Page 63 of Highballs & Hexes

“You’ll be needing to save the bastard, all right. When I find him, I’ll make his time with Loman O’Connor look like a bleedin’ picnic, I will!”

Fintan’s dark blond brows shot up, and he sputtered a laugh. “Scarlet in your mam for the way you turned on your mate just now!”

“Did you miss the kissing and flirting, then?” she asked incredulous that he didn’t see it from her side.

“Aye, but I also saw the crafty expression on his mug. Though I’d sayyouseemed to miss it with all the stars in your eyes.”

She narrowed those eyes on Fintan. “Just tell me what you know and be done with it.”

“I’m ashamed to say I’m after fearing ya, I am.”

“You’re nothing of the sort, man. And if I have to ask ya again, I’ll be calling Bridget in here to take you to task, yeah?”

“I told you what I know,” he said as if he were talking to an eejit of the first order. “You’re to find Noah Riley to learn what he’s uncovered, and I’m to save the patriarch. That’s all me fuckin’ ancestors revealed, and don’t think I’m chuffed about it.”

“Fine!” She shut her eyes, prepared to teleport, when his fingers closed around her wrist. “What the bleedin’ hell?—”

After glaring her ire, she gave his hand a pointed look.

“I’m going with ya,” he replied, fatigue heavy in his voice. “Did I not just say?—”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah! Hold on.”

Closing her eyes again, she envisioned Noah’s flat above the pub. From deep within her cells, she gathered her standard store of magic and shaped it into a thread. It would be invisible to the naked eye, but it allowed her to determine if anyone or anything was in the way of her teleport. It could ruin a witch’s day to stumble upon Noah in the middle of bow chicka wow wow.

She retrieved the thread when she received the all clear and, once again, envisioned the space as she knew it to be laid out.Her body warmed past the point of uncomfortable, but quickly cooled the instant she landed on the other side.

Snapping her lids open, she noted the curiosity on Fintan’s countenance. He nodded as if the flat was as he expected it to be, then led the way to the door. They thundered down the stairs, not bothering to be quiet. No one would ever hear them over the roar from the taproom.

As they rounded the corner, Noah appeared and stepped into her path, causing her to impact his chest and knocking them both backwards a few feet.

“Jaysus!”

“Noah! Just the man I was looking for.” She latched onto his wrist and dragged him toward his office. “No time to waste!”

“What the fuck is going on? And who the fuck areyou?”

CHAPTER 27

“You don’t know me?” Fi asked in horrified wonder. How was it possible Noah had lost his memory of her?

“Of course, I know you. For feck’s sake, Fi! The wards I have in place upstairs wouldn’t let just anyone in.” He scowled and gestured to Fintan with his thumb. “I’m asking who the fuck he is, and why were you coming from my flat?”

“Oh!” She waved away the question and resumed dragging him toward the office. “I’ll explain in due time, to be sure, but let’s go where we can hear ourselves think.”

Once they were situated, with the door shut, Noah indicated they sit down, and perched on the edge of his antique wood desk. The beast consumed half the room, leaving little remaining area for visitors or comfort. He either didn’t notice or didn’t care, as he regarded them from his elevated position.

“What’s going on, Fi? What’s with the drama?”

“According to the Seer here, you know something I don’t, and we’re to save the patriarch, which happens to be Patrick.”

“Ah.” A world of understanding colored his beautifully sculpted face, and he shifted his attention to Fintan. “A Seer. I’ve only met one in my life, name of Sullivan. You know of him?”

“My uncle, but he’s pushing up daisies and has been for a quarter of a century. Name’s Fintan Sullivan, and I’ve taken his place.”

Noah nodded. “Can ya provide any clarification?”

“Not yet. Other than you’ve overheard something, but you may not know what it is ya heard.”

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