Page 110 of Coerced

#

Mira

We walked along the side of the road, the crunch of gravel under our boots making the only sound except for the occasional car whizzing by. Rome wasn’t a fast walker and I had to slow down to stay in step with him. My stride reflected my let’s-get-it-done personality. Maybe his reflected a more zen one.

Before we left, I’d decided I would keep my eyes on my feet, but I kept stealing glances at him. I scolded myself, but that didn’t stop my gaze from straying to his profile.

In my defense, the manwaspure eye candy.

His hair was such a light blond, it was almost white. It swooshed across his forehead in a thick wave and highlighted his crystal blue eyes. Even better, he was taller than me and heavily built, so I didn’t feel like the giantess I usually did next to a guy. And those broad shoulders—

Stop it, girl.I flushed, uneasy with where my thoughts were going.

I know, I know, but he really is one fine-looking man!

Needing a distraction, I decided to start a conversation. Problem was, I had no idea what to talk about. I’d never really been much of a socializer to begin with; engines made more sense to me than people most of the time. And after two years of being kinda isolated from the rest of the world, I had little to offer in the way of casual chit-chat.

“What’s your favorite metal?”

I stumbled a little at his sudden question and he grabbed my elbow, like it was an automatic reflex or conditioned manners to make sure I didn’t fall.

“Steel. It’s practical and available and you can fix nearly anything with it.”

“What metalwork do you enjoy? An artificer I know at college makes dragon keychains and bracelets from chainmail and metal scales.”

“I dunno.” I looked at my feet. “I made stainless steel roses and sold them when I was in high school. They were pretty and it was a challenge to make the tiny petals. I haven’t made anything fine like that for a long time. Mostly been working on cars and engines.”

“Do you have any idea what you want to do next?” He dropped my arm and put his hands in his coat pockets. “When you get to the Sanctuary, you could go back to school.”

“No, thanks. Maybe later. We live a long time, right?”

“Yes. First-generation nephs live up to five hundred years, unless you get yourself killed.”

“Hmm. Then I’d rather take some time to gather myself before I commit to school again.” Thinking he might have the wrong idea, I hurried to explain. “Not that I won’t work! I’ll get a job right away. I don’t need charity or anything.”

“Okay.”

He said it so easily, I felt like I’d attacked him over something ridiculous.

Don’t say anything else.You’re lucky these people are willing to help out someone with so much taint on her soul. You don’t need to be any more of a burden than you already are.

“I need to pick up a hobby,” he broke into my thoughts. “I’m either at school or in the gym or out on a mission. Chance keeps telling me I need something that will help me de-stress. Well, I guess Idohave a hobby. I like to read, but I think of that as more of an addiction.”

“Oh, yeah? Any certain genre?”

“History. World War Two is a favorite, but anything military-related is good.”

“And who’s Chance?”

“Chance Parker. He’s a healer and one of my best friends. He was captured in the ambush. He and my other best friend, Spin. Mike Spinelli.”

“What’s his power?”

“Annoying people.” He kicked a rock out of the way. “He’s a guide, but he has a real talent for being obnoxious.”

“Still growing up?” I smiled.

“That’s one way to put it. He loves to joke around, but pushes it too far. Until you get angry or sick of it.”

---