Page 71 of Highballs & Hexes

“You’ve seen the Goddess, yeah?” Fintan shook his hand out like it was hot. “She could make a man forget his own name, willingly.”

“Thenyougo.”

“Ack, no! I’ve my own fate to avoid.”

An unwitting laugh bubbled up, and Patrick stared at the Seer, waiting for an explanation.

None was provided.

“I’ll do it.”

They both looked at Noah in shock.

“I can take your place and pretend to be you for untold power.”

“Why would ya want to?” Patrick eyed him with suspicion. “Especially for me? For the power?” He snorted. “Trust me, it’s not all rainbows and kittens. And besides, your path to Fi will be clear when I’m gone.”

“I’ve my reasons for wanting more power, but they’re altruistic, to be sure.” Noah cast a sorrowful glance Fionola’s way. “I love her, aye, but Fi lovesyou. She deserves to be happy, and I’ll do what I can to make it happen. So, if it means takin’ your place, I’ll do it.”

“But I’ve got to be the one to make restitution. You’ve done nothing wrong, man.”

Patrick’s frustration was at an all-time high. He had less than twenty-four hours to tell Anu his intent.

“Talk to Fionola, O’Malley. Let her be part of your decision,” Noah advised. “And if you believe I can help, call me, yeah?”

With that, he teleported away.

When Patrick looked toward the Bohannon siblings, it was in time to see Fi punch her brother square in the face. His brows shot up.

“Noah’s going to be sad he missed it,” he told Fintan.

“Aye, it was grand, it was.”

“Mam promised no more hitmen.”Fi placed two cups of steaming tea in front of Patrick’s whiskey bottle and settled onto his lap. “We’ll need to keep an eye on Tadhg for a bit, but he’ll cool down eventually,” she added after pouring a shot into eachof their mugs and handing him one. “He’s always been high strung."

“How are your knuckles?” He hid a grin behind his first sip.

“Grand, after ya healed them.” She examined her hand. “I knew Tadhg had a hard head, but I didn’t realize the rest of his face was like granite.”

Patrick laughed.

“I suppose now’s the time for you to tell the truth of it, Paddy O.” She turned somber eyes on him as she lifted her drink and sipped it. “Why did you pack and move your things here.”

They’d relocated to Patrick’s Galway flat to discuss their future, or lack thereof.

“Anu assured me the Witches’ Council will look the other way, given the circumstances. She also gave me a choice, and I’ve got to do the right thing, Fi.”

“What choice?”

“Become her consort to make restitution for what I’ve done. Or not.”

Although she paled and her mouth tightened, Fi didn’t react in any other way. “What punishment is attached to the ‘or not’ part of this?”

“I don’t know, but I can’t imagine it’s good.”

“Ya didn’t ask?” She jumped up and slammed her mug on the counter, whirling to glare at him. “What kind of bleedin’ eejit doesn’t ask?”

“I was too torn up at the idea of losing you,” he retorted hotly as he surged to his feet. “Was I supposed to be weighing all the options when my heart was being torn from my chest?”

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