Page 10 of Pints & Potions

“Nay, love. You’ll not go off on your own.”

“I’m a witch, and a concealed one at that. No one can see, hear, or smell me. I promise, it’s safe.”

“We go together, or you don’t go at all.”

“Contineo.”Crinkling her nose, she cast him a sickly look. “Sorry. Be right back.”

As she darted away, he reached for her only to discover he was locked in place, with no ability to even lift a hand.“Piper!”He growled at her retreating back. “Cailín,I’m as serious as—”

Too late. She was gone. As he stood, helpless and fuming, Cian fantasized about all the things he’d do when she returned and freed him. First, would be to wring her long, graceful neck. Second—there was no time to think of a second as a craggy-faced, blond-haired man rounded the corner of the hall. From the fluid, stealthy way the guy moved, Cian knew the hulking brute had been trained in combat.

Bloody hell.

If the man remained on his current trajectory, he’d collide with Cian in less than two minutes. Sweat began to bead along his hairline, and a single drop meandered down his temple. By freezing his movements, Piper had left him a sitting duck.

Just as Cian came to the conclusion a collision was inevitable, Piper rounded the corner. She rushed to his side.

“Exolvo.”

Grinning, she grabbed his hand and tugged him forward. Cian was never more relieved to move in his life. As they cleared the door, his cells began to warm to burning. He’d opened his mouth to ask her what bloody brand of magic she intended now, when he was transported to their vehicle in less time than it took to blink.

Swaying from the sudden movement, he grabbed the boot of the car and inhaled deeply. “Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph. Some warnin’ would be good.”

“Yeah, sorry. I assumed you’ve teleported before.”

“Well, sure and I have, but it’s a rare enough occurrence.” When his head was clear once more, he dug into his pocket for the keys. “Let’s get out of here.” He’d rounded his side of the car when he heard Piper swear. “What is it?”

“All our tires are flat. It’s not a problem to fix, but if I do, our pursuer will know I’m a witch.”

“Or they’ll think we changed the tires.”

“Unless Ireland is vastly different from America, no one carries four spares, Cian.”

“Feckin’ hell!” Of course, she was right. He spun this way and that, trying to figure out a solution. Finally, he faced her. “There’s nothing for it, we need to get to safety.”

“I can teleport us home, and we can return for the car when we know it’s safe.”

“Oh, sure, and they won’t know you’re a witch when we disappear without another mode of transportation for ten kilometres.”

“Who knew you were such a grumpy ass if cornered?”

When she placed her hands on her hips and glared her annoyance, Cian’s internal wiring short circuited. All he could do was stare at her in all her glorious anger with a dumbass grin on his face. “You’re a stunner, Piper Kelly.”

The sound of her name caused her to jerk. A flash of guilt came and went before she could hide it. It was an effort, but Cian kept his smile in place. Her uncomfortableness spoke of a lie. And though now was not the time for revelations, he’d eat his left shoe if her real name was Piper Kelly.

“Please fix the tires,cailín,and let’s be on our way.”

4

As they sped away from the abandoned house, they each remained locked in their own thoughts. Piper couldn’t believe Liz had shown up when and where she did. Her cousin, who had only been spontaneous once in her life, now charged into trouble whenever she got the chance. The blame could be placed squarely at Rafe’s door. As a retired sitting-member of the Witches’ Council and an occasional spy, he’d added excitement to Liz’s normally uneventful life and brought a sparkle to her eyes. But he’d also made her more reckless.

“The other presence we felt, who was it? I take it you knew them.” When she squeaked her surprise at Cian’s insight, he chuckled. “It’s not like I was born yesterday, Piper me love.”

“It was just a friend, checking in on me because I forgot to call when I landed.”

“And this friend thought to pop in at your exact location without bothering to call you first?”

Piper dug her cell from her purse, and sure enough, there were five missed calls. She flashed the screen in his direction. “Oh, she definitelydid, but I missed them because I left my phone in the car.”

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