Chapter 17 #2
The house had stunning views, and she guessed it was rented more often than not.
She couldn’t wait to tell her family about everything.
At the thought of them, Rowen wrinkled her nose.
They would undoubtedly be losing their minds, wondering where she was, especially since she didn’t get on her flight home.
She should’ve taken a moment to call them once she reached Skye.
Calming her mom down would be a feat in itself, and she’d likely be apologizing for weeks.
Not to mention, her mom would use this against her forever.
She was about to go look for one of the burner phones when Mason suddenly turned toward the cottage.
He jerked in surprise when their eyes met.
A small smile curved his lips. A flare of excitement quivered in her stomach.
She returned the grin as he continued walking and disappeared around the side of the cottage.
Rowen adjusted her sweater and the shirt beneath and then touched her hair before the door opened.
She had just lowered her arms and turned around when Mason came around the corner.
He brought the scent of the isle with him, as if the land itself clung to him.
Rain on stone, windswept cliffs, and something green and ancient.
Her magic stirred in recognition—an ache that felt familiar and foreign at once.
She didn’t know if it was in response to him or the scents that assaulted her, and she was afraid to find out.
“I thought you’d still be sleeping,” he said.
She gave a halfhearted shrug, even as his deep, rich voice filled her ears. Just looking at him made her knees weak. “I’m rested enough. How long was I out?”
“Almost five hours. There’s no rush,” he told her. “If I woke you, I apologize.”
“You didn’t. Promise,” she assured him with a grin.
He studied her with his piercing gaze—cool metal heated by fire. His expression was unreadable, yet warmth spread over her at his look. He dipped his chin and asked, “Are you hungry?”
“Famished.”
He chuckled, the sound cutting through her and turning her insides to mush. Thankfully, he didn’t notice her wobble as he turned away and motioned for her to follow.
“About forty minutes after we arrived, Ferne and Theo dropped by with groceries and some other items,” he said.
Rowen took an unsteady step after him. “I took full advantage of the goodies in the bathroom. As well as the clothes.”
He turned, his gaze lingering on her a moment. “Good.”
“Thank you,” she said as he opened the fridge. “For taking off my shoes and covering me.”
“It was the least I could do after all you did for me.”
She rubbed her lips together and moved deeper into the kitchen. It wasn’t that she felt awkward now, but things were different. He was no longer on death’s doorstep, and they weren’t running from London. Though that didn’t mean they were safe. It just meant that things had calmed a bit.
“I, ah, don’t know what you like,” he said as he leaned out of the refrigerator to look at her. “Perhaps you should come see what’s here. Ferne brought a little of everything.”
She nodded and came around the island. They were inches apart as he moved away, and she had the illogical thought to reach out for him. How many times had she slid against him, his arm around her? And now, she didn’t dare get too close. “I’m not a picky eater. I can usually find something.”
Rowen ended up grabbing a couple of eggs and some butter and set them aside. Mason sat on a barstool, watching as she readied to scramble the eggs.
“Want some?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I’m good for now, thanks.”
It didn’t take her long to cook the eggs and toast the bread.
She joined him at the island to butter her bread and dive into the eggs.
They had eaten on the drive, or at least she had, but it hadn’t exactly been great food.
It had been enough to keep her going, but she had been craving something tasty.
“Would you like some coffee or tea?” Mason asked.
She swallowed. “Tea would be great.”
He filled up the electric kettle and got two mugs. Rowen polished off the eggs before the water finished boiling. It wasn’t long before Mason set a cup in front of her. Instead of immediately sitting, he went into the cupboard and drew out two different kinds of cookies.
“I will never say no to cookies,” she told him as she took one of each.
They sat in companionable silence, munching on the sweets. She noticed that his gaze kept going out the window over the sink.
“Did something happen while I was asleep?” she asked.
“Ferne and Theo dropped off everything and left almost immediately.” Mason’s lips twisted. “I could tell she wanted to talk, but she decided against it.”
“Maybe she wished it to be just the two of you.”
He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Perhaps. I explored a little around the cottage. There are a couple of other places around the loch, but it’s pretty private.”
“From what I’ve seen, this place is stunning.”
“Wait until you get outside.”
She grinned. “I’m game.”
The light in his eyes dimmed a little. “I want to take you, but I’d like to get things taken care of with the others first.”
“That makes sense. I need to check in with my mom.”
He glanced her way. “I had Ferne contact your mum to let her know you were all right.”
“How did that go?”
“She didn’t calm down until I sent her a video of you asleep.”
Rowen chuckled. “That sounds like her. I need to call them soon.”
“I promised her you’d ring when you woke.” Mason placed a mobile on the bar. “This one is for you. It came from Kurt’s stash. He’s been in charge of the Knights’ security for some time.”
It took her a moment to remember what Mason had told her about the Knights. “Oh, right. I remember you mentioning them now. Carlyle’s involved.”
“That’s right. Carlyle, along with Elias, Finn, Sabryn, and Kurt. They’ve traveled the world, though they mostly stay in Europe. Elias is Scottish, Finn is Irish, Sabryn is from Washington, DC, and Kurt and Carlyle are both ex-London Druids.”
Rowen nodded as she listened. “That’s quite a group.”
“It is. I didn’t know about them until Ferne came to Skye. I was aware that Carlyle had taken up with a group, but I didn’t know what they did. They came to the isle when Elias returned to help his sister, Elodie. That’s all I’ve gotten so far, but I wanted to fill you in.”
“I appreciate that. I also wanted to thank you for standing with me at the tea store. I might have overreacted about being told where to go.”
Mason shook his head. “I felt the same. Had you not said something, I would have.”
She found herself staring into his eyes again. Rowen cleared her throat and swiped up the phone. “Give me a few minutes to chat with my family, and then we can go.”
“Take your time,” he told her.
Rowen slipped off the stool and returned to her bedroom. Once she’d taken her seat on the bed, she drew in a long breath and released it. Then called home.