Chapter 28
Kerry walked into the pub with her head held high. She inwardly smiled when the conversation paused as the occupants noticed her. To the Druids of Skye, she had been shamed after being removed as a deputy. And to them, that meant she should remain hidden.
She had concealed her true self for her entire life. No more.
“Hi, Matthew,” she said to the man behind the bar with a wave. She turned her head and nodded at a couple. “Glen. Mary. How are you?”
Of course, no one answered her, but she didn’t care.
It was enough that she had shocked them.
The Druids on Skye needed a jolt to their system.
They had followed an old man who kept many secrets that he took to his grave and then appointed Rhona, who didn’t have a clue what she was doing. Soon, it would be Kerry’s turn to lead.
She took her usual seat in a back corner with a window on her right.
She had no intention of having deputies doing her bidding as Corann—and now Rhona—did.
Kerry would take the Druids in a new direction.
The first order would be to remove anyone who didn’t have magic from the island.
Druids came to Skye first, and it should only be Druids who lived here.
The world had once feared them. It was time they did again. It was also time for the Skye Druids to remind the Fae and Dragon Kings of their strength.
But Kerry wouldn’t close the island to only those born of Skye.
Every Druid would be welcome. She would teach them things that Corann never dared.
Things Rhona didn’t know yet—and likely never would because her magic was no match for Kerry’s.
It would be Kerry who returned the Druids’ previous glory.
She would be the one to rebuild their ranks—and their magic. The Ancients had deemed it so. How could she not succeed?
Kerry wasn’t surprised when no one came to take her order.
To them, she was no one now, simply because she was no longer Rhona’s deputy.
With one word, Kerry could kill everyone in the pub.
She stilled the urge. She wasn’t a drough who killed without thought or hesitation.
The Ancients had chosen her, and she wouldn’t do anything to upset them.
She rose and made her way to the bar, where she waited for Matthew to finally come over. Kerry gave him a bright smile. “How’s your day?”
“Fine,” he said standoffishly.
“Mine has been very good, in case you were interested.”
He simply stared at her.
Her smile grew. “I’d like to order my usual.”
“Which is?”
For a moment, her smile slipped. She wanted to put him in his place, but that wasn’t how things were meant to go. Instead, she swallowed her anger as her face tightened. “You know exactly what it is. I didn’t realize you were so petty, Matthew. You forget, I know your secrets.”
His narrow face paled.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she told him. “I won’t tell anyone. As long as you treat me with respect. You don’t know what happened. You’ve only heard the gossip, and we know how that has gotten you into trouble before. Don’t we?” She added just a hint of a threat to her words.
Matthew swallowed loudly. “I’ll have your order out soon.”
“Thank you,” she said with a grin before returning to her table.
Kerry would’ve pulled out her mobile and played solitaire in the past, but that was before.
Now, she had plans to make. She raked her gaze over each Druid in the pub.
She had been a deputy for a long time, as well as a trusted member of society.
She knew just about everyone’s secrets. Some were salacious, some were boring.
But secrets were secrets. They would come in handy if she needed to prod anyone to head in the right direction.
She would start in her area, where she knew the most. Then she would work her way into the other areas of Skye. She might not have anything on others, but once Skye saw how her people seemingly loved and followed her despite her being removed as a deputy, the rest would fall in line.
First, though, she had to take care of a few loose ends—the Druids who wouldn’t be a part of that future.
Once she weeded the flowerbed, she could focus on her next step.
To be honest, she quite enjoyed the weeding.
She had a list of Druids who would be better off…
out of the way. And she had made decent progress already.
Not to mention, it was fun seeing the authorities, along with Rhona and Balladyn, scratching their heads in exasperation.
Rhona had embarrassed and belittled Kerry.
The Ancients had shown her what the future held for her.
It was up to Kerry to stop hiding who she really was, as well as the magic that she had kept to herself, all in the name of community.
No more.
“Thank you.” She beamed at Matthew as he set the plate of food before her, along with a tumbler of whisky.
He ducked his head and hurried back behind the bar. Kerry chuckled. This would be so much fun.
“Well?” Rhona asked as she and Balladyn watched Scott drive Elodie home.
“He’s hiding something for sure.”
She shut the door and turned to Balladyn. “Did you get what it was yet?”
“Nay.” A small smile played on his lips. “The damn Druid isn’t afraid of me.”
Rhona laughed as she tugged at his hand when she walked to the living area. “You like him.”
“I do. He has courage. Scott doesn’t seem like a man easily cowed.”
She kicked off her shoes and tucked her leg beneath her before sitting on the sofa. Balladyn sank down beside her. “Hearing about both attacks and how he stood against it was impressive.”
“Aye, but I come back to why.”
Rhona rolled her eyes. “It can’t be because he cares for Elodie? Wouldn’t you have done that for me?”
“Always, sweetheart,” he said with a grin as he took her hand in his. His face grew serious. “His and Filip’s arrival coincides with the killings a little too cleanly.”
“You could say the same of Elodie’s return. And she was living in Edinburgh before this.”
Balladyn sighed. “There have already been two deaths, and we don’t have any answers. There will be another tonight.”
“I know. I think only your wards kept the mist out of Elodie’s cottage.”
“If that’s the case, then I’d better start warding everyone’s house.”
Rhona looked down at their joined hands. “She’s scared.”
“As anyone would be in her shoes.”
“You don’t understand.” Rhona lifted her eyes to his. “She was frightened of me. She was shaking with it.”
“Did you feel her magic?”
Rhona nodded slowly. “It’s there.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“No.”
Balladyn raised a single brow. “Why not?”
“I didn’t feel a spell or curse. I can’t sense anything impeding her magic, and yet it’s being obstructed somehow. Maybe the spell I used wasn’t strong enough to determine more. When I took her back to the past, the strength of her magic floored me. It’s more than I ever expected.”
“How much more?”
“It’s safe to say she’s one of the top three strongest Druids on Skye.”
Balladyn grunted. “Interesting. Do you know why she left Edinburgh?”
“She only said she had nowhere else to go. When I pushed for more, she refused to talk.”
“Just as Scott wouldn’t divulge what he’s hiding.”
Rhona frowned. “You can’t think they’re working together.”
“Scott’s interest in Elodie is undeniable. Aye, I think he’s attracted to her. A blind man could see that. But there’s something more.”
“More as in she’s in danger?”
“More as in we need to keep an eye on them.”
Rhona nodded at his words. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?” she asked with a quick grin.
His red-ringed silver eyes softened. “If this were the Fae Others, the soldiers would already be here.”
He knew her so well. Rhona loved Balladyn so much. She couldn’t believe everything they had gone through to find their love. “Then who is killing the Druids?”
“Who would want to?”
“If it were only mies being murdered, I’d say a drough.”
“Would a drough not kill another drough?”
“They would, but they usually like to target mies. The hatred goes back centuries.”
Balladyn thought for a moment. “Yet, Druids still want to create a group of Others. That would mean mies and droughs working together. I see that going over as well as the Dark and Light Fae joining forces.”
“That’s true.” Then it suddenly hit her. “What if it’s a group of Druid Others attacking the Druids?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“Some Druid Other groups have formed. It’s why there was a demand here on Skye.”
“One that you’ve kept in check.”
She rolled her eyes. “Barely. It nearly got me killed. And if the Fae Others hadn’t come, I think there would still be an outcry by some to form a faction.”
Balladyn squeezed her hand. “It’s time we take a closer look at anyone new to Skye.”
“Do you have any idea how many visitors we get a day? Even in the winter?”
“We have to start somewhere.”
Rhona knew that he was right. She tugged on her shoes. “This is too much for just the two of us. I’m calling for the deputies.”
“Are you sure that’s wise.”
“I have to trust them. Besides, Kerry is no longer a concern. She’s doing her own thing.”
Balladyn’s lips flattened. “I still think you should’ve banished her from Skye.”
“She made a mistake. The Fae Others manipulated her. It could’ve happened to any of us.”
“It wouldn’t have happened to you.”
Rhona leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. “I’m glad you think so.”
“It wouldn’t have happened to me, either.” He winked.
She gave him another kiss, then got to her feet. “It seems the battle we won over the Fae Others didn’t warn away any enemies. We’re going to need to show them again.”
“Lead the way, darling. I’ll be right behind you.”
“Beside me.” She pulled him to his feet. “Always beside me.”
Balladyn smiled. “Always. Now, where do you want me to start?”
“I’m going to contact the deputies and get them here immediately. Can you start warding Druid houses?”
“Of course.”
“Be careful.”
He eyed her. “I’m not the one being targeted. Besides, I’d relish a battle so I can discover who dares to come after your people. Then we can stop them.”
After another kiss, Balladyn was gone. Rhona blew out a breath. She was worried. Very worried. Something sinister crept over Skye, and it needed to be stopped—and soon. Two murders were two too many. But how did they stop an enemy they couldn’t find?
Then she thought of Elodie. She had been attacked twice.
Could this involve her? It stood to reason that it did.
Someone wanted Elodie out of the picture, and Rhona suspected it was because of Elodie’s magic—even if she couldn’t use it.
In order to uncover who was after Elodie and killing Druids, they needed bait.
Rhona looked at her phone. She hesitated in calling Elodie. Rhona was sure she would agree, but first, Elodie needed her magic. That was the only way this could be successful. Otherwise, they would be repeating this again and again, each time putting someone’s life in danger.
“So, I need to figure out why Elodie can’t use her magic,” Rhona said to herself.
There was one person no one had spoken with—Emily MacLean.