Chapter 24
Brigid
Callen moves through the crowd. He's even more gorgeous than usual. The suit he's wearing—it’s a statement. Every thread screams royalty, from the intricate golden embroidery on the cuffs, to the way it is tailored for his hard frame.
He extends his hand, a smile playing on his lips. "May I have this dance, Brigid?"
I hesitate, heat rising to my cheeks. "I... I don't really know how. To dance, I mean.”
"Just follow my lead," he whispers, pulling me close. His hand settles on my waist, warm against my bare skin. Callen raises his eyebrows. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you, darling?”
As we begin to move, I can't help but think about how he's always there, always the first to approach me. It’s as unsettling as it is enticing.
"You clean up nice," I manage, trying to keep my voice steady.
Callen's laugh is rich. "And you, my dear, are a dream come to life. I almost didn't recognize you."
"Careful," I warn, a smile tugging at my lips. But his words echo exactly what I was feeling.
His fingers trace small circles on my back as we sway. "Caution is overrated."
I forget that Callen's royalty. But then I see the other dancers giving us a wide berth, the reverent looks thrown his way.
"Tell me," Callen murmurs, his lips brushing my ear. "What dark thoughts are swirling in that pretty head of yours?"
I shiver, torn between leaning in and pulling away. "Just... trying to figure you out."
His hand slides lower, dangerously close to being inappropriate in a room full of our fellow students. "I much prefer being an enigma."
The music swells, and he pulls me flush against his chest. My heart thuds and I'm sure he can feel it.
As the song ends, I step back from Callen, my skin tingling where he touched my bareness. Before I can take a breath, a familiar voice calls to us.
"Oi! My turn with the lady, Your Highness."
Rory bounds up, grinning from ear to ear. His massive shoulders strain at his jacket. His shaggy blond hair is barely tamed, and his bowtie is already crooked. I can't help but smile.
"Finally escaped your admirers?" I tease as he sweeps me into a lively dance. I’d noticed more than a few girls standing far too close to him as Callen and I danced.
"Ah, they'll survive without me," Rory winks. "Couldn't let you have all the fun, now could I?"
We twirl across the floor, and I relax into Rory's easy warmth. It's a stark contrast to the intensity of dancing with Callen.
"Gods, you look gorgeous," Rory says, his eyes twinkling. "Might have to fight off half the lads here tonight."
I snort. "Yeah, right. I'm sure they're all lining up for the weird girl."
Rory's face softens. "Hey now, none of that. You're fucking amazing, Brigid. Don't let anyone tell you different.” He leans in close to whisper in my ear. “Remember—you’re ours, love. Anyone who comes near you will learn that right quick.”
His words catch me off guard, and I have to look away. That's when I spot Eira, twirling gracefully with a tall, lanky guy from our Elemental Studies class.
"Is that Finn dancing with Eira?" I ask, nodding in their direction.
Rory glances over. "Aye, the water boy finally worked up the nerve to ask her. Took him long enough."
I watch them for a moment. I’m happy for Eira.
"Good for her," I murmur.
Rory squeezes my hand. "And good for you, yeah? You're here, you're stunning, and you've got the best dance partner in the room, you lucky thing."
I laugh, grateful for his ability to lighten any mood. "You're ridiculous."
"You love it,” he laughs.
And I do.
As the song ends, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Tiernan stands there, looking elegant in a perfectly cut, deep midnight blue suit. I notice he still has his woven bracelets on, and he decided to forgo a tie. The buttons on his shirt are undone enough for me to see his chest and I swallow, remembering how it felt under my palm.
"May I cut in?" he asks.
Rory bows dramatically. "All yours, mate. Try not to step on her toes like I did."
I roll my eyes. "You didn't step on my toes once, Rory."
"Night's still young," he says, sauntering off.
Tiernan takes my hand, his touch gentle as we begin to sway. The music shifts to something slower, lingering and melancholy.
"You look beautiful tonight, Brigid," Tiernan murmurs. "Like starlight come to earth."
My cheeks warm. "Thank you. You look really nice too."
He smiles, and it transforms his usually serious face. "The night suits you. There's a magic in the air, isn't there?"
I nod, taking in the twinkling lights, the swirling couples, the sheer otherworldliness of it all. "It's... incredible. I never imagined anything like this existed outside of fairytales."
Tiernan's eyes reflect the light, and it makes them look greener than ever. "Sometimes fairytales come true."
As we dance, I notice Callen watching us, a look of approval on his face. My stomach does a little flip.
I feel Tiernan’s hand splayed across my back, the same as Callen and Rory before him, and yet his touch is distinctly different. It’s controlled. Precise. I find myself wanting to hear his praise.
The song ends, and I realize I'm parched. "I need a drink," I tell Tiernan.
He nods. "Follow me."
We make our way to the refreshment table, a dazzling array of glittering goblets and jewel-colored liquids. I reach for a glass of something close to me, but Rory's hand shoots out, grabbing my wrist.
"Whoa there, love. Not that one. fae wine'll have you dancing on tables and swinging your dress around your head faster than you can say 'tits up.'."
I raise an eyebrow. "Speaking from experience?"
He grins. "Maybe. Let's just say there are some stories better left untold."
Tiernan chuckles, selecting a different glass. "Try this. It's safer."
I take a sip, and the taste explodes on my tongue—sweet, tart, familiar. "It tastes like... blackberry jam," I say, memories of my cottage flooding back.
"Do you like it?" Rory asks, concern in his eyes.
I nod. "Yeah. Just... remembering home."
As I savor the drink, I realize something strange. Despite all the uncertainty, the unanswered questions, the bizarre circumstances that brought me here... I'm starting to feel comfortable at Grimstone. Almost like I belong.
A chuckle escapes me. Imagine that.
The feeling is short-lived.
A bristling sensation on the back of my neck makes me turn. Across the room, Laria and her group are watching me, their eyes full of undisguised contempt. The hostility in their glares could curdle milk.
"Ignore them," Tiernan says.
“That lot is nothing for you to concern yourself with,” Rory says.
Easier said than done.
Suddenly, a hush falls over the nearby dancers.
A tall figure in a black mask approaches, his movements fluid like a cat. He extends a hand to me, not speaking.
I hesitate, curiosity warring with apprehension. Beside me, I feel Rory and Tiernan stiffen. Callen materializes from the crowd, his eyes narrowed.
Rory growls.
But something compels me. I place my hand on the masked stranger's, allowing him to lead me onto the dance floor.
As we begin to move, his gloved fingers lightly touch my bare back. It's not entirely unpleasant, but there's an edge to it that sets my nerves on fire.
"Who are you?" I whisper, trying to peer behind the mask.
His lips curve into a smile. "I knew you’d look stunning in that dress."
I know that voice.
Marius .
He’s the one who gave me the clothes?
We glide across the floor, his movements unpredictable and I feel off balance, but his arms are strong and I follow his lead as best I can. At one point, I don’t even think he’s letting my feet touch the floor anymore. I can feel the eyes of everyone on us, especially Rory, Callen, Tiernan, and even Lochan. Their protective stances are visible from here.
"They seem quite concerned for you," Marius murmurs, his breath hot against my ear.
I swallow hard. "They're my friends."
He chuckles, the sound dark and rich. "Are they now? How interesting. Perhaps we should be friends, too."
His hand slides lower on my back, and I stiffen. It's intimate, too intimate.
But I can't bring myself to pull away.
"What do you want?" I ask, my voice barely audible over the music.
He leans in close, his mask brushing my cheek. "To dance with the most captivating woman in the room. Is that so wrong?"
My face flushes, and I hate myself for it. This man is dangerous; I can feel it in my bones. But there's something magnetic about him, something that draws me in despite my better judgment.
As we turn, I see Laria. The hatred in her eyes makes me flinch. What have I done to earn such loathing?
The masked man follows my gaze. "Forget Laria. She’s inconsequential,” he says, dismissively.
The music swells, and he pulls me even closer. Our bodies are pressed together as tightly as if we were making love.
"What are you, Marius?" I ask again, my voice trembling. “Who are you?”
He leans in, his lips nearly touching my ear. "Someone who knows your true potential, Brigid. Someone who can give you everything you've ever wanted."
I shiver.
But before I can ask more, a piercing scream cuts through the music.
His grip on me tightens as chaos erupts around us. My heart pounds, a frantic drumbeat matching the sudden panic in the ballroom.
"What the hell?" I gasp, my eyes darting wildly.
A sea of black feathers floods the room, swirling and diving. Ravens. Hundreds of them. Their caws drown out the screams of the other guests.
Marius pulls me against his chest, his voice urgent in my ear. "Stay close."
I want to run, to hide, but my legs won't move. The birds swoop dangerously near, their sharp beaks glinting in the candlelight.
"Brigid!" Callen's voice cuts through the cacophony. I see him fighting his way towards me.
Marius's arm tightens around my waist. "You're safer with me.” He draws me further away.
But am I? The revelation that he's behind the mysterious wardrobe gifts sets off all my alarms. What game is he playing?
A raven dives close to my face. I duck, burying my head in Marius's chest. His scent fills my senses, smoky and dark.
"Make it stop," I whisper, hating the weakness in my voice.
Suddenly, the air pulsates with a vibrant surge of power. A professor’s voice rings out, clear and commanding: "Reveal yourselves!"
A blinding flash of light fills the room. I blink, spots dancing in my vision. The ravens... they're dissolving, melting into wisps of inky smoke.
"Shadow magic," Lochan growls nearby. "Who the fuck would pull this shit?"
As the smoke clears, the ballroom falls eerily silent. My stomach churns. Something's wrong. The strain in the air is palpable, thick enough to choke on.
That's when I see it. In the center of the dance floor, a crumpled form. Familiar old-fashioned clothing. Spectacles askew.
"Oh god," I whisper, bile rising in my throat. "Is that...?"
Lochan pushes through the crowd, his face grim. He kneels beside the body, checking for a pulse. The look he gives us says it all.
"Dean Charling," Marius says, his breath hot against my ear. "How... unfortunate."
I pull away from him, suddenly cold. The Dean's unseeing eyes stare at the ceiling, his face frozen in an expression of terror.