Read Online Caledonia Fae 05 - Elder Druid by India Drummond - Free Book Online

rush?
    She stepped into the library, her eyes fastening on Rory. “What are you doing?” she asked. “I thought you were looking for Munro.”
    He stood. “I haven’t had a chance yet. I just stopped in to grab a book, in case we have any downtime while we’re staying in London.” He guided her out of the library. By tradition, only the druids went in there. He wanted to keep it that way. They needed someplace that was theirs alone.
    Flùranach batted her eyelashes. “Is reading really how you want to spend our downtime?”
    Relief washed over him. The fractious mood she’d been in earlier seemed to have dissipated. “Absolutely not,” he said. He kissed her, and she leaned into him.
    “Just think how much better everything will be,” she said in a low, sultry voice, “once we’ve bonded.”
    Rory stiffened. Bloody hell. “I need to look for Munro. The whole point in coming back was to tell him about Sheng.” Sheng was a Chinese translator from Australia and an air druid, according to Flùranach’s magical senses. They’d discovered him at London Heathrow airport, but only made initial contact. They planned to meet with him again later to reveal the truth about the Otherworld and invite him to join them.
    “I still think we should have just waited to tell everyone else after we convinced Sheng,” Flùranach said. “I don’t understand why you insisted on coming back here first.”
    He grumbled. He’d done so because he didn’t want to spend the six-hour gap alone with Flùranach, considering the mood she’d been in earlier. “We aren’t going to manipulate any new druid. If Sheng doesn’t want to join us, he doesn’t have to.”
    “Of course not,” Flùranach said. “But he’ll want to. Now that I’ve activated his dormant druidic powers, he’ll want to be part of the Hall.” She flashed Rory a smile. “No one can resist me long.”
    Rory sighed at her attempt at humour. It rankled, partly because he knew she believed what she said.
    “Come on,” she said. “It’s nearly time. You can talk to Munro tomorrow or the next day. There’s no rush.”
    “Fine,” Rory said, tired of arguing. “Can you promise me one thing, though? Could we just go this trip without talking about bonding?”
    Flùranach hesitated. “I thought it was good for us to talk about our feelings.”
    “We have,” Rory said. “I know how you feel, and you know how I feel. Now we need to let it rest for a while.” He sighed again.
    “How do you feel?” she asked with a frown.
    He brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “I love you,” he said tenderly. Whether his feelings had been caused by magic, manipulation, or they were his own, he wasn’t sure, but he did love her.
    “But you don’t want to bond with me?” Her voice trembled.
    God. If there was one thing he couldn’t handle, it was her tears. “I’m not ready,” he said softly. “I need time.”
    She nodded. “I understand. I will agree to not talk about bonding while we’re in London,” she said.
    Rory felt relief wash over him, and he wondered if there was any way he could extend their time away.
    ∞
    Munro leaned against the balustrade, his jaw set in grim determination. He couldn’t believe what Aaron had just told him he’d overheard. Munro’s face must have looked as thunderous as he felt because any servant who appeared in the corridor vanished when they caught his expression.
    A few words flitted through his thoughts: Send word if you need me. Eilidh must have sensed his dark mood through their bond.
    Munro glanced up when Tràth walked into the corridor from Douglas’ suite. The faerie prince appeared shaken and pale. He broke his stride when he saw Munro waiting for him.
    Munro stood up straight, wracking his mind for the right words. He had to do something. He couldn’t let his best friend’s son get swallowed by the darkness looming at every turn. Douglas’ harsh words might send Tràth into a downward spiral. The