Dark Witch (The Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy #1)(55)

When Connor failed to disguise a chuckle with a cough, she shrugged.

“Family,” she said again. “And more, family with the kind of problem and mutual goal that means we could all get our asses kicked, or worse, tomorrow or anytime after. So I figure there’s not a bunch of time to waste or circle around what might make us happy. Speaking as someone who’s lived her life with half the happy, I’d like to finish it out—especially considering potential ass kickings—with a great big armload of it.”

From where he stood, leaning against the counter, Fin smiled at her. “I believe I’m already half in love with you myself.”

“You don’t have half to spare.” Then she sighed. “Now, let’s see. Who else can I embarrass?”

“You haven’t me,” Fin told her. “And as for love, deirfiúr bheag, there are no limits to it.”

“I’ve always hoped that. What does that mean, what you called me?”

“Little sister.”

“I like it. I should learn Irish. Do all of you speak it?”

“Branna, Connor, and Fin.” Finished with her mincing, Meara walked over to rinse her hands. “Boyle and I have enough to get by, wouldn’t you say, Boyle?”

“Enough.”

“Is magick more powerful, do you think, with it? Sorry,” Iona said immediately. “I shouldn’t keep bringing that up and screwing with the mood. And I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that,” she said to Boyle.

“You just disconcerted him, as he wouldn’t be accustomed to a woman who speaks her mind and feelings right out, without filtering. Connor,” Branna continued, “I need a Guinness for the pot, and I’d say another bottle of wine for the rest of us. And you’re right as well, Iona, to speak of the rest of it. We can’t know if we’ve a day or a year before we’ll face what’s coming, but logic says a day’s the closer to it. And all that said, I’m damned if any one of us will have our ass kicked. So we’ll get this stew on the simmer, have more wine, and we’ll talk of it.”

She turned, face flushed from the steam, eyes glittering with a determination so fierce Iona couldn’t believe it could be defeated.

“Well then, let’s have those vegetables. They won’t cook themselves.”





11





IT STILL MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANY GATHERING OF FRIENDS AND family—all crowded around the kitchen table with glasses of wine, and the dog still sprawled at the hearth.

But Iona recognized it for what it truly was.

A power summit.

“I’d like to say something first,” Branna began, “to Meara and to Boyle. ’Tisn’t your blood mixed into this, and you’ve neither power of your own as weapon or shield.”

“To begin with insulting us doesn’t make a strong first step,” Boyle told her.

“Sure it’s not meant like that, but to acknowledge what it means to the rest of us to know you’re with us. In truth, I don’t know how Connor or myself would have fared without you. You’re the truest friends I’ve ever had, or ever will. I don’t know if, as Fin claims, love has no limits, but I know I’ve yet to reach the limit of mine for either of you. And there, that’s said.”

“We don’t have power, but we’re not helpless. Far from it.” Meara looked to Boyle, got his nod.

“We have our brains, our fists. He’s never shown interest in us, and that’s his mistake.”

“That may be, and we should find a way to use it. But he’s taken a strong interest in Iona.” Connor gestured toward her. “Branna and I agree he’s hoped to do her harm—and worse—and by doing that, take her power, increase his own. It cost him, we think, to set the trap for her a few days ago, then fail.”

“What trap?” Boyle demanded. “Were you hurt?” he grabbed Iona’s arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It isn’t easy to talk about this kind of thing at the stables. And I wasn’t hurt. Branna and Connor saw to that.”

Fin spoke quietly. “What happened? Be specific. Iona, you tend to be just that. Tell the rest of us.”

“It was the day I gave Sarah her first lesson. When I was walking home.”

She told them, specifically, and didn’t gloss over her fear.

As she spoke, Fin rose, strode to the window looking out over the back gardens. On the table, Boyle’s hands balled into fists.

“You’ll not walk to work or home alone from now on.”

Iona gaped at Boyle. “That’s ridiculous. I have to—”

“You’ll not. And that’s the end of it.”

Before Iona could speak again, she caught Meara’s eye, and her friend’s subtle shake of the head.

“Connor can walk with her to the stables.” Branna spoke smoothly. “They go the same way, and you and Fin have only to see their schedules mesh close enough.”

“It’s done,” Boyle said definitely. “And I’ll see her home. It’s done,” he repeated.

“I appreciate the concern. Is someone going to be with me every time I take a step out of the house, or want to go into the village? And you’d better start sleeping with me, too,” she told Boyle. “Because he’s poking around in my dreams. I’m allowed to be afraid, but I’m not allowed to be helpless. And no one else is allowed to think I am.”