“Oh, you met online then? OMG! Have you been dating a guy you met online for years, only for him to run away from you?!”
“Dating?!” I’d made sure to let her know we were only friends.
“Well, you’ve never seen anyone that I know of in the time we’ve been friends, and you said you’d waited for him since then. But honestly dating someone you don’t even know the gender of is so you. You’re just attracted to their personality, and that’s so cute!”
“I guess that’s kind of our situation,” I replied, ignoring thecutepart. I couldn’t tell her that he was my soulmatch and together we would make magic.
“So, he’s never seen your face before today, I take it?”
“Today was the first time, yes.”
“And he ran?”
“Before I could even say a word.”
“Well, you can be intimidating at first. Those piercings and tattoos. And the fact that you’re tall.”
“I was smiling!” I defended myself, pouting when she started to laugh.
“Then he must’ve been horrified!” she cackled.
I sighed. “Why did I call you again?”
“Oh, you love me! Maybe introduce yourself as soon as he sees you next time, then he’ll know you aren’t the tall and scary man he thinks you are.” That was actually a good idea. I could rush out the words that would make him realize we were the same.
“Thank you!” I said, grinning from ear to ear as I parked near the gas station. It was getting dark and since they’d closed earlier today, the station was dark inside, meaning my man would be alone in his van.
“Good luck!” Julie said, then hung up.
I got out of the van and closed the door as quietly as possible, then made my way over to his van. It was white while mine was black. Perfect opposites.Relationship goals right there. I did the same knock I’d seen the man make before, and he quickly opened the door with a smile on his face, though it died instantly when he saw me standing there. He bolted around me and ran for his life into the forest.
Well…Fuck.
I ran after him, chasing him between the trees. I hated nature! There were rocks and bushes everywhere, making my pursuit harder than I wanted it to be. I caught up with him, my long legs perfect for running. When I had him in my arms he wiggled and fought me, then started screaming. I held one arm around his waist and used one hand to silence him. He knocked his head against my nose, making me drop him as I held my bleeding and likely broken nose. I regretted having a nose piercing.Fuckthat hurt.
I was about to yell out that I was a shunned mage, when I saw him passed out in front of a tree. Did he run straight into it? I shook my head, wiping the blood off on my t-shirt, thankful it was the black one today, then checked his head. A bruise was forming on his forehead and he whined when I poked it. I kneeled and picked up hislimp body, then held him tightly against me and walked back towards the parking lot.
I placed him in the passenger seat, locking the door so he couldn’t escape if he woke up before I returned with his stuff. I didn’t want him to leave his belongings behind. The clothes and books seemed important to him, and I understood that. I took down the lights, too, and brought his pillows and duvet. We could share my mattress but more to snuggle with would help in the winter.
He was still out of it when I returned so I stocked the back of the van, placing the lights on the ceiling and, once I was satisfied, I climbed into the front seat and began to drive further out. I needed him away from people until he’d heardeverythingI had to say to him.
Chapter 9
Niam
My head was pounding, and I groaned at the bright light behind my eyelids. Gently prying them open, I took in my current situation. I was lying in a van, but notmyvan. This one was all pretty and decorated inside. With wood panels on the sides and… was that my fairy lights on the ceiling? I turned my throbbing head and saw my books on some shelves that had elastic on them to keep them in place while driving.
The back doors opened and there he was, my stalker. Everything came back to me. I backed further into the van, feeling like now wasthe part where I got killed. Before I could panic further, he held his hands up and rushed out, “I’m a shunned mage, too.”
That had my attention. “What?” I asked, wanting the words to be true. Another one like me?
“I’m the first shunned mage,” he replied, giving me a kind smile.
“You’re Leah’s son?” I asked, sitting up and allowing myself to hope I wasn’t getting killed after all.
“I am,” he nodded. “Can I come in? I don’t want to scare you, I just need to talk to you.”
“Well, it’s your van,” I said, not caring I was being sarcastic. Hehadkidnapped me after all.
