Chapter 783: Family Magic
I didn't go right to Core. There was something I had to do first.
Max didn't say a word as I returned to the house, expecting to sneak in and do what I had to do then out again before the crap hit the fan.
Before the family could react to me releasing the coven's magic.
I'd already made my decision to leave the leadership even as I turned from Fate and marched back the way I came. Zeon continued to scowl at me, Iepa hanging back. I offered the maji leader a flash of my middle finger-while Max chuckled-before tearing open the veil and returning home.
Good thing Max was on the ball. I'd have forgotten to shrink myself and probably torn the roof from the house. Yes, our neighbors didn't notice much when it came to magic, thanks to centuries of Sidhe influence, but I doubted they'd miss it if the top of the two-story was suddenly in the back yard.
To my surprise, I landed in the kitchen in the middle of an anxious group of people, one cat and a very agitated black dog. The room was so packed I was grateful Max held the reins when he set us down in the far corner, out of the way of the arguing bunch.
They fell silent the moment we appeared, staring, shocked, before they all started shouting at me at once.
I stood there and waited for them to calm down, crossing my arms over my chest, tapping my toes on the floor until the din died down and Mom's voice won.
"Where the hell?" She stormed to my side, grasped me in a bear hug. Looked up at Max.
"I had to talk to Fate," I said. "Max tagged along to help."
I felt their hesitation. I'd blamed the big drach leader enough times in their presence I knew their doubts were fed by my prejudice regardless of his participation in my own saving.
"It's cool," I said. "Fate and I had a talk."
Mom nodded, stepped back while Charlotte glared at me like she used to when we were still bonded and I tried to give her the slip. Galleytrot paced back and forth, Sassafras on his back, crouched and hissing at me. Shenka even looked pissed off, jaw jutting forward.
"You could have said something," she snapped, tears in her voice. "Instead of just leaving."
I sighed, nodded. Suddenly tired. Let my arms fall to my sides as Gram and Demetrius watched, they and the vampires in residence the only ones who didn't look like they wanted to beat me senseless. Uncle Frank and Sunny flickered with spirit power while Sebastian leaned back against the counter, hands in the pockets of his jeans. Piers leaned against the wall, a little smirk on his face, though from the snapping anger in his gray eyes, they'd filled him in on the attack at the Star Club. Alison hovered, pouting, while Trill's crossed leg bobbed up and down with growing agitation.
I loved them all. Sent my power out to them, embraced them. Let them feel my excitement, how sorry I was, and that I had a plan.
They softened as a group. Though I was sure as soon as I told them what I had in mind, they weren't going to stay that way.
"I'm not coming back from this without Gabriel," I said. "But I have places I need to go. One in particular." I glanced at Max. "I have to go to Core to talk to the Dark Fate. And I'm not sure what kind of reception I'm going to have."
Enforcer magic trickled through the wards, the sound of the back door opening and closing breaking the silence. And then, Quaid was there, standing behind Shenka, chocolate eyes locked on me.
I fumbled for words a moment, brain wondering what the hell he was doing here before I pulled myself together again and focused on my grandmother.
Held out my hands to her. "I can't run the risk the family magic will be lost," I said. "And it's clear now I'm meant for more danger than is wise to risk the coven." So hard, but necessary. "I want you to take it back."
She gaped at me. "Are you cracked?"
I laughed. "Maybe," I said. "But I have more than enough power without it." The coven's power pleaded with me even as I gently began to detach it from my other egos. "I've put the family in jeopardy too many times over the years to risk it again. If this whole mess has taught me anything, it's that now, more than ever, I need to protect the ones I love." The family magic groaned softly. "And that means stepping down as leader of the coven."
Gram shook her head, held up both hands. "Not me," she said. "Find another patsy."
Damn her. "Gram, this will restore your magic."
"No," she said, sharp and abrupt. "It will simply mean a weak leader buoyed by the power of the family."
I hadn't thought of that. Wished she'd stop being stubborn and do it anyway.
Turned to Shenka who laughed with a softly hysterical edge to her voice and shook her head.
"Absolutely not," she said.
Stubborn bratskis.
"You're stuck with us," Shenka said, reaching out to the family as she did. I felt her share what I wanted, cursed her mentally as they rejected my proposal down to the last coven member. Their rejection stuffed the family magic back inside me where it burrowed deep, refusing to leave. "You are our leader, through dark times and happy ones. And no matter how this turns out, what Fate has in store," I shivered when she mentioned Fate, "we will stand beside you. Your coven. Even if that means we fall with you in the end."
They agreed, all of them. The idiots.
Loved them.
Cried a moment as I felt their embrace, their undying support. How far we'd come.
"All right, you fools," I whispered. Let them go. Looked up and smiled at Shenka. "All right." Shook it off. "Rosetta and her crew?"
Mom sank into a chair. "In custody," she said. "And under Lula's care."
She was healing them?
"I want them all alive and well," Mom said, "when I have them burned."
And the family temper was clearly passed down from my witch side.
My demon snorted in amusement.
"I'm coming with you." Quaid said it casually, breaking into the conversation as though he was welcome. Had been invited. Everyone stared, even Demetrius, as I frowned at the Enforcer.
"No," I said. "You're not."
"Yes," he said. "I am." Paused. "Want to try that again?"
Grrr.
Syd, his mind touched mine, despite my resistance, I can't let you go alone.
Can't let? I threw the words in his mental face. Since when do you let me do anything?
That's not what I meant. His power stirred with anxiety, determination. I've let you down so many times. I can't allow this be another of them.
Let me down. None of this is your responsibility, I sent. Without adding "anymore". Because I was nice like that.
It is, he sent. You are. I want you to be.
Too late for that. I intended to slap him with the truth, but ended up too sad to use the words as a weapon. You followed your own calling, Quaid. I understand. I really do. And you don't have to feel guilty-
It's not guilt. He trembled, his power shivering. Syd. It's not.
Then what? This conversation was making me tired. I had to rescue my son.
He had to come before whatever was eating at Quaid.
"I'll follow you regardless," Quaid said. Shrugged. Met Max's eyes.
I looked up at the big drach who had a small smile on his face. Bowed his head to Quaid.
"Of course he will," Max said. "It's what you do for the people you love the most in the world."
I guess I should have been all swoony and whatever.
The word "love" just pissed me off.
"Who says you're the best one to go?" Sassafras bristled from his perch on Galleytrot as Charlotte growled under her breath.
"Precisely," Piers said in his crisp British accent. "I would think sorcery would be more helpful against Ameline."
"As if," Quaid growled.
That wound everyone up again.
"No one is going," I said over them as they started to argue. "Me. Max. End of story."
"If you take me with you," Quaid pushed past Shenka, past Mom, stood in front of me, black robe hanging open, his death-metal t-shirt tight over his muscular chest, "and something happens, I can return the family magic home again."
Jerkasaurus.
I glanced at Gram who sighed, rolled her eyes and nodded.
"He's an Enforcer," she drawled, giving him the stink eye. "Damned fool has that ability."
While no one else in the room did.
Damn it.
"Good for you for knowing which of my buttons to push," I said, punching him in his very hard stomach.
A tiny smile, quite the match for Max's, raised the corners of his mouth, the short stubble on his jaw darkening his features even as his eyes smoldered.
"I'm at your service, maji," he said.
"Well, if he's going, I am, too." Charlotte pushed him aside, her wolf in her eyes.
Piers grinned. "I'm tagging along for the fun," he said.
Demetrius raised one hand with a beaming smile. "It's likely Ameline will have more of the Chosen with her," he said.
"And dark maji." Trill's leg stopped bouncing.
"Some vampire magic might be in order," Sebastian said.
"You're not a vampire anymore," I griped at him.
"Syd." Sassafras's amber magic touched me as he spoke. "You're not going without help. No matter what you're afraid of, if you fall, none of us want to survive. Because if Ameline wins, we might as well pack it in."
Mom nodded, grim. "We won't be able to stand against her," she said-way to be a realist at the wrong moment, Mom-"especially if Ameline has the dark maji under her control. We can no more counter them than we could the sorcerers, especially since we are still geased against using blood magic."
I hated they were right. Still, if I fell, I didn't want to think they were helpless.
Too much pressure.
"So take the help," Sassafras said, "and kick her ugly butt once and for all."
I intended to. If Fate would let me.
***
