Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(12)
Author: Donna Grant

Frasier put his credentials away and brought a closed fist to his mouth, where he cleared his throat. “I doona know if you remember me,” he began.

 

“I know who you are.” Just as he knew very well who she was.

 

He was a few years her senior, and while not all the Druids knew each other, Theo had dated one of her friends in school. He’d had a serious nature even back then. He was pragmatic, shrewd, and reasonable. Theo had always been fascinated with the justice system and catching criminals. It was more of a daunting task when you were a Druid on Skye, trying to take down other Druids. It seemed he’d found his calling.

 

Theo nodded and held her gaze. “May I come in? This willna take but a moment.”

 

Bronwyn stepped outside and closed the door behind her. She crossed her arms over her chest for warmth. “If this is about me buying groceries, I have every right to be there.”

 

“What?” he asked, his brows drawing together in confusion. Then he shook his head. “Nay. I’m going to all the Druids and asking if they’ve seen the mist. It isna like regular mist it—”

 

“Moves,” she said over him. Bronwyn nodded. “I’ve seen it.”

 

Theo’s eyes widened as he pulled out a pad of paper and a pen, waiting for her to talk. “When? Where?”

 

“Anyone who is outside at night has likely seen it. Whether they admit to it is another matter. I saw it about a week and a half ago.” She pointed to the left, in the direction of the road. “Over that way. It was low, hugging the ground. Before that, I witnessed it moving in the sky. Rather high up.”

 

He wrote furiously in his small notebook. “Do you know who’s controlling it?”

 

She’d been wondering if someone would ask her that. “It isn’t me, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

 

Theo paused and lifted his dark gaze to study her with cool detachment. “I didna insinuate it was.”

 

“I’m sure every drough on Skye is being blamed.”

 

“You know what it means to be a Skye Druid,” he said as he lowered his arms to his sides. “We can no’ use magic for evil or to help evil, lest we lose our magic.”

 

She nodded, not hiding her irritation. “Then it must be a drough. But it isn’t me. Before you ask, no, I don’t have anyone to vouch for me. I live alone, as you well know.”

 

A spark of irritation flashed before it faded. “People are dead, Bronwyn.”

 

“I know. I read about it. If I knew something, I’d tell you, if for no other reason than to ensure I’m left alone. Just because I’m now a drough doesn’t mean I go around killing people—or know who is. Plenty of droughs in the world never take a life.”

 

He blew out a strained breath and pocketed his notebook and pen. “I’m just doing my job.”

 

“I appreciate that.”

 

Theo shifted his feet as his gaze sharpened. “About the altercation at the co-op.”

 

Ah. Just as she’d expected. Bronwyn didn’t say anything. She just waited.

 

“You should know that Sarah made a complaint. She said you threatened her.”

 

“Perhaps I’ll start wasting police time and complain every time someone harasses me when I’m going about my day. Shall I explain how she tried to humiliate me in front of everyone? How she demanded that I not be allowed to shop there or even live on Skye?”

 

Theo had the good grace to look abashed. “She said as much to me. I reminded her that per the decree, droughs can live on Skye at our leader’s discretion.”

 

“And what did Sarah say to that?”

 

“She plans to petition Rhona to change things.”

 

Bronwyn had expected that would happen eventually. Still, it hurt more than she cared to admit. “I see.”

 

“Rhona is fair,” Theo urged. “Talk to her.”

 

Bronwyn reached behind her and took hold of the doorknob. “Is that all?”

 

“Aye.” But he didn’t leave. Theo studied her for a moment. “Please, go see Rhona.”

 

“Good day,” she said and walked into the house, locking the door behind her.

 

When Bronwyn peered out the window, Theo remained on the stoop for another few moments before walking to his vehicle and finally leaving. Bronwyn blew out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding and hurried into the parlor and the warmth it offered.

 

She opened her laptop and tried to work, but she ended up staring blankly at the screen as her mind repeatedly jumped from the recent confrontation with Sarah, the man who’d stared at her in the co-op, the clash with Sydney, and Theo’s visit. When she finally looked up, the room was dark.

 

Bronwyn rose and turned on the lights. It had been hours since she’d last eaten, if her growling stomach was any indication. Since she still hadn’t made any bread, she had to settle for eating peanut butter off a spoon. It wasn’t the best meal, but it at least offered protein.

 

She walked out the back door to see the moon reflecting off the loch. Some might call it a beautiful sight, but it just looked eerie and wrong to her. Yet she couldn’t stop looking at it. Maybe because it had been a night much like this one—the frigid air mixed with a clear sky—that her mother had walked into the water to take her life.

 

It didn’t matter what excuse had been given. Bronwyn couldn’t forgive her mum for giving up and leaving instead of fighting. Nor could she forgive herself for not being able to help.

 

Bronwyn turned to go back inside the house when something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She swung around in time to see a large cloud of mist slinking low through the trees on the other side of the loch, moving in what could only be described as a slithering motion over the water and straight toward her.

 

She wanted to run, but Bronwyn stood her ground, even when the mist swirled around her, first in one direction and then the other—never touching her—before darting into the air and disappearing.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

Dumbfounded, Elias stared through the binoculars at the sight of the mist as it wound around Bronwyn in what he could only describe as…sensual. Yet it was the rigid way she stood that really caught his attention. She didn’t appear pleased to see the mist, much less have it near her.