“I’ll make sure I can.”
“You’re going to need a couple of things and we need to do it before we meet up with them.”
“I know the place.”
I took Kai to the overlook I’d take Kincaid to the first night we’d talked after picking up the ingredients Kai had told me about. He’d explained the process and after I secured my own mind, I could easily do the same spell on the others. I built a small fire the old fashioned way, determined to use what little spelling ability I had for the important spell. After mixing the herbs and letting them steep, I chanted the words Kai gave me.
“How will we know it worked?”
“Well, you shouldn’t be able to hear me any longer.”
A sharp glance at him revealed a serious look on his face.
“It’s an all or nothing spell. It’ll block any telepathic communication.”
“But will that mean my connection to Kincaid will be gone?” I had yet to have any flash of her since she’d been taken, and it worried me. Kai seemed certain I would be able to connect to her, but so far nothing.
“No, that is by blood and magic. It’s a bond that can’t be altered by any magic. But my connection to you…. our telepathic conversations should cease with this spell. We can remove the spell when we believe it to be safe.”
I gave a rough chuckle. “Seemed like you wanted me not to hear you earlier?”
“Yes, well, you’ve proven yourself useful. I can still hear and understand you if you speak aloud, it’s only our mental conversations that will be lost.”
“Yeah, well your inability to talk is a bit of a hindrance.”
“This is more important.”
“Agreed.”
I lifted the cup to my mouth, but paused for a second as I heard his last words to me.
“You are the one I would have chosen for her. There is no one better to care for her than you. Believe this.”
I drained the cup, but felt the same. A moment later I felt a gentle nudge as if someone was trying to get my attention, but it was in my head. My eyes shot to Kai’s, his gaze curious as I shook my head
“I can’t hear you. I felt it, but there’s a barrier now.”
He gave a short nod, and saw his relief. It had worked.
A minute later footsteps caught our attention, and Scott appeared around the trail.
“Don’t hurt me!” He stopped short of the makeshift campsite I’d created to brew the spell, eyeing the ingredients. “I want to help you find Kincaid.”
“How did you find us?”
“I hid in the trunk of the car. I watched the others leave without you, figured you were looking for me or Kincaid. I didn’t want to talk to you there. Too many eyes.”
“You’ve got my attention. If for no reason than I’ll kill you to find her.” He swallowed hard at my words and Kai’s low growl.
“Trust me. I don’t want her hurt. I never did.”
“Perhaps you should explain.”
“I’m not a warlock. I have no ability with magic. My family does though.”
“And why is that?” I knew it was possible for a family member not to have any ability with magic, but it was rare. Usually they had some tiny inclination and with the trinity’s power unleashed, even those who’d had a mere trickle would have seen their ability increased.
“I’m adopted.” A quick glance at Kai revealed his surprise and I cursed the inability to communicate with him telepathically. Perhaps I should have waited to drink the spell.
“My family adopted me thinking I might have magic. My adopted mother died when I was ten, and my adopted father pinned his hopes on me to have magic. But I never did. Puberty came and went with zero magic. He was upset.
“Why? It happens. Even if you’d had the slightest magic what difference would it have made?”
“My adopted father is part of Mitchell Davis’ coven. A collection of dark witches and warlocks who seek power. Any way they can, including stealing the abilities of others.”
“That’s not comforting at all. So why are you here? Why were you with Kincaid?”
“My father disowned me when he realized I was useless to him. But I’d been a part of his life. I knew what he really wanted. A weapon to use against Mitchell. Some way to gain more power than him.” I leaned forward, curious about the apparent deceptions inside Mitchell’s circle. “They all practice dark magic. Blood magic, sacrificial magic. A witch can lend their power to a coven or they can have it taken. Mitchell controls his coven tightly, he controls their magic. Don’t get me wrong….they’ve all benefited, but some are not content with Mitchell’s reign. My adopted father is one of them. He’s wanted a way to break free for years. The only way is one of the trinity. But they’ve always been well hidden.”
“But you were engaged to one. No way you didn’t know that.”
“No, I knew.” He shook his head, ashamed. “I used her to get back into my father’s good graces. I kept an eye on her. Made sure she didn’t run and hide again.”
“Why didn’t your father make a move before now?”
“The trinity wasn’t complete before now.” His gaze was direct as it met mine. “It was, it has always been about the long game for him. Controlling one of the trinity, the seer…” He sighed heavily. “It’s power, power he can use against Mitchell.”
“Unless Mitchell gets one of the others and uses their power.” I shot that theory to hell in a second. Mitchell had already gone after Sinclair, and if Scott’s father had Kincaid, it wouldn’t do him any good, not really. We still didn’t know where Quinn was either. “Are you telling me your father has Kincaid?”
“No, I’m telling you he doesn’t.”
I rubbed my head, the number of people after my mate and her sisters was ridiculous, and sitting here with her ex-fiancé after finding out he’d been basically betraying her for years, pissed me off. “Then what the hell are you saying?”
“Mitchell has her. I didn’t betray her. I didn’t even know the trinity was formed until this morning when my father called and told me.”
“Where did you go last night after she broke it off with you?” It was hard to believe it’d just been last night all of this had started. A look at lover boy though reminded me this had been in the works for years.
“A bar.” He held up a hand. “Look, I’m not proud of myself. I knew what my father would do to me when he found out she’d dumped me. Just another one of my failures to him. But I was also afraid he’d go after her. When he called me this morning, talking about the trinity was complete and Mitchell was ready to make his move, I got worried.”
“You went to work.”
“Yeah, because I knew that’s where Kincaid would go. She’d told me her sister was coming and that when she did, she’d show up at her work. It’s the only reason Kincaid stayed." He waved his arms in the air. “I wanted to warn her, but she was with you and Evan. I knew what you were the second I saw her with you. There’s no mistaking the bond. Minutes later her sister showed up. When I figured out you had snuck out of the conference room I tried to follow, to find her. I knew she was in danger.”
“Is Evan part of this?” I asked the one question that had been bugging me. If Scott was telling the truth, and as reluctant as I was to accept it, I thought he was, then that left Evan. My dad had been there, but would he have had the time and opportunity to lay the trap?
“I don’t know. I’ve never met him outside of work. Is he a warlock?”
The confused expression on Scott’s face had me believing he had no idea the relationship between Kincaid and Evan.
“He’s her grandfather, Mitchell’s father.”
The horror on Scott’s face did nothing to quell the sick feeling in my stomach.
“I don’t know anything about him, but if he’s related to Mitchell than he’s a part of this. There’s no way he can’t be.”
“Then I guess we need to figure out if he’s actually one of the good guys like he claims to be.” I s
pooned some of my concoction into the cup I held. “Here, drink this. It’ll keep Evan out of your head. Hell, it’ll keep anybody out of your head.”
“Seriously? That’s amazing. My adopted father would kill for this.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s one of the ways Mitchell controls them. He reads their minds.”
“Abilities are inherited. Of course.” I slapped the ground next to me. “Fucking great.”
The sudden sensation of pain coursing through my head had me groaning. I grabbed my head, confused, as my sight distorted. It was as if I was seeing two images – the forest in front of me and the inside of a bedroom. The double images faded after a second, leaving behind a drugged sensation.
“I think I know how they’re controlling her.” I rested my hand on Kai for support as I pushed myself up. “They drugged her, she’s in a bedroom somewhere, but I have no idea where.” Scott gave me a sick glance, confirming my suspicions. “You knew this would happen to her? Didn’t you?” I slammed him against a tree as I yelled at him, my enhanced strength breaking two of his ribs from the cracking sound.
“I know that was my father’s plan. To keep her drugged with a combination so she couldn’t fight back. She wouldn’t be able to focus her magic long enough. It’s something they’ve done to seers for centuries.”
“Not MY seer.” I growled, flinging him to the ground where he curled into a ball. “Can you find her? Use your father, his contacts. Mitchell would use his coven. He has an end game. I need to know what it is.”
“I can try.”
“You’ll do more than try if you want to live.” I stopped myself before I actually kicked him. He was our only advantage at the moment.
“I’m human. Not a drop of magic ability in me. The only reason they had anything to do with me was because I found Kincaid and was able to keep an eye on her. A fact only my father knew until now. If anyone else found out they’d kill me in a second.”
“Then make sure they don’t find out.” I gestured to Kai. “We need to go. Make sure everyone takes the blocking spell. We don’t have any proof Evan is the one, but we’ll need to keep an eye on him. He might lead us to her.” I pointed at Scott, still curled up on the ground. “You find anything, let me know.” His nod satisfied me as I left with Kai.
“Two weeks. It’s been two fucking weeks and we don’t have a thing. I’m about to lose it, Kai.” He rested his head on my leg, and I rubbed the fur behind his ears. I missed his conversation more than I would have imagined.
For the last two weeks I’d had vague glimpses of what Kincaid could see. There had been visions as well, one of Quinn with what appeared to be a coven elder. They gave me hope. Quinn was safe at least, and nothing would happen to Kincaid as long as they thought she was under their sole control. I knew she was fighting whatever drug they were giving her though. We needed to find her soon.
Scott hadn’t been able to find anything. He’d managed to eliminate some places, but he’d been right when he’d said no one trusted him. We were running out of options, and Evan continued to play the innocent. I had no proof he was the one who’d betrayed us, and the waiting was driving me slowly insane.
“Her magic is growing. If I can’t help her control it…she could be in real danger.” The part of the story about protectors keeping the trinity magic in check hadn’t really registered with me when she’d told the story, but I’d been feeling surges of power lately. Uncontrollable magic that needed an outlet. Kincaid controlled a huge amount of magic and together we could keep it balanced, but apart, well, there was no telling the risk. It didn’t help matters that I missed her. The need to touch her was crushing, but she wasn’t there.
Kai rubbed his chin against my leg in an attempt to comfort me I thought. He was as worried as I was. He was her guardian and he’d never spent this much time away from his charge. We were both feeling the effects.
“I have another spell to try. Patrick and I went through the books.” Sinclair was determined to find her sister. She’d never really learned how to cast spells, but she seemed to have an innate gift for creating them. She and Portia had tried different types of locator and tracking spells, each one failing. I managed an encouraging smile as Luke walked in behind her. He was never more than an arm’s length away from Sinclair, and I couldn’t blame him. He seemed to understand the agony I was in being separated from Kincaid.
A text had me checking my phone. It was from Scott.
“I have information. Can you meet?”
I was about to reply, “Where?” when Sinclair said, “I’ll need you for this spell. You and Evan. Blood and bonded. I can find her that way. I know it.”
I nodded. I trusted Sinclair and I wasn’t eager to let Evan out of my sight. A nudge had Kai following me into the next room.
“Portia.” She peeked at me from the book she was studying, another book of spells it looked like. I jerked my head, and she got up.
“I need you to go with Kai and meet Scott. He says he has information on Kincaid.” I’d finally told Portia about Scott and my suspicions about Evan. She’d even heard my doubts about our father with no judgement. She’d met with Scott once when I hadn’t been able to and her opinion was that he was telling the truth. Our father’s determined quest to locate Kincaid gave me hope that he was innocent in this, but there were lingering doubts. Evan and Patrick were the only ones who truly knew what happened that day.
“Okay.” She glanced at the other room. “They don’t need me for the spell, but Sinclair will be out of it while she does the spell.” Her look was a warning. “She’ll be vulnerable.”
I nodded. “I’ll keep her safe. As will Luke.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Do you think she’s as strong as they say? She looks pretty pathetic to me. One of the mighty trinity. Easy enough to subdue.”
The voice pierced the haze in my mind and I wanted to tell him he’d be the first one I killed, but the drugs made my tongue thick and it was impossible.
“She killed seven guys when they took her. They’re keeping her drugged so she can be controlled. Don’t underestimate her. She is Mitchell’s daughter after all.”
“Ha.” I felt a hand stroke my thigh, and knew his death would be painful. “She’s a pretty, little thing.” Another hand slapped the one stroking me away.
“You looking to die?”
Yes, he was.
“She’d kill you in a second, and if wasn’t her it’d be her dad. Leave her alone.” The one who spoke had my gratitude, but it wouldn’t be enough to save him. The brief moments of lucidity hadn’t been enough for me to formulate an escape plan, but they’d revealed the basics of the situation I found myself in. It appeared I was being held captive by my father, a man I’d yet to see. As soon as I showed any sign of alertness they gave me an injection. Whatever was in it seemed to trigger visions, and kept me in a state of oblivion. There was no doubt someone had betrayed me, and as much as I wished to believe it wasn’t yet another member of my own blood, he was the only person that fit.
The frantic urge to warn Milo and my friends of the snake in their midst wouldn’t leave me, but the drugs made it impossible. I could feel Milo’s presence on the edges of my mind. He was connected to me and I tried to grasp on to him, but he slipped away each time.
My magic was another issue.
It was growing.
The drugs were buffering it’s power, but it was only a matter of time before it broke through, and when it did…. I would welcome it.
“Let’s get out of here. She creeps me out.”
The other guy laughed and said, “Scared of a little witch? I’ve seen dolls scarier than her.”
I forced my eyes open. It was only for a split second, but I managed to catch a glimpse of them. One of them caught sight of my opened eyes and blanched, the other one was too busy laughing. My eyes slipped closed, but I had seen what I needed. His face was etched in my mind, and I would have him.
Time passe
d in odd waves, the visions I had distorted it further. I saw Quinn at one point, standing with an elder, it appeared she had been adopted by a coven. Relief rushed through me at the sight. She was okay for now.
Other visions were not so pleasant. Storms and fires raging through towns, waves crashing over roads, a ring of fire with blood soaking the ground inside of it. Those visions sent fear down my spine. They were dark and violent, and forced me to question if we would succeed. If we could form the light as my prophecy seemed to predict.
I drifted toward consciousness again, and felt Milo’s mind touch mine. I clung to it, desperate to escape the dark visions I’d been drowning in. Our link strengthened and suddenly I was seeing through his eyes.
Sinclair sat across from me, chanting as she waved her hand above a map. Luke was standing by the door, keeping watch but not interfering. Evan sat next to her, and I hissed at the sight of him. Milo sat still, no sound escaping him, and I realized I could only see through his eyes, my presence wasn’t felt in any other capacity. I wasn’t even sure Milo was aware I could see what he could see. There was a cut along his palm, and as I listened to Sinclair’s words I figured out she was trying to locate me using the bond I had with Milo and the blood she and Evan shared with me. It was a clever spell, but I wondered if it might not have worked as she intended. It appeared to have drawn my consciousness to them instead of showing them where I was.
Quick as the snake he was, Evan jumped up, a knife in his hand and even as I screamed a warning he slit her throat. Blood sprayed across the table, and Milo leapt up, lunging for Evan. A flick of Evan’s fingers though had Milo slamming into the wall. A quick glance showed Luke collapsed on the floor in front of the door, his stillness igniting the rage inside of me.
The rage burned through me, and suddenly so did magic. It raced through my veins, electrifying me and destroying the drugs used to control me. My connection to Milo broke as I found myself back in my body, floating above the bed, the blue glow from my eyes bathing the room in it’s light. A glimpse in the mirror showed a woman suspended in the air, her golden curls floating around her face, as her eyes burned with the light of magic. A moment later, my feet thudded to the ground as I dropped into a crouch, the slight click as the doorknob turned warning me someone was foolish enough to enter.
Found (The Trinity Sisters Book 2) Page 13
