Page 76 of Shattered Veil
We collapse onto the bed, panting heavily, and I roll to the side. The only sound in the room is our breathing, and we stay like that for several minutes.
“You should probably break up with your boyfriends now,” I tease.
“Marius, there’s—” Brigid starts.
“Brigid, I’m joking.” I’d love nothing more than for Brigid to never see any of those numbnuts again, but I know she cares about them. It also won’t matter soon.
“Oh.” There’s a note of disappointment in her tone. She starts to pull a blanket over her naked body, but I whip out my hand to stop her.
“It’s not because I don’t want you, Brigid.” I turn over to face her, and cup her face, turning it so I can look into her eyes.“I do.”
More than anything, I realize.
The need to be with Brigid is the only thing that’s ever felt stronger than the destiny ingrained in me my entire life. My entire purpose for being here.
“Marius, I don’t think I could stop being with the others even if I wanted to.” Her pupils are wide in the dim light.“Which I don’t,” she quickly adds.
“I figured,” I tell her, rubbing my thumb across her cheek.“You have a mate bond with them?”
She nods, her eyes never leave mine, waiting.
“Brigid?” This is really going to fucking complicate things.“I’m pretty sure we do, too.”
She doesn’t say a word, just grabs my head, pulling me in close until my lips are on hers again.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Brigid
The forest looms before me, a wall of darkness that seems to pulse with malevolent energy. My heart hammers against my ribs as Dean Fiona’s voice cuts through the tense silence.
“Welcome to your final Harrowing challenge, kiddos,” she announces, her usually jovial tone replaced by something harder.“What lies beyond this treeline will test every skill you’ve learned at Grimstone. Some of you won’t make it back.”
Hearing it stated so bluntly makes my stomach churn.
“You have one hour,” Fiona continues.“Survive, and you pass. Die, and... well, at least you won’t have to worry about finals!” She laughs, but no one else does.
My fingers twitch, shadow magic frizzing beneath my skin. I want to run, to hide, to do anything but step into that forest. But I can’t. The Harrowing isn’t exactly a choice to be made.
“Begin!”
Students surge forward, their faces a mix of resolution and terror. I force my legs to move, each step feeling like I’m wading through treacle.
As I cross the treeline, the air changes. It’s thicker, heavier, charged with an unearthly energy that makes my hair stand on end. My shadow magic tingles, more responsive than ever before.
I move cautiously, every sense on high alert. The forest floor is soft beneath my feet, muffling my steps. Branches reach out, snagging at my clothes. I push them aside, trying to ignore their purposeful impediment of my progress.
A twig snaps nearby. I whirl, hands raised, ready to unleash a blast of shadow. But it’s just another student, looking as spooked as I feel.
“Shit,” he mutters.“Don’t do that.”
I nod, not trusting my voice. We share a look of understanding before parting ways. There are no alliances here, not really. It’s everyone for themselves.
As I press deeper into the forest, I try to remember that I’m not the same scared girl who arrived at Grimstone Academy months ago. I’ve learned, trained, become stronger. Whatever this trial throws at me, I can handle it.
A rustle in the underbrush catches my attention. I freeze, calling forth my shadow magic. It responds eagerly, spiraling around my fingers like smoke. But there’s nothing there. Just a mouse, getting the hell out of dodge.
I brace myself, wondering what kind of nightmare the academy has conjured for us today.
