Chapter 26 #3
He nodded. “You don’t need to say it.”
I offered him a weak smile, and he pulled me against his chest, whispering into my hair. “One more minute. And then we should go.”
My eyelids drifted closed, and I held him tightly, my heart aching at the unfairness of our situation. We remained that way for longer than a minute, but we both knew it had to end.
Bren exhaled slowly, and I felt his touch only inches above my breasts. I opened my eyes as he lifted the silver pendant from my chest. “This holds magic, did you know?”
I blinked in surprise. “Magic? My aunt said it was a good luck charm.”
He nodded and released it. “That it may be.”
Bren chuckled as he stepped back, but the mirth didn’t reach his eyes. “I intend to speak with Cillian before we leave. I can’t pass up the opportunity to rub this in his face.”
He sobered. “And I won’t wait to learn what he knows. If I’ve placed you in more danger, I must know.”
I squeezed his hand. “You didn’t endanger me. I chose this, remember?”
He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I allowed it.”
We held hands until we reached the stone stairway, and then he released me with a nod, indicating that I should go first. We returned to the nave without speaking. The tourists moved around us, swallowing us into their fold, completely unaware of our success and tragedy.
The sun hovered low in the sky as we emerged from the church, and the fresh air did little to cool me. Bren stopped just outside the door, glanced over the parking lot, and set out for Cillian’s car at a brisk pace.
My boss started his engine as we approached, and he lowered his windows, glancing quickly at me before focusing on my companion. Bren regarded him with a smile. “Thank you for your service, Cillian. I’d like a report now.”
He regarded Bren with disdain. “Nothing I did was for you, and I don’t report to you.”
Bren’s smile grew. “Will you keep Selene on pins and needles then, wondering if she’s safe or not? Can you be that cruel after everything you’ve done to her?”
I swore red flashed in Cillian’s eyes as he glared at Bren. Though his gaze softened when he turned to me. Still, I could see he wasn’t pleased. “I sensed nothing.”
Elation filled me. I’d held Bren, kissed him with more than a touch of passion, and nothing.
Cillian admonished me with a shake of his head. “You’re playing with fire, Selene. With things you don’t entirely understand. While this evening may have been a success in your eyes, don’t forget that.”
He shifted his car into gear as he glanced back at Bren. “You broke our agreement, and I won’t forget.”
Before Bren could respond, Cillian sped away.
I blinked as I processed his comment and turned to Bren. “I guess I shouldn’t expect him to be happy about things.”
Bren gestured toward my car and began walking. “He’s right. I should have resisted. What if this had resulted in the Unbound waiting for us out here instead of only Cillian?”
I hurried to keep up. “No. This was my idea. And he took part too. And we’re absolutely fine.”
We reached my car, and Bren opened my door for me. “That part is true, but it’s not what matters most. I allowed my emotions to rule my actions, and that’s a dangerous thing.”
When we were both inside the car and belted into our seats, I turned to him, fueled by a touch of anger. “Look, tomorrow is never guaranteed. If I must live in hiding for the rest of my life, shut away from someone I care deeply about, then I might as well die today.”
Bren tightened his jaw. “Don’t say that. Ever.”
I forced a smile and gave him a light shrug. “I already did, and I meant it. No more making agreements about me unless I’m consulted. I want you to promise that.”
He stared at me for a long moment and then faced the windshield. “I wish you could understand.”
We didn’t speak the entire way home, not until I parked in front of the castle where he’d left his car. Evening had descended along with patchy fog, leaving us shielded from the world. Probably. Maybe.
He released his seatbelt and turned to me with a stoic expression. “I’ll promise you that, as long as you do nothing else that might endanger you without speaking to me first. It’s the only way.”
I considered his request for a few seconds and then nodded. “It’s a deal.”
His shoulders relaxed, and his features softened. He held my gaze and nodded slowly. “Thank you for showing me the church’s stonework. It’s a memory I’ll not forget.”
My heart tightened without warning, and I smiled. “I’ll not forget either.”
Bren opened the door and climbed out, looking back before he closed it and strode to his car. He waited for me to drive away first, and I repeatedly glanced in the rearview mirror as we traversed the short drive through the forest before we reached his home.
He turned into his driveway, while I continued to the main road and followed it toward Cillian’s house.
I congratulated myself on my experiment’s success, but it rang hollow. I’d treasure our moments beneath the church, but I’d created another problem.
When could I be that close to him again?