Page 53 of Shattered Veil
“You don’t have to go,” Brigid says, but Lochan is already stalking towards the door.
He pauses next to her, close enough to brush her skin with his hand. For a moment, I think he might reach out and touch her. But he clenches his fists at his sides.
“Good luck tomorrow,” he mutters, then brushes past her and slams the door behind him.
Brigid flinches at the sound.
“He’ll get over it.” I’m not letting Lochan’s moodiness ruin the night.“Now, what’s your poison? We’ve got wine, fae wine, ale, mead...”
Brigid hesitates, then sighs.“Wine, please,” Brigid says softly, sinking onto the plush couch.
I pour her a generous glass of rich red wine, then grab a bottle of fae wine for myself. The potent liquor tingles on my tongue as I take a long swig.
“To surviving the Harrowing,” I say, raising my bottle in a toast.
Brigid’s lips quirk up in a small smile as she clinks her glass against my bottle.“And hopefully not embarrassing myself too badly in the process.”
I settle next to her on the couch, close enough that our thighs touch.“You’ll do brilliantly, darling. I have no doubts.”
A large gulp of wine goes down, her throat visibly working, and she coughs a bit. I find myself transfixed by the graceful curve of her neck.
“Easy there,” I murmur, gently taking the glass from her hand.“We don’t want you hungover for the trials tomorrow.”
Brigid laughs, but it’s a brittle sound.“Maybe being hungover would be better. At least then I’d have an excuse when I inevitably fuck everything up.
She leans back and closes her eyes. When she opens them again, her gaze is fixed on me.“Why does Lochan hate me?”
“What Lochan feels for you is pretty fucking far from hate, Brigid.”
“He hates what I am, Callen. He hates my magic.”
I step closer, running my fingers along her jaw.“He doesn’t hate you, darling. He’s just... conflicted.”
Brigid leans into my touch, and she waits a beat before speaking.“I don’t know how much longer I can take this back and forth with him.”
“Then don’t think about him tonight,” I murmur, leaning in close enough that my lips brush her ear.“Tonight is about you.” I drink in the sight of her - the curve of her neck, her full lips stained red. My cock stirs as I imagine those crimson lips wrapped around me.
The door opens and Rory and Tiernan enter, laughing about something. They pause when they see Brigid.
“Well, hello there!” Rory’s eyes light up at the sight of her.
Tiernan’s gaze rakes over Brigid’s body.
“Our girl needed some company before the Harrowing,” I explain.
Rory grins wickedly.“Happy to oblige.”
“Glad you’re here,” Tiernan says softly, his eyes warming as he looks at Brigid.
Rory grabs an ale from the kitchen, while Tiernan pours himself some mead. They settle onto the couch, Rory on Brigid’s other side and Tiernan in the armchair across from us.
I notice Brigid’s fingers trembling slightly as she takes another sip of wine. Her eyes are glossy.
“Hey,” I say gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.“Talk to us. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
Brigid takes a shaky breath.“I’m just... freaked out,” she whispers.“About tomorrow. About Fiona. About everything.”
Tiernan moves to sit on the coffee table in front of us, his hand coming to rest on Brigid’s knee.
