Agatha and I were dealt a terrible hand of cards. They were different, sure, but it all came from the same deck.
Gently, I fold up the letter and go inside to hide it in my nightstand, next to the photos I kept of Petra and her coven.
Chapter 26
Archer
Breathing deeply, a calmness settles over me before I take a look around the meadow.
I know I’m in our meadow just from my other senses—the bluegrass that tickles my skin as it lightly blows in the wind, the golden sunrays that warm my skin, and the soft chirps of a few songbirds performing an evening ballad.
There’s one thing that’s new though—that soft, woodsy scent that mixes perfectly with the fragrance of floral tea.
I’m scared to open my eyes because even in my dreams, it feels too good to be true. That I could find her here.
Then I hear her quietly whisper, “Archer. Wake up.”
Slowly, I open one eye and find her leaning over me. Her silky white-blonde hair is creating a curtain around us. It doesn’t cover the look of concern in her eyes.
I open the other eye and let myself take in her beauty for a long moment, my gaze slowly stopping over every freckle that I can perfectly see from this close. I’m certain it won’t last long, so I appreciate those seconds she grants me.
The longer we stare at each other, the more her breathing grows labored and shallow, proving that I have as much of an effect on her as she does on me—no matter how much she refuses to admit it.
Her head dips the slightest amount, bringing our mouths less than an inch apart now. My breathing hitches, matching the growing rate of hers.
I take the risk of leaning forward a bit, inviting her to close the distance.
As soon as I do that, I can see the realization hit her like a hex as she quickly sits on her heels and shuffles back. I’d be lying if I said that added distance wasn’t like a dagger to the heart. I mentally shake it off and sit up.
“You’re here,” I tell her, scared to spook her again.
She rolls her eyes before looking down at the grass, mindless ripping pieces out as a way to distract herself. “Technically, I should be the surprised one.” She glances my way, and I see the teasing tilt to her lips. “You know, since you’re the one that brings me here.”
I move to my knees and crawl toward her, stopping only a couple inches away from my knee touching hers. “You’ve gotten pretty good at avoiding me,” I gently remind her.
She shrugs, but doesn’t say anything. I’m not sure how to read that, but it’s oddly reassuring that she isn’t arguing with me.
“Renata,” I murmur, and don’t miss the shiver that runs down her body in response. “You don’t have to be scared… I won’t hurt you.”
Her face almost crumples. She quickly pulls herself back together before admitting in a small, broken voice, “I’m not scared thatyouwill hurtme.”
“What does that mean?” I ask desperately.
She opens her mouth to say something else, and I can’t help myself—I need to touch her. To know she’s real and that this isn’t my own dream fooling me.
Reaching forward, I brush my thumb along the apple of her cheek and let my finger follow the color that paints across her skin. The moment is somehow more monumental than when I did this in the town’s garden. I knew I would be able to touch her there, but I had lingering doubts that we would be granted such a luxury here.
Secretly, I felt like my magic failed me when it came to her. I could find her, but I couldn’t be with her for eleven years. She has no control over any of it, only I do. It became another reason I distrusted my magic.
The realization hits me before I’m thrown back from her. I don’t know if it’s by an outside force, or the surprise of what happens next—all I’m sure of is it sends Renata backward, falling on her hands and butt, staring at me with wide eyes. It’s the same look that Sybil wears when she’s not seeing me anymore.
I’m not sure whether I’m seeing her now or in the past. It’s all so jumbled in my mind, but everything is becoming clear as day at the same time.
Every moment we’ve spent together I wasn’t able to see her.
Every word she’s ever spoken I couldn’t hear.
Every hopeless attempt to touch each other that sent our limbs right through the other’s body tickles my skin.
