A Battle of Pride and Desire

Chapter Fifteen

There were voices around Brigette; hushed, worried voices. She didn't open her eyes and waited for a voice she recognised. Taran's. And his voice was wavering he sounded... worried. A concept Brigette didn't think he could understand. He was talking to someone, a woman. Brigette recognised that voice. She cracked an eye open and Taran lunged for her the second she did.

"Brigette," he wrapped himself around her.

She was still in the restaurant, but it was empty save for Taran. The boy. Where was the boy? She sat up, grappling with the floorboards to push herself up. Her breaths came out short and scarce as if her body wasn't allowing her the luxury of a full breath. Taran pinned her down, stopping her in her tracks and forcing her to look at him. Truly look at him. His green eyes pierced hers as he silently pleaded with her. She ignored his request.

"The boy," she managed to get out.

"In the infirmary," Taran said. "But Brigette don't get your hopes up, it's likely he died on impact."

"No," Brigette roared, the sound unfamiliar to her ears.

She felt like a wild animal, thrashing around in Taran's grip.

"Conor and Liam brought him to the castle's infirmary, if his life can be salvaged, the healers there are the ones who can do it," he attempted to console her.

"Brigette," a voice from behind her said.

Brigette recognised that voice. She turned around, her forearms still in Taran's grip. She realised she must look crazy sitting on the restaurant floor like this. She didn't move though, her body's exhaustion didn't allow her. When she turned to face her addresser her heart dropped.

"Juno," Brigette coughed out.

Juno's glitter released in a gust of wind, falling delicately on the restaurant floor, "How are you?"

Brigette nearly laughed at the absurdity and turned to Taran quickly, "Can you see Her?"

He nodded once.

"Girl, I am speaking to you."

The authoritative command in Juno's voice made Brigette face Her once more. Brigette worried Juno would be angry but She didn't seem it. Although she wasn't really sure what an angry God would look like.

"I'm fine. What are you doing here? What happened?"

Juno twirled, "I heard your cries, girl."

"I didn't mean to call you," Brigette began to apologise but Juno silenced her with a command of Her eyes. Brigette's mouth clamped shut.

"It's just as I suspected," Juno pondered aloud.

"What is?"

Juno inclined her head to Brigette, not saying anything.

Brigette's stomach churned. Was it a gift like Taran had? But what was the gift? Could she even have giftsHow had this come to be? Brigette turned to look at Taran.

"What does She mean?"

He just looked at her in wonder, "We thought you were all gone," he whispered.

Brigette began to feel tears trickling down her face and she wiped them away out of instinct.

"What just happened before I passed out?"

"You were lamenting," Juno confirmed. "Remember my riddle, girl. You are no simple bean sídhe."

And with that, Juno was gone. Bean sídhe? Brigette could feel the blood pounding in her ears as she tried to process everything. Juno had awoken and come back again. Brigette was no fool, she had no doubt Juno was beginning to get sick of her antics. Frankly, Brigette was beginning to get sick of Juno's antics. The Goddess needed to speak plainly before Brigette lost her mind. The removal of the warmth around her alerted her back to reality. Taran was removing himself from her, his entire body strained with stress.