Chapter Eighteen
Lochan
Standing inside Brigid ’ s room, I wait, watching the shadows lengthen as the daylight is dimming. I can ’ t risk being seen with her in public, not if we want to maintain this re-started charade of distance. It ’ s been a few days now, and we ’ ve pulled it off so far. But here, in the privacy of her quarters, the scent of her in the air and her casually tossed clothing on the chair, I feel surrounded by her as I invade her privacy and space.
My eyes roam the room, taking in every detail. Her bed is unmade, sheets tangled as if she ’ d had a restless night. I resist the urge to touch them.
On her nightstand I see a sketchbook. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I step closer, flipping it open. The page reveals a haunting landscape of twisted trees and a maelstrom of black feathers. Her talent is undeniable, but the scene sets my teeth on edge. I flip through a few more pages, each drawing more unsettling than the last. Until I come to the most recent sketch of a man. With a scowl of anger that twists his face, looking like the world shit in his morning coffee.
It ’ s unmistakably me. Is this how she sees me?
My glance falls on the clothes on her chair, and black lace catches my eye. Draped carelessly over the back of her chair are a pair of panties, delicate and barely there. My throat goes dry as unbidden images of Brigid wearing those panties—and Brigid taking off those panties—flood my mind. My dick flexes and I force the thoughts away. This is exactly why I need to keep my distance. I can ’ t afford to be distracted by her body, no matter how much it calls to me.
The door creaks open and Brigid steps inside, her gray eyes widening when they land on me. She lets out an exasperated sigh, one hand coming to rest on her hip.
“ Seriously? Do none of you understand the concept of a locked door?”
I cross my arms over my chest, fixing her with a stern look. “ We need to talk.”
“ So you decided to break in?” Her eyes narrow as she notices the open sketchbook. “ Were you going through my things?” She stomps over and closes the book.
She turns to face me fully. “ What do you want, Lochan?”
I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat. Brigid ’ s cheeks are flushed from her brisk walk, a few strands of dark hair clinging to her neck. My eyes are drawn to the rapid pulse at the base of her throat, and further, to the swell of her full breast beneath her shirt, nipples hard and visible. Images of my mouth closing around her nipple while I grip her tit with my hand, flash in my head.
I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus. “ The Harrowing. You ’ re not ready.”
Her lips press together primly. “ And you care? You ’ ve been avoiding me for days.”
In public we all avoid her. But I ’ m the only one who leaves the suite when she visits in private. “ I ’ m here now,” I growl, stepping closer. “ And we ’ re going to train. Starting tonight. Late enough that we can do it without being noticed.”
Brigid ’ s eyes flash dangerously. “ Oh, are we? And what makes you think I ’ ll agree to that?”
I lean in, my face inches from hers. “ Because you don ’ t have a choice. Unless you want to end up dead or worse during the trials.”
For a moment, Brigid ’ s eyes spark with defiance and I think she ’ s about to fight me on this. For some reason, that makes me rock hard.
“ Fine. But I ’ m not your pet, Lochan. I ’ ll train with you, but on my terms.”
I fight the urge to argue. Her stubbornness grates on me, but I can ’ t deny the thrill it sends through my body. “ Your terms?” I growl, closing the distance between us. “ And what exactly are those?”
Brigid tilts her chin up, meeting my gaze unflinchingly. “ No more sneaking into my room. And you treat me like an equal, not a nuclear bomb about to detonate.”
Her scent envelops me—flowery with something darker, earthier, like the smell of sex. It takes every ounce of willpower not to bend her over right her and now and fuck her.
She sees the change in me and her eyes widen. I wonder if she ’ s going to take a step back, but she stays right where she is. I watch as her eyelids lower and she arches a brow.
“ Alright,” I say, my voice rough. I can ’ t stop staring at those fucking lips. I think about them wrapped around my cock, and a growl rises in my throat. “ No more sneaking in. But I ’ ll treat you how I damn well please.”
Brigid ’ s eyes narrow. “ Then maybe I don ’ t need your help after all.”
She turns to walk away, but I grab her arm, spinning her back to face me. The movement brings her body flush against mine. I can feel the heat of her, the softness of her curves pressing into my hard planes.
“ You need me. Whether you like it or not.”
Her breath becomes shallower, and I watch as her pupils dilate. She ’ s affected by our proximity as much as I am. The realization sends a stab of satisfaction through me.
“ I don ’ t need anyone,” she whispers, but there ’ s a tremor in her voice that betrays her.
My hand slides up her arm, coming to rest at the nape of her neck. I can feel her pulse racing beneath my fingers.
“ You ’ re lying,” I murmur, my thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “ And you ’ re terrible at it.”
Brigid ’ s breath catches. Her eyes flutter closed for a moment before snapping open, that spark of disobedience returning. “ Don ’ t think this changes anything between us.”
I lean in closer, my lips barely brushing her ear. “ Wouldn ’ t dream of it, little witch.”
She shivers, and I have to bite back a groan. Every muscle screams at me to claim her, to mark her as mine. But I can ’ t. Not when her shadow magic still poses such a threat. I force myself to step back, putting distance between us. Am I imagining it, or do I detect a look of disappointment on her face?
It ’ s gone in an instant, her face a blank mask now. “ Meet me at the edge of the forest after lights out. Don ’ t be seen.”
Brigid nods. “ Now could you please leave? I have to change before I meet Eira.” She brattily fingers the top button of her shirt. “ Or are you going to stay and watch?”
Fuuucck.
“ Don ’ t tempt me, witch,” I growl.
Brigid ’ s eyes widen slightly, but she doesn ’ t back down. Instead, she pops open the top button of her shirt, revealing more cleavage. “ Or what?” she asks, her tone both defiant and sultry.
The sight of her exposed skin makes my cock throb painfully. I take a step towards her, crowding her. “ Or I ’ ll show you exactly what happens to bratty little witches who don ’ t know their place.”
Her breath catches, and I can see the pulse fluttering in her throat. For a moment, we ’ re locked in a heated stalemate. Finally, I force myself to step back. I turn and stride toward the door. As I leave, I pause. “ Don ’ t be late tonight. And wear something practical.”
When I step into the hallway, I hear her mutter, “ Yes, sir,” in a mocking tone. The urge to go back in there and bend her over my knee is almost overwhelming.
I take a deep breath, willing my body to calm down as soon as the door closes behind me. My cock strains against my pants, aching to be buried inside her cunt. I adjust myself, cursing under my breath.
This is going to be harder than I thought. Fucking mate bond. Fate has a warped sense of humor, bonding me to a shadow witch.
I hear her shut the door behind me, and for some reason, instead of leaving the corridor I duck around the corner.
The door to Brigid ’ s room creaks open. My muscles tense as I hear her soft footsteps. She leaves, oblivious to my presence.
My eyes drink her in. The curve of that peachy ass in those leggings with her shirt tied up at the waist, her full breasts straining against the thin fabric of her top. Her long hair cascades down her back, begging me to run my fingers through it. To grip it tight and pull.
My cock twitches for the fucking shadow witch. It ’ s a joke. I should despise her.
And yet... fuck, I want her. The mate bond pulses between us, a constant reminder of what could be. What shouldn ’ t be.
“ Well, well. Enjoying the view?”
Callen ’ s voice breaks through my lust-filled haze. I whip around to find him leaning against the wall, a smug-looking smirk on his face.
“ What are you doing here?” I mutter.
He raises an eyebrow. “ I could ask you the same thing. Though it ’ s pretty obvious.”
“ Fuck off, Callen,” I say, shoving past him.
He falls into step beside me, that obnoxious smirk still plastered on his face, infuriatingly at ease. “ Come on, Loch. What ’ s the harm in admitting you want her? We all do.”
“ It ’ s just the fucking mate bond.” Even I don ’ t believe my words.
“ At least you finally admit that you ’ re feeling it too.” Callen chuckles. “ Anyone ever tell you that you ’ re stubborn?”
“ Doesn ’ t matter. Mate bond or not, I ’ m not ever going to be anything with someone who has shadow magic.” Callen better get that through his pretty princely head. He of all people should know me well enough to know that. My family was everything to me, and those shadow bastards took them away. Anyone who has it can never be trusted.
Including Brigid.
I stride down the corridor, my boots clomping loudly.
“ Look, I ’ m just training her for the Harrowing,” I say, more to convince myself than Callen. “ That ’ s it.”
“ Sure, sure.” Callen ’ s tone drips with sarcasm.
I clench my jaw, resisting the urge to punch him. “ Don ’ t you have somewhere to be?”
He shrugs, nonchalant as ever. “ Not really. Watching you squirm is far more entertaining.”
“ She ’ s dangerous.”
“ So are we,” he counters. “ It ’ s kind of the name of the supernatural game, friend.”
But this is different. Brigid is different.
“ Just... stop talking about it,” I say, quickening my pace.
Tomorrow ’ s training session will no doubt be a minefield. How the fuck am I supposed to keep my hands off her while teaching her to fight? The thought of her body…
Fuck.