Armadale was located on the low-lying Sleat Peninsula, but his gaze was drawn to the startling jagged peaks of the Cuillin mountains that towered above Armadale some fifteen miles farther inland.
“There are Druids,” Phelan finally answered. “I’ve been to Skye a few times over my years, but no’ once did I encounter a Druid.”
Aisley’s head swung to him with her forehead furrowed. “Why is that? Are they frightened of you?”
“Most likely. Which begs the question, beauty. Why are you no’ scared of me?”
“It’s your eyes,” she said softly.
Phelan tugged her against him so their conversation wouldn’t go beyond them. “You’ve no’ asked to see me in Warrior form.”
“Should I have?”
“Aye.” He studied her fawn-colored eyes. He had seen the marks on her wrists. She had an explanation for them, and he hadn’t found a Demon’s Kiss. But how could he have missed that she hadn’t asked to see his Warrior form?
Was that because she’d seen a Warrior before? If that was the case, that could only mean she was involved with Jason Wallace.
Phelan’s hand tightened on her hip. “Tell me why you’ve no’ been curious to see what I look like.”
“Do you think I’ll run from you?” she asked with a grin that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Stop, Aisley. Doona jest. Tell me the truth.”
She glanced away before she placed her hand atop his arm. “I feel the devastating power inside you. You fairly hum with it. The way you move, the way you take everything in. You’re a predator, Phelan. You’re dangerous and ferocious. I know your skin and eyes change. I know you’ll have claws and fangs, but I don’t have to see that change to know the fierce, untamed man before me is a Warrior.”
It wasn’t exactly an answer. She was hiding something, and a part of him knew he wouldn’t like what it was. But he couldn’t push her.
What he found with her was too pleasant to shake up. If her explanations of her past didn’t make sense, he would think she was a
But he knew that couldn’t be the case. He’d have felt it in her magic. Aisley’s magic was too thrilling and wonderful to be anything but
So whatever was in her past they would face together when she trusted him enough to share it. Until then, he would take each day they had as a gift that she hadn’t run from him.
Twenty minutes later they docked at Armadale. Instead of taking the road leading to Skye, Phelan drove them left from the ferry terminal.
“Where are we going?” Aisley asked.
“I’m hungry.”
She held onto him as he drove them slowly down the landward end of the pier to The Shed. He stopped in front of the tiny cafe and once more shut off the engine of the bike.
“I hope it’s better than its name,” Aisley whispered.
“It is. Trust me. We can spend a little time here,” he said when he saw her looking at the Ragamuffin shop, a clothing store.
She looked back at him and smiled when her stomach growled. “Food sounds good.”
He grabbed the door to the cafe to open it for her when his phone rang. “Grab us a table. I’ll be right there.”
She hesitated a minute before she walked inside. Phelan watched her find a table as he pulled his mobile phone out of his back pocket.
As soon as he saw Charon’s name on the screen he answered it. “Are you all right?” he asked.
There was a choked laugh on the other end. “Aye. Should there be anything wrong?”
“Have you no’ spoken with Fallon?”
Charon was silent for several seconds. “What’s going on?”
He blew out a breath and walked away from the cafe door. “Are you feeling any effects from the wound you suffered at Wallace’s mansion?”
“You mean the wound that your blood couldna heal?” Charon asked tightly, softly.
“Aye,” Phelan ground out. “I need to know if it’s doing more than just bothering you. Laura and I’ve both seen you rubbing your chest where the blade entered you.”
Charon let out a string of cussing. “There’s something different with the
“I doona know. Fallon told me Larena says there’s something wrong with her.”
“Shite. I’m beginning to miss the days when it was easy to battle Deirdre.”
“When was that ever easy?”
“It wasna at the time, but now it sure seems like it.” Charon let out a long breath. “The wound still bothers me sometimes. I’ll admit that. But I’m myself.”
“Larena isna.”
“She died.”
“You practically did as well,” Phelan stated.
Charon laughed wryly. “Ah, but then you were there. Your blood saved me.”
“You doona know that.”
“I do. Sonya told me how everyone in that car put their blood in my wound, but it didna do much. Until you added yours.”
“Mine should’ve healed you instantly.”
“Which tells me, my friend, that Wallace has been busy.”
Phelan pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “I think I despise Wallace more than I ever did Deirdre.”
“I never thought I’d hear you say that.”
“Me neither. The truth is, this bastard is conniving. We never see how he’s going to hit us.”
“Until it’s too late. I know. Is Fallon talking to Britt about Larena? Britt might be able to help.”
Phelan glanced inside the cafe to see Aisley staring absently at the menu. “He has her focused on finishing her current work. When that’s complete, she’ll turn to Larena.”
“I saw how he reacted when he thought Larena was dead. I wouldna want to see what becomes of him if he loses her a second time.”
“It’s good that Aiden found Britt then.”
“Speaking of finding things,” Charon said conversationally. “How is your Druid? What’s her name again?”
Phelan saw Aisley rise from her chair and look to the door. She was thinking of running, he knew it. “Charon, I’ve much to tell you about her, but it’s going to have to wait. I’ll be in contact soon.”
He ended the call and strode into the cafe. As soon as she saw him, she sat back down. “You were going to leave,” he said as he joined her.
“I … yes.”
“Why?” After all they’d been through he couldn’t believe she would start running again.
She dropped her head into her hands. “I don’t know,” came her muffled reply.
Phelan pulled her hand from her face and intertwined his fingers with hers. “You’ll feel better after you get some food inside you.”
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Here. On Skye. With you. I thought I could help and do something good. I don’t belong. I need to go.”
He kept a tight hold of her when she would have risen. Her magic swelled, fear edging it. “Tell me what’s going on, beauty.”
“It’s this isle. I feel … I can’t explain it. I feel out of place.”
“Take a breath.” Once she had he said, “Good. Now, here comes the waitress. Order something. We can talk after you eat.”
He didn’t release her hand until the waitress left. Aisley’s magic pulsed in confusion, like it couldn’t decide whether it was happy about where they were or not.
