Page 87

“Stop scattering the girl’s wits to the wind, ya scut,” Dubheasa O’Malley scolded with an elbow to his ribs.

“I’m doin’ nothing of the kind,” he denied with a panty-melting smile for his mate. “But to kin you’reéadis heartwarming, to be sure.”

Flinging her long black locks over her shoulder, she snapped, “Feck off.” Yet there was affection in her tone, solidifying Soleil’s guess that they were teasing.

As bonded Guardians assigned by the Goddesses Isis and Anu, RonanandDubheasa wereaformidableteam.Damian entrusted them to watch over Viv and his children, and his trusthadn’tbeenmisplaced. Soleil hadbeen addedto their list of charges, which led to her feelings of uselessness.

Dubheasa strode to her side in her standard no-nonsense fashion and rested her hands on curvy hips as she studied Soleil’s face with keen emerald eyes. “The oversizedweanis right. You should go andbe donewith all your worrying.”

Ronan growled, and Dubheasa chuckledhertriumph at having scored a direct hit. Her eyes flew wide as his arms encircled her and he buried his face against her throat.

“I take exception to ya callin’ me a baby, I do,” he told his mate with a laughing glance and wink for Soleil. “Willyabe excusing us, then, love? I’m after showing my darlin’ Dove my oversized?—”

Dubheasa slapped her palm over his mouth with a gasping laugh. “Ronan O’Connor! You’ll be watching your tongue, or I’ll remove it from your head!”

He peeled back her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“Oh, I’ll be watching my tongue soon enough,” he assured her.

Feeling like a naughty voyeur, Soleil blushed in the face of Ronan’s sexual banter. “Yeah, on that note, I’m heading out. If you two come up for air anytime soon, let my sister know where I’ve gone.”

His molten silver eyes held approval. “Take no prisoners, love.”

“Give ‘em hell,” Dubheasa added with a husky laugh.

Soleil squinted at them consideringly. “Why do I feel egging me on was your intent all along?”

“Because you’re clever,” Vivian said from behind them, surprising a squeak from her.

“You, too, sister dear?”

“Me, too.” Viv handed her a piece of paper. “Damian said to use this spell, and it’ll deposit you right outside the doors of Hall B, where the trial isbeing held.”

She cut her sister a dry look. “He knew I was done waiting, huh?”

“I think he suspected, at the very least.” Viv tucked a wisp of Soleil’s unruly hair behind her ear. “Be careful, though. I don’t trust those bastards.”

Her ice-blue eyes held worry, and her uncanny resemblance to their mother brought a tidal wave of wistfulness.

Soleil hugged her, giving her an extra tight squeeze. “Promise! I’m learning to be less naive by the day.”

“You’re too good, Lei. Of all of us, you have the purest heart.”

“I don’t know about that,” she protested with a skeptical laugh. “I feel hatred like anyone else. More so for Deni and Agnes Vector.”

“Rightfully so,” Viv assured her with a scowl. “Go on, now.”

Stepping out onto the terrace, Soleil inhaled deeply. All hell had broken loose the last time she was at the Dethridge estate. It was also the first time she’d seen Trevor. To say shewas smittenat first sight wasn’t a stretch.Hell,she’d been obsessed with him since the beginning, and nothing had changed.

For the millionth time, she mentally debated whether she should go to the trial again. Twice in twenty-four hours, Trevor tried to murder her.Nothis fault, but she was feeling a little gun-shy. Again and again, she’d wracked her brain, trying to recall the exact words Deni had uttered to set him off, but they wouldn’t come. What if it happened again? What if he succeeded in snuffing her out of existence for good?

Soleil didn’t want to fear him, but she was beginning to. Had she become one of those brainwashed women who suffered abuse but stayed with their attacker? Trevor had never hurt her in any way before. Even at his worst, he’d been courteous and tried to put her needs first. What did it say about her that she was considering a long-term commitment to a man who was programmed to kill her?

She hung her head.

“You should go, Aunt Soleil,” Sabrina said as she approached.

Soleil desperately wanted to ask her niece what she saw for their future, but she lacked the courage. What if it wasn’t what she wanted to hear? What if Trevor was rightandtheir relationshipwas destinedto end in her early demise?