Page 88 of Shattered Veil
“Complicates things?” Lochan spits.“It’s fucking Marius. He can’t be trusted.”
“Neither can the Council,” Rory points out.“And they’re the ones trying to use Brigid.”
“Marius may be a lot of things, but he’s never tried to hurt me. Can’t say the same for the Council.” Even as I say it I’m not sure it’s the truth. Being around Marius makes me feel like I’m always one step away from falling off the edge of a cliff, and he can either grab my hand or push me over.
The room goes silent again. I can feel the weight of their stares, the tension thick enough to choke on.
Tiernan clears his throat, drawing our attention. His voice is calm, analytical.“While this is unexpected, we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. The Council’s plans pose a far bigger threat than Marius at present.”
I feel a rush of gratitude for his level-headedness.
“He’s right,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel.“We need to figure out how to stop the Council from turning me into some kind of shell for the Morrigan to take over. And what are they waiting for? Why haven’t they already done it?”
Lochan stays silent but at least he doesn’t argue. Small mercies.
Rory moves closer. He places a hand on my shoulder, solid and reassuring.“Whatever happens, we’ve got your back, Brigid. All of us.” His eyes meet mine and I can see the protectiveness in them. Possessiveness even. It’s not entirely unwelcome.“You’re not facing this alone.”
I lean into his touch almost involuntarily.“Thanks, Rory.”
The tension in the room eases slightly, but I can still feel the undercurrent of distrust. We’re walking a tightrope here, with very few options. They all know a lot more about this world than I do though, so I have hope. Hope that we can figure this out and stop the Council.
Tiernan nods, his expression thoughtful.“We should gather more information, perhaps consult the old texts for any mention of similar prophecies or rituals. We need to know what the Council knows.”
“Good idea,” Callen agrees, seeming relieved to have a plan of action.
“Eira,” I say.“She can help us.”
Lochan scowls.“No. This stays between us.”
Callen considers.“We need all the help we can get right now. If Brigid trusts the girl, we should too.”
Tiernan looks at me.“Do you trust her, Brigid?”
“I think so.” Again, I’m not sure. I mean, I think I do. She’s my friend. But my issues with trust run deep and I can’t be sure I’m the best judge of it anymore.
Lochan grunts.“Not exactly reassuring.”
I glare at Lochan.“Look, I get it. You don’t trust easily. Join the club. But Eira’s been nothing but helpful since I got here. She knows things about the academy, and the Morrigan, that could be useful.”
Lochan opens his mouth to argue, but Callen cuts him off.“Brigid’s right. We need allies, and Eira’s in a unique position to help. Let’s bring her in.”
Lochan’s mouth is set in a hard line, but he doesn’t push it further. Finally, he nods curtly.
“Fine,” he growls.“But if this blows up in our faces, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I roll my eyes.“Noted.”
Rory slaps his hands on his legs.“Right then. So we’ve got a plan. Research, recruit Eira, and figure out how to stop the Council from using Brigid as a magical meat puppet. Anything else?”
I wince at his phrasing, but he’s not wrong.“Yeah, actually. We really need to figure out why the Council hasn’t made their move yet. What are they waiting for?”
Callen’s brow furrows.“Good question. They’ve had plenty of opportunities.”
“Maybe there’s something else they need,” Tiernan muses.“Some ritual component or specific timing.”
“Or maybe they’re just biding their time, waiting for the right moment to strike,” Lochan adds.
I shudder at the thought. The idea of being used as a vessel, of losing myself to the Morrigan, it terrifies me. But there’s also a part of me—a dark, twisted part—that’s curious about that power. What would it feel like to have a goddess inside me? To be more powerful than almost anything?
