See How She Fights (The Chronicles of Izzy #2)(27)
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CHAPTER TEN
When we arrived back at the Council building, Isadora and Breanan were waiting for us. The moment Eleanor got out of the vehicle, Isadora folded her into a tight hug. I was struck by the similarities in the two women. They could be sisters. Isadora pulled a now crying Eleanor under her arm and motioned for the rest of us to follow. Just as we reached the door, Molly came flying out toward Ian.
She ran toward him and leapt, throwing her arms around his neck. He as almost toppled over from the impact. Suddenly, she leaned back and slapped the daylights out of him. We all stood stunned by the drama playing out before our eyes.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again! Why didn’t you come back with the others?” She climbed down from him in a huff.
“It is so good to be missed,” Ian said, rubbing his cheek. “Would you have wanted me to leave Izzy?”
“That is not the point and you know it. I am burning that stupid suit,” Molly said before whirling around and stomping back into the house. She paused next to me adding, “I am glad you are safe.” She walked in the house, leaving us all gaping at her back in stunned silence.
“Ian, I think your presence may be required elsewhere this afternoon. I will have Conall fill you in on what you miss,” Isadora said before moving the rest of us toward her study. Ian bowed and left in search of Molly. I wondered when the two of them would get their act together. It was starting to get ridiculous.
We walked into Isadora’s study and stood around the group of chairs. Isadora and Eleanor sat on the couch next to one another and Breanan took the seat across from them. I glanced down at my arm and winced. A sharp pain had started to pull around my bandage. I had noticed it back at the theater but not since then.
“Are you well?” Conall asked, his eyes full of concern.
“Yeah, my arm just hurts a little. It isn’t important,” I replied, trying to turn my focus back to Eleanor and Isadora’s conversation.
“I would like to take a look, if it is all the same.” Conall began moving toward me with purpose, which made me pull my arm into myself.
“Let him look, Izzy. He is a certified healer,” Kennan said as I started to decline.
“Fine, but don’t we have more important things to worry about right now? I mean, her daughter just died,” I whispered to Kennan.
“Nothing is more important than your safety,” Kennan said, putting his finger under my chin so that I met his eyes. “Ever.”
“Fine. But don’t take too long,” I said as I moved toward a seat on the opposite side of the room.
Conall began to unwrap my bandage and my arm felt like it was lit on fire. I remembered it starting to hurt a little at the theater, but since then I had not had time to notice. I looked down as he unwrapped my injured arm and I gasped as the bandage fell to the floor. Kennan and Conall looked at each other, having some sort of silent conversation as my mind tried to make sense of what my eyes were seeing. Where the stitches had been earlier in the evening, there was now a rune. It felt as though a raging inferno had combusted just below my skin. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me. I looked at Kennan as the panic started to take over. I couldn’t breathe.
“Slow down, Izzy. I have you. I have you,” Kennan murmured against my skin, trying to keep me calm.
“Father, I think you need to come see this,” Conall said, moving aside so that Breanan could look at my arm. Breanan approached and muttered an oath under his breath as he took in the mark.
“Isadora, I believe we have a serious problem.” Breanan turned his head toward the now staring duo of women. They got up and made their way over to me. All the while, I sat there being examined like some sort of medical anomaly. Being prodded was becoming rather tiresome. It brought forth memories I had tried so hard to forget. After what felt like an eternity, I yanked my aching arm away.
“You said there were books of Druid ceremonies. I want to see them,” I said to Eleanor. I allowed my fear to morph into anger. Whatever was doing this to me was somehow linked to the murders. I needed to solve this.
“We should treat your arm, before it gets infected,” Kennan said, rubbing his hand down his face. I could tell from the look on everyone’s faces that whatever was happening, they’d seen it before. I just hoped that whatever it was, they were able to stop it.
“Well, slap some salve on it and let’s get going. We aren’t going to figure anything out sitting around gaping at my arm.” I stuck out the arm in question, waiting for someone to move.
I forced my eyes to once more look upon the mark. I tried to keep my breath calm as the despair ripped through my soul. There was something malicious living in the mark. I felt it writhing beneath my skin and I wanted it off. Conall moved toward me, holding a new roll of bandages and a jar of salve. It smelled similar to the stuff Kennan had used on my feet last year.
“This may sting a bit,” he said before rubbing the salve into my arm. “This is not good,” He muttered.
“What does it mean, Conall?” I whispered. Since Kennan was distracted with the others, I hoped that Conall would be honest with me.
“Not here. I will tell you, but he won’t want me to,” Conall paused for a moment before adding, “Meet me tomorrow morning for training and I will tell you then. I will arrange it with Kennan.”