Chapter 797: Royal Wedding
I glared at my reflection in the mirror. "I'm not going."
"You are." Sassafras growled softly at me before sighing heavily. "And so am I, remember?"
"They're not going to make you wear a ridiculous outfit and parade around like you're their property." More glaring.
I. Was. Not. Going.
Sass hopped down from the bed and waddled to my side, tail quivering. "You can't let Meira down," he said, leaping into my lap. I stroked his fur absently. "It would be a terrible thing for her to have to sit through Harry's marriage alone."
"So maybe he shouldn't get married." Whiny much? But there was the crux, wasn't it?
Today was my father's wedding day.
And the last place I wanted to be was Demonicon. In fact, a hole somewhere deep and far away would have been preferable. Anything other than having to endure my father marrying a demon.
That would be the end for Mom and Dad. The real end. And I didn't think I could handle it.
"Harry has made his choice," Sassafras said, meeting my eyes in the mirror. "And perhaps his marriage will at last allow Miriam to move on and find someone to make her happy."
That was true. I hadn't thought of it like that before. Was Mom holding on until Dad got hitched before she'd let him go?
Made sense to me, considering my own shattered love life.
"Fine," I grumped. Set him down on the floor. "Smartass cat."
"Stubborn girl." Sass thrashed his tail. "I'll meet you downstairs."
Sigh.
I let him go, sat there another minute. Felt for Gabriel who was already down the hall in my old room. With Charlotte.
Drew a breath and stood, ignoring my jeans and t-shirt, knowing Pagomaris would be dressing me anyway.
Such bliss to look forward to for the next several hours.
The feeling of emptiness rushing into the kitchen sped my steps. But when I entered the sun-lit room, it wasn't Gram and Demetrius arriving home from who knew where. I'd grown used to them popping out of nowhere, giggling and tickling each other only to straighten up when I appeared.
Cutest thing ever. And almost made losing Liam and Quaid worth it.
The tall, handsome sorcerer standing in the sunbeam was nothing of the sort. He tilted his head, long, blonde hair bleached almost white by the sun recovered from its singeing at the mansion, gray eyes transparent as he smiled at me.
"You look beautiful," he said.
Made me grin. "Thanks." Total sarcasm. "What's with the visit?" Not that I minded the distraction from my duty as I sank into a chair and kicked one out for him.
Sassafras could wait.
Piers took a seat, though slowly, dark jeans glowing indigo in the sunbeam falling between us.
"I wanted you to know." He sat back, smirk fading. "I've decided to take Clover's place here with the North American Council. She can handle back home just fine with Femke."
I grinned. "Oh, because we Americans are so much more trouble, is that it?"
He kicked my chair with the toe of his boot, but his gray eyes laughed. "Something like that." Piers hesitated. "And I've been meaning to talk to you," he said. "But the timing has been so bad all along." Piers shrugged, eyes sparkling. "When isn't it, really?"
I grinned. "Word."
"You amaze me." He shook his head, eyes distant. "And I know this is bad timing. And that you really probably don't care." Piers sighed a deep, long breath. "I know it's just my arrogance talking, the part of me that thought maybe you and I could..." The handsome sorcerer leaned forward suddenly. "You were pretty clear about how you feel," he said. "That you didn't love me. Yet, I still told myself I had a chance." He winked. "Vanity, right?"
I reached up and stroked his cheek. "You can dream," I said.
Piers laughed again. "I was dreaming," he said. "I know that now. Syd, you're awesome and gorgeous and the most incredible woman I've ever met."
"But," I said, hearing it in his voice, that word.
"But." Piers sat back again. "I wanted to tell you, you were right about me." Pause. "About us."
Huh?
"You scare the crap out of me." More laughter, edged with a tremor. "All that power, so casual. So natural." He ran one hand through his hair, pieces of it clinging to his longcoat. "You'd eat me for breakfast and spit me out."
Ah.
Sigh.
"No," I said, leaning forward to pat his knee. "That's not it."
"It's not?" Pier's arched brows shot up. "Then tell me, oh wise one."
"That mouth will get you into trouble," I said, still grinning.
He leered. "Promise?" And laughed again. "I know we're not right for each other," he said. "But you're a hell of a lot of fun."
"And far too much like you," I said.
Piers stilled. Met my eyes. Smiled slowly.
Nodded.
He stood then, hugged me. And I hugged him back.
"If you need an adventure," Piers said, "give me a holler."
"I have a feeling I'll be fishing you out of trouble in the near future." I kissed him softly. "Thanks, Piers. For being honest. But we both know we're better as friends."
He nodded and backed away. Smirked, opened the way in a black, gaping hole behind him.
"See you, gorgeous," he said.
And stepped through, the dark snapping shut behind him.
While I'd known all along I didn't love Piers, that he wasn't the right choice for me, I still had a "just great" moment.
Quaid wasn't an option. Poor Liam was... Ram had a thing for my sister. Sebastian was out.
Now Piers.
Looked like I'd run out of boyfriend material. And I didn't know if I had the energy to go looking for another one.
Not like I had much of a choice, though, did I? The coven needed daughters.
Later.
First, I had to go to my father's wedding.
Grumble, mumble.
I had just turned to go down the stairs and join Sassafras in the basement when I felt Gabriel moving toward me, the sound of footsteps and giggling.
Watched as Mom came around the end of the staircase and down the hall to join me in the kitchen.
Oh. My. Swear-
"I wanted to be here," she said. Kissed my cheek. Bounced Gabriel who wasn't giggling anymore, one hand stuffed in his mouth as he watched us.
"Mom." What could I say? She had to know where I was going-why-or else there was no reason for her to take Charlotte's place today.
"Kiss your sister for me," Mom said. And burst into tears.
I hugged her, Gabriel between us, hating how hard this was for her.
Pulled away and nodded.
"Double date it is," I said. "But I pick the boys."
Mom laughed though her sadness, eyes sparkling. "I love you, Syd," she said.
"Love you." Gabriel stroked Mom's cheek.
I wrapped my son in power, sealed the house behind me, feeling the hovering Enforcers waiting at Mom's beck and call. The touch of Galleytrot in the back yard. Knowing Charlotte had to be somewhere, probably on patrol.
Drew a breath.
And left my mother and son behind to attend my father's wedding.
***
