I'm vaguely aware of soft voices and gentle movements around me, but I can't rouse myself enough to care. My body craves this rest, needs it desperately after everything I've endured. So I let myself sink further.
When I finally begin to surface, it's to the feather-light brush of lips against my forehead. I stir, my eyelids fluttering as I struggle to wake. A warm, solid body presses against my back, strong arms encircling my waist.
"Morning, mo chroí," Rory's lilting voice whispers, his breath tickling my ear.
I mumble incoherently, burrowing deeper into the warmth surrounding me. Tiernan's deep chuckle rumbles through his chest, where it's pressed against my back.
"I think she needs more convincing," he murmurs, his lips brushing the nape of my neck.
I wriggle back into him, my body slowly coming alive. "Mmm, five more minutes," I groan, my voice thick with sleep.
Rory laughs softly. "Come on, sleepyhead. Time to rejoin the land of the living."
I crack one eye open, taking in Rory's tousled blond hair and big smile as he grins at me, dimples on full display. Despite my lingering exhaustion, I smile back.
"There she is," Tiernan says, his arms tightening around me. "How are you feeling?"
I consider the question, taking stock of my body. I'm sore in all the right places, but the bone-deep weariness is something that will linger for a while. "Better," I say. "How long was I out?"
"About eighteen hours," Rory says, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You needed it."
I blink in surprise. "Guess I did," I murmur.
As I become more alert, I notice the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. It’s almost too perfect, too serene, and I know that the minute I step outside of this room, the spell will be broken. Even if I were to hide away in here forever, there’s still no escape from the death goddess still trapped inside me. She’s quiet, but she’s not gone—just folded up into something small, tucked away in a corner, my shadows standing guard and keeping her there. I swallow hard, memories of the past few days threatening to overwhelm me. But I push them away, focusing on the present, on the safety and comfort of my mates' arms.
"Thank you," I whisper, reaching out to cup Rory's cheek. "For everything."
He turns his head, pressing a kiss to my palm. "Always, mo chroí. Always."
A sharp knock at the door shatters our peaceful bubble. I tense, my heart rate spiking. Tiernan's arms tighten around me protectively.
"Who the fuck is that?" Rory growls, his eyes flashing amber with a hint of the wolf.
I push myself up and grab the sheet covering my naked body to my chest.
The door swings open without waiting for an answer, and there stands Fiona, her white hair wild and her glasses slightly askew. She's wearing a violently purple sweater adorned with chunky turquoise jewelry. The sight of her sends a pang through me and a gnawing apprehension. I remember the Morrigan’s anger at being thwarted from fully possessing me and that anger being directed at Fiona. And the potion that Fiona made me swallow, I know now that it was the only thing that kept me from disappearing into the ether.
"Rise and shine!" Fiona announces, her focus zeroing in on me. "Callen and Lochan filled me in. But we need to talk, Brigid."
Rory and Tiernan exchange a look over my head.
"We'll go grab some breakfast," Tiernan says. "Give you two some privacy."
Fiona ogles the boys as they dress and leave, not even attempting to be discreet about it, either. No matter who she really is, I guess there were some parts of her personality that were real when we were friends. I pull the sheets tighter around me.
Fiona plops down on the edge of the bed, her expression softening. "How are you holding up, girl?"
"Define 'holding up."
She reaches out, her fingers brushing my arm. The touch sends a spark of recognition through me, but I can't quite place it.
Fiona peers at me.“She’s in there, still.”
“Yes.” I don’t elaborate.
“And she’s contained?”
“Yes. Thanks to the shadow magic that Marius gave to me.”
