Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
As if the weather had been waiting for them to finish their tour of the isle, the first fat raindrops didn’t plunk onto the windshield until they were back in Ferne’s Mini and headed to the manor.
They had visited the striking rock pinnacle of Old Man of Storr, the mystical Quiraing, with its unusual hills and deep ravines, the lighthouse at Neist Point, Kilt Rock, the Fairy Glen, and ended the outing at the Fairy Pools.
Rowen was reluctant to leave the clear rock pools and numerous waterfalls.
She could’ve remained and spent hours hiking, and she intended to do just that as soon as she could.
Everywhere Ferne had taken them had been more beautiful and awe-inspiring than the last. Each time she thought she’d found a favorite place, Ferne showed her something new.
But to end the day at the Fairy Pools was the cherry on top of a fantastic day.
Ferne started the engine, but she didn’t back out of her spot. She stared out the window, seemingly as mesmerized as Rowen by the backdrop. Rowen glanced behind her to see Mason watching his sister in silence.
Finally, Ferne said, “This was the first place I came to when I arrived on Skye. I met Theo here that day.”
Mason’s lips curved into a gentle smile at her wistful tone. Rowen looked at the countryside and tried to imagine it being her first place to stop on the isle, then meeting the man that she would fall in love with. Almost as if magic had played a part in all of it.
The next time she looked back, Mason’s stormy eyes met hers. She curled the hand he had touched earlier against her leg, his heat still lingering. Rowen looked away, unable to hold his stare—or experience the rising emotions.
Yet she felt his gaze linger on her.
Ferne inhaled quickly as she looked away from the scenery to her passengers as rain began to steadily pelt the vehicle. “Looks like we timed it just right. Shall we head to the manor now?” Her green gaze slid to Rowen. “Unless there’s somewhere else you would like to see.”
“I could spend a month here and still not see everything,” Rowen said. “Thank you for showing us the important locations.”
The leather in the back squeaked as Mason shifted in his seat. “Yes, thank you, sis. You can drop me at the manor. I’m not sure about Rowen.”
“The manor for me, too,” Rowen answered. There were still things for her to learn about the Skye Druids, and she might as well take the time to discover them.
“Sounds perfect.” Ferne navigated the car park and got them onto the road.
Mason asked, “The Fairy Glen was pretty crowded when we were there. I’d like to take a better look at where Sabryn and Kurt battled Edie. When is the best time for that?”
“Night is your best option. It’ll be dark, but there won’t be any tourists,” Ferne explained. “It’s just as popular as the Fairy Pools all year round.”
Mason nodded and turned his head to look out the window. Rowen eyed the gray skies and rain that couldn’t dampen the splendor of Skye. She wondered what it looked like in winter with snow. She imagined it would be just as magnificent, only in another way.
“You called the mountains near the pools the Black Cuillins. Is it just the one mountain range through Skye?” Rowen asked.
Ferne shrugged as her lips twisted. “Sort of. You’ll hear locals call them the Cuillin Hills, Black Hills, and even Red Hills.
The range is divided into the Black Cuillins and the Red Cuillins.
The Blacks are known as the UK’s most challenging mountain range.
They have the high, dark, jagged peaks of gabbro rock.
The Reds, on the other hand, are composed of gentler, rounded granite, which makes them popular with hillwalkers.
Between the two ranges is Glen Sligachan,” she said with a smile.
“What’s Glen Sligachan?” Mason asked.
“It’s a glacial valley that provides some truly arresting scenery.
It’s also good for hiking and climbing. There’s an iconic bridge.
When you see it, you’ll recognize it. The River Sligachan runs through the valley, and there are small lochs throughout the glen.
I highly recommend you take time to hike the scenic Sligachan Path. ”
Rowen added it to the list she had going of everything she wanted to do on Skye before she returned home.
They passed people walking along the road in the rain, backpacks slung over their shoulders.
“Everywhere we’ve gone today, people were going about their business as normal.
As if the headlines about Skye and the Druids didn’t happen. ”
“Have you seen what’s going on in the world?” Mason asked. “Every day it’s something catastrophic. A person can only handle so much. They pick and choose what they believe and freak out over.”
Ferne nodded as she took a turn. “That’s true.
There’s also those who don’t believe in magic or Druids.
They’d dismiss the story like they do anything to do with UAPs and aliens.
Then there are those who do believe. They may or may not have magic.
It’s the ones who don’t have other Druids to teach them that worry me. They’ll likely head to Skye.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Rowen asked in confusion. “I thought the more Druids here to help, the better.”
Ferne put on the blinker and slowed. “If they’re on our side, yes. But if they’re easily influenced, they can be drawn to the other side.”
“Like Edie and Kerry,” Rowen said.
Ferne’s lips twisted. “I have no idea what was said to either of the women to convince them to join the other side. A part of me wishes to know while the other is glad I don’t.”
“You think you’d be swayed?” Mason asked.
Ferne shrugged. “No, not really. Both women were strong in their own way. Kerry was one of Rhona’s deputies.
She was well thought of in the community.
And she turned on everyone in an instant.
Edie was well known on the island as a whole.
Her husband, Trevor, was a prominent attorney, and they had multiple rentals that brought in a lot of money.
Now, Trevor is missing and feared dead, and Edie acts as if she doesn’t have children.
What could they have been told to sway them in such a way? ”
“There has to be more to it that we aren’t aware of,” Mason said.
Ferne shot him a quick look over her shoulder. “Trevor was cheating on Edie.”
“That might have played a big role in things,” Rowen guessed. “Anything like that with Kerry?”
“Not that I’m aware,” Ferne replied with a shake of her head.
They rode in silence the rest of the way to the manor, each lost in thought. It was easy to get caught up in the beauty of Skye and forget what was really going on. Though she could only take everyone’s word for it since she hadn’t seen anything for herself.
Once Rowen was inside the grand house again, she paused in the entryway and took a deep breath.
It was like the walls were armor surrounding them.
She felt safe within the long-standing building.
Her gaze lifted to the second floor, where the monster had tried to break through, and Finn had gotten the tattoos.
Perhaps she wasn’t completely safe, but it was safer than being outside.
It was a weird feeling she didn’t quite understand.
“You feel it, don’t you?” Bronwyn asked as she walked out of the library.
Rowen turned her head to her and raised a brow. “Feel what?”
“The house,” Bronwyn clarified.
Rowen studied the walls and ceiling around her. “It does feel different.”
“Because it is,” Ferne replied with a smile.
Mason looked between the women. “What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t tell them?” Bronwyn asked Ferne with a secretive grin.
Ferne shook her head. “I haven’t had a chance. I was taking them to see the places we’ve had…encounters.”
Bronwyn walked to a wall and placed her hand on it. “One of those battles was right outside.”
Rowen watched the way Bronwyn seemed to pet the wall. She frowned at Mason, who shrugged, his eyes filled with confusion.
“This house was built on land filled with magic, by Druids who infused every piece of wood, and every nail, screw, and brick with their power, wards, and sigils.” Bronwyn dropped her hand to her side as she looked at them. “The house sees and hears everything.”
Mason’s brow furrowed into deep grooves. “Are you saying the manor is…?”
“Is what?” Rowen asked as she struggled to fill in the blank.
Bronwyn grinned. “Aye, Mason, the manor is sentient.”
Rowen looked around her again, this time with a new perspective. “How do you know?”
“It kept the monster from getting out,” Ferne said. “It has also kept enemies from entering.”
Bronwyn patted the wall once again. “It’s done many other things to protect me.” She faced them with a cheery smile. “Well, if you’re wanting to see all the places we’ve battled, then you need to see the room on the second floor. I can show you before I take you up to our command room.”
“Command room?” Rowen asked as she followed Bronwyn to the stairs.
Ferne moved beside her. “It’s where we hold a lot of our meetings. There are whiteboards, tables, chairs, screens, etcetera…”
“Impressive,” Mason mumbled as he brought up the rear.
Rowen looked over her shoulder at him, their gazes meeting. Her hand skimmed the railing as they climbed to the second floor. Prickles of awareness skimmed over her skin, making the hairs on her body rise. She didn’t know if it was something in the house, or if it was just her imagination.
They came to the landing. Bronwyn was talking about the rooms and those available if she and Mason wanted to stay at Carwood, but Rowen barely heard her.
She looked down one long corridor, and then the other, peering at door after door.
She didn’t realize she had halted until Mason came up beside her, his hand gently touching her back—not to push, but to offer support.
“You don’t have to see the room,” he whispered.