Page 16 of Wanderer

“I’ll have a look if you’ll point me in the right direction. In the meantime, if you could order that part just in case. I’ll settle up with you for the part and your time if I find another car.”

The lot didn’t hold a lot. Ironically. There were a few electric and hybrid vehicles, but they were all small city cars that had two seats and wouldn’t cope with hauling a trailer. The only one that was almost what I wanted wouldn’t start when I asked about it.

Greyhaven was conspiring to keep me here.

The note in the basket had been an apology letter from the mayor for “a lack of consideration” of my feelings. While I felt better that she’d at least acknowledged that what she had done was wrong, I still had this urge to flee. It nipped at me all day.

Perhaps it was that I felt flayed open after telling the mayor most of my history. After that, the dreams had been worse. Meeting my mate had opened those old wounds, making the nightmares worse than ever.

Maybe it was that I didn’t know what Gareth was going to do about us being mates. I knew I owed him at least a conversation before I skipped town, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Fear had drained all reason from me. I knew it was hurtful, that it was a dick move, but I couldn’t do it in case he persuaded me to stay.

A part of me was already tempted by him. That part of me wanted to give in and let Gareth try to fix things for me. I was so fucking tired of wandering this damn country, trying to keep out of his grasp.

The mayor’s number was heavy in my hand. For some unknown reason, I’d tucked the card with the apology into my pocket. For the next week or so, I was stranded in Greyhaven, so I needed to know they wouldn’t ambush me with well-intentioned help. I would figure out the problem myself or leave.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was calling the mayor’s office. “City Hall, I’m Debra. How can I help you?”

“Hey Debra, it’s Riley. Is it possible for me to speak to the mayor for a sec?”

“Hello! Did you get the basket this morning?” Debra’s voice was cheerful.

“I did, thank you. Did you arrange that?”

“Believe it or not, it was Hestia’s idea. I just helped her pick out what to put in. I think she’s in a meeting. They should be about done. Could I put you on hold to check if she can chat?”

“Of course, that’s great, thanks.” It was a relief not to feel any weirdness from the brownie after how I’d run off. The line played the elevator music that most government offices used. It was strangely reassuring that even here, so far from human life, there was something normal.

Debra came back on the line. “You’re in luck. They were just chatting about unimportant stuff. I’ll transfer you now unless you need anything else?”

“Nah, I’m good. Thanks, Debra.” My hands became sweaty, belying my casual tone. I was not good. I was nervous as fuck to speak to the goddess who ran this place. For the next week, at least, I had to be welcome to stay, and I also needed a promise that she wouldn’t push my boundaries again.

“Hello, Riley.” Hestia’s voice was smoothly polite. Not frosty, like I had worried about.

“Madam Mayor, I’m having car issues and need to stay in Greyhaven for a while longer… Will that be okay?”

“Of course, Riley. You’re welcome here as long as you need.”

“About yesterday…” I trailed off.

“I am sorry about that. It was too much, too soon. It won’t happen again. You have my word.”

“It won’t?”

“No. I see it was wrong, though my intentions were pure. You need to seek the warlock out on your own terms, somewhere you have control of the situation. I shouldn’t have ambushed either of you. It was very poor behavior on my part, especially knowing what I do about your history.”

“Oh,” I mumbled, astounded. This conversation really hadn’t gone the way I thought it would.

“Can you forgive me, Riley?” The plaintive tone suggested that my answer truly mattered to the ancient goddess.

“I do.” That was the truth. Like I thought, she had good intentions, they just didn’t pan out.

“Thank you, Riley. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please consider speaking to Gareth about the curse, if nothing else. My heart believes he could be instrumental in helping you.”

“I will. Thank you, Hestia, for letting me stay.”

Eight

Gareth