Page 67 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“We can only assume he will,” Piper said. “I’ll call my dad and get the rest of my family on alert.”

“Sure, and Alastair knows. He was at the Dethridge estate with us,” Eoin informed her. “The man doesn’t strike me as someone who lets grass grow under his feet. I’d bet my next commission he’s already taking precautions and informin’ the others.”

Piper smiled at him. “You seem to understand Alastair well.”

“I’ve seen the man in action, and only a feckin’ eejit would pick a fight with so fierce an opponent.”

Bridget placed her hand overtop of Eoin’s. “Have ya told Dubheasa yet?”

“No.” And he felt shame that he’d forgotten all about her and her problems. Drawing his phone from his pocket, he connected to the inn’s Wi-Fi and then dialed her through the FaceTime app. When she picked up, he shifted his cell to show her there were others present. “Look, and we have a problem.” He detailed what he’d learned at the Aether’s home and finished with, “You need to have a care, Dubheasa. You should be strengthenin’ the wards on your flat the second we are off the phone, yeah?”

There was a long pause on the other end. Her voice was troubled when she asked, “Have ya told Ronan?”

“No, not yet. He’ll be the next call I make. Do you want to tell him, then?”

Again, she hesitated. “No. You’ll do well to do it. I’ll call GiGi and see what she can teach me by way of spells to keep this place secure.”

“You can come home,” Bridget said over Eoin’s shoulder. “We miss ya, love.”

“I’ll be home on holiday for the winter solstice, and I’m planning to stay a while.” Dubheasa gave them a tight smile. “Don’t worry about me, yeah? But stay in touch, and tell me when Loman O’Connor is gone for good.”

After they disconnected, Eoin used Ruairí’s phone and placed a call to Ronan. He could swear he heard thunder boomand felt the inn shake the instant he delivered the news that Loman had returned to the land of the living.

“Where’s Dubheasa?” Ronan demanded. “Look, and she needs to be with the rest of you so I can protect her… er, all of you.”

Eoin almost laughed at the slip. He likely would’ve if the idea of Ronan and Dubheasa as a couple didn’t make bile churn in his stomach. “She’s off to seek the help of the Thornes.”

Ronan had a few choice words for her independence, yet he had no choice but to let it go. “I’ll teleport to the alley behind the inn in one minute. Prepare to lower the wards for my entry, O’Malley. And I better find you’ve been treatin’ Brenna like a fecking princess, yeah? The girl doesn’t deserve to be shagged and abandoned for her troubles.”

“Feck off!” Eoin took umbrage with Ronan’s arrogance.

“Sure, and I’ve gotten your back up, yeah? Grand. You’ve told me what I needed to know, then.” There was amusement in Ronan’s cool tone, as if he’d received the response he wanted. “One minute, O’Malley. Be ready to put your wards back up after I’m in.”

The line clicked as Ronan disconnected.

“The fecking king has spoken,” Eoin muttered as he handed the phone back to Ruairí. “I’ve a need to check on Brenna. Show that scut in, yeah?”

CHAPTER 26

After checking and discovering Brenna sleeping, Eoin returned downstairs to find Ronan sipping tea and devouring Bridget’s scones. Roisin was chatting happily away with the man and laughing at whatever he had to say, much to Carrick’s irritation and Cian’s amusement.

“I see you like to make yourself at home wherever ya go, O’Connor. Collect other men’s women, too,” Eoin said.

Ronan grinned, and Eoin could’ve sworn he heard the three women present sigh in response. It was a damned good thing Brenna wasn’t party to this hen-fest, or his frayed temper would snap. The amusement disappeared from Ronan’s eyes as he addressed the issue at hand.

“I don’t know how Loman could be back. Castor and Damian were present when he was killed.” He rubbed the back of his neck, expression grim. “Does the Aether have any reason for his return? Is it possible Moira performed some black-magic spell to revive him?”

“None of us went into detail while we were there.” Eoin plucked a scone off the plate and added jam and clotted cream. “Look, and we were too busy dealin’ with curing Brenna of the curse plaguing her.”

Straightening from his casual, half-slouched position, Ronan set down his teacup. “What curse?” The fierce anger in his voice made Eoin wonder if perhaps he hadn’t been the only one to see beyond Brenna’s disguise and appreciate what he saw. Or maybe Ronan O’Connor had a gentler side to him than any of them imagined.

Eoin spent the next few minutes explaining the situation and answering everyone’s questions regarding what he’d learned about Sirens and their darker counterparts. “Odessa is dangerous and poses an additional threat to our family.”

“Jaysus,” Cian muttered. “We caught a glimpse when Brenna sang, but holy hell.”

“That’s not all, to be sure. My best mate, Reggie, called and wants to meet me at half past.” Eoin nodded to the wall clock. “And for reasons all his own, he would like you there, O’Connor.”

“Me?” Ronan frowned. “How does your friend…” A thoughtful look passed over his countenance before he carefully blanked his expression. “Reggie, you say?”

---