Wicked Release (Wicked 3 3)

Chapter Three

She shouldn’t have told them. Why had she? Of course they would question her motives. They didn’t know her. They had no idea what happened nor had they any reason to trust her. For all they knew she was guilty of something so unthinkable that she’d received an equally unthinkable sentence. Her words would only confirm their suspicions…but they didn’t understand.

The evil bastard who’d caused this had killed a hundred birds with one stone, save one—and he’d made sure she would live forever.

She didn’t know which was the crueler punishment.

A handsome man with hair the hue of rich mahogany was leaning over her chair, studying her with a narrowed gaze. “Why have I whammied her again? Isn’t she the woman of your dreams? Hell, she even came out of a book. You can’t get more Lorie-wet-dream than that. I’m not sure this is the right way to woo her, little brother.”

A short blonde slipped her arm around him and forced him to take a few steps back. “Tyghe, don’t tease. This is serious.” She looked over at Lorie, unable to hide the censure in her eyes. “She’s been held against her will long enough, hasn’t she? You said yourself how much she’s suffered. What’s going on?”

The man named Tyghe apparently had the ability to immobilize her. This was a powerful group of Magians. Sirens and compellers, and now this. She was to be interrogated, and not allowed to escape until she complied. Still, it was better than the alternative. She was, after all, still alive.

Where was her rage? The anger that fueled her survival was nowhere to be found. Instead, she still felt guilty. It wasn’t a good sign.

Con had his arms crossed defensively as he answered before Lorie could. “We have a situation, Callie, and we aren’t going to get any answers doing things in a touchy feely way.”

Lorie’s full lips curled and he glared at Con. “I agree, cousin. I saw how effective your touchy feely way was. Looks like it didn’t quite have the result you were aiming for.”

“You told me to stay close, buddy.” Con’s voice rose in agitation, his cheeks flushing when he realized everyone was listening. “I couldn’t resist, okay? I wasn’t planning for it to go so far so fast. I don’t think any man in here would have behaved differently. How was I to know that our destined mate just wanted to let off some steam with a warm body before going on a killing spree? Who saw that coming?”

“Killing spree?” Tucker, she recognized from his earlier introduction. Dark hair and dimples. Incredibly attractive. Why didn’t he affect her? The only men who existed in this room for her were Lorie and Con. And right now, they couldn’t feel further away.

Lorie moved until he was standing in front of Sarah. He knelt down and placed his hands on her jean-clad knees. If she could have moved she would have shivered at the sensation. Sparks. Again.

“Sarah, I haven’t really had a chance to introduce you to my family or tell you anything about how I found you. I’m taking that time now. Tucker and Tyghe are my older brothers. Callie—Callie Fairbanks—is their triad match. My sister, Harrison, is here as well with Jacob and Ric. My name, in case you haven’t guessed by now, is Lorie. Lawrence. And my cousin needs no introduction. At this point you might know him better than I do.”

He was hurt. She could feel it. The healer in her, the part that had connected with him and mended his body, felt the wound in his heart. Because she’d been with—

Sarah’s eyes, the one part of her that could move, widened. Did he say Callie was a Fairbanks? She wished his brother would at least allow her to speak, but she could see Lorie wasn’t done.

He caressed her calves absently as he spoke. “I’ve been dreaming about you most of my life. About a cursed book and the princess trapped inside. And I’ve spent a lifetime searching for clues.”

Con snorted. “Wish to hell you’d let me in on that little secret, man. You have no idea how much your hermit habits cramped my style. If I’d known, I could have helped.”

Lorie ignored him. “What I learned was that every Tom, Dick and Gertrude dreams of cursing people into inanimate objects, but no lone witch has been able to master it. There would have to be seven, minimum. But why, I wondered, would the seven Magians needed to compress a single life into a book or image all agree to do something so onerous? Why wouldn’t they strip away the witch’s power, as decreed by law? Or kill her, if she were that much of a threat? They would all have to agree that eternal suffering was a worthy punishment for the crime, and that many Magians rarely agree on anything, even if they’re family.”

She glanced up quickly, searching the small army of faces for judgment or hostility. She found only sympathy and confusion.

Sarah’s gaze clashed with Lorie’s again, trying to convey her desire to speak, and he seemed to understand. “Tucker, before Tyghe allows Sarah to speak, I need your oath that the conversation we’re having now stays in the family. Your triad is not here to represent Magian law. Nothing we say leaves this room.”

She’d forgotten they were protectors. Did Lorie expect her to confess? She refused to be a prisoner again. But no, he was asking his brother to keep her confidence. Why?

Tucker hesitated, and Con took a step toward him. “Your oath, Tucker. We would do the same for Callie. You know we would.”

The brother nodded. “Of course. You have our word.”

Lorie gestured toward Tyghe without turning around. “Sarah, you can speak now. We want to help you, but we need you to answer a few questions.”

She opened her mouth experimentally, licking her dry lips before she spoke. “I will answer whatever I can, Lorie.”

His smile made her heart pound. He took her breath away. His smile, combined with his touch was dangerously distracting. “Sarah Blackwood, the only one of your name, I need to know why. Why were you trapped in that spell? What had you been accused of?”

They truly didn’t know? And what did he mean, the only one of her name? “But you knew my name. I’m a Blackwood. Are there no records of what happened in the library?” She hesitated. She’d been grateful for their ignorance when she first arrived, but now she knew something was wrong. “What do you know of the Magian massacre in Salem?”

Harrison took a step forward and studied Sarah closely. “Magian massacre? I’ve been forced to study Magian history most of my life, and while there have been crimes of passion and the occasional duel, the only story of witches being killed in Salem was all based on a misunderstanding. One that, sadly, killed too many innocent humans. We hold an event there each year to honor them. But I’ve never read anything about a massacre.”

Sarah knew she should stop shaking her head, but she couldn’t. “That can’t be true. I’m not mad. I was there. It happened. How can there be no record when so many Magians were killed?”