A Walk Amongst Shadows (Book 2)

I laid back and relaxed as I felt her breaths even out and grow deeper as sleep carried her off. She’s happy. I repeated her words in my mind. Just as importantly however, she is safe. I had held out hope throughout our entire journey down the mountain that she would react well to the city and not fall into a state of complete regret. There was no going back for her, after all. I was quite unsure of where things would go from here. Rose seemed delighted by the idea of working in the apothecary, and who could blame her? What better profession for a gifted life mage than that of a healer. I was both excited and apprehensive for her to learn more about and further develop her skills. I still had not heard from father and hadn’t the faintest idea what his intentions are with her. I find myself growing more and more fond of her with each passing day. I am far past the point of sitting idly by while father manipulates her. No need to get ahead of yourself. I thought. He has demanded nothing from either one of us yet. But I still felt unease in the pit of my stomach.

I heard her sigh slightly in her sleep and resituate a little closer to me. I stroked her soft bare skin and held her close to me. I smelled the sweet scent of her hair as I kissed her lightly on the top of her head. It had been longer than I cared to remember since I had felt so close to another person. I have found myself feeling less of a shadow and more of my former self in the short time I have been with her. I know she cares for me deeply. She makes no attempt to hide her affections. The look in her eyes when she sees me is that of adoration. It makes me happier than I care to admit. I’ve told Rose on more than one occasion that she is under no obligation to continue associating with me. So far she has chosen to remain with me, but I fear that choice might not last. Rose is sharp and has learned a lot, but still has so much more to learn about the world, about father, about shadow walkers. She handled herself well enough when she saw the darkness in me back in the city. But I could sense her discomfort at my contorted face. I dread the inevitable day that she sees me fully consumed by father’s darkness. Will that adoration still shine in her eyes then? Will she still want to stay around after enduring years of criticism and dissent from her peers in the city? Sure, today she seemed unphased, but how long will that resolve hold?

I tightened my hold on her ever so slightly and wondered which one of us needed the other more. Once established and self-sufficient, Rose will need absolutely nothing from me. Not protection, not shelter, not information. Will she still choose me then? Even if all plays out well, I shudder at the thought of father discovering any of this. The last time I cared for a mortal it was used to my detriment. The thought had dawned on me that perhaps it is not I father wishes to control at this point, but Rose. If he knew that she cared for me, would he use me as a pawn to get to her? Surely, it is within the realm of possibility. I sighed. So many uncertainties. I decided for now to merely enjoy what we had. I was grateful that Rose was sleeping soundly, undisturbed by nightmares. Those nights are becoming less and less, but it is still no less painful each time she wakes screaming in fits of terror. I want more than anything to take that pain away but am stuck merely holding her until her panic subsides time after time. If it were up to me, the villagers would have paid a great deal more than they did on the night of her escape, but of course, it wasn’t up to me.