Chapter 723: Disapproval Noted
I paused at the top of the stairs, listening to the laughter and chatter going on below. The warm evening enveloped me as I stood there in the dark of the landing and absorbed the happiness of my family and friends.
Okay then. Show, road, hit it.
I drifted downstairs, grateful for the low-heeled shoes Shenka sighed over but finally agreed to let me wear. Heels would have killed me, the condition I was in, as the butterfly hop was in full swing all over my insides again with no hint their little party planned to wrap up anytime soon.
I was ready. But that didn't mean I was allowed to be all calm and dignified about it.
Someone had turned out the hall light, probably to hide the wedding party from the gathered guests milling about in the back yard. It was decorated much as it had been for Sunny and my Uncle Frank's wedding, soft lights and floating panels of gauze. But a heavy blue carpet replaced the red one the undead couple used, and the points of decoration were in all colors of magic.
Nice touch.
I hesitated at on the bottom step, turning from the talking group in the living room to the hall beside me. The closed door by the staircase. I tried talking to Gram earlier this morning, but she refused to say a word to me. Hadn't spoken to me since I announced my engagement to Liam.
I knew why. Gram didn't think he was the right one for me. And yet, it wasn't just my sweet Gatekeeper she held against me. Her bitterness over her own failed love and the loss of her magic after fighting so hard, giving up so much, layered on top of her disappointment in my choice.
Gram had been my anchor, her power and mine intertwined for so long not having that connection anymore was one of the hardest things I'd ever had to deal with. Worse was feeling Gram's power inside the one person I hated the most and I swore to myself, the moment this thing with the Brotherhood was over, I was killing Ameline personally before returning Gram's magic to her.
I wanted my grandmother back.
That's why it hurt me so much she refused to talk to me. To interact at all.
To come to the wedding.
I had to try one last time. Maybe seeing me dressed like this, in my white dress, if I appealed to her heart, she'd cave. Because I really wanted her with me.
Selfish? Yeah. Guilty.
I eased Gram's door open, slipping inside, a little surprised to find it unlocked. A momentary hope rose. Maybe she'd changed her mind, was already out there, with the others. Waiting for me to appear.
But no. I spotted her almost immediately, sitting on the floor on the other side of her bed, only the wispy bits of her hair floating over the edge of the quilt letting me know she was there.
Hunched, hugging her knees as usual, staring out the window with her faded blue eyes.
I usually sat next to her when I tried to talk to her, but the dress made it impossible, not to mention the floor-length lace veil. Instead, I took a seat on the small chair next to her dressing table and folded my hands in my lap.
Stared at her for a while.
Touched her with my magic.
She flinched away, turning her head, her back, spinning sideways so only her hunched shoulders under her thin sweater were visible.
"Gram," I whispered, more tears rising, these choking me. Leading to an ugly cry. Shenka would kill me for messing my makeup. "Please."
She refused to answer, what little magic she had left closed off and dark.
I couldn't make her attend. Would never do that to her, anyway.
"I love you," I said. Rose and went to her, bending to kiss the top of her head. "No matter what. Soul sister."
She grunted, shrugged me away.
And I left. But not before I caught the faint sound of her weeping.
Damn it.
I didn't know he was there until Sassafras's body brushed against my legs on the way out.
"Just give her time," he said, looking up at me from where he sat on the hem of my dress, fur blending into the fabric. "She's struggling still."
I bent and lifted him into my arms, cuddling him close as he purred against me.
"Thank you for taking care of her," I said, throat still tight. Sighed deeply. "I can't cry."
He head-butted my chin. "Then don't, silly," he said. "It's your wedding night."
I set him down, watched him sashay his silver butt into the living room. Heard Dad laugh, Sunny's tinkling mirth joining his.
Knew I just couldn't join them yet.
I needed a minute. Maybe an hour? How about a few years?
I rushed down the hall and into the kitchen to catch my breath and slow the wild beating of my heart. I thought I was over this?
Since when did I ever make anything easy for myself?
My hands white-knuckled over the back of the chair I grasped for support as I forced air in and out of my lungs. It was all coming together so fast, like a freight train bearing down on me. The butterflies now had giant wings, so crowded in there I was certain, at any second, I would puke all over my pretty white dress.
Yup yup.
My egos embraced me with power, soothed me, pulled me back from the brink of crash and burn. Enough so when I felt Enforcer magic cross the wards and come to the kitchen door, I didn't freak out.
But breathing became very hard all over again.
Quaid let himself in. Seemed surprised to find me standing there alone, staring at him. He froze, one hand on the doorknob, one foot over the threshold, his chocolate eyes locked on me.
If it wasn't for the fact my hitchhikers were already alert and on duty, I'm sure I would have lost it. Fallen to my knees and cried like a baby, run to him, something.
Probably something stupid I'd regret the rest of my very, very long life.
Instead, I stood there, held in place by their supporting power, even my demon's normal need for him dampened by her determination to keep me upright and functioning.
Quaid's face flashed through shock to hurt to bitterness as he closed the door behind him. Took a step toward me. Stopped.
"I can't believe you're marrying him," he said.
Had he said anything else like, "Hi, Syd, nice night, right?" Or, "Wow, you look amazing." Or even, "I'm starving, want to grab a burger?" Anything else. I know I would have been in his arms and gone.
Long gone.
But his anger lit mine like a wild fire out of nowhere.
You know I have a temper, right?
My demon snarled, her power snapping against him as Shaylee shook the house. Just a little. My vampire's power sizzled over his shielding in tiny lighting bolts of fury while the family magic, twice rejected by him, hummed its unhappiness.
My sorcery blossomed, begging to be fed.
My luck, he'd probably give us heartburn.
"How dare you," I snarled, straightening as my fury jammed an iron rod down my spine. "You have the nerve to come here after lying to me over and over again. After lying to her." How many times had he told me there was nothing between him and Payten, his little Enforcer friend? How many times? And yet, here I found out, from her no less, she worried he was cheating on her. His girlfriend.
With me.
And he had been, the unfaithful bastard.
Quaid's face tightened with fury. "I have no idea where your fixation with Payten comes from," he said. "But for the last time, Syd, she and I were never together."
"Go tell her that," I snapped. "She was pretty convinced otherwise." Was that confusion on his face? Didn't matter. "You've made your choice," I said. "You joined the Enforcers." I still ached inside from the recoil of family magic when he'd chosen the order over me. "I'm tired of your endless revolving love. I need someone who is here for me, no matter what. Someone I can be there for, too. And that someone has never been you, Quaid." I turned my head as hurt flashed over his face. "Time to move the hell on. Like I have."
Now who was the liar?
Quaid didn't get a chance to say anything, though I could feel him swaying toward me, saw him lift his hand to me out of the corner of my eye.
Because the moment he did, Dad strode into the room, his power pulsing with anger.
"Quaid," he said, demon power a thundering undercurrent, "it's time for you to leave."
I felt his hesitation, turned back to watch as Quaid dropped his head, shoulders sagging, and spun toward the door. Almost called out to him, had to bite my lower lip to stop myself as he firmly closed the door behind him.
Dad's hands guided me around, his arms embracing me as I trembled against him, my heart numb.
"Are you all right, cupcake?" Dad leaned back, anger still snapping in his eyes. "That boy has about all the sense of the Demoniconian ruling family."
Which wasn't much. Made me giggle, nerves and anger and sadness all conspiring against me.
"Dad," I whispered. "What am I going to do?"
He shook me, just a little. "Do you love Liam?"
I nodded. Was all I could manage.
"Do you want to marry him tonight?"
Eep. "I have a choice?"
Dad sighed. "You always have a choice," he said. "No matter what anyone tells you. What did I say upstairs?"
"You want me to be happy." I felt so little standing there with my father, like a girl who lost her way.
"Exactly." Dad let me go. "Now, you tell me. What do you want to do?"
I thought of the family, waiting. Of the girls in their dresses. The Council and my responsibilities. Of Mom and Gram. Quaid and love lost. And, finally, of Liam.
My oak tree. Strength unseen, roots running deep beneath him. Courage and kindness and a heart so open it was no wonder I loved him. Really.
"I want to get married," I said.
Dad's smile softened the last of his anger. "Your wish is my command," he said. "Which means, to answer your question, you're going to take my arm," he offered it to me, "and we're going to go out there," he turned me toward the hall and began to walk me out, "and you're going to say I do to a young man who loves you."
As if in response to Dad's words, the soft sound of music floated past the living room from the hall to the back door. Calling me onward.
Right then. No more interruptions.
To hell with Quaid. I was going to be happy with Liam if it killed us, damn it.
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