Page 18 of An Archer's Redemption

“Communicating over an entire continent’s distance puts a real strain on my magical reserves. I haven’t tried using Telepathy with someone that far away in centuries.” He blinked a few times, then looked up. “It would have been difficult under the best of situations but so soon after all our travels . . . I’m exhausted.”

I shifted from one foot to the other. “Did she say anything? How did she sound?”

Atikus chuckled. “You know it doesn’t work that way, son. Telepathy only goes in one direction. She couldn’t speak, and I couldn’t hear anything on her end. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to ask her yourself when you get to the cave.”

I tossed my cap onto the chair beside Atikus and slumped into the cushion, mindless of how I crushed the poor cap.

“Back to that cave,” I muttered, trying to banish memories of nearly killing Jess before she fled through the mirror. “Think she’s forgiven me yet? I mean . . . I guess I worry . . .”

Atikus lifted a brow and grinned. “Weren’t you calling Jess an immature brat before we came home? Why are you so nervous about how she’s doing now, about how she will react to seeing you again?”

“Come on, Atikus. I tried tokillher. Why wouldn’t I be worried?” I ran a hand over my rusty stubble and avoided meeting his gaze. “I mean, what’s going to happen when she sees me? When she sees me bringing back her horse or . . . Spirits, you know what I mean.”

The Mage’s grin grew. “I think I knowexactlywhat you mean. Whenyoufigure it out, come see me and I’ll explain what to do about it.”

What in the Phoenix did he mean by that? Of course I was worried about how Jess would receive me. She’s the Queen now, and I did try to kill her. Sure, I was under Compulsion. It wasn’treallyme. Still, it was my hand holding the knife. If I lived another fifty years, I would never forget the terror in her eyes, eyes that had only just begun to soften when they fell in my direction.

When her eyes fell on me.

A shiver snaked up my spine and down my arms.

Why did the idea of Jess looking at me give me such unease? Was it even unease? It felt so much like when Tiana—

My stomach fell.

Here I was, daydreaming about Jess, wondering if she hated me or might see me as . . . something else . . . and I’d nearly forgotten the woman I was enamored with only a short time ago.

A pang of regret and grief stabbed at my chest.

Tiana was smart and beautiful and funny. Spirits, she had a quick wit and a sharp tongue. I loved that about her.

Loved.

Did I love her?

I couldn’t remember ever thinking that word, much less speaking it aloud. Iwasinterested. I liked her. I loved the time we spent together.

Was that the same thing as loving her?

I didn’t think so, but the whole subject was so far outside my comfort zone that I barely knew where to begin to understand it.

“Just get ready for your trip. Time is passing while you sit here worrying.” Atikus wobbled as he stood and braced himself on my shoulder. “I’m going to check on preparations for the ceremony tonight and might stop by to see what the cook’s making for dinner. Why don’t you come by my chamber later and walk with me to the tower grounds?”

“I still don’t understand why you don’t want Declan there. He’d want to show his support to you and the guild.”

“Because he would outshine all of us, and tonight is for the guild. The one presiding insisted, and we dare not ignorehercounsel.”

“All right. Not sure I understand any of that, especially since you won’t tell me whosheis. I’ll go finish packing. See you in a couple hours.”

The gray winter sky had dimmed to a moonless night by the time I returned to the Mages’ quarters and rapped on the thick door of Atikus’s apartment. A moment later, the door creaked open, and the Mage emerged in his long formal robe, two lines of gold glittering on the collar and cuffs.

My eyes widened as I stared into the stripes of his Gift.

The goldflowedas if alive.

“Time to get this over with,” Atikus said with a tight smile.

“Atikus, I don’t remember your stripesmovingbefore.”

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