Full Circle

By Patti Larsen

The Enforcers Cometh

The moment my hand touched the handle, I felt Quaid enter the back yard, just like always. But if it wasn’t him on the other side of the kitchen door, who was? I pulled it open on reflex, still smiling, to find three black robed Enforcers looming in the darkness.

They didn’t wait for me to stand aside but muscled their way in. The leader, a woman with familiar features if not a face I knew personally, took a stand in the middle of the kitchen, body shimmering with blue power as the wards of the house tried to repel her.

“We’ve come for Miriam Hayle,” she said. “Your leader is under arrest.”

Syd’s life is finally settled. She’s even going on her first date with Quaid. That calm is shattered when a group of High Council Enforcers arrive and arrest her mother on countless charges. Desperate to defend Miriam, Syd calls on all of her family’s allies, even seeking out those she should probably leave in peace. Certain the Dumonts are behind the whole thing, Syd is shocked to discover there is much more to this attack on her coven, an attack led by an old enemy who holds Miriam’s life in her hands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patti Larsen
• Release date: Aug 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781927464212

Patti Larsen

About me, huh? Well, my official bio reads like this: Patti Larsen is a multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in her head. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn’t it? I’m a storyteller who hears character's demands so loudly I have to write them down. I love the idea of sports even though sports hate me. I’ve dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon.But always, always, writing books calls me home.I’ve had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It’s the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.As for the rest of it, I’m short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can’t seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my pug overlord and overlady, six lazy cats and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

Book preview

Chapter One

I squinched up my nose at the layer of makeup on my eyelids and tried to decide if it made me look pretty or like I worked a corner. It was a quick decision to whip out a cleanser cloth and attack the offending glitter with gusto.

It wasn't helping I had an audience. Alternating giggles came from behind me, my little sister Meira peeking around to grin at my reflection, her softly red skin and amber eyes a startling contrast to the furry silver Persian sitting in her lap. His gaze matched hers, though I sensed much more sarcasm and disdain from him than from Meira.

The rubbed raw look is very in I hear. Classic Sassafras. It wouldn't do me any good to snark back. He was the master and I bowed to his ability. Besides, I was way too nervous to really pay much attention to him.

I was finally going on my first real date with Quaid. It seemed so long in coming. While we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend, a fact still freaking me out a little and making me sigh with happiness when I thought no one was looking, the circumstances of the last year and a half hadn't really lent themselves to us finding time for a real, old-fashioned date.

He hadn't wasted time asking. Pretty much as soon as the smoke settled around Sassy's recovery from near death and Dad's successful return to the demon plane, my hottie of a girl's dream in black leather officially asked.

Like I was going to say no. But I did pause, if just for a second, to torment him a little. It worked, too. I noted the tension around his eyes, the way his mouth puckered slightly. Naturally I accepted, but felt he deserved just a teensy bit of punishment for abandoning me for his revenge pursuit of the Moromonds. Not to mention his faked engagement to the creepy Ameline Benoit.

Part of it could have come from how close I’d grown with my Sidhe friend, Liam O’Dane. The Gatekeeper was as kind to me and sweet as always, and I knew, despite the fact Quaid was doing his best to accept him in my life, there was still tension. Maybe it wasn’t fair, but I figured it served him right if he felt a little jealous for pretending to be attached to another girl. Especially the horrid Ameline, of all people.

Eyes fresh again, I sighed and reached for the mascara tube. A thin layer later, topped with a swish of lip gloss and I was my usual boring self.

You look beautiful. Meira slid from her seat on the toilet and hugged me around my waist while Sassafras jumped up to the counter top and observed himself in the mirror. Vain cat. I turned and hugged my sister.

Thanks, Meems. I glanced over my shoulder at myself and shrugged. I'm the girl he fell in love with, I said. So I guess I'll do.

I met Sassy's gaze in the mirror and grinned as he winked.

When Meira released me, I turned back and fluffed my hair. That at least I'd gotten right. I always just wore it straight, the brown thickness of it a bit of a nuisance. But I'd finally figured out how to use a flat iron and copied my best friend Alison's trick of curling the ends with the thing without making too much of a mess. I kind of liked how it bounced, shining in the bathroom light.

Speaking of Alison... my heart sagged a bit, happiness of the evening fading. She'd come back to Wilding Springs in the middle of our last mess, wanting to talk to me. With Dad dying and Sassy in human form, I'd been too distracted to catch up with her.

By the time I remembered and tried to call her, days later, she'd already gone back to New York. Or wasn't answering her phone because she was mad at me. Either scenario was likely, though I checked her house several times and found it empty.

I missed her sometimes like a knife through my heart and others with a dull ache fed by guilt. Weird how I’d really only known her a short time in my almost eighteen years, yet she’d managed to make her mark on me.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. She was my first real friend, ever. And I’d let her down when she needed me the most. Sure, I’d managed to save her when she tried to kill herself last fall, but I’d allowed us to drift apart. I used to blame it on her, on the distance both emotional and physical between us, but the truth was I’d been a coward about the whole thing. It was easier to let Alison go, with her brittle, broken spirit and her clinging neediness. Her alcoholism. Resentment toward her mother. It still amazed me how people could hide so much damage behind the veil of a perfect life.

I finally admitted to myself I couldn’t handle Alison the way she was, not with the continuing saga of my coven life. And frankly, I didn’t have the tools or the energy to make her better and that frustrated me to no end. So, I chose to believe she’d made a better life without me rather than fight for the friendship I missed every single day.

Now that her mother's evil little maid, Rosetta, had left, and the remains of the Chosen of the Light with her, the big house stood vacant and dark, reminding me each time I stopped by how much I wished Alison was here.

I almost called Angela, Alison's mom, but decided to leave her out of it. She transformed into a model mother once Mom cleared her of the Dumont's thrall, and if Alison was mad at me I was sure her mother would be on her side.

Where are you going? Meira tilted her head, black curls falling over her shoulder.

I don't know. I stroked Sassy's soft fur. Quaid said it was a surprise. Frankly, I'd really had enough surprises to last not only my lifetime but the lifetime of everyone else on the planet, but I figured I owed it to him for the little punishment act I put him through.

How original. Sassafras hopped down from the counter, thick tail flicking at me. Be home by midnight.

Smartass cat.

Are you going to kiss him? Meira giggled, both hands over her mouth.

Awkward. Yes. Big surprise there. My answer made her giggle harder.

A lot? Her amber eyes flew wide.

Yes. I reached out and tickled her before hugging her. A lot.

I scooted her out of the bathroom, hands on her shoulders.

Syd and Quaid sitting in a tree... she bounced away before I could grab her, scurrying after Sassy who waited for her in the dark hall. They skipped to her room, both singing. ...K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Oh. My. Swearword. Still, I was giggling myself when I closed the bedroom door behind me.

I leaned against it, heart beating a little fast for the short walk I'd taken. No freaking way was I nervous. Not about a silly date with Quaid. Delicious, dark and chocolaty Quaid. My demon purred her happiness.

I found myself blushing for good reason as my mind drifted and I actually jumped away from the door with a little shriek of guilt when someone knocked on the other side. I pulled it open quickly, staring at my mother, a gentle, loving smile on her face.

She was just too much of a pro to say she told me so. Hadn't this been her idea all along? Mom’s agreement to marry me off to Quaid, made with Batsheva Moromond when I was just a baby, used to make my pulse speed up and not for the right reasons. I’d fought my attraction to him, not only because he was great at being a jerk at times, but because I refused to just accept the fact Mom might be right.

Things had clearly changed. I wanted it to grate, but for some reason, it didn't. I was just too happy. Impulse pushed me forward and I hugged her.

Mom hugged me back, something as soft as Sassafras pressed between us. I pulled back, frowning at the sweater in her hands. She extended it to me. The fluffy angora felt like cool mist quickly warming to my body temperature.

I know, she said when I met her eyes, it's old-fashioned. No one wears angora anymore. But I wore this sweater the night your father took me on our first date and he seemed to appreciate it.

Blushing again, this time from the wicked gleam in her eyes.

Mom! I so did not want to go there, not even for a second. Not while I was thinking about Quaid.

Ew. Just. Ew.

She patted the deep navy blue sweater. He'll love it, she winked. I promise.

If I didn't get a hold of my embarrassment, I might as well let my demon turn my skin permanently red.

Mom kissed my cheek with a smile. I'm so happy for you, Syd, she said before turning away and leaving me standing there.

I closed the door again, hands locked on the sweater. I looked over on my bed at the dark jeans and T-shirt I'd been planning to wear and found myself grinning.

Angora, huh?

I was ready early, surprisingly. It left me enough time to try Alison's phone one more time. It went right to voicemail. Again.

Hey, Al. Just me. I'm really sorry, please don't be mad. I'm out tonight, but I can meet you at Johnny's tomorrow? If you're still in town. Or maybe I could come to New York and see you? Okay, well... I miss you. I really did. My throat tightened as I clutched the phone. I hadn't realized how much I missed her. But despite her breakdown, her issues and her struggles of the last year or so, she was still my first real friend outside the family, and I wanted very much to reconnect with her.

I threw off a fast text and an email, just in case, thinking badgering her couldn't hurt. If she saw how much I wanted to talk to her maybe she'd relent and call back. It was my only hope really, outside of calling her mom. I made an agreement with myself—if Alison didn't get in touch by tomorrow, I'd call Angela. The decision made, I felt better.

I was half way down the stairs when I heard someone knock at the kitchen door. My heart began to race, my pulse making me feel a little dizzy as I ran the rest of the way through the house to answer.

So not like Quaid to knock. He usually came to the back yard, his steady, familiar presence calling to me the moment he crossed the property line. But I figured he was just trying to make things all official.

I reached for the doorknob, a huge smile on my face. Finally. At last. Something was going right in my life. How cool was that?

The moment my hand touched the handle, I felt Quaid enter the back yard, just like always. His presence at the other end of the house made my head whip around, smile fading. If it wasn’t him on the other side of the kitchen door, who was? I pulled it open on reflex, to find three black-robed Enforcers looming in the darkness.

They didn’t wait for me to stand aside, but muscled their way in. The leader, a woman with familiar features—if not a face I knew personally—took a stand in the middle of the kitchen, body shimmering with blue power as the wards of the house tried to repel her.

We’ve come for Miriam Hayle, she said. Your leader is under arrest.

***

Chapter Two

I gaped at her, not knowing what to say, eyes scanning the faces of the other two Enforcers.

Settled on Pender Tremere. Who refused to look at me at all, a shadowed and guilty expression on his face.

Bastard. He'd betrayed us? After I rescued him when he was attacked by the Dumont brothers? My mother saved his worthless life, the jerk. And here he was, standing with another Enforcer, clearly of Dumont blood from her brilliant blue eyes and European features.

Now I wished I'd just let him die.

My demon roared her rage and surged forward, power glowing around me as my vision took on a tint of amber. You have no right to be here, past family wards. Get out.

The female Enforcer sneered at me. We are Enforcers of the High Council, girl. We can go wherever we want.

I was about to show her the door in the most violent way possible when Mom appeared from deeper in the house. What is the meaning of this? She was all coven leader, the family magic wrapping around her in a twisting column of energy, threaded with green, amber and white. Coven rules dictate you request my presence. You are not permitted to simply show up and accost any witch.

Under no circumstances are we giving you the chance to run, the woman snapped back. Miriam Hayle, you are under arrest for crimes against the High Council and all witches.

I felt Quaid pass through the back door wards and come through the house toward me, but I couldn't split my focus. This is ridiculous, I said. If you have charges, you have to present them in writing. Not show up and strong arm the leader of a coven.

So much for the rules. Guess the new order didn't think it applied to them. The third Enforcer, a bulky guy with a grim face looking like he'd been in one too many fistfights, stepped forward and grabbed my mother's arm.

He. Touched. My. Mother.

Oh no he did not.

At the same moment my demon surged outward, her absolute rage taking over, but her magic was tackled by three sources: Shaylee's Sidhe power, Quaid's warm energy, and the fiery pressure of the full weight of Sassafras's recovered magic. I snarled at them all, but they refused to release me.

The Enforcer bully was so lucky.

Quaid's hands settled on my shoulders, the physical contact meshing our magic enough he was able to calm me down.

Not now. They'll kill you, Syd.

They'd try. But he was right. I fought my demon's need to show these intruders the error of their ways even as Pender stepped up to Mom and jerked the other Enforcer off of her.

Our apologies, Hayle coven leader, he said, voice strained, body rigid under his black cloak. This is going badly. And it's our fault. He turned and glared at the two others who glared right back. But I'm afraid I must insist you come with us to face the charges against you.

I expected Mom to fight. I was sure she would. But she hadn't reacted, not since the big guy grabbed her. Her face remained a calm and arrogant mask of total control.

I'd be happy to allow you to escort me, she said, voice as smooth and sticky sweet as hot butterscotch. I'm certain this misunderstanding can be cleared up quickly.

Pender relaxed a little, bowing his head to her, but the female Enforcer wasn't letting Mom keep any kind of upper hand.

Come. Now. She gestured at Mom, a band of deep blue power wrapping around my mother's wrists, holding her hands together in magical shackles. Pender grunted, turned as if to protest, but the woman just scowled at him before facing me. You will be formally informed of the date and location of the traitor's trial. She brushed past me, going out of her way to bump my shoulder.

Quaid's firm grip saved her pathetic life.

The big Enforcer took hold of Mom again. Her eyes met mine the moment it happened, her energy reaching me, but weakly, a thin thread barely making it through.

Don't. I'll be fine, but you have to say calm. You're in charge. I love you.

The wall between us strengthened even as she passed me, the lilac scent of her filling my world for a moment. The power cuffs, had to be. For the first time in a long time, Mom's power was cut off from me and I felt her absence like a hole in my heart.

Pender, I hissed at him when he followed. What the hell?

Someone was crying, pressed against my side. I absently hugged my little sister, only then aware she was there, as the man's eyes flickered to meet mine before jerking away. But not before I saw his guilt.

I was forced to stand there and do nothing, only able to watch as they magicked my mother away in a flash of blue light.

***

Chapter Three

The moment the Enforcers were gone, Erica's mind latched onto mine in a desperate grasp.

WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER? I could feel her moving, running. SYD, IS SHE OKAY?

I didn't want to calm down, damn it, not even a little bit. I wanted to rage and tear things apart with my power and my bare hands until someone bled for what just happened. But I couldn't, not with mind after family mind reaching for me, latching onto me with tentacles of need, asking the same question over and over again until I wanted to scream.

The Enforcers took her. I didn't mean to be so blunt, but it was either that or fall apart completely. She's been arrested.

Among the chorus of gasps, fear, horror, and worry was a single thread.

Satisfaction.

And I knew exactly from whom that particular feeling came. Finally, a focus for my rage. When I managed to get my hands on Celeste Oberman, the horse-faced witch was a dead horse-faced witch.

I felt Quaid pull Meira away, turned to see him lift her into his arms, his black shirt blending with her curls as she pressed her face into his shoulder, arms around his neck. He met my eyes with so much calm I felt instantly more confident. If he was worried, afraid, pissed off, he didn't show it.

Bless him. This was why we were meant for each other. I needed someone who could hold it together when I lost it.

Not to mention his yummy tanned, tattooed, and muscular deliciousness didn’t hurt any.

He sank into one of the kitchen chairs with my sister still in his arms while tires screeched on the pavement outside the house. Lights flashed over and over as multiple cars arrived. I pulled myself together, preparing for the arrival of the coven en masse, as someone passed the wards of the back yard, his Sidhe energy flooding me with relief.

There wasn't much Galleytrot could do, and I knew it, but having him here just added to my sense of control. The hound of the Wild Hunt entered the kitchen, panting from what was obviously a flat out run, eyes alight with red fire.

I felt them come. His deep voice rumbled like a thunderstorm about to break overhead. And Miriam leave. Are you all right?

I shook my head, tight, jerking movements back and forth. They arrested her.

He sighed deeply, tongue lolling out. The Dumont's plans seem to finally have come to fruition.

Of course. Why didn't I think of that? Trumped up charges... I suddenly felt a surge of something close to release. If they were throwing false accusations around, which was obviously what they were doing, Mom had nothing to worry about.

I wished Erica shared my opinion. She dumped her mess the moment she flew in the kitchen.

We have to do something. When did Erica start getting wrinkles? I mentally shook my head. Who was I kidding? I was a week or so shy of my eighteenth birthday and I probably had them, thanks to the endless disaster that was my family.

Pull yourself together. I'd forgotten about Sassafras. His voice struck out like a whip as he jumped up on the kitchen table to be closer in height to the trembling witch. Syd needs you. We all do. And don't think your past behavior is lost on Miriam, Erica Plower. Your position can be filled with a more suitable candidate if necessary.

She flinched, cheeks flushing as anger raged in her eyes. Good. Anger I could use.

Erica, I drew her attention and her unhappiness. It's going to be okay. The Dumonts have nothing on Mom, remember? And this is the High Council we're talking about. There's no way they can influence the entire conclave of witches.

Erica sagged a little, nodding. You're right. Her shoulders straightened as the door opened and the Vegas let themselves in, a line of coven members right behind them. Louisa came directly to me, her dear face scrunched in concern. She kissed me soundly on the cheek before turning and hugging Quaid, so small he didn’t have to stand for her to do so. She patted at his cheeks, kissing him, too.

I smiled and hugged Martin as he joined us, so happy to have them there. The Vegas had been a large part of my life when I was little, almost surrogate parents at times. And the childless couple were Quaid’s guardians when he was around, just so happy to have someone to take care of they doted on him like he was their own.

I let Erica deal with the rest of the crowd as Martin finally released me and bent to hug Quaid himself. Erica turned on the others with a small smile, calm and level, her magic shaking only a little.

Small miracles.

Syd, Sassy's mind touched mine, watch her. She's been under a lot of stress. She was never able to handle change very well.

Of course he'd have more knowledge than me. She was older so I only ever saw her mothering side.

I'm going to go contact Harry if he's not arriving on his own already. He's bound to have felt Miriam's power loss.

I nodded to him as he hopped down and scampered to the stairs, disappearing into the basement.

The pressure of the family on my mind grew stronger. But this time I knew what to do. I had enough anger behind what happened I didn't feel even a moment of hesitation as I took control of the coven magic and pulled them all together. It was a soft touch from Quaid, gentle and unexpected, which carved the sharp edge from my contact with them, just enough they fell silent and looked to me for guidance.

It's going to be okay. I tapped into Shaylee, let her soothe them with her Sidhe energy. Mom has this completely under control. I know you're all aware the Dumonts want nothing more than for our family to fall apart. That's why we're going to show them and the High Council exactly what the Hayle coven is made of. What Miriam Hayle has made of us.

Their collective surge of gratitude and bolstering of confidence caused me to feel a little giddy, but I held onto my poise. Whatever charges they've brought against Mom are totally false. You've all been here, lived what we've lived. You know the truth. And it's that truth we'll use to set Mom free.

I felt like a general calling her troops to battle with every cliché saying I could think of, but it did the trick. More than did the trick. Suddenly they were angry.

Awesome.

The mercurial shift in their mood was giving me a tension headache. Not for the first time I wondered how Mom handled it so well while I felt like I was just hanging on by my chewed fingernails.

A few of the family glommed onto me instantly, using me as a lifeline. All of a sudden I wasn't so sure having their trust was a good thing. Worse than Alison, some of them, clinging and pulling at me like I could save them. I gently detached myself while I shuddered inwardly and pulled free, letting the family go.

Go home, I said. And keep faith. I'll let you know the moment I have news.

They dispersed, the crowd of witches drifting away in small groups, but there was hope in their whispered voices. I followed them out, watched as the line of haphazardly parked cars powered up and drove off. I wondered then what our neighbors thought of the sudden arrival of about a hundred people at our house at all hours of the day and night.

Nothing, thanks to the Sidhe. The Gate in the center of town did its part to keep us safe and prevent locals from noticing anything magical.

We had one blessing on our side at least.

I turned to go back inside, to Erica and Quaid and my sister, when I felt Louisa and Martin Vega reach for me.

Syd, we need to talk to you.

They spoke in tandem, mental voices overlapping. But neither laughed at the snap.

Of course. I really just wanted to go back inside to my family and break down for minute in private, but if the Vegas were reaching out, it had to be