Page 14 of An Archer's Redemption

Standing by his side was . . . harder than I expected.

I still had no Gift.

I would never have one.

Not that long ago, we shared that failing. It had drawn us together in—I do not know, a shared misery?

Now, I was alone.

Watching Declan and Larinda made me feel even more so.

I knew I was being ridiculous, even when those words were spoken only in my head, but I could not help the feeling as it washed over me, coating me with unease.

Declan caught me staring and smiled.

The moment our eyes locked, warmth traveled up my arms and into my chest. I hadn’t meant to smile back. I could not stop myself.

Damned Declan Rea and his mystical spell.

I was entranced.

And I thought he was. I knew he was. He loved me.

But would he always?

When the routine of life returned, and I remained Mute, would the most magical man in the entire world still want me by his side?

Would he tire of my inability to perform even basic magic?

Would he want someone without a golden collar to stand next to him?

We were still young with long lives ahead of us. Would he want me throughout all of those years? Could he want me that long?

Then something dawned on me, something I should have thought about before:

How long would Declan live?

Decades? Centuries? Longer?

He was “of magic,” as Kelså said. Would his life be extended, as had those of Atikus and even Kelså herself?

Would my life be little more than a grain of sand in the ocean’s depths of his life?

Would he remember me when . . . ?

“Are you all right?”

I nearly leaped out of my chair.

“Sweet Spirits, Dec, you scared the life out of me.”

He chuckled. “You looked so serious. Larinda called your name a few times, but you didn’t respond. We were beginning to worry.”

I ran a hand through my hair, something Declan did when he was nervous, and smiled as though he’d made a joke. “You know me, always deep in thought. I am fine.”

Larinda’s bony fingers dug into my forearm as her other hand pulled my face down toward her so she could kiss my cheek. “Ayden Byrne, you keep our Declan safe, ya hear?”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, swallowing hard.

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