Page 19 of Wine & Warlocks

Trevor nodded. “Something like that. The other Guardian’s name is Draven Masters. Last I heard, he was somewhere down in New Orleans, in the States, dodging his responsibilities and picking fights over card tables.”

As he mulled over the idea of seeking out Draven, Ronan gave in to the temptation to curl one of Dubheasa’s dark locks around his finger, taking pleasure in the silky feel of her hair on his skin. If she noticed or minded, she didn’t care enough to say.

“If he’s in hiding, how do we find him?” she asked.

“His best friend,” Trevor replied with a grin.

“And that would be?”

“Me.”

Ronan chuckled when Dubheasa blew out an exasperated breath. “Ya had to know that’s what he was about when he mentioned the man to begin with, love.”

“He dances around a subject same as you.” Her pert reply made them laugh. In a move that surprised Ronan, she gave him a quick kiss on the mouth before turning back toward Trevor. “Who else did you have in mind for this little party, then?”

Meeting Trevor’s amused gaze, Ronan grinned. “Is it any wonder why she’s stolen my heart?”

“None at all, friend. I’m just sorry you saw her first.”

“Quit with your male bonding, and let’s get back to business,” she scolded. But a smile teased her tempting lips, and Ronan wanted nothing more than to tell Trevor to feck off so he could take Dubheasa to bed.

As if he knew exactly where Ronan’s thoughts had wandered, Trevor snorted and shook his head, then answered Dubheasa’s question. “There are a few. I could approach them on the down-low and hope like hell the Authority doesn’t get wind of it. Begging forgiveness is easier than getting their permission.”

“They wouldn’t approve additional help?” Ronan asked, more than a little concerned about angering the ultimate judge and jury of all mankind. “And why not, if Loman’s second escape from the Otherworld’s holding area is creating a hole in the veil between dimensions? Sure, and it’s in their best interests too, yeah?”

“One would think.” Trevor shook his head. “But they are a mercurial bunch.”

“That’s just feckin’ grand,” Ronan muttered as he released Dubheasa’s hair and climbed to his feet. “Let’s get started.”

Rising, Trevor stretched his back and gave them a tight smile. “You two get some sleep, and I’ll send a few texts. We’ll meet back here in the morning. Say” —he glanced at his watch— “six hours from now?”

“Aye.” Ronan gestured to the door. “You leaving that way or teleporting as ya did before?”

Trevor strode out of the room, then turned, purposefully shoving the door wider and flaring his eyes. “To clarify, sleep isn’t code for sex.”

“Feck off,” Ronan said with a hand gesture to back up his comment.

The other man’s low laugh made him smile in response. Now that Trevor understood Dubheasa was hands-off, Ronan liked him a lot better.

“I don’t think we should pull in anyone else, Ronan.”

He faced Dubheasa and lifted a brow in question.

Her frown deepened as she shook her head. “You heard what he said. The Authority is ‘a mercurial bunch.’ That worries me.”

“We’ll not do a thing without their permission, love. I promise. Now, come to bed and be my cuddle toy. I need a few hours sleep.” He punctuated his statement with a yawn.

“If I climb under those covers, the last thing we’ll be doing is cuddlin’.” She stood and approached him, rising on her tiptoes to give him a light, lingering kiss. “If tomorrow wasn’t so important, I’d join ya in that oversized bed of yours.”

Ronan rested his forehead against hers and sighed. “I really hate me da.”

She snorted and patted his chest. “He’s a right proper gobshite, he is. When the time comes, you’ll kick his arse for the both of us, yeah?”

“Count on it.”

“Grand. Now let’s fix Bridget’s wardrobe, or it’s likelyshe’llkickyourarse.”

CHAPTER9

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