Page 64 of Shattered Veil
I know that she is.
I drag a hand down my face, cursing under my breath. How can I be so drawn to something I’ve spent my life fighting against? The mate bond is constantly there. It won’t leave me alone, urging me to go to her. To claim her.
But I can’t. I won’t. No matter how much my fucking cock aches for her, I can’t.
So I stand here, torn and conflicted, watching as Brigid faces down a mob of hostility, with no one by her side. I crack the knuckles on first one hand, then the other.
As I’m watching her, I spot Marius slinking over. Fucking hell. Of course, that snake would make his move now, when she’s vulnerable. I see her posture stiffen. Marius leans in closer, his lips nearly brushing her ear. My nails dig into my palms.
“Get the fuck away from her,” I growl under my breath.
But I don’t move. I can’t. She’s not really mine to protect. And even if she was, she’d probably tell me to piss off if I tried.
Still, every muscle in my body screams at me to intervene. To rip Marius away from her and pound his smug face into the ground. The mate bond makes itself bloody known, demanding action.
I take a step forward, then catch myself.
A hand lands on my shoulder, startling me. I twist around, ready to clock whoever touched me, only to find Dean Fiona’s grin inches from my face.
“Well,” she chirps.“Somebody’s looking awfully tense. Trouble, loverboy?”
I jerk away from her touch, scowling.“What the fuck do you want?”
She tsks.“Language.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. I cross my arms and stare at her.
“Oh, come on now. Don’t be such a grump.” Her gaze slides past me, landing on Brigid.“Though I can see why you might be a tad out of sorts.”
My jaw works.“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No?” Fiona’s eyebrows shoot up in mock surprise.“So you weren’t just about to charge over there and rescue her from Marius? My mistake.”
“I wasn’t— “
“Save it, boy,” she cuts me off, patting my arm.“Your eyes haven’t left her since she stepped off that platform. You’re not fooling anyone, least of all me.”
I glare at her.“You don’t know shit about me or what I’m thinking.”
Fiona just smiles, a knowing glint in her eye.“Oh, I think I know more than you realize.”
“That so? Then you should know I don’t play games, Dean.” I spit the title like a curse.
Fiona’s smile doesn’t falter, but her eyes harden.“Careful now, Lochan. I may be new to this position, but I am not new to this world. It would be wise to remember who I am.”
“You mean like Brigid’s friend?” I jeer.
Her expression tightens for a split second before smoothing out.“I did what was necessary to protect her. You, of all people, will come to understand that.”
“Bullshit,” I growl.“You manipulated her. Pretended to be some harmless librarian when you’re—” I gesture at her, at a loss for words. Whatever the hell she is.
Fiona leans in, her voice quiet but threatening.“I am many things, Lochan. But harmless isn’t one of them. Neither is stupid. So let’s cut the crap, shall we? You’re drawn to her, whether you like it or not. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing. There’s nothing to do.”
She sighs, shaking her head.“For someone so observant, you can be remarkably blind.” Her gaze flicks back to Brigid.“She needs you, whether either of you realize it yet.”
I follow her gaze, my chest tightening as I watch Brigid. I can still see small tendrils of shadows near her feet and hands, hungry and alive.
