Page 55 of Wine & Warlocks

Nothing happened immediately, so he sat and waited. The deities had their own timetable, and being a fickle lot, they wouldn’t be rushed. As the late morning melded into early afternoon, he laid back, tucked his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes. He could give her thirty minutes longer, but then he’d have to consult with Ruairí and his attorney. Over the last twenty years, Ronan had amassed a sizable fortune, and on the off chance he didn’t survive the confrontation with his father, he intended to secure Dubheasa’s future and that of his cousins.

A flare of emerald light split the sky as the ground beneath Ronan rumbled.

The Goddess had arrived.

Shifting positions, Ronan knelt at her feet and bowed his head. Only when she bade him to rise did he look up. No more than an inch or two over five feet, she possessed enough curves to make a man take note. Her hair was a waterfall of thick red, corkscrew curls that brushed her tiny waist. Alabaster skin was set off by the rich jewel-toned dress she wore. A gold chain woven with Celtic knots looped over her hips and dangled down to one knee. Other than a gold bracelet with ogham etchings, it was the only ornamentation.

But it was her bare, polished toes that made Ronan smile.

“Exalted One.”

“Beloved.” She lifted a brow and stared down at him. “What amuses you so?”

He gestured to her feet. “Your love of human cosmetics is fecking adorable.”

“Does your mate not wear polish?” she asked curiously.

“Aye, she does, but in purple or red, not pale pink.”

“Ronan O’Connor, you didn’t summon me to discuss toes, I’ll wager. Again, I bid you to rise.”

Having no desire to waste her time, he did as commanded and kissed the knuckles of the hand she offered.

“What is it you wish to know, Beloved?”

“Fintan Sullivan proposes to bind my abilities along with those of Dubheasa. I need to know the why of it.”

“And why haven’t you asked him?”

“Because I suspect he’ll not tell me what he’s about. Can the Seer be trusted?”

“Yes. Though not as strong as the Aether’s daughter, Fintan can see the true path. If he has suggested your powers be bound, it’s to protect the future outcome of your skirmish with Loman.”

Ronan wanted to tell her he was useless without his magic, but she probably already knew that. “I don’t know how to beat him. I never have,” he confessed.

Her expression softened. “You have friends for that, Ronan. Trust them to do the right thing.”

“You and Isis encouraged me to take on the role of Guardian to find my mate. Now I’ve found her, I fear losing her just as fast.”

“Life holds no guarantees. And I’ll not promise what’s not mine to give, but if there is a way to secure your happiness, I’ll work to make it happen.”

“Is there no advice you can offer, then?” he asked in desperation.

For a long moment, she remained silent, as if she were working through a problem. Finally, she touched a hand to his chest, just above his heart, and his skin tingled through his shirt. “Trust your friends to do the right thing, Ronan O’Connor. And should you decide to attack Loman, you must wait until the Death Dealer is present, or all will be for naught.”

“That’s it, then? Nothing more you can offer?”

Irritation drew her brows together into a deep scowl.

He sighed and offered her his most disarming smile. “Then I’ll thank you now, Exalted One. Any blessing you wish to bestow will be welcomed, all the same.” Ronan dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “And thank you for answering my call today, my queen.”

She laid her palm atop his head, and the warmth of her unimaginable might passed through him. “Blessed be, Ronan O’Connor. Don’t forget what I said. Trust your friends to do the right thing.”

“Aye.”

As quickly as she’d arrived, she disappeared, and Ronan’s feelings gave way to the frustration that had been brewing inside him. Other than some cryptic response, he was still clueless as to how to defeat Loman. And that scared the bejeezus out of him.

CHAPTER24

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