Page 50 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

The Aether’s expression cleared. “Then you didn’t do it.”

Her shoulders sagged as she pressed a hand to her abdomen and took huge gulping breaths, relieved she’d not inadvertently murdered anyone. “How can you be sure?”

“Had your Siren drained him dry, he’d have died within twenty-four hours. And if he was left alive and was pining away for you, it would’ve taken him much longer. Besides, you didn’t turn into a Succubus, so there was no intent.”

“Wait! Back up.Pining away for me?What the heck does that mean? Men can pine away for a woman? That’s a real thing?”

“It is for you.”

Brenna scoffed. “Trust me, no man has ever pined away for me. Until tonight, I was an ugly-ass duckling with no pining prospects.”

Damian’s lips quirked, but he did her the courtesy of not laughing in her face. “Well, you’re a stunner now, Brenna Sullivan. Have a look.”

He withdrew a black velvet cloth from a wall mirror, and she nearly choked when she saw her reflection. The others had told her about her transformation, but she hadn’t had time to check herself out. It had seemed odd to her that Alastair didn’t have any mirrors in the main rooms of his home, but she’d just assumed he wasn’t given to vanity. It occurred to her now that the Aether had none in his main rooms either.

“What is with the lack of mirrors in your home, and why do you keep this one covered?”

“Protection. To avoid letting others have a window into my inner sanctum.”

“Another witch can use your mirror to see you?” And really, why was she surprised? By now, nothing should shock her.

“With the proper spell and a whole lot of power, they could. Not many are that strong, but why take the chance?”

That she could understand. The less opportunity for failure, the better. “Gran used to say, ‘set yourself up for success, Brenna.’”

“Your gran was wise beyond her years,” he said warmly.

“You loved her. I can feel it.”

“I did. But she loved another.”

Brenna scoffed. “I findthathard to believe. Who wouldn’t pick you if they could?”

He laughed. “You’re wonderful for my ego.”

“Like that needs stroking. Look atyourselfin that mirror, Mr. Dethridge.”

Moving to stand beside her, he didn’t look at himself, but at her. “I don’t see what others see, Brenna. I see the inner soul, and mine’s not clean. That’s my gift and my curse.”

“But you said I was a stunner.”

“I did, and so you are. I should clarify.” He tapped his index finger on the mirror and began to trace her outline. The image reflected back at her transformed, showing one woman superimposed on another. Both were freaking gorgeous.

“Who is the other woman?”

“You are. That’s your inner self. And before you ask, not your Siren.You.”

“That’s what you see?”

“Yes.”

“But not if I was evil?”

“No. That inner self would be a lot less attractive, and depending on the level of darkness, flat-out hideous.”

She shook her head in wonder. “So all that growly talk just now, that was posturing on your part, to scare me into doing the right thing?”

He grinned, and Brenna caught her breath.

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