Chapter 44
It was over. Elodie had never felt so emotionally, physically, and mentally drained in her life. She wanted to collapse and forget that all of this had happened. Instead, her brother enfolded her in his embrace.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.
Elodie hugged him tightly. “I’m here.”
Elias pulled back and smiled at her. “I’m going to stay on Skye for a wee bit. I’d like to catch up with my sisters. Besides, there’s someone who is waiting to speak to you.”
Elodie looked around her brother to Scott. Filip was talking to him, but she didn’t think Scott heard since he was staring at her. Scott walked away from Filip without a word. She moved around her brother and met Scott halfway. “I’m sorry I didn’t get you out of the mountain.”
“We’re alive. That’s what matters.” He gave her a crooked smile that made her stomach flutter at the sexiness of it.
She glanced at the ground. “You asked for a second chance.”
“I did.”
“I’d like to start over instead.”
He quirked a brow. “Oh?”
“Well, there were things I didn’t know about myself. That might change us.”
She barely got the words out before he pulled her against him, his mouth covering hers in a kiss that stole her breath. Elodie leaned against him as the flames of desire sparked and soared. When he eventually ended the kiss, she was breathless and needy.
“Does that feel as if things are different?” he asked in a voice roughened with need.
Elodie shook her head. “No.”
Scott smoothed a strand of hair back from her face.
“I love you. It might be too soon to tell you that, but I doona care. I knew it before I thought you’d been taken from me.
And when you vanished with the mist…” He paused and shook his head as if the words were too terrible to say. “We’re here now. That’s all I need.”
“You love me?” The joy inside her was so immense that she thought she might burst with it.
His face split into a smile. “I do, lass. Verra, verra much.”
“Good. Because I love you.”
He linked his hands behind her as they stood together. “I’m no’ sure the day could get any better.”
She grinned. “Oh, I think it could.”
“I hate to break this up because it’s all kinds of awesome,” Elias told them, “but we need to talk.”
Elodie reluctantly released Scott and faced everyone. She didn’t care that the others had heard her declaration to Scott and his to her. For the first time in years, she felt free and whole. Complete.
Balladyn, Ulrik, and Broc walked in through an outside door. “The area is clear,” Balladyn said. “No sign of anyone suspicious here or nearby.”
Then everyone looked at her.
“Do you remember what happened in the mountain?” Rhona asked.
Elodie frowned as she shook her head. “Not really. I remember hearing Scott and then seeing the mist. I do recall how it went down my throat to choke me.”
“It took you,” Scott told her. “You disappeared right before my eyes.”
Sonya frowned. “What do you remember next?”
“Waking up to see all of you fighting the mist,” Elodie answered. The way the others glanced at each other told her that she was missing something. “Tell me,” she insisted.
For the next few minutes, she listened as they told her about freeing Scott from the mountain until they found her here, trying to kill them.
Elodie was staggered to learn that she had been cursed.
It wasn’t that Druids didn’t use curses, but droughs usually did them.
Which made sense with all the Druids being murdered.
Only a drough would take life so callously.
“Thank you,” she told them, shocked and stunned by what had been done to her. “I’m glad I didn’t hurt anyone.”
Scott’s arm wound around her shoulders. “We were no’ going to let anything happen to you.”
But they all knew it had been a miracle that she had been freed.
“We’re no closer to learning who the culprit is,” Elias stated.
Scott swallowed. “I doona think it’s the same killer that’s in Edinburgh.”
“This does feel different,” Filip agreed.
Eilish’s lips pressed into a line before she said, “Unfortunately, I think we’re just getting started with this foe.”
“Aye. They’ll keep pursuing Druids,” Broc said.
Rhona lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Or whoever was their intended target tonight.”
“Which is why we all need to be vigilant,” Filip replied.
Balladyn stood as still as granite. “Aye.”
“We’re always available to help,” Ulrik told the group.
Sonya was pensive. “Druids everywhere are at risk. There needs to be a way to reach them.”
“There is,” Elodie said and looked at Scott.
He squeezed her shoulder. “There are some chat rooms where Druids stay in contact. It’s one way to get to them. I can share them with whoever wants the links.”
“Thanks. It’s a start,” Rhona said. “We’ll need to find a better way, though.”
Eilish nodded in agreement. “We will. For now, let’s just get the word out about what has happened here as well as elsewhere. The number of Druid deaths are concerning.”
“I can start sharing,” Filip said.
Rhona smiled at him. “We’d appreciate that.”
Balladyn looked around the building. “Let’s get to our homes to rest. We’ll reconvene later to come up with a plan.”
In a heartbeat, Elodie, Scott, Filip, and Elias stood in her cottage’s kitchen. Balladyn and Rhona didn’t stick around. Elodie couldn’t stop grinning at Scott. He loved her. She couldn’t believe the man she had fallen for really loved her.
“Ah…we’re going to head to my place,” Filip said after he cleared his throat.
Scott nodded without taking his eyes from Elodie. “Sounds good.”
“We’ll catch up tomorrow, sis,” her brother said.
She waved. “Be careful.”
The door closed behind them. Scott lifted her into his arms, cradling her body against his as he stalked into the front room.
He lowered her feet to the floor as the fire roared to life behind him.
Dawn streaked the sky, but neither noticed as they hastily removed their clothes and reached for each other, their lips and bodies melding.
He kissed down the length of her throat. “My heart is yours for eternity.”
“And mine yours.” Her fingers slid into his hair as he lifted his head. Their gazes met.
Scott grinned up at her. There was so much horror that had happened in the cottage but finding love with Scott within its walls banished all of the evil.
Their love would continue to wash away any darkness that lingered.
She had found the future she had dreamed of with a man who would stand strong and solid beside her.
He lifted her to lay her on the rug before the fire, the light from the flames reflecting in his dark blue eyes. The love she saw there made her breath catch.
“Och, lass,” he murmured before finding her lips with his.
Her thoughts evaporated as desire filled her. Pleasure awaited them, and she wouldn’t deny either of them a second longer.