Chapter Seventeen
Brigid
The scent of roasted meat and herbs wafts through the dining hall as Rory tears into his meal with even more exuberance than he usually has when it comes to food. His messy golden blond hair falls over his forehead, obscuring those beautiful brown eyes I thought I might never see again. My chest tightens with relief, and I ’ m just so thankful to have him here again.
“ Slow down, you animal,” I tease. “ The food ’ s not going anywhere.”
Rory grins, sauce smeared on his chin. “ Can ’ t help it. Got a lot of eating to make up for.”
I laugh, the sound catching in my throat. I ’ m so glad he ’ s okay. The memory of that swirling vortex of darkness, of Rory being swallowed whole... I shove it away.
He ’ s here. He ’ s safe.
That ’ s what matters.
The scrape of chair legs against the floor interrupts my thoughts. I look up to see Callen, Lochan, and Tiernan approaching, and my stomach clenches.
Callen ’ s usually cocky stride falters as he nears. His light eyes dart away from mine, his exquisitely shaped full lips pressed into a thin line. Tiernan hunches his broad shoulders and fiddles with the bracelets on his arm. Even Lochan ’ s trademark scowl seems tinged with discomfort.
“ Mind if we join you?” Callen asks, his voice lacking its usual confidence.
I shrug, aiming for nonchalance.
They settle into the empty chairs, an awkward silence descending. The distance between us feels vast, despite the close quarters. I hate it. I hate how much it hurts to be this close to them and to feel like they ’ re so far away.
Lochan ’ s jaw ticks as he glares at my hands. I realize I ’ ve been unconsciously toying with wisps of shadow, small little threads curling around my fingers. I clench my fist, snuffing them out.
“ That new?” he growls.
“ Loch,” Callen warns, but I ’ m already on edge.
“ Worried I ’ ll go full dark side?” I roll my eyes at him.
Lochan ’ s hazel eyes narrow. “ Maybe. The company you ’ ve been keeping leaves a lot to be desired.”
“ Oh, fuck off with that holier-than-thou bullshit.” So he knows about Marius. Fine. They should all be thanking him for getting Rory back.
Rory ’ s hand covers mine.
I glance up at Tiernan, who offers me a small smile. I cross my arms and look away. Him I expected more from. I feel Callen ’ s eyes on me. But I should have learned my lesson about trusting a fae.
Rory swallows the steak he was chewing. “ Well, this is a lot of fun, boys. But I think it ’ s time we let Brigid in on your little scheme, don ’ t you?”
“ Keep your voice down,” Lochan hisses, scanning the crowded dining hall. “ The last thing we need is for the wrong ears to catch wind of this.”
“ Scheme? What scheme?” I look at Rory for an explanation.
“ Rory,” Callen warns.
Tiernan shifts in his seat and looks like he wishes he was anywhere else.
Rory grins, clearly reveling in their discomfort. “ Oh, just a bit of bait and switch involving everyone ’ s favorite mean girl. Dear, gentle, sweet Laria.”
“ For fuck ’ s sake,” Lochan mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Callen clears his throat, drawing my attention. He stares into my eyes, and I feel that familiar pull, deep inside. Damn him.
“ Brigid,” he starts, “ we decided we should feign a certain interest in Laria.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “ You what now?”
His voice is barely above a whisper as he leans closer. “ By appearing to align ourselves with Laria, we avoid attention—from being with you. It gives us the freedom to investigate without being stalked by the Council.”
It makes a twisted sort of sense, but... “ Is that why you ’ ve all been acting so weird?”
Tiernan nods, a hint of relief in his eyes. “ That ’ s the essence of it, yes.”
I sit back, processing. “ Why wouldn ’ t you just tell me?”I can ’ t believe they came up with a plan like that but didn ’ t want to let me know about it. I shake my head.
“ We thought it would be more convincing if you were truly angry with us.” Callen sighs and rubs his hand across his jaw. “ So we distanced ourselves. From you.”
“ Wow. Good job,” I say, arching an eyebrow at Tiernan. “ Distancing yourselves,” I say pointedly. He has the good grace to blush, and I just manage to stop myself from rolling my eyes into the back of my head.
“ Feckin ’ eejits, aren ’ t they?” Rory points his fork across the table before using it to spear a roasted potato.
“ Yep,” I agree, before finally taking a bite of the delicious dark chocolate cake with idleberry creme that I was looking forward to trying, but that I haven ’ t been able to touch since the three stooges walked in.
I ’ m glad I know now why they ’ ve been acting that way, but it still makes me feel shitty that it was all planned behind my back. I ’ m still on the outside, after everything we ’ ve been through.
Lochan I get, but Callen—he promised me—and I really thought Tiernan and I were closer. He ’ d certainly seen me up close and personal the other day. This makes me even more grateful that Rory is back.
I take a long breath, trying to balance my hurt and anger and with understanding, not that they deserve it right now. “ I get why you did it, but next time, let me in on the plan. I ’ m not some damsel who needs protecting. I can handle myself.”
Lochan scoffs. “ Can you?”
The words sting, but I ’ m not surprised. I meet his gaze head-on. “ At least I ’ m honest about my feelings, Lochan.” Yes, I know Lochan hates shadow magic, and by extension me. But I also know he feels more than that. I see the way he looks at me when he thinks I don ’ t see him. If it ’ s all because of a mate bond, then so be it. I never asked him for anything, and I didn ’ t ask to be bonded to him. We ’ re both stuck with each other.
He stares at me, a muscle ticking in his cheek. For a moment, I think he might argue, but he just looks away, his silence more telling than any retort.
I turn back to the group. “ Look, you ’ re not wrong. The Council ’ s probably watching my every move. Fiona is for sure. I think you should keep your distance from me to throw them off.” None of them can ’ t keep the look of surprise off their faces. “ But no Laria. She might be an asshole but no one deserves to be deceived like that.”Does Laria deserve my good graces, no. But here I am giving them, anyhow, despite having wanted to choke the life out of her earlier.
Tiernan lets out a breath. “ Thank the Gods.”
“ From now on, we ’ re in this together. No more secrets.” I hold Lochan ’ s gaze evenly. “ And we need to trust each other.”
Callen nods, relief evident in his expression. “ Agreed. We ’ re stronger as a unit.”
“ And sexier,” Rory adds, his mouth full of embernut pie topped with whipped cream. “ Since I ’ m back, anyhow.”
I can ’ t help but smile. Idiot .
Rory grins, puffing out his chest. “ You ’ re all welcome, by the way. I ’ ve single-handedly saved this group from certain doom and eternal misery.”
I snort. “ Oh really? And how did you do that, oh great savior?”
“ With my brains and brawn,” he says, flexing an arm.
Tiernan rolls his eyes, but there ’ s a hint of a smile on his lips. “ Your modesty is truly something else, Rory.”
“ I know, right?” Rory beams, completely missing the sarcasm. “ Now, who ’ s up for another group hug?”
Lochan groans. “ Absolutely not.”
But Rory ’ s already on his feet, arms spread wide. “ Come on, you grumpy bastard. You know you want to.”
Before anyone can protest, Rory ’ s wrapped us all in a bear hug. I ’ m squished between Callen ’ s chest and Tiernan ’ s shoulder, Lochan awkwardly half-in, half-out of the embrace.
As we untangle ourselves, I notice the shift. Callen ’ s shoulders have relaxed, Tiernan ’ s eyes are brighter, and even Lochan seems less rigid. Rory ’ s infectious energy has worked its magic, bridging the gap we ’ d all been too stubborn to cross.
“ Well,” I say, smoothing down my clothes, “ I guess we ’ re officially a dysfunctional family now.”
Callen raises an eyebrow. “ Dysfunctional?”
“ Would you prefer ‘ batshit crazy ’ ?” I smirk.
He laughs, a deep, rich sound that warms me from the inside. “ Touché.”
As we settle back into our seats, the atmosphere feels lighter. Rory launches into a dramatic retelling of his “ daring escape,” complete with exaggerated hand gestures and sound effects. I catch Lochan ’ s eye across the table, and for a moment, I see a flicker of something that might be understanding, maybe more.
I lean back, letting the boys ’ banter wash over me. I feel like I can breathe. We ’ re far from perfect, but we ’ re together. And right now, that ’ s enough.
A hush falls over the dining hall, pulling me from my reverie. My eyes snap to the entrance, where Fiona has just made her grand entrance. She ’ s a riot of orange and fuchsia, with a big, chunky sun pendant necklace and earrings.
Her gaze sweeps over the students like a spotlight.
Fiona ’ s eyes land on our table. More specifically, on Rory.
Her step falters, just for a second, but it ’ s enough. I watch as shock ripples across her face. She regains her composure quickly and continues walking toward the faculty tables.
I ’ m not the only one who noticed. Lochan ’ s eyes meet mine.
It ’ s not surprising that Fiona would be caught off guard by the sight of a returned Rory. Even though she ’ s never met him, she ’ d of course been aware of his disappearance—and one of the few people who knew that it had happened, actually. What ’ s strange is that she ’ s pretending like Rory sitting here, guzzling a goblet of mood wine now, is not remarkable enough to come over to our table.
“ Brigid?” Tiernan ’ s voice breaks through my thoughts. “ You okay?”
I force a smile. “ Yeah, just... thinking.”
My eyes dart between Fiona and my friends. I can ’ t afford to let my guard down, not when there ’ s so much I don ’ t understand, about myself, and about this whole world.
“ So,” Rory says, oblivious, “ who ’ s looking forward to the Winter Solstice?”
Lochan groans. “ Didn ’ t we just have one of those?”
“ The winter solstice celebration after the Harrowing is usually a lot of fun,” Tiernan chimes in. “ Brigid, you ’ re going to love it.”
“ Tell me more.” I need to distract myself from thinking about Fiona. Which is hard to do, considering her loud laughter carries across the room. It shatters like glass all round me, making a million tiny, treacherous cuts.
As they describe the celebration—bonfires, feasts, and ancient rituals under the stars—I feel a little better. It ’ s almost enough to make me forget how terrified I am about the Harrowing. Almost.
“ And then there ’ s the Midnight Hunt after the break,” Rory says with a wide grin.
“ The what?” I ask, not sure I want to know.
Callen smiles and there ’ s a wicked gleam in his eyes that makes me shiver. “ It ’ s a tradition. You ’ ll soon find out all about it, darling.”
Lochan shifts in his chair, and I see Tiernan ’ s eyes darken.
Okay then. Note to self, find out what the hell the Midnight Hunt is. My cheeks are hot as I take a sip from my water glass to cool off.
Something compels me to I look up. Drawn by an unseen force, I lock eyes with Marius across the room. His gaze burns into me, filled with an intensity that steals my breath.
I should look away. I want to look away. But I can ’ t. Then I remember my promise to him. One night.
Just when everything was starting to go well.