Page 14 of Blood Skye (Skye Druids #6)

Chapter Fourteen

Carlyle couldn’t stand to be idle. He went through all the liquor and wine, looked over the books and even took one down to read, but after trying to read the first page a dozen times, he knew it was futile. Carlyle then counted the bulbs hanging from the light fixture. When that wasn’t enough, he counted just the gold, then only the frosted ones. He moved on to counting the bottles of wine, then the rest of the alcohol. It wasn’t until he was counting the slats of wood that he knew he had to find something to do.

He did not, however, venture below. It was better if he and Devon spent some time apart.

Carlyle rose from the couch and rolled his head to work out the kinks in his neck. Exhaustion tugged at him, but he didn’t bother trying to sleep. He wouldn’t be able to relax, and that would only add to his stress and keep him from resting. Which would exhaust him further. He needed to do something.

His feet took him to the kitchen. There was little in the way of supplies to bake. That would be the best use of his hands at the moment. It would keep his mind focused on ingredients and measuring rather than the difficult, bewildering woman below.

He flattened his palms on the quartz and bent over, stretching his back. Why hadn’t he delved into her history? He could have uncovered all sorts of material to use against her. He could have discovered exactly why she was so loyal to London . But she had inadvertently let that slip.

Her family.

Who did they have? They were more than likely threatening someone. It had bothered him greatly to learn that. It had also messed with his head, because it was easier to use someone, hate them, when they were one-dimensional and seemed heartless. Learning that Devon had family that was being used against her somehow changed everything.

“ Bloody hell,” he murmured, dropping his chin to his chest as he moved closer to the island until he was standing upright.

He could keep going down the path he was on, and it could very well get him what he wanted. It would be dirty and taxing, but he had been prepared for that. Right up until Devon said that he was no different than she was. That had drawn him up short.

Carlyle could imagine Finn beside her, nodding in agreement. His best friend was nothing if not brutally honest. Finn never held anything back, no matter how painful it was to hear. He was never harsh, though. He knew just how to word something to deliver a statement but let Carlyle know it was said with all the love and respect shared between them. He wished Finn was with him now.

But he knew exactly what his friend would say.

“ You have an advantage by having Devon . Convince her to join us.”

It was good advice. The same counsel Finn had repeatedly shared, even after they’d snuck into Mason’s house. But Carlyle was well past that now. He had crossed a line using the truth spell. Devon would likely do the same if she were searching for her family, but that didn’t make it right.

Carlyle rubbed his tired eyes.

He shoved away from the island and walked out of the kitchen to the room he’d slept in. After stretching out on the bottom bunk, he threw an arm over his eyes and tried to quiet his thoughts. The silence in the bunker was unnerving.

Mabel’s face filled his mind before it changed and became Devon’s when she threw back at him that she had family. The bleakness in her gaze was like being punched in the kidneys. In that moment, she had gone from being a pawn to a human with ties. Devon wasn’t a machine, eagerly doing London’s bidding. She hurt and craved and lacked like everyone else.

His mobile vibrated in his pocket. He answered with a terse, “ Hello ?”

“ Am I ever glad to hear your voice.”

At the sound of Finn’s Irish accent, Carlyle smiled. “ Ditto . I take it Henry and the others found you?”

“ They did,” Finn replied. “ I never got to Mason . He wasn’t in his room. I reached it right before I heard the breaking glass and gunfire.”

Carlyle sat up. “ Do you think he was part of it?”

“ I found him in the attic.”

“ So , you have him?”

Finn hesitated on the other end of the line. “ Not exactly. When I heard the glass and gunfire, I went looking for you. I didn’t get far before the manor was overtaken and searched. I’m guessing they were after you.”

“ Devon , actually.”

“ Really ?” Finn grunted. “ Interesting . Anyway , I hid and waited. The bastards remained for another hour.”

“ Do you know if they spoke to Mason ?”

“ I don’t think so. He seemed unaware that anything had happened when I finally located him. Honestly , it looked like he was sleepwalking.”

Carlyle frowned as he recalled the same thing happening to Ariah on Skye . “ But we don’t know that for certain.”

“ He looked straight at me. He never reacted. It was like I wasn’t even there. I followed him back to his room.”

“ Did he have anything?”

“ Nothing . He climbed into bed, and that was it. I waited in the garden after the intruders left. They cleaned up well but left the destruction in Mason’s office.”

It was Carlyle’s turn to grunt. “ Why the office?”

“ Beats me. It was just after dawn when the servants woke and found the mess.”

“ But you didn’t take Mason ?”

Finn paused before releasing a sigh. “ I debated it, but with the intruders, I worried the police would be called.”

“ Good thinking. What time did the authorities get there?”

“ They didn’t. They weren’t called. The servants started cleaning up and went about their business as usual. Same with Mason .”

Carlyle ran a hand down his face. “ Fuck .”

“ Do you know something I don’t?”

“ Without the authorities being notified, no one will know what happened. Meaning it can’t be traced back to London . Have you heard anything about Devon ?”

Finn made a noise. “ Not a peep. You have her?”

Carlyle then filled him in on what had transpired since he’d walked into Mason’s office.

“ Give me your coordinates. I’m coming to you,” Finn stated.

“ Not yet,” Carlyle told him. “ I can handle things for now.”

“ Is that wise?”

“ Are you worried about me?” Carlyle joked.

For once, Finn was serious when he answered. “ I am. I know how much you hate her.”

That was true. Or it had been. Carlyle wasn’t sure what he thought about Devon anymore.

“ You used the spell, didn’t you?” Finn asked.

Carlyle released a long breath. Finn had been adamantly against it. Devon had left that part out of his story for a reason. “ I did.”

“ I fekking knew it. And ? Did it go as you hoped?”

“ It went as well as could be expected. She’s angry.”

Finn mumbled something incoherent on the other end of the line. “ As she has a right to be.”

“ I couldn’t trust her,” Carlyle bit out. “ I had to use it.”

“ We didn’t give her a reason to trust us.”

“ She didn’t give me a reason to try.”

Finn was silent for a moment. “ Tell me you didn’t delve into any personal stuff.”

“ I’m offended you’d even ask,” Carlyle retorted angrily. “ But , no. I didn’t.”

“ You didn’t see your face, mate. It’s your dad. I get that, but…”

“ Like you said, it’s my father.” Carlyle had crossed a line by using the truth spell. He didn’t feel good about it, but time wasn’t on his side.

Finn grunted. “ Did you get anything useful out of her?”

“ She doesn’t know where Dad is.”

“ Is that it?”

Carlyle paused, wondering if he should tell his friend what else he’d learned.

“ What is it?” Finn pressed.

“ I pushed her, and she fired back that I wasn’t the only one with family.”

“ Ah , fek,” Finn muttered.

Carlyle could almost hear him pacing in agitation. “ You don’t need to say more. I already feel bad enough.”

“ Who are they using against her?”

“ I couldn’t get that out of her.”

“ Bloody fekking hell, mate,” Finn bit out. “ I’m coming. We’re trading places. Let me see if I can get to her.”

“ You mean bed her.” Carlyle had no idea where that had come from.

Silence met his statement. Then , “ If that’s what it takes. Shouldn’t be a problem for you since you loathe the mere sight of her. Is it a problem?”

“ No .” Maybe . Fuck , Carlyle didn’t know. Why was he confused about it?

So what that she’d gotten injured. So what that he’d bandaged her. So what that she had a family. None of it mattered.

But it did, and no amount of lying to himself would change that. Ever .

“ Carlyle , we’re going to find your father. Please don’t do anything you’ll regret later,” Finn said.

He was well past that, though he wouldn’t share that with Finn . His fellow Knight was a worrier—and a fixer. Finn would take it upon himself to try to right Carlyle’s wrongs. It was what made Finn such a great friend. But this was something Carlyle had to do himself. London wanted him. If he didn’t go to them soon, they wouldn’t just hurt his father. The organization would go after Finn and the rest of the Knights .

“ I need you to do something for me,” Carlyle said.

Finn quickly replied, “ Anything .”

“ Return to Skye .”

“ Not on your fekking life. I know you, mate. You’re going to do something stupid. And I’m going to be there to stop you. Or join you.”

Carlyle grinned. “ Normally , I’m the one pulling you out of situations.”

“ This isn’t a time to joke.”

“ No , it isn’t. I may have already lost my dad. I can’t lose you or the other Knights . That’s what it’ll come to.”

Finn’s voice dipped low. “ What aren’t you telling me?”

“ You , Sabryn , Elias , and Saber pulled me out of a dark place. I never thought I’d come out of it, but you all got me free. Everything I’ve done since has been because of you. You are my family. My brothers and my sister. I need you to understand how much I love you.”

“ Dammit , Carlyle . Don’t do this,” Finn stated anxiously.

Carlyle squeezed his eyes closed. “ Skye needs you. The Knights need you. Have Nikolai , Esther , Henry , and Melisse take you back to the isle immediately. Forget Mason .”

“ You mean forget you,” Finn said in a hard voice.

“ I’ll be in contact as soon as I can.”

“ Tell me where that fekking bunker is right now!” Finn bellowed.

Carlyle shook his head, even though his friend couldn’t see it. “ I can’t.”

“ I’m going to find it. Even if I have to drag Mason by his balls. I will find you.”

“ I won’t be here.”

Panic edged Finn’s voice as he said, “ Carlyle , d?—”

“ Goodbye , brother.”

Carlyle ended the call and put the phone to his forehead as he dropped his chin to his chest. He should’ve seen this coming. Maybe he had. He had known returning to England was a bad move, but he’d needed to come for his father. The mobile rang, but he ignored it.

“ You did the right thing.”

His head snapped up to find Devon in the doorway. Carlyle was surprised to see her there. “ I never should’ve let him come with me to begin with.”

“ If London can’t get to you, they’ll go after him. And the others.”

“ I know.”

She leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb. “ Will Finn return to Skye ?”

“ No . Neither would I if I were in his shoes.” Carlyle swung his legs over the side of the bed and placed the mobile next to him. “ I’m sure you want that.”

“ Will you allow me to use it?”

“ Yes .”

Her dark eyes narrowed. “ In exchange for?”

“ Bringing me to the elders.”

She stared at him for a long minute. “ Why now?”

“ Because we both know they won’t stop. I was wrong to think I could get to my father. They’ll hurt everyone I care about. I’m tired of people I love being killed.”

Devon walked into the room and sat beside him on the mattress, the phone between them. “ London is hunting me. I didn’t want to believe it. I made up excuses, but there’s no getting around it. Someone turned on me.”

“ And they didn’t use magic because they don’t want the Druid community to know it was them.”

She dropped her head and nodded. “ The thing is, I don’t know why. I have never failed in a mission. Not once. I didn’t even get to complete this one before the extraction team arrived.”

“ Why are you telling me this?”

“ Because they have something we both want.”

Carlyle waited until she looked at him before saying, “ Family .”

“ They have my sister.”

He looked for clues that she was lying, but nothing in Devon’s voice or demeanor said she was. Had London taken his dad when he was younger, he would’ve done whatever they asked to ensure his safety. Anything . Even kill. Was that what had happened to Devon ?

“ I know we don’t trust each other, but we have a common enemy,” Devon continued. “ Can we set aside our hatred for each other and work together?”

He didn’t want to turn himself over to the London Druids and be coerced into harming those on Skye . It would force his friends to attack him. He didn’t want that for any of them. But to trust Devon ? Did he dare?

Carlyle drew in a deep breath and stuck out his hand.