Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(25)
Author: Donna Grant
“And the list of those who have been chosen to die? When can I send the mist back out?”
“Soon.”
Scott stood with Elodie in the kitchen of her cottage. His best friend, Filip, was off to the side. The three of them had been silent as DI Theo Frasier laid out the facts about the newest murder—and the suspect.
“You’re wrong,” Elodie finally said.
Frasier, for his part, didn’t look pleased to be there. “I follow the evidence, Elodie. My feelings about anyone can no’ matter.”
“That’s shite,” Filip said with a snort as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Scott glanced at Filip, meeting his pale gray eyes. Then he returned his attention to Frasier. First, George had announced that Elias was the murderer. Now, Frasier was saying the same, only about a new body that had been found at the rental where Elias stayed.
Frasier rubbed his forehead and shifted his feet. “Look, Elodie, you said yourself that you have no’ seen your brother in years. Nor have you spoken to him. You doona know what he’s been up to.”
“I know he isn’t a killer,” she stated flatly.
Scott could feel Elodie shaking with anger beside him. He put his arm around her and spoke to Frasier. “Something isna right. Surely, you see that. You said it appeared the man hadna been slain at Elias’s. Why would Elias kill someone somewhere and bring the body back to his place to be found?”
Frasier shrugged. “People do strange things.”
“Not my brother,” Elodie replied.
“Regardless, I need to talk to him.”
“You mean arrest him.”
Frasier put one hand in the pocket of his pants. “I have questions I need answered.”
“About this murder? Or the ones George has accused him of?” Filip asked.
Scott couldn’t remember the last time he had been this confused. He had been a part of the Druid Others in Edinburgh led by George for years. Filip’s brother, Kevin, who had been Scott’s closest friend, had been one of the Druids murdered. Upon his death, Scott and Filip bonded, leaning on each other in their grief, and Filip became the brother Scott never had.
They had trusted George completely—had no reason not to. Then George sent them to locate Elodie and convince her to join their organization—a group, and ones like it, that Rhona and Balladyn were actively trying to disband.
Their origins came from the original Others that were made up of a mie and a drough from this realm, a Light and a Dark Fae, and a mie and a drough from another realm, a place humans themselves were descended from. The Others had formed to take over Earth, and the only way to do that was to get rid of the Dragon Kings. They’d nearly succeeded, too, but the Dragon Kings were too formidable to be conquered in such a way.
The original Others had disbanded, and most of the members had been killed. A Light Fae escaped and went to his people to begin the Fae Others, which the Reapers had recently stamped out. The Druids from Earth had then quickly spread the information about what a group of Druids combining their magic could do. It wasn’t long before clusters of Druid Others began popping up around the globe.
Scott had once thought any group of Others was simply protecting itself from harm that could come to its members. It made sense when so many Druids were being murdered. Then he’d come to the Isle of Skye and learned the brutal truth about his organization. The Others, no matter if they were Fae or Druids, sought to assume power any way they could.
Filip made the decision to remain on Skye, where he had been born, and Scott chose to join him. It wasn’t just Skye that had stolen Scott’s heart, Elodie had, as well. George took their defections personally. Oh, she said she understood, but Scott didn’t believe her. He still wasn’t sure if George naming Elias as the Druid murderer was because of his and Filip’s decision or not. But ever since George had come to Skye, things had continued to pile up against Elias.
The latest was one that left everyone reeling.
As Scott waited for Frasier to answer Filip’s question, his gaze moved to Elodie. The MacLean family had suffered so much. Then just as things were about to sort themselves out, this happened.
“I’m still looking into George’s allegation against Elias,” Frasier replied. He held up a hand when Elodie went to speak. “You have to admit that your brother has secrets.”
“We all do,” Scott pointed out.
Frasier’s lips twisted ruefully. “Be that as it may, it looks bad that we can no’ find him. And this after I asked him to come to the station so I could ask about George’s accusations.”
Elodie threw up her hands and sighed loudly. “They’re just that. Accusations. She has no evidence that he did anything to anyone here. Elias wasn’t even on Skye when the Druids were murdered.”
“But they stopped when he arrived,” Frasier pointed out.
Filip dropped his arms. “They began when Scott and I came. Why are you no’ looking into us?”
“Who says I’m no’?” Frasier ran a hand down his face. “Please, if you see Elias, send him my way. It’ll go much better for him if he doesn’t run.” He paused and sighed. Then, with a shake of his head, he turned on his heel and walked out.
No one moved until Frasier was gone. Then, Elodie covered her face with her hands. Scott turned her, pulling her against him as he met Filip’s gaze.
“What is happening?” Elodie asked, her face pressed against his neck.
Scott rubbed his hand over her back. “We’re going to find out.”
“You’re damn right, we are,” Filip said.
Elodie lifted her head. “What if…what if Elias is a killer?”
Scott smoothed her blond hair from her face and looked into her light blue eyes. “Then we’ll find that out, too.”
“I thought my family was past everything.” She glanced down, swallowing. “Frasier’s right, though. I don’t know Elias. I don’t even know Edie, not like siblings should. Elias is secretive about his life.”
Scott shook his head. “I saw what he did to get to you. I saw his love for you, and for his family. And I doona think he’s the one responsible for the deaths.”
“Then where is he?” she asked in a soft voice.