She held the blanket close, walking across the large front yard and gazing up at the stars. She’d forgotten how peaceful, how beautiful the night could be. Forgotten how much she’d missed the stars.
“Don’t go.”
She didn’t move when she heard Con’s voice. “I can’t, can I? You won’t remove the shield.”
He sighed. “It’s gone. You’re free, Sarah. We will never hold you against your will. After all you’ve been through, we would never…Just—damn it don’t go. Not before you hear what I have to say.”
He waited long enough to make sure she wasn’t walking away before he continued. “I spent my life knowing our third was out there. I grew up with Lorie, knew where there were two…I’m sure you know that saying. Then I was waiting for Lorie to get his nose out of his books. Waiting for you at every Triune. For what felt like forever.”
She heard his bare feet crush the grass as he paced behind her, her face damp with her tears as he spoke. “I don’t know if I’ll go to the devil for saying this, but what if you hadn’t been in that book? I know the original religion believes our magic, the essence of what we are returns again and again. But I can’t see that. I can’t hold it in my hands. If you’d lived your life and come back again, would you be Sarah Blackwood? This Sarah Blackwood? Would you be fearless and wild and love so deeply that you could survive what no other could? Would you still have that mole on your hip? Still call me Conway even though I beg you not to?”
His hands skimmed over her shoulders as if he couldn’t help but touch her, before he pulled away. “If Aaron Winston were still alive, I would kill him—sanctioned by the law or not. Lorie had already proven, I don’t know how many times, that he would die for you. And Jackson Abbott was killed trying to free you—for no reason other than it was the right thing to do. Not all Abbotts are like Robert, Sarah. I just want you to think about that.”
He turned and started to walk away and she shook her head, wiping her eyes. “Come back here, Conway. And I know you’re eavesdropping, Lorie. I promise I won’t go insane again. At least, not right now.”
She turned and allowed herself to take in these two men who had claimed her. Lorie, with his hands in his jean pockets, bare-chested and beautiful. Con, with his shirt hastily thrown on and his pants unbuttoned.
Her smile felt shaky, but real. “You let the shield down.”
She turned to Lorie. “And you let me go.”
How could she look at them and see her enemy? How, when they gave her everything she’d ever wanted and more—including her freedom? Even if it meant they lost her, they were willing to sacrifice their happiness for the chance that she would stay.
In her life before she was snared in Aaron’s spell, she’d never known men like that. The Magians of her day were, for the most part, narrow-minded sexual deviants. Power-hungry, oblivious, or both. Not these men. They were different. Maybe it was the time they lived in. Perhaps it was just who they were. But they weren’t the kind of Magians a woman walked away from if she could help it.
“No more lies or hiding things from me.” She fiddled with the fringe of her blanket, watching them closely.
Hope sparked to life in Lorie’s eyes. “My oath. From this moment on, you’ll know everything as soon as I do.”
Con nodded, his expression somber and still unsure. “My oath.”
She took a steadying breath. “I don’t know what will happen when we find the other book. I may disappear again. If you can’t get me back, you need to destroy it. I have suffered for too many years. I choose not to continue, if that is the only way I will survive.”
That was harder for them, she knew. But she would never be able to forgive herself if they spent their lives trying to unravel the impossible, or suffering just to see her. They shrugged, and she knew that was as close to an agreement she would get from them.
“This is hard for me too.” She rolled the grass beneath her heel, shifting uncomfortably. “I’m not used to this anymore. Not used to trusting anything I see or feel.” She looked up at them. “I see you and feel lucky—but is it an illusion? I know in my heart that neither of you are anything like Robert. Anything like Aaron. I am certain my grandmother would have loved you. But I’m still not sure what tomorrow will bring me. I just…well, I hope you can be patient with me.”
Her grandmother would have loved them. Like I do, she thought, but she didn’t have the courage to say it. Not yet. Not until she knew she could give them that love forever. She did the next best thing. She dropped her blanket.
Lorie’s blue eyes widened, and then he was looking around at the neighboring houses. “Here? In the open?”
She gave a watery chuckle and nodded. “You said I’m free. So yes. Here, in the open.”
Con took her in his arms, kissing her as he laid her back in the grass. “Anything you want, babe. Anything.”
“Aw, hell.” Lorie fell to his knees again, tugging her face away from Con’s and taking her mouth in a kiss filled with as much relief as passion. “Look what you do to me, sweet Sarah.”
She bit his chin. “I like what I do to you. To both of you.”
“Let’s see if you like what we do to you,” Con murmured, lowering his head to her left breast.
“Mmm.” Lorie kissed her cheek, her neck and then he was wrapping his tongue around her right nipple, sucking it against the roof of his mouth and scraping her flesh with his teeth.
“Yes.”
Con continued to make love to her breasts. Fondling them with his lips and hands as Lorie’s mouth slid down her body, licking her hip, kissing her thighs. He spread her legs, lifting them up over his shoulders with a dark grin before lowering his head between them.
She saw stars twinkling above her. Obscured by the sparkling light of the magic that flowed between them. Her arms stretched high above her, scratched by cool green grass and solid earth.
It was by far the most erotic experience of her life. No chairs or magic reflections required. Just this. Just Lorie’s tongue and fingers filling her sex as she lifted her hips against him, begging for more.
Just Con’s groan as she slid one hand into his unbuttoned jeans and began to stroke while he sucked her nipple.
Just the world tilting on its axis as she moaned and keened and called out their names, rolling on her side with Lorie’s mouth still pressed between her legs so she could reach Con’s thick cock and take it deep into her mouth.
When Lorie undid his jeans, thrusting deep because he couldn’t hold back any longer, Con caressed her hair, murmuring garbled words of endearment until she tasted his release on her tongue.
Right here in the open, where anyone could see, Sarah shared all she was with them.
It was a memory she would never forget.
Chapter Seven
She was here at last. Lorie had found the book in Salem, just as he said he would. Or, under Salem, to be more precise.
Lorie’s call to Harrison had him promising to wait for her arrival—told them the location they’d found was already under investigation. It was one of Tucker’s cases.
Sarah might not have the “spidey” sense Thalia’s descendant referred to, but she didn’t get the best feeling about this. The longer they waited, the more anxious she became.
“Harrison and Callie looked into the way the spell adapts, and they can only draw one conclusion.” Lorie rubbed the back of his neck roughly, sharing a hard look with Con over her head. “Whoever has it not only knows about it, they’ve been adding to it somehow.”
Sarah paled. “I told you it was a living spell. Could it be Aaron?”
“Unless he found the fountain of youth or cursed himself into a salt shaker, that son of a bitch is dead by now,” Con snarled. “If not, I’ll be happy to correct that mistake in the timeline.”
Lorie took her hand, caressing her palm. “It could be someone who has no idea what they’re doing. For all they know they’re just writing in a magic book, with no idea of its effect.”
Lorie quirked his lips. “You planning on joining Tucker’s ranks when this is over?”
She shook her head. “Just trying to think it all through.” She wasn’t sure what would happen when this was over. If she had her way, she’d spend the rest of her days with Lorie and Con, healing the people who needed help. Living her life.
“I’m here,” Harrison came striding around the corner, her long legs eating up the distance between them. “Sorry I’m late, but I’m in a dirty tunnel under the city. In my new shoes.”
Sarah smiled at Harrison’s wrinkled nose. “I didn’t know anyone lived here anymore.”
Con lifted a golden brown eyebrow. “Anymore?”
“There were always those elements who preferred to live away from humanity instead of beside it. Or those who wished to avoid Magian law.” Sarah looked around at the water-soaked walls. “The tunnels have been restored, but they’ve been here for as long as I remember. There was an orphanage my grandmother and I used to visit. They always needed more growers and healers.”
Harrison nodded. “Tucker knows about this place, too. In fact, he admitted something to me I’m not sure Jacob is going to forgive him for anytime soon.”
Sarah tensed at the mention of Jacob Gryffin’s name, but Lorie’s hand squeezed hers and she took a deep, calming breath. “What did he say?”
“Jacob’s sister, Leah, is here. Instead of visiting friends, which was what she told him she was doing, she volunteered to spy on our perp.”
Sarah made a face. “Our perp?”
Con winked. “The bad guy with the book. But it couldn’t have been about that, right? We just found out about it ourselves.”
Harrison nodded. “Exactly. Tucker says he shouldn’t be violent, he just sells things that don’t belong to him. But Leah’s mother did business with him from time to time, and he knows her. She came to him with something she needed to sell. Fast and quiet.”
Lorie whistled. “Are Jacob and Tucker going to have a problem?”
“Not if I can help it.” Harrison rubbed her temple. “Jacob’s protective, you know how he is, but Leah is literally a fireball. And she’s got something to prove these days.” She opened one grey eye and looked directly at Sarah. “Something about clearing up the family name.”
Sarah lowered her chin, studying her already scuffed shoes. “So where this guy? What’s his name?”
“Get this,” She lowered her voice. “Maris. His name is Winston ‘Winnie’ Maris.”
“Shit.” Con studied Sarah, his expression mirroring Harrison’s. “You don’t have to do this, you know. We can get the book without you.”
Her grandmother had never raised her to believe in coincidence. After all these years, the same families that had started this were still right in the middle of everything. The Abbotts, the Gryffins and one slimy, underhanded Maris. The only one missing was Aaron. One way or another, they would find their answers. And then all those silent dead who’d been forgotten could be at peace.
“You can’t get rid of me, Conway,” She let Lorie’s hand go and crossed her arms stubbornly. “We do this together. You promised.”
“Hell, I did, didn’t I?” He didn’t look happy about it, but he grabbed her arms and tugged her closer. “This love stuff is harder than it looks.”
She gasped in surprise and he took that opportunity to kiss her. Right there in front of Harrison, Lorie, and any underground resident who happened to pass by.
“Okay, you two.” Harrison snapped her fingers. “Cursed book to steal. Criminal to catch. Sister-in-law to save from clutches of evil man with a stupid name.”
Lorie laughed. “Sounds like we have our hands full. Can’t wait.”
Sarah leaned back in Con’s embrace and noticed his sister’s narrowed gaze. Specifically when it turned on her. “What have you done with my brother?” Harrison demanded. “He’s never been the adventure type.”
Sarah winked. “You’d be surprised.”
“No I wouldn’t, because you’re never going to tell me. Believe me there is such a thing as oversharing. My best friend married my other two brothers—a girl can only take so much.” Harrison shook her head and pushed passed them, striding ahead of them down the tunnel. “Come with me if you want to meet Winnie. And follow my lead.”
When they reached the stained steel door, Sarah was ready. She obediently stayed behind Lorie and Con, not wanting to be seen in case, for any reason, she was recognized.
A Maris had the book.
Hester Maris had been an evil woman. She reveled in the pain of others. Human or Magian. Any misfortune that befell another became a reason for her to delight. If her relative was anything like she’d been, Sarah wasn’t sure she would be able to contain her loathing.
She wondered now if it had been Hester’s idea all along. If she’d been the keeper of the second book, the book that would ensure Sarah’s eternal suffering. Perhaps she’d made a deal with Aaron.
But Hester had never been a powerful Magian. Or incredibly bright. What she had been was manipulative and sly, which in the right circles, made up for her other deficiencies.
“May I help you?” a nasally voice asked through a small opening in the door.
“Oh, I hope so.” Harrison’s tone had changed. It sounded sultry. Feminine. Helpless. “Is this the home of Mr. Maris? My sister-in-law asked me to come and get her right away.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “She doesn’t want my husband to know about her little money problem.”
“Of course. Of course.” The door opened and Sarah leaned around Con, attempting to catch a glimpse. “Helluva way to keep a secret. Who did you bring with you?”
Harrison’s laugh was careless. “These guys? Just overprotective family, you know how that is. For some reason they didn’t want me, a grown woman, coming down here alone. Isn’t that silly? But I have to admit I might have gotten lost in those tunnels. I never knew this place existed. Is it very exciting to live here?”
They moved forward and Sarah caught her first glimpse of Winston Maris. At first glance he reminded her of a mottled, bald, beaver. All teeth and jowls and unkempt eyebrows. He was also suspicious. “Terribly exciting. The last few days in particular have been particularly thrilling. Leah is a delightful bundle of curiosity and energy. Although you might find she’s spent the money I paid her for her trinket already. I have quite a collection.”
“What am I going to do with her?” Harrison sighed, stepping into the man’s crowded foyer and gesturing to Lorie and Con. “Leah? Leah, dear we’ve come to take you home now. You’ve intruded on poor Mr. Maris long enough.”
Sarah kept her head down, clinging to Lorie’s hand as she passed close enough to brush against the man’s dirty shirt. Poor, status-hungry Hester would be rolling in her grave at the state her family’s name had been reduced to. Was it wrong of her to feel a thrill of satisfaction at the thought?
“Harrison?” A young woman’s voice preceded her down the stairwell cluttered with boxes and newspapers.
Sarah watched the perky blonde float down the stairs; her confused frown disappearing the instant Maris turned in her direction. “My dear Miss Gryffin. You didn’t tell me you’d sent for your sister-in-law. I would have rung the maid.”
He chuckled at his own joke and moved further into his living room. “Come in, come in. If you see anything you like, I can guarantee you I will sell it.”
Leah joined them and, following along with the ease of a professional actress, embraced Harrison. “Thank you for coming. I wouldn’t have called if it weren’t important. I was wondering if you could loan me the money to buy a particular pair of earrings. They are a steal, really. Well worth the price. Infused with the kind of power that could change my life.”
“Earrings that could change your life?” Con snorted, every inch the disi
nterested male. “Mr. Maris, you wouldn’t happen to have an infused pair of earplugs would you?”
Sensing a kindred spirit, the squat man’s smile grew, revealing a disturbing absence of teeth. “Women will be women, I suppose. But now that you mention it, I have something even better. My own special sleeping tonic. You won’t need earplugs, that I can swear to.”
She and Lorie had entered the living room when she sensed something. It made her stomach churn and stole her breath. It was here. Sarah squeezed Lorie’s arm so tightly she worried she might hurt him.
He covered her hand with his and squeezed back, letting her feel the connection between them. Telling her without words that he would keep her safe.
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
Sarah’s tense body jerked at the sound of Winston Maris’ voice behind her. Lorie gave the man a quick, condescending smile. “Lawrence. My name is Lawrence Abbott. And this is my,” he hesitated and sent the man a wink. “Let’s call her my plus one and leave it at that, shall we?”
The name Abbott made Maris pale, distracting him from studying Sarah too closely. “Any relation to Tucker Abbott?”
Lorie’s expression was scornful. “The prodigal son? Not that I’ll ever acknowledge. What he doesn’t know might hurt him, but it could help me, right?”
Winston’s rounded shoulders slumped in relief. “I like you, Abbott. Let your plus one look around before you go. Whatever she wants, I’ll sell you for half off.”
Lorie patted her behind obnoxiously and pushed her toward the bookshelves. His behavior was very out of character. Luckily, Maris didn’t seem aware of that. She watched him drape his arm over the weasel of a man and lower his voice. “Pardon me for noticing, but you seem determined to turn a fast profit. I think I can help you out.”
Mr. Maris chuckled nervously. “I am at what you might call a crossroads. I’ve been thinking of moving to another underground vista. Adventure is good for the soul, they say.”
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