Page 85 of Shadowed Fate

I search the grounds before finding her in the greenhouse, seeking comfort among the plants. Just like at her cottage. Just like Tiernan.

I pause in the doorway, struck by the sight of her. Brigid stands alone amidst the lush and verdant flora, her dark hair cascading down her back as she leans over a glowing flower. Her fingers brush gently over iridescent petals, her touch gentle and soft.

Something twists in my chest. I'm drawn to her like a moth to flame, helpless to resist. Before I realize it, I'm moving closer, drinking in every detail. The curve of her neck as she bends. The way light plays across her face. The gentle strength in her hands as she tends the delicate plant.

Brigid doesn't notice me, lost in her own world.

I clear my throat softly. "Brigid."

She stiffens, whirling to face me. In an instant, her relaxed expression is replaced by wariness. Her eyes narrow as she takes me in.

"Callen." Her voice is cool, guarded. "What do you want?"

I open my mouth, but the words stick in my throat. How do I even begin to explain?

I take a hesitant step forward, my usual confidence absent.Gods, why is this so hard?

"I, uh..." I brush the hair back from my face, searching for the right words. "Look, about the other night..."

Brigid crosses her arms, her posture screaming 'stay back'. "Yes? About the other night when you tricked me?"

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. I deserve that.

"Fair point," I concede, offering a self-deprecating smile. "I'm not usually the apologizing type, but I suppose there's a first time for everything."

Brigid's eyebrow arches skeptically. "Is that what this is? An apology? Am I supposed to be impressed?”

I can't help but chuckle. "Caught that, did you? Clever girl."

Her eyes flash dangerously. "I'm not in the mood for games, Callen. Say what you came to say or leave me be."

The tension between us is palpable. Part of me wants to push, to see how far I can take this before she snaps. But another part, a part I'm not entirely comfortable with, wants to soothe the hurt I see lurking behind her steely gaze.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "You're right. No more games. I came to—well, to make things right."

I watch Brigid's face carefully, searching for any sign that my words are getting through. Her expression remains guarded, but there's a glimmer of something in her eyes. Curiosity? Hope? Fuck if I know.

"I'm sorry," I say, the words feeling foreign on my tongue. "For breaking your trust."

As the apology leaves my lips, I'm struck by an odd sensation. It's like a weight lifting off my chest, but also a vulnerability I'm not used to. I find myself fighting back a half-smile at the novelty of it all. Who knew sincerity could be so refreshing?

Brigid's stance softens slightly, her arms uncrossing. "Why should I believe you?"

I step closer, my voice dropping. "Because, darling, I'm as surprised by this as you are. I don't do apologies. I don't do... “ I gesture between us, “whatever the fuck this is."

"But with you, I find myself wanting to be... different? More? I don't know. It's infuriating and irresistible all at once."

Brigid's eyes widen, a mix of emotions playing across her face. I can see the struggle within her—the desire to trust fighting it out with the instinct to protect herself. It's a battle I know well.

"You confuse me," I admit, surprising myself with my honesty. "You make me feel more like myself than I have in ages, and yet, entirely new at the same time. It's fucking terrifying."

Suddenly, the air around us pulses with an intense energy that I can feel. The plants in the greenhouse erupt into chaotic life—vines climb up the walls, flowers burst open in frenzied blooms, and everything is an explosion of rich color and perfume.

"Shit!" I leap into action, my hands outstretched as I use my magic to contain the surging growth. The plants resist, pulsing with a wild, primal energy that feels familiar. It's not just magic. It's emotion—raw and uncontrolled.

Sweat beads on my brow as I wrestle with a particularly aggressive vine. "A little help here, Brigid?"

She snaps out of her shock, her hands moving in fluid gestures. Shadows dance at her fingertips, weaving between the plants, calming their frenzy. We work in tandem, our magics intertwining in a way that electrifies me.

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