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possible, changing only what we need to. And we have our defences.”
    “They can do nothing to you?”
    “Not that we’re aware of.” It was yet another thing they absolutely despised about us. “It will be a grave day if they ever gain the ability to touch us with their powers.”
    “And what of your gifts? Do they work on everyone?”  
    “They do. It’s one of the reasons we believe we are here to keep the peace. If no one could touch us, but we could affect all, then surely we were meant to do as we do.”
    “Some would say you were here to rule all.”  
    “Some would, but we aren’t some.”
    “And what of your gifts? Are they the same as those of the vampires?”
    “Some are. We used to have so many gifts. There were those who could read your mind without having to enter it and those who could look at any item and tell you how it worked. An aunt of mine had great precognitive abilities, and one of my cousins could form a physical barrier around anything. Our race has seen gifts ranging from the simple ability to move things with their mind to being able to create fire in the palm of the hand.” It was a shame those times were gone.
    “What’s yours?”  
    “None of consequence.”
    “I thought you said you all had gifts?”  
    We did all have gifts. Mine was just . . . complicated.
    “Long ago, my sister told me that my gift was life. Being my twin, hers was the opposite: death. Nothing in our records mentions them, and I have no idea where she found the information. As far as I’m concerned, whatever gift I do have, it’s irrelevant.” Most of what she knew of our gifts was the superstition surrounding the birth of the first twins in the race.  
    “Will you tell me of her? Your sister?”
    “Not today. Talking with you has left me in an exceptionally good mood, and I’d rather leave that story for another day, if you don’t mind.”  
    “Anything you wish to share, any time you wish to share it.” He smiled and reached for my hand, but quickly had to grab hold of the reins again.  
    In that single gesture I learned so much about him. His hand was warm in mine, and his hold was firm. He would be with me until the end, no matter how difficult things got. Still, perhaps he hadn’t quite understood everything.  
    “I’m not entirely sure you quite grasp the gravity of how difficult life can be with me,” I told him as we reached the house. “There are only two of us. The work that once took an entire race is now left to William and myself.”
    “Serenity Cardea,” he said with a sternness that shocked me. “You seem determined to drive me away, and I won’t have it. No matter how hard life will be, it is nothing compared to being able to spend it with you.”
    He continued while I stayed wide-eyed and silent. “If you will still have me, then I’d like nothing more than to call you my own. Regardless of what others may think, and regardless of how difficult the future may be.”  
    He managed to dismount without any help.  
    “Ray,” I whispered, afraid my voice would break.
    He’d stripped me of my words. Nothing could come close to explaining how I felt or how much I truly wanted him at that moment. So I did the only thing I could think of.  
    I jumped from my horse, stood as tall as possible, and gave him a lingering kiss on his cheek.  
    “I’ll always be yours,” I told him, my hands still resting on his shoulders.
    The new light in his grey eyes was enough to make me forget everything else. For once I let my mind wander into fantasies of our life together, of how we would raise our children and how I would read them our stories. For that moment, as I stared deep into those mesmerising eyes, everything was perfect.
    Then I realised I was staring and was standing barely an inch from him, surely too close.
    “Forgive me.” I stepped back quickly, ducking my head to hide my blush. “I forget myself with you. It won’t help that I have no idea what the rules