Found (The Trinity Sisters Book 2)

by Kristin Coley

  But all underestimated the power of the sister’s bond, and how great their mother’s love truly was. She’d given them her heart knowing their magic would one day be released and they would unite again. She gifted each one with the ability to find the other and to know one another’s hearts. Sacrifice was a mother’s greatest gift to her children.

  “What do you mean his attempts fail, until magic is free?” Milo cut in, his impatience clear as the story moved away from the point. “That means you’ll be at risk.”

  “They’re all at risk. It’s not just their father that would see the trinity never exist, Milo. Your own father has spent years with the same intentions.”

  Milo flushed at my grandfather’s admonishment.

  “But it’s my job to protect her, to keep her safe from anyone wishing her harm.”

  “Your job?” I whispered quietly, not liking the implication I was nothing more than a job to him.

  “Yes, my job,” he growled, leaping across the room to kneel at my feet. Kai lifted his head at the movement, but didn’t stir otherwise, content to watch it play out. “My fate. My one desire. The very reason for my existence. The one thing I would give up everything to do.”

  His outburst startled both of us as his hands hovered over my arms. The particular crackle that only comes from magic arced between us, my skin tingling where his hands hesitated. He slowly removed his hands, never touching me, but we both felt it - the bond, the call of our magic to one another, and I fought the urge to stroke his cheek, to complete it.

  “Tell me the rest,” he whispered finally, moving away from me and the compulsion we both felt to touch the other.

  Their mother’s sacrifice protected them, but once the binding was gone, magic once again worked against them. Its power was tempered only by the touch of the sister’s protector, a fact their father attempted to use against them. If he separated the girls from their protectors then their magic would be erratic, volatile, and dangerous to them.

  The youngest sister was the most vulnerable. Unused to her magic, unaware of her past or her destiny, her only hope would come from her protector and the coven that chose to protect them both. Their father attacked her, trying to capture the weakest link, but she would confound him by drawing on her sisters’ power as her own. Even separated they would work together until they could finally unite as one.

  Past, present, and future blend,

  The earth rumbles, the wind wails,

  The flames burn even as the rain pours.

  Three form the trinity,

  United, bound, and found,

  Together create the light

  Darkness cannot break.

  I stopped with a gasp, the last piece not a part of the story, and in fact I’d never known it until now.

  “That sounded prophetic.” Our eyes met as Milo said it and I nodded. “Your eyes were glowing by the way.”

  “That wasn’t part of the story,” I muttered, wondering what it meant, because if it was literal it sounded like the end of the world.

  “Was there anymore to the story?”

  “No,” I shook my head at Evan’s question. “That was the end as I knew it, except for that new piece. Which sounds vaguely terrifying.”

  “I’m concerned about you being separated from your protector. Your magic could become uncontrollable.” Milo rubbed his face, fear for me bowing his shoulders.

  “After Quinn gets her magic. We have time.”

  He shot me a sharp look.

  “And how much time? Hmm? Kinda looks like the timetable has moved up lately. Your father knows where you are. At least he has an idea and he wants you. That puts you at risk.” He stressed the last word.

  “I won’t live my life in fear.” My voice was resolved. “I will fight. For myself and my sisters. You heard it. We will create the light.”

  “But at what cost?”

  “Whatever it takes.”

  “Kincaid…”

  I shook my head, “You should understand what he’s taken away from me, since he took it from you, from all of us. One man’s desire for power has damaged us, and we can make it right. For everyone.”

  “I don’t have to like the idea of you being at risk.”

  “Well, that means you’re going to hate my next idea.” He looked resigned as I told them I was going home. I held up a hand as I saw him try to protest. “I’m safe for now. I have something I need to do.” I cast a glance down at the ring I still wore, one that held me captive, and knew I no longer needed the safety it had once represented. Milo was right. Our time was running out and only together would we survive my father’s plans.

  The apartment was empty as I stepped inside with Kai. I’d left Evan and Milo at his place, sitting on the couch drinking beers together. The idea that Milo had been raised to kill my family, enraged me. If I ever got my hands on his father, I couldn’t be positive I wouldn’t kill him for what he’d put his children through. I understood the emotional damage losing your family could do, but to teach your children to kill other children was beyond me. Milo had chosen to leave that life, but it hadn’t escaped me that he’d lost his sister with the choice. I wondered where she was, and if I could bring them together with my sisters’ help. Our lives had become intertwined by our fathers, but perhaps we could change all of our fates.

  The sound of a door slamming shut had me spinning around and dropping into a crouch.

  “What the hell? Are you going to beat me up?” Scott slurred, as he leaned against the wall. “You left work. You humiliated our boss. What were you thinking?”

  “That I had more important matters to attend to.” I replied drily watching him stumble his way toward me. Scott was a lost soul, always trying to please a parent that could never be satisfied, denying his own happiness in the process. He tried to make his father happy, Lord knew he tried, but he couldn’t and usually wound up drunk in an attempt to find some peace from his own self-disgust. When we’d first met it hadn’t been so bad. He’d still been happy, believing the world was his oyster.

  “I’m Scott.” The voice was cocky and as I glanced over at him, I could see why. He was good looking, muscular and had obviously not heard the word no very often.

  “Nice to meet you, Scott.”

  “And you are?”

  “Late for class.”

  I recognized him. He’d been in one of my visions so I knew he’d be a part of my life, but I didn’t know how yet. His idea of our future was clear with his next words.

  “Aw, come on. A beauty like you with a stud like me? It’s a match made in heaven.”

  I snorted, I laughed so hard.

  “You’re breaking my heart, doll.”

  “Somehow I think you’ll recover,” I replied a little more tartly than I intended.

  “Only with an angel like you by my side.” He walked a little faster, turning around to walk backwards and see my face. “You’re different.”

  I cocked my eyebrow, wondering what he knew.

  “You walk with confidence. It’s like you know where you’re going.

  “Yeah, to class. It’s that way.” I pointed to the building in the distance.

  “You know how many girls throw themselves at me?”

  “Too many. Obviously.”

  “I don’t mean it that way.”

  The look I shot him was disbelieving.

  “Seriously though. Girls throw themselves at me, but not you. I’ve been trying to get you to notice me for a week and it’s like you don’t even see me.” He gave me a rueful look. “It’s been eye opening.”

  “Good for you. Self-enlightenment is the path to happiness.”

  “I thought that was doing whatever my dad says.”

  The bitter note in his voice caught my attention because it felt familiar. It appeared I wasn’t the only one struggling with the weight of obligation. No doubt mine was a bit different than his, but feeling trapped, no matter the reason, sucked. I slowed to a stop, drawn to his pain in spite of mys
elf. I rested my hand on his arm.

  “This is college. You have an opportunity to find what makes you happy. Take it.” He returned my stare with a steady one of his own. For the first time, he appeared completely serious.

  “Go out with me.” He held up his hand. “Please. I really want to get to know you.”

  I sighed, glancing toward the class I was already late for, but couldn’t resist the pleading face in front of me.

  “Guinea.” I bit back a smile, glancing away from the brilliant grin he sent me when I told him my name. “If you’re out here when I get out of class we can have lunch. Take it or leave it.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  ***

  His response tore me from the memory of our first meeting, and reminded me how much had changed.

  “More important? What’s more important than work? Than making a good impression? Wanting to succeed?”

  “Family, life, love, doing the right thing, being your own person. Pick one,” I told him, catching him as he almost fell. I eased him onto the couch, sympathetic to the familial bonds that kept him from being happy. Until he found something or someone to give him the strength to break free, he’d never find the happiness that continually eluded him.

  “See, that’s why I always liked you.” It didn’t escape me he said liked, not loved. “You believe that shit.” His laugh was harsh as the alcohol kept him honest. “You honestly believe people will do the right thing, that love conquers all, that the good guy wins in the end. But they don’t.” His gaze was serious as he met my eyes. “Power, money, those win, those earn respect. The sooner you realize that the better off you’ll be.”

  I sat down on the edge of the coffee table and studied him. He glanced away from my scrutiny, but I didn’t move. Even disheveled he was good looking, and while his attitude might have come off as harsh, in his own way he was trying to protect me. I could see that, and it made the next words even harder.

  “I can’t marry you.” I went with blunt, ripping the band aid off as quickly as possible to minimize the pain. He blinked at me, not grasping what I was saying. I slid the ring off my finger, feeling only relief as the weight was removed. As I dangled it in front of him, his eyes locked onto it. “We’re not right for each other. We never were. I’m sorry I let this go on as long as I have. You deserve someone that makes you happy, Scott.”

  I set the ring in his hand and curled his fingers around it. His eyes followed my actions, disbelief mixed with hurt etched on his face. He shook his head.

  “And you’re wrong about power and money equaling respect. I’ve seen firsthand what the desire for power will do to a man. It will compel him to ruin his family, turn against everything good and right in the world. It will leave him alone and angry, and in the end…it will be what destroys him.”

  I felt the weight of his gaze follow me as I walked back to the bedroom, but he didn’t move. We both knew it was over. We’d used each other long enough, and it was time we both went after what we truly wanted.

  Chapter Ten

  I woke with a start, my hands tingling as the magic rushed through me. I had never felt a surge of power this strong in my life, and as the thought crossed my mind I realized what happened.

  “Quinn.”

  My feet hit the ground before I was even conscious of moving. If Quinn had come into her power then shit just got real. A line from the story Kincaid had told was engraved in my memory. His attempts to take her failed, at least until magic was once again free.

  Considering the thrumming in my blood, it was safe to assume magic was once again free, and her father would try and take Kincaid and this time he would succeed.

  I yanked on the clothes she’d spelled the day before since they were the closest to me. I met Evan in the hall, his shirt buttoned crookedly as if he was in just as much of a rush as I was.

  “You felt it.” It wasn’t a question so much as a statement. The trinity was more powerful than I’d ever imagined. The magic they’d been holding back for the past twenty years was insane.

  “How could they have controlled this much power? I can feel it.” I shook my hands to try and dispel the pins and needles feeling.

  “They weren’t controlling the magic, not like it seems.” I shot him a confused look. “Our ability to wield magic has slowly been disappearing for decades. It’s why each new generation has had less and less ability with it. The trinity changes that. They bring magic back to us, enhance our ability to use it, focus our talents, if you will.”

  “So, magic has always been there, we just couldn’t access it without them.”

  He was less than impressed with my take on it, but finally nodded. “Yes, to put it simply.”

  “We don’t have much time then. We still don’t know where Quinn is and considering the surge I just felt she’s gotta be feeling overwhelmed.”

  “None of them are together. We don’t know where Sinclair is either. The longer they’re apart from one another the more danger they’re in. My son will stop at nothing to get his hands on them and it will be much easier when they’re alone.”

  “Which is why we’re going to Kincaid. Like it or not, she now has round the clock bodyguards.”

  Half an hour later I was pounding on her apartment door, completely uncaring if I woke her fiancé or the neighbors.

  The door swung open to reveal an irritated Kincaid. She blinked in surprise when she saw it was me.

  “Expecting someone else?” I asked, moving past her, careful not to brush against her. Evan was right behind me, and her eyes narrowed.

  “I thought you were Scott. What are you doing here? I thought you were staying at your place.”

  “Quinn got her power.”

  “How...” she trailed off, her hand covering her wrist as she looked back toward the couch.

  “We felt it.” Evan’s comment pulled her attention back to us.

  “You felt it?”

  “I imagine anyone with an ounce of witch blood in them felt it.” I sat on the couch, ruffling Kai’s fur as he set his head on my knee. “Where’s Scott?”

  “I don’t know. I left him on the couch and went to take a bath.” Her eyes were distant, and I wondered what she was thinking about. “I collapsed on the floor when her magic released. I saw them.”

  “Saw them?”

  “My sisters.” She held out her wrist, showing us a tattoo of a trinity symbol. “When the last loop appeared I saw them. Sinclair was exactly like my vision.”

  “Your vision?” My interruption drew her attention.

  “My vision of her coming. I had it a few weeks ago. I saw her, grown up and I knew she’d be here soon. At work.” She glanced over at Evan with a soft smile. “She’ll show up at the company I work at. It’s why I never took you up on your offer. I knew she’d find me there. I wasn’t sure when, but soon now.” She kept staring at her wrist, tracing the symbol. “Quinn is stunning, she looked absolutely terrified, but she’s strong. Sinclair looks like our mom.”

  “So where did Scott go?” Evan asked curiously. “It seems a little late for a midnight stroll.”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he went looking for more alcohol.” She chewed on her lip. “He was drunk when he came home and then I broke things off with him. Maybe he decided to leave.”

  “You broke it off with him?” Hope flared to life in my chest, painful in its intensity. Fate had decreed we were one another’s perfect match, but neither of us were the type to break a promise. And as much as I’d disliked it, the ring she wore was a promise to another man. A ring that was now missing from her hand, I noticed, watching as she traced the symbol magically tattooed on her wrist.

  She met my eyes, her nod solemn.

  “But what are you doing here?” She gave us a confused look. “We were supposed to meet at lunch tomorrow.”

  “The magic is released. Your father can get to you now. The story of the three sisters said it.”

  “We can’t be positive how accurate it is.” Sh
e was dismissive, waving her hand at the idea that the story she’d always known could actually be one hundred percent accurate.

  “I believe it’s extremely accurate, Kincaid.” Evan’s quiet words drew our attention. “You need protection and so will your sisters. Hopefully they’ve found their protectors as you have. None of you are safe until your father has been defeated.”

  “We’re here to keep you safe.” I piped in, unwilling to let her obstinacy push us away.

  She brushed her golden curls from her face, her blue eyes bright as she glanced between us.

  “Well, then. I guess one of you can have the guest room and the other can have the couch.”

  The next morning, I woke up after a restless night. The need to touch Kincaid was driving me insane. The last obstacle in our way was gone, removed the moment Kincaid gave her engagement ring back. A simple brush of our fingers would initiate the bond, and ignite the magic between us. A touch would keep her safe, keep her own magic from overwhelming her.

  Listening to her story, I had realized that Kincaid had always known more than any of us. I wasn’t sure if the story was a gift from her mother or perhaps an indicator of how strong Kincaid’s own ability was, but either way she’d grown up knowing what was coming. She may not have always believed it, but she’d still had an advantage. Plus her own ability as a seer would have guided her. I’d always been under the impression a seer could only see other people’s lives, never their own, but Kincaid had set that idea on its head. Hell, the truth was she’d set my entire life on its head. Even when I’d wanted to walk away from magic, from my life hunting Davis girls…I hadn’t been able to. Our lives were intertwined so tightly by this point there would never be any separating us.

  Her appearance distracted me from my thoughts. I’d taken the couch and given Evan the guest room. I was used to sleeping in worse places than a couch, plus I wanted to make sure if someone came through the door I was the one they met first.

  “Sleep well?” She questioned, as she slipped an earring in her ear.

  “Not really.” I managed to say, standing uncomfortably. Watching her put on earrings felt more intimate than watching another woman undress. It was a damn earring, but it still had me shifting. I wanted to stroke her cheek and brush the tendril of hair that had come loose from her bun. I wanted to run my tongue along the curve of her earlobe, and inhale the scent that was her. I wanted to watch her eyes flutter close as I leaned in to kiss her, our breaths mingling as our lips pressed together.