Page 87 of Shadowed Fate

"No," she cuts me off, her gray eyes flashing. "It can't."

I glance around the greenhouse again. "Alright," I concede, stepping closer to her. "What is it?"

She takes a deep breath, and I can almost see her steeling herself. "It's about the Raven King," she whispers, the words barely audible.

My blood runs cold. "What about him? Not really the time for a history lesson, Bridge." I keep my tone light.How much can she possibly know?

"Callen listen!” She tugs on my arm. “He has an heir," Brigid says, her voice steady despite the tremor I can feel running through her body. "And I think—I think it might be me."

The world seems to tilt on its axis. I stare at her, trying to process what she's just said. The Raven King's heir? Brigid? Impossible.

A sound like tearing silk fills the air, and the darkness around us deepens. Brigid's eyes widen.

"We need to go." I grab her hand. "Now."

As we run, my mind races. If what Brigid says is true, everything I thought I knew has just been turned on its head.

Chapter 37

Brigid

Callen and I hurry through the corridors of the academy.

"You have to tell them, Brigid," Callen insists. "About the heir."

Anxiety claws at my insides. Lochan's face flashes in my mind—his disgusted expression every time he looks my way. The memory of our training session makes me nauseous. The way he looked at me.

Callen’s hand finds my shoulder, a steadying presence. "You're stronger than you think, darling. Besides," he adds, "I'll be there to protect you from the big bad fairy."

I roll my eyes, but can't help the small smile that tugs at my lips. Trust Callen to provide comic relief in a situation like this.

We round the corner, and we're there—standing before the door of the suite Callen shares with the others. My hand hovers over the handle, trembling slightly.

Callen leans in close. "Come now, darling. No need to be shy. I promise we'll be gentle."

Heat floods my cheeks as I shoot him a glare. "You're the worst."

He grins, unrepentant. "You love it."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. It's now or never. With a silent prayer to whatever gods might be listening, I push open the door.

The door swings open, revealing the extravagant suite beyond. Their suite puts the luxury of mine to shame, and that’s saying something. I suppose a prince would have nothing less.

I step inside, Callen's presence at my back both comforting and unnerving.

"What’s she doing here?” Lochan looks at me like I’m something stuck on the bottom of his boot.

I flinch, my gaze dropping to the floor. This is exactly what I was afraid of.

"Play nice, Loch," Callen chides, his tone light but with an undercurrent of sharpness. "We've got important matters to discuss."

I force myself to look up, meeting Lochan's unwelcoming stare. His arms are crossed, muscles taut beneath his shirt.

"Spit it out, then." Lochan sneers.

My fingers curl into fists at my sides. The urge to lash out, to prove him wrong, burns in my chest. But I swallow it down, along with the acrid taste of fear.

Rory chooses that moment to envelop me in a bone-crushing hug. I wheeze, "Can't... breathe..."

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