After a few hours away, Colin returned to the inn as quickly as possible. He passed the dwarf who was still sitting in the lobby and went upstairs, heading to the bathroom to relieve himself. With that need resolved, he went to his room.
He turned the doorknob and opened the door, revealing the silent interior. Sapphire was in a deep sleep, but Brighid was awake, sitting on the bed.
Her face showed an expression of concern, reflecting her unease. As soon as Colin entered, he closed the door behind him, their eyes meeting immediately.
"What are you doing awake?" Colin asked directly, noticing Brighid's worried expression. He had said he would be back in half an hour, but almost three had passed.
Brighid stood up, frowned, and crossed her arms, facing him.
"Where were you?" she asked, worried, smelling a strong aphrodisiac scent on his clothes. "What's that smell?"
"I was just taking a walk, you don't need to look at me like that," Colin replied, trying to downplay the situation.
Brighid didn't believe him but preferred not to argue so as not to wake Sapphire. Colin walked past her and sat on his bed. Noticing that Brighid was still staring at him, he scratched the back of his neck after a sigh.
"Come here." Colin patted the bed twice beside him. "Let's talk."
Brighid swallowed hard, feeling nervousness accumulate within her. Colin's request put her in an uncomfortable situation, now so close to him. The physical and emotional proximity between them made her even more uneasy.
Despite the whirlwind of emotions that invaded her, Brighid tried to maintain control. She pressed her lips together, trying to hide the subtle tremor in her hands, and fixed her gaze on Colin, trying to convey confidence, although inside she was a sea of anxiety.
"I fought that nobleman again, but I won this time," Colin said, breaking the silence.
Brighid, feeling uncomfortable with the situation, looked away and clenched her fists, revealing her tension.
A mixture of emotions invaded her as she tried to understand the motivations behind Colin's actions. She wondered internally if he acted this way to protect both her and Sapphire, or if his actions were moved by a personal desire for satisfaction.
This doubt hung in the air, as Brighid struggled with the dark and mysterious nature of the magic that emanated from Colin.
"Why did you go after him?" she asked, her voice laden with concern.
"I felt I could."
She crossed her arms, worried. "Was it Lithium? What did you see there?"
"Nothing much, a bunch of random things. The images passed so quickly that I couldn't assimilate them."
"Hmm..." she stood up, clearly uncomfortable. "Good night, Colin..."
He sighed.
"I'm sorry, I should have told you. I just didn't want to worry you."
Brighid looked away.
"You promised me and Sapphire that you wouldn't do anything dangerous without talking to us first... he could have hurt you, you know? And if you didn't come back here, you would leave me worried all night, wondering if you might or might not be dead?"
It was Colin's turn to look away, guilt weighing on his shoulders.
"It won't happen again..."
"I certainly hope not!"
Brighid, still battling the emotions swirling within her, decided to confront the question that tormented her.
She sat on the side of the bed. The air was charged with tension, a storm about to break.
Colin, the man who occupied her thoughts and her heart, was there, right in front of her. His greenish eyes, normally so confident, were now clouded with confusion.
"What am I to you, Colin?" Brighid asked, her voice trembling.
He frowned, as if trying to decipher an enigma.
"I don't understand. What do you mean?"
Brighid swallowed hard, gathering courage. The words came out firmer this time:
"If Roseline were here, who would you choose, me or her?"
Colin blinked, surprised by the question.
"Roseline? I didn't even remember her anymore."
"Why are you asking that?"
Brighid's eyes began to fill with tears, like dew drops on the petals of a rose.
"You smell like those women from the brothel..." her voice broke, sadness evident. "You were with them, weren't you?"
Colin felt a wave of guilt and remorse invade his heart.
He approached, the distance between them diminishing like the last breath of a dying man.
"Brighid, I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere. Brighid turned her back, wiping away the tears streaming down her face.
"Do you want to say anything else?" Colin asked, trying to remain calm, although his heart pounded like galloping horses' hooves.
Brighid shook her head, the pain still present in her eyes.
"No, I'm going to sleep."
Colin took a step towards her, a knight advancing to rescue a maiden in distress.
"Wait, please."
She hesitated, but did as he asked, turning to him.
Dressed in simple pajamas consisting of a white tank top with thin straps and short shorts of the same color, Brighid was stunning.
The moonlight filtered through the linen curtains, outlining her soft curves and skin as pale as freshly fallen snow.
Colin couldn't help but admire her slender legs, his gaze sliding towards her breasts that rose with each breath. Her delicate face, like porcelain, and parted lips seemed to have been sculpted by some ancient god.
His rapid evolution was reflecting in a remarkable muscular development, and this quick change seemed to increase his testosterone levels.
Even after a visit to the brothel, he seemed to crave more.
Realizing that the situation could take an undesirable turn, Colin took the decision to turn around and lie on the bed, turning his back to Brighid.
This attitude was a way to prevent tensions between them from escalating.
"We'll talk tomorrow, Brighid. Good night..."
"Okay... good night..."
She lay down, staring at his back, thinking about how he would react if they eventually talked about more serious matters. After pushing those thoughts away, Brighid decided to sleep.
They would have a long day once morning came.