Page 26 of Wanderer

“Um, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Oscar looked worried.

Unable to deny Riley when he looked so damn happy, I conjured a fireball in my hand and got to my feet. “Ready?” I asked Oscar. “I don’t think you’ll need to heal him, but you might need to help me put out a fire if those trees go up.”

“Ready!” Oscar stood off to the side, well out of range.

I tossed the fireball directly at Riley’s chest. It seemed to hit a wall before it could touch him, then rebounded and hit a patch of grass, fizzling out instantly.

“Again!” Riley laughed.

I shot fireball after fireball as my mate stood in place, unharmed. Each one that failed seemed to take some of his anxiety and fear away. He got closer and closer to me. I stopped, tired. “Are you okay?” he asked, taking a step closer. He was almost within touching distance. I ached to hold him close.

“I… I’m relieved. Tired. Glad.”

“Glad?”

“That we’re mates. That I could be someone safe for you. Riley… I want to be someone you can trust.” I meant those words with my entire being. Since the moment I’d met him, my mate had held me captive. I didn’t want to be free. I wanted to drown in those deep brown eyes and let them be the last thing I ever saw, so long as I got to be with him.

Riley reached out and cupped my face, his fingers warm despite the chilly winter air. “All of this… I don’t have words. You make me glad I trusted myself enough to ask for this. You showing me meant more than words ever could.” He ran his thumb over my cheekbone, the touch sweet.

I held his hand to my face. “Thank you for trusting me.” My voice nearly broke on the words. “It means everything. I hope we can build from this.”

The expression in his eyes turned sad. “What if I told you I have less than three weeks left in Greyhaven? Would you still want me?”

Without thinking, I answered. “Yes. If you leave, I’ll come with you.”

As soon as I made the offer, I wanted to take it back. Could I do that to Greyhaven? How would the wards survive without me here to bolster them? Like the other warlocks of Greyhaven, I shared my magic regularly. Since the summer solstice, I’d added my magic at least a dozen times. I didn’t know how to get around it, though. This was my fated mate. My one and only. I couldn’t bear to lose him so soon after finding him.

He startled. “You’d do that? Give everything here up for me?” Seeing the hope and wonder on his face cracked something inside me. With one throwaway offer, I’d gotten closer to Riley accepting me, just at the cost of my town.

“That’s what mates do. We were made for each other, Riley. No one can replace you.” I smoothed my fingers over his hand, wanting to keep him close to me. There had to be a way to break this curse, but I’d find a way to fix the wards before then, just in case.

“But we don’t know each other!” he protested. Riley didn’t pull away. If anything, he stepped closer.

“Maybe not now, but we have time. Let me get to know you while we try to break this curse.” I wrapped an arm around him. The outside world ceased to exist. “Give me a chance to decide for myself if losing you is better than losing what I have here, because I can already tell you that I’ve been waiting thirty-three years for my mate to show up, and I already don’t want to give you up. Not now you’re here and touching me.”

Greyhaven would be okay without me, wouldn’t it? I focused on Riley, determined to enjoy this moment of peace instead of worrying about something that might never come to pass.

“Gareth?”

“Yeah?” I whispered.

“Can I kiss you?” His breath was warm on my face. He was so close to me we were sharing breath.

“Okay, this is awkward, but I’m going to head home and check on Hayto. I’ll catch you tomorrow, maybe. Have fun!” Oscar gave a wave and scurried off toward his apartment block.

“Who’s Hayto?” I asked, voice low. Neither of us had moved.

“His bird. His familiar.”

“Right.”

“Gareth?”

“Hmm?”

“Kiss me.”

We surged toward each other, our lips meeting for the first time. The feeling was electric, sending a jolt through me. I opened for his tongue, letting him taste me. I adored the feeling of him in my arms, of him directing the kiss. His scent, apples and spice, surrounded me, making me think of safety, warmth, and home.