Page 42 of Shadowed Fate

The enchanted lanterns float lazily above the courtyard, their ethereal glow casting shadows around Grimstone. All around me, idiots run around hanging decorations and carving magical pumpkins for the fucking Harvest Festival. As if there isn’t more important shit to do.

I lean against a tree, arms crossed, watching the commotion unfold. A group of air elementals cackle as they make a pile of leaves swirl and dance in the air. Nearby, a pack of werewolves howl with laughter as they lob pumpkin guts at each other.

That girl with her shadow magic could be the death of us all, and these fools are worried about some pointless party.

"Oi, Loch! Why the long face?" Rory's booming voice breaks into my thoughts. He bounds over, grinning like an overgrown puppy, Callen sauntering behind him.

I grunt in response. Maybe if I ignore them, they'll fuck off and leave me alone.

No such luck. Rory claps a big hand on my shoulder. "Come on, you grumpy bastard. Even you can't resist Harvest.” Rory puts on a false look of concern. “Tell me where the pumpkin spice hurt you."

"I think I'll manage," I mutter, shrugging off his hand.

Callen's lips curl. "Surely you can set aside your tiresome brooding for a few days of debauchery? I hear they're bobbing for poison apples this year. Quite the thrill, I'm told."

I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to tell them both to go to hell. "Some of us have more important things to worry about than getting drunk on fae wine and groping each other in the corn maze."

Rory's easy grin falters for a moment. "Ah, come off it, Loch. We all need to blow off some steam now and then. You more than most, I'd wager."

"He's right, you know.” Callen examines his perfectly manicured nails. "All work and no play makes Lochan a dull boy. And we can't have that, can we?"

How can they be so blind? So careless? We’ve let someone with shadow magic into our academy. That’s like letting the fox into the henhouse, for fuck's sake.

"You want to have fun? How about we go find your newest plaything and see what she's really up to? Or have you forgotten what her kind did to all of us? To my family?"

Rory's eyes widen. "Loch, mate, that's not fair. Brigid's not—“

"Don't." My voice is cold as ice.

Callen steps between us. "Enough. This paranoia of yours is growing tiresome, Lochan."

I shake my head. Callen’s family took me in, let me stay in the palace after everything happened. He’s like a brother to me. But he doesn’t understand. Shadow magic didn’t cost him what it cost me. Brigid is a threat to us, even if she doesn’t know it. And I’m not so sure that she doesn’t. Every time I’m around her I feel like there’s more to Brigid than meets the eye. I can’t explain it, it’s just a sensation that happens when she’s close by. It’s got to be some kind of witchcraft.

Rory’s stomach growling breaks into the hostility. “I’m hungry, boys. Let’s go. You can have your pissing match later, after I’ve eaten.”

***

On the way to the dining hall, Rory and Callen stop to talk to one of the professors in the hallway. I tell them I’ll meet them inside, and keep walking.

I get to the big double doors and push them open.

The scene before me is chaos. Students are crowded around in a tight circle, their faces a mix of shock and morbid fascination. At the center stands Laria, her statuesque form radiating cold fury. And across from her, trembling but defiant, is Brigid.

Laria's voice drips with venom. “Guess she’s the academy's new whore."

Brigid's face pales, but her chin lifts. "What do you want, Laria?"

Laria's laugh is cruel. "Oh, sweetheart. I just thought everyone should know what you really are." She turns to address the crowd. "Did you all know our little human slut has been spreading her legs for half the school?"

The gathered students react with gasps and laughter. I feel I feel a flicker of disgust, not at Brigid, but at Laria's petty display and the crowd. Still, I remain silent, watching.

“That’s a lie.” Brigid’s hands clench at her sides. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" Laria's smile is vicious. "Rory, Callen, Tiernan... tell me, which one of them fucks you where? Or do you just let them all take turns?"

The crowd titters.

"They're just slumming it with you, you know," Laria continues, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "They'd never really be interested in human trash like you."

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