Page 6 of Wine & Warlocks

The admiration left his eyes, and the coldness that took its place felt like a wash of icy water. Yes, this man was as dangerous as they came.

“How do you know what I am?” His tone was as frosty as his gaze.

Needing a minute to catch her breath under his stoney stare, she gestured with her thumb over her shoulder. “Ronan’s a Guardian, and he delighted in informing me you were sent by the Aether.”

Some of the coolness left him, but he remained detached, and any friendliness was gone. The man obviously had a job to do and took his responsibilities seriously. Dubheasa could respect that.

“Damian initially told me to meet him here tonight. Only he texted a little bit ago to say he wasn’t going to make it due to his wife’s unexpected labor.” His curious gaze shot to Ronan, who remained at the bar, nursing a second pint. “A Guardian, huh? I sensed his power, but Damian gave nothing away. Said we’d discuss the issue when he got here and he was able to introduce me to all the players.”

Dubheasa cocked her head and studied him. “So where did you intend to go after?”

“Thought about seeing if the Black Cat Inn, next door, had a room, or I might head back to my place.” He gave her a half smile. “Then you crashed into me, and my plans changed once again.”

“Then it’s a feckin’ grand thing that you can pivot, because we’ve a serious conversation to be had.” After offering one of the two drinks Bridget had poured, she tapped her glass to his. “Drink up, Trevor Blane. You’re going to be needing the extra bit o’ courage to deal with the O’Connors and O’Malleys, ya are.”

He grinned, once again the winsome man she’d first met, and lifted his glass in a toast. “I believe I’m up for the challenge, sweetheart.”

“Then you’re a better man than most.”

His laughter crashed over her, setting her to tingling. Aye, it was a sad sigh she heaved, knowing there wouldn’t be anything between them but a mild flirtation.

A Death Dealer was too dangerous to dabble with, according to Ruairí, who’d been party to Ronan’s pronouncement not five minutes before. Trevor had the ability to take a life and decimate a soul for eternity. There would be no coming back for anyone unlucky enough to fall prey to the man’s special brand of magic.

“I suppose this means there will be no you and me tonight?” he asked as a wry smile curled his lips.

“No, because that big lug back there has threatened to kill you if you and I get any closer than a table between us. I’d have ignored him, but knowing what you are, well, let’s just say I’m not keen on witnessing a clash of the Titans in the alley beyond, all the same.”

Trevor’s deep laugh made her smile. “You’re charming to the extreme, Dubheasa O’Malley. Ronan is a fortunate man.”

“Ach! Now, why would you be going and ruining a pleasant conversation by saying such a thing!” she demanded with a glare. “I’ll not be giving that eejit the time of day.”

On the heels of her words, the hair on the back of her neck lifted, and Trevor’s amused smirk told her Ronan was directly behind her. She downed half her drink before she faced her nemesis.

“I’m going to put a bell around your bleeding neck. See if I don’t!” She shoved his hard chest, irked when he didn’t budge an inch.

Ronan placed his large palm over her hand, locking it against his heart. “Ah, Dove, I’ll let you put a bell around my neck or a ring on me finger. Ya just have to say the word, love.”

She laughed, unable to help herself. Say what you wanted about Ronan O’Connor; the man was a born charmer. “Go on with ya, you fecking tool.”

“Sure, and that’s a step up from eejit, so I’ll be takin’ it as a win.” With a kiss of her knuckles, he tucked her arm through his. “According to Bridget, I’m to escort you both to the Black Cat, but we need to time it right, so I don’t get barbecued by the wards.”

“My luck could never be so grand.” She gave him an arch look, ruining it with an answering smile when he grinned. As quickly as she could, she suppressed her amusement. It wouldn’t do to give Ronan any encouragement. If one gave the man an inch, he’d take a mile and three-quarters, pushing the limit to an entire two. And she needed to stop drinking, or her resistance would be nil by the end of the night.

Leaning in, he murmured just loud enough to be heard over the noise of the pub. “Thanks for not kicking me in the bollocks for holdin’ your hand, Dove. If I were to take another shot to the old ball box, I’d be maimed forever.”

“I only promised you the one.”

“Aye, but you also promised if I looked at you again, you’d do worse. So should I be expecting a knife through my ribs?”

“I don’t like to be lied to, Ronan. You should’ve remembered that the first time.” She swallowed down her ire and hurt. “But the second lie as I was wrapping my head around the first? Yeah, I can’t forgive that yet.”

Ronan halted her at the door and gestured for Trevor, who had been leisurely following behind, to go around them into the alley. When they were alone, he met her probing gaze. “I’m not asking you to, Dove. But ’twas only a trick because I wanted to spend time with you.”

“Telling us Anu required a lockdown was not the way to do it.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree, all the same. I had a week in your company, and you softened enough for me to sit with you. I’d not gotten that close before.”

Dubheasa stomped on the instep of his foot. “You’ve not learned anything, have you?”

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