Page 32 of Wanderer

“Sorry for being so late,” I apologized, and gestured to Riley to slide into the booth opposite my friend. I took a seat next to him and shot Tatsuya a warning glare. My friend ignored me. I noticed Tatsuya’s nostrils flare, and he frowned.

“Yeah, sorry, that’s on me.” Riley looked wary, but sat close to me. We both shed our outer gear as Tatsuya watched us.

“It’s fine. I’m glad you could work it out.” I could sense the lie. Why was Tatsuya acting like this?

“Dragon, is there going to be a problem?” Riley cut to the chase.

My mate and my best friend sat staring at each other, neither wanting to blink and back down. “Suya, come on,” I pleaded.

“No, Gar. He smells off.”

Riley sagged back in the booth, defeat written all over him. “Yeah, I do,” he said in a quiet voice. All metamorphs do.”

Shit. Riley outed himself without hesitation. I glanced at my mate, who wore a defiant expression. He acted as if the revelation didn’t bother him. Tatsuya straightened on his side of the booth. “Seriously? You’re a fucking metamorph?”

Riley tilted his head in an animalistic gesture, sort of like the German Shepherd he’d shifted into the night before. “I can’t get a read on you. Is that good or bad?” I wanted to know the same thing, so I was grateful that Riley asked.

“All I’m saying is I’ve met more unicorns. No wonder you’re so cagey!” He leaned back, all the tension gone. “Does Hestia know?” he laughed. “What am I saying? Of course she does. Why didn’t she say anything?”

Riley scoffed. “You know why. I’m taking a massive risk by telling you.” I was incredibly grateful that all these booths had magical soundproofing. It would have been awful to have his secret overheard. “Thing is,” he continued with a faint smile. “I want to make Greyhaven my home if I can.” Riley took my hand, threading our fingers together. “We’ve a lot to work out, but I’m hopeful for the first time in a long time. It also means I have to trust people.” He stared straight at my best friend. “You’ve got dragon magic. What does your inner dragon say about my curse?”

Tatsuya leaned forward and let a shift come over him. His face elongated into a snout, his eyes turning yellow and reptilian. Riley shuddered. I felt his fear spike as the dragon blew dragon’s breath over him and then tasted the air with a forked tongue.

There was a long silence as Tatsuya, still half in dragon form, processed what he’d got from Riley. Finally, he spoke, his words a low rumble. “Only a warlock can break that curse.”

Riley slumped further in his seat. “Yeah, I figured. What if Gar can’t break the curse? He’s the most powerful warlock in town, right?”

While I wanted to accept the compliment, I wasn’t sure it was right. “Maybe. I mean, there are other warlocks who specialize in different things. Actual curse breakers, for instance. Historians who’ve researched ancient magic.” I shared a look with Tatsuya. “If we’re talking about power scales, then maybe I’m the strongest, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do it. Some of them are great at collaboration. I can boost them.” I grimaced, wondering how Riley was going to cope with us poking at him with magic. “We’ve got some time to figure it out. If not, I’ll follow you wherever I need to.”

Tatsuya frowned. “You’d leave Greyhaven? What about the wards?”

Sometimes it was really tempting to smack my best friend around the head. He just had to bring it up.

“Wards?” Riley asked.

Then I realized the time and remembered all the stuff I had to do today. “Shit! I’m supposed to meet Hestia there right now.” I climbed out of the booth and extended my hand to Riley. “Want to come see the wards?”

While he looked puzzled, he took my hand, ready to follow me out of the diner.

“At least put your coats on!” Tatsuya sniped. He leaned over the table to pick up our things. “Didn’t even get coffee,” he grumbled. He handed Riley his coat first. “I’ve got my dragon keeping me warm. Not sure if bobcats can stand the cold in the woods.” His smile was fleeting, but it was a peace offering.

“Thanks,” Riley said with a smile of his own. Maybe they could grow to be friends in time.

I wrapped my scarf around Riley and used it to pull him in for a kiss.

“Ew, less PDA, please. Some of us are terminally single,” the dragon grumbled. I felt less inclined to call him my best friend the longer he was with us.

We walked through the town, setting things to rights as we wound our way past the hubbub of activity, out of the main streets and into the woods. I showed the viewpoint to Riley, vowing to take him on a stargazing date there soon.

When we got to the ward stones, Hestia was already there waiting for us. Tatsuya had called her to let her know we were on our way.

“Sorry for being so late,” I said, feeling guilty. My duty to the town and the wards was important. Though I guess now my duty to my mate came first.

“It’s quite alright, Gareth. I see you and Riley have found a way around his issue. How are you, Riley?”

“Doing alright, thanks, Madam Mayor. Thanks for keeping your promise, but I don’t think I need it anymore.”

Hestia’s smile was demure. “Of course. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about the other magic on you.”