“Well, the oldest, Rowan—“ I almost stopped listening. What were the chances? It had to be them, right? “He’s eighteen. The little ones, Sandy and Berry, are ten.”
Those two names sold it. Rowan, Sandy and Berry. The ages were right, too. Those were my mate’s kids. Imri’s kids. It felt right in my mind.
I cleared my throat nervously. “Great ages! If you could just confirm the card details we have on file, I can cancel your stay without a fee.”
The caller gave me the info, sounding much friendlier than before. “Alright, that’s your booking canceled. I hope you have a great time visiting the area.”
“Thank you! I can’t wait to see them.”
They ended the call, not realizing they’d gifted me my fated mate’s name.
Orson came to the door to pick me up like the gentleman my family thought he was. With a friendly smile, he endured ten minutes of my parents grilling him over our date plans, which were a picnic date and maybe a movie. We’d agreed to keep it vague to make it easier to fudge the truth later.
If I got my way, I wouldn’t be coming home later. I’d be staying with Imri!
Every time I thought of his name, the better it sounded.
When I got in the car, I noticed there were bags in the back.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“If you’re going mate hunting, then me and Baxter are leaving town for a few days. We’re going to try being without our inhibitors.” Orson pulled away from the curb, then glanced at me.
“No way! That’s awesome.I hope he’s your fated.”
Orson smiled. “Thank you. I do, too.” Anxiety tinged his expression. “You probably think I’m being a coward, running away.”
“No way! I’m scared to confront the town, so I don’t blame you for taking a few days away from it all.”
“You don’t?” Orson appeared relieved.
“Orson, if I could skip all the arguments that are gonna come with being with Imri, then I would.”
“You know his name, then?”
I knew I looked smug. “I do! Now, drop me at the meeting spot and have a great break.”
I was processing Orson’s decision to escape Haenvale and the probable fallout of my mating when I got into Trisha’s car. She’d already told me she couldn’t borrow her dad’s truck because it was recharging.
“Honey, you better explain that look on your face!”
Outlining everything Orson and I had talked about only took a matter of minutes. She washappy they were giving their relationship a go, away from prying eyes.
I loved this woman. She had been in my life when I’d really needed someone. As one of the fae, she was seen as neutral, so my parents were cool with her. The fae had a bad rep back on earth, but here, in Pangea, they weren’t chaotic or bad. They just liked nature and could do magic. Trisha had beautiful translucent wings she kept glamored. I wished I could fly sometimes.
“I’m still so angry about the inhibitors!” she cried, looking the most upset I’d ever seen her. “Dad helped spell the inhibitors. He never said a thing about this!”
“Right? Just shows how little we know about Haenvale. Are all towns like ours the same?”
“Who knows?” She shrugged. While it looked like she was brushing it off, I could see the knowledge weighed on her. We shared a look, then we both tried to push it away. “I’m going to work on some more of the charter, and gather more sources.”
“I’ve got some notes stored in a crystal.”
Trisha had pulled the car over to the side of the road until she got answers out of me. Sheturned the engine back on. “Should we eat and decide if you still want to find this guy?”
“Imri, and I need to see him.” I rubbed at my chest. The bond aching. “Life might be complicated for us in Haenvale, but he’s worth the fight. I still want the mate fate picked out for me. I’m not settling, Trisha.”
“Okay, then.” She took us back to her place where she made us a tofu curry that was heavenly. We didn’t talk all that much, both of us lost in our thoughts.
