Family Magic by Patti Larsen Read Free Book Online Page B

our coven disbanded, we’ve been hoping to
have a chance to come back to the family.”
    “I’m happy you chose to come home,” Mom
sounded genuine, like she really cared. “I’ve missed you all these
years.” Surprising how she was being so nice. It seemed like they
had a history. Interesting. And what was this home business?
    “Such a wonderful family,” Dominic answered.
“When Batsheva told me you wanted her to return to the fold, I
couldn’t wait to see if we would fit in here.”
    It started to sound like a done deal. What
did Mom need me for? Maybe to run interference? The thought of Mr.
Slimy looking at my mom that way in front of my father made my skin
crawl. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see if Dad
thought as little of it as I did. I doubted old Dominic was strong
enough to face off with a demon.
    “Of course I immediately
remembered your offer to bind our families together,” Batsheva went
on. “We’re thrilled, positively thrilled , at the prospect. Aren’t
we?” She looked back and forth between the two males, getting a nod
and a wink from Dominic. Quaid’s eyes flickered to mine and his
sideways grin came back. I was beginning get a horrible feeling in
the pit of my stomach.
    Mom did not to look at me. Why did she seem
so nervous? I’ve never seen my mother’s hands shake.
    “Of course,” she said. “But we’ll discuss
that at another time.”
    “I don’t see why we should put it off,”
Batsheva said. “Especially since the kids are both here.” She
smiled her oily smile at me. “Such a lovely little thing. Don’t you
think so, Quaid?”
    I frowned as Quaid’s grin widened but came
nowhere near his eyes. In fact, if I had to guess, he was as pissed
as I was confused. My walls slammed up so fast it left me
breathless. I turned to my mother who bit her bottom lip.
    “Mom?” I said softly, slowly. “What’s going
on?”
    Batsheva and Dominic exchanged a glance
before turning to the very uncomfortable Mom.
    Instead of talking to me she addressed their
unspoken question.
    “I hadn’t said anything to Sydlynn, yet.” Mom
said. “Your arrival was so sudden… I take it you talked to
Quaid?”
    His eyes hadn’t left mine, although they
softened a little.
    That feeling in my stomach solidified into a
hard ball of something I couldn’t yet identify. My shoulders
tightened.
    “Mom?”
    She finally looked at me.
    “It was something your father and I thought
might help all of us, dear.” Wary but resigned. Not a good sign. I
could feel her deep in the regret of being unable to turn away from
a massive disaster she knew was of her own making. “We were waiting
for the right time to tell you.”
    “Tell me what?” I kept my
voice as flat as possible, not wanting to hate her again but
feeling it rising within me, an unstoppable tide. I knew, knew , she did something
she was afraid I would never forgive her for. And I was pretty sure
she was right.
    Quaid broke the news.
    “You and me, Syd,” he said. “For the good of
the coven. We’ll make really powerful babies, don’t you think?”
    I had absolutely nothing to say.
     
    ***
     

Chapter Seven
     
    “Syd. Open the door.”
    Mom’s voice sounded tired, so tired, but I
didn’t care.
    I remained where I was, buried under the
covers, door firmly locked.
    “Go away!” I yelled at her.
    “Syd, honey, please,” she begged. “Let me
explain…”
    I sat up and threw the hideous pink silk
pillow she forced into my life at the door as hard as I could. It
made a less than satisfying thunk.
    “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I searched around for
bigger and more breakable stuff to throw.
    “Sydlynn Thaddea Hayle, you open this door at
once!” Mom’s voice went up an octave and about a decibel in
volume.
    “NO!” I scrambled from the bed and stood
right in front of the door, so close I could see the veins in the
wood and screamed at her as loud as I could. “NEVER! I HATE YOU! I
WISH YOU WEREN’T MY MOTHER!”
    The