Age of Druids by India Drummond Read Free Book Online Page B

Mother forgive us, but he was under the protection of my royal bloodline. The law is clear.”
     
    “Eilidh, Griogair loves you. He never would do this, at least not without good reason.”
     
    Eilidh took his hand, her fingers dripping more water on the floor. “My love,” she said, her heartbreak keening through their bond. “Griogair confessed.”
     
    “What?” Munro’s thoughts buzzed. “But he knows the law as well as anyone. He would have known what would happen, what it would do to you. It’s just not in his character to be violent or careless of consequences.”
     
    “I agree, but I can’t change the truth.” She glanced away. “I’ve never felt so angry, so betrayed. I trusted him completely.”
     
    Munro’s shoulders slumped. “Nothing about this makes sense. Griogair must be protecting someone. Or someone is influencing him, forcing him to confess.” He looked into Eilidh’s eyes. “Don’t do anything. Don’t issue any commands you can’t take back. We will get to the bottom of this.”
     
    Eilidh shook her head. “You aren’t a policeman anymore. I have Watchers, elders, and others investigating. They will do their jobs well.”
     
    “There must be something I can do,” Munro said. “What if I take him under the protection of the Druid Hall?”
     
    Eilidh stiffened. Every queen bore some resentment over the way the druids could and sometimes did interfere in their kingdoms. Even Eilidh was not immune to taking a protective stance concerning Caledonia’s sovereignty.
     
    Sensing her reaction, he quickly added, “I don’t intend to undermine your authority, Eilidh. I just want to protect Griogair until we find out the truth. Your people can’t blame you if I make a command.”
     
    With a sigh, Eilidh rose from the bath and stepped onto a sodden rug. Using her air and fire talents, she dried herself with warm gusts of wind. “You are a druid lord, but you are also my mate. As such, you are under my authority, at least in Caledonia.”
     
    He knew she couldn’t enforce her claim and wasn’t convinced she would try. But more importantly, he loved her and didn’t want this to turn into a division between them. She was heartbroken and felt alone. How could he be a good partner to her, remain loyal to his friendship with Griogair, help her maintain stability in Caledonia, and not cede an inch of the authority of the Druid Hall? And what of Huck and Demi? He wasn’t prepared to slow down his search for them. “I love you, Eilidh, but you’re dead wrong about this.”
     
    “Dead wrong?” she repeated, her voice distant. She shook off her moment of reverie and slipped on a day robe. Even though the sun was hours away from rising, she clearly had no intention of continuing her work for the night. Considering her usual dedication to duty, that worried Munro more than her tears had.
     
    “I’ll talk to Griogair, then meet with Oron and the other azuri members of your conclave about their options, as well as the concerns that brought me here in the first place.”
     
    Eilidh gave him a half-hearted smile. “You didn’t come just because I asked you to?”
     
    He kissed her forehead. “No.” The exhaustion overwhelmed him. He’d been tired more often since returning from death, and this new stress threatened to push him over the edge. Just when he thought he couldn’t cope with one more thing, couldn’t juggle one more ball. “I will do what I can to help you, even if that means countermanding your orders and giving Griogair asylum at Rìoghachd nan Ceòthan .”
     
    “You wouldn’t,” she said, but her voice betrayed her lack of conviction.
     
    “As always, we’ll both do what we must,” he said.
     
    She nodded, looking worried at the prospect.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Rory turned the dial on the Mistgate to point to the Danastai rune Ewain had carved on it three months before. The faeries worshipped the geezer, and Munro confirmed he had been, in fact, the same