The Shadow and the Draw (Shadow Drawn #1)

by R.D. Baker

What was forgotten must be remembered.

“The point was to isolate you, to make sure you were alone, so you and Cora would never know that you were bound to each other. Because with her, your powers grow, and with you, she’s untouchable.”

My fingers trace over her shoulders, over the white veins that are starting to dim. “About the Inera coming from a place of fear. You’re right. It would destroy you. It would be coming from a place of instability. It’s not the way to harness your power.” “So you thought you’d introduce it into the bedroom?” She asks with a grin. “I wanted it to come from a place of control, of security.” I tell her, stroking her cheek. “I wanted it be something you summon from a place of love, of feeling good, not fear or sadness or anger.”

“It’s how the world is.” He says. “Depressing, beautiful, tragic, magical, unfair. It’s all of it. But if we keep hoping, and we keep trying, we keep telling ourselves that we can have what we want, no matter what, no matter how unlikely it seems, then maybe we can. Just like you and Amryn did, all these years.”

“You’re everything. You’re my heart, and my life. And no matter what happens, I will protect you. Always.”

“I know you don’t feel it yet, but it has happened. The most extraordinary things are sometimes those that we do not even notice at first.”

“I love you,” she says again, her voice weak. I look into her eyes, and she smiles. “I never cared what Fate decided. You were my choice. Every time.”

“I love you. You’re everything. We’re everything. And I will never give that up, ever.”

“How I see it, you have two options - one, is that you can wonder what if, and wonder what it all means, and never know peace because you’re constantly wondering what will come next.” “And option 2?” “You just - live.” He hands me the pansy he picked. “You live and find joy in the small things, and accept that while things may change, some things never will. And those are the things that keep you steadfast, that keep you sane, and that make you happy.”

Some days I’m still afraid Fate will call in its debt, and tell me a mistake has been made, and take it all away. But then I reach across the bed and feel her right there beside me, and I remember it’s all over, and she’s here, and she’s mine and I’m hers. Fate can go fuck itself.