Page 62 of Wanderer

“You fucker!” the other cursed at him. “Six fucking months without you, Riku, and then you pull this stunt?”

“Gotta liven things up when I can. I felt this surge of magic and just raced right over. Don’t even know how I got out of the clinic!”

Hestia wore a faint smile, while the rest were openly grinning. Gareth just shook his head.

Next to me, Corbin roused. His eyes found me first. “Daddy?”

“It’s okay, Corbin. We’re going to a place to make you feel better, then Daddy Gareth and I will take you home. Do you want that?”

“The magic hurts.”

“Don’t worry, kiddo, Daddy’s going to take you somewhere to get rid of a lot of magic.” Gareth crouched next to me, soothing me with his nearness. “You’ll feel great after, okay?”

Within minutes, we were out of City Hall and heading for the nearest ward stone. Sean, Riku’s mate, carried the mage in his arms because Riku insisted on coming along. I heard them whispering to each other and caught sight of tender kisses being exchanged.

Taking horse form was the easiest way of getting through the woods with my precious cargo. Gareth and Corbin rode on my back, with Gareth telling Corbin stories about life in Greyhaven and all the fun he was going to have once he was better.

Corbin knew what to do without being asked. He clambered down from my back and touched the stone. As soon as he made contact, he flashed a brilliant gold before his magic settled and his cheeks took on a rosy glow. “I feel better.”

“Until the kid learns to control his magic, he should come up here once a week. It’ll solve your ward problem for now, but it’s just another sticking plaster, not a real solution,” Riku advised us. After delivering those final words, his mate continued through the woods, taking them home to their secluded cabin.

“You’ll get used to Riku.” Gareth stroked my mane out of my face. “Come on, Corbin, I think you need some warm milk and some cookies. Do you want to ride, or follow your dad?”

Corbin shifted into a pony, proving he was a mix of both his parents. He was amazing. He trotted down the path we’d just followed.

“Hold on!” Gareth cried, trying to get back on my back. “Riley, hurry and catch up with our son.”

I loved the sound of that.

Epilogue

Riley

Valentine’s Day

“Dad, can I wake Daddy Gareth up now, please? I want to show him my pancakes.” Corbin was giving me a spectacular pout for making him wait to deliver this breakfast.

“I’m just finishing up with the strawberries, and I’ll have to carry the tray. You’re strong, but we don’t want to spill the coffee again, do we?” I said as gently as possible.

We had come a long way in the last few weeks with Corbin. He was still small and skinny, though with how much he ate, he was filling out. We had him enrolled in school. While he was behind, it was a lack of opportunity rather than any learning issues. He was picking things up quickly, and despite his solitary upbringing, he was friendly. Mom had done an amazing job with him in the year she’d had him, no matter what she thought. Corbin was a sweet kid, well mannered, a little too polite, likely to avoid Boyce’s notice. The therapist, a witch and empath, said it was a sign of trauma. It was something they were working on in their sessions.

Mom was still in Westhaven. I’d received a couple of calls from her apologizing for leaving Corbin with me like she had. I got it. He belonged with me. She was making substantial progress in her therapy, yet it was going to take many months, if not longer, for her to shift again. Then, last week, she had found her fated mate. The man was a bear shifter and held the position of alpha over a decent-sized pack within Westhaven’s territory. Mom said he was looking forward to meeting us all when they made it official.

Austin, her mate, called me a couple of days later to introduce himself. He seemed to really care about my mom, and not in the way that raised red flags. He said he wanted to be a father to me if I was willing. I liked the idea, but wasn’t ready yet. Austin wanted to be Corbin’s grandpa too, and I said I’d let Corbin decide when he met him.

“Okay, I’m ready. Here, take this.” I handed Corbin a red rose. I know, cliché. He took it and went ahead of me into the bedroom.

“Oh, hey Cor. What’ve you got there?” Gareth was sitting up, scrolling through his phone. He set it aside when we entered the room.

“Happy Valen… Valantine’s Day!” He stumbled over the words. Now he was missing a front tooth, he’d developed a teeny lisp.

I set the tray on the bed beside him, gave Gareth a kiss, and carefully climbed onto the bed, pulling Corbin onto my lap.

“Thanks, Cor! Did you make these pancakes?” Gareth asked.

“I did! Daddy helped me.”

“Did he now?” Gareth winked at me.