Page 26 of Whiskey & Witches

He sounded tired, and her heart, that ridiculous organ, turned over in sympathy. Really, she shouldn’t feel any. The three of them were responsible for Meg’s death and Aeden’s suffering, not to mention her own pain. Still, she got the impression he wasn’t as evil as the other two, just misguided.

“Thank you.” When he nodded and turned away, she touched his arm. “Ronan?”

He glanced down at her hand and froze, expressionless. Then, he raised his eyes to meet hers. She imagined she saw a softening, but in a blink, it was gone, leaving his visage granite hard.

“Be careful of Moira,” she said. “Her hatred of you is a living thing.”

His smile started slow, becoming wide and engaging, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “She’s no match for me, Roisin, but you’re spot on. She’s mad, to be sure.” Once again, he shifted to walk away, and again, he turned back as if a thought had occurred to him. “You’ve a witch among you with the power to stop Moira. Get Piper’s family involved if you must, but reinforce your wards, yeah?”

She nodded, and when he offered his hand, she placed hers within his, allowing him to escort her outside. They walked a ways down the lane, with him adjusting his long stride to accommodate her limping gait. By the time they reached the border of the property, her body was aching from head to toe.

“I’m sorry for your pain, Roisin.” He tucked one of her wild blond curls behind her ear and rested a hand on her shoulder. An electrical current went through her, and she had a moment’s fear.

She’d been a fool to let down her guard!

When he spoke again, his voice was soft and soothing. “Listen carefully. In the back of the O’Malley grimoire, there exists a healing spell. One Anu gifted Carrick’s family long ago. You’ll need more magic than you currently have, but it’s doable if you have the right people, all the same. It should help you and your son by restoring your health.”

The sincerity in his voice and the kind expression led her to believe it wasn’t a trick; he genuinely wanted to help. His face began to blur, and she struggled to focus. As she swayed, he brought his other hand up to keep her in place.

“What did you do to me?” She tried her damnedest not to panic.

“Nothing lasting.”

Her lids grew too heavy to hold open, and Ronan’s hypnotic voice drifted to her from far away. “Know this, Roisin Byrne-O’Malley; I don’t make war on women or children, and you’ve suffered long enough for a situation not of your making.” She felt a butterfly-soft touch on her brow, and his lips brushed the shell of her ear as he whispered, “You’ll forget my involvement in your abduction, remembering only Moira and Seamus. But you’ll look for the healing spell after you wake, and when you strengthen your wards, you will addrochtain a cheadú doRonan to the enchantment.”

“Rochtain a cheadú doRonan,” she repeated dutifully. Though why he’d need to pass through the wards if he intended no harm, she didn’t know, and her brain was too fuzzy to solve the puzzle.

“Think of your home, and I’ll send you there directly.”

“Home,” she whispered, picturing the one place she loved the most, the place she could be herself—her herb garden.

He brushed a hand over her forehead. “Slán abhaile, now.”

CHAPTER10

Carrick was out of his mind with worry. Roisin had disappeared, presumably taken by Seamus to an undisclosed location. An hour and a half later, Piper was still scrying, searching for any sign of Roisin.

Tucked in the corner of the sofa, Aeden hugged a pillow and fought to stay awake. The evidence of his tears was visible on his pale cheeks. How the boy managed to get dirty in the middle of the night was a mystery Carrick wouldn’t be solving anytime soon.

“Go to sleep, boyo. When you wake, we’ll have your mam back home where she belongs,” he told Aeden with a reassuring smile he didn’t feel.

“We found her!” Piper shouted and waved him over. Her excitement was contagious, and he smiled when she did. “She just appeared like a blip on a radar. She’s in her garden, curled up.”

Carrick peered into the mirror and shook his head. He’d checked her entire property and wouldn’t have missed her there. How she’d ended up where she was currently would be answered when he fetched her home. After a quick glance Aeden’s way, he faced Piper and lowered his voice. “Is she sleeping, or is she hurt, do you know?”

“I can’t tell from here, but there’s no one else around. That much I know.” She placed a hand on his forearm and squeezed. “I’ll go get her if you want to wait here with Aeden.”

“No. We don’t know if it’s safe, and I’ll not risk your life. Besides, you should be in your bed, resting. If anything happens to you or your babe, Cian will have my hide, he will.”

“Go,” she said with a light laugh. “I promise, it’s all good.” She stepped around him and held out her arms to Aeden. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s wash that face, or your mom will think I’ve let you roll in the dirt outside like a little piglet. I doubt that would faze her but for the fact it’s the middle of the night.”

Once Carrick saw Aeden was receptive to Piper’s cajoling, he left to retrieve Roisin.

The instant he saw his wife, he released all the pent-up fear he’d been holding. She was lost to him once, and he didn’t believe he could go through that soul-crushing agony again.

He lifted her sleeping form and strode to her cottage. Without a key, he kicked open the door, then settled her on the bed and bundled the covers around her chilled body. Carrick called her name softly as he stroked back her matted blond hair. “Time to wake for me, darlin’.”

There was movement behind her lids, but she slumbered on.

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