Chapter Twenty-Two
Callen
The portal shimmers around me as I materialize inside Brigid ’ s room, startling her.
“ So that ’ s how you and Lochan get in here.” She ’ s sitting on her bed, cross-legged, sketchbook in hand. When she looks up, I can see the strain on her face.
“ Comes in handy, especially when we ’ re trying to avoid being seen.” I reach my hand out to her. “ Now come here. I ’ ve got a surprise for you.”
She leans away, frowning. “ Callen, I can ’ t. The Harrowing—”
“ Isn ’ t going anywhere.” I close the distance between us and trail my fingers up her arm. “ You need a distraction, darling. And you shouldn ’ t be alone.”
She bites her lip as she considers my offer. It kills me that she ’ s hesitant, but I understand why. I know I still have a lot to make up for, and I intend to start tonight.
I lean in closer and whisper in her ear. “ Say yes. Let me take care of you tonight.”
My fingers trace the curve of her neck, feeling her pulse quicken. Brigid ’ s eyes flutter closed as she inhales sharply. I can see her resolve crumbling.
“ Just for a little while,” she whispers.
A triumphant smile tugs at my lips. “ That ’ s my girl.”
I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against me, loving the heat of her body against mine. She fits perfectly in the crook of my arm, like she was made for me.
“ Hold on tight,” I murmur.
With a flick of my wrist, I summon the portal. Light envelops us as the room shimmers, then disappears altogether. Brigid shifts and clings tighter to my chest.
In less than a second we ’ re standing in the middle of the front room of my suite.
As the portal dissipates around us, I catch Lochan ’ s eyes widening in surprise. He ’ s sprawled on the couch, a book forgotten in his lap. His jaw clenches as he takes in the sight of Brigid pressed against my side, my arm still wrapped possessively around her waist.
Brigid stiffens in my embrace, her fingers digging into my shirt. She and Lochan stare each other down. I can practically taste the tangled mess coming off them both - lust, resentment, anger, fear.
“ Brigid,” he says, her name sounding like gravel in his throat.
I watch as a blush creeps up Brigid ’ s neck, her breath quickening. She steps back from me, her arms wrapping around herself protectively. “ Lochan, I... I didn ’ t know you ’ d be here.”
You can feel the tension in the room.
I watch Lochan ’ s eyes rake over Brigid ’ s body, his gaze lingering on the curves of her hips and breasts. The craving in his expression is unmistakable, despite his harsh tone.
“ I was just leaving,” he growls, tossing his book aside and standing abruptly.
“ You don ’ t have to go,” Brigid says, but Lochan is already stalking towards the door.
He pauses next to her, close enough to brush her skin with his hand. For a moment, I think he might reach out and touch her. But he clenches his fists at his sides.
“ Good luck tomorrow,” he mutters, then brushes past her and slams the door behind him.
Brigid flinches at the sound.
“ He ’ ll get over it.” I ’ m not letting Lochan ’ s moodiness ruin the night. “ Now, what ’ s your poison? We ’ ve got wine, fae wine, ale, mead...”
Brigid hesitates, then sighs. “ Wine, please,” Brigid says softly, sinking onto the plush couch.
I pour her a generous glass of rich red wine, then grab a bottle of fae wine for myself. The potent liquor tingles on my tongue as I take a long swig.
“ To surviving the Harrowing,” I say, raising my bottle in a toast.
Brigid ’ s lips quirk up in a small smile as she clinks her glass against my bottle. “ And hopefully not embarrassing myself too badly in the process.”
I settle next to her on the couch, close enough that our thighs touch. “ You ’ ll do brilliantly, darling. I have no doubts.”
A large gulp of wine goes down, her throat visibly working, and she coughs a bit. I find myself transfixed by the graceful curve of her neck.
“ Easy there,” I murmur, gently taking the glass from her hand. “ We don ’ t want you hungover for the trials tomorrow.”
Brigid laughs, but it ’ s a brittle sound. “ Maybe being hungover would be better. At least then I ’ d have an excuse when I inevitably fuck everything up.
She leans back and closes her eyes. When she opens them again, her gaze is fixed on me. “ Why does Lochan hate me?”
“ What Lochan feels for you is pretty fucking far from hate, Brigid.”
“ He hates what I am, Callen. He hates my magic.”
I step closer, running my fingers along her jaw. “ He doesn ’ t hate you, darling. He ’ s just... conflicted.”
Brigid leans into my touch, and she waits a beat before speaking. “ I don ’ t know how much longer I can take this back and forth with him.”
“ Then don ’ t think about him tonight,” I murmur, leaning in close enough that my lips brush her ear. “ Tonight is about you.” I drink in the sight of her - the curve of her neck, her full lips stained red. My cock stirs as I imagine those crimson lips wrapped around me.
The door opens and Rory and Tiernan enter, laughing about something. They pause when they see Brigid.
“ Well, hello there!” Rory ’ s eyes light up at the sight of her.
Tiernan ’ s gaze rakes over Brigid ’ s body.
“ Our girl needed some company before the Harrowing,” I explain.
Rory grins wickedly. “ Happy to oblige.”
“ Glad you ’ re here,” Tiernan says softly, his eyes warming as he looks at Brigid.
Rory grabs an ale from the kitchen, while Tiernan pours himself some mead. They settle onto the couch, Rory on Brigid ’ s other side and Tiernan in the armchair across from us.
I notice Brigid ’ s fingers trembling slightly as she takes another sip of wine. Her eyes are glossy.
“ Hey,” I say gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “ Talk to us. What ’ s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
Brigid takes a shaky breath. “ I ’ m just... freaked out,” she whispers. “ About tomorrow. About Fiona. About everything.”
Tiernan moves to sit on the coffee table in front of us, his hand coming to rest on Brigid ’ s knee.
“ How about a little game to take your mind off things?” I suggest.
“ What kind of game?”
“ Truth or dare,” Rory says with a wicked grin. “ But with a twist.”
“ What ’ s the twist?” Brigid asks, her voice breathy.
I lean in close, my lips brushing her ear. “ Every time you choose ‘ truth ’ , you have to remove an article of clothing.”
Brigid ’ s eyes widen. “ And if I choose dare?” Brigid asks, her voice husky.
I smirk. “ Then we get to decide what you take off.”
She angles her head and her eyes narrow. “ That hardly seems fair. Weird game.”
“ Who said anything about fair?” I trace my fingers along her collarbone. “ But if it makes you feel better, we ’ ll play by the same rules.”
Finally, she nods. “ Okay. I ’ m in.”
“ Excellent,” Rory grins, rubbing his hands together eagerly. “ Who wants to go first?”
“ Ladies first,” I say, gesturing to Brigid. “ Truth or dare?”
She takes a deep breath. “ Truth.”
Rory ’ s eyes gleam. “ Have you ever touched yourself while thinking about one of us?”
Brigid ’ s face turns maroon. She looks down, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “ Yes,” she admits softly.
“ Which one of us?” I press.
She glances up, meeting my eyes. “ All of you.”
The blood rushes to my crotch at her admission. “ Good girl,” I purr. “ Now, take off your shirt.”
“ I still don ’ t get these rules,” she says. With trembling fingers, Brigid grasps the bottom of her shirt and slowly pulls it over her head. Her breasts are lifted by a sheer bra, her skin flushed and glowing in the low light.
Brigid ’ s blush deepens as our eyes roam over her exposed skin.
“ Beautiful,” I murmur. Rory nods in agreement, his eyes dark with desire.
“ Your turn, Callen,” Tiernan says, his voice husky.
“ Dare,” I say with a smirk.
Rory grins. “ I dare you to kiss Brigid. And make it good.”
“ What are we—teenagers? What kind of dare is a kiss?” I scoff. But I turn to Brigid, ready to make it good, and cup her face in my hands. “ May I?” I ask, roleplaying a gentleman. She nods, her lips parting slightly in anticipation.
I capture her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply. She tastes of wine and strawberries. My tongue traces the seam of her lips and she opens for me with a soft moan. I explore her mouth thoroughly, crushing her lips with mine, then gently bite her lower lip and draw it out.
When I finally pull back, we ’ re both breathing heavily. Brigid ’ s lips are swollen, her eyes glazed.
“ Fuck,” Rory breathes. “ That was hot.”
“ Brigid ’ s turn again,” Tiernan says.
“ But I just went,” she argues. “ That ’ s not how—”
“ That ’ s how we play tonight,” I say. “ Tonight is all about you.”
And I mean it. It ’ s the least I can do.