Page 97 of Shadowed Fate

Callen's face contorts with rage. He lunges forward, magic flaring—

"Stop!" Brigid's voice calls out. She steps forward, placing herself between us. "This isn't helping."

She turns to talk to the others, her voice firm despite the slight shaking in her hands.

"We need to get out of here. Now. Before the guards come back."

"We have a plan. There's a passage—" The mutt reaches out a paw, trying to grab her but I step in front of it, blocking him.

"How cute," I interject, unable to resist. "I'm sure the Council has no idea about that."

Brigid whirls on me, gray eyes flashing. "Enough," she hisses. "Can you get us out of here or not?"

I pause, studying her. The fear is still there, but buried beneath it...

"Of course," I murmur, allowing a hint of approval to color my tone.

She holds my gaze for a moment longer, then nods sharply. "Let's go."

As we move towards the exit, I can't help but cast one last glance at Brigid. She's magnificent like this – all fire and shadow, finally embracing her true nature. A pawn no longer.

The stomp of boots on stone sounds behind us. Brigid freezes, her magic flaring instinctively.

"Shit," Callen hisses.

I turn to see the Council's guards rounding the corner. They’ve brought friends.

This might get interesting.

Chapter 41

Brigid

The Council guards close in, their threatening forms looming in the dark dungeon light. Blood rushes in my ears as I scan for any escape route. Nothing.

"Any bright ideas?"

Callen's lips quirk, but his eyes are hard. "Oh, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, darling."

"Well, well," drawls one of the guards, a towering brute with cruel eyes. He stares at me. "You’ll be answering to the Council for this. Or maybe you won’t even make it that far."

Lochan shifts, muscles coiled tight. I sense the others tensing too—the feel of magic permeates the air, humming with potential.

The guard’s face twists in anger as he looks at me. His passive expression is gone now and there’s just pure hatred. "Insolent little bitch."

He lunges forward, meaty fist swinging. Time seems to slow as Lochan moves, his movements fluid and deadly. He intercepts the attack.

"Now, Callen!" Lochan shouts, engaging another guard.

The air shimmers around us, and suddenly there are dozens of copies of our group scattered throughout the dungeon. I blink, momentarily disoriented by the illusion.

"Nice party trick," I mutter, impressed despite myself.

"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet, darling."

A guardlunges forward, a ball of energy forming in his palm.

But Lochan is faster.

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