Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(40)
Author: Donna Grant

 

She’d had no choice but to walk past Sarah that morning, but Bronwyn didn’t look at the pretty, popular girl. Her dad had told her not to engage Sarah and that things would settle between them eventually. So, that’s what Bronwyn did.

 

When Sarah called out to her, Bronwyn ignored her. That enraged Sarah. The next thing Bronwyn knew, the ground rushed up to meet her. She let go of her books in an attempt to break her fall. Bronwyn just managed to keep her face from slamming into the concrete sidewalk. The wet ground littered with leaves stung her palms and knees, but it was the sound of laughter from everyone that made tears prick her eyes.

 

Just as suddenly as the laughter began, it halted. That was when Bronwyn saw the boots in front of her. She lifted her head, her heart stopping in shock as Elias lowered to his haunches. His bright blue eyes searched her face. Then, he shot her a quick smile.

 

He held out his hand, and Bronwyn’s brain froze. She wondered if all of it was a dream, but her body moved of its own accord, and the feel of Elias’s strong, steady fingers closing around hers as he helped her to her feet was a balm to her bruised ego. She couldn’t stop staring as he gathered her books and straightened to tower over her. His lips curved into a smile as he handed the books to her before picking leaves from her hair.

 

Every hurt she had vanished. Elias had noticed her. Her! Odd, outsider Bronwyn.

 

Elias had said nothing that day. He hadn’t needed to. She’d seen the kindness in his eyes.

 

Something she had never forgotten.

 

Was that why she’d reached for him, offering comfort when he needed it the most? Could that be the reason she allowed him to remain at the house?

 

“Bronwyn?”

 

She blinked, focusing on his face that now wore a frown as he stood across the table. “Aye?”

 

“Are you all right? You looked far away.”

 

“Just thinking.” She glanced around and realized the food had already been set on the plates.

 

Elias pulled out his chair and sat. “I hope you like stir-fry.”

 

“It smells delicious,” she replied as she lowered herself into a chair, still caught up in the feelings from long ago that now mixed with the current ones. Her palm tingled with the memory of his hand against hers.

 

They ate in silence for several minutes. Bronwyn felt his gaze on her, but she didn’t look at him. Her brain told her he would be safer anywhere but at the manor, but her heart urged her to let Elias stay. And her body, well, it also advocated for him to remain.

 

Bronwyn shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She hoped Elias couldn’t tell what she was thinking. It seemed as if it were written all over her face. “I’m not used to anyone being in the house,” she blurted out.

 

His fork paused on the way to his mouth. He lowered it and looked into her eyes. “The manor is large enough that I can make sure you don’t see or hear me if that’s what you wish.”

 

That wasn’t what she’d meant. Or had it been? Dammit! Why was she so confused? She wanted to feel his hand against hers again. She wanted to know the taste of his lips, the feel of his hard body, but she knew it was reckless and stupid. Anyone near her when things imploded would likely be taken out with her. Elias deserved so much more than what she could offer.

 

He cleared his throat, his gaze briefly lowering to the table. “About earlier,” he began.

 

“Don’t. Whatever you want to say, don’t.” She was hanging on by a thread, and if he said the right thing, she was doomed. It was better if he didn’t say anything at all. She moved her attention to her plate, unable to meet his probing scrutiny any longer.

 

“Bronwyn, look at me.”

 

His voice was soft and deep, a plea in every syllable. Did he have any idea what he did to her? He dredged up that long-buried hunger, the cavernous, aching loneliness to be accepted by someone. She had looked for it in all the wrong places. She had even believed she’d found it with Sydney. But it was there, in Elias’s eyes—if she dared but look. But she didn’t, she couldn’t.

 

“Please,” he implored.

 

Damn him for the hold he seemed to have over her. The walls she’d crafted didn’t stand a chance against him. Neither, it seemed, did her willpower. She lifted her gaze to his. The instant she looked into his bright blue eyes, she was ensnared, entangled.

 

What was it about Elias that made her feel as close to being safe as she ever had? There was an openness about him that compelled her to share more of herself. But most of all was the attraction. The wanton, primal need to claim him and be claimed by him in turn. It had been there from the instant she’d seen him at the co-op, and it continued to flourish exponentially, culminating upstairs when she used her magic.

 

If only she had found him instead of Sydney. Her life would be so different. But it hadn’t been Elias, and wishing it had been didn’t undo her horrendous decisions.

 

“I understand why you’ve retreated to the manor,” Elias said. “I get why you keep everyone away. I also understand why you believe you deserve the cruelty you receive from others. I want to help you. Let me help,” he beseeched. “I willna let you down.”

 

Bronwyn wanted to wrap her arms around him and flee the manor at the same time. She did neither. Instead, she did her best to strengthen her walls against the bright flame that was Elias. “You can’t help me. No one can.”

 

“Then let me be your friend. We could both use one of those right now.”

 

She wanted to refuse him, but he had asked for the one thing she couldn’t deny. Because she desperately wanted a friend. Even as she started to agree, she was reminded of those closest to her she had lost because of her decisions. “You deserve a better fate than what you’d get being my friend.”

 

“I disagree,” he stated calmly as if expecting that answer.

 

She pushed her half-eaten plate away. “You think you know me, but you don’t.”

 

“I’m trying to know you. I want to know you.” His brows snapped together. “Why is that so difficult for you to accept?”

 

Bronwyn pushed the chair back as she got to her feet. “Because I know who I am. I know what’s coming. And I know that anyone near me will suffer the same fate. I don’t want that for you.”

 

He got to his feet and leaned his hands on the table, never breaking eye contact. “Then you doona have any idea of who I am or what the Knights and I are capable of.”

 

“Why haven’t you asked how Beth got here?” she demanded.