Page 42 of Pints & Potions

“No! But I’ve a mind not to let anyone know how close we are to losing our home,” he retorted.

Her glare softened with understanding. “We won’t, Cian. I’ve a back-up plan if need be.”

“Good. Perhaps we won’t need it.”

As Piper observedthe fierce conversation between the siblings from her spot across the room, she thought about the earthquake and Knox’s claim it wasn’t brought on by natural means. If, as she suspected, Cian blamed himself, he was wrong. This incident felt more like a personal attack on her.

She hadn’t mentioned the feeling of her magic being suppressed, nor the pickling sensation along her ribs. Someone had been reversing GiGi’s healing in real time. With each knit of the bone, it came undone. With each rejuvenation of a cell, it transitioned back to damaged. Even now, she could feel the attempt on her psyche from an outside source.

“How strong are the wards?” she inquired after Spring left. “Are you two positive no one can get through?”

Ryker’s gaze sharpened. “Why? What are you thinking?”

“More like feeling. Am I right, child?” GiGi looked concerned and ready to do battle on Piper’s behalf.

She never adored her cousin more.

“It’s like a probe inside my brain,” Piper confessed. “I’m fighting it, but a headache is forming for all my effort.”

“I don’t like this.” GiGi wrapped a comforting arm around Piper’s shoulders. “How do we protect her, babe?”

Ryker shook his head. “I don’t know. I think it’s time to call Alastair.”

“No.” Piper held up a hand to forestall the argument. “He’s our last resort. The O’Malleys don’t need him sweeping in here with his boatload of henchmen unless it’s absolutely necessary. It could hurt their business.”

“Piper, you are one of ours and someone is targeting you specifically.” GiGi believed there was strength in numbers, and she wasn’t wrong, but Piper didn’t necessarily want to be inundated with family. They were all quick to drop what they were doing and arrive en masse.

“No, Cuz. I’ll take care of this my way.”

“What about your father?”

Her father was a good option. Formidable, laid back for the most part, and a bit of a pushover when it came to his daughter. Piper would have more freedom with him than with Alastair. Not that she needed to account to anyone, but her relatives could be stubborn fuckers when it came to protecting one another.

With a grimace and a nod, Piper agreed. “I hate to bother him, but maybe he’s the best option. You all can’t remain around me indefinitely.”

“We can and we will if that’s what it takes. But we’ll find the culprit sooner rather than later,” Ryker promised. “In the meantime, call your dad. I know Hoyt. He’ll drop everything to be here.”

“I don’t know what happened to my phone,” she said as a way of deflecting.

Cian happened to be returning to their side of the room and detoured to a side table to retrieve it. “Here you are, darlin’. It took a bath when the cavern flooded, but Knox restored it to new for you.”

“Great.”

His expression turned questioning.

“I’m being coerced into calling my dad,” she explained with a dark scowl. “Just what I want to do—not.”

“Why?”

“She needs protection when Ryker and I return home to cast the spell,” GiGi informed him. Hands on hips, she faced Piper and said, “It’s Hoyt or Alastair. Take your pick.”

Cian looked less thrilled than Piper, and she almost laughed. Both men would delight in cock-blocking the hell out of him, but she suspected he was chafing because he would feel the need to be the alpha of their little pack and his desire to protect was likely strong.

“If I’ve a vote, I’ll use it for the magical muscle,” Bridget said, then winced when her brother glared at her. “Cian, you’re a brave and strong man, to be sure, but you’ve no magical abilities with which to fight.”

Knees still weak, Piper climbed to her feet and placed a hand on his crossed arms. “As much as I hate to admit it, they’re all correct. We need my dad here or I need to go home. Not only for my safety, but for your family’s, too.”

Cian trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Call him.”

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