I swallow hard. It's more than devotion; it's a pledge that reaches deep into the marrow of my bones. I know what loyalty costs him. His family's murder is still a scar on his soul, and yet he stands here offering it to me.
How do I hold all this? The power, the fear, the love?
His thumb brushes over my knuckles, and I cling to that simple touch. In his gaze, I find the strength that has always eluded me, the assurance that maybe, just maybe, I can rise above the shadows that have chased me my whole life.
"Thank you," I tell him, voice barely a whisper, but he hears it. All of it. The gratitude, the blossoming trust, the plea for him to be my shield against a world that's never wanted me.
Lochan nods once, the movement grave as if sealing our fates together. My heart skips and then steadies; with Lochan, the man who feared my shadow magic yet now looks at me like I'm the sun, I find a piece of the home I've been searching for.
And the grove watches, the trees our silent witnesses, as one by one, they will come forward, pledging themselves to me, weaving our destinies tighter than any spell cast.
This ritual was not my idea, but as soon as Tiernan told me of it, I knew it was what we had to do. Instead of six individual pieces, we will become one whole. They are the spokes and I am the center of the wheel. They will be a part of me, and I will be a part of them.
They already have my heart. This ritual will just confirm it. When I woke up this morning, I knew I would choose to wear white. It only seemed fitting.
After Marius and I returned to the academy last night, we told the others of meeting the rebels. We talked for hours about what it might mean, what will happen now that Callen is king, and I am, apparently, a queen.
And we all knew this was the next step. Each of my mates will dedicate themselves to me, and I to them.
I barely catch my breath when Tiernan steps forward. With each stride, he exudes a calm peace, like he's walked this earth for eons and knows every secret it whispers. His hand, warm and firm, settles on my shoulder, centering me in the now.
"Brigid," he says, "I pledge my spirit to yours." The grove shimmers with his magic, as though every leaf glows with approval. I feel his promise, solid and sure, not just words but power, binding us.
"Tiernan." I exhale his name, feeling it settle in my chest, a vow of its own. "Thank you." And I mean it, for his calm, for his strength, for the way he accepts all parts of me.
The moment lingers, an unspoken understanding that we are both protectors and protected, and then it shifts, gentle and seamless, as Rory takes his place before me.
"Brigid, love," Rory starts, his voice a warm caress against my cheek. He's all bright energy, a stark contrast to Tiernan's stillness. A playful grin dances on his lips, and his eyes sparkle. He pulls me into an embrace, enveloping me in a bubble of light-heartedness.
"Expect joy," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead, "and laughter. That's my promise to you." Rory's arms are a fortress, promising an escape from the darkness that too often envelops my thoughts. Even the grove seems to sway, as if the trees themselves share in his humor.
"Rory," I say, feeling a smile tug at the corners of my mouth, "You bring light to my shadows." His laughter rings out, pure and infectious, and for a heartbeat, I'm swept up in the sheer joy of this connection.
"Always, mo chroí," he swears.
As Rory steps back, my skin still warm from his embrace, the grove falls silent. The atmosphere shifts, grows heavier with anticipation. My heart thuds against my ribs as Marius steps forward, his movements deliberate.
His dark eyes never leave mine as he approaches, a living shadow among the dappled light of the grove.
When he reaches me, Marius doesn't speak immediately. Instead, he sinks to one knee before me, a gesture that feels both formal and deeply personal. His head bows slightly, exposing the nape of his neck—a show of vulnerability from a man who rarely allows himself to be vulnerable.
Something about seeing Marius like this, on his knees before me, sends heat spiraling through my core.
He looks up, the corner of his mouth lifting in a dangerous half-smile. "The Morrigan's blood runs through you, just as the Raven King's runs through me. Our powers are bound together, Brigid. Our fates are intertwined."
I reach out, touching his cheek with my fingertips.
"What are you promising me, Marius?" I ask, needing to hear it from his lips.
He catches my hand in his, turning it to press a kiss against my palm. "I vow to stand between you and anything that threatens you. I will walk willingly into the darkness to keep you safe." His eyes glitter with dangerous promise. "Those that would harm you will learn to fear me first."
My chest tightens at his words. I know what Marius is capable of; I've seen the ruthlessness that lives inside him. For him to offer that power, that protection, in service to me feels overwhelming.
"And if I ask you to show mercy? To temper that darkness?" I challenge him, needing to know the limits of his pledge.
He rises in one fluid motion, bringing his face close to mine. "Then I will try. For you, I will try." The admission costs him, I can tell, but it's honest.
I nod, accepting his pledge, letting my fingers trail along his arm as he steps back. The contact between us lingers like electricity on my skin.
