Chapter 760: Let Me Tell Your Mother
I sat there for a long time, unable to speak or stop the tears-now of sadness-rolling down my cheeks. Meira held her own silence, just the quiet of the basement, the cool darkness soothing me as much as our mutual stillness.
With a hiccup, I finally used my well-worn sleeve to swipe the moisture from my face and nodded.
"This is just the betrothal ceremony," Meira said, as if that made some kind of difference. "The wedding won't happen until later."
"Nice of Dad to wait until I can come," I said, much more harshly than I intended. But Meira just nodded. I met my sister's eyes, hesitated. Blurted, "What's she like?"
Meira rolled her amber eyes, snorted. "Weak," she said. "I think Dad went way to the left after the whole thing with Merlotsenilater ." Right. Thing #3 on the roster who'd tried to kill Meira. "But, at least she won't be a problem when it comes to power. I can work around her. She's happy just knowing she's going to be Ruler's wife."
Wife.
Gulp.
Holy hell, Dad. And yet, like me not so long ago, he really didn't have a choice, did he?
I bobbed a nod. "You must adore her."
My sister hissed with her own irritation. "She drives me nuts," she said. "But she has no illusions about her place, knows she's just there to give Dad a pure demon heir." We both snorted, like there was something wrong with us or something. Stupid demon politics. "At least she doesn't have an ambitious bone in her body. I have no idea how she survived this long without being dropped down to a low-level Plane. I haven't seen her fight one battle. Has this sweetness about her that grosses me out, but seems to keep everyone else from being interested." Meems tossed her hands. "Maybe that's her M.O.. No one has ever seen her as a viable target because she's so pathetic."
That did surprise me. From the sounds of things, she would have been an easy target. "Maybe she's smarter than you're giving her credit for?"
"Maybe." Meira chewed one thick, black fingernail. "Thanks a lot. Now you have me worried I've misjudged her."
I chuckled and shook my head. "You're welcome."
"Smartass." Meira flashed a smile. Went all fake giggly and wide-eyed, voice going up several notches in a mimic of an irritating bubbly pop. "You can come over and do girlie stuff with us. Won't that be family funtastic?"
Blech. We both shuddered and then laughed.
I sobered first. "You realize this is all kinds of crappy? That you're dropping this in my lap and I'll have to punish you for it later?" Mom. Yikes.
Meira's face fell. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'll come and talk to her with you."
I shook my head, sent her love. "I'm just teasing," I said. "Bad enough you have to deal with the politics and ick over there. I can handle this part. Besides, when I burst into ugly tears, everyone will just blame it on my whacked out hormones."
Meira bobbed her head. "Bad, huh?"
I rolled my eyes, feeling my throat tighten just at the thought of talking to our mother. "You have no idea." The words came out in a groan. Hell, I'd suddenly sobbed, for no apparent reason, over an egg I dropped on the floor yesterday morning. Shenka cleaned it up while Charlotte patted my back while I wept like I'd killed someone.
Yeah.
Not so bad.
"I'll tell Mom." I blurted the words in an effort to keep from crying. Too hard.
Meira sighed deeply, rising to pace a little. "Syd, I wouldn't even ask you to come if you wanted to stay home. I'm sure Dad would understand. But..."
"Meems," I took back control of my churning emotions, sending her a magical hug and a flare of demon power that actually didn't go wonky for once and managed to burn off my need to curl up and weep. "There's no way I'm letting you go through this alone." Chances were, Dad was putting things off so my sister wouldn't have to attend without me. Nice of him to include me in the heart-crushing moment. "Okay?"
She spun away, shoulders down, head bowed. Nodded once, barely visible as her body shook. When she turned back, I saw the misery on her face.
"Oh, Meems," I said, tears firing up all over again, lower lip trembling. "I'm so sorry I haven't been here for you."
She forced out a laugh, breathless, faced me full on, long curls spinning around her. "Silly," she said. "I was thinking the same thing." Her hands made short work of her tears, impatient with them. "Are you sure you don't want me there when you tell Mom? I can come over, no problem."
I thought about it. Spread both hands over my belly. Shook my head. "I'll take care of it," I said. "Somehow."
Meira hesitated. Her face crumpled a moment more before she threw her arms around herself. And her power around me.
"I love you so much," she said.
And closed her side of the veil.
I let her go, echoing the words back at her in my mind as I hugged Ahbi before my side sealed shut and I was alone again.
Not quite. A soft paw settled on my thigh, a fat, furry Persian body snuggling up in what little space there was beside my belly.
"You don't fit anymore," I said, stroking Sassafras's tail. He pressed his cheek to my stomach, purring softly. Aimed at the nugget.
"This is just fine," he said. Looked up, amber eyes flaring with power. "Can I ask a favor?"
Um. Weird. "Anything," I said.
He closed his eyes, body vibrating with his purr. "Let me tell your mother."
Gulp.
Choke.
Sob.
I lifted him into my arms, settling him on top of the swell of my pregnant body, feeling his power taking the weight. He rubbed his cheeks against mine, paws kneading my collarbone as his tail beat a soft melody against my tummy.
"I really should do it," I said when I was able to speak.
"No," he said. "I've been taking care of Hayle witches for a hundred and fifty years. Miriam was my baby once, Syd. Just like you. Just like your children will be to me." He licked the tears from my cheek. "My job is to be here for all of you, no matter your age. Because, to me, you're all still my little girls."
I rocked him gently, weeping again, but this time in happiness.
"Thank you, Sass," I whispered.
His purring increased, not just for the baby this time, rumbling in my chest in a beautiful song of love.
"Let me help her through this." He met my eyes again, pushed in nose almost touching mine. "Please, allow me this burden. For, to me, it is no burden at all, but my calling."
I nodded, snuffled. Managed a smile. Kissed his forehead. "I love you, Sassafras."
His body trembled. "I love you so much, Syd." One paw dropped and patted the bump of my nugget before he went on. "I promise you, as I have for every one of the Hayles I've known, good and bad, I will watch over this child. Without prejudice. And always with love." He head-butted my shoulder. "As I've done so many other Hayle witches before him. And I will never let anything happen to him."
So. Much. Love.
"He couldn't ask for a better friend," I said through more tears, a burning throat, aching to sob all over his silver fur. "A more amazing confidant. I know I couldn't have."
Sassafras's amber eyes welled with moisture as he pressed one paw to my lips.
"At least he won't give me trouble," Sass said at his most arrogant. Actually sniffed, nose rising in the air. "His father's influence will keep him nice and pliable." Another sniff. "Unlike some witches I know."
I hugged him again, laughing, crying. "We'll see," I said. "He's his mother's son too, remember."
Sass groaned. "The elements preserve us," he said. And laughed, eyes sparkling. "Oh, Syd," he whispered. "You know I wouldn't have it any other way."
Neither would I.
Sassafras helped me stand, his power supporting me, my aching legs begging me to return to the ground. Or bed. Bed would be good right about now.
No, wait. Pee first. Then a million pillows and the open window with a breeze to cool my hot cheeks.
Bliss.
Not to be. I should have known better. Because my life was all kinds of straight forward and easy, right?
I barely had time to contemplate a nap when a gaping black hole opened in front of me.
And Demetrius Strong walked through.
***
