Chapter 3 #2
Elodie groaned as she thought about it. “It was fucking horrible. Why didn’t someone knock me upside the head? Grandmum? Grandda? Corann? You? Anyone.”
Edie put her hand on Elodie’s knee. “Because everyone was grieving, and no one knew how to handle the aftermath of…things.”
“The incident,” Elodie said for her.
Edie nodded. “Yes. That.”
Even now, after a decade and a half, it was still difficult for her sister to talk about it.
“Have you talked to someone?” Edie suddenly asked.
Elodie pulled a face. “That isn’t something you bring up in conversation. And, no, I didn’t tell anyone.”
“I meant, have you talked to a therapist?”
Elodie stilled. She slowly shook her head. “Have you?”
“Yes. For the past seven years.”
“Has it helped?”
Edie’s lips twisted with her one-shoulder shrug. “In some ways. I think it would’ve been better for all of us if we had spoken to a therapist right after it happened. All those years of carrying it around was like a weight hindering me.”
That’s exactly what Elodie felt—weighed down. Though hers was more than just the incident.
“Finding a therapist you connect with isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. I can give you the name of mine. I think you’d like her.”
“Maybe,” Elodie said. “I don’t know if I ever asked, but do your children have magic? Trevor doesn’t, right?”
A pained look crossed Edie’s face. “No, he doesn’t. Unlike Mum, I told him who I was and what that meant if we married. I also told him that I wouldn’t leave Skye. He accepted all of it. I wonder what would’ve happened had Mum done that with Da.”
Elodie remained silent as she looked away. She didn’t want to think about that.
“The kids do have magic,” Edie continued.
“I’ve been teaching them the old ways like Mum taught us.
They know their heritage, and they’ll be training with other Druids.
I was so relieved when they were born with magic.
We’re down to around four thousand Druids on Skye now.
We used to outnumber everyone. Each year, more and more are born without magic. ”
Elodie’s heart constricted painfully. “Why are they losing magic?”
“They marry those who don’t have magic, of course. Therefore, our blood is being diluted at a rapid rate. It’s worse around the world. We still have a good presence here, but I wonder how that will be in a hundred years. Fifty?”
Elodie swallowed.
“I’ve not had a chance to catch you up on things.” Edie scooted to the opposite wall so she could lean back. “Corann passed away.”
“I heard.”
Edie’s brow quirked. “You went out?”
“To get some groceries, but I didn’t talk to anyone. Rhona and Balladyn came to see me here.”
“Wow,” Edie said, her face showing how impressed she was. “Corann chose Rhona himself. We just had a full-scale battle on Skye.”
Elodie was taken aback. “What?”
“The Warriors and Druids from McLeod Castle came, as well as the Dragon Kings. We joined the Reapers to fight against the Fae Others.”
Elodie squeezed her eyes closed for a second. “Wait. Hold up. First, the Fae are allowed back on Skye?”
“It would seem so.”
“And who are the Fae Others?”
“The Others began with two Druids from another realm, who aligned with two Fae and two Druids of our realm in an effort to defeat the Dragon Kings.”
Elodie took off her gloves and listened with interest. “I always dreamed of seeing a Dragon King. They were here? I hate that I missed that, but how stupid do you have to be to take them on?”
“Apparently, not as idiotic as you might think. The Others nearly won, but the Kings prevailed. The story goes that Usaeil, the Queen of the Light Fae, was part of the Others and had turned Dark—hiding that fact for years. She was killed, and Corann took out the leader of the Others, a Druid from another realm. It took all his magic to defeat her.”
“Sounds like a good ending.”
“You’d think, right?” Edie said and flattened her lips. “Unfortunately, the Fae and even the Druids realized how much more power they could get if they formed a group. So, Dark and Light Fae worked together and created the Fae Others, intent on taking out the Reapers.”
“Balladyn introduced himself as a Reaper. Who the hell are they?”
“Fae chosen by the goddess Death to keep the balance within the Fae. She’s the judge and jury, and the Reapers are her executioners.”
Elodie raised her brows. “Wow.”
“Balladyn is the Warden of Skye, Elodie. He and Rhona put the Fae Others and their soldiers in their place. A couple of Druids lost their lives, and many more were injured, but we won.”
“That sounds incredible. You mentioned the Warriors and other Druids.”
Edie grinned. “Yes. Remember when we were told that other formidable Druids were around?”
Elodie nodded.
“That’s them. They’re from MacLeod Castle. I didn’t get much more information about them, other than that the Warriors are the same ones Corann told us about, those who had primeval gods locked inside them.”
Elodie’s eyes widened in shock. “The gods from Hell the droughs called up to fight the Romans?”
“The very ones,” Edie said with a conspiratorial grin.
“With other Druids.” Elodie could hardly believe any of this. It seemed a lot had happened on Skye.
“We could’ve used your magic. It was always stronger than mine.”
Elodie smiled wanly. “Sounds like you all had it covered.”
“Goodness. Look at the time.” Edie got to her feet and dusted off her bottom. “Are you sure you’re good here?”
“Positive,” Elodie said from her place on the floor.
Edie blew her a kiss. “I’ll check on you tomorrow then.”
Elodie waited until the door had closed behind her sister before she released the breath she’d been holding. She had gotten through a conversation without telling her sister about her magic—or lack thereof. How many more would she get before the truth came out? Every ugly grain of it.