Page 65 of Wine & Warlocks

“I’m your chosen mate, as you are mine. We’re to be Isis’s and Anu’s selected Guardians. You need to trust me, Ronan. Trust that I can help and be a worthy mate.”

Her sincerity cut him to the core, and he wanted to strenuously object, but she had a point.

“I trust you to help,” he replied gruffly.

The first strands of Cian’s music drifted to them, and as one, they stood.

“Loman will have arrived just outside the wards.” Castor checked his phone as it pinged. “Damian’s removed the force field from the island. It’s time to teleport.” Addressing the hired security directly, he said, “You all have your assigned buildings and the location to meet up with any survivors. If they are too weak, leave them by the airfield. We have transports lined up.”

Dubheasa’s hand was clammy in his, and Ronan gave her a confident smile. “First one to find Reggie wins the prize, love.”

“It better be grand, because I’m after winning it.” She rose on her tiptoes and quickly kissed him. “Let’s go.”

Castor stepped up to them and clasped their hands. “I’ll be your captain for today’s flight. Buckle up. There may be turbulence during the ride.”

Dubheasa’s laughter was the balm Ronan needed to soothe his nerves.

“Fecking eejit,” he muttered affectionately, surprising himself that he actually held his recently found uncle in such high esteem. “Just get us there already.”

His cells warmed to almost burning, and without his own magic, the sensation was more uncomfortable than normal. It took him a precious minute or two on the other side of the teleport to recover and cool down. It appeared Dubheasa was similarly affected.

“You two okay?” Castor inquired.

“Aye. We will be. Go do what you need to.”

“Make sure your ear com works.”

First Ronan, then Dubheasa, tested their earpiece, sending and receiving a message to Castor after he’d walked twenty feet away. After giving them the thumbs-up, he ran toward his designated buildings.

Ronan grabbed Dubheasa’s arm when she would’ve turned away. “Be careful, Dove. Please.”

“I intend to.” Her smile was beatific and punched him right in the heart. “I’ve a lot to live for.”

“You’ve got your knife?”

“Aye.”

Still, he was reluctant to let her go as he stared down into her excited emerald orbs. “This isn’t some craic. It’s serious, yeah?”

“I know.” After a sweet pat to his chest, she turned and ran for the closest building.

The sense of wrongness was extreme, and Ronan almost ran after her. Holding his breath as she touched the door handle, he let out a hearty exhale when she went inside and nothing immediately happened.

“Fuck me, I’m getting paranoid,” he muttered.

“But that paranoia has saved your life on more than one occasion, boyo,”his inner voice reminded him.

“Fuck.”

CHAPTER28

Dubheasa was the first to find Reggie’s cell, grinning when he stared at her in stunned disbelief. “I’m rescuing you, Reg. Tell me how to open your cage.”

“You have to leave, Dubheasa. Loman knows you’re coming, and he’s planned for this.”

His urgency spiked her already high adrenaline. “How?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’ve got to go!” he ordered.

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