Page 41 of Highballs & Hexes

“Another Thorne,” he said with a shake of his head. “Feckers seem to be coming out of the bleedin’ woodwork.”

Vivian laughed as she rose to her feet. “I’ll leave you to entertain Sabrina while I collect our supper.”

“I can do that.” He rose to assist her, then cast Sabrina a grin. “Sure, and we both will, yeah?”

When she placed her small hand in his and returned his grin, Noah’s heart melted completely. “And did you want a bratty little brother, too, love?”

“Oh, yes! But I knew about Nate before Mama and Papa. I’m an Oracle.”

“Aye, and so you’ve said.” With a wink, he gave her hand a light tug. “How about we help your mam with the dishes now, yeah?”

“You’re just like Papa.”

The smile remained on his face, but just barely.

CHAPTER 19

“Try again,” Fi encouraged, frustrated Patrick’s magic had gone on the blink again.

“It’s no good, love. We’re stuck here for the time being.” A devilish gleam lit his eyes. “There’s naught for it but for us to pass the time shagging, I suppose.”

Torn between an impatient sigh and a laugh, Fi hit him on the stomach with the back of her hand. “Feckin’ behave yourself, ya scut.”

“Are you the love ’em and leave ’em sort, then?” he teased.

Right when she would’ve responded, the hooded figure appeared by the cell door, and Fi’s frustration ramped up. Acting on impulse, she grabbed the butter knife from beside her plate and threw it between the bars at their captor’s back. Her heart halted its beating when the utensil didn’t immediately hit him and drop to the floor, but instead sailed through his body, clanking as it landed and skidded toward the adjacent cell door.

Patrick shouted her name, reaching for her just as the figure turned and the hood fell back from his head, revealing his face. Pain caused her chest to seize, and the air see-sawed in and out of her lungs in a wheezing rattle. Panic slithered in, taking control of her mind until she thought she’d go mad.

Fi screamed.

Her response was so loud and long, it echoed off the walls, hurting her own eardrums from the shrill sound.

“No!” Fi cried as Patrick tried to embrace her and usher her away from the opening. Away from the lurking specter on the other side of the bars. “No! No! No!No!”

She scratched and clawed, fighting tooth and nail to be away from him. Uncontrollable sobs wracked her body as she struggled against him.

“Fi! Love! Listen to me. I can explain.”

“You!It’s been you all along!” She stared at him in horror, shifting her gaze only long enough to note the hooded figure’s sorrowful face, identical to Patrick’s in every way. “No! You… I… No! I gave myself to you. My body. Myheart,” she croaked. Sobs wracked her as she beat at his chest. “No!”

“Fionola!” Tadhg’s voice rang out, along with the shouts of other prisoners on the cell block. The cacophony forced her to cover her ears from the sheer volume of the noise.

Patrick’s grip on her elbows was the only reason she remained standing, but his touch was unbearable, repulsive.

“Don’t touch me,” she screamed, batting at his hands. “Don’t touch me!”

“Fi!” Tadhg cried. “You bastard! If ya hurt her, I’ll fucking rip your heart out, I will!”

The sound of prison cell doors rattling reverberated through the building, shocking her at the realization they weren’t electrified at all.

“You promised you wouldn’t lie to me,” she said, feeling pathetic upon hearing the whining tone of her voice. “You promised,” she shouted, stronger this time.

She sank down and hugged her legs to her chest, dropping her face to her knees to hide from Patrick. What a fucking foolshe’d been to believe him! He’d taken her in with a few sad stories and longing looks.

She was fully aware of him kneeling in front of her, and she curbed the urge to kick him in the bollocks. Common sense prevailed—barely. If he had the power to imprison them all and maintain it as he had, what could he do to her if she angered him?

“Get away from me, Patrick O’Malley, or I’ll claw your lying eyes from your fat fucking head!” she warned, leaning back as far as the wall allowed. Fear might play a part, but she couldn’t bear him crossing the boundaries of her personal space.

---