Page 49 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

With a jerky nod, she blinked back the tears forming in her exquisite eyes. “If that should ever happen, the temptation part, I want you to stop me in any way you can. I couldn’t bear it if I hurt Eoin.”

She’d said exactly what Damian hoped she would. “Good. Now, come and let me show you what I have for you.”

CHAPTER 20

As soon as Damian turned his back to Brenna, she pinched her sweater away from her chest, pumping the material to create a breeze to cool the perspiration on her skin. The man was fearsome. His entire being screameddangerous, and Brenna was intelligent enough to sit up and take notice. Her Siren was, too. The two of them made a silent pact to never get on this guy’s bad side if they could help it.

Lights flared to life the second Damian crossed the threshold of his private ceremony room, and as Brenna entered, she inhaled deeply. The temptation was too great not to. The magic in the air, both past and present, was a heady sensation, and she closed her eyes in ecstasy as wave after wave of power washed over her.

“What is this?” she asked in a husky, hushed voice. “It’s, for lack of a better word, orgasmic.”

“Isn’t it?” His amused tone caused her lids to snap open.

“You brought me here to do what, exactly?”

“Experience your grandmother’s magic. What you’re feeling, or most of it, is from her. At any time, you can channel your ancestors without needing a room like this or a protective circle.”

“That’s what Spring told me earlier.” Brenna stared, astounded. “I can’t believe any of this is real. All this power belongs to me?”

“In a way. It’s always available should you need it. And I’m going to show you how to tap into it.”

Excited for the first time in forever, she pressed her hands to her chest to keep her pounding heart inside. “Are you sure I’m not dreaming? Like, should I pinch myself?”

He laughed. “Not in the least.”

“You have this much magic all on your own, always, don’t you?”

“I do.” A shuttered look fell across his face. “But I’ve had over two hundred years to learn to use it, Brenna. You, on the other hand, need to learn moderation lest the Siren get the upper hand.”

“You told me I could control her.”

“And you can, but you can never truly let your guard down with her around this.” He waved his hand to encompass the room. “Remember, she’s a thief. She’ll steal magic, love, and life, if she can.”

“Life?” Dread made her sick to her stomach. She thought of Parker. “How can she steal life?”

He narrowed his dark eyes. “You know I can tune in to your thoughts, don’t you?”

She nodded, trying desperately to keep her mind blank. But the harder she tried, the more she failed, and thoughts of her former boyfriend’s death flooded her mind.

“Who was Parker Harris?” Damian’s question was flat and ominous in its delivery.

“A boy I knew in college. We only went out for six weeks.”

“And?”

She swallowed down her uncomfortableness and strove for honesty. “It culminated in a one-night stand.”

“And he died.”

She gave a single nod of confirmation, though she doubted she needed to.

“By you.”

“I didn’t think so at the time,” she croaked. “I was told it was an aneurism.”

“And how long after sex did this ‘aneurism’ take place?”

“A week.”

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