Wicked Bad (WIcked 3)(14)

He stayed for Jacob.

Ric knew that he and Jacob were two parts of a future triad, knew that when they were together, their magic was strong. And so was their passion. Jacob’s mother had not been pleased with the news. She’d wanted Jacob’s second cousin with his connections to the older families from England to join with her son and an heiress from one of the best families in Massachusetts. Namely, Harrison.

He put on a mock expression of superiority. “The queen doesn’t like it when her subjects step out of line.”

Harrison choked on a spicy slice of pepper steak and grabbed the fruit juice beside her plate. “The queen?”

Ric nodded, snagging one of her sweet potato crisps. “That is how she prefers to be addressed. They were very important in Massachusetts you know. The most powerful of all Magians. Here, though they have enough servants and lesser Magians for her to hold court happily forever, it isn’t enough. She is still an outcast in North America, and it’s clear she puts all the weight of that onto Jacob, though he was only a kid at the time. I wonder what she would have done if the seer hadn’t pointed to the Abbott heiress as our other half.”

“She sounds like a real prize.” An image was forming in Harrison’s mind, and it wasn’t a pretty one. Not that she didn’t feel bad for Ric and Jacob. She understood family pressure, but nothing like that. Her parents, especially her mother Moira, would never choose Harrison’s friends or lovers for her own political ends. But what really bothered her was that it wasn’t the most complimentary reason to be kidnapped. Because Jacob’s mother wanted to be back on top of the social ladder.

His nostrils flared as he watched her expression close. “Why do I feel like I said something wrong again?”

She shrugged, pushing away from the table and turning to look out over the extensive grounds. This was a fairytale gone horribly wrong. A castle, an evil queen, an uptight prince being forced to wed without love. And Harrison? She was locked in the tower, wishing she had longer hair. Maybe a potion or two.

A wave of dizziness nearly knocked her to her knees. “Harry… Harry, damn it, can you hear me?”

“Lorie?” She closed her eyes, trying to focus. I’m here. But her magic refused to cooperate. It kept running into Jacob’s binding. She saw a flash of her brother’s face, his brilliant blue eyes fierce and frustrated, and then he was gone. Again.

Ric’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

There it was, a shimmer of energy, his magic calling to hers, racing through her veins and along her skin. She looked down and watched electric arcs of familiar blue mingle with his vibrant red. She could sense his own surprise. His desire. He wanted her, more than he’d expected to. Nearly as much as he wanted Jacob.

His hazel gaze honed in on her parted lips. He was going to kiss her. Harrison knew she needed to stop him, that there was a reason, an important reason why she needed to get away.

Damned if she could think of what it was as he lowered his head to hers.

“Starting without me?”

Ric let her go, stepping away from her as though she’d suddenly grown horns. Harrison crossed her arms defensively, trying to hide how much his defection hurt. His energy was wrenched away from hers but her heart was still racing, being this close to both of them. She hated feeling this vulnerable.

“We were just talking when something happened to her, Jacob. Look how pale she is.” Ric’s expression was worried, his voice rough.

“Something did happen to me. I’ve been attacked, nearly frozen into an ice sculpture by some random Magian psycho, not that anyone seems to care.” She glared pointedly at Jacob. “Tricked into taking a morph home and finally kidnapped and taken to South America.” And after this last episode, she was getting the distinct impression that her brother was in danger. Maybe from the same person who’d come after her. She needed to talk to Conway. “I need my phone. Please, it’s important.”

A muscle in Jacob’s jaw twitched. “As your match, the issue of your well being is our priority. The person who attacked you will not do so again.”

Ric made a noise, as if he had something to add, but a look from Jacob silenced him. “And your kidnapping was unfortunate but necessary. The Abbotts are too powerful. If you were allowed to return to them we would never have the chance to press our suit. Never be allowed near you. And that I cannot allow.”

“Allow? You cannot allow?” Harrison sneered. “If you think this is how to seduce a woman, maybe you and the oh so charming Ricardo are better off as a duet. No one allows me to do anything. Not anymore. You of all people should understand what it’s like to want to be in control of your own life.”