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“Every one of you hid a witch in our presence, and you bring more into our town. Our safe place has been breached.” Turning to the men with her, she pointed to the door. “Go! Tell the scrios what you’ve seen here!”
The men ran out of the building, leaving Mallory with the “witches.” Had Bryn actually been dangerous, Mallory was an idiot to have left herself vulnerable.
Looking at Danu, Mallory roared a scream that was almost hilarious had the atmosphere not been heavy with dread.
“Stay away from me and my son with your witchcraft and pagan beliefs!”
Danu only smiled, not the least bit cowed by Mallory’s obnoxious and unhinged behavior.
“You would do well to remember you are in my house now, Ms. Mallory.” Niamh floated closer to her aunt.
The smile fixed on her face as she stood between them, and Mallory made something primal in Bryn’s brain warn her that right now Niamh was dangerous, and Bryn needed to tread carefully.
Moving to slap her friend, Mallory’s hand was caught in Niamh’s without anyone seeing her move.
Mallory’s eyes widened as she stumbled back, trying to pull her hand away from Niamh but to no avail. Niamh only gripped her tighter.
“Now,” Niamh’s voice was feminine yet deep, “are we going to behave, or will we be having achat?”
“I... I won’t... I’ll go.” Mallory was vibrating with fear.
Niamh released her, and Mallory stumbled, barely catching herself before she fell. Without another one of the venomous looks she was so fond of, she was out the door as if a demon itself was hot on her heels.
Straightening her dress, Niamh took a minute to touch her face, checking her makeup before she nodded and turned back to the group.
“Now, where were we?”
Chapter 36
Noonesaidanythingafter Mallory’s outburst and subsequent fleeing in terror.
The fear in the room was palpable in her absence, and from the look on everyone’s faces, no one really knew why. Their entire lives were in danger here, and they needed to leave as soon as was possible, yet they were staring, frozen, at Niamh.
“Oh, please.” Niamh laughed. “Every one of you is infinitely more powerful than Mallory and her little army of ignorance,” Niamh said as she waved her hand to the door where Mallory had just fled.
“Then why was she so scared of you and not us?” Sage asked as she tilted her head, her inquisitive mind piqued by Mallory’s abrupt departure.
No one moved or said a word. Bryn wondered if anyone was even breathing.
Niamh looked at each one of them before her eyes landed on Bryn’s.
“If you’ll excuse me. You all have much to discuss.” Niamh nodded, turning to leave, but Danu moved between Niamh and the door.
“I release you from your geas, Lady Niamh Gwyer of Waterford, the original Dearg Due,” Danu whispered, and power flooded the room.
“What the hell is a Dearg Due?” Justin demanded.
“Like I said, every damn time I am near her, something new pops out and turns everyone’s lives upside down again. Just when we find right side up,” Kessler grumbled.
Bryn moved toward Niamh until her friend held her hands up to keep Bryn back.
“It’s safer if you stay away,” Niamh whispered, her voice normal now, but sadness threaded heavily through it.
Ignoring the warning, Bryn moved to take Niamh’s hand and faced her in front of everyone in the room.
She had no idea what a Dearg Due was, but she would stand beside her friend through something she could tell would be difficult to speak on.
“You’re still Niamh,” Bryn whispered, and Niamh took a stuttered breath. “You’re still my friend. I promised you that before I knew you could scare the pants off my aunt. Now we are best friends.”
