Page 86 of Shattered Veil
Brigid stills in my arms. “What kind of visions?”
I hesitate, unsure how much to reveal. “Flashes of a possible future. You and me, the others, together. Happy.” I swallow hard. “But also... darkness. Pain. Something big coming for all of us.”
She pulls back, and even in the lack of light I can see the worry on her face. “The prophecy?”
I nod. “I think so. It’s all tangled up somehow—us, the Morrigan, Marius, the others. I don’t understand it all, but I know it’s important.”
When she speaks, her voice is quiet. “I’m scared, Rory. Of what’s coming. Of what I might become.”
I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I know, love. But you’re not alone in this. Whatever happens, we face it together. All of us.”
She nods against my chest, her fingers curling into my shirt. “Promise me something?”
“Anything.”
“If I…if I start to lose myself to the darkness. If I become something I’m not—”
“That won’t happen,” I interrupt.
“But if it does,” she insists. “Promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to stop me. Even if that means—”
I cut her off with a kiss, pouring everything I feel for her into it. When we break apart, I cup her face in my hands. “Listen to me, Brigid. I will always fight for you. Not against you. If the darkness comes, we’ll face it together. I’m not giving up on you. Ever.”
She lets out a shaky breath. “Okay.”
“Okay,” I echo.
We untangle ourselves, smoothing clothes and fixing hair. I can’t help but take one more kiss from my mate before we leave. “I’ll go first,” I tell her. “Wait a few minutes, then follow.”
She nods, but grabs my hand as I reach for the door. “Rory— ”
I give her hand a squeeze. “See you soon, love.”
Stepping out into the hallway, I scan for any sign of our nosy classmates or Council minions. Coast’s clear. I slip back into the party, snagging a drink to look casual.
My eyes find Brigid as she re-enters a few minutes later. She catches my gaze across the room, a secret smile playing at her lips. For a moment, I forget about prophecies and darkness and all the shit coming our way.
Right now, in this moment, we’re just two people falling in love.
And fuck if that isn’t worth fighting for.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Brigid
I wince at the too-bright light as I turn toward Callen who is standing in front of the window. Even non-fae wine here is strong enough to give me a hangover after just a couple of glasses, and my unexpected visitors are not helping with the bomb they’ve just dropped on me.
My mind is going six ways to Sunday. The words he’s just spoken hang in the air.“The Council—killed the dean?”
Callen nods, his pale blue eyes intense.“And they’re planning to use you asthe vessel for the Morrigan.”
My stomach lurches, this time not from too much mulled wine last night. I grip edge of my desk, steadying myself.“But why? How?”
“Power,” Callen says, his voice tight.“They want to harness the Morrigan’s power for themselves.”
I glance around my room, taking in the faces of my companions. Rory and Tiernan look grim, but it’s Lochan who catches my eye. He’s pacing, running a hand through his brown hair. Something’s off about him.
“Lochan,” I say,“you okay?”
