Chapter One
“You think your love life is bad? Try mine. You only need one Mr. Right. I’m expected to find two.”
Callie Turner looked up from the dainty cucumber sandwiches the housekeeper, Jenner, always made especially for her when she visited, and promptly choked. Harrison Abbott patted her back, her expression concerned. “You okay, Cal?”
“Two?” She looked at her pouting friend, wondering why she was surprised. Harrison never did anything the normal way. No, the unusual blueblood was more than just rebellious.
She was a witch.
“No Magian has every complained about that particular tradition. Leave it to our sweet, agreeable Harrison.” The four-foot-eight, bird-like Jenner rushed over to Callie with a glass of water in her hand.
Harrison blew out a huffy breath. “I just don’t see why we can’t date like ordinary people. Go see a movie or a baseball game. See if we like each other before we bind our magic together for all time. But no. Not us. We have to go to Triune by the time we’re twenty-six. Have to, as in, no options. What if I don’t want two men following me around, telling me what to do? What if I want to be—?”
“Like me?” Jenner shook her head with a sigh. “I’m not an ordinary Magian, Harrison. You know that. If I remember correctly, your mother was just as reluctant as you are now. But Moira Abbott has lived in connubial bliss with her Triune match for decades, and with three troublemaking children no less. It’s the way things are done.”
Triune? Didn’t that mean three in one? So every Magian, every female witch had to have two husbands? But Harrison’s mother—Callie swallowed. “Are you two telling me that Uncle Jackson is actually…?”
Harrison looked over Callie’s shoulder guiltily. “Mom didn’t think it was something you’d understand when we first met you. You were too young. After a while we didn’t know how to tell you the truth. Especially since your foster parents were so—”
Jenner made a slashing motion with her hand across her neck, and Harrison stopped midsentence.
Callie set down her sandwich. “Well, damn.”
All this time and she’d never caught on. In a way, it actually made sense. Uncle Jackson was always extremely affectionate with Harrison’s mother, Moira. But her husband, Douglas never seemed to mind. Callie thought they were just a touchy-feely family.
Apparently more than she realized.
Her hurt over being kept in the dark for so many years was overridden by fascination. And envy. Two men to satisfy her every need? Sign her up. Unfortunately she was just an ordinary human. And humans had rules. She should know…she was a cop. Well, almost. Another month to go. But she had always known how to spot when something was up, especially with her childhood friend.
Harrison wasn’t just put out about this particular tradition. She had never been very accepting of her lot in life. “One of the most powerful Magians in generations.” How many times had Callie heard Moira and the other members of the Abbott family say it? All it meant to Harrison was that she could never have any fun. Could never be normal. She had to be the best. It also meant all her Magian peers either wanted to be her friend, to be close to her magical spotlight, or find a way to trip her up. It drove Harrison crazy.
Callie wanted to feel sorry for her, but it was hard. She’d been coming to this sprawling Dorchester home since an eleven-year-old Harrison had found her huddled beneath a slide at the playground. It had been Callie’s twelfth birthday, and no one had remembered. She’d come to the park, determined to enjoy the day, and the sky had opened, ruining everything. The beautiful, if sober young stranger had held out her hand, and Callie had known as she took it that she had made a true friend.
When Harrison brought her back to her large, rambling house, the Abbott family had been so warm and welcoming. Moira said she’d sensed a kindred spirit in Callie, and any friend of Harrison’s was a friend of theirs. They had never hidden their abilities, and Callie had never feared them or the world they’d shown her glimpses of. On the contrary, she’d always wished she could be a part of it.
This place became a second home to her. In it she had known the kind of love and acceptance she used to wish for from her foster family. In it she could imagine she was truly was one of them. Truly was an Abbott. A Magian.
She’d never understood why Harrison wanted to be normal.
When the Abbotts went to the annual skyclad festival in Salem to pay homage to the innocent humans who had died there, Harrison had thrown a tantrum, railing against the mandatory nudity. Callie, on the other hand, stayed holed up in her bedroom at home, dreaming she could join them.
When the Abbotts threw a coming out ball to introduce their very special daughter to the Magian community, Callie had watched from Harrison’s charmed mirror with Jenner as the young debutant frowned, grudgingly showing off her abilities to an approving crowd.
The grass was always greener, or so Jenner had told her many times. But Callie believed it was an empty sentiment. Harrison didn’t know what it was like to be an average human, to deal with the kinds of things she’d had to. Callie was positive she wouldn’t like it.
But this wasn’t just another rebellion. Harrison didn’t look put out so much as nervous. Wired. “So why now? Why, after all this time, have you decided to share this bit of Magian trivia with me? Do your pare
nts know you’re telling me?”
Jenner and Harrison shared a speaking glance. “No.” Harrison shook her head. “They’re celebrating their anniversary on a whirlwind European vacation. According to their schedule they should be in Paris. It’s been so long since Mom’s been able to be convinced into taking a vacation from the jewelry store, and we knew she’d come back right away if we told her. I—we didn’t want to worry them.”
Callie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Worry them? Uh huh, I knew it. Okay, what’s going on here, Harry? Another spell in a fit of anger? Is the postman barking at dogs again? Or did you finally lay a magical whammy on that weird Goth guy from the grocery store who always follows you around?”
“If only.” Harrison stood, pacing around the table in agitation. “Besides, I haven’t done anything that interesting in years. This isn’t about me. Not directly. I need your Spidey sense, Cal. I need you to help me find out who is attacking witches.”
“Attacking? Someone’s been attacking witches? Have you called the police?” Callie pushed her chair back and reached for her cell phone, but Harrison stopped her.
“We can’t, sweetheart.” Jenner shrugged apologetically. “It’s another Magian. There is nothing your police can do.”
“Well, what about your police? The Magian law enforcement? I know you have your own code, right?”
Harrison nodded. “The Rede, yes. And the Magian enforcers have done a cursory investigation, but whoever this guy is, he’s flying low under the radar. None of the women had any traces of residual magic on them when they were found. No scrying spell or enchanted object can be found that will even show the victim’s final moments before the attack, and none of them can remember a thing about the man, which should be suspicion enough to delay the next ritual. Especially since there is only one thing we know linking the women.” At Callie’s questioning look, Harrison shrugged. “They had all been participating in the joining ritual this month. Like Jenner said, it’s called Triune. A few times each year, single Magian’s go to Triune to seek out their sexually and magically compatible mates. The same ritual I’m supposed to be a part of in one week’s time.”
Callie ran a hand through her hair. “Harrison, you know I would never be allowed to attend a Magian ritual. They’d sense me as an outsider right away. I’ll help anyway I can, but I’m not sure what it is that you want me to do.”
Jenner patted her shoulder, drawing her attention away from her agitated friend. “You know those makeover shows I love to watch? Our little wonder witch has found a way around your, um, handicap.”
“Gee, thanks. I’m not insulted by that comment at all.” Callie rolled her eyes, but adrenaline filled her at Jenner’s implication. She turned back to Harrison. “Harry? Is she right? Can you make me a witch?”