Page 28 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“And what have I said that has you upset, love?”

“Nothing. It’s not my business where you sleep.” Her tone impliedor with whom, and Eoin was oddly pleased by her show of jealousy. But was it an aftereffect of her singing? Two days ago, he wouldn’t have been pleased and probably would’ve caught the first train away from her. What had changed in such a short time?

“Besides, I have a place where I can probably go,” Brenna said.

“What place?” It registered with him thathewas the one who sounded jealous this time, but he’d believed Odessa was the only person she associated with. Perhaps he was an eejit to assume she didn’t have other people to care about her.

“Ronan O’Connor’s.”

Eoin stood so fast his chair slammed into the wall.“Are ya feckin’ having me on?”

“Not at all, and I’d thank you to mind your tone with me.”

He saw red. “I’ll not be mindin’ me tone when you’re ready to run off with Ronan Fucking O’Connor!”

Brenna stood, braced her hands on the table, and leaned forward, aqua eyes practically sparking flames with her irritation. “I’m not running off with him, and what I do—or don’t do—with Ronan is none of your business.”

“It fucking is!”

“It fucking isnot!” She jerked back and shook her head. “Oh, my! Why are we angry?”

Her question gave Eoin pause, and he noted the stunned faces of his siblings and Alastair’s thoughtful expression.Attention back on Brenna, Eoin shook his head. “I don’t know. That was weird, yeah?”

“Extremely. Like for a second, I was possessed. You?”

“The same,” Eoin replied grimly.

“If I had to guess, that’s exactly what happened to you.” Alastair set the other half of his scone on his plate with a heartfelt sigh. “There was an instant rage that washed over you both, and it felt foreign in nature.”

“What do we do?” Brenna asked, an edge of anger left in her tone. Eoin could understand why. He was feeling a might salty himself. Odessa’s manipulation tactics were unnerving.

“Nothing tonight. But I would suggest the two of you part company as quickly as possible. Whatever spell was cast is rapidly taking hold, and I’d be inclinednotto give it fuel for the fire.”

It went against Eoin’s nature to leave Brenna to her own devices, but he intended to entrust her well-being to his siblings. Bridget, Carrick, and Cian would see her cared for. It had to be enough.

“Mr. O’Malley, I’m going to suggest Brenna come stay at my estate until we have this spell neutralized. I think it’s safer for all parties involved.” Alastair’s comment was worded in such a way as to not be ignored. Yet Eoin wanted desperately to object to letting Brenna go. But for the primary reason that he didn’t know if his feelings were his own or some adverse effect of this bleedin’ spell, he nodded and abandoned the group.

Brenna foundherself back in the United States less than twenty-four hours after her first journey to Ireland. This time, she didn’t have an hours-long flight to sit and worry every detailof the trip in her mind. Teleportation was definitely the way to go, minus the odd warming sensation in her cells right before the jump from one place to the next. In less time than it took her to count to ten, she was standing in the garden outside Alastair Thorne’s estate.

Although the sun was setting, she could still see the perfectly sculpted topiaries and endless beds with their tulips, roses, and herbs. Farther back, she glimpsed the beginning of a maze with its box hedges.

“This looks like an English garden,” she breathed out in awe.

“My wife Aurora’s doing.” His smile rivaled the sun when he spoke his spouse’s name, and Brenna longed for the type of love they shared. All she’d ever wanted was someone to care for her like Alastair did his wife. “She’s English and is a bit of a plant snob.”

“Asnob? Really, darling, if anyone is the snob here, it’s you.” Aurora stepped into view, and Brenna had more than just relationship envy. The woman was stunning. Willowy and tall, with black hair shot through with sky-blue highlights that matched her brilliant eyes. Her hairstyle was a simple pixie cut and suited her classically beautiful face with high cheekbones.

“You knew she was there, didn’t you?” Brenna asked him.

“Yes. I can feel her the moment she appears. It’s like a pain in my left butt cheek.” He winked when he said it, and Brenna smiled at his teasing.

His wife’s laughter was throaty and surprising, coming from her thin frame. “The curse of an empath, I’m afraid.” She wound her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Are you another of Al’s strays, dear?”

“Strays?” Brenna felt sick to think she was viewed as a charity case.

“That sounded worse than I intended.” Aurora released Alastair and clasped both of Brenna’s hands in hers. “Apologies.I only meant to say he tends to bring home people with magical problems needing to be solved. I wasn’t implying you were anything less than lovely.”

It was difficult to be annoyed with someone so gracious, so Brenna let her hurt go. “I’m afraid I’m another of his ‘strays,’ in that case,” she said sheepishly. “I’m sorry for intruding.”

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