Lahat ng Kabanata ng Hayle Coven Novels: Kabanata 641 - Kabanata 650

They gave me Ameline's cell. Of course they did. I sat, dressed in a white robe just like hers, bare footed on the cold stone floor. My magic was intact, at least. They'd done nothing to block it off. Which made me wonder about the wards in the stronghold and why they weren't worried I'd bolt.Which I planned to do. Eventually.This time was very different from the last. No nice suite of rooms, no playing at "asking me questions." No fooling around with the coven leader who broke so many laws they probably didn't even need to hold a trial to sentence me to burn.I really had to give up the family magic. Just freaking do it already. Before they held my continuing leadership against the coven. But I promised Sassafras I wouldn't, that I'd wait and talk to him first. And since I had no communication with the outside world...Yeah. Who was I kidding? My reluctance had nothing to do with Sass. I was afraid, plain and simple. Not just for me, but for Shenka. And for Gram.Gram. I could

I'm not sure what I expected to happen. Nothing, maybe. But certainly not the pulse of power that rippled out from Mom in a sonic blast, rocking through me as I held onto her for balance and she to me.Her transformation happened almost instantaneously, though I had time to watch her shift in the heartbeats between. How her skin faded to a more normal hue, deep wrinkles plumping and vanishing as her youthful appearance returned. The way the silver traces in her hair flashed before darkening back to black. But it was her eyes, the deep blue of them, once tormented and full of rage that changed the most.Mom's hands squeezed my shoulders as the last of the power wave left her, those beautiful eyes welling with tears. One hand lifted to her throat, to the pentagram necklace, before touching my cheek so gently I barely felt the pressure of her skin."Syd?"I sobbed once, flooded with relief, almost knocking me over as I reached for her, pulling her against me. My mom. My mom was back a

Just as I was about to freak out from the solitude and my own spiraling thoughts, the seal around my door sighed and it opened. I braced myself, not sure who or what to expect. And winced at the sight of Varity Rhodes. She stared at me with a blank expression, draped in her heavy Enforcer robe, jaw tight, but eyes hooded and revealing nothing.I felt terrible for what I'd been forced to do to her, thought of Charlotte and wondered if my poor bodywere was catatonic yet.Before I could offer the apology I owed her, Varity spoke."Was it you who came to me?" Her voice seemed to echo in the stillness between us and I felt the brush of Enforcer power running beneath her words. "Was it you who asked me to bring you here?"Um, weird question. I opened my mouth to confess.Felt a jab from a place I wasn't expecting.Lie, Quaid sent. Lie your face off. Just do it.Huh? Okay, confused.Tell her you have no idea what she's talking about. Quaid's deep voice was edged with desperation. Don'

They wanted to talk, but I was done. I left them to hash out their own guilt and frustration while I finally let myself think of home.And Gram.Mom descended to my side, took my hand as I sliced open the veil and headed for Wilding Springs. Pressed my crystal into my palm as she did, returning it to me. The tiny soul inside rejoiced at our reunion, but I couldn't muster enthusiasm. Not when I didn't know what waited for me on the other end of the trip.The kitchen felt surreal, like somewhere I remembered from a long time ago, but hadn't thought of in ages. Shenka dropped the carton of milk she held, the refrigerator door gaping open as she cried out and rushed to me, hugging me tight while a white pool of liquid spread beneath us."Syd," she whispered. "We were so worried."I hugged her back, felt the touch of Mom's magic as she cleaned up the mess, looked up to see her put the milk back in the fridge. Shivered. She was herself, the woman I remembered when I was little. Young an

I didn't make it two steps inside, still flushed from my encounter with Quaid, when I felt demon power surge in the basement and went running.Found Meira waiting on the other side of the veil and crossed into her open arms.She hugged me so tight I could barely breathe, forgetting until she pulled away to allow my demon form to take over.Red skinned and black horned, I settled on her divan while she held my hand."Thanks for letting me know they didn't kill you or anything." She grinned, taking the sting out of her words."I was getting to it," I said. "Besides, you really thought they could?"Meira's smile trembled and fell. "I didn't know," she said.We talked, about Gram, the Brotherhood. My new freedom. Meira's fierce, "Awesome!" mirrored my own."I'm worried about Demonicon now," I said. "The Brotherhood has failed with the Sidhe and at least one major vampire clan. They will probably be coming for you next." I paused, heart tightening all over again. "If they aren't her