Page 43 of Whiskey & Witches

“What?”Carrick’s shock couldn’t be plainer.

She looked from one to the other, not sure why he was bothered. “Why are you upset?”

“You exempted Ronan from our spell.” Piper’s worried gaze darted between the brothers and settled back on Roisin. “Why?”

“I didn’t do that!”

“Yeah, Ro, you did.” Carrick couldn’t leave his position in the circle to cross to her, not with the spell incomplete, but he watched her as if he were afraid she would faint at any moment. “Can we restart from the top?”

Piper nodded and spoke the written spell from the top.

The high-pitching ringing started again, and Roisin grabbed her head a second time as the pain pierced the frontal lobe. She felt her lips moving but couldn’t hear the words she spoke. “Rochtain a cheadú doRonan.”

“You did it again.” Carrick was white-faced. Sweat beaded his brow and his body practically vibrated, making his desire to cross to her was obvious.

“That sonofabitch!” Piper’s expression turned livid. “He’s somehow brainwashed her to give him safe passage through our wards!”

Roisin was growing angry on her own behalf. “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“Ro, you’ve included a line in the spell to allow Ronan entry to our homes,” Cian said. He looked more concerned than upset. “You said, ‘Rochtain a cheadú doRonan.’”

“No! I wouldn’t do that!” She looked wildly around. “I wouldn’t!”

“Piper, end this.” Carrick never removed his furious stare from Roisin and appeared about to come out of his skin.

“Goddess hear our plea,

assist us in our time of need

and reverse the words we said unto thee.

As you will, so mote it be.”

The candles’ flames flared higher and extinguished on their own. Anxiety pounded in Roisin’s chest, and she wanted to physically stop Piper from talking. For the third time in as many minutes, the ringing in her ears became all consuming. This time, Roisin clenched her jaw and refused to speak. When the spell was finished, the noise in her head stopped. Drained, Roisin dropped to her knees, and Carrick dove toward her. He got there just as darkness claimed her.

CHAPTER17

“What do you want to do?” Piper asked.

Carrick didn’t know how to answer her; he had no easy solution. And as he stared down at his wife’s still visage, he wondered what the hell else Ronan had done to her. Had they made a mistake when they allowed the man to conduct the spell at the cottage? Had he woven an enchantment into it, like a hacker building a backdoor into a computer program?

It was possible Carrick’s writer’s imagination was getting the better of him, and he was seeing villains where none existed. However, Roisin had spoken Ronan’s name in conjunction with the words to give the man a free pass through their wards. She’d either been victim to Ronan’s magic, or she was in league with the guy.

“I don’t know,” he finally said in answer to Piper’s question. “Cian?”

His brother grimaced and shook his head. “She can’t be allowed to participate in any ceremonies, Brother. Not if a possible enemy has swayed her to his side.”

“He hasn’t,” Carrick said, positive in his heart of hearts Roisin was a victim. “She’d never betray us willingly.”

“Sure, and she might be doing this unwillingly, but either way, we can’t risk it, Carrick.”

“Yeah, I know.” Shifting his burden, he rose to his feet. “I’ll send down Hoyt and Bridget. Perhaps they can lend you the magic Roisin can’t.”

Piper nodded and shot a worried glance toward Cian.

“As soon as she wakes, we’ll go see the Aether. I’ll see if he can undo the damage Ronan has done,” Carrick said heavily. “She shouldn’t have to deal with one more thing.”

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