Page 23 of Shadowed Fate

I don’t know what to say to that.

As I turn to leave, Dean Charling's voice stops me. "Remember, Miss Ryan. Grimstone is your home now. Your... sanctuary."

I force a polite smile, even as doubt churns within me.

The heavy door clicks shut behind me, and I lean against it, my heart pounding. What have I gotten myself into?

Chapter 11

Lochan

Callen lounges against a wall near Dean Charling's office, looking as if he owns the place. The sight of him eases some of the pressure in my shoulders, but I can't quite shake the irritation gnawing at my gut.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite misanthrope," Callen drawls, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. "What's got your panties in a twist this fine morning?"

I grunt, crossing my arms over my chest. "This damn place. Can't even walk down a hallway without it trying to turn you around."

Callen chuckles, pushing off the wall with fluid grace. "Come now, Lochan. Where's your sense of adventure? A little unpredictability keeps life interesting."

"I prefer my adventures to be of my own choosing," I mutter.

"And that, my friend, is why you always look like you've been sucking on lemons," Callen says, clapping me on the shoulder. His touch is light, but I can feel the strength behind it. "You know, a smile wouldn't kill you. Might even make you more approachable to the ladies."

I roll my eyes, shrugging off his hand. "I'm not here to be approachable."

"No, you're here to brood and glower at innocent walls," Callen retorts, his eyes dancing with amusement.

I roll my shoulders, trying to ease the tension. "What are you doing hanging around the Dean’s office?”

Callen runs his hand through his deliberately tousled black hair. “Brigid’s in there. I escorted her.”

"We should be careful of her, not coddling her like a small child."

"What's she done to you?"

"Existed," I mutter, then louder, "She's hiding something. I can feel it."

Callen's brow furrows. "Come on, Lochan. She's just trying to find her footing here. What's got you so worked up?"

I clench my jaw, irritation flaring. Callen's always been too casual, too dismissive of a threat. It's going to get him killed one day.

"You're not seeing the whole picture," I can’t understand why Callen refuses to see it. He’s smarter than that. "She's playing the helpless new girl. But you saw those shadows too. You know what that was as well as I do. There’s more to her than she's letting on."

"Maybe you're just upset she's not falling for your brooding charm?"

I bristle, heat rising to my face. "This isn't a joke, Callen. While you and Rory are busy trying to screw her, she could be plotting gods know what."

His smile fades completely now. "Lochan, what’s really going on here?"

“Just keep your guard up. Stop thinking with your dick," I mutter. "That's all I'm saying."

Callen's eyes narrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features before his usual wide smile returns. "Look, I get it. Shadow magic shouldn’t exist anymore. It was supposed to be gone, and good riddance. But Brigid? She had no idea what was happening to her. And she's barely been here a minute. The poor girl's probably terrified."

I snort, shaking my head. "Terrified? Please. After what she did to that thing in the woods?”

"And that's a bad thing?" Callen raises an eyebrow, his tone playful but with an edge. "I find her, shall we say, intriguing. There's something interesting there, underneath all that oversized knitwear."

My stomach churns at the look in his eyes. "You would.”

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