Home > Dragon Lover (Dragon Kings #5)(49)

Dragon Lover (Dragon Kings #5)(49)
Author: Donna Grant

Next, she found an old towel and used some cleaner to wipe down the walls and window, sweeping the cobwebs from the corners before vacuuming the carpet. Only then did she bring in her bag and purse.

Elodie wiped her face with her arm and made her way to the main area. Someone had placed sheets over the furniture. She slowly and carefully folded them, but there was so much dust that some still escaped. The pile joined the bed linens outside. On her way back inside, she smiled as she saw the dust wafting out the windows. Hopefully, most of it would land outside instead of back in the house.

The smallish living area didn’t take long to wipe down. The windows would take more than one cleaning. She didn’t want to touch the outside yet. That was a whole other matter entirely. Her first priority was to get the inside clean enough that she could locate any repairs that needed to be addressed. Only after she did that would she tackle the outside.

The old cottage was too quiet. Elodie pulled out her phone and put on her favorite playlist as she went back to cleaning. She kept moving, which helped to keep her warm. There was a brief shower, but she didn’t bother closing the windows. The house needed to be aired out to get rid of the musty smell. She suddenly froze, the hairs on the back of her neck lifting. Slowly, she straightened from scrubbing the bathroom counter and looked at the doorway. No one was there. At least no one she could see.

A chill raced down her spine. With the sponge still in her gloved hands, she walked into the hallway. She glanced at her parents’ room, then looked the other way. Elodie slowly made her way to the kitchen. Her gaze landed on a tall, gorgeous man with black and silver hair, standing next to a pretty female with red hair.

The man was a Fae. It seemed there was no escaping them anywhere, but they hadn’t been allowed on Skye in decades. At least as far as she knew. What was he doing back?

“Hi,” the woman said.

Elodie swung her gaze to the female. She looked close to Elodie’s age, and something about her seemed familiar.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” the woman asked with a smile.

Elodie shook her head. It was unnerving that people already knew she was on the isle. Worse that they remembered her when she had done everything to forget Skye and everyone on it. “I don’t.”

“You’ve been gone awhile. I’m Rhona.”

In an instant, Elodie remembered Rhona and her cousin, Sorcha. They used to come over occasionally. She had always liked both girls. Elodie glanced at the floor, slightly embarrassed for the harsh welcome she had given them. “Of course.”

Rhona looked at the man beside her, love shining in her eyes. “This is Balladyn.”

“A Fae,” Elodie said before she could stop herself.

Balladyn inclined his head of long hair. His eyes were silver, but she saw a ring of red around them. “Reaper, actually.” His voice had an Irish lilt.

Reaper. Elodie wasn’t sure what that meant.

“We wanted to welcome you back and see if you needed anything,” Rhona said.

Elodie shifted her feet nervously. Did they know she’d lost her magic? “That wasn’t necessary.”

“You’re one of us,” Rhona said with a soft look. “We look after our own.”

Resentment threatened to choke Elodie, and she had to remind herself that she shouldn’t direct her anger at Rhona. She hadn’t been any older than Elodie back then. Corann was a different matter. “Corann sent you?”

A frown moved over Rhona’s face so quickly that Elodie almost missed it. “We lost Corann. I’ve taken his place.”

“Oh.” Damn. She should’ve had Edie bring her up to date on things. Then again, Elodie hadn’t wanted to talk to any Druids, so she had made sure not to take an interest in anything. “Honestly, I won’t be here long. As soon as I get the place fixed up and sold, I’m leaving.”

Rhona’s green eyes narrowed slightly. “That’s a pity. We could use you.”

No one ever had use for her. Elodie glanced at Balladyn to see that the Reaper’s gaze hadn’t moved from her. It was unnerving to have him watch her in such a way, and yet she didn’t feel threatened. “It’s for the best.”

“Why don’t you come for tea later this week? We can catch up,” Rhona said.

Elodie’s plan to keep to herself was rapidly disintegrating. She liked Rhona—or at least the person she had once been. It wasn’t in Elodie’s nature to be outright rude, but Rhona would likely ask questions that Elodie wasn’t prepared to answer. And she was tired of lying. “I’m no–”

“Please don’t decline. Think it over.” Rhona smiled. “Please.”

Well, bugger it. “I’ll consider it.”

Rhona’s smile was huge. “Great. And if you need any help, we can get this place together quickly.”

The offer was so tempting that Elodie nearly took it. If they did, she could leave Skye that much quicker. However, if she agreed to Rhona’s offer, it would inevitably lead to those pesky questions she was intent on dodging. “Thanks, but I’ve already made good headway today.”

“At the very least, let me fix the leaking roof,” Balladyn said.

Her gaze snapped to him. The roof was leaking? She glanced around but didn’t hear any dripping. Then a drop landed on top of her head. This might be a bigger project than she’d thought. She faced him and forced her tight lips into a smile as her stomach churned with anxiety. “I would appreciate that.”

“It’s done,” he said with a bow of his head.

“Thank you.”

Rhona flashed another smile. “It’s good to have you back. I hope you’ll consider the tea.”

Elodie held her smile until the two of them suddenly disappeared. She blinked and frowned. Balladyn must have teleported them out. At least the leak was fixed. She looked up at the ceiling and spotted the water damage.

“I’m going to be here forever,” she grumbled.

 

 

 


 

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