Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(2)
Author: Donna Grant

 

Rhona turned and walked to the sofa. Sitting, she motioned Elias to the chair. “Have a seat.”

 

Elias knew it wasn’t exactly an order. He could leave. He hadn’t lived on Skye in years but he was from the isle. That meant he would always be considered a Skye Druid. He made his way to the chair and lowered himself into it. Balladyn moved to the opposite side of the room, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning a shoulder against the wall, the Reaper’s red gaze never leaving him. Elias listened to the rain pinging against the windows as he anticipated the inevitable questions. He didn’t have to wait long.

 

“Why would George accuse you of the murders?” Rhona asked as she tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear.

 

Elias shrugged and finished the whisky. “I doona have a clue.”

 

“Have you ever met her?” Balladyn queried.

 

Elias shook his head, suddenly feeling weary to his bones. “Never. But I know of her.”

 

That got Rhona’s attention. “How?”

 

“You can discover a lot by asking the right people.”

 

There was a hint of a smile on Balladyn’s lips. “And that’s what you did?”

 

“Aye. It isna some great gift. It’s just taking the time to study an area and the people within it. It doesna take long before you begin finding those who like to talk.” Elias turned the empty tumbler around in his fingers. “There are always those who say more than they should.”

 

Rhona nodded. “True. What did you find out about George?”

 

Elias thought about that for a moment. He didn’t know Rhona or Balladyn. He didn’t know George either. Most people in his position would attempt to make George out to be corrupt or guilty in an effort to get others on their side. It might work for a short while, but it rarely lasted in the long run.

 

Despite his anger at George for her accusation, Elias decided to be candid. “She works hard to find Druids in Edinburgh and bring them into her organization. She’s well-liked.”

 

“Not by you, though,” Rhona pointed out.

 

Balladyn grunted. “And given the anger in your voice, it goes much further than her recent accusation.”

 

Elias ran a hand down his face. He sat the tumbler on the table beside him and leaned forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. “Nay, I doona like her.”

 

“Why?” Rhona pressed.

 

Elias looked at the floor for a heartbeat before meeting Rhona’s gaze. “Call it a hunch.”

 

“I’m going to need more than that.”

 

“I’ve traveled all over the world, met a lot of people, and I’ve seen many just like her.” Elias paused, trying to put his thoughts into words. “I doona have specifics, exactly.”

 

Balladyn pushed away from the wall and dropped his arms to his sides. “Something’s bothering you. What is it?”

 

“She’s never wrong. In everything she’s seen through her visions, she’s never wrong.”

 

Rhona’s brows drew together in a frown. “That’s not normal. I don’t care how powerful a seer is, no one gets everything right.”

 

“Precisely. She’s wrong about me,” Elias stated. This time, he let his fury come through. “I willna say I’ve no’ killed, but it was always in self-defense.”

 

Balladyn stalked closer with his eyes narrowed. “Oh?”

 

Fuck. Elias had said too much. He shouldn’t have let his anger get the best of him. But to be called a murderer? To be blamed for the killings he was actively trying to solve? It was too much.

 

“Elias,” Rhona pressed.

 

He looked from her to Balladyn. There was no way he would get out of here without telling them something. Besides, they’d find out soon enough anyway. Probably from him. “I’ve been tracking the murders.”

 

“What? How?” Rhona asked as she scooted to the edge of the couch cushion, curiosity and interest propelling her. “There are murders everywhere, every day. How do you know someone is a Druid?”

 

Elias slowly sat back. “It’s the type of killings.”

 

“The mist that attacked here,” Balladyn said. “Is that happening in other places?”

 

Elias shook his head. “No’ exactly. But there are things like that. Things out of place. Unexplained murders and such. No’ to mention the notes that say bàs ort, death to you.”

 

“Where?” Rhona asked in a soft voice.

 

Elias released a breath. “Everywhere we look.”

 

“We?” Balladyn asked.

 

Elias shrugged, hoping to deflect. “A slip of the tongue.”

 

“I doubt that.” Rhona’s green gaze held his, daring him to lie. “An operation this big would take others.”

 

Well, fuck. Elias wished he could take back the words, but he couldn’t. He flattened his lips and nodded.

 

“How many of you are there?” Rhona pressed.

 

Elias shoved to his feet. “I’ve said more than I should’ve already.”

 

“It looks suspicious when a group wants to remain a secret,” Balladyn stated.

 

Elias slid his gaze to him. “The Reapers remained secret for how long?”

 

“That isn’t the same.”

 

“Is it no’?” Elias argued.

 

Rhona rose and stepped between them, her eyes on Elias. “You’ve made your point. We may not know each other well, but my goal is to protect the Druids on Skye.”

 

“And mine is to protect all Druids. I respect your position, and I ask that you give me the same courtesy,” Elias replied.

 

Tension radiated from Balladyn. “She’s not been accused of murder.”

 

“Stop,” Rhona told Balladyn. Her long, red hair swung behind her as she turned back to Elias. “One way or another, we’re getting to the bottom of this. Work with me. And just so you know, I’m going to ask the same of George.”

 

Elias wasn’t surprised. It was the same move Corann would’ve made. No doubt the old Druid would’ve been proud of Rhona. It was a smart decision. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one he agreed with. “I can no’ work with George.”