Page 45 of Wanderer

“Wait!” Gareth cried. “Don’t you want to use any herbs, have a cup of tea, or anything first?”

Keeley jabbed Gareth in the ribs angrily. “I’ve been priming my magic for the last couple of days. I’ve got my crystals and I fucking hate tea. You know this. Get your head out of your ass, Gareth, and get ready to boost me if I need it.”

With some muttering, Gareth stood patiently in place. Boosting must require physical contact. With her short nails and lightly calloused hand, I could almost believe it was Gareth’s hand reaching for mine, until I saw how small it was. I braced for the feeling of magic, taking a deep breath to calm myself.

The feeling was so immediately intrusive that I flinched and tried to pull away. I guess that was part of why she started straight away. Not giving me time to second-guess or make excuses.

Gareth took my other hand and brushed his fingers across my wrist in a tender gesture. “I’m here, cariad.” I adored the Welsh endearment. He didn’t use many Welsh phrases, having lost the habit with his parents away exploring the world. I wanted him to stay in touch with his roots, so I encouraged it. I knew focusing on it was just my brain’s way of coping with the stress that Keeley’s magic was causing me.

Long moments passed while magic funneled into me. I braced for pain, but none came, just a prickling discomfort.

“Boost me.” Keeley broke the silence. I caught a glimpse of her around Gareth. I could see the strain she was under, with sweat beading on her brow. She wiped it away with a frustrated hand before clasping Gareth’s offered one. “A little less,” she panted. Gareth leaned closer to me. “Okay, stop. Fuck!”

“Keeley?” Gareth’s concern worried me.

“Fucking stings. Your magic is too powerful to boost me. It’s like an ocean when I need a lake.”

“I—I can’t give you less,” Gareth stammered guiltily.

She hung her head, defeated, and pulled her hand away. “I know. I’m so sorry. Both of you. I’m sorry I can’t fix this for you.”

Gareth pulled me into his arms. We stayed wrapped around each other, somehow ending up on the floor, while Gareth thanked his cousin and she made her farewells.

“I’m sorry, Riley. I wanted this to work.”

“Me too.” I tucked my head into his shoulder and let the tears flow.

“It doesn’t matter. As soon as I find you after the curse enacts, we are going after Boyce. Mira too. You, me, Paxton, and whoever else wants to come. Then we’re going to kill the bastard.”

As much as I appreciated my mate getting a little bloodthirsty on my behalf, there was no way I would let him blacken his soul with murder. There was no way I was letting him leave Greyhaven vulnerable either. No, Gareth was staying here, soul untainted. I’d already damaged mine, likely beyond repair, so with Gareth by my side, his strength and love for me, I would be the one to end Boyce for good.

Twenty‑One

Gareth

Watching my mate sleep, I wished I could ease him with my magic. All I could do was hold him while he was tortured with memories. Mira had a lot to answer for. Just what had she done to Riley? For what? Power? I thought back to something he had said about metamorphs always being used, and my heart broke all over again for him.

Riley whimpered in his sleep, so I held him closer until he calmed again. Now that I knew why he was having nightmares, I wished I didn’t. I wanted Riley to be able to rest, not be haunted by things he couldn’t control from his past.

Keeley felt horrible about how everything had gone down. I’d spoken with my cousin once Riley had fallen asleep, and asked if she’d be willing to try again with a witch or druid to boost her in my place.

“I don’t think our magic would be compatible, but we can try.” It felt so hopeless. I just wanted to try everything so we could go after Boyce without him being able to manipulate Riley.

Sure enough, the next day we tried with Oscar. He had grown close to Riley and desperately wanted to help his friend, but his magic wasn’t strong enough to be what Keeley needed to amplify her magic. She’d taken teas and potions to boost herself first. Nothing worked.

“There is someone else,” Keeley suggested carefully over lunch.

Riley had cooked for us all, moving around the kitchen as if he had always lived here. He was better with Keeley when she wasn’t using magic and kept a careful distance from him. While I wanted them to be friends, because I loved my cousin, I understood that it was a lot for Riley to overcome in such a short time.

Proving they were growing close, Fen had gotten off the night shift and checked in with Riley before heading home for some sleep. With the return of a lot of families for Yule and Christmas, the town was busier than usual, and with the constant snowstorms and high winds, the police had been called out more often. We were lucky we had so many dragons on the police force, since an ice storm didn’t stop them from flying. It was all hands on deck, meaning Fen’s flying ban from his accident was suspended once more. The last time he’d been able to fly was during the last attack.

If his dragon pride and the lingering effects of his upbringing didn’t stop him from accepting my help, I would have created something to brace his damaged leg and improve his flying. He didn’t appear to be in pain with his disability, but would he actually have told me if he was? I wondered if Riley could get through to him.

Having friends and potentially his brother here was a giant step toward settling somewhere. I wasn’t going to be one of those mates who wanted their partner’s attention all day, every day. Riley’s happiness was important to me. That meant having a support system outside of our relationship. Especially with the past trauma he’d endured. It wasn’t healthy for him to rely solely on me.

It took me a minute to register who Keeley was talking about. I made a pointed glance toward Riley. “No, I’m sure he’s too busy,” I said.

“Who is?” Oscar asked, curious. He had caught the look I’d given my cousin and wasn’t letting it go. Little shit. This was not the time to be bringing up my past.