, pointed at my chest.
"You might," he said.
I sighed. "I can't. Mom ordered me not to."
His sigh was long, drawn out, chest collapsing. "Then," he said, "dunno."
I sat back as he dove into his meal again. And focused on the wild magicks.
"You lot," I said. "Any help from the peanut gallery?"
They actually meeped as a unit. Froze in place.
Hmmm. "I need your help," I said, wondering how much they understood.
Twitch. Spark.
"Can you do anything to free the witches?" Applegate, Brindle, the Enforcers...worth a shot.
With a sob of compressing air, the wild magicks bundled together into a shining ball and vanished.
Cowards.
Still, it made me smile for some reason. Like a pack of bad kids running off when there were chores to be done.
Which meant I only had the hard way left.
Everything in me rebelled as I reached out to Ameline.
She answered immediately.
Here's the deal, I sent in a whip crack of magic. And told her what Piers had in mind.
She listened quietly until I was finished.
He'll fail, she sent.
Cynic, I shot back. But yeah. I already knew that, didn't I? Fine, I sent. We work together. I'd have to find a way around Mom's order.
Wait a second. Considering she'd given me total autonomy, did I have to follow her order?
Worth arguing with her about after the mess was sorted out.
But? Ameline's mind rang with amusement.
You keep your grubby paws off my sister, I snarled. My demon pushed against her to add her own threat to my words. We'll find another way to work this out.
Ameline's artful sigh made my teeth ache. So stubborn, she sent. As you wish. I'll be in touch.
Cut me off. And no amount of screaming at her did me any good.
I really, really, really hated her guts.
Really, really.
Demetrius passed out on the couch, Shenka arriving home with a grim expression to cover him with a blanket after the twins retired to their beds.
She refused to talk to me about her sister, which I took as a bad sign. But I didn't push her. I wasn't the only one with problems I wasn't willing to share.
The next morning dawned bright and beautiful, warm even as the sun rose. The kind of day I used to love when I just wanted to be ordinary, a perfect day for soccer, hanging out in the back yard with some lemonade and a sappy romance novel and lying under the stars with Meira and Sassafras, making up stories about what we saw in the night sky.
Maybe I'd have days like those again.
I could only hope for that kind of peace.
The last day of conclave would be filled with policy arguments, new law and territory dispute rulings and any wrap-up needed from the last two days. Would be nice to have the issue of suddenly exposing all magic users to normals swept under the rug for another one hundred years. I laughed to myself, sipping a strong cup of coffee as I realized I was so wrapped up in what was going on behind the scenes, I'd paid little attention to the actual reason most of the magical races were here.
Let them make their rules and solidify their treaties. Live their lives in peace with their heads stuck in the sand. I had their backs.
And, honestly, wouldn't have trusted anyone else to the job anyway.
The air of excitement was back, despite the rapid arrival of the Brotherhood and Belaisle's equally swift departure. I guess that meant the gathering was a success. The Council would be happy, at least.
As I sat in my usual seat and tuned in to what was going on, I realized something. The speed at which the gathering made their changes to the order of things was in direct conjunction to the importance of said order. When items really mattered, needed deep discussion and input from all sides, they flew ahead full steam. And yet, the pettiest things, inconsequential, were assigned time at a later date to be hammered out and chewed over.
Snort. Witches. At least the wild idea to jerk back the curtain and say hiya to the unmagic world was forcing them to slow down.
For now.
I spotted Charlotte as she rose, circled the bleachers. Welcomed her as she sat beside me. Her wolf's spirit slipped over her eyes as she met my gaze with her typical blank expression.
We are behind you, she sent, hesitant but more powerful as she got the hang of it. No matter what happens.
Nice to know, I sent back. You're growing stronger, I see.
She smiled a little. Your lessons are helping.
The very idea I was teaching her how to use her magic always made me giggle.
You know what's coming? I squeezed her hand.
Miriam told us the final plan this morning, she sent. Looked upset.
Don't worry, I sent. I have my own plans.
Charlotte perked immediately. I knew you would. She tipped her head to one side, eyes narrowing. There's more.
Sigh. I hated how easy it was for her to read me.
I have to use Ameline, I sent.
Her mind growled, wolf showing up again. Nothing good comes of her, she sent.
Tell me about it.
And yet, Charlotte sent, I trust you, Syd. I know you will do only what is best for all of us.
No pressure or anything.
I just hoped her total support wasn't unfounded. Or I'd be in a whole heaping pile of doodoo without a shovel.
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