Page 75 of Cocktails & Cauldrons

Instantaneous rage blurred her vision. His unkind words were unfair, and Brenna was tired of being made to feel worthless. Blinking rapidly, she backed up a step until her mind was once again clear. She couldn’t be at a disadvantage and needed to be alert to his smallest move. “What is wrong with being happy for him? If you truly loved him, you’d want the best for him.”

“And you think you’re what’s best for him, Brenna, dear? A Siren able to steal his power and render him a blubbering, broken man? Or possibly a dead one?” Anger settled on his sharp, pretty features, but it didn’t detract from his handsomeness. It added to his appeal, painting him the tragic figure looking out for his friend.

“I don’t know. But I’d have liked a chance to try.” Her voice broke, and why shouldn’t it? It was as shattered as the rest of her. “Why are you here? To finish what you started? To break Eoin completely?”

He shrugged coldly. “Perhaps.”

“You won’t. Even if you find a way to kill me—and good luck there, mister!—he won’t be broken.”

“Mmm, there you’re wrong, Siren. Your death will completely destroy him.”

“No. He’s stronger than you and me combined, Reggie. I promise you that.”

He tilted his head and studied her with new eyes. “You’ve come into your own, haven’t you? Between Alastair Thorne, the O’Malleys, and Damian Dethridge, you’ve matured and grown a thicker skin. It’s becoming.”

She snorted. “I’ve always had to have a thick skin. I lived with your bosom buddy Odessa for the better part of my life.”

“She’s no friend of mine. Neither was Moira. Good riddance, there.”

It occurred to Brenna that he’d somehow watched the action in play. She made a mental note to ask Narissa how such things were done.

Reggie strolled to an abandoned herb patch growing wild with weeds. He drew up his slacks and squatted, then fingered the tip of one plant stalk, pinching a sprig off and rolling it between his fingers. “Rosemary represents love and fidelity. Did you know that?”

“No. Where are you going with this, Encyclopedia Brown?”

He chuckled. “I think it’s fitting, is all.”

Rising, he returned to her side and held out the sprig, and Brenna instinctively accepted it. “Because we’re discussing Eoin?”

“Yes. And because I believe you’ll love him the way he deserves. Better than I ever could.”

Unable to comprehend what he was telling her, she remained silent. The way he spoke made it seem like he had no intention of harming her, but his every action until that moment had been designed to hurt.

Reggie reached into his pocket and drew out Eoin’s necklace. “Creating this was a foolish move, little Siren.”

Her stomach plummeted into the ground at her feet. “How so?”

When she didn’t take it, he lifted the amulet with his opposite hand and studied the crystalized blood at the disc’s center as if it were the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen. She recognized the act for what it was. A pause to create drama. Reggie liked nothing if not delivering crushing news with a flare.

She waited him out.

“Do you know what a talented practitioner such as myself could do with one drop of your blood, darling?” When his eyes met hers, he lifted a brow in challenge. “With one drop, I can enthrall you. Have you do whatever I command.” Placing his index finger over his mouth, he slowly tapped as if in deep thought. “Say, kill the entire O’Malley clan.”

She shook her head. Horrified by the thought and knowing it was true. He really had the ability to control her with the weapon he possessed.

He dropped his arm and pinned her with a hard stare. “And you could, couldn’t you? You’re that powerful.”

“I wouldn’t. You couldn’t make me do something so horrendous.”

“Don’t be naive, little Siren. With this, I could rule the world.” Resembling a hypnotist on stage, he waved it back and forth.

Brenna waited for him to say something asinine like, “You’re getting very sleepy.” The darkest part of her soul laughed at her inappropriate humor while the part desiring to preserve the O’Malleys’ lives struggled to find a way out of her current predicament.

“You’re wrong, Reggie. I’d never hurt them. I’d find a way to off myself before I ever harmed one hair on Eoin’s head or that of his family.” Although her voice was jam-packed with conviction, inside she was dying a thousand deaths. If he could truly command her, she’d have no choice.

And for the first time as she thought about using her voice to kill him and stop their ridiculous cat-and-mouse game, she had a clear understanding why Damian had effected Moira’s demise. Brenna would absolutely end Reggie’s life to save Eoin.

His sudden sunny smile stunned her.

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