Page 88 of Pints & Potions

“What?”Piper couldn’t believe her ears. “I thought she was behind bars?”

“I stepped out for a minute. That was all it took.” He released a frustrated growl. “Before you ask, the security tapes have been wiped. Any spell I used to recreate the jailbreak showed an invisible entity knock out the guards and shut down the power grid of the cellblock housing her and Seamus.”

“Those cells were supposed to contain a foolproof charm.” Alastair’s expression said he wanted to spit nails.

Piper knew the feeling. Her last hope of saving Cian had casually strolled out the door under a cloaking spell. “I need to get back to the O’Malleys. Maybe Spring and GiGi have come up with something to help.”

“I’m sorry, Piper. We’ll find them, though.” Ryker radiated determination, and it gave her hope.

“Let me know when you do.” She touched his arm. “Be careful, Ryker. Moira has a poison-dispensing ring at her disposal, according to Aeden.”

“Aeden spoke to you?”

“Why is everyone always so surprised?” she asked.

Ryker exchanged a speaking glance with Alastair. “The boy hasn’t spoken to anyone but his father in months, and those times are getting fewer and farther apart. The family suspects he’s developed a physical issue. Probably a manifestation of the trauma he’s suffered.”

Alastair gave her a questioning look. “How does this boy know about the ring? Did he see it?”

“No. He has a direct line to Anu. I think he might be psychic.” Piper’s heart hurt for the boy. If Aeden was indeed psychic, he could potentially lose his mind as well as his voice if his family magic returned. The fact was that psychic witches tended toward madness. After an extended time, they couldn’t differentiate between reality and the movie in their mind. The stronger the witch and the cursed second sight, the faster they spiraled.

“Aeden’s problems are for another day,” Ryker said. “But we have Moira’s ring.”

Afraid to hope, she swirled her hand for him to continue.

“When she was arrested, we stripped her of her powers and any objects that could potentially be charmed.” He gestured to Piper’s tanzanite ring. “Anything man-made can be infused with magic.”

Unable to contain her joy, Piper flung herself at Ryker.

He caught her with a light laugh and returned her hug. “I take it you’re happy we have the ring secured?”

“Exceedingly. Where is it?”

“Come on, I’ll take you to the vault. I believe Councilwoman Sipanil will ensure my entry, since I’ll be the one overseeing Moira’s and Seamus’s recapture.”

Within minutes, the ring was in a protective metal lockbox and clutched tightly against Piper’s chest. “I don’t know how to thank you, Ryker.”

“Save Cian.”

“That’s the plan. You be careful,” she urged.

Alastair gave her a one-armed squeeze. “Ryker’s always careful.”

She gave a disbelieving laugh. Those two lived for danger.

31

“Here.” Piper handed off the box to GiGi. “Your husband wanted me to relay his fervent request you save his friend.”

“He’s so demanding,” GiGi quipped. “I’m going to visit Spring and see if she can reverse engineer this. Go open that fickle O’Malley grimoire. It’s been dark since you left and none of us can get it to wake up.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “Bridget’s beside herself.” The serious statement betrayed how worried they all were.

Piper needed to share whatever strength she had left, if only to see Bridget though this. “I’m on it.”

She gave Aeden two thumbs up and an encouraging smile.

He didn’t return it, and looked as if he wanted to bolt at any second.

Bridget met her halfway across the room. “Here. See what—oh!”

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