Page 40 of Whiskey & Witches

“I fell in love with the ceremony room the moment I saw it,” Piper said, as Roisin ran her hand under the lowest shelf in search of the lever to open the secret door. “Hidden behind a bookcase! How freaking cool is that?”

Roisin smiled as the door swung outward. “Sure, and it was the same for me. I was excited by the discovery the first time Carrick showed it to me, and I practically lived down here for the first months after.”

As they traversed down the stairs, the lights flared to life, illuminating the way. And as they entered the cavernous chamber under the inn, the wall sconces flared, and the dancing flame revealed a ten-foot-wide pentacle on the stone floor. The moment the two of them stepped into the circle, the runes on the altar’s wooden base woke and pulsed with a low light.

“It awes me every time I see this,” Piper said with a light laugh. “It’s like this house is alive.”

“I’ve always thought so.”

“It makes sense since it’s on a ley line.”

They worked quietly together; Roisin setting the candles on the exterior points of the pentacle as Piper thumbed through the O’Malley grimoire to find the spell needed to protect the combined estates.

“It’s difficult to believe you were able to open that bleeding thing. I’ve only known it to wake once when we were looking for one of Granny O’Malley’s recipes for brew.” Roisin shook her head in wonder.

“I believe it was because of the prophecy.” Piper shrugged and continued to peruse the pages. “We never tried it, but I’d lay odds Aeden could open it now since his is the next line of the riddle.”

Roisin joined Piper at the altar. She’d not given much thought to the prophecy other than Piper and Cian’s part. “Who do you think the One is going to be?”

“You? Carrick? Not sure, but it will be someone he cares about.” She paused to consider. “We know the first section was for Cian and me. We know the second is for Aeden, as the only blond son born into the O’Malley family. And we know the third section probably pertains to Bridget and Ruairí O’Connor. Those two can’t keep their eyes off each other, even though she still considers him the enemy.”

“So if we are to base it on acts of love, it would need to be someone Aeden cared for more than his own life,” Roisin concluded with a frown. “If that is the case, it’s likely Carrick or myself. He doesn’t know anyone outside our family.” She hated the idea of her son putting himself in danger’s path for any of them. When it came down to it, she’d rather sacrifice her life for Aeden’s or Carrick’s, and without question, her husband would feel the same way. “It’s always been my understanding that prophecies can’t be stopped once in motion. Can they?”

“I don’t believe so, no.”

Her heart hurt to think about it, but the more she did, the more the answer became clear. She’d beg the Aether to step in to protect her son. Like Carrick, she’d sell her soul to the very Devil if it meant keeping her family safe.

“Let’s boost these wards and worry about it after,” Piper said softly. “The rest we’ll figure out as we go along.”

“What if I can’t save him?” Roisin asked hoarsely. “Everything Carrick and I did has been for Aeden’s sake. I stayed away, believing someone was targeting me,” she confessed to what she’d never told anyone.

Piper jerked in place, and her eyes flew wide. “Carrick never told me.”

“He doesn’t know. I kept it to myself.” She focused on the floor at her feet. “I have shadowy memories of the accident. Of Seamus in the road, and then a stranger saving us. But I still can’t remember it all.” She met Piper’s concerned gaze. “What if I’ve wasted time I could’ve spent with Aeden, and I lose him anyway?”

Her throat was raw and achy with the tears she refused to cry. She had to firm her resolve. Had to be stronger and smarter than she’d been until now.

“You won’t, Roisin. I promise you, you won’t. My family will be on call, and we’ll never let Aeden out of our sight. Fuck this prophecy. That precious boy is too important to us all.”

Piper’s fierceness helped to ease the building dread, and Roisin impulsively hugged her. “Thank you for taking care of him when I couldn’t. Here, I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay.”

“He’s easy to love, Roisin. He’s such a wonderful little boy.”

Pulling back, she inhaled and exhaled a cleansing breath. “He’s a gift from the Goddess.” Glancing down at the grimoire, Roisin noticed it was glowing brightly. “Is that normal when you’re around?”

“It is when I connect with anyone in this family. When Cian and I touch it together, the light can be blinding. It’s more muted for just me.” Piper grinned and bumped her shoulder against Roisin’s. “I guess our newly formed friendship makes it happy.”

“Then it’s glad I am that you like me,” she replied with a warm smile. “And I’m grateful you don’t think I’m a toe rag for staying away from my son this long.”

“You had your reasons, Roisin. It’s not for me to judge what you did for the love of your child.”

“I don’t think Cian could’ve chosen a more perfect partner, Piper Thorne.”

“I agree. Piper is the moon to me stars,” Cian said from behind them.

They spun around and found him sprawled on the bottom step, legs straight out in front of him and ankles crossed as he leaned back on his elbows. A wide grin took up half his striking face.

Thickening his accent, he added, “Me lucky charm, to be sure.”

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