Page 37 of Wine & Warlocks

She squeezed the forearm banded across her upper chest, acknowledging his feelings. They didn’t need words, the two of them. Everything he wished to say was expressed in his eyes, and his told her exactly how much he loved her in return.

Stretching on the tips of her toes, she gave him a lingering kiss. As she drew away, he halted her with a hand at the back of her neck. Bringing his other hand up, he cradled her head and gazed down at her with such longing and heat that she thought her soul would be branded throughout eternity.

“And I love you, Dove. If I live a thousand lifetimes, I’ll be after holdin’ that love close and looking for you first in every one hereafter.”

“Aye, and you’d better.” But she couldn’t prevent her happy smile, effectively ruining the sass behind her reply.

His answering grin stole the air from her lungs and curled her toes.

When she could breathe normally once again, she drew away from Ronan and crossed to where Fintan was sitting. “Did Reggie reply?”

Just as he shook his head, a neat scrawl appeared on the page.

Old Désorceler Society stronghold.

Loman and a handful of mercenaries.

Reference prisoners, number unknown. My cellblock houses twenty rooms. All full.

“Fecking grand.” Dubheasa dropped onto the sofa and gnawed her lower lip in consternation. “If Loman’s already gained the abilities of those prisoners, we’re in for a fierce fight.”

Loman wants Ronan’s and Sabrina’s abilities.

Intends to kill both.

Dubheasa sucked in her breath so hard, she coughed long and loud, causing tears to stream from her eyes.

“Jaysus!”Ronan’s complexion paled as he stared at the written words.

“Get details,” Castor barked, all humor gone. The normally jovial man had become a vengeful warrior.

Quentin was already on the move. It seemed he’d barely cleared the door before he returned with Damian and Alastair in tow. Trevor was hot on their heels.

Silently, the Aether read the message Reggie had sent. Any father would be out of their fecking mind at this point, and Damian Dethridge was likely no different, yet his expression remained guarded, giving nothing away. But Dubheasa sensed his turmoil underneath the stoic façade. Loman O’Connor had signed his own death warrant by stating his desire to kill Damian’s daughter. In no scenario that Dubheasa could think of would the man be kept alive to carry out his dastardly plans.

“I need to return to my family.” Damian finally tore his gaze away from the book. “Blane, you’ll do what you do best and obliterate that bastard’s soul when you see him, yes?”

“Consider it done.”

With a short nod to acknowledge Trevor’s comment, Damian then faced Ronan. “You’re to stay away from my daughter.”

Hurt flashed in Ronan’s eyes before he purposely blanked his expression. “Aye, if that’s what ya wish.”

“It’s not what I wish, my friend. It’s what’s necessary.” Strain tightened the skin around the Aether’s dark, almond-shaped eyes, and his lips thinned in a grimace.

“I don’t understand what—ah.” With a shake of his head, Ronan gave him a self-deprecating smile. “Your aim is to separate the targets and make it harder for Dear Ol’ Da to get us both in one place. You think he’ll come for my power first.”

“Yes.”

“Then you should be refortifying your wards to exclude me.” There was a sorrow in Ronan’s words, as if the last of his allies were lost to him.

Dubheasa’s heart hurt for him. Standing, she entwined her fingers in his. He didn’t look her way, but his hand tightened over hers.

“I’m not ready to do that quite yet, Ronan, but you’ll be alerted if the need arises. I have complete faith you’ll win this round.” Oddly, Damian appeared more tired than frightened. “I’ll wish you luck.”

With that, the Aether was gone.

As many times as she’d witnessed a teleport in recent months, Dubheasa found it difficult to wrap her mind around an immediate disappearance.

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