Page 19 of Whiskey & Witches
“Fine.” The word almost stuck in his throat. “I’ll look in the shed for the tarps. Here, you gather a few things for tonight, and we’ll be back for the rest in the morning.”
He stalked outside and straight to the outbuilding, only to find it securely locked. In a temper, he tugged forcefully on the lock and released a guttural yell. Lightning flashed in the distance, and the sensation of…somethingran the length of his arm to his fingertips. The metal sparked.
Carrick stared in stunned disbelief as the mechanism disengaged and the padlock clicked open. A check over his shoulder showed him Roisin hadn’t been there to give him an assist, and it registered he’d accidentally channeled magic. He shouldn’t have been able to do it.
A minute later, Roisin limped out of the cottage with a flashlight in hand. When she got to him, the surprise on her face was priceless. “How did you open the lock?”
“Magic,” he said softly, still not believing he performed such a feat. “Ro, it was like a bolt of electricity down my arm and then sparks. Sure, and the lock just dropped open.”
“That’s the second time today that you’ve channeled it.”
She was right. In all the madness, he’d forgotten about when they were lying by the garden earlier. “I’ve no idea what it all means.”
“I might.” Her response was cryptic, and she shoved the flashlight into his hands. “Look in the back, on the right side. I think that’s where the tarps were always stored.”
The desire to question her further was strong, but Carrick shoved it aside. Nothing needed answering immediately, and he had to protect the interior of her house as best he could until he could get up there to replace the roof or hire someone who could.Éire’sweather was too unpredictable.
After he’d retrieved what he needed, he snapped the lock closed, shook his head at what he’d been able to do, and returned to the house. Roisin had a small bag of things gathered and placed on the wooden kitchen table, and Aeden sat in the corner of the bed, the blue replica blanket tucked under his chin. Although sleepy, he had a guarded look in his eyes as he watched her shuffle about the room.
“What’s wrong, Aeden?” Carrick asked gently.
His son shook his head and averted his eyes. Whatever demons plagued him, he didn’t care to share at the moment.
* * *
In the next town over,Seamus McCleary nursed a pint and tried not to wince every time he shifted his abused body. Those fecking tree roots had surprised the shite right out of him and sent him scrambling for safety. The fact the Witch of the Woods used earth magic in place of the air magic she was known for told him a lot.
In all his spying today, he’d discovered important news to relay to his cousin, Ronan, though he wasn’t sure he should. That wanker had locked him in the tower for a month with only the bare essentials to survive. Moira’s inescapable screams of fury had nearly sent Seamus over the edge of sanity. Every moment was a struggle not to give in to the madness as she had.
He drank more of his Guinness and allowed the rich taste to slide down his parched throat. He closed his eyes to savor the sensation. Oddly, he missed the O’Malleys’ homemade brew. And perhaps if he was being honest, he missed Cian and Bridget, too. In the years he’d hung around their pub, waiting to see when or if that cursed prophecy would unfold, he’d become fond of the brother and sister duo. Bridget, with her fiery temper and sassy mouth, was always fun. And Cian, with his friendly, welcoming smile and lively tunes, was as entertaining as they came.
But all that easy camaraderie disappeared once Seamus had been found out. He cursed the day he ever threw in his lot with his cousins Moira and Ronan. His life had been nothing but misery ever since.
He snorted to himself.
If he were being honest with himself, his life was truly miserable from the moment of his birth. Parents like theirs were created by the Devil himself. No child should endure the upbringing the three of them had suffered through.
His thoughts turned to Aeden O’Malley, and a shiver of unease danced along his spine. Nightmares of Roisin’s destroyed face with the metal sticking out of her eye had haunted Seamus. The discovery today, that she hadn’t died and that it was really Meg who’d perished, had shocked the bejaysus out of him.
The truth explained why the woman he’d believed to be Meg wouldn’t give him the time of day since the accident. Until a few hours ago, he’d swallowed the tall tale the O’Malleys had put out: Roisin was dead, Meg was the mad, scarred Witch of the Woods, and Aeden refused to speak.
Meg.
Seamus’s wild lover.
Sure, he’d never forget the shock on her face when he stepped into the road armed with a spell and enough magic to flip their car. The duplicitous Moira had lied to him—no surprise there—and had told him Ronan ordered it done. Normally, Seamus wouldn’t dare go against Ronan, but because of one falsehood and despite his better judgment, he attacked the Byrne sisters.
Yeah, Meg hadn’t loved him—and didn’t that sting?—but she’d shared her body freely, and Seamus told himself she cared for him in her own, detached way. He still refused to believe she wanted Carrick, despite the fact she’d never lied about her preference. But gods how he missed her. She’d listened to his hopes and dreams without judgment, and she’d given him a small, secretive smile in return, as if she knew he’d one day accomplish them.
Misery encased Seamus’s heart. He’d hurt a small child; something he’d promised himself he’d never do in the process of claiming the O’Malley magic once and for all. In addition, he killed the only woman who’d ever seemed to give two shites for him. But now, he had to clean up his mess. He had to stop Aeden from sacrificing for “The One”—whoever the fecking hellthatwas!—all without harming the boy.
An impossible task.
But like Ronan, Seamus wouldn’t stop until the power was theirs and he possessed the level of talent the Thornes bragged of. The O’Malleys’ ancient magic could make that happen.
Resignation heavy on his soul, he drained his mug and motioned for another. Sure, and he had to work up the courage this night for the next job he had to do. It wouldn’t be easy by any means, but it needed to be done to get him what he wanted, all the same.
CHAPTER7
