Page 44 of Wanderer

We ate every meal together, sometimes cooking in his decent sized kitchen. “You know, if I’m going to move in, you’re going to have to let me rearrange this place,” I grumbled as I looked for a strainer for the noodles.

“We can do that,” he said brightly. “I’ll also need to make some closet space in the bedroom and a cabinet in the bathroom. I want this place to feel like your home.”

The words left a pang in my heart. Gareth was my home. That was a truth that I clung to, because until Boyce was finished, I couldn’t have one.

“Don’t be mad,” Gareth pleaded as he headed for the door.

I speared him with a look as I finished putting away my stuff and straightened from where I’d been kneeling in the bottom of the bedroom closet. “What did you do?”

“Okay, I didn’t tell you about my cousin. She’s also a warlock. Keeley was at another sanctuary but is visiting her parents for Christmas. I asked if she’d take a look at your curse.” Gareth looked sheepish. “Sorry!”

Seeing the genuine contrition on his face, I couldn’t find it in me to be angry about it. Besides, Gareth was doing what he could to keep me in Greyhaven with him. “It’s okay. I know you mean well.” I got up and followed him to the door. “Do you think she’ll be able to manage it?”

Gareth opened the door to a shorter, curvy woman with brown hair and green eyes. “I can give it a damn good try,” she said breezily as she stepped into the house, removing her scarf, gloves, and coat. “The fates blessed you,” she said to Gareth. “And they did a number on you. Jesus wept, that thing is nasty.”

“Hey!” Gareth leaped to my defense.

“I meant the curse, you idiot.” It was a challenge to suppress my chuckle.

“Oh.” He deflated, and I grinned at him. “I forgot about your extra sight.” To me, he explained, “Keeley is gifted at diagnostic magic. She can see into the heart of things without using touch. All she has to do is look at a person to see everything.”

“Taxing, but I hate touching random people, so it’s a blessing,” the woman in question confirmed. “Now, this curse is a doozy.”

“Can you remove it?” I asked, sitting next to her on the sofa. I didn’t know what to make of her gift. Though impressive, it was also sort of invasive.

“Only one way to tell.” Keeley reached for my hand.

Without meaning to, I flinched and pulled away from her. I closed my eyes in my sudden panic and was hit with what I was pretty sure was a memory.

“Ry? Ry! Are you okay?” Gareth’s soothing touch landed on my cheek. When I opened my eyes, he was kneeling in front of me. Somehow, I was on the sofa, and Keeley was standing a few feet away watching us anxiously.

“Is he okay?”

“What happened, Ry? You stepped back, knocked Keeley’s hand away, and then sort of locked up. I managed to get you to the sofa before your knees gave out.”

“Gar…” I started in a whisper. “I saw something…”

He studied me. “Like a flashback?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you… do you want to talk about it? Will it help?”

My eyes strayed to Keeley. “It’s not your fault… I just… there was a woman, Mira, my stepfather’s niece…” Gareth gently tilted my head back so he could watch my expression. “Gar, I think she did things to me.”

Horror and fury warred on his face. “I’ll end her! Both of them.” I was glad I didn’t have to explain it further.

“Oh, hunny, I’m so sorry,” Keeley breathed, and her eyes filled with unshed tears as understanding hit.

“It’s okay. I know it’s not you, it’s just… you need to go slow, okay?” I murmured. Now that more pieces of the puzzle were slotting into place as memories filled my mind, I was certain I needed to work through this to get my curse lifted. Once I was free, I could hunt down Boyce and Mira and destroy them both.

“Of course! Gareth, sit next to Riley—or would it be better for him to stand in front of me? I can reach around him, if that would help?”

“Could we try that, please? No offense, but I don’t think I can handle knowing you’re using magic on me.”

“Anything you want,” she assured me.

We all stood once more, with Keeley fully hidden behind her cousin. My focus stayed on Gareth, trying to will down the panic attack. I couldn’t believe what I was remembering. I tried to lock it all back away in that box stuffed to the brim with bad memories.