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  That soft and pathetic da-dum.

  Liam.

  The last sound I ever heard from him was the final beat of his heart.

  It took everything I had in me not to scream, to sob out loud, to grab my son and never, ever let go. Rigid with the need to keep myself from flying apart, I clenched my entire being into a rapidly stiffening plank of HELL TO THE NEVER and shook my head.

  “I forbid you to go,” I said.

  Fury flared in the child before me, rage like I’d only ever seen a few times before. Felt myself an instant or two along the way. But never, ever in my son.

  Gabriel clenched both hands at his sides, power pulsing out beneath him, shaking the ground at my feet, before he snarled in response.

  “We’ll see,” he snapped, creating a narrow Gateway and leaving without another word. It slammed shut behind him before I could cross into his bedroom in Wilding Springs, to follow him home. At least he went home. Still, he’d walked away from me during a fight.

  Oh, no he did not.

  Syd. Mom had perfect timing. If perfect meant the worst freaking choice of moments ever known to the Universe in all time and space.

  WHAT. Yikes, Syd. Really?

  Bless her, Mom knew better than to fight fire with nuclear armaments, though the singe of anger in her mental voice told me she was holding back by the skin of her teeth.

  Sweetheart. She paused an instant as I pulled my crap together and didn’t lose it again on her.

  Mother. Okay, that was better, more civil. Kinda.

  I hate to interrupt, she sent, tight and precise. But we’ve been summoned.

  Really. I caught myself in mid-grind, forced my teeth apart through sheer willpower. I was going to live forever. I’d be needing my molars a few centuries from now. By whom?

  You’re going to love this. Her voice growled in my head. Tallah and Sashenka Hensley have brought a grievance against us to the World Paranormal Council. Our presence is requested to face charges.

  They what? The lying, deceitful, arrogant—

  I grinned tightly into the empty air. A fight. How perfect. And just what I needed.

  I’m on my way.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty

  Mom was waiting for me when I arrived at Harvard to pick her up. She looked about as impressed by the summons as I was, bracketed by two lurking, black hounds with new white fire in their eyes. Good to see she’d taken my advice. Now the earth magic had gone, they should have vanished with it. But their new power kept them grounded and out of the veil with the rest of the Sidhe, it seemed. Made me wonder in a flash if I should make sure every race had access to white sorcery. Would it keep them safe?

  To what end, though? All it would do would be put off the inevitable. I was glad the hounds were here to have Mom’s back. But everyone else would just have to trust Creator knew what She was doing putting the fate of the Universe in my hands.

  It would be laughable if it wasn’t so terrifying.

  I was still in a cranky mood, about as happy as my son when I popped into Wilding Springs to finish my fight with Gabriel. Told his closed bedroom door to behave and left him at home with Sassafras and a command to stay the hell in his own body and out of the veil.

  “I thought you had Tallah in custody.” Came out like an accusation. First words out of my mouth used as weapons? Nailed it.

  Mom’s jaw tightened, Darae whining softly in sympathy. At least my mother could afford to wear her teeth down. She only had one lifetime to worry about. “The WPC,” she snarled out the term before visibly pulling herself into her diplomatic Miriam Hayle persona and continuing in cold fluidity, “divested us of the pair of Hensley’s shortly after we arrived.” I bet that went over well. Would have liked to see Quaid face down my mother with that order.

  He won though, didn’t he? Despite the two lurking dogs. I knew why, of course. Their power was gone, their earth magic, at least. Though Mom’s choice to share the white sorcery with them—the source of their new eye tint—meant they were far from helpless. In fact, they felt stronger than ever. I ignored them as they remained silent, watchful.

  Oddly, despite the setback, Varity seemed the only one of our collective in a good mood. She should have been pissed off, right? Her authority challenged and all that crap. When I scowled at her, she winked back.

  “You two have no idea,” she chortled, rubbing her long, thin hands together in unconcealed glee, “how long I’ve been looking forward to a Hayle family tag team.”

  Oh, dear.

  On the other hand, I agreed with her. It was far past time to deal with Femke, no matter what that took. Mom’s power simmered beside me, the young magic of the new North American Witches Council bubbling with its need to prove itself. Was my mother feeling the same way? She had nothing to prove, not after all the successes and accomplishments she’d managed over the years.

  Made me wonder, though, calmed me down a little bit as we passed out of the veil and into the main council meeting room in Hong Kong. Mom had to be struggling with her decisions as much as I did.

  Nice to know we were still peas in a pod.

  I wasn’t sure if the small gathering we strode forward to join was a good sign or a bad one. With Galleytrot and Darae in our midst, we almost outnumbered the waiting official party of Femke, Tallah, Sashenka, Quaid and two Enforcers standing guard at the door. I might have preferred the full assemblage of the WPC to witness what was about to happen instead of just the Hensley sisters who scowled at us with the same unhappiness that shone on Femke’s face.

  Minus the insanity I saw behind her eyes. She had to be nuts to think such a small group could stand against me. Hell, that her entire Enforcer order even had a chance. Damn it, I’d left this too long. No more. I’d find out what was wrong with my friend, what the Russians did to her, and fix her if it was the last thing on my list.

  Quaid stood off to one side, eyes dark, hooded, magic tight and guarded. No help there, though he’d asked me in the past to save his boss from herself. Maybe he couldn’t assist, but hopefully he’d at least stay out of the way when the time came. Because there was a giant fight brewing, that much was certain.

  And the focus of the thundercloud stared at me with open hatred in her empty, dark eyes.

  “I demand you arrest them both.” Tallah looked quite a bit worse for wear, her long, silky hair no longer a fall of perfection but knotted and greasy on the ends, hanging more like a shroud than a proud banner of her heritage. Her dark skin had taken on a gray cast, lines and circles deep around her big eyes bulging wider with her distress, pulling down the corners of her full mouth. The loss of her family magic hit her hard, clearly. I could attest to how it felt, though mine I’d shed on purpose, admittedly, and not had it torn from me unwillingly.

  Had to hurt.

  Compassion might serve us best, my vampire sent.

  Like hell. My demon’s anger burned in the pit of my stomach while Shaylee sighed.

  No matter what happens here, she sent, her own soul weighted and dark, we must do what we can to save Femke.

  Right. No losing sight of the prize. Freeing the WPC leader of whatever held her in thrall had to be the priority. Prodding my Sidhe princess and her low ego would have to wait until I was done.

  I’m fine, she sent privately, sadly. Just missing the feeling of earth magic, Syd. Don’t you?

  I came to a halt next to Mom, testing for truth I knew already. When I examined those around me, I confirmed they, too, were empty of that most base of magicks. The strain and stress in their faces, the way they twitched from the lowest Enforcer to the way Femke’s cheek vibrated as she shifted in her position before us, gave me a flash of insight.

  Everything that was happening here, all the strife and conflict, was tied to the fact they’d lost something precious. Were they aware of it? I had to believe they were. Or, maybe they weren’t and their confrontational angst was a reaction to how deeply it affected them.

  Mom, I sent in a tight t
hought as she addressed Femke formally. I didn’t hear her specific words, didn’t need to. Some kind of politico speak to appease the history makers, likely. You do know your earth magic is gone, right?

  She glanced sideways at me, body jerking just a little. Yes, she sent, her own distress growing as her power grappled for what was no longer there. I’m aware. This is relevant now? I shared my epiphany and she sighed mentally. First spirit and now earth? I knew panic in her when I heard it, though others might only sense concern. Syd, what’s happening?

  You know what’s happening. And it’s changing the way we react to each other. Or how individuals without those powers did, at least. I was one of the lucky ones.

  Us too, Shaylee whispered.

  Femke and the others stared at us, Tallah quivering, waiting for us to say something. But this was important. Let them think we were at a loss for words or conspiring against them.

  Understood, Mom sent, voice quavering. So we can expect more of this, then? How did she hold in such fear? I loved my mother so much. But I owed it to her to be blunt.

  The spirit magic left. Earth followed. The others will go in turn, Mom, until there’s no power left.

  Now panic did show in her eyes and it almost killed me, because it was so vivid. Mom never panicked. But, as I shrugged internally, I showed her the white sorcery, reminded her of its presence. We might lose that which was the most familiar, but so far the new power of Creator didn’t seem effected by the return of Her pieces. Hopefully we’d be left at least that in the end.

  If I had to face the destruction of the Universe, surely it wouldn’t be as a powerless normal.

  Shudder.

  Mom settled and nodded back as her natural instinct to serve and protect kicked in, returning to the task at hand as if we’d never had this little conversation on the side.

  Go, Mom.

  “The autonomy of individual councils has held for as long as we’ve had territories,” Mom said, voice steady, casual. My respect for her arched into the stratosphere. No way would I have been able to pull off that kind of professionalism in face of what I’d just told her. Or in front of these glaring, judging faces. In fact, a few choice swears sat in the back of my mind courtesy of my demon—yeah, we’ll blame her—while Mom handled things.

  “And yet it wasn’t your council that handed down sentence,” Femke snarled, hand shaking when it clamped down on her opposite wrist as if in effort to still her palsy. I glanced over Tallah’s shoulder, seeing the flat anger on Shenka’s face as she glared her own hate past her sister. Let her. She’d earned this. “You sent a rogue witch and who knows what else to deal with it.”

  “No.” Okay, I was so done it wasn’t even funny. How many times had I stood in front of people like this who had no freaking clue what was really going on and took their abuse through trying to be diplomatic? Done.

  Not the response they were expecting. Tallah flinched, a moment of fear in her eyes. I almost smiled out of sheer frustration.

  “You must answer for what you’ve done.” Femke’s tone of voice shuddered, her pale, blue eyes widening to mimic the former Hensley leader’s. Spittle foam formed in the corners of her mouth, the shaking of her body increasing. She looked like a cartoon character about to explode, her power as out of control as she appeared to be. Everonus claimed he’d kept her under wraps, and now I saw for my own eyes he’d been telling me the truth. I realized then, as I examined her, exactly why my ex-husband was so rigid and quiet. Only Quaid’s magic managed to curb her now. And I wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to keep her contained.

  Syd, Galleytrot’s rumbling voice echoed in my head, sounding less like a spring thunderstorm now his earth power was gone and more like an encroaching hurricane. We’ll protect Miriam. End this. Darae’s answering growl supported him.

  Okay then. Relief washed through me. I didn’t realize I’d been worried about my mother, about bringing her here with her magic diminished despite the white sorcery in her possession. But with these two at her back, I could act and know Mom would be safe.

  “I’d like to know,” Mom said, interrupting my conversation with the hounds and the rude and obvious response my demon was forming in answer to Femke, “how two criminals from my territory ended up here in the custody of the WPC.” True that. Leave it to my mother to remain focused on the important details.

  Quaid flinched. “I removed Tallah Hensley to Hong Kong under direct orders.” There was an apology to Mom in his voice. Varity snorted next to me. I’m sure I imagined the soft tendrils of smoke emerging from her nostrils when she did.

  “Without permission to enter my territory.” It was the Enforcer leader who snapped at him.

  He didn’t respond. He was far too busy containing Femke.

  I reached out with energy to support him but he slapped me away.

  Just help her. Even his mental voice sounded strained. I’ll hold her together. But I can’t act against her, Syd. You have to figure out what the hell is wrong and fix it.

  No hints? He had to know something if he was this close to her magic.

  No freaking clue. That amount of frustration had to be tearing him apart. As did asking for my help when he knew damned well the reason he left me in the first place was to prove he didn’t need me.

  Okay then.

  “I was accused and tried and sentenced by one without the right to do so.” Whatever, Tallah. Keep lying to yourself, sister. She jabbed a finger at me. “Without the right to present my case.”

  I’d had enough of this crap. Mind crackling fury, I reached for Piers even as I snarled at her. The white power of the two hounds woke, circling my mother, their protections perhaps unnecessary but freeing me to act without worry Femke might try to seize Mom and use her against me. I’d like to see her try to get past the furious, growling black dogs. “Fine,” I said, feeling him respond instantly. “Let’s have your case presented, Tallah. Right now.” A black tunnel opened and Piers appeared, gray longcoat swinging in time with his knee length blond hair. The hunched, furious form of the former Brotherhood leader he had in his power looked far less sure of himself.

  Tallah flinched visibly and backed up a half step. Even Shenka seemed to cool off, guilt on her face.

  “What’s the matter, Hensleys?” I had the bit in my teeth despite Mom’s hissing for me to shut the hell up. “You asked for the chance to defend yourselves. So do it.” I jerked Jean Marc forward with my own power, Piers’s helping eagerly. “Tell us how you aligned with the Brotherhood and how you planned to betray all witches again out of your own stupidity and need for power. Tell us, Tallah.”

  She wouldn’t look at me, face flat and dark.

  “This is insane.” Bad choice of words? Maybe, but that’s what it felt like. I released Jean Marc, Piers taking over again. He had the good sense to remain silent, though from the tightness of his lips he was doing his best not to grin in triumph.

  “You will release Jean Marc Dumont to me.” Femke staggered as one knee gave slight way, but she righted herself immediately. Her power swirled in response, the WPC magic reacting violently to her mood swing. I was positive everyone in the room felt it, from the way they stared at her like she’d bitten them. I hit Quaid hard with magic, white sorcery feeding his power.

  He didn’t argue this time, sweat standing out on his upper lip. He’d lost the invisible support of Everonus. Had to be hitting him hard. Alone, there was no way he’d last.

  Damn it, I’m taking her down, Mom. It was the only way.

  No. My mother’s denial hit me like a blow. You can’t, Syd. If you act against Femke publically, like this, there will be war. And whether you like it or not, they won’t be able to come after you. So they’ll come after me.

  Mom didn’t look at me. She didn’t have to. She was right.

  Galleytrot howled his frustration, the massive windows shuddering as thunder clapped outside the high rise in response to his protest.

  Okay, so maybe I couldn’t take her d
own. But I now had access to her power through my tie to Quaid. Time to find out what the hell was going on inside her.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty One

  It was Piers who spoke while I dove into Femke’s magic and started digging. “The Steam Union has full jurisdiction over this prisoner,” he said, as calm as my mother. I really had to take lessons from the two of them on how to hide my feelings behind that kind of precision. “Any attempt the WPC makes to liberate him from our possession will be seen as an act of war.” And his temper was showing. So maybe he wasn’t the best one to teach me after all.

  Didn’t matter. I was swimming in a cesspool of magic so torn and damaged I could barely breathe. I only peripherally heard the rest of the exchange. Femke barked ineffectual and contradictory orders while Mom did her best to diffuse the situation. Quaid shivered beside me, around me, following me deep into Femke who didn’t seem to notice we were even there.

  Nothing. No trace of what had been done to her, not a hint or a spark or a—

  There. A flicker, on the edge of the maelstrom. I dove for it, grasped it. Fell into memory—

  —being beaten by Nickolay Vetrov, agony as my magic is torn from me, manipulated by sorcery, crushed and reassembled, forced back into my body—

  —hazy reality, colors kaleidoscoping around me, voices I barely hear, pressure on my soul as I weep inside for the hurt that hums constantly under everything—

  —one hope permeating everything, a face, a voice I adore, she’ll come for me, she’ll never rest until I’m free—

  I flinched back from my own face hovering in that memory. Femke’s last hope was me. And I failed her.

  No, Quaid sent, sharp and insistent. Syd, look.

  Deeper then, experience all of it. I owed my friend that much. I dove back in—

  —knowing she’s coming, feeling her near despite all of it, laughing through the drug while the small, insane man with the black power slices through my magic and implants himself there—