Sea's Sorceress

By Brynna Curry

Skye Corrigan treasures family above all else. Born with the ability to read emotions, he feels the joy, pain and sorrow of others. When his best friend, Rhiannon, must face the heartache of losing her father to cancer, Skye steps in to help her run her family's pub and finds his match where he least expected...

Rhiannon O'Malley shares a strong childhood bond with Skye and hopes for a future with him. Her father's terminal illness has left her in charge of the family pub. Skye has always been there for her, but when their relationship changes, will she find the courage to claim the future? Or will a thousand-year-old curse keep its grip on two hostage hearts?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brynna Curry
• Release date: Jul 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463497777

Brynna Curry

Bethany Cagle, who writes as Brynna Curry, was born south of the Mason-Dixon Line in a small Alabama town. Growing up, books fueled her dreams and imagination, ultimately became her sanctuary during the hardest times in her life. After living all over the southern states, she finally landed back in north Alabama where she met her husband, Jackie. She spent a wonderful twenty-two years with her hero, raising their three children. Now widowed, she spends her free time writing. Her furry minions, Jace, Styxx, Beerus, and Asheron, are always willing to keep her company while she works. She insists love is the truest magic and with it, every day is an adventure. You can read more about her work on her website, www.brynnacurry.com.

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Sea’s Sorceress

Elemental Magic: Book Four

By

Brynna Curry

Sea’s Sorceress © July, 2019 by Brynna Curry

2nd Digital Edition

This book was previously released digitally September 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted in violation of the authors’ rights. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are the product of the authors’ imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or establishments is solely coincidental.

Cover design © Brynna Curry

Images appropriately licensed from Dreamstime.com.

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyright work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

About the Book

Skye Corrigan treasures family above all else. Born with the ability to read emotions, he feels the joy, pain, and sorrow of others. When his best friend, Rhiannon, faces the heartache of losing her father to cancer, Skye steps in to help her run her family's pub and finds his match where he least expected.

Rhiannon O'Malley shares a strong childhood bond with Skye and hopes for a future with him. Skye has always been there for her, but when their relationship changes, will she find the courage to claim the future? Or will a thousand-year-old curse keep its grip on two hostage hearts?

Dedication

For Jackie. Ever and always, love.

Chapter 1

Soft throbs of music hummed through the air inside O’Malley’s Pub. Outside, the wind had quieted, the rain tapering down to a drizzle. Rhiannon lined up four mugs on the counter and began to build the Guinness for table three. Heavens, she was tired, and the weather was not helping her fight the drowsiness. If she could just have ten minutes off her feet, preferably out of the crowd, to gather her thoughts.

Grrr. I can’t even hear myself think. Is it a crime to want a few blessed minutes of peace?

Glancing over toward Amy’s section, she noted her customers appeared to be content for the moment.

Whew. Sure is busy tonight, boss. Siobhan passed by on her way to the kitchen after serving platters to a couple of men sitting at a table near the bar. She set down the tray and one hand went to her lower back.

Rhia finished building the last Guinness. It is at that. Sure you don’t mind covering the kitchen for a bit longer?

Not at all. It’s a blessing to be out of the noise.

I appreciate the extra time you’ve put in, but get off your feet when you can. I don’t want you to overdo it in your condition.

Siobhan patted her swollen tummy. At five months along, she was fascinated with her pregnancy, celebrating every kick and flutter at length to anyone within earshot. I’m healthy as a horse. Besides, I’m sure your pet cutie will be back soon.

Rhiannon laughed. Lord, don’t say that in front of him. His ego is big enough already. And how many times do I have to tell you he isn’t my—And there goes the phone. "You’d think that bloody phone could stop ringing for five minutes."

The pub is really packed tonight. As much as she hated to do it, if Skye could not come back for the remainder of his shift, she would have to call her mother and ask her to run the kitchen. Siobhan might put on a brave front, but she would not be able to hold out another four hours until closing.

Maybe Da will be okay by himself for that long. What else can I do?

Skye had all but run out of the kitchen a few hours ago, mumbling something about Liv screaming inside his head. He needed to leave. Family comes first, always. So she had told him to go, but she had felt his absence every moment since.

Tucking her bar towel in the back pocket of worn jeans, Rhiannon picked up the phone behind the bar. I am about ready to rip this thing out of the wall and smash it against something. Her hands were full just working the bar and trying to keep an eye on her waitresses.

O’Malley’s, she shouted over the noise of the crowd. This is Rhiannon. How may I help you?

Hello, love. Skye. His voice was silk, smooth, rich. So very dangerous.

Well now. Speak of the devil and here you are, she teased. Her lips curved into a smile and her heart did a slow flip.

Mmm. A devil am I?

Oh most definitely.

Unoffended he countered, Sometimes a little bit of wicked is a good thing. Do you need a little mischief in your life, Rhia?

What a sweet offer. Now you keep on believing that delusion of yours.

Delusion is just another word for fantasy, depending on your perspective.

Oh it is not. She laughed.

Might be fun. Want me to show you?

If only he were serious. Yes please.

You really are hopeless. How is Liv?

Aww, now you’ve dashed all my hopes of—

She cut him off before he could paint any more pictures in her mind, and tugged at the collar of her button-down shirt. We all have to live with disappointment. No time for games right now anyway. It’s busy, so…

Ah, just admit you miss me, love, and I’ll quit teasing you.

Ugh. Not a chance. "May I remind you that you are speaking to your boss?"

"My boss." He seemed to test the words on his tongue and the way he said it made them seem dirty in all the right ways.

Or maybe I’m reading too much into his flirty ways.

Which makes this even more wicked, darling Rhiannon. You could just hang up on me…

"Fine. I do miss you. In my kitchen. Cooking." All this meaningless flirty was truly driving her crazy.

When he laughed, she couldn’t help but smile.

"I miss you too and my kitchen."

She changed the subject. Is Liv okay?

Liv’s doing just fine. She had twins. A boy and a girl.

She heard pride and joy beaming in his words and some of her irritation softened.

Wonderful, Skye, just wonderful. Babies are the sweetest gift of love.

And there was the kick to her heart.

Being in love with your best friend, who remained only your best friend, seriously sucked. She dreamed of holding her own child one day. His child.

Oh he teased and tormented her relentlessly, as he did now, but in spite of his empathic abilities, the man she loved didn’t have a clue how she felt about him. And if she told him, and he didn’t feel the same, it could ruin their friendship.

And to lose him altogether? Well, that she just could not bear. Desire and temper tore through her with frustration.

Skye, you idiot. Why can’t you see how much I love you?

She heard Skye gasp through the receiver, gasped, pausing for a moment, his breath heavy and audible through the connection.

Skye? Is everything alright? she asked.

Tell me I did not say that out loud. He couldn’t know. Could he? He has always been clueless.

When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. Little minx, you’ve been keeping secrets.

So he’s finally figured it out.

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

You can’t lie to me, love. He had a point. She had never