Page 208 of Sword & Shadow
Taking a deep breath, Evylin stepped closer. “Can I touch you?”
Hewitt frowned. “No. I’m just an image.”
Evylin’s tears fell. “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “How are you here?”
“By Night magic, I’m told,” Hewitt said with a grin in Deckard’s direction.
“Buthow?” It was Deckard she turned to ask then.
Giving her one of his most comforting smiles, Deckard shrugged. “I really don’t know. It just happened. One moment, he was here, and I...I’ve kept him with me all this time.”
“Allthis time?”
“Since we buried him.”
Evylin furrowed her brow. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“At first, I thought I was going crazy,” he admitted. “I didn’t know it was magic. And when I finally realized what I’d done, I wasn’t strong enough to make him visible to you, and I didn’t want you to think...”
Evylin’s fingers found her rings. “You were right. I would have thought you were trying to manipulate me.”
Stepping between them, Hewitt drew their attention. “You two can discuss this later. For now, Auden is right. We need to make this reunion quick so you can leave.”
Deckard nodded. “I can feel my reserves running out of magic as it is. The Keep drained me.”
“Then you’d best give me a minute with her.”
With a glance at Evylin, Deckard stepped back. “I’ll be just beyond those trees,” he told her.
Evylin caught his hand before he could leave, heart in her throat as she whispered his name. He paused, waiting. A regretful smile came to her lips, filled with all the emotion she’d withheld over the last two weeks. “Thank you.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then pulled away.
Evylin and Hewitt watched Deckard go. His long, steady strides carried him through the hazy forest, the sunset casting long shadows around the forest. The last vestiges of light caught in his hair, gilding it to a shade more red than brown.
When he passed into the trees, Evylin let her gaze fall to the rich green grass. She already knew what Hewitt planned to tell her. This was the conversation she’d never hoped to have. They would fight over her decision, and it would turn into a battle of hearts and wills.
Hewitt crossed his arms. “I’m told you defied my direct order,” he said.
A sour grin came to her lips. “I know what you’re going to say‚” she said lightly, “what you want me to do. I can’t do it.”
Hewitt gave her a patronizing smirk. “It’s like we’ve had this conversation before.”
“Mm.” Evylin reverted to her comfort of humor. “I’ve always been a slow learner.”
“Quite the opposite,” Hewitt countered. “You’re a fast learner; you’re just stubborn.”
“I amyourniece, after all.”
Hewitt didn’t play her game. “You can’t leave him.”
“Ican,” she said. “Legally and emotionally.”
“Why would you?”
Evylin licked her lips, hesitating. “I want to.”
“Liar.”
