Page 46 of Shadowed Fate

Tiernan moves closer, not touching, but I can feel the warmth of him. "We're here for you."

"Did...did someone hurt you?" Rory's voice is soft, but there’s a hint of danger in it.

I flinch.

"It’s okay," Tiernan soothes. "We've got you."

I swallow hard, struggling to find my voice. The concern radiating from both men is palpable, threatening to crack my carefully constructed walls.

"I..." My voice breaks. I clear my throat, trying again. "It's stupid. Just bad memories."

Rory's hands clench. "Not stupid. Never stupid."

I risk a glance up. Tiernan's face is a mask of quiet intensity, while Rory looks ready to murder someone. The protectiveness in their expressions makes my chest ache.

"You don't have to tell us," Tiernan says softly. "But we're here if you want to."

I nod, grateful for the out, but find myself speaking anyway. "It's just... being between you both. Wanting you both. It reminded me of... something that happened before. Before I came here."

I’m not sure why I don’t want to look into their eyes. I shouldn’t be ashamed of what happened. I did nothing wrong.

So why do I feel the shame?

I take a deep breath and give them the short version of what happened in the woods before Callen and Lochan found me. How Donal must have sent his friends after me, knowing full well what they’d do.

Understanding dawns in their eyes. Rory lets out a string of colorful curses, and Tiernan’s mouth sets in a hard, thin line.

"Brigid," Tiernan's voice is firm but gentle. "What happened to you was not your fault. And it has nothing to do with what's happening between us now. There’s a bond that’s forming between us, a pull. I know you feel it, I do too.” He looks at Rory, who nods.

"He's right," Rory adds, his accent thicker with emotion. “You’re new to all of this, Brigid, but among our kind—supernaturals I mean—there is something called a mate bond. No one knows how or why it happens, and it’s rare, but I think it’s what we’re feeling, the three of us. We'd never... Gods, we'd never hurt you. This is very different.”

I nod, tears pricking my eyes. "I know. I do. It's just…"

It’s too much. Mate bonds? What does that even mean? I don’t have the bandwidth to even begin processing this new information, not with everything I’m feeling, physically and emotionally right now.

“Brigid, can I tell you something?” Tiernan’s voice is soft.

I nod again.

“I promise I’m not trying to read your mind.” Tiernan must notice my eyes go wide. “It’s just that your thoughts are leaking all over the place. I know what you're feeling right now, and what you’re worried about. You don’t have to be. The way you feel is perfectly natural and more than that... it’sgood.” His voice is soft but clear. “Youare good, Brigid Ryan. Don’t let anyone make you think you’re not.”

I want to believe him. I really do. But a lifetime of being told I’m bad is a hard thing to shake. The memory of Laria's cruel words comes back to me. I wrap my arms around myself.

Rory's hand hovers near my shoulder, hesitant. "Can I...?"

I nod, and he pulls me into a gentle hug. The warmth of his body seeps into mine, chasing away the chill that had settled in my bones.

"You're safe here, love," he murmurs into my hair. "We've got you."

Tiernan steps closer, his presence a solid wall at my back. I feel the heat radiating off him, and despite all the doubt and shame I’m feeling, desire reignites low in my belly.

"We'll never push you further than you're ready to go," Tiernan says, his voice a low rumble that resounds all the way down to my core.

"And if I want to be pushed?” I close my eyes as I speak, not daring to say the words out loud while I have them open and can see their reactions.

Tiernan's arms tighten around me, and I hear his sharp intake of breath. Rory's brown eyes darken, pupils dilating.

"Then we'll push," Tiernan says, his voice husky. "But only as far as you want, and only when you're ready."

---