Page 14 of Wanderer

Fynn glanced at the pile of books and then down the empty hallway. “I’m not sure I really need to guard the college, not somewhere like Greyhaven, but I like the paycheck.” His grin was infectious.

“Right, well, I met my fated mate today—”

“Congratulations!” Fynn went in for a hug, but I tensed and he drew back. “Or not?”

“Not. He rejected me. Or rather, has issues with warlocks. Couldn’t be in the same room with me as soon as he found out. Literally shifted and ran away.” Okay, so it still hurt, even if I understood it—or most of it. Why had he reacted so strongly? It had to be more than trauma.

Fynn winced. “Right. So, are you trying to break a fated bond to get a new one? Because that can’t be done.” There was a rumbling warning sound pouring out of my gryphon friend. His disapproval at even the idea of breaking it was loud and clear.

“No!” I protested, the word bursting free in my panic. “No,” I repeated more softly. “Hestia said something about there being magic in mating, and I’m trying to understand it.”

“Hmm,” Finn mused as he rubbed his golden-stubbled chin. He went through the books, sorting them into three piles.

“Why three?” I asked, as one pile got bigger and then pushed to one side.

“This one…” He pointed to the largest stack. “Is useless.”

“How do you know?” I was taken aback.

“I watch the researchers and help the librarian when I take the day shift. You know,” he said, changing the subject. “My clan has a lot of myths surrounding mates, fated bonds in particular.”

“Oh, I’d forgotten that.”

Finn shrugged. “There are tales we’re told from childhood, and I think that might be what Hestia was talking about. Your mate’s scared of you because of you being a warlock, right?”

I nodded. “I’m starting to think there’s something more than just fear there, though. Hestia mentioned compulsion, but I can’t even get near him to help him.”

“Hmm…” Fynn scratched his chin thoughtfully. “If there is compulsion, that should be easy enough for you to break. You’ll just have to convince him to let you get close enough to check.”

“How? He was barely in the room with me a moment before he fled.”

“Well, you need to use your fated mate connection to prove you can’t harm him. It won’t be easy. For a fated mate…”

“Then it’s worth a try.” I couldn’t believe that a warlock, one of my people, had likely used magic on my poor innocent mate, leaving these scars behind.

“You could try telling him this story I was always told when I was young.”

He launched into a familiar yarn about two young gryphons, just entering adulthood.

“One day, the female, her name long forgotten, was walking along a road when she met two others, both young men. They tried to woo her, though her heart was already taken. One tried with gentle words and flattery, the other with boasting. She was polite to the second because she had already fallen for the first male, having recognized him as her fated mate. Soon, seeing he was out of favor but misunderstanding the nature of their bond, the second attacked the first. Having seen that the first was a gentle soul, the young woman put herself between them. The males clashed. The first, unaccustomed to violence, hit out wildly. Each of his strikes, when they were sure to land, was always guided away from her by some unseen force. This was their fated bond in action. It protected her from accidental harm from her mate. Time and time again the first male put his body in harm’s way until the female gryphon, sick to her soul, rose to defend him in return. She tore the second to pieces and soon bonded with the first. When he died at a blessedly old age, surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and beyond, she followed him into the afterlife.”

The story touched me deeply. I wanted that kind of love. “So, you’re saying he literally couldn’t harm her? Not with violence?”

“That’s right. I think you’ll find similar tales in these books. I’ve heard it in other species too. A fated mate is the other part of you; you cannot cause them harm.”

“So, Riley would be safe from my magic?”

Fynn shrugged. “I think so.” There was a noise from down the hall. “I better check that out. Probably kids wanting somewhere to hang out. Read these books.” He patted the smallest stack.

“Thanks!” I called to his retreating form. He threw a wave my way.

I read all through the night. Made notes and drank the coffee that Fynn gave me. Everything I read gave me more hope. As Fynn had said, I couldn’t harm Riley with my magic because of what he was to me.

Now I just had to prove it so he’d feel safe enough to give me a chance.

Seven

Riley