Chapter 32
Callen
I sit at our usual table in the dining hall, an island of calm amid the bustling chaos of students. My eyes lock onto Brigid as she storms towards me, her face a thundercloud.
"You bastard," Brigid hisses. Her fists are clenched at her sides, knuckles white with fury. "You tricked me.”
I cock my head, feigning innocence. "Now, now, darling. That's quite an accusation. I merely offered you a drink. How was I to know you'd blabber on?" I force myself to smile, hiding how I really feel about what I did.
Brigid's eyes narrow to slits. "Cut the bullshit, Callen. You knew exactly what you were doing. What I want to know is why. I’ve never lied to you. You could have just asked me what you wanted to know."
I know she hasn’t. But that seed of doubt put there in my mind by Lochan, my closest friend, it festered. I needed to be sure.
But fuck him for making it come to this.
I lean in close, unwilling to drop the charade. "Perhaps I simply wanted to see you let loose, pet. You're always so tightly wound. It's not healthy, you know."
"Fuck you," Brigid spits, her chest heaving. "I'm not your goddamn toy to play with. You had no right."
Brigid's words slice through me, sharp as a scalpel. I maintain my mask of unconcern, but inside, I'm disgusted with myself. She's correct, of course. I had no right.
Her voice drops to a deadly whisper, barely audible over the clatter of silverware on porcelain. "I thought you were different. I thought I could trust you."
I shrug, feigning indifference.
She turns on her heel and storms out of the dining hall.
Fuck . I've really screwed up this time.
Rory sits across from me, his usual easy grin replaced by a unsettling glare. He leans towards me.
"What the fuck did you do, Callen?” I notice his hands are clenched into fists.
“She couldn’t handle her liquor.” I lean back in my chair, affecting nonchalance I don't feel. "Come now, Rory. It was just a bit of fun."
"Fun? You call upsetting Brigid fun? You're a real piece of shit sometimes, you know that?"
Always the protector, our Rory. It would be touching if it wasn't so damn irritating.
His eyes flash. "You're an asshole, Callen. Brigid trusted you, and you fucking used her."
I force a lazy smile, though guilt gnaws at my insides. "Language, mutt. It's hardly becoming."
"Fuck you, fairy," Rory snarls, slamming his fist on the table. Heads turn our way. "You crossed a line. Brigid deserves better than your manipulative bullshit."
Before I can retort, Lochan approaches, his face a hard slab of cold indifference. Rory stands abruptly, chair scraping against the floor.
"I'm out," he snarls. "I can't stand to look at either one of you right now." He strides off, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.
Lochan slides into Rory's vacated seat. "What was that about?"
I sigh, dropping the facade. "We need to talk, Loch. This has to stop."
"What are you on about?"
"Your vendetta against Brigid. It ends now."
Lochan's eyes narrow. "What makes you say that?"
"I can assure you, nothing nefarious is going on between Brigid and Marius. Your paranoia is unfounded."
"And how exactly do you know that?" Lochan asks, suspicion lacing his words.
I hesitate, guilt twisting in my gut. "I... obtained the information. Let's leave it at that."
Lochan's eyebrows shoot up. "You didn't."
"I did what I had to do," I snap. "And now that we know she's not a threat, you need to back off. Your hostility is fracturing the group."
"Everything was fine before she showed up," Lochan growls. "She's the problem, not me."
Tiernan, who's been quietly observing, finally speaks up. "Lochan, your emotions are clouding your judgment. You're not thinking clearly."
Lochan's head whips towards Tiernan, eyes flashing. "At least I'm letting my cock think for me."
I shake my head. Lochan’s always been pig-headed, but he’s outdoing himself when it comes to Brigid. And I’m tired of playing peacemaker, it's not my natural inclination. I’m more of a ‘stir shit up and watch them dance’ kind of guy.
“Figure it out,” I tell him as I stand up and leave.
I walk out of the dining hall, frustration simmering beneath my skin. Fucking Lochan and his stubborn—
A body collides with mine, hard curves pressing against my chest. The scent of sickly sweet flowers and something more metallic, like copper, assaults my senses.
Laria .
She looks up at me through hooded eyes, a coy smile playing on her blood-red lips. "Oh, Callen." Her hands linger on my arms. "I didn't see you there."
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
"After you," I say coolly, stepping back. Her hands fall away, but her gaze remains locked on me, hungry and desperate.
"You seem tense," Laria murmurs, closing the distance between us again. Her fingers trail up my chest. "I could help you... relax."
I grab her wrist, my grip firm but not bruising. "Not interested."
Her smile falters, a glint of anger in her eyes. "Come on, don't be like that. We used to have a lot of fun together."
"Used to," I emphasize, releasing her hand. "Past tense."
Laria's expression hardens, all pretense of seduction dropping away. "It's because of her, isn't it? That little shadow bitch."
I feel my jaw tense. "Watch your fucking mouth, Laria.”
"Or what?" Laria sneers. "You'll sic your shadow bitch on me? Please. She's nothing but a cheap fuck, Callen. A distraction."
My fingers twitch, longing to wrap around her throat. But I keep my voice calm, cold. "Careful, Laria. You're treading on dangerous ground."
She opens her mouth, another insult no doubt ready to spill from her lips, but something in my expression makes her pause. A moment of uncertainty crosses her face.
Good. She needs to remember who she's dealing with.
I lean towards her. "Trash like you doesn’t deserve a warning, but since I don’t feel like getting my hands dirty today you’re getting one. The next time you mess with Brigid, you mess with me. And you really don’t want to do that. Remember who I am, Laria.”
I pull back, meeting her gaze. Her eyes are wide and I can smell her fear, sharp and unpleasant.
"If I hear one more word about Brigid from your mouth," I continue, my voice low, "I'll personally ensure you regret it. And trust me, darling, I can be very creative."
Laria swallows hard, her throat working. I watch the movement with interest.
I smile, and I know it’s more terrifying than if I’d bared my teeth.
She takes a step back, then another, her bravado quickly fading.
"She'll be your downfall," Laria sneers.
I laugh, the sound bouncing in the empty hallway. "Oh, I'm counting on it."
Laria turns and stalks away, her heels clicking furiously against the stone. I watch her go, my smile fading. Fucking vampires . Always so dramatic.
I run a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. That little confrontation was annoying. But I have bigger problems to deal with. Like how the fuck I'm going to fix this mess with Brigid.
I lean against the wall, closing my eyes for a moment. I've played my part well, perhaps too well. The charming manipulator, the cunning prince. But at what cost?
A familiar scent wafts through the air like petrichor.
Tiernan .
I open my eyes to see him approaching, his usual serene expression marred by concern.
"That was quite a show," he says quietly, coming to stand beside me.
I smirk, though it feels forced. "Which part? The dramatics with Laria or the pissing contest with Lochan?"
Tiernan's lips twitch. "Both were rather impressive, I must say. Though I'm more concerned about the fallout."
I sigh. "Aren't we all?"
“Do you remember the premonition I had that night, when the dean sent you and Lochan to bring Brigid to Grimstone?”
I don’t recall what Tiernan had said that night. I hadn’t been paying much attention. “Something about growling trees?”
Tiernan shakes his head. “The premonition said that we don’t know what grows, but that it has deep roots.”
I shrug. I’ve never understood much of what Tiernan comes out with. “And?”
His face is serious. “I think it means that something is growing, something is coming.”
I raise an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "Coming? What's coming?"
Tiernan's eyes take on that distant look he gets when he's seeing beyond the present. "I'm not sure. But it's tied to Brigid, she's... pivotal somehow. A catalyst. And it’s connected to the four of us. She’s connected to us.”
I push off the wall, suddenly restless. "Well, that's delightfully vague and ominous. Any other incomprehensible messages you'd like to share?"
Tiernan's gaze refocuses on me, his expression grave. "Just one. Be careful, Callen. The path you're walking is treacherous."
I scoff. "When has it ever not been?"
"I'm serious," Tiernan insists. "The choices you make now will have far-reaching consequences. For all of us."
My eyes narrow and I feel a touch of irritation. "I'm always careful." There are things I’ve kept to myself, and Tiernan knowing about them wasn’t part of the plan.
I wonder how much insight his gift has given him. It’s crucial that no one figures what I’m doing on the side.
"Are you?" Tiernan asks softly. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're playing with fire. And not just your own."
His words take me by surprise. Tiernan’s aware of more than I thought. I’ll have to be more vigilant in the future.
I force a laugh, but it’s hollow even to my own ears. "You worry too much, druid. I have everything under control."
He meets my gaze steadily. "Playing both sides will come crashing down eventually."
His words raise my hackles, but I force a lazy smile. "You're seeing shapes where there are none, my friend.”
“Am I?” His eyes bore into mine, searching. "Then enlighten me, Callen. What are you really up to?"
I stare at Tiernan. "What exactly are you implying?"
He looks at me thoughtfully. "Don't insult my intelligence. Callen. We both know what you’re doing. And if Lochan finds out—”
I step closer, my voice low. "Careful, nature boy. You're treading on thin ice."
“Am I?” Tiernan asks, his voice calm and steady. “We’re your friends, Callen. I’m your friend. But no good will come from this.”
“Did you see that in one of your little premonitions?” I scoff.
“No.” Tiernan sighs. “It would take a fool not to figure that out.”
Before I can do something he’ll regret, like slamming my fist into his jaw, I turn and walk away.