Page 63 of Shattered Veil
“Well, well. Quite the performance, little shadow.”
I pivot slowly, not wanting to take my eyes off of the king.
Marius. When the hell did he get so close?
He angles his head, lips curling.“Did I scare you?”
“What do you want?” I try to steady my voice. I glance toward Callen, Rory and Tiernan and of course they’re laser-focused on Marius as he speaks to me.
Marius leans in, close enough only I can hear him.“How did it feel?”
“What?” I ask, distracted by the king’s sinister attention and the daggers the guys’stares are throwing this way.“How did what feel?” But I know what he’s asking.
“Don’t play games, little bird.” Marius steps closer.“It’s beneath you.”
I step back, glancing nervously at the dais. King Cillian’s eyes haven’t left us.“Was it you?” I blurt out.“Did you help me?”
Confusion flickers across Marius’face.“Help you?”
Before I can press further, his expression changes. He notices the king watching us, and something unreadable passes over his features. It’s there then gone, replaced by his usual indifference.
“I’ll see you soon, little bird.” And then he’s gone, melting into the crowd as if he was never there.
As he leaves, my eye is caught by the sight of Laria stalking away, her blonde hair lashing behind her. Even from here, I can see her fists clenched at her sides. I don’t think she’s that happy that everyone’s attention shifted away from her, to me, of all people.
“You okay?” Eira appears at my elbow, her voice low.
I nod. Laria’s anger will only mean bad news for me. She wanted to be the star, the one everyone talks about. Instead, they’re all whispering about me and my darkness.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Eira murmurs.“She’s just upset she didn’t get to show off.”
Before I can respond, Fiona’s voice booms across the arena. I still can’t bring myself to think of her as Dean Fiona.“Congratulations to our successful candidates!”
The crowd cheers, but it feels hollow. I think about how many empty chairs there will be in class now.
“As for those who didn’t make the cut,” Fiona continues, her tone almost jovial,“better to find out now, hey?”
My stomach twists. How can she be so casual about it? People died today.
“But don’t fret, folks!” Fiona’s voice rises with excitement.“Tomorrow’s spectacle will be even bigger! Day two of the Harrowing awaits, and trust me, you won’t want to miss it!”
The crowd cheers.
I barely survived today. I can’t even imagine what tomorrow will bring.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lochan
I can’t tear my eyes away from Brigid as she descends, wreathed in shadows that seem to caress her skin, then become one with her. Fuck, she’s magnificent. The pull of our mate bond pulses through me, drawing me to the woman. But the writhing darkness surrounding her grates. Shadow magic is the only thing I’ve sworn to hate forever.
Brigid’s feet touch the ground, and the shadows cling to her like a second skin. My fists clench as I notice the crowd’s reaction - faces twisted in disgust, bodies leaning away. Whispers of“abomination” reach my ears, making me bristle.
Part of me wants to walk over to her right now, to stand between Brigid and their hateful stares. To tell them all to go fuck themselves. But I stay rooted in place. It’s just the mate bond. It has to be. That’s the only thing that could make me betray my family’s memory by getting involved with someone with shadow magic.
She doesn’t need my protection, anyway. That much is obvious from the way she holds herself, chin raised defiantly. She’s at her best when she’s like this, giving as good as she gets.
She doesn’t think she’s strong.
