was that even though she might want to be cleansed, would the gods deem her worthy? Elana said there weren’t any conditions attached to being cleansed, but that other couple, Olivia and Nathan, seemed to have earned the right by providing insider information into the Changeling’s inner workings.
Ainsley knew all of one Changeling, and after tomorrow, she’d know two, but without living among them, she wasn’t sure what she could do to help. Even if cleansing weren’t possible for her, she still wanted to help take them down.
Her best hope of learning the truth was to speak with James in person—assuming he’d see her and assuming she could learn where he lived. Before that, however, she had to treat Mr. Ernst’s father in order to judge if she might be able to worm her way into their culture. If the dad was pleased with her healing abilities, she might be recommended to others. While working on Changelings wasn’t ideal, she didn’t fear them. If the ones here were anything like those in Scotland, there was a loose ethic among thieves. As long as she didn’t mess up, they’d leave her alone.
Last night, she’d brought home her needles so she didn’t have to stop by work before heading out. Mr. Ernst had drawn her a map saying that GPS was spotty in the hills.
Once she’d eaten, she gathered her gear and left. It didn’t take long to reach Grand View Drive on the north side of town. As she wended her way up the foothills, she imagined what the views would look like in the summer. She bet the foothills would be full of lush trees, interlaced with flowering pink and white mountain laurel. It would be breathtakingly gorgeous.
Unfamiliar with these roads, she drove slowly, careful to watch for unexpected drop-offs where no guardrails existed. She was partway up the mountain when a light colored object, seemingly out of place off to the side of the road, caught her attention. She slowed. Having excellent eyesight, she detected something sticking up from the leaves that looked like a foot, though she figured it had to be a log stripped of its bark. Because no one was behind her, and because she’d left plenty of time to get lost, she pulled over to check it out.
The moment Ainsley slipped from her car, her heart pounded, though she didn’t know why. As she stepped onto the leafy area by the side of the road, she saw what had attracted her attention. It was a bare foot. Holy shit. Flies buzzed around a bloodied nude body that was angled downward and out of sight from the road. A tight band immediately squeezed the air from her lungs. She blinked, not believing what she was witnessing.
As if in slow motion, she had to fight with herself to take those last few steps to reach him, and a scream lodged deep in her throat. The horror closed up her windpipe, and for a few seconds, she couldn’t breathe. Ainsley dropped to her knees next to the body.
“Shamus?” Not that she expected him to answer, but she could hope he was still alive.
Oh my goddess. His red beard was matted in blood, and his throat had been ripped out. Wolves must have attacked him, but why? Why harm her dear sweet Shamus? Never in her dreams did she think something could best him. Given the number of bite marks covering his arms, legs, and torso, he must have been attacked by four or more wolves.
Her chest hurt as a giant sob bubbled up. Ainsley reached out and touched his knee to make certain this wasn’t a mirage. When she met with resistance, sobs wracked her body over the loss of her dear friend. Out of breath, Ainsley dropped her butt onto her heels and cried.
As much as she wanted to cover his body with leaves, disturbing the crime scene would lessen the chance of finding the identities of the killers. There had to be something she could do though. Leaving him here was out of the question, as was calling the cops. A human witch hunt would ensue for each and every wolf.
Kalan! He was a shifter and a deputy, only she didn’t have
Ainsley knew all of one Changeling, and after tomorrow, she’d know two, but without living among them, she wasn’t sure what she could do to help. Even if cleansing weren’t possible for her, she still wanted to help take them down.
Her best hope of learning the truth was to speak with James in person—assuming he’d see her and assuming she could learn where he lived. Before that, however, she had to treat Mr. Ernst’s father in order to judge if she might be able to worm her way into their culture. If the dad was pleased with her healing abilities, she might be recommended to others. While working on Changelings wasn’t ideal, she didn’t fear them. If the ones here were anything like those in Scotland, there was a loose ethic among thieves. As long as she didn’t mess up, they’d leave her alone.
Last night, she’d brought home her needles so she didn’t have to stop by work before heading out. Mr. Ernst had drawn her a map saying that GPS was spotty in the hills.
Once she’d eaten, she gathered her gear and left. It didn’t take long to reach Grand View Drive on the north side of town. As she wended her way up the foothills, she imagined what the views would look like in the summer. She bet the foothills would be full of lush trees, interlaced with flowering pink and white mountain laurel. It would be breathtakingly gorgeous.
Unfamiliar with these roads, she drove slowly, careful to watch for unexpected drop-offs where no guardrails existed. She was partway up the mountain when a light colored object, seemingly out of place off to the side of the road, caught her attention. She slowed. Having excellent eyesight, she detected something sticking up from the leaves that looked like a foot, though she figured it had to be a log stripped of its bark. Because no one was behind her, and because she’d left plenty of time to get lost, she pulled over to check it out.
The moment Ainsley slipped from her car, her heart pounded, though she didn’t know why. As she stepped onto the leafy area by the side of the road, she saw what had attracted her attention. It was a bare foot. Holy shit. Flies buzzed around a bloodied nude body that was angled downward and out of sight from the road. A tight band immediately squeezed the air from her lungs. She blinked, not believing what she was witnessing.
As if in slow motion, she had to fight with herself to take those last few steps to reach him, and a scream lodged deep in her throat. The horror closed up her windpipe, and for a few seconds, she couldn’t breathe. Ainsley dropped to her knees next to the body.
“Shamus?” Not that she expected him to answer, but she could hope he was still alive.
Oh my goddess. His red beard was matted in blood, and his throat had been ripped out. Wolves must have attacked him, but why? Why harm her dear sweet Shamus? Never in her dreams did she think something could best him. Given the number of bite marks covering his arms, legs, and torso, he must have been attacked by four or more wolves.
Her chest hurt as a giant sob bubbled up. Ainsley reached out and touched his knee to make certain this wasn’t a mirage. When she met with resistance, sobs wracked her body over the loss of her dear friend. Out of breath, Ainsley dropped her butt onto her heels and cried.
As much as she wanted to cover his body with leaves, disturbing the crime scene would lessen the chance of finding the identities of the killers. There had to be something she could do though. Leaving him here was out of the question, as was calling the cops. A human witch hunt would ensue for each and every wolf.
Kalan! He was a shifter and a deputy, only she didn’t have
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