Chapter 751: Finding Ameline
I smiled as Chambrelle Strait greeted me with a smile and a bow just as the sun set.
"Perfect timing," she said, red hair twisted into a no-nonsense knot, pale green eyes sparkling. "Her Majesty will be rising soon."
"Her Majesty has already risen." I turned to the sound of Sunny's voice, ran to hug her, Uncle Frank, as the pair of them, bodies still cold from sleep, squeezed me between them.
Good thing my temperature sensation was turned off again. Nothing worse than being the center of a vampire sandwich before they had breakfast.
They pelted me with questions, most of which I deflected as I had with Mom.
"Later," I said. "I'm still looking for Ameline."
Sunny promised to have her network search while I offered one last round of hugs and headed out again. This time to Ukraine, the palace.
Charlotte's arms were so strong, so tight around me, if I hadn't been invincible I was sure she'd have cracked more than a few ribs. When she let me go, she coughed softly, head down, hiding the tears I knew she struggled to contain.
"Ameline," I said. "Everything comes after I find her."
Another promise, this one from Oleksander as he sent me off, calling to his people to find the witch and pin her down so I could kill her slowly.
I loved the werewolves.
You do realize they won't catch her, Max sent.
I do, I sent back as we skimmed through the veil on the way to the Sidhe realm. But maybe I can keep her running and hiding, off balance a little. Besides, you have no idea how great it is just to touch base with everyone. Considering what happened.
What could have happened.
Max didn't respond, his odd sorrow rising again and I wondered if his sadness was for himself. Had his people lost more than I thought in this fight? Whatever I could do to help him, I swore to myself, I would. After all he'd done to protect and guide me, it was the least I could do.
Ameline first. Everything else after.
Aoilainn wasn't a bitch for once, probably because I had a giant drach with me. Odhran and Niamh hugged me, promised they would watch for Ameline, too, and we were away again.
Oxford was in the dark when I stepped out of the veil into Femke's office. She shrieked, hands against her heart, before sagging a little, coming to my side.
"Sydlynn Hayle," she said as her arms went around me. "You scared me the rest of the way to death, you brat child."
I laughed, let her go. "I take it you felt a moment of magicklessness not so long ago?"
Femke shuddered, sank to the edge of her desk, eyes traveling over Max. "We won?"
I nodded, smirked. "Just hunting down a loose thread," I said as the door to her office opened.
Piers's smile almost split his face in half as he hugged me, too. At this rate, I was going to be all squeezed out before too long. It was hard to hold my resentment against him, despite the fact he forced me to abandon Quaid.
The Zornovs.
Sigh.
"Rescued me again, did you?" His fingers traced down my cheek. "I would have stayed and helped you."
"How are Ellis and the girls?" I really had to do better with names.
"Recovering," he said. "They're alive because of you." He hesitated. "Quaid and the others?"
It felt good to punch him in the arm. "Fine, too," I said. "And necessary, as it turned out. So you're forgiven for being a jackass."
He winced. "Nice you've forgiven me," he said. Shrugged. "Mum will get over it."
I grinned and hoped she found a suitable punishment. Because, you know. He needed the discipline. Didn't he?
"I'm just checking in, and letting everyone know we're good." I backed into Max. "And that if anyone stumbles on Ameline Benoit before me and does her any harm, they'll have me to answer to."
Femke saluted as Piers nodded.
The veil welcomed us one more time.
This is wishful thinking, isn't it? I sent the message to Max as the fear I was just chasing my own tail finally surfaced. She's escaped. And I couldn't free my grandmothers.
It wasn't until I parted the veil to Demonicon I understood.
And that fear went away in a gush of excitement when Ahbi hugged me the moment I touched the edge.
She tore the way open for me, left the gap wide as Max and I entered Meira's office. My sister squealed like a little kid, racing around her desk to engulf me in her embrace while our demon grandmother's spirit joined the massive hug with her own magic.
"What?" I turned to find her standing beside me, wavering in amber fire. Feeling almost as real as if she'd still been alive. "How?" Nice. Way to complete sentences and be all coherent, Hayle.
But Meira seemed to understand, Ahbi, too.
Free, Ahbi sent.
"There was a power drain," Meira said, breathless, cheeks redder than normal, "and I thought the Node was going to collapse." Her voice rose in excitement, a true storyteller. "And then, the power rushed back and, when I reached for the veil, Grandmother was back again."
Which meant Ameline wasn't maji anymore. Which meant no matter what she tried, she was no match for me.
Perfect.
Ahbi's form smiled at me.
Just before my sister punched me in the shoulder, so hard I staggered back in to Max.
"Don't you ever," she scowled, eyes blazing fire, "do anything that stupid again."
I rubbed my arm. "You're welcome," I said.
"I would have let her have my power," Meira said, softer this time. "You didn't have to ask Grandmother." Her eyes turned to Ahbi. "She's already given up so much."
Damn it. Made me think of Gram.
She had to do that, didn't she?
"Everyone's safe and sound," I said, excitement returning with evil delight as its bestie. "And I now understand why I couldn't track Ameline in the veil."
Meira's eyes flew wide. "You can do that?"
Couldn't resist. I poked the tip of her nose with my finger and winked. "I can."
Turned on Max. "Now I know what we're looking for."
He simply nodded, though wouldn't meet my eyes. "Then we must go," he said.
The least he could do was be happy for me. I was about to kill Ameline, crush her like a very disgusting bug scuttling under my feet now that she'd lost her maji abilities..
Unfair fight? So the hell what. Don't judge me.
This time when I entered the veil, it was under my power, with Ahbi sending me on my way in a hug of demon fire. But when I went looking for Ameline minus my grandmother's spirit, my heart almost stopped.
Wilding Springs called one last time as I retraced Ameline's path. Home? No. Please, let me be in time to stop her. I stepped out in to my back yard, on alert, running for the house, for Gram's room.
Empty. Though the house wasn't. I felt Mom, Sassafras, Shenka, dashed for the kitchen, terror building in me.
Only to find them all sitting there, around the table, coffee cups half raised, Gram making pancakes.
Gram.
Making.
Pancakes.
Even better?
Pink fuzzy socks graced her skinny feet.
For a moment, I was sure, so sure. Ameline was gone, had lost it all, down to the bare bones and Gram was whole, just like Ahbi.
But the truth hit me as I reached for my grandmother, felt her as reduced as ever.
I skidded to a halt, bursting into tears as I understood I'd still failed her.
Only to have her smack me with the spatula.
"What are you doing here?" She poked me with a sharp fingernail. "Where's that handsome husband of yours? If I'd known, I would have made more pancakes."
Sob. I hugged her, felt her free hand flutter against my back. When I pulled away, Gram's faded blue eyes were as watery as mine.
"Tell me about Demetrius," she said. "Is he...?"
"Fine," I said, wondering why she cared. Had they grown close since Gram lost her magic? He at least held great compassion for her. Gram sagged a little, nodding. "Chasing down some bad guys. Ass kicking." I grinned. "Whole again, jiggity jig."
She gasped, did a little dance. "Really?" Her hand fell, squeezed my arm. "You go find that little bitch," she said, "and you kill her once for me, okay then?" Gram turned back, singing off key as she flipped breakfast with a toss of one heel behind her in a show of joy.
No loss. Fate was wrong. Or, in making the right choice, I'd saved Gram.
What could be more perfect than that?
Destroying Ameline, of course.
More hugs, for Mom, Shenka, Sassafras and then, the veil.
One last try. I felt it in my bones.
But I didn't get a chance. Not yet. Not when I felt his power in the back yard, knew who still waited for me, Enforcer magic calling.
Not the same. But close enough.
I turned to Max, patted his arm. "Just give me a minute," I said, heading for the back door. "Try the pancakes."
And ignored the sad looks from my family as I forced air into my lungs before walking the length of the back hall and out into the late afternoon.
Quaid's Enforcer robe hung open, black death-metal t-shirt showing through, his big hands tightly clenched, driven in two balls of tension into the front pockets of his jeans. But when he saw me, he uncoiled, relief crossing his handsome features, chocolate eyes full of happiness.
"You're back," he said. Bit his lower lip as his head ducked, shoulders shaking, both hands lifting to cover his face.
I went to him, hugged him, let him lean against me, welcomed his magic, his scent into my world, offered him what comfort I could as he wept in my arms.
When Quaid finally backed away, he swiped at his wet cheeks with the shoulders of his robe, not meeting my eyes, chest heaving for air.
"I wanted to apologize," he said. Coughed softly. "To tell you I'm happy for you. If you're happy."
"I am," I said, without hesitation. Truth. "And you," I said. "Being an Enforcer. And Payten." Didn't hurt as much as it should have. That was a good thing.
Quaid hesitated. Shrugged. "I wanted you to know I'm here to help, whatever you need."
I probably should have been sad, but I couldn't bring myself to sorrow, smiling at him instead. "I'm looking for Ameline," I said. Held out one hand on impulse. "Want to come along for the ride?"
He took my offer without hesitation, our power linking, though in a new way, without the deep, abiding connection I was used to. Yes, the destiny we shared was still there, but the maji power I commanded made it easier. And, as he stood there with his heart in his eyes, I saw the thread keeping us together as a living thing.
And knew I could break it if I wanted to.
Selfish, I left it intact. Promised myself as I led him toward the house, I'd sever it later. That Ameline had to come first.
Almost ran into Max as he emerged from the back door, grasping my arm in his hand, eyes on Quaid and, without warning, pulling us both into the veil.
***
