Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2)(55)
Author: Donna Grant

 

“Get in,” Bronwyn demanded before the gap had expanded all the way.

 

Elias didn’t hesitate to jump through. Sabryn was next, then Finn. Carlyle met Bronwyn’s gaze for a heartbeat before joining the rest of them. Bronwyn’s eyes then slid to Elias. He wanted to reassure her, but he didn’t get the chance as she closed the hole.

 

“Okay. What the fek?” Finn demanded.

 

Elias turned to his friends, who stood looking at the prone, sleeping form of Beth. “That’s Bronwyn’s cousin, Beth. She’s who Sydney is searching for.”

 

“I assume Bronwyn is going to release us?” Carlyle asked.

 

Elias blew out a breath. “Of course.”

 

“You say that, but I’m not sure I believe it.”

 

“Enough,” Sabryn hissed angrily and walked a few steps away.

 

She turned her head as if listening. As Elias grew quiet, he picked up the sounds of footsteps descending the stairs, mingled with loud, persistent pounding on the door. Suddenly, the banging stopped.

 

“What can I do for you, DI Frasier?” he heard Bronwyn ask.

 

Within moments, Finn and Carlyle had moved next to him and Sabryn.

 

“We’ve been knocking for some time,” Frasier replied.

 

Bronwyn’s voice was calm as she said, “It’s a rather large house. I was upstairs.”

 

“Are you alone?” Frasier demanded.

 

Elias grinned when Bronwyn answered, “Nay. I’m here with you and the twelve police officers behind you.”

 

“You know what I mean,” Frasier snapped. There was a pause before he continued. “I have a warrant to search your house.”

 

Sabryn turned her head to Elias. “It’ll look odd if she doesn’t allow them inside.”

 

“She will,” he told his friend in a soft voice.

 

Sure enough, they heard Bronwyn say, “Help yourself, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t leave a mess.”

 

Just in case those in the house could hear them, the Knights remained quiet and still as they listened to the stomping of feet as police fanned throughout the house. Doors were thrown open one by one. Elias whirled around when the door to their room swung inward. They couldn’t see anyone, only shadows, but they could hear everything clearly.

 

The sounds were magnified between dimensions. Thankfully, the person searching left the room quickly. It was a long time before the noise of the police died down, leaving only Bronwyn with Frasier.

 

“I take it you didn’t find what you were looking for,” Bronwyn said.

 

Frasier’s voice sounded weary and on edge. “Where is he?”

 

“Who?”

 

“Elias MacLean.”

 

“I have no idea.”

 

Frasier sighed loudly. “Look, Bronwyn, do yourself a favor and tell me where he is.”

 

“I just told you, I don’t know. You’ve searched the entire manor. If he was here, you would’ve found him.”

 

“I can get a warrant for the grounds.”

 

“I have nothing to hide. I don’t know who told you that Mr. MacLean was here, but they sent you on a wild goose chase.”

 

Frasier went silent for a moment. “I hope, for your sake, that you’ve no’ gotten mixed up with him.”

 

“I assure you, I can handle my affairs. If you’re finished, it’s time you left,” Bronwyn replied.

 

It wasn’t long after that Elias heard the front door close.

 

Carlyle then turned to Elias. “Exactly where are we?”

 

“Between dimensions.”

 

Finn’s face was pale as he spun toward him. “You’re joking.”

 

Elias shook his head.

 

“This is what Bronwyn uses the blood magic for?” Sabryn said.

 

Elias twisted his lips ruefully. “Actually, this was always her magic. Becoming drough allowed it to strengthen.”

 

“We’ve seen drough use the surge of power for many things,” Finn said. “Never something like this.”

 

Carlyle nodded slowly as he faced Beth. “I think I understand why Bronwyn didn’t want to tell us.”

 

Their discussion was interrupted by air that began to swirl. Elias moved to the doorway. As soon as the gap widened, his gaze landed on Bronwyn.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

 

 

 

 

 

Elodie was pissed. Every time she attempted to talk to George, the woman managed to find a way to get out of it. It was becoming ridiculous. As well as obvious that George had no intention of speaking with her.

 

Worse was her sister. Edie seemed distracted and easily angered of late.

 

“Are you okay?” Elodie asked from across the breakfast table at her sister’s.

 

Edie forcibly set down her gin and tonic. “That’s the third time you’ve asked me that in the last ten minutes.”

 

Edie might have requested the lunch date last week, but from the moment she’d arrived, Elodie got the feeling that her sister didn’t want her here. Something was going on with Edie, but Elodie couldn’t pry it out of her. The chasm between them seemed to be widening instead of narrowing, and Elodie was at a loss for what to do.

 

“I keep asking because it’s obvious something is wrong,” Elodie replied.

 

Edie sighed dramatically. “Just because I’m not in a good mood doesn’t mean anything is wrong. People have bad days.”

 

“You haven’t been yourself these past few days.”

 

“How would you know who I am? You only just reentered my life. You didn’t care for the fifteen years before this.”

 

Ouch. That was brutal, but it was also true. Elodie tried a different approach. “I realize we haven’t been a close family, but things have changed.”

 

“Aye, apparently, they have,” Edie mumbled under her breath before reaching for her drink.

 

Now it was Elodie’s turn to stare angrily. “If you have something to say, say it, Edie.”