Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(54)
Author: Donna Grant

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

Elias couldn’t take his eyes off Bronwyn. She sat still as stone, the passion he’d witnessed and felt last night tightly leashed. But he knew the real her. The unconventional, independent beauty who bewitched completely. She hid her emotions well but not so thoroughly that he couldn’t tell she was chafing at the facts set before her.

 

“You’re not leaving me much choice,” Bronwyn replied icily.

 

Carlyle nodded once. “We’re like that sometimes. Shall we begin planning?”

 

Sabryn held up a hand to Carlyle and looked at Bronwyn. “I understand how you feel. Sydney came with numbers to intimidate you.”

 

“It’s his way. He’s never alone. Ever. He doesn’t like doing the dirty work himself,” Bronwyn added.

 

Sabryn’s lips twisted. “That’s good information to know. My point is, he’s down one man. You’re up four. That puts us at an advantage. He knows Elias is helping you, but he doesn’t know about the rest of us.”

 

“I can’t wait to see the surprise on his face,” Finn said as he rubbed his hands together eagerly.

 

Carlyle caught Bronwyn’s gaze. “You have to admit this is good for you.”

 

Elias saw the varied emotions cross Bronwyn’s face from anger to agitation to unease. He knew the reasons she wanted to battle Sydney alone, and while Elias might commend her for such ideas, it would cost her in the end—be it her life or her magic.

 

Bronwyn lowered her gaze to the floor, choosing not to reply to Carlyle. Elias felt the scrutiny of his friends. He looked at them and shrugged. He had nothing to add. He’d said everything he had to say last night and this morning to absolutely no effect.

 

Sabryn cleared her throat as she locked her eyes on Bronwyn. “If we’re going to succeed, then we need to know everything.”

 

Bronwyn’s gaze slowly lifted to meet Sabryn’s before she cocked a dark brow. “And by everything, you mean?”

 

“We need to know the full extent of your drough magic as well as how you’re using blood magic.”

 

“That doesn’t concern you.”

 

Elias stepped forward, the need to defend Bronwyn rising swiftly, sharply. “I know the use of her blood magic, and it doesna concern us.”

 

“I disagree,” Carlyle replied.

 

Elias shrugged, fighting irritation. He had to remind himself that these were his friends, his family. They only wanted to help. But when it came to Bronwyn, rational thought went out the door. “I doona care. If it would put any of you in danger, I’d tell you, but it doesna.”

 

“But you know how she uses it?” Finn asked.

 

Elias nodded once. He felt Bronwyn’s eyes on him, but he didn’t look at her. Her earlier words had cut him to the quick, and he wasn’t over that yet.

 

“Well,” Sabryn said as she shot him a confused look, “we trust you, E. If you say we don’t need to worry about any repercussions stemming from Bronwyn’s use of blood magic, then we’ll accept that.”

 

“Will we?” Carlyle asked curtly as he faced Elias.

 

Finn got to his feet. “Our brother is asking us to take his word. I don’t have a problem with that. Neither do you. Do you, Carlyle?”

 

It was a tense moment before Carlyle finally turned away, grumbling, “No problem at all.”

 

Elias breathed a sigh of relief that Carlyle backed down. His friend might not be pleased, but he’d never hold a grudge. That allowed Elias’s thoughts to turn to Bronwyn. He’d wanted to help her from the beginning, but he hadn’t wanted her to be pushed into agreeing. He should be pleased with the outcome, but he wasn’t.

 

“So, regarding the planning,” Finn said as he resumed his seat. “I suspect Sydney and his crew will surround the manor.”

 

Elias thought about that. “If they do, they’ll leave large spaces open between them.”

 

“If Sydney doesn’t bring in more people,” Bronwyn replied.

 

Sabryn’s brows snapped together. “Shit. We need to prepare for that.”

 

“I don’t know. He seemed too confident last night,” Carlyle added. “He believes he’s only going up against two people.”

 

Bronwyn shot to her feet suddenly, her eyes focused on one of the stained-glass windows. “Unless he has taken action to ensure I’m alone.”

 

That’s when Elias heard the crunch of gravel of an approaching vehicle. He looked at his friends. “Where’s your car?”

 

“Hidden half a mile to the north,” Sabryn said.

 

Finn put a hand on the arm of the sofa and launched himself over the side. “We were careful in case of just such an event.”

 

But Carlyle had already beaten Finn to the entrance. A heartbeat later, he said, “It’s the police.”

 

Elias shared a look with Finn and Sabryn. In unison, they said, “George.”

 

Carlyle strode back in. “Where are the secret tunnels in the manor?”

 

“There aren’t any,” Bronwyn answered.

 

“There has to be,” Carlyle stated firmly.

 

Elias slid his gaze to Bronwyn because he knew what she was thinking. “Nay.”

 

“It’s the only way,” she told him.

 

Carlyle looked between them. “Every bloody house like this has hiding compartments. Where are they?”

 

“Follow me,” Bronwyn said as she hurried from the room.

 

Elias brought up the rear as everyone raced up the stairs. They had just reached the second floor when someone pounded on the door. He paused and looked below. “We’re no’ going to have time.”

 

“They can’t get in unless I give permission,” Bronwyn said, out of breath as she ran.

 

She skidded to a halt in front of the second to the last door on the right and yanked it open. Bronwyn didn’t look at anyone as she put her hand out and said, “Nochd, reveal.”

 

Elias glanced at his friends, watching their varying expressions as the air began to twist and turn and the hole opened between the dimensions.