Chapter 3
Lochan
I shut the door behind me, and three pairs of eyes snap up. Callen lounges in an armchair, one eyebrow raised in question. Rory's sprawled on the couch, suddenly alert. Tiernan sits cross-legged by the window, his fingers paused mid-motion on a piece of parchment.
"Dean Charling just gave me orders. It's urgent." My voice comes out gruff, authoritative. "We need to retrieve someone. A girl."
Callen leans forward, interest sparking in his eyes. "A girl? Do tell, fearless leader. I love a good damsel in distress."
I clench my jaw. "This isn't a joke. The Dean stressed how critical this is. No fucking it up."
"Did he give any other details?" Tiernan asks.
I shake my head.
"That's all you've got to go on?" Rory asks, sitting up straighter. "Just 'retrieve a girl'?"
I nod. "The Dean was cryptic as fuck. Said we'd know her when we saw her."
Rory snorts. "Well, that's helpful."
I resist the urge to snap at him. "Look, I don't like going in blind either. But if the Dean says it's important, it’s important.”
Callen saunters towards me with that insufferable smirk. "Relax, Loch. You're wound tighter than a virgin's—"
I growl, cutting him off. Callen's always pushing boundaries, but now's not the time. His royal highness might be above me in the hierarchy, but I can still kick his ass.
He raises his hands in mock surrender. "I'm simply concerned for your well-being, old boy. All this intensity can't be good for your blood pressure."
I feel a vein throbbing in my temple. "You’re not good for my blood pressure."
"Alright, lads." Rory's lounging there, all tousled blond hair and warm brown eyes, looking for all the world like he hasn't a care. "A mysterious girlie needs rescuing," he continues, grinning. "Sounds like a grand adventure. Maybe she'll even be grateful enough to give us a kiss for your troubles, eh?"
I roll my eyes.
As Rory's laughter fills the room, my gaze drifts to Tiernan. He's hunched over a small table in the corner, fingers tracing intricate patterns on a piece of parchment. His brow is furrowed in concentration, light brown hair falling into his eyes.
"What do you think, Tiernan?" I’m curious about our resident druid's take.
Tiernan looks up, his green eyes meeting mine. "The forest speaks of change," he says softly. "This girl. We can't see what grows, but its roots run deep."
I suppress a shiver. Tiernan's cryptic shit always gets to me.
"Care to translate that for us non-tree whisperers?" Callen quips.
Tiernan's lips quirk. "It means be prepared for anything, you prick."
It's rare for Tiernan to snap back, but when he does, it's always golden.
"Alright, alright," I say, trying to rein us in. "We need to focus. From what little the dean gave away, this isn't some standard retrieval. I don’t think the girl is aware of—well, this.” I gesture at all of us and at the room we’re standing in. Just one of many in Grimstone Academy, where staircases shift, certain doors only appear on blood moons, and the forest can swallow intruders whole.
Yeah, it’s a lot for anyone to take in, especially if they’re unaware of the existence of magic. Which, I’m pretty sure, is the case here.
Rory stretches lazily. "When has anything ever been standard with us, Loch?"
Tiernan nods. "Fair point. Remember the nymph incident?"
Callen groans dramatically. "Don't remind me. I still can't look at daisies the same way."
This is why I need these idiots. They drive me insane, but they're also the only ones who can pull me back from the edge when the past threatens to consume me.
"So," Tiernan says, his voice quiet but cutting through our banter. "You need all of us?"
“No, Dean Charling said it should be me and Callen. We need to make as small a ripple as possible. In and out.”
"And when we find this mystery girl?" Callen asks, his earlier playfulness giving way to a sharper focus.
"We bring her in," I say firmly. "No matter what."
"Did our esteemed Dean Charling deign to share any other information about our soon-to-be guest?" Callen asks.
I clench my jaw. "That's all I've got. The old bastard was tight-lipped as ever."
"Makes me wonder what it is about this mystery girl to have him so secretive.” Callen cocks his head.
"Whatever it is," I say, "it's important enough for an urgent extraction. We need to be ready for anything."
Rory laughs. "Well, lads," he says, his brogue more pronounced than usual, "sounds like you might be picking up a wee dragon or something. Better bring some fireproof undies, eh?"
"So," Tiernan says, his voice quiet. "What of her powers? Have you any idea?"
"Fuck if I know," I admit, running a hand through my hair. "Could be anything. Fire-breather, ice elemental, shifter..."
"Or just a scared kid," Tiernan interjects softly.
The possibility sits uncomfortably in my gut. We've all been there. Thanks the gods for Grimstone.
"Whatever she is, whatever she can do, we bring her in. Those are our orders.”