Page 69 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“And you gave it.” It wasn’t a question.

With a small nod of acknowledgment, Reggie confirmed Ronan’s accurate guess. “But not against you, scamp. Against Odessa and, ultimately, Brenna.”

Eoin shifted to stand in front of her, effectively blocking her from Reggie’s view. “Why Brenna?”

“Her Siren’s magic. She’s got more power than any of you can imagine, and Loman wants it, along with that of her aunt’s.”

Brenna’s outrage sparked in Eoin’s mind like a live wire, and he reached back to clasp her hand.

“You can go back and report to him that ya failed, Reg. Brenna won’t be part of your war with my family.”

A cold, cruel smile curled Reggie’s lips. “There you’re mistaken, my dear scamp. She showed up on Loman’s radar, which places her firmly on the front lines of the battlefield.”

The smugness rankled, and blinded by rage, Eoin charged with no thought to his safety.

“O’Malley, no!”

Ronan’s warning came too late. Eoin had crossed the line of protection. In a move that would do martial arts instructors everywhere proud, Reggie had gripped him by the throat and pressed the tip of a blade to his artery. Cian would never let Eoin live this one down.Ifhe survived the night.

“I can tell by the fact you and your little mouse are able to touch again that Odessa’s spell was neutralized,” Reggie said, a sneer in his tone. “Shame that. I’m the one who gave her the idea.”

Black rolling clouds gathered overhead, and a bolt of lightning illuminated the twilight sky, branching out in all directions.

Ronan frowned and shot a look at Brenna over his shoulder. And when Eoin met her stormy eyes, his heart dropped to his big toe. Reggie had inadvertently woken her Siren, and the creature was out for blood.

Her skin took on a luminescent glow, and her thick mane of hair came to life on the air’s current. The more the wind blew, the wilder the strands fluttered, turning Medusa-like in nature. Brenna’s hips rolled in a mouthwateringly seductive dance as she sauntered to the edge of the circle, growing taller and curvier as she approached. The stitching of her clothes couldn’t take the pressure and gave way in random areas, providing tantalizing glimpses of what lay underneath. A creamy thigh here, a side view of her luscious full breasts there. She was splendid in her creature form, but Eoin wanted to cover her up and save her all for himself to slowly unwrap later.

“Let him go, Reggie, and I’ll allow you to live.”

The tip of the knife dipped to rest at the base of Eoin’s Adam’s apple, and he didn’t dare swallow, or his blood would flow.

“Not a little mouse now, Reg,” Ronan said with a spiteful laugh. “I’d say she’s turned into an apex predator ready to rip your feckin’ head from your shoulders, she has.”

Hands clapped, catching the notice of their small group.

Loman O’Connor stepped into view. “Magnificent!”

Eoin gripped Reggie’s wrist, preparing to break it and get to Brenna before the newest threat.

“Play along, scamp,” Reggie murmured.

The urgency in his tone pierced Eoin’s panic. “What the feck is happening, Reg?” he whispered.

“I’m trying to save your life, darling boy. Now kindly shut the fuck up.”

“And what about Brenna’s and Ronan’s lives?” Eoin hissed, terrified in a way he had never been before. If anything happened to her, he’d be soulless and his world void of any color.

“I’m afraid they’re on their own,” Reggie said regretfully. “But look at the bright side, Loman’s power is little in comparison to that of a combined Siren and Guardian.”

Eoin’s cells warmed to burning, and he released a guttural yell in protest. When he opened his eyes, he was in his New York apartment, and his amulet was dangling from Reggie’s hand. As he reached for it, he noticed a shiny new bracelet on his wrist.

“What’s this, then?”

“Call it a temporary leash. You’ll be unable to use your magic to teleport back to Brenna until this is done.”

With a roar of rage, he launched himself at Reggie, only to smack against an invisible barrier of sorts.

“Sorry, scamp. You’ll thank me when the Siren’s influence wears off.”

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