Page 98 of Shattered Veil
“Just go!” Rory points to the door, shaking his head at me.
Fine. I whip open the door and stride through Grimstone’s empty corridors. Most have gone home for the break between terms.
Some of us have no home to go to, like me, Rory and Tiernan. Some of us do, but choose to stay here anyhow, like Callen.
Brigid is like us. No one to go back home to. I have to find her, make this right.
I catch a flash of dark hair disappearing around a corner, and I quicken my pace, rounding the bend to see Brigid’s retreating form.
“Wait,” I shout, my voice harsher than intended.
She freezes, the line of her shoulders stiff. Slowly, she rotates to meet my gaze. Those gray eyes meet mine, guarded and wary.
Fuck. My throat tightens. How do I even begin to fix this mess I’ve made?
“Can we talk?” I manage to get out.
Brigid regards me silently for a while. I hold my breath, half-expecting her to tell me to go to hell. I’d deserve it.
“What are you doing?” She looks around to see if anyone is watching.“We aren’t supposed to be seen together.”
I wave my hand, hurriedly.“That’s over now.”
“That’s over now,” she mutters.“I’m so glad I’m consulted when you boys make decisions that involve me.”
“Please.” Not a word that comes out of my mouth often.
She stares at me for a long while. Too long. She’s going to tell me to fuck off. I know it. Then she gives a curt nod.“Fine.”
She leads us to an empty classroom nearby, still trying to stay out of sight. As the door clicks shut behind us, I feel suddenly at a loss for words.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. All my thoughts desert me in the face of her cool gaze.
Brigid crosses her arms.“Well? You wanted to talk.”
Right. Shit or get off the pot, Lochan. I inhale deeply.
“I fucked up,” I blurt out. Real smooth.“The way I’ve treated you... it wasn’t right.”
Her eyebrows rise slightly, the only reaction to my outburst.
I clench and unclench my fists, frustration bubbling up. Why is this so damn hard?
“Look, I’ve been an asshole. I let my prejudices cloud my judgment. You didn’t deserve that.”
Brigid’s expression doesn’t change. She doesn’t speak.
The words start pouring out then, clumsy but honest.“I was scared. Of my feelings for you, of what your magic represents. But that’s no excuse. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”
I meet her eyes, willing her to see my sincerity.“I want to make it right, if you’ll let me.”
“How?”
What?“Uh, what do you mean?” I feel panic rising.
Brigid speaks slowly, drawing out every word.“How, are you going to‘make it up’to me, Lochan?” Her arms are crossed and her expression is closed off.
Fuck.
