Page 44 of Blood Skye (Skye Druids #6)

Three days later…

Song slowly made her way downstairs and covered her yawn with a hand. She hadn’t heard Carlyle get out of bed, but hunger had finally awakened her. Which seemed odd after a couple of days of stuffing herself silly with every amazing dish he put in front of her. She might not have cared about food before, but Carlyle had changed that.

Halfway down the stairs, she caught a whiff of something delectable coming from the kitchen. Song quickened her pace, her stomach rumbling. The sound of voices reached her before she took the last stair. There was a smile on her face when she pushed open the kitchen door and found Carlyle at the stove. It was his favorite place to be.

“ Morning , gorgeous,” he called out when he saw her.

She grinned in response. Song found Bronwyn , Elias , Finn , and Sabryn at the table. She waved at them and walked to Carlyle to give him a kiss. “ Whatever that is smells great.”

“ You missed breakfast,” Finn said.

Sabryn playfully shoved Finn’s shoulder. “ We got up early to do some training. You didn’t miss anything.”

Carlyle jerked his chin to a covered plate. “ That’s right. I set some aside for you. Or I can make something fresh.”

“ You should’ve woken me,” she said as she uncovered the plate to find it filled with food.

Elias chuckled. “ I told you once you started watching The Expanse that you wouldn’t be able to quit.”

Song poured some coffee and took the cup and her plate to the table. “ The show is absolutely amazing. My favorite is Amos . He has such an amazing character arc.”

“ No way,” Sabryn said with a shake of her head. “ No one beats Camina Drummer as the best character.”

Bronwyn snorted. “ You’re both wrong. It’s Chrisjen , hands down. That woman is the epitome of class and power.”

Finn sighed dramatically. “ Seriously ? None of you are going to talk about Naomi ? What about Jim Holden ? They’re a power couple.”

“ There’s only Amos for me,” Song replied around a mouthful of food.

Finn threw a napkin at her before the table erupted in laughter.

“ I warned you how good the show was,” Carlyle told Song as he stirred something in a bowl.

She nodded as she swallowed. “ I’ve missed out for sure. Good thing I’m catching up now.”

“ Don’t worry. We’ll get you watching all the good shows,” Sabryn said. “ I get to pick next.”

Elias , Finn , and Carlyle all groaned in unison.

Song glanced around the table. “ What am I missing?”

“ Nothing ,” Bronwyn answered, her smile wide. “ The boys know she’ll choose Penny Dreadful .”

Sabryn waggled her brows. “ Spooky , supernatural, sexy, and all set in Victorian London . What’s not to love?”

“ Oooh . Sounds exactly like something I’d enjoy,” Song said. “ I’d just like to know how we all stayed up past midnight, yet you got up before dawn to train.”

Finn shot her a wide grin and waggled his eyebrows. “ Practice .”

“ That’s shite,” Elias replied with a shake of his head, laughing. “ No one wants to be the one to admit they’re tired.”

“ So , we all get up and act like we’re not craving our beds,” Sabryn said.

Carlyle pointed a wooden spoon at Sabryn . “ Exactly .”

Song watched the group fall into conversations that jumped from one topic to another as she reminded herself she was now part of the Knights . She had to pinch herself several times a day to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Not only did she have a new family, but she also had Carlyle .

Song looked over to see him dishing something into two small bowls. He let out a shrill whistle. Seconds later, it sounded like a herd of elephants above them. No one else seemed bothered by it, but she was.

“ What is that thundering sound?” she asked.

Finn didn’t even look her way when he said, “ Cats .”

“ Cats ?” Song asked, her brows raised. She hadn’t seen any cats. “ There are cats here?”

Bronwyn rose to refill her mug. “ Two . One is Ariah’s , and the other is Theo’s . They spend a lot of time here.”

“ And Carlyle makes their food,” Elias added.

Carlyle set the bowls on the floor and winked at her as he opened the kitchen door just in time for two cats to race through, each going to a bowl and quickly devouring the contents.

“ Can you believe he used to have a thing against cats?” Sabryn asked her.

Carlyle shot Sabryn a dark look. “ I never had a thing . I just didn’t understand them.”

“ Oh , he had a thing,” Elias replied.

“ But he understands them now.” Finn laughed and ducked when Carlyle tried to pop him with the wooden spoon.

“ What ?” Carlyle asked with a shrug. “ They need to eat, too.”

Song gave the cats one last look before returning to her food. “ How did I miss that there were cats?”

“ It could have something to do with the fact that the two of you have rarely left the bedroom,” Elias teased.

Carlyle sat beside Song and put an arm around her shoulders. “ We have some catching up to do.”

“ That we do.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“ Okay . Okay ,” Sabryn said, wrinkling her face in mock horror. “ Enough . I get far more PDA than I want from Elias and Bronwyn . I don’t need it coming from the two of you, as well.”

“ Too bad,” Carlyle said, leaning Song back to kiss her. He sat her up again, his turquoise eyes glittering with happiness while the others moved on to a different conversation. He lowered his voice and asked, “ Is it too much?”

She shook her head. “ Not even close. I’ve never had anything like this. I’m loving every second.”

“ It isn’t always roses. We bicker just like a family, too.”

“ Good . I want it all.”

He smoothed her hair from her neck. “ Then you’ll have it.”

“ I want all of you, too.”

His lips curved into a grin. “ You already have that.”

“ Then I have everything I could ever want.”

Finn looked out the kitchen window. “ Hey , guys. You have to come look at this sky.”

Carlyle pulled her up as they all rose to crowd around the window.

“ Well , look at that,” Carlyle murmured against her ear as he stood behind her. “ A blood sky.”

“ Am I missing something?” Finn asked.

Bronwyn and Sabryn shoved him back to the table. Someone said her name, but she didn’t hear it. She was lost in turquoise eyes right before Carlyle’s lips claimed hers.

Kurt dropped his bag onto the table and bolted the doors and windows before adding wards. It had taken some doing, but he had finally lost those trailing him. He was exhausted and weary. It had been days since he’d had any real sleep. But there wasn’t time to rest. He had been out of touch with the Knights for too long.

His hands moved rapidly, taking out the laptop and getting it connected to the internet. Kurt didn’t immediately reach out to his friends, though. He scoured the CCTV footage in the area to ensure that his brother hadn’t somehow located him again, then altered a few holdings outside the UK to one of his many aliases while also checking to see if anyone had done a search on his legal name or one of his aliases.

Only when he was satisfied that he was safe for the moment did he reach out to Sabryn .

I’m settled for now. Might have to move again later.

She answered almost immediately with: Are you safe?

Kurt closed his eyes. None of them were safe, and she knew it.

I’m all right. Catch me up.

Kurt popped his neck and waited as she typed. How much longer did he have before Sabryn discovered his true identity? The sands in the hourglass were rapidly running out. And with those grains went the life he had carefully built.

Edinburgh

Georgina drummed her fingers on her desk and looked across at her visitor. Parker Bramston walked among the Edinburgh Druids as if he led them. No doubt that came from being born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Aristocracy or not, she led Edinburgh .

“ It’s a simple request,” Parker said.

“ So you keep telling me.” George sat forward in the chair and held his bright blue gaze. “ Ten . That’s how many of my Druids I’ve loaned to you. And ten have died.”

He lifted his chin. “ I didn’t kill them.”

“ They followed your command. The blame lies with you.”

“ I had him.”

George narrowed her eyes. “ If you did, it wasn’t for long. How do you know who Sabertooth is, anyway?”

“ He’s part of the Knights .”

“ I got that part. That isn’t what I asked.”

Parker stood and adjusted the sleeves of his suit coat. “ You struck a deal with London . Part of that is giving me the Druids I need to track Saber . Don’t make me ring the elders.”

George chuckled as she sat back in her chair once more. “ By all means. Give them a ring. I held up my end of the pact. You got the Druids . And you lost them. We’re done here.”

“ What do you want?”

“ Excuse me?” George asked, frowning when he didn’t leave.

Parker looked irritable and blew out a breath. His blue gaze slid back to her. “ There must be something you want or need in exchange for more Druids .”

“ Now we’re talking,” she replied with a grin.

Somewhere in Scotland

Beth stopped outside the bedroom door. It had taken longer than she wanted, but her beloved Sydney was free of all the drugs pumped into him by an individual who called himself a medical doctor.

She had busted into the mental institute and taken Sydney away. They were destined to be together. They were Antony and Cleopatra . Unstoppable , powerful, and everlasting.

But would Sydney be the same man he was?

Beth drew in a deep breath. She didn’t need to look behind her to know that her sentry, Madeline , was there, standing as straight and severe as the tight bun she’d twisted her hair into. Madeline had bade her to wait another day, but Beth was tired of waiting. She wanted Sydney back. With that, she turned the corner and entered the room.

Sydney was in a plain white tee and jeans and sat on the edge of the bed, staring out the window. His dark hair had been freshly cut, and his brown eyes were alert. While still handsome, his face no longer looked as youthful as it once had. The past weeks had changed his appearance. But would it change him ?

“ I wondered if you would come.” He turned his head to look at her.

She walked closer. “ I’ve visited you often.”

“ That’s what they tell me. There is much I don’t remember.”

“ Maybe that’s for the best.”

His brows furrowed as he returned his gaze to the window. “ Am I changed?”

Beth began shaking her head, a lie on her tongue, but she paused. “ You look the same.”

“ But ?” Brown eyes cut to her.

“ You seem…subdued.”

He rubbed his hands on his thighs. “ Hmm . I suppose you would think of it that way.”

“ How do you think of it?”

“ That I’ve been given a second chance.”

Beth crossed her arms over her chest. “ I would agree. Now that the drugs are out of your system, we can continue with our plans. The book?—”

“ You still have it?” he demanded, his head whipping toward her.

“ Of course.”

He shook his head over and over. “ I looked into Hell when I fought Bronwyn . Get rid of the book.”

“ No .”

“ It’s dangerous.”

She dropped her arms and gave him a wry look. “ I know. That’s why you stole it. It’s why I’m using it. Do you have any idea what kind of power I have with it in my possession?”

“ Do you know what it’s doing to you?”

“ I know my limits.”

Sydney studied her for a long moment. “ The book is killing you.”

“ I seem perfectly fine. And you’re here because of it. Without that book, you’d still be in that hospital.”

“ The book goes, or I do,” Sydney stated.

Beth started to laugh until she realized he was serious. There was no way she could give up the book. Even now, her hands craved to touch it. It was never far from reach, but she hadn’t wanted to bring it when she visited Sydney . “ I thought you loved me.”

“ I do. I’m trying to save you.”

“ I love you. Look at everything I’ve done for you. For us.”

He reached out and took her hand. “ I know. Thank you.”

“ I’ll share the book if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He snorted, his face creasing in disbelief. “ Have you not heard me?”

“ I heard every word.”

“ Me or the book, Beth .”

She pulled her hands from his and took a step back.

His lips twisted. “ I see. I had hoped… Never mind.”

Beth watched him walk out the door. She thought about calling him back or rushing after him. She even considered keeping him there against his will if need be.

In the end, she let him go. She had the book.

It would give her anything she wanted.

Stirling Prison

The rain pounded the roof, and thunder rumbled loudly. Emily MacLean stood at the door to the outside, waiting to be transported her from prison to freedom. It had taken forever for them to process her, but now that it was done, she was hesitant about leaving. Not that she wanted to stay. No , it was more about what the future held, especially regarding her children.

Elodie knew the truth about what had happened to her father. Emily didn’t regret taking the blame and would do it again for any of her children. Yet she had dreamed of this day for so long. All three of her children had returned to Skye . They could be a family again—just as soon as they told Edie the truth.

As the middle child, Edie had always felt like she needed to do and be more. Nothing Emily had said had helped. In fact, it seemed as if her words had made things worse. But that was then. This was a new beginning.

And that meant an end to all the secrets.

Emily drew in a breath and pushed open the door. The sky was gray and angry. She didn’t take it personally, though. It was Scotland . All she had to do was give it a few minutes, and the weather would change. She paused beneath the covering and looked out into the car park. There , a man and woman stood, each holding an umbrella.

“ Mum !” Elodie shouted and hurried toward her.

Elias followed, his long strides so much like his father’s. Emily rushed out, uncaring that the rain drenched her instantly. She threw her arms around her eldest and youngest, simply holding them.

“ How does freedom taste?” Elias asked.

She smiled through her tears. “ Wonderful .”

Elodie stepped back and wiped her face, but the tears kept coming. “ It’s so good to see you. We have everything set up. I don’t want to overwhelm you. We bought some things, but I thought you’d like to furnish the cottage the way you want it.”

“ It doesn’t matter. I’m free of that place and will be with my children and grandchildren. That’s all that counts,” Emily said.

Elias shifted the umbrella to cover her as he exchanged a quick look with Elodie .

Emily looked between them. “ What is it? Is Edie hurt? Or one of my grandbabies?”

“ Mum ,” Elias began.

A muscle twitched in his jaw as he turned his head away.

“ Let’s talk about this in the car,” Elodie suggested.

But Emily wasn’t moving. “ Say it. Whatever it is. Please . Just tell me.” The tear running down Elias’s face nearly broke her. “ Tell me,” she demanded.

“ Edie is dead,” Elodie blurted.

For a full minute, Emily said nothing. The roar of the rain must have made her hear wrong. She studied Elias . She had thought his red-rimmed eyes had been from tears of excitement. But that and Elodie’s inability to stop weeping weren’t because of happiness. Her children were grieving.

Emily covered each of their hands with hers. “ What happened?”

“ It’s a long story,” Elias said.

“ I want every detail.”

Elodie sniffed and rubbed her red nose. “ We’ll give it. There is much to catch you up on before we get to what happened to Edie . But not here.”

“ Are the kids with Trevor ? How is he taking her death?” Emily asked.

Elias steered her toward the car. “ We’ve no’ been able to find him. The kids are with friends at the moment.”

“ We’ll take you to them. After ,” Elodie said.

Emily nodded. Now , she understood why there was a storm. The sky was crying the tears she didn’t dare give in to. Not until she had all the information.

And only when she was alone.

“ Rise .”

The voice reverberated in her head like a bell. Edie opened her eyes and looked up at the cottage’s ceiling. She sat up and looked down at her burned body, the skin blackened and peeling.

“ Rise . You do not feel any pain.”

The Ancients were right. She didn’t have pain. She should, though. After all, she had been set on fire.

Edie climbed to her feet. She winced at the sound of her flesh crackling as it stretched. Still , there was no pain. There was no feeling at all.

A door opened, and mist rolled out like a hand unfurling at her feet. She looked around for Carlyle and Devon , only to find the cottage empty—of all except for her and the fog. She stroked it like she would a dog.

“ Come ,” the Ancients beckoned. “ Your new home awaits.”

Thank you for reading BLOOD SKYE .