Page 64 of Whiskey & Witches

Damian was a risk to their very lives should he turn like she had. But he’d banished the Darkness last year, and he’d hoped they would remember he was doing this to save a life, not take it.

One by one, they came to the same conclusion and nodded their assent.

“Excellent.” He gave the group a reassuring smile. “Let’s get started.”

He didn’t need spells like a standard witch; everything he intended could be done by manipulating time, energy, and molecules. Taking a deep breath, he became one mind with Sabrina. Starting from the left, he drew what he needed through their physical connection as his daughter did the same. They created a live conduit, and the energy swirled through each of them, pulling from their cells and sending that magic through the seven-person chain. As the bulk of it impacted Damian, he closed his eyes and used his inner vision to search out the black magic within Ronan’s body. He rode the bloodstream, dodging the poisonous sludge that tried to cling to him like a drowning man to a life preserver.

Moira had done her job well when she created this particular weapon. Her spell had created the type of parasite that killed its host in order to survive.

“It lives in his lungs, Papa.”

Damian changed directions and dove through the tissue into the chamber of Ronan’s left lung. When he got there, he discovered a tar-like substance coating the walls. It was a wonder the man could breathe.

“Anu said that in the Netherworld, you cut off the Darkness from all magic to kill it. This is like that.” Aeden’s hesitant voice almost jerked Damian out of the spell when it reached him, but he managed to hold on.

He understood the concept—cut off the power supply.

Ronan would hate him when he woke, but he needed to be made into a regular mortal if he was to survive.

CHAPTER25

In the corner of the room on the large comfy sofa, Carrick cuddled his sleeping wife and son as he watched his unconscious enemy. The Aether had conjured an extra-large mattress after the spell concluded and covered Ronan with a thick, down comforter. In the hour or so since the ceremony, he hadn’t moved so much as an inch, and Carrick worried what the final outcome would be.

Having sent Piper home to Cian earlier, Rebecca was curled up in a club chair, reading a medical book. As if she sensed his attention, she looked up and met Carrick’s considering gaze.

“What is it you’d like to know, Mr. O’Malley?”

“Do you still love him?”

She sighed and closed her book. Before answering, she took a sip of wine, and he had the feeling she needed the fortification. “I care about him, yes. Love? No.” Setting the book aside, she sat forward, and her sad eyes dropped to where Ronan slept. “I’m in love with my husband. I always have been. But a stressful job, a small child, an emotionally distant husband, and endless loneliness all made me vulnerable to Ronan’s fun-loving personality at the time.” She smiled, and her look held a margin of tenderness. “He made me feel treasured when I was ignored at home.”

“Is he a good man, do ya think?”

“I believe so.” She nodded and looked at Carrick again. “Deep down, he has a moral compass. It’s a little skewed at times, like all of ours can be if the circumstances are right. But he doesn’t desire to hurt anyone.”

“How do you know?”

“We had many hours to talk, him and I. Confidences were shared. You can’t fake the kind of genuineness he showed me.” She sipped her wine as she considered her next words. “Ronan didn’t set out to steal me from Hoyt. I walked away from my husband first. A separation, if you will. Piper still holds resentment because she keeps her father on a pedestal, but no one person is perfect. No marriage, for that matter.”

“I’m prying, to be sure, but why did you decide to return to Hoyt?”

“Love. His contrition. My daughter.” Rebecca shrugged and smiled. “Realizing I didn’t want to go through life without them. And Hoyt forgave me for my indiscretion. He recognized he’d kept his cards too close to his chest and failed to tell me he loved me and to listen when I needed him to. Throwing away years of marriage isn’t an easy thing.”

Carrick glanced down at Roisin and smoothed back her wild mane of hair. “I think we can all be guilty of stupidity now and again,” he said softly. “But if your Hoyt’s feelings are anything like mine for my family, he adored the feck out of you.”

Roisin snuggled closer and smiled in her sleep as if she heard his words and embraced them.

“The O’Malleys have a reputation for being unlucky, but I’m here to tell you that you are all fortunate indeed. Today could’ve gone a lot differently, and you have a wonderful family.” Rebecca crossed to Ronan and knelt to feel his brow. “If you want to go home, I’ll watch over him.”

“No. I promised Damian I’d stay while he and his family rested. I’ll keep watch in case Moira decides to strike again.”

“She’d be a fool to.”

“Aye, but it’s just like her to try.”

She rose to her feet. “Would you like me to call my husband for backup? Not many want to deal with a formidable Thorne.”

“I’m happy if you can keep him on speed dial, but I’m too wired to sleep.”

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