Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
The voices were muffled, as if he were underwater, but it was Rowen’s voice that snapped Mason into awareness.
He opened his eyes and rolled his head to the side to find her talking to Ariah, Ferne, and an unknown man.
The need to protect Rowen rocketed through him with the force of a tidal wave.
Just as he was about to jump up, he remembered his injuries.
He hesitated before moving, waiting for the pain.
To his surprise, there was none. Mason listened to the conversation as he took a deep breath to test his side.
He bit back a smile when he was able to fill his lungs with air and not wince in agony.
Next, he tried to move his leg and, once more, found no tenderness.
The Healers must have already come. He forgot about that and soundlessly sat up to stare at the group. They were so focused on each other that none of them noticed that he was awake.
The unknown man said, “The best place for you and Mason is Carwood Manor.”
“I already told you that you don’t get to decide where we go,” Rowen stated firmly.
Mason rose to his feet. “I agree with Rowen.”
All four heads turned to him. Rowen’s pale blue eyes lit up at the sight of him, and her lips curved into a smile. She took a step toward him, but Ferne had already crossed the distance.
“How are you feeling?” his sister asked worriedly.
He looked down at his thigh to see pink skin where the stitches had been. He then ran a hand along his left side, grazing the tender skin that also held no remnants of a cut or stitches. Mason licked his lips and said, “Hungry.”
“That can be remedied,” Ariah said with a smile and walked out.
Ferne waved over to the man in the gray suit.
Mason looked into his brown eyes, watching the way Ferne looked at him with such love that he could only stare in amazement at his sister.
He had never seen her so happy. It was there in her smile and the way she held herself.
In her very being. He’d known before coming to Skye that she had found a place on the isle, but seeing her and witnessing it himself confirmed it.
“This is Theo,” Ferne said proudly as she took her lover’s hand and brought him closer. “Theo, this is my brother.”
Mason studied Theo, waiting to see anything that hinted that he might not love his sister as deeply as she did him, but it was for naught. Theo was utterly besotted. He wore a look that said he would give Ferne the very moon if she asked for it.
“Mason,” Theo said and held out his hand.
Mason took it, and they shook firmly. “Theo.”
“I’ve been wanting you two to meet since Theo and I got together,” Ferne said, smiling.
Mason grinned at his sister. “I’m happy for you. The only way I was able to keep going was knowing that Carlyle was with you, and that you had found someone.”
“We have questions,” Theo said.
Mason slid his gaze to Rowen. They looked at each other for a minute before he turned to his sister and Theo.
“That’s understandable. Rowen and I have had a rather difficult few days.
She’s not slept in close to forty-eight hours.
I’d like to get us both some food and be allowed to rest before we proceed. ”
“There are plenty of rooms at the manor, and I know Bronwyn will open her home to you. Many of our group live there,” Ferne said.
Before Mason could reply, Theo added, “The manor is safe and secure. It’s the best place for you.”
“We’ll find other accommodations,” Mason said evenly.
Hurt flashed in Ferne’s eyes. “If you insist.”
“I’m not sure you’ll find much available,” Theo warned.
Rowen said, “We’ll make do.”
“I know a place,” Ariah said from the doorway. She had one hand on the doorjamb as she peered into the room. “I heard one of my customers this morning complaining that some tourists canceled their stay just this morning.”
Mason dipped his head to her. “Can you get me in touch with them?”
“Let me get her number,” Ariah said and walked away.
Ferne cleared her throat, her face tight with uncertainty and more than a little doubt about his decision. “Will you call when you two get settled?”
“Why don’t you stay and talk to her?” Rowen told Mason. “I can find my way to wherever we’re staying and get some sleep in the meantime.”
It was nice to be able to stand without being assaulted by the weakness that had plagued him since the attack.
He was refreshed and renewed. A part of him wanted to run out and down the street, just to prove he could.
But the dark circles under Rowen’s eyes kept him in place.
“You drove straight through last night and stayed up the previous night to tend to me. It’s time you rest. I’ll drive you. ”
“I can take Rowen,” Theo offered.
There was the barest stiffening of Rowen’s back at Theo’s words, but Mason saw it just the same.
She didn’t trust Ferne or Theo. They could tell her they were trustworthy, but she wouldn’t believe it.
They had to earn it. Just as both he and Rowen had to prove to Ferne and the others that they were honest.
“We’ll talk soon,” Mason promised his sister. “I’d like a shower, some food, and a few hours to myself.”
“But…” Ferne began.
Theo wrapped an arm around her. “Of course. Ariah will get you directions. We’ll see both of you later.”
Mason watched the couple walk away. Ferne looked over her shoulder at him before they disappeared around the corner. Their reunion could’ve gone many different ways. It hadn’t played out as he had hoped, but it hadn’t been as bad as it could have been either.
“You okay?” Rowen asked.
“She didn’t hug me.” Mason shook his head as he turned to face her. “I guess I hurt her too deeply.”
Rowen gave him a rueful smile as she closed the distance between them. “She was shocked to find you here, and then you came out looking close to death. There wasn’t time after. And then…” She gave a swirl with her hand. “All of that.”
It did make him wonder if Ferne would’ve embraced him had they gone to the manor. It was a silly thing to focus on, but they had always been close. Even when they were younger and fought constantly.
“You two will get back to the way things were. It’s just going to take some time,” Rowen said as if reading his mind.
Ariah walked into the room with a sticky note and a landline phone. “Here’s her name and number. I just gave her a call to tell her about the situation. She’s waiting on you for specifics.”
“Thank you,” Mason told her.
She shook her head, smiling and causing the long, silver moon earrings she wore to move.
“This is what we do here. I also ordered you some food. It should be here shortly, or you can pick it up on your way out. It’s just down the street.
The holiday cottage is about ten minutes from here, and in a nice location. ”
“Come sit,” he told Rowen after Ariah had walked away, and he lowered himself to the couch.
He dialed the number and watched Rowen make her way to the sofa.
She yawned behind her hand and crossed one leg over the other.
It didn’t take long to give his payment information to the owner of the holiday let.
They set up a time to meet so Mason could sign the agreement, and then he ended the call.
Rowen sat with her eyes closed and her arms crossed over her chest. The sooner he got her to a bed, the better.
He was amazed that she had remained awake this entire time.
Mason thought about leaving her there while he went to get the food and sign the contract, but if she woke to find him gone, she might think he’d left her.
He gently touched her arm, and her eyes flew open. “I’m awake,” she said quickly.
Mason bit back a smile. “I need to make a few stops. I could come back to pick you up.”
“I’ll go with you.”
She got to her feet, and they both walked to the front. He made a quick detour to grab his shorts, which were still on the toilet floor. Ariah stopped Rowen and handed her a bag of tea. After a wave to the Druid, they left and climbed into the Focus.
Rowen took the passenger seat, buckled in, and closed her eyes as Mason started the car and drove to the restaurant.
He left the engine running when he ran in to get the food.
When he came out, Rowen’s head had lolled to the side, and her lips were parted in sleep.
She didn’t stir when he drove to meet the cottage owner.
Once more, Mason left the car running. It didn’t take long to sign the contract and get directions to the rental. Then, he was on the road.
Skye was a good-sized island, and it was surprisingly easy to get lost. Twice, he had to turn around after taking wrong turns, but he eventually found the cottage sitting on a hill with spectacular views of the mountains.
He parked and entered the combination to the lockbox to get the keys.
Mason went through the cottage to check it out before returning for Rowen.
She roused, bleary-eyed, when he opened her door.
He had to help her into the house as she was still half-asleep and unsteady on her feet.
He directed her to a room, and she fell onto her stomach on the bed.
Mason removed the too-big sneakers and socks she wore before tugging the corner of the comforter over her.
He took one last look at her before closing the door behind him.
It didn’t take him long to get their few items out of the trunk and into the house.
Only then did he eat. He scarfed the deli sandwich and ate every last crisp included.
He could have easily eaten Rowen’s sandwich, too, but then there wouldn’t have been anything for her when she woke.
Mason put her sandwich in the fridge and heated some water for tea.
He was no longer consumed by pain, which gave him time to think about Thomas’s attack.
Mason had put things in place for just such an event, but he still worried that something might happen to his staff—especially his butler, Billings.
It had killed Mason to keep Billings out of everything.
The man had been more of a friend and second father than a staff member.
Billings had been there for him and Ferne through everything.
It wasn’t that Mason doubted his loyalty.
He had kept his plans from Billings so that when London interrogated him, Billings wouldn’t know anything.
It was meant to keep Billings and the other staff protected, but that was before Mason realized just how far Thomas would go to get what he wanted.
No one was safe. And he feared that not even the distance to Skye would keep him or Rowen out of London’s grasp.
By now, they would know she’d helped him, which meant the full force of Thomas’s lackeys would be descending upon them.
And if they couldn’t get to Rowen on Skye, they would strike elsewhere. She needed to alert her family. He should’ve thought about that before. She’d had time to reach out to them. Now, it might already be too late.
He rubbed his forehead. He didn’t know how to reach her family, but he knew someone who could. Mason pulled out the burner phone and rang Ferne. She picked up immediately.
“I need a favor. It’s for Rowen’s family,” he said.
Ferne didn’t hesitate. “Tell me.”