Page 26 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“Sure, and I’ve never heard so pure a sound.” Cian’s voice was filled with awe, and it was as if he found it difficult to stop staring at Brenna.UntilPiper pinched his nipple through his jumper. “Ouch! Now why would you go and do that, ya she-devil? I was admiring Brenna’s singin’, to be sure.”

“You were enthralled,” Piper snapped. “And if I ever see you look at another woman like that again, I’ll—” Horror flooded her face, and she turned to Alastair. “Why am I so vicious? That’s beyond pregnancy hormones and jealousy.”

“It’s the enchantment of her voice. Men will find her irresistible. Women will want to harm their men for that attraction.” Handing Brenna back her glasses, he gestured to the forgotten dough. “Mr. O’Malley, why don’t you put on the kettle and finish your scones while I explain?”

Brenna sat down,hard. Alastair’s proclamation running through her brain along with all her gran’s warnings.

“You can’t ever sing in public, my darling girl. As difficult as it will be when the urge hits, you must resist. Do you understand?”

“Why, Gran?” six-year-old Brenna had asked.

“It will cause more chaos than you can imagine. Promise me. No singing outside these walls.”

The urgency in her grandmother’s voice had stuck, and Brenna had kept her promise—for the most part. On occasion, she’d hum when a tune became too much to resist. What resulted were a few free drinks at the off-campus bar from nearby guys and surly looks from a few of the women closest to her. She never understood why the boys were attracted to her nerdy appearance.

In the great many years since Gran’s death, Brenna hadn’t wanted to sing. All the joy had left her life.

Until she’d met Eoin.

Now, Gran’s warning and Alastair’s pronouncement of her gift made perfect sense. One glimpse of Eoin’s starstruck reaction and Piper’s scowl was enough to cement the truth in her heart. She hadn’t needed to see anyone else’s response.

“Gran said I wasn’t to sing in public,” she said softly, dazed by what her gift could mean to those around her. “She said it will cause more chaos than I can imagine. I didn’t know what she meant at the time.”

Sitting down beside her, Alastair folded his hands in front of him, as if trying desperately not to reach for her. His tone was kind when he spoke. “Perhaps your grandmother was trying to protect you, child. An ability like yours… she was correct. Itwillcause upheaval.”

“But I don’t even know what the ability is. Other than anger Piper, what did I do?”

“Your voice enchants. It’s your ability to weave a spell and have men do your bidding in all ways.”

“You said Aunt Odessa was a Succubus. How are we different?”

“Sirens who give into the urge to steal another’s magic, usually freely offered after hearing one sing, become demon-like in their quest to obtain more and more power.”

Brenna didn’t understand the stealing of magic. “How does that happen? How does one steal another’s power?”

“A Siren can absorb another’s power during sexual intercourse. It’s rumored—and here I haven’t met one prior to you—that during the act, a Siren sings, and when both parties peak, the transfer of power happens.”

She slouched back, shell-shocked and flustered by what she’d learned. “How do I get rid of it? This ability?”

“I don’t know that you can, my dear. But you can follow your grandmother’s advice to the letter.”

Deep inside, she acknowledged the truth of his words. All the past conversations along with the current circumstances merged, and everything clicked into place. Not only did she need to get as far away from Eoin as she could, she needed to have her vocal cords removed so she wouldn’t damn another to a magic-less existence.

“Does it hurt them? The loss of power?” The need to make up for her aunt’s evil behavior began to build inside her, takingresidence in her brainbox and refusing to budge. “It’s what Aunt Odessa has done, isn’t it?”

“I couldn’t say with one-hundred-percent certainty,” Alastair admitted. “And yes, the removal of magic from one’s DNA is painful. But I don’t know the long-term ramifications of what she’s been doing, if that’s what shehasbeen doing, mind you.”

But Brenna knew.

“Why would she have created a spell to make my skin burn the way it does?”

“It appears she wants to keep you away from Mr. O’Malley. That might be her misguided way of saving you both. Preventing you from giving in to the natural desires of a Siren.”

Brenna nodded. In an odd way, it made sense. But Odessa hadn’t been caring of her in the past.

“I need to leave here,” she whispered. The decision to get as far away from Eoin and his family was an easy one. They’d been kind to her. The least she could do was leave and not bring her unexpected brand of trouble to their door.

“No, youneedto find an antidote for the spell first, and you could use your young man’s assistance. Otherwise, you won’t know if it’s directed solely at him or if it might affect anyone you come to care about in the future.”

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