Page 75 of Whiskey & Witches

She certainly would.

Unable to help herself, she asked, “What is it you intend to do?”

His amused chuckle raised the hair on her body, and she wished she hadn’t asked.

* * *

Anu,standing beside her contemporary, Isis, watched the conversation between Loman O’Connor and Moira Doyle without giving away the turmoil she was feeling inside. Or without giving it awaymuch. Her stress tended to roll out by way of rain clouds and soak her belovedÉireuntil she could get her stronger emotions under control.

“For so beautiful a man, Loman is rotten to his core. Similar to an apple with a shiny red skin on the outside but spoiled flesh inside.”

Anu nodded in agreement with Isis’s analogy. “And he’s unpredictable in nature.”

Isis flipped back a wave of her thick black hair, and her amber, kohl-lined eyes narrowed as she studied him. “I don’t know about that. I’d say he’s extremely predictable.”

“Oh?”

“He’s driven by greed and power. You can always trust him to do the dastardly thing.”

“True.” Anu sighed and sauntered over to the stone bench on the rise above the pond. After she sat, she looked around at the paradise Isis had created. All creatures, big and small, could be seen in varying stages of rest, feeding, or in some cases, like the rabbits under the birch trees, mating. People like Loman O’Connor never appreciated the beauty in life. He was too far gone with his need to destroy anything he perceived as weaker than himself. His son, Ronan, included.

As they’d watched the events surrounding the O’Malleys unfold, Ronan’s role became clearer. The Three Sisters of Fate had given Anu and Isis another cryptic clue about where all this would lead.

Isis joined her. “You seem disturbed, my dear Anu. Are you truly surprised by Loman’s villainous nature?”

“No. Perhaps I’m simply tired of the conflict humans create. Maybe if we removed all magic, they’d have nothing to go to war over anymore.”

The other goddess patted her hand. “Men will forever find reasons to go to war. It’s in their contrary makeup. You’ve only to look at the gods and remember man was created in their image.”

“I want to see the good guy win,” Anu confessed. “To see the O’Malleys thrive and regain their magic. To see the Loman O’Connors and Moira Doyles of the world fail in their quest for murder and mayhem.”

“As do I, my friend. As do I.” Isis sighed. “Do you trust Ronan O’Connor to do the proper thing moving forward?”

Anu gave her a sharp look. “How do you mean? What are you planning?”

“If we return magic to him, make him stronger than the others, do you believe he will fight for the side of good, or like his father before him, turn to evil?”

She took the time to think about Isis’s question. There was no ready answer. Based on what she’d seen of him, she’d bet he was true to his word in wanting the magic to destroy his father. But power did strange things to men.

“We would need to discuss restoring Ronan’s magic with The Three,” she said. “If it goes against what is fated, they’ll not be happy.” Anu kissed her cheek and stood. “But we have time yet. Unless I miss my guess, Loman is a planner. He won’t be spontaneous or reckless like Moira and Seamus before him.”

“Yes. And speaking of Seamus McCleary, I suppose he’s been in the holding area long enough. Do we send him straight to hell, or would you rather try to reform him?”

Anu looked over her shoulder, through the veil at the waiting area. Seamus was huddled on the ground, his arms folded over his knees with his forehead resting on them. “He appears to regret hurting the boy, and yet, I’d say he’d do it again if given the chance.”

“I’m of the same mind.”

“Send him to hell and be done with it. Perhaps the tortures there will help him to live a better life the next go around.”

Isis smiled, and her ordinarily kind eyes grew frosty as she focused on Seamus. “Consider it done.”

* * *

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