Page 102 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
He seemed to materialize out of thin air, standing before her in all his wraithlike glory. His skin was deeper than shadows, his irises burning brighter than the fire beside them. Long claws curved from his fingertips, and his enormous wings rose high above him, half spread as if ready to launch into flight.
“Raith,” Harrow breathed. He had never looked more terrifying than he did right then.
He had never looked more beautiful.
She ached to run to him, to throw herself into his arms and embrace him with all the longing that had been tearing her to pieces since she left him.
“You came back to me.” She thought of Nashira’s words suddenly.It’s too late. Will be too late. Was too late. Now he has to come to you!Was this what she meant? Could it really be that simple?
But Raith didn’t move. His face was blank, devoid of emotion. He was so wrapped in shadows, his body almost didn’t look solid. Goddess, he was terrifying.
But terrifying or not, this was the man Harrow loved, and she forced herself to take a step closer, though every instinct in her body screamed at her to run. Raith did nothing, didn’t move, didn’t even twitch. A trickle of unease ran down her spine.
“Raith?”
Nothing.
She took another step closer and lifted a hand. Reaching, reaching, she could almost touch him—
He jerked away.
Her hand dropped instantly. Of course he was distrustful of her. She had betrayed him. Was it even possible to make it right? Did she even deserve his forgiveness? “I’m so sorry for what I did, Raith. Betraying you was the worst decision I ever made. I should have believed you were different. I should have—”
“Don’t come closer.” His voice seemed deeper, strange. His eyes were wild.
“Okay.” She swallowed back the tears. “I won’t.” But she wasn’t giving up that easily. She tried a new approach instead. “I left Allegra to search for you. I thought I’d have to travel for days. How did you find me?”
A flicker passed over his features. Why did she suddenly have the impression he was in pain? Though it was impossible to see him clearly, he seemed rigid with tension, as if he was barely holding back from doing…something.
“For me?” he whispered.
“Yes, for you.” She spoke quickly, encouraged by his reaction. “I was searching for you to tell you I was sorry, that I don’t care what happened in the past, and that I love you.”
His brow furrowed. “Love?”
“Yes, I love you, and I’m sorry I left. I was wrong. So, so wrong.”
He said nothing.
“I know what happened to you—that you were forced to do those things against your will. I could never hate you for that. It’s the opposite. I love y—”
“No!” he suddenly shouted, and she lurched back involuntarily. It was the first time she’d ever heard him raise his voice. It sounded strangely disembodied as it echoed around the clearing. “No!”
She raised both hands in a placating gesture. “I’m sorry I upset you. I just need you to know that I love y—”
“Stop!” he cried as if her words scalded him.
He dropped to his knees suddenly, gripping his head in his hands.
“Raith!” Unease forgotten, she rushed to his side, hovering over him. She was desperate to touch him but didn’t dare ignore his vehement warning. “Raith, tell me what’s wrong, please.”
“Harrow…”
“What is it? Please tell me so I can help you.”
“She…changed me.”
“Who did? What did she do? Tell me what happened, Raith. We can get through this together. I’m not going anywhere this time, I swear it.”
