Chapter 39

Az, still dressed in those stupidpajamas, practically skips across the uneven, blood-slicked ground. The twoogres who’d been flanking her follow a moment before dispersing into the ranks.I’ll teach them what it means to be a bodyguard, and I’ll rip out their throats. Az heads straight for the willowyblonde witch on the edge of the battleground. The Fuglies stare at her but don’tattack. At least Olivet’shands-off-the-blonde policy is good for something. I don’t hesitate to dashafter her reckless, unprotected, thank-God-she’s-alive ass.

Before Az can reach Annabelle Vardan,lightning flashes around us. It’s a perfect fall day. The sky is cloudless. Nostorms predicted for the week. Lightning? A strong wave of heavy magic rollsover me and sets my teeth on edge. More magic. Of course. Az gives noindication anything out of the ordinary has happened. The battle rages onbehind me. Am I the only one who can feel the magic?

A thin man in a neat, gray pinstripedsuit appears at the edge of my peripheral vision. His eyes are fixed on theVardan women. No one involved in the battle seems to notice him. Is this thereal puppet master? Annabelle’s boss?

I don’t have time to figure it out. Assoon as she’s within reach, Az lashes out at her mother with a fist. Gretataught her well. Annabelle careens backwards three feet before floating forwardagain. She presses bony fingers to her bleeding lip.

“Heal it,” Az instructs, voice wintry. Sheplants a hand on her cocked hip and taps a foot impatiently. Her smile is vicious. “Oh, that’s right, youcan’t. Not anymore. Not after killing so many people. Sucks when karma getsyou, doesn’t it?”

“Sacrifices are a necessary part ofchange, Starshine.”

Az flinches as if struck. The hand fallsfrom her hip. Her spine stiffens. There’s that name again and the same stunnedreaction. I should have put the piecestogether earlier. She should have shared her suspicions that her mother wasinvolved.

“Aunt Evelyn was your best friend.”

“She outlived her usefulness.”

“And all these years I thought Dad wasthe heartless one.”

Annabelle’s laugh is like the screech of wornbrakes. I take back every horrible thing I said about Kassiopa Taylor. AnnabelleVardan has the worst laugh in all of creation.

“How else is one supposed to survive lifewith Leonid Vardan?” Annabelle’s pretty face transforms into a mask ofbitterness. “Seven miscarriages. Five stillborn children. A daughter I couldn’traise. Decades of playing the perfect hostess. The perfect wife. Turning ablind eye to his witches on the side. I wasted my entire life on him.”

“He’s a bastard. You won’t get anyargument from me.”

Annabelle’s frown slowly curves into a welcomingsmile. She reaches out both hands toward Az but doesn’t make actual contact. “Iknew you would understand, my Starshine. I convinced him that sending you herewas for the best. That it would finally get you out of our hair. I was tryingto get you out from under his control.”

Az cocks her head. She doesn’t retreatfrom her mother’s hands, but she doesn’t look eager for a hug, either. “Becauseyou need me to help you with the witches?”

“I expected you to run to St. Louis. Eviewas going to keep you safe while I cleared out the Shifter infestation.” Blazingblue eyes flit to me before returning to Az’s expectant face. “The plan wasperfect, too. With most of the Mages at the retreat in Budapest, I had all thetime I needed to finally take control here.”

“Do you know, Mother, that for years Idreamed you would rescue me from whatever hellhole I’d been sent to?” Az asks,a heart-rending wistfulness lingering in her tone.

“I finally did, Starshine. But you,”Annabelle says as she wags her finger at Az, “couldn’t keep from cozying up tothe flea-ridden mutts. You ruined Mommy’s plans. Naughty girl.”

Az’s jaw tenses, but she doesn’t debatethe matter. Thanks for the support, Princess.

“So you wanted out. I get that. You wanteda territory of your own. To prove that you’re just as powerful as Dad.”

“I as powerful as he is. I could take New Orleans from him with a flick of myfingers. I’m as powerful as any Mage!”

Az clasps her mother’s hands and dragsAnnabelle closer. “Would you like to know what true power really feels like?”

Annabelle screeches like a banshee. Shestruggles to free herself from Az’s grasp, but my void is stronger than anywitch. Az drags Annabelle to the ground and hooks a heel around Annabelle’slegs. They crash to the grass. Az rolls so that she’s straddling her mother. Shepins Annabelle’s arms to the grass and presses her forehead against hermother’s.

Ariotous display of scorching, multicolored magic sparks up around them. Thegrass near Az’s feet turns to ash. Annabelle pleads, begs, for her daughter tostop. “

.”Az’s lips move but I can’t quite make out what she’s saying. Behind me,something roars.

I turn just in time to watch theremaining not-Shifters turn berserker. Their attacks are uncoordinated. Sloppy.The movements of cornered, wounded animals. That would make Annabelle thepuppet master, then. The rest of the battle is short and gory. Withoutdirection from Annabelle, the not-Shifters don’t stand a chance against myarmy.

If Annabelle is the architect of thisclusterfuck, who is our mystery observer? What threat does he pose to my packand my city? I aim my shotgun at him just in case. Allies and enemies bleed thesame.

Annabelle’s cries die down to meaningless,half-coherent babble. The magic lightshow gradually fades to a handful ofrandom, warm sparks. All of the vegetation in a two foot radius around motherand daughter is burnt to a crisp. Expecting the worst, I carefully make my way toAz’s side. Draining Olivet put her into a coma. What did draining her mother doto her?

“I’m sorry. Mommy, I’m so, so sorry, butyou threatened my family.” Az’s tear-choked voice speeds my steps. “You didn’tleave me any choice. I’m so sorry.”

Az, still pale but conscious andcoherent, raises her head when I plant my boots near her head. She offers up ashaky smile. Her eyes dart past me to the gory aftermath of the battle. Hersmile fades. “Oh, Ricky. You amassed anarmy. What happened to your poor glass heart?” She swallows. “Betcha you’d likesome answers right about now. You’ll have to give me a few minutes. I need tosee this through.”

She ignores the hand I hold out andclimbs to her feet. She is surprisingly steady considering she just did…something… to her mother. The suited observer ambles toward us. Only Az and Iseem to be aware of his presence. All the more reason to keep my gun pointed inhis direction.

Az delicately steps over her mother’sunmoving body to greet the man. She executes a neat curtsy before holding outher hand. “Thank you for responding so quickly to my call, Mage Trivil.”

The Mage lingers a little too long overmy void’s hand. When he finally releases her, Az surreptitiously wipes the backof her hand across the seat of her pajama bottoms. Good girl.

“How could I resist such a summons? Especiallyas it appears that you are not one to embellish facts.” Trivil’s dark gazefalls on Annabelle. “This is most distressing. Thank you for making the Councilaware of the situation. Consort Vardan has committed treason. If this is agrowing trend amongst witches, we must make an example of her.”

Treason? For wanting to get away from herjackass husband? Then again, she could have just divorced him. She didn’t haveto try and take over my city or kill my people.

“I hope that the shame she has broughtupon my family does not reflect poorly upon my father.”

“There will be an investigation into theinvolvement of Mage Vardan and Mage Shica. I find it difficult to believe thatthey were unaware of their wives’ arrangement.”

Because heaven forbid a Mage be asclueless as any other husband. I guarantee that Ike only knows about half ofthe crazy shit Greta’s pulled. The arrogance of Mages will never cease to amazeme.

“I understand.” Az follows Trivil’s gazedown to her mother. “She has been cut off from magic. Permanently. Even if Icould undo it, I would never do so.”

“A fitting punishment for one who desiredthe power of a Mage.” Trivil’s eyes roam over Az’s placid face. “To think Ibelieved the rumors that Mage Vardan’s daughter possessed no abilities.”

Az’s innocent smile is ninety-percentbullshit. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

Trivil chuckles as he pats the top of Az’shead like a proud papa. “Will you return with me? As a reward for your service,you will have a place within the Council.”

Az retreats a half-step. “My place ishere.” She swallows before tilting her chin up. “I would like to have it onrecord that this area is a protected territory.”

“By you?” Trivil arches a thin eyebrow.

Az pulls down the neckline of hert-shirt. I can’t see what she shows Trivil, but he glances at me for the firsttime in the conversation. His nod is terse.

“It will be known that this area isprotected. No Council member will enter without permission. You will be boundby the same terms as our other Shifter agreements.”

“Thank you, Mage Trivil.”

“I would not be so quick to thank me, AstraeaVardan. The Alpha of the Shifter pack may have claimed this territory, but hehas no authorization over its witches. You have made a declaration today. Youwill be bound to it.”

Az swallows. One arm darts around herback. I grasp her flailing hand. If I understand their Council bullshit-speak,the territory is under my protection but Az is in charge of the witches becauseshe made Trivil believe she has strong voodoo. I squeeze her hand in what Ihope comes across as reassurance. If it means keeping the Council out of mybackyard, we can handle the witches.

“I understood the ramifications of myactions before I made them,” she says, obviously lying through her pearlyteeth. I doubt she’s truly weighed the ramifications of action before doing it.

Trivil scoops Annabelle into his arms. Heinclines his head ever so slightly at me before half-bowing to Az. “Should youchange your mind, Astraea Vardan, I will be at your service. It would be anhonor to be your mentor.”

Az squeezes my hand so tightly my fingersgo cold. “I thank you for your assistance today and for your very generousoffer.”

Another strong wave of magic rolls acrossthe park. In a flash of lightning, Mage Trivil disappears. Before the magic candie away, Az slumps against me. I wrap an arm around her waist just before herknees buckle.

“Oh, sweet Merlin, I thought he’d neverleave.” She leans against my chest for a long moment before wriggling free. “Ithink I’m okay now.”

“What the fuck was that all about? Whydid you call the Mage in to protect the witch?” I don’t know if I’m more pissedover having lost my opportunity to kill the witch responsible for all this shitor having the crap scared out of me by Az’s long nap and unexpected battlefieldappearance.

“Explanations. I know, I know. I justhave one question.” Az waves a hand dismissively. She glances down at herclothes before peering up at me. “What on earth am I wearing?”

Her outfit? She’s worried about heroutfit? I really am going to kill her. That’s just… it’s just the only way I’mgoing to keep my sanity.

“Oh, never mind,” she huffs. “It’s comfyand that’s all that matters.”

I growl her name. She grins like a fool. Igrowl again. The smile slips just a bit. If we keep this up, I might get ananswer some time before Christmas.

“Fine. I don’t even get a hug. Did youeven miss me?”

“You have two seconds to startexplaining.”

Her mouth opens, and I swear if the words‘

come out of her mouth,I refuse to be held responsible for what will happen next. One of our heads isgoing to explode.

Fortunately, for her, she just sighs.“Mage Trivil is the Mage of Richmond. He’s the only Mage I know, as in haveactually met, with the ability to teleport. He’s also the most reasonable. Whichisn’t really saying much, but there you have it.”

The anger I’ve been holding back boilsover. She called the fucking Council in to clean up a mess in area? To sweep it all under the ruglike it never happened? To deny me the pleasure of making the witch feel everyounce of pain she caused my pack and my friends?

“You should have let me handle the witch.I don’t care if she’s your mother or not. She attacked pack. Our pack, Astraea, or have your loyalties changed soquickly?”

The strangled sound that spills from herlips is mocking. She shakes her head and stuffs her clenched fists in thepockets of her fleece jacket. Her stare is hard, accusing.

“You think I called the Mage to protectmy mother? She’s facing a Council inquisition, Ricky. She’s going to be used asan example for other witches who start thinking they’re as good as Mages.” Thatterrible chuckle returns. It makes my hair stand on end. “Letting you vivisect her would have been akindness.”

“Why involve the Council at all?”

“To protect you, you thick-headed lummox.If you had killed her, it wouldn’t have mattered that she attacked you andtried to invade your city. All the Council would have cared about was that youkilled a Mage’s Consort. They would have obliterated you and the pack. This,”she says, waving her hand at the bloody park, “would be a picnic compared to afull-blown Council attack.”

“This way there is no attack and theCouncil will recognize my authority in this area?”

“They won’t like it, but yes. They can’trisk making an enemy of you. Not now.” Az relaxes and shuffles a step closer tome. “I did to her what I did to Claire. Sorta. I didn’t drain Mom. I dischargedeverything I took from Olivet and a few sprites straight into her. Overloadedthe circuits. Different method, sameresult. She’ll never use magic again.”

“What will the Council do with yourmother?”

“Do you want me to draw a picture? She’s my ,”she snaps, eyes glittering with sorrow. “I have vague memories of bedtimestories and beignets. Sips of on Sunday mornings. Learning to make amulets for the homelessshelters. She wasn’t allowed to be very involved in my life, but she tried thebest she could under the circumstances.”

Aw, hell. Now I feel like the villain. I slingmy shotgun across my back and, with both arms around her waist, haul heragainst me. Hot tears soak through my flannel shirt and the t-shirt beneath it.

“She got greedy. Or desperate. Or maybeliving with Dad for so long just broke her. She wasn’t exaggerating. There aretwelve small crosses behind the shed.” Az sniffles. Swallows. “I handed her tothe Council, so whatever they do to her is on me. I have read about how theydeal with witches who get too big for their cauldrons. Not light reading by anymeans. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not dwell on the details.”

“She attacked our pack. Killed yourgodmother. The hell they reign down on her is on her head. Not on yours.”

She shrugs noncommittally. “Best casescenario is Dad loses his region. If the Council buys that he was clueless,they’ll use that to say that he’s unfit to rule. He’ll probably be sent to oneof the more isolated outposts.”

“And Mage Shica?”

“I don’t know. Losing Aunt Evelyn willprobably work in his favor, but he’ll lose standing.” Az pulls back to scrub ahand across her face. “It’s not neat and tidy and wrapped up with a bow, butit’s done.”

“You should have let me in on your plan you drained Olivet!”

She blinks myopically. “Plan? Who saidanything about having a plan? I just wanted to save the kid. Once I woke up, Ihad to think fast. We’re running on improv here, Ricky.”

Oh. Joy. Kinda wish I hadn’t saidanything, now. Yes, as a matter of fact, that is my ulcer screaming inanticipation of years of Az’s improv.

“What did you show Mage Trivil thatfinally made him acknowledge my existence?”

Az wriggles one arm free and yanks downthe collar of her t-shirt. My pack’s official crest is inked in black on herfair skin. “On the way here, I realized that if we managed to defeat the bigbad, whoever it was, Trivil’s bias against Shifters would mean he would try togive the region to me. I don’t want it, and that’s just not fair. You did allthe heavy lifting. This seemed like the best way.”

“Is it permanent?”

She rolls her eyes, licks her thumb, andstarts scrubbing at the mark. The edges of it start to blur. “Sharpie.”

I cover her hand. Oh, that’s a mark thatneeds to stay. Forever. “Leave it.”

“I see you managed to scrounge up anentire army. You should check in with your troops, Colonel,” she says in a tonerich with pride. If she even tries to take credit for the unification of thePC, I will have her running with Greta until she’s ready for a marathon.

“General,” I correct. “I can spareanother minute.”

The truth is, I don’t want to let go justyet. I haven’t recovered from watching her attack Olivet or seeing her solifeless. With her pressed up against me, I can feel her chest rise and fall. Ican hear the thrum of her pulse. I can see that her eyes are open and aware. Andripe with mischief.

“Why’d you let me sleep so long?”

“Let you? You think I had any controlover your naptime, Sleeping Beauty?”

The corners of her eyes crinkle as she laughsmerrily. It’s a sound I’ll never tire of hearing. “I bet you didn’t even try tokiss me awake. What kind of Prince Charming are you?”

“The kind who likes willing, activeparticipants.”

“Fair point. Do I even want to know whyI’m dressed like a Shifter fangirl Little Red Riding Hood?”

“Ike and Jose got their metaphors mixed.”

“Ah. No surprise there. I suppose the dairymaidbraids are just the icing on the fairytale cake?”

I stroke a hand down the back of her headand across her back. “I’m really glad you’re awake.”

“Me, too.” Warm breath fans across myneck. Her lips brush across my collarbone. Her hands slip into my back pockets.“I feel like I need a shower, though. That magic Olivet was holding? Nasty,nasty stuff. Surprised he wasn’t already rotting from the inside.”

“I did miss you.”

“Of course you did,” she chirps, kissingme again. “I can’t believe I missed all the fun. A draugr! I haven’t seen oneof those since my tenth birthday.”

“Ithink seven months is an unreasonable timeframe. We need to discuss a differentway to approach this relationship.”

“That’s just because you have no impulsecontrol. Or concept of time,” she accuses, proving that she is the pot to mykettle. “I could have told you that days ago, but you wouldn’t listen-,”

“Az!”

She stops mid-sentence and tilts her headback to stare at me with twinkling blue eyes. Her smile is as bright as August sunshineand twice as warm. “What?”

“Shut up.”

Because I know just how contrary my voidcan be, I make sure her lips are too busy to babble.