Page 62 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

A wry smile kicked up one side of Narissa’s mouth. “Maybe you do understand.” She gestured to Eoin with her thumb over her shoulder. “You know you have to let him go.”

“I tried. But he’s a bit like a tick. He sticks.”

Her aunt laughed. “I suppose you could’ve picked someone a lot worse than Eoin O’Malley for a beau. The man is as yummy as hot cakes with blueberry syrup.”

“Your accent, is it for real?”

“Mostly. Spend close to twenty years in the Deep South and you pick up their speech patterns pretty quickly.”

Brenna assumed she’d done it to blend in with the locals. There was no easier way to hide than in plain sight. With a tentative smile for Narissa, she faced Damian. “Since you summoned my aunt here so we don’t need to go the cat-in-heat route, how is she supposed to help?”

“Her claws are the only other thing able to pierce another Siren’s skin,” he told her simply. “I need her to transform.”

“Say what?” Brenna looked between them. “Transform? To what?”

“Mama would warn against giving your blood away, honey. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“According to Damian, Gran’s the one who instructed him on the way the amulet should be made.”

With a grim expression, Narissa walked to the center of the room. “You may want to clear some of these fancy pieces before I turn.”

A single elegant wave of the Aether’s hand moved the furniture to rest against the interior walls. “I’ll need to bind your vocal cords first, Narissa. You’re too powerful otherwise.”

“You think I’d dare seduce y’all while under the Siren’s charge?” Narissa’s laughter was bitter. “I spent my entire life keeping my natural instincts at bay. I can promise you it’s not likely I’ll give in to the urge tonight.”

“Nevertheless, the combined magic in this room is likely greater than any previous temptation you’ve experienced.”

“True enough, sugar. Carry on with your bindin’ spell.”

He stepped in front of her and closed his hands around her neck, and for one heart-pounding second, he looked to be strangling her. Brenna started forward, only to be stopped by Spring.

“He’s got this, Brenna. Damian knows what he’s doing.”

“Sing for me, Narissa.”

Brenna opened her mouth, but closed it as quickly, realizing he meant her aunt.

The melody spilling from Narissa’s lips called to Brenna’s Siren, and she trilled inside her, struggling against Brenna’s hold. She locked gazes with Narissa, and the subtle warning was there. Her look urged caution and told Brenna to keep her other self contained.

A strangled sound cut off Narissa’s song, and she touched a hand to her throat in horrified wonder. Her mouth moved, but no words emerged.

“I promise to restore your gift.After.” Damian backed away. “Please continue.”

Lips compressed, she gave him a solemn, respectful nod and closed her eyes.

CHAPTER 24

Narissa’s transformation was horrifying and fantastical at the same time. Her skin shimmered before taking on an iridescent glow many women tried to achieve with makeup and glimmering highlighters. Her already long, bouncy curls came to life and swirled around her as the thick locks grew in length and encircled her body. The rich aqua color of her irises turned lighter and took on shades of lavender and green. The new, colorful swirling was barely discernible but continuous. The overall effect made it seem as if her eyes pulsed with new light. Her full lips darkened to a seductive berry red.

But it was the wings that shocked Eoin to hell and back. They tore through the back of her dress, appearing from her shoulder blades and expanding in size until they spanned a ten-foot width, and even then, they didn’t appear to be fully extended. The wings themselves were a pearlized translucent, and the indigo veining running through each fold contained a faint pulsating light. As added appendages went, they were breathtaking and unreal.

Eoin looked at Brenna, but her gaze was locked on her aunt in wide-eyed wonder. Her expression was frozen in her surprise, with her mouth slightly agape. Did she realizeshecould do this with the proper instruction? Oddly, the idea of her transformation into a different creature didn’t turn him off. Contrarily, it fueled his artistic drive to see and draw her this way by candlelight. She’d be ethereal and magnificent in the nude with her wings used as burlesque fans, hinting at what lay underneath.

When Brenna finally turned her head in his direction, her relief came through their bond. She’d correctly read that he wasn’t repulsed by what she had the potential to do but, instead, was intrigued by what could be.

He grinned and winked, prompting her answering smile.

They broke eye contact when Spring squealed excitedly.

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