Page 74 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

“I don’t even know where I am!”

“Sullivan land.” Odessa approached and stared down at the ash at her feet. She kicked it. “The girl was a fool. Don’t waste a second mourning her.”

Shifting to kneel, Brenna glared up at her. “You and I are going to have a day of reckoning for what you did. It may not be today, but it will happen soon. Right now, I suggest you reverse any spells you’ve placed on me and go home. Hopefully, you recognize the error of your ways.”

For once, Odessa didn’t insult or try to order Brenna about. “I helped you keep your siren locked away.”

“No! No, Aunt Odessa, you didn’t. You practically keptmelocked away. I didn’t get a choice in the matter, did I?” Brenna glared her fury, still maintaining a modicum of vocal control.

“It was better that way.”

“You’re wrong. Friendships would have been nice. Maybe instruction on using my gifts.” She shook her head. “You can’t justify what you did. I’ll never believe it wasn’t to benefit you. Just go.”

Odessa simply teleported away with a dignified nod.

Narissa touched Brenna’s shoulder. “That was a mistake, honey. Leaving that mad cow to her own devices will end in another headache.”

“One I don’t want to deal with right now. I have to find Eoin.”

Ronan squatted in front of her. “Look, and we’re here to help you, Brenna.”

“Your concern is appreciated, Ronan, but I need a minute. I…” She looked down at the ash and shook her head. “It’s all new to me, this world. The senseless quest to always be ontop. The taking of another life.” She swallowed hard and willed herself not to cry for a hardened criminal she didn’t know. It was pointless. “Please go.”

With a nod and a wave of his hand for Narissa to precede him, they left.

She didn’t know how long she sat and attempted to formulate a worthwhile plan to find Eoin. Ronan or Narissa would have a better idea how to search for him, but she needed a little longer to firm her resolve and shore up her courage.

“Damn you, Reggie,” Brenna muttered as she viciously ripped out another patch of grass.

“Damn me? Now why would you do that, lovely?”

Heart in her throat, she twisted so quickly she flopped on her butt, scrambling back as she stared up at him in horror. He was, after all, a backstabbing sonofabitch and a liar to boot. And Brenna had stupidly sent away the only people who had her back.

“Why, my dear Brenna, you don’t look thrilled to see me.” Head cocked to one side, he smirked.

The desire to punch him in his smug fucking face overcame her, and she balled her hands into fists, barely managing to curb the impulse.

“You know I’m not. Where’s Eoin? What have you done with him?” Her voice cracked, but she wasn’t embarrassed by the raw emotion. She only regretted she couldn’t hide it from Reggie, because he’d likely take great pleasure in her pain.

“Ouch. That hurts.” He didn’t bother to conceal his amusement. “I brought you a present, Siren. Don’t you want to know what it is?”

Climbing to her feet, she lifted her chin and glared down the length of her nose, as she’d seen Alastair do. Hopefully, she could be at least half as intimidating as he was.

“No,” she snapped. “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, and all that.”

Hands deep in his pockets, he shifted to study the cottage and the surrounding area. His sharp-eyed gaze missed nothing of the antiquated home or the work it needed. “This place is dreary, darling. Not at all where you and Eoin should be spending your days.”

“We won’t be spending our days together, thanks to you and your uncle.” The venom eating her insides spilled over into her tone. “You took that away from us.”

“Did I?”

“You know you did. What I don’t understand is why. Eoin loved you like a brother, and you betrayed him.”

“Maybe I wanted him to love me as more than a brother. Did you ever think about that?”

She refused to let her heart soften in sympathy. “You don’t betray the ones you love, Reggie. Not if you truly care about them.”

“And what should I have done? Languish while he spends his life withyou?”

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