Page 119 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
“You did?” Harrow wiped her eyes roughly.
“I did. And I told him my daughter was not only beautiful but stubborn. And she had her heart set on him and would not take kindly to anything happening to him, especially while he was in my care. Your Raith and I shared much over the last six months and grew to know each other. Already I miss his company. You have chosen your mate well. He will be a perfect companion for a Seer.”
“I thought the embodiment process would be torture for him.”
“It wasn’t pleasant, certainly, but I couldn’t always be blasting him with magic. And this time, he was working with me, so it wasn’t as difficult. While I rested, we passed the time together.”
Several things finally sank in fully. Darya had truly kept her word. She had embodied Raith solely to give Harrow and him a future together. She had not only relinquished her desire for revenge, but she had also found friendship with the man she’d once wanted to kill.
“Thank you,” Harrow whispered.
“There’s nothing to thank me for, child. I can’t undo my mistakes, but I can try to make amends.” Darya rose from her perch on the sofa and smoothed her skirts. Her dress was elegant, but the way it hung from her gaunt figure detracted from its loveliness. “Since I’ve done it before, this spell will take less effort, and I can do it tonight. Go back to your sleep, and when you awaken in the morning, Raith will remember. Be prepared.”
“Okay.” Harrow was still studying the Water Queen. “Are you…okay?”
“Of course.”
“Are you sure you can do this tonight? Last time you said it took days.”
“As I said, the second time is always easier.”
“You should get some rest after. You look exhausted.”
Darya smiled tiredly. “We go up against my sister soon. With any luck, we’ll be successful. I will rest then.”
“When was the last time you slept?”
“Several decades ago.”
Harrow stared at her. “Are you serious?”
Darya flicked a wrist. “Don’t concern yourself with me. I’ve been around for countless centuries and will remain for countless more.” The way she said this made it seem like a wearisome burden. Harrow supposed that if she was immortal and alone as Darya was, she might feel the same.
She decided that, since Darya had made an effort to heal the rift between them, she would do her best to stay in contact with her. “Thank you. For everything.”
“Providing for you is something I should have been doing from the beginning. I’m only sorry it took me this long to discover how to do it properly.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re in my life now. And even if you had the wrong motives in the beginning, it was because of you that I met Raith in the first place.”
Darya smiled. “Such wisdom for one so young. Go now, child. Go and find your happiness.”
With that, Harrow slipped away, back to the cradle of darkness in the realm of dreams.
She would need her rest. When she awoke, she and Raith would be facing a very different battle.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The next morning, Harrow woke to feel the weight of another’s gaze upon her. Everything came back in a rush, and she jolted upright.
Raith was sitting in the chair at the end of the bed, clad in a pair of pants she’d given him the night before. He stared at her with haunted eyes. His skin was deep bronze again, the shade it had been when they first met.
“Raith.” She clutched the sheet over her bare breasts. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth sooner. I was afraid, and it was selfish.”
It was like he hadn’t heard her. “You came back for me.”
“Yes.”
“You left. But you came back.”
