Shoulder the Skye, page 4
“Did you see how she didn’t back down from that asshole?” Sabryn asked.
Elias released the door handle one finger at a time. “Aye.”
“There’s some history between those two—and not the good kind.”
Elias took a deep breath and then slowly released it. “Why did you stop me from helping her?”
“Because you don’t need to bring more attention to yourself. Besides, I had a feeling she didn’t need it.”
“Didna need it?” he barked, his head swinging to the side so he could gape at Sabryn. “She went behind the bushes and got sick. I’d say she needed it.”
Sabryn crossed one leg over the other and silently regarded him. “You’ve got a penis, so I’ll forgive you for that outburst. Obviously, you’ve never had to endure the things a woman has. For all the shouts of equality in the world, there is still a vast expanse between what men and women go through, and I won’t even touch on skin color and other factors. The truth, Elias, is that men have always assumed they can intimidate. Sometimes, it’s trivial things like staring at our boobs instead of looking into our eyes. Annoying, yes, but it immediately puts women on the defensive—not to mention angers us. Men get away with it because, well, they’re men. Then there are the not-so-minor instances of leaning over us to make us feel inferior. The threats and power they use that seem forever at their disposal.”
Elias frowned as he realized the thin man had leaned over Bronwyn, looming. But she hadn’t backed away. She had held eye contact, everything in her bearing daring the arse to do something.
“That chick has some balls,” Sabryn continued. “She never let him see how terrified she was. That’s someone who has been through some shit and come out the other side. She has scars you’ll never see—and maybe some you can.”
He glanced at Sabryn, wondering if she compared herself to Bronwyn. Because Sabryn also had a complicated past.
She caught his gaze. “She needed to do that on her own. She could’ve run. She didn’t. She stayed and faced him because she had to.”
“You saw all that by watching her for only a few seconds?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. You have your gifts. I have mine. And, yes, to answer your question, I did. Not so much by her walk but her attitude when she saw the prick.” Sabryn smoothed her hand over the front of her cream angora sweater. “I’d advise you to keep your head on finding the murderer and clearing your name, but I recognize that look on your face. I only have one request.”
He raised his brows, waiting.
“Doona let the lass take up too much of your time,” Sabryn said with a perfect Scottish accent.
He chuckled. She had a knack for accents and picked them up quickly. “Heard.”
“Good.” Her deep blue gaze swung back to the cars around him. “I and the boys are going to do a little checking around while you’re with your family.”
“Be careful.”
She rolled her eyes as she clicked her tongue. “Do you know me at all? Careful is my middle name.”
“That’s shite, and you know it,” he called as she climbed out of his vehicle.
Sabryn bent to look at him. “Tallyho.”
“Verra funny.”
She waved her fingers at him and shut the door. Elias started the engine as she walked away. She was out of sight within moments. He backed out and started the drive to Edie’s. He was supposed to have lunch with his sisters. It wouldn’t be the first time they had eaten together since his return to Skye, but that didn’t mean things weren’t still a little awkward. He had been away for nearly two decades, rarely speaking to Edie and having almost no contact with Elodie. They were strangers for all intents and purposes. Memories of their childhood and their blood bond could only take them so far.
But he wanted to mend the rift he had caused by leaving. At least Elodie knew the truth of things. That made things easier.
When he arrived, Elodie met him at the door. He embraced his youngest sister. Her bright smile and vibrant face eased some of his worries that she wouldn’t be able to carry the weight of the past, but she was stronger than he gave her credit for. It helped that she wasn’t dealing with this alone. Scott’s love and support helped.
“You’re late,” Elodie said as she led him into the house.
“That’s a single man for you,” Edie called from the kitchen.
Elias chuckled as he inhaled the delightful aromas. “I promised wine,” he said and held up the bottle, entering the ultra-modern room. “I had to stop and get some.”
“Then you’re forgiven.” Elodie took the white and set about opening it.
Elias rubbed his hands together as he walked to the island. “What do you need me to do?”
“It’s all done. Just finishing up the sauce,” Edie said.
Elodie shot him a playful look. “And that’s why he’s tardy.”
“No’ fair,” he shot back, enjoying the banter. It made things feel almost as if they were teenagers again.
Edie motioned to the wine Elodie had poured. “Seriously, take your drinks and have a seat. The food is ready.”
Elias did as his sister requested. When he turned to the table, he only saw three place settings. “Is Trevor no’ joining us?”
“He had a work lunch he couldn’t get out of,” Edie replied as she concentrated on the food almost a little too hard.
Elias looked at Elodie, who shrugged and wrinkled her nose, telling him she had no answer to his silent question. He opted not to discuss it further. Mostly because Elias knew very little about his sister’s marriage, other than they seemed happy. He didn’t want to stir up problems where there were none. From everything he’d seen, they had a great life.
Edie was a terrific cook, and the meal of baked salmon and asparagus was delicious. They talked about the past, reminiscing on their antics and the things they had gotten into as children—though Elodie was careful not to speak of their father. Elias followed suit, but Edie, not knowing the truth of the horrible man their da had been, had no such qualms. She brought him up several times.
With the bottle of wine empty and only a little left in their glasses, Elias waited for a lull in the conversation before pulling the small cameras from his back pocket and laying them on the table in front of Edie, who sat across from him.
She eyed them. “What’s that?”
“Your cameras,” he replied.
She took a drink of her wine before shaking her head, confusion in her eyes. “What cameras?”
“The ones in the cottage I’m renting.”
“We don’t install monitoring equipment inside our rentals. The tenants have a right to their privacy. We do install some outside, though.”
Elias noted the way Edie’s lips tightened and her voice rose, indicating she was upset. “I’m sorry to say, but these were inside.”
“Maybe Trevor forgot to tell you, Edie,” Elodie offered.
Their sister grabbed the small cameras and rose from the table to put them on the island. “I’m sure that’s it. I’m sorry, Elias.”
“Doona be. I’m sure it was an oversight.” It was a lie, but he felt compelled to ease the tension he saw in Edie.
It was obvious she hadn’t known about the cameras, which meant that Trevor was responsible for placing them. And any landlord who installed hidden surveillance throughout a residence wasn’t anyone Elias wanted to know.
Elodie cleared her throat nervously and caught his gaze. “How is the house?”
“It’s great.” He glanced at the island to see Edie staring at the devices as if she could make them speak. “I love the location.”
“You mean you love that no one’s around,” Elodie teased.
He nodded. “Absolutely. The road is back far enough that I doona hear most of the traffic. It’s quiet. I didna realize how much I’ve missed that.”
“Meaning you’ve not had it?” Elodie asked expectantly.
Elias shrugged. “Nay, I’ve no’.”
“Are you thinking of coming back to Skye for good?” Edie asked as she returned to the table.
She wouldn’t meet his gaze now, and Elias wished he had waited until Trevor was with his sister. He’d have very much liked to see his brother-in-law’s expression at the sight of the cameras.
Elias finished his wine, giving himself time to come up with an answer. “I’ll be here for a wee bit, aye. That’ll give me time to spend with both of you. Then, I’ll get Mum when she’s released. She wants to live here again, and I know you and Trevor need the rental back, so I’ll look for a house for her. No doubt I’ll stay with her for a month or two to make sure she’s settled.”
“You?” Edie asked tightly.
Elias slowly leaned back in his chair as he tried to figure out what he’d said that upset Edie.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one confused because Elodie asked, “What’s wrong?”
Edie’s smile was forced as she shook her head. “Nothing. Sorry. My mind is scattered today.”
When she began picking up the plates, he and Elodie joined her. Elias shot Elodie a searching look. She shrugged, obviously as confused as he was. It wasn’t until he was putting away their leftovers that he remembered what else he’d wanted to ask his sisters.
“Do either of you know a Bronwyn?”
Elodie shook her head. “Can’t say as I do.”
“Which Bronwyn?” Edie asked as she rinsed a plate before putting it in the dishwasher. “I can think of at least four.”
“She’s around Elodie’s age. There was an episode at the co-op, some woman telling her she didn’t belong on Skye and shouldna even be able to shop at the store.”
Edie nodded as she said, “Ah. Bronwyn Stewart.”
At least he had her full name now. “Something about her seems familiar.”
“I remember her,” Elodie said. “The family is well-off. The Stewarts have lived in the Carwood Manor for generations. Does she have dark hair?”
Elias nodded. “And hazel eyes.”
“I know why she looks familiar to you,” Elodie said with a wide grin. “You helped her up at school when she fell in the rain. She’s a few years younger than me. If I remember right, she’s pretty.”
“Aye, she’s bonnie,” he replied.
Elodie’s eyes widened. “Has someone taken an interest?”
“Stay away from her,” Edie stated in the firm voice Elias had heard her use on her children. “She’s drough.”
Elodie’s head jerked to Edie. “What? Are you sure?”
“That’s why people treat her with such disdain,” Edie answered and dried her hands.
“Rhona has kept to Corann’s decree that droughs can live on Skye as long as they doona harm anyone,” Elias said. He had known Druids who’d gone to the dark side, giving their souls to the Devil, but Bronwyn hadn’t had that look about her.
Or maybe he hadn’t seen it.
“Druids are Druids: mie or drough. If Rhona said they can live on Skye, and if Bronwyn has done nothing to warrant anyone treating her badly, then she should be left alone,” Elodie stated.
Edie braced a hand on the counter and faced them. “I disagree. I don’t want anyone like that around my children.”
“There are bad people everywhere,” Elias replied.
Elodie nodded solemnly. “I can attest to that. I’m sure people will be upset that Mum is coming back here, but she served her time. They’d better leave her alone.”
Elias would make sure of it, especially since his mother was innocent.
“You know how small this isle is. People will come up with their own stories and talk. Everything about Da will get brought back up again. We can’t let that happen,” Edie said.
“The same consideration should be given to anyone, regardless of their past—until they do something to warrant anger,” Elodie argued.
Edie snorted. “Said by someone who doesn’t have children. You can’t possibly understand what a parent goes through.”
“Druids have classified each other as mie and drough for too long. Black and white. Things are no’ so cut and dried. I’ve seen plenty of mies do horrible things. And I’ve seen droughs do amazing acts of kindness. There is no us versus them. Humanity lives in a world of gray.” Elias looked at each of his sisters. “We need to remember that.”
Chapter Six
“We should find Rhona,” Nikolai said.
Esther shook her head as they sat at a table in the pub. Her gaze moved outside the window, taking in the cars and people. “I want to have a look around Skye first.”
“You’ve no’ told me what you’re looking for.”
She slid her gaze to her mate’s baby blue eyes and spotted the concern. With a smile she didn’t quite feel, she reached over and smoothed a stray auburn lock into the rest of his hair. “I don’t know yet, sweetheart.”
“And that’s what worries me.” His lips compressed into a line. “You shouldna be here without your brother. You’re—”
“Half of a team,” she said with a nod, trying not to let impatience fill her voice. “I’m very aware of that.”
Nikolai took her hand in his. “You’re the TruthSeeker. So, seek the truth. If you find something, I’ll alert those at Dreagan, and someone will get Henry back to Earth. The JusticeBringer should no’ have left without you. You’re a bloody team.”
Esther tried not to be irritated with her brother. She didn’t know why Henry had felt drawn to leave this realm for Zora, but she’d known it was the wrong time for him to go even then. Though she hadn’t been able to stop him—no one could stop Henry when he had his mind set on something.
She finished her coffee. “You’re right. Let’s see what we can find.”
“After we see Rhona.”
“No,” Esther stated as she got to her feet. “Not yet.”
Nikolai sighed as he stood. “Our arrival will only stay secret for so long.”
“Something’s off, Nik. It’s here, on Skye, and it needs to be sorted. Quickly. Or…”
His brows drew together as he came around the table to her side. “Or?”
She put a hand on her chest and rubbed. “I don’t know. The feeling inside me is urgent, demanding I sort things out.”
“Then we’ll sort them,” he replied. “And I’m going to get Henry’s arse here now.”
Nikolai’s protectiveness was just one of the many reasons she loved him. “Not yet.”
“You’ve got a day.”
She smiled at the finality in his voice. “I’ll let you know when you can send for my brother.”
“Och, woman. You used to listen to me.”
That made her laugh as she kissed him. “Keep thinking that, my handsome Dragon King.”
Bronwyn gave up trying to work after returning to the house. Her encounter with Sydney had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She had looked through her new books, but her mind was too busy going over every word and look Sydney had given her. It wasn’t until she realized she had read the same paragraph for thirty minutes that she finally gave up.
She shivered, partly from the weather and partly from what Sydney had said. Bronwyn paced in front of the hearth, trying to soak in as much heat as possible. She hadn’t been able to get warm since she’d seen Sydney. She’d known he would come to Skye and had expected him weeks ago.
“What kept him away?” she asked aloud.
She grimaced when she thought of him now. What had she ever found appealing? But she knew the answer didn’t lie with Sydney. It was with her. Unfortunately, she’d waited too long to figure that out. If only she could go back in time to right the wrongs and fix the mistakes.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she murmured as she rubbed the middle of her forehead.
The anger in Sydney’s eyes had frightened her. It appeared he was prepared to do anything to find Beth, and Bronwyn was ready to do whatever it took to keep him from her cousin. Even if that meant welcoming the darkness within herself that she had ignored up until now. It was the least Bronwyn could do to make up for the things she had done.
“It won’t make up for everything, but it’s what I can do.”
And something had to be done.
Bronwyn wished she could ask for help. The very thing her father had told her she needed to do more. But she’d done exactly that. Her father’s death had been the horrible consequence. She wouldn’t seek assistance from anyone again, no matter how frightened she was. She couldn’t carry the weight of anyone else’s death on her conscience. This was her mess, and she would clean it up.
She sank wearily onto the chair and stared out the window. Of all the ways she’d thought her life might go, her current trajectory had never even been in the realm of possibilities. One bad decision after another had led to her current predicament. She knew that what she planned now was yet another dreadful choice, but there was no other option. She’d had weeks to come up with something else.
It wasn’t as if there was a manual for Druid spells. There wasn’t an encyclopedia or databank of Druid events and their decisions—good or bad. All she had was her life experience and magic to draw from and fall back on.
The silence of the house reaffirmed that she was alone and the fight Sydney would bring to her door would be one of life and death. Bronwyn had known that from the moment she’d found Beth, and it hadn’t stopped her then. It wouldn’t now.
“We can do this,” she said to the house.
She had to. There was no other option.
Her time with Sydney had let her know how to prepare, and she’d done that the only way she could. She’d become drough. Good or bad, right or wrong, she would carry the results of her choices from this life into the next. Everything was in order. She’d seen to her will within days of her father’s death.
The question was, how long would Sydney wait before he came for her? He could arrive at any moment. Though, he was a sadist. The more pain someone was in, the more pleasure he got out of it. It would be just like him to wait days or weeks before attacking.
Bronwyn might have been startled by his confrontation earlier, but she wouldn’t let that happen again. She had allowed herself to fall into a lull, clinging to tenuous pieces of hope that Sydney would give up on Beth. She should’ve known that he would never release his hold on her cousin. Beth had something he wanted, and Sydney would burn the world to find her.
Elias released the door handle one finger at a time. “Aye.”
“There’s some history between those two—and not the good kind.”
Elias took a deep breath and then slowly released it. “Why did you stop me from helping her?”
“Because you don’t need to bring more attention to yourself. Besides, I had a feeling she didn’t need it.”
“Didna need it?” he barked, his head swinging to the side so he could gape at Sabryn. “She went behind the bushes and got sick. I’d say she needed it.”
Sabryn crossed one leg over the other and silently regarded him. “You’ve got a penis, so I’ll forgive you for that outburst. Obviously, you’ve never had to endure the things a woman has. For all the shouts of equality in the world, there is still a vast expanse between what men and women go through, and I won’t even touch on skin color and other factors. The truth, Elias, is that men have always assumed they can intimidate. Sometimes, it’s trivial things like staring at our boobs instead of looking into our eyes. Annoying, yes, but it immediately puts women on the defensive—not to mention angers us. Men get away with it because, well, they’re men. Then there are the not-so-minor instances of leaning over us to make us feel inferior. The threats and power they use that seem forever at their disposal.”
Elias frowned as he realized the thin man had leaned over Bronwyn, looming. But she hadn’t backed away. She had held eye contact, everything in her bearing daring the arse to do something.
“That chick has some balls,” Sabryn continued. “She never let him see how terrified she was. That’s someone who has been through some shit and come out the other side. She has scars you’ll never see—and maybe some you can.”
He glanced at Sabryn, wondering if she compared herself to Bronwyn. Because Sabryn also had a complicated past.
She caught his gaze. “She needed to do that on her own. She could’ve run. She didn’t. She stayed and faced him because she had to.”
“You saw all that by watching her for only a few seconds?”
“Don’t sound so shocked. You have your gifts. I have mine. And, yes, to answer your question, I did. Not so much by her walk but her attitude when she saw the prick.” Sabryn smoothed her hand over the front of her cream angora sweater. “I’d advise you to keep your head on finding the murderer and clearing your name, but I recognize that look on your face. I only have one request.”
He raised his brows, waiting.
“Doona let the lass take up too much of your time,” Sabryn said with a perfect Scottish accent.
He chuckled. She had a knack for accents and picked them up quickly. “Heard.”
“Good.” Her deep blue gaze swung back to the cars around him. “I and the boys are going to do a little checking around while you’re with your family.”
“Be careful.”
She rolled her eyes as she clicked her tongue. “Do you know me at all? Careful is my middle name.”
“That’s shite, and you know it,” he called as she climbed out of his vehicle.
Sabryn bent to look at him. “Tallyho.”
“Verra funny.”
She waved her fingers at him and shut the door. Elias started the engine as she walked away. She was out of sight within moments. He backed out and started the drive to Edie’s. He was supposed to have lunch with his sisters. It wouldn’t be the first time they had eaten together since his return to Skye, but that didn’t mean things weren’t still a little awkward. He had been away for nearly two decades, rarely speaking to Edie and having almost no contact with Elodie. They were strangers for all intents and purposes. Memories of their childhood and their blood bond could only take them so far.
But he wanted to mend the rift he had caused by leaving. At least Elodie knew the truth of things. That made things easier.
When he arrived, Elodie met him at the door. He embraced his youngest sister. Her bright smile and vibrant face eased some of his worries that she wouldn’t be able to carry the weight of the past, but she was stronger than he gave her credit for. It helped that she wasn’t dealing with this alone. Scott’s love and support helped.
“You’re late,” Elodie said as she led him into the house.
“That’s a single man for you,” Edie called from the kitchen.
Elias chuckled as he inhaled the delightful aromas. “I promised wine,” he said and held up the bottle, entering the ultra-modern room. “I had to stop and get some.”
“Then you’re forgiven.” Elodie took the white and set about opening it.
Elias rubbed his hands together as he walked to the island. “What do you need me to do?”
“It’s all done. Just finishing up the sauce,” Edie said.
Elodie shot him a playful look. “And that’s why he’s tardy.”
“No’ fair,” he shot back, enjoying the banter. It made things feel almost as if they were teenagers again.
Edie motioned to the wine Elodie had poured. “Seriously, take your drinks and have a seat. The food is ready.”
Elias did as his sister requested. When he turned to the table, he only saw three place settings. “Is Trevor no’ joining us?”
“He had a work lunch he couldn’t get out of,” Edie replied as she concentrated on the food almost a little too hard.
Elias looked at Elodie, who shrugged and wrinkled her nose, telling him she had no answer to his silent question. He opted not to discuss it further. Mostly because Elias knew very little about his sister’s marriage, other than they seemed happy. He didn’t want to stir up problems where there were none. From everything he’d seen, they had a great life.
Edie was a terrific cook, and the meal of baked salmon and asparagus was delicious. They talked about the past, reminiscing on their antics and the things they had gotten into as children—though Elodie was careful not to speak of their father. Elias followed suit, but Edie, not knowing the truth of the horrible man their da had been, had no such qualms. She brought him up several times.
With the bottle of wine empty and only a little left in their glasses, Elias waited for a lull in the conversation before pulling the small cameras from his back pocket and laying them on the table in front of Edie, who sat across from him.
She eyed them. “What’s that?”
“Your cameras,” he replied.
She took a drink of her wine before shaking her head, confusion in her eyes. “What cameras?”
“The ones in the cottage I’m renting.”
“We don’t install monitoring equipment inside our rentals. The tenants have a right to their privacy. We do install some outside, though.”
Elias noted the way Edie’s lips tightened and her voice rose, indicating she was upset. “I’m sorry to say, but these were inside.”
“Maybe Trevor forgot to tell you, Edie,” Elodie offered.
Their sister grabbed the small cameras and rose from the table to put them on the island. “I’m sure that’s it. I’m sorry, Elias.”
“Doona be. I’m sure it was an oversight.” It was a lie, but he felt compelled to ease the tension he saw in Edie.
It was obvious she hadn’t known about the cameras, which meant that Trevor was responsible for placing them. And any landlord who installed hidden surveillance throughout a residence wasn’t anyone Elias wanted to know.
Elodie cleared her throat nervously and caught his gaze. “How is the house?”
“It’s great.” He glanced at the island to see Edie staring at the devices as if she could make them speak. “I love the location.”
“You mean you love that no one’s around,” Elodie teased.
He nodded. “Absolutely. The road is back far enough that I doona hear most of the traffic. It’s quiet. I didna realize how much I’ve missed that.”
“Meaning you’ve not had it?” Elodie asked expectantly.
Elias shrugged. “Nay, I’ve no’.”
“Are you thinking of coming back to Skye for good?” Edie asked as she returned to the table.
She wouldn’t meet his gaze now, and Elias wished he had waited until Trevor was with his sister. He’d have very much liked to see his brother-in-law’s expression at the sight of the cameras.
Elias finished his wine, giving himself time to come up with an answer. “I’ll be here for a wee bit, aye. That’ll give me time to spend with both of you. Then, I’ll get Mum when she’s released. She wants to live here again, and I know you and Trevor need the rental back, so I’ll look for a house for her. No doubt I’ll stay with her for a month or two to make sure she’s settled.”
“You?” Edie asked tightly.
Elias slowly leaned back in his chair as he tried to figure out what he’d said that upset Edie.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one confused because Elodie asked, “What’s wrong?”
Edie’s smile was forced as she shook her head. “Nothing. Sorry. My mind is scattered today.”
When she began picking up the plates, he and Elodie joined her. Elias shot Elodie a searching look. She shrugged, obviously as confused as he was. It wasn’t until he was putting away their leftovers that he remembered what else he’d wanted to ask his sisters.
“Do either of you know a Bronwyn?”
Elodie shook her head. “Can’t say as I do.”
“Which Bronwyn?” Edie asked as she rinsed a plate before putting it in the dishwasher. “I can think of at least four.”
“She’s around Elodie’s age. There was an episode at the co-op, some woman telling her she didn’t belong on Skye and shouldna even be able to shop at the store.”
Edie nodded as she said, “Ah. Bronwyn Stewart.”
At least he had her full name now. “Something about her seems familiar.”
“I remember her,” Elodie said. “The family is well-off. The Stewarts have lived in the Carwood Manor for generations. Does she have dark hair?”
Elias nodded. “And hazel eyes.”
“I know why she looks familiar to you,” Elodie said with a wide grin. “You helped her up at school when she fell in the rain. She’s a few years younger than me. If I remember right, she’s pretty.”
“Aye, she’s bonnie,” he replied.
Elodie’s eyes widened. “Has someone taken an interest?”
“Stay away from her,” Edie stated in the firm voice Elias had heard her use on her children. “She’s drough.”
Elodie’s head jerked to Edie. “What? Are you sure?”
“That’s why people treat her with such disdain,” Edie answered and dried her hands.
“Rhona has kept to Corann’s decree that droughs can live on Skye as long as they doona harm anyone,” Elias said. He had known Druids who’d gone to the dark side, giving their souls to the Devil, but Bronwyn hadn’t had that look about her.
Or maybe he hadn’t seen it.
“Druids are Druids: mie or drough. If Rhona said they can live on Skye, and if Bronwyn has done nothing to warrant anyone treating her badly, then she should be left alone,” Elodie stated.
Edie braced a hand on the counter and faced them. “I disagree. I don’t want anyone like that around my children.”
“There are bad people everywhere,” Elias replied.
Elodie nodded solemnly. “I can attest to that. I’m sure people will be upset that Mum is coming back here, but she served her time. They’d better leave her alone.”
Elias would make sure of it, especially since his mother was innocent.
“You know how small this isle is. People will come up with their own stories and talk. Everything about Da will get brought back up again. We can’t let that happen,” Edie said.
“The same consideration should be given to anyone, regardless of their past—until they do something to warrant anger,” Elodie argued.
Edie snorted. “Said by someone who doesn’t have children. You can’t possibly understand what a parent goes through.”
“Druids have classified each other as mie and drough for too long. Black and white. Things are no’ so cut and dried. I’ve seen plenty of mies do horrible things. And I’ve seen droughs do amazing acts of kindness. There is no us versus them. Humanity lives in a world of gray.” Elias looked at each of his sisters. “We need to remember that.”
Chapter Six
“We should find Rhona,” Nikolai said.
Esther shook her head as they sat at a table in the pub. Her gaze moved outside the window, taking in the cars and people. “I want to have a look around Skye first.”
“You’ve no’ told me what you’re looking for.”
She slid her gaze to her mate’s baby blue eyes and spotted the concern. With a smile she didn’t quite feel, she reached over and smoothed a stray auburn lock into the rest of his hair. “I don’t know yet, sweetheart.”
“And that’s what worries me.” His lips compressed into a line. “You shouldna be here without your brother. You’re—”
“Half of a team,” she said with a nod, trying not to let impatience fill her voice. “I’m very aware of that.”
Nikolai took her hand in his. “You’re the TruthSeeker. So, seek the truth. If you find something, I’ll alert those at Dreagan, and someone will get Henry back to Earth. The JusticeBringer should no’ have left without you. You’re a bloody team.”
Esther tried not to be irritated with her brother. She didn’t know why Henry had felt drawn to leave this realm for Zora, but she’d known it was the wrong time for him to go even then. Though she hadn’t been able to stop him—no one could stop Henry when he had his mind set on something.
She finished her coffee. “You’re right. Let’s see what we can find.”
“After we see Rhona.”
“No,” Esther stated as she got to her feet. “Not yet.”
Nikolai sighed as he stood. “Our arrival will only stay secret for so long.”
“Something’s off, Nik. It’s here, on Skye, and it needs to be sorted. Quickly. Or…”
His brows drew together as he came around the table to her side. “Or?”
She put a hand on her chest and rubbed. “I don’t know. The feeling inside me is urgent, demanding I sort things out.”
“Then we’ll sort them,” he replied. “And I’m going to get Henry’s arse here now.”
Nikolai’s protectiveness was just one of the many reasons she loved him. “Not yet.”
“You’ve got a day.”
She smiled at the finality in his voice. “I’ll let you know when you can send for my brother.”
“Och, woman. You used to listen to me.”
That made her laugh as she kissed him. “Keep thinking that, my handsome Dragon King.”
Bronwyn gave up trying to work after returning to the house. Her encounter with Sydney had shaken her more than she wanted to admit. She had looked through her new books, but her mind was too busy going over every word and look Sydney had given her. It wasn’t until she realized she had read the same paragraph for thirty minutes that she finally gave up.
She shivered, partly from the weather and partly from what Sydney had said. Bronwyn paced in front of the hearth, trying to soak in as much heat as possible. She hadn’t been able to get warm since she’d seen Sydney. She’d known he would come to Skye and had expected him weeks ago.
“What kept him away?” she asked aloud.
She grimaced when she thought of him now. What had she ever found appealing? But she knew the answer didn’t lie with Sydney. It was with her. Unfortunately, she’d waited too long to figure that out. If only she could go back in time to right the wrongs and fix the mistakes.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she murmured as she rubbed the middle of her forehead.
The anger in Sydney’s eyes had frightened her. It appeared he was prepared to do anything to find Beth, and Bronwyn was ready to do whatever it took to keep him from her cousin. Even if that meant welcoming the darkness within herself that she had ignored up until now. It was the least Bronwyn could do to make up for the things she had done.
“It won’t make up for everything, but it’s what I can do.”
And something had to be done.
Bronwyn wished she could ask for help. The very thing her father had told her she needed to do more. But she’d done exactly that. Her father’s death had been the horrible consequence. She wouldn’t seek assistance from anyone again, no matter how frightened she was. She couldn’t carry the weight of anyone else’s death on her conscience. This was her mess, and she would clean it up.
She sank wearily onto the chair and stared out the window. Of all the ways she’d thought her life might go, her current trajectory had never even been in the realm of possibilities. One bad decision after another had led to her current predicament. She knew that what she planned now was yet another dreadful choice, but there was no other option. She’d had weeks to come up with something else.
It wasn’t as if there was a manual for Druid spells. There wasn’t an encyclopedia or databank of Druid events and their decisions—good or bad. All she had was her life experience and magic to draw from and fall back on.
The silence of the house reaffirmed that she was alone and the fight Sydney would bring to her door would be one of life and death. Bronwyn had known that from the moment she’d found Beth, and it hadn’t stopped her then. It wouldn’t now.
“We can do this,” she said to the house.
She had to. There was no other option.
Her time with Sydney had let her know how to prepare, and she’d done that the only way she could. She’d become drough. Good or bad, right or wrong, she would carry the results of her choices from this life into the next. Everything was in order. She’d seen to her will within days of her father’s death.
The question was, how long would Sydney wait before he came for her? He could arrive at any moment. Though, he was a sadist. The more pain someone was in, the more pleasure he got out of it. It would be just like him to wait days or weeks before attacking.
Bronwyn might have been startled by his confrontation earlier, but she wouldn’t let that happen again. She had allowed herself to fall into a lull, clinging to tenuous pieces of hope that Sydney would give up on Beth. She should’ve known that he would never release his hold on her cousin. Beth had something he wanted, and Sydney would burn the world to find her.
