Chapter 32
“I’m freezing my balls off,” Filip grumbled.
Scott ignored his friend as he watched Elodie’s house from inside the garage. “I told you to go home. I’ll be fine.”
“Like I’m going to leave you alone to take care of another attack by yourself.”
Scott looked over his shoulder at Filip. “Thanks, mate.”
Filip shrugged. “It’s what Kevin would’ve done.”
“You make it sound as if you two were completely different. You’re no’, you know.”
“We were. But I appreciate you saying that. Kevin was the better man. He didna make stupid mistakes.”
Scott snorted and shook his head as he faced Filip. “We all make stupid mistakes. Trust me, your brother did, too.”
“Did he tell you I nearly turned drough?”
Scott sobered at the comment. “Nay.”
“That’s why he ended up in Edinburgh. I’d left, you see…” Filip lowered his gaze as he huddled in his coat. “Got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I still doona know how he found out. I didna say anything.”
“Brothers know.” Scott thought about his sister, Willa.
Filip shrugged and looked up at Scott. “I’m glad he knew. However it happened. He saved me. I look back and still wonder how I allowed myself to think becoming drough was what I wanted.”
“Doona be so hard on yourself. We all find ourselves in places at times in our lives when we’re at a crossroads. We have choices, and we try to make the right ones. Sometimes, we do. Other times, we doona.”
“Da would’ve disowned me,” Filip stated. “If he’d found out. Kevin never told him.” Filip’s shoulders moved as he took a breath. “Everyone loved Kevin. He always knew the right things to say and do. It was like he saw his path clearly and never deviated from it.”
“That doesna make your path any less. Maybe it makes yours even greater because you struggled.”
Filip grinned. “That’s something Kevin would’ve told me. No wonder you two were such close friends.”
“He was the brother I never had.”
“He was a good brother.”
Scott nodded solemnly as he eyed Filip. “Aye. And if you need another one, you know where to find me.”
Filip’s face split into a smile. “You may come to regret that.”
“Never. Kevin and I promised each other that if anything ever happened to one of us, the other would look after our family. That’s what I’m doing, but doona think it’s out of obligation. You’re a good man, Filip. You’ve proven that with all you’ve done for Elodie.”
Scott glanced through the crack in the doors to look at the house. He hadn’t gone inside. He’d left that to Filip, but he set more wards, just in case. Elodie might not trust him anymore, but he would see her safe.
“Have you told her?”
He swung his head back to Filip. “What?”
“That you care about her?”
Scott started to deny it but found he didn’t have the energy. “It wouldna make any difference now. I’ve betrayed her trust. Once that has been broken, it’s nearly impossible to repair.”
“Depends on how hard you try.”
“Now look who’s giving advice,” Scott said with a grin. But it quickly melted away. He looked down at his hands that had held Elodie earlier. “I should’ve stepped aside from this mission as soon as I realized there was an attraction.”
“George wouldna have cared. She would’ve told you to use it. That the end justifies the means.”
“I would’ve agreed with her before, but no’ now.” He looked at Filip. “I willna coerce anyone to help us. We should’ve been upfront with Elodie from the beginning.”
Filip wrinkled his nose. “And taken the chance that she would refuse?”
“She’s refusing now.”
“Because she doesna have her magic.”
Scott lifted one shoulder in a shrug and leaned back against a wooden shelving unit against the wall. “Even if she did, she wouldna help us.”
“What made you tell her today?”
“It’s been bothering me. I couldna hold it in any longer. She deserved the truth.”
Filip eyed him for a silent moment. “Or maybe you wanted to give her a reason to turn you away.”
The statement hit too close to home. “I doona know what you mean.”
“Really? That’s odd since Kevin once told me that you could have any woman you wanted, but you always found some excuse to end things.”
“I thought we were talking about you.”
“Subject changed,” Filip said with a wry grin.
Scott shook his head. “George sent me here because I have a way of getting others to do what I want.”
“Aye. With your words. She calls you the silver-tongued charmer.”
“I’ve used my words and charm for so long that it became habit. I never knew if someone was with me because they wanted to be or because I persuaded them.”
Filip raised a brow. “So, you decided to test it out on Elodie?”
“That wasna my intention. I had a plan. Then I met her, and it all went to shite. I didna want to lie. I didna want to charm her. It was easy to be myself with her. So, I was,” he said with a half-hearted shrug.
“And you fell for her.”
Scott wanted to deny it, but his heavy heart wouldn’t let him. “I did.”
“Again, have you told her?”
“It wasna exactly the time.”
“What are you going to do now? Hide out here for the rest of your life?”
Scott turned to look at the house again, hoping to catch a glimpse of Elodie’s silhouette through the curtains. “I’m staying tonight. After…? I’ve no’ thought that far ahead.”
“That’s shite, and you know it.”
“Fine,” he snapped and swiveled to pin Filip with a glare. “Do you want me to say that I love Skye, and I never want to leave? That I’ve found something on this island, and the thought of never experiencing it again leaves me as cold and fearful as no’ having Elodie in my arms?”
One side of Filip’s lips lifted in a smile.
“Now you sound like Kevin. He loved Skye in a way that I never did—he and my father both. I couldna see it. At least, I didna back then. I’m no’ sure if it’s my brother’s death or because I’ve changed, but I know what you mean about the island.
Once it has a hold of you, it doesna let go.
Which brings us to George and the organization. ”
“We have to go back.” Just saying it left a bad taste in Scott’s mouth.
“Without Elodie? That’s no’ going to go well. George will send others.”
“It willna do her any good if Elodie doesna have magic.”
Filip nodded. “Too bad whoever is after Elodie doesna know that.”
“That’s why I’m here. I doona care how Elodie feels about me. I’m no’ leaving her alone. I swore I wouldna, and I’ll keep that promise.”
“As I said earlier, you can no’ do that forever.”
“Why no’?” Scott would take whatever he could get, and if all he’d ever have with Elodie was a glimpse every now and then as he protected her, then that would have to be enough.
Filip shook his head. “Tell her you love her.”
“If I thought it would make a difference, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But you saw her. She’s no’ going to welcome that kind of confession.”
“Have you told George that Elodie doesna have her magic?”
Scott briefly closed his eyes. “If I do, she’ll call us home.”
“Rhona and Balladyn could protect Elodie better than we ever could.”
“I’m aware.” He sighed. “I keep wondering if we brought the killer to Skye. I can no’ get that out of my head. If we did, then it’s up to us to sort it.”
Filip’s brows rose as he gawked at Scott. “We couldna fight whoever was in Edinburgh one on one. What makes you think we can here?”
“Because this is Skye. And we doona have another option.”
“We do.”
Scott snorted as he rolled his eyes. “You mean tell Rhona and Balladyn? He already knows we’re hiding something. Do you think they’ll willingly help? I hate to be the one to tell you, but they’ll remove us from Skye in an instant. Whether we’re alive after or no’ is up in the air.”
Filip shifted on his feet as he looked down. “Look, I’ve never been one who had a lot of friends. Kevin made them easier than I did.” He glanced up at Scott. “I’ve already lost one brother. I doona want to lose another.”
“You’re no’,” Scott said.
“You can no’ promise that.”
Scott walked to him and put his hands on Filip’s shoulders. “I have to do this. Please understand.”
“I do.”
Scott searched his face. When he saw nothing but acceptance in Filip’s eyes, he dropped his arms. “Thank you. Now, there’s no use in both of us staying up all night. Go home and get some rest. We’ll have to work tomorrow.”
Filip reluctantly nodded. “I’m staying. We’ll take turns keeping watch. And that’s final.”
“All right,” Scott said with a chuckle and held up his hands. “Thanks.”
They shared a smile before Scott went back to observing the house.
Rhona drummed her fingers on the table as she stared at Balladyn from across the room. “I have to talk to Emily.”
“It’s a prison,” Balladyn stated.
She gave him a flat look. “You’re a Reaper, honey. You can get anywhere.”
“That doesn’t mean I should. Talk to Edie first. Or what about their brother? What’s his name?”
“Elias.” Rhona shook her head. “I don’t know if they’ll have anything different to say than Elodie did.”
Balladyn walked to the table and pulled out a chair to sit. “Didn’t you tell me that Edie and Elodie’s timetable of when Elodie lost her magic is different?”
“It is.”
“Edie is easy to get to. We should start there.”
Rhona really hated when he was right. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Balladyn started to argue but decided against it and held out his hand. She took it. In the next instant, they stood outside Edie’s home. Balladyn knocked as they heard arguing coming from within. A few moments later, Trevor answered the door.
“Hi,” Rhona said. “Sorry to intrude, but we need to speak to Edie.”
Trevor looked from her to Balladyn and back again. “Can this wait? It isna a good time.”
“It can’t,” Balladyn replied.
Trevor blew out a breath and stepped aside to allow them entry. Rhona glanced at Balladyn as she entered the house, but he was still watching Trevor.
“Wait here,” Trevor told them and walked away.
Rhona hated that they’d seemed to come when the couple was having a row. “Maybe we should leave.”
“No,” Balladyn said in a low voice. He had his head cocked to the side, listening.
As a Reaper, his senses were even more enhanced than a normal Fae’s, and they had better senses than humans. Even Druids. Rhona waited to see what Balladyn picked up. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to ask as Edie came around the corner.
The Druid looked frazzled. Her mouth was set angrily, and her body was stiff. “I apologize for Trevor leaving you in the entryway. Please, follow me.”
She took them to a room right off the foyer. It was immaculate, even for a house with two children. The sofas alone looked to be high-end. Rhona glanced around the room, noting the elegant touches.
“If this wasn’t important, we would’ve waited,” Rhona said.
Edie sank into a matching chair and motioned them to the sofa. “What can I help you with?”
“It’s Elodie,” Rhona started as she and Balladyn took a seat.
Edie’s anger dissipated, replaced by concern. “Has something happened?”
“Not at all,” Balladyn assured her.
Rhona leaned forward. “Elodie told me about her magic. She also said that you have a different recollection of when she lost it.”
“I’ve kept that secret for years,” Edie said quietly.
She turned her head and looked away, her eyes going distant.
“The police had just taken Mum. Da was…dead. Elias packed his things and left. All I had was Elodie. I tried to be there for her, to help her with her magic leaving, but I was grieving, too. I did the best I could.”
Balladyn asked, “Why would Elodie think differently than you do?”
Edie blinked, seemingly surprised to find them there. She gathered her composure and said, “I presume because it was too difficult for her to deal with.”
“But everyone said she used magic to get her men,” Rhona stated.
Edie shrugged. “I can’t speak to that. I only know what happened with Elodie.”
“But you heard the rumors about her, right?” Balladyn pressed.
Edie nodded as she rolled her eyes. “It was hard not to. Did Elodie act out? Without a doubt. Had she ever done anything like that before? Never. It was in response to the collapse of our family. We were all dealing with everything the best we could.”
“Tell me about that day,” Rhona pressed.
Edie’s face paled. “You mean…when my father was killed?”
Rhona nodded. “Please.”
Edie clasped her hands together. She was quiet for a few breaths. Then she spoke. “It was a Tuesday. We were getting ready for school.”