Page 54 of Touch Of Fate
“Yes, it was a different time. We don’t age like humans. Our lifespan can be infinite, much longer than shifters if we are careful and continue to grow our magic. We grow up fast, and age doesn’t matter.” I trace her finger, watching her shiver at my touch. “Does it change how you feel about me?”
“No. I was just surprised,” she says.
“I have waited a very long time to meet you,” I whisper.
“Did your spells start to slip as you aged without your soul bond?” I look up, concern for me in her eyes.
“I was becoming a bit unstable,” I admit.
“How?”
“I was more impatient than usual with humans. My tattoos were changing, throbbing as I spelled. My temper was showing itself more frequently,” I say.
“Are you better?”
“Yes. You have calmed everything.”
“Your family has spoken about your temper, but the only time I saw it was when that man lunged for me.” She tucks her hair behind her ear, and I want to run my fingers through the strands.
“I’m good at hiding it,” I say, standing straight. “I wanted to kill the customer and Gavin.”
“But you didn’t,” she says.
“Only because of you,” I say softly. “A warlock who has been in the world as long as I have is dangerous with or without a soul bond. I have seen many things over the years. Good and bad. I have lived through many hardships, and I can suck the life out of anyone if I want. It’s not good if my anger rises. You asked if I feared hurting you, and I don’t. What I fear is killing anyone who fucks with you in the smallest way. I could get away with it. There would be no punishment for me as I can hide my presence, and my spells are my fingerprints. Technically, we don’t exist. Once you reach a certain age, you have to move on. The world wouldn’t understand why we don’t age. We would be persecuted for our gifts. A trial wouldn’t happen. Humans fear what is different. They wouldn’t believe that we just want to be left alone. Did your mom tell you to hide your magic?”
“Yes. That was the one rule.” She fiddles with her cup.
“That is why we live quietly. I interact with humans, but I don’t welcome them into my private life. I rely on my magic in muchof my life except for work. I help struggling businesses make money. Most of those I work with are humans, and I find it a fulfilling challenge not to use my spells to do it. I have a full staff who oversees my business when I decide to take time for family or for myself. We travel the world, never staying in one place for too long. I’m at home in the middle of books. Everywhere I go, I love to find old books. My home is filled with first editions and originals. I have lived alone much of the time. Archer has always been close and has lived with me many times. He is my brother, despite the lack of blood between us.” I drain my cup of cool tea.
“How long have you known him?”
“One hundred and forty years,” I say, and her eyes widen. “He has been my best friend and brother. Wherever I go, he goes too. For several years, when we were younger, he lived with us. My parents consider him their child.”
“What happened to his parents?” she asks.
“He’s very private. I don’t want to keep anything from you, but I want to talk to him first before revealing things about his past.” I grab my cup and move around the counter. “I hope you will care about him as a brother. He will be in our lives forever.” I set the dirty dishes in the sink.
“I don’t want you to betray his confidence,” she says, turning to face me.
“Thank you, my Mara,” I hum and run my knuckles down her cheek.
“You say my name the same way,” she says, and I freeze. “Breathy.” I smile, shaking my head.
“Please don’t describe it that way in front of Archer,” I instruct. “He’ll jump at the chance to give me hell about it.”
“I won’t. Promise.” She smiles.
“I think we need to get some sleep.” I look at the clock. “It’s going to be morning soon.”
“The tea helped,” she says.
“We need to protect your house. I want you to do it.” She wrinkles her nose. “I believe in you.”
“I haven’t done protection spells in a while,” she says. “I’m out of practice.”
“It will come back to you quickly. You had never done a fire spell, and you did it beautifully,” I remind her, taking her hand.
“Do you promise you aren’t helping me?”
